Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, April 6-8, 2024

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Saturday-Monday, April 6-8, 2024

Total Eclipse

Total solar eclipse stuns sky-gazers with moments plunge into darkness

Total solar eclipse breaks through grey Niagara Falls skies 

Total eclipse sends parts of Canada into darkness 

The off the beaten path faces and places of the total eclipse in Montreal 

MPs with eclipse glasses stare at 'surreal' celestial event on Parliament Hill

'I have no words': Eclipse draws Toronto residents outside to share a dark moment of wonder 

Day turning to night 'was so crazy,' Toronto eclipse observers react to midafternoon darkness

Solar eclipse manna from heaven for conspiracy theorists 

'Like magic' Total solar eclipse moves across parts of Canada, crowds in awe

'It's beautiful': Total solar eclipse wows crowds sit moves across parts of Canada 

Canadians soak up up once in a life-time spectacle 

Eclipse watchers across North American react with cheers, awe

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Drone footage shows a lively Gaza turned to wasteland since war began

Israel's Netanyahu says date set to invade Rafah, the last refuge for displaced Palestinians 

Six months after October 7, Israelis demand more be done to rescue hostages from Hamas as war rages 

Rebel News personality charged after incident at pro-Israel rally on Sunday

Iran's foreign minister accuses US of giving Israel 'green light' to attack consulate 

Pro-Hamas protests have not place on Canadian streets 

No wonder Jews in Canada say they no longer feel safe

Why we're taking the federal government to court over UNRWA funding 

Toronto demonstrators urged to 'live up to the example' of Hamas

Canada has become a hub of Islamist terror financing:  

Ukraine/Russia War           

Kremlin accuses Kyiv of attacking Russian-held nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine 

The West continues to have Ukraine's back

Globe and Mail

CSIS briefings for PMO in 2023, say China interfered in both 2049 and 2021 elections inquiry told

Rwandan targeting of dissidents in Canada should be probed by foreign-interference inquiry, activists say

Defence policy hikes spending over next 5 years but still falls short of NATO's 2% target 

Canada's new defence policy marks a crucial shift in strategic thinking 

Provinces signal growing backlash against exclusive deals between insurers and pharmacies

MPs approve rare censure of ArriveCan contractor for refusing to answer questions 

BC container terminal operator calls its emissions data a 'trade secret'

Alberta distillers to stop making four-litre vodka jugs after minister raises concern

BC's government buys land for transit-oriented housing development 

A denser city? In the Annex, neighbours say no 

Trudeau courageously sticks to the carbon tax

Canada has a productivity problem - out young people are the solution 

Canada's housing crunch is hurting our labour markets 

Lowering Canada's high housing costs is also a recipe for raising our notoriously low productivity 

CSIS briefings for PMO in 2023 say China interfered in both 2019 and 2021 elections, inquiry told

Let the foreign interference inquiry do its job, Prime Minister 

CBC

Canada-China relations committee questions witnesses on Winnipeg lab intelligence breach 

Deluge of federal pre-budget announcements draws fire from opposition, premiers 

Canada pledges. billions in new defence spending, but doesn't reach NATO's 2% commitment

Conservative MP asks CRA watchdog to look into 'bare trust' reporting reversal

CSIS warned Prime Minister's Office in 2023 that China 'clandestinely and deceptively' interfered in elections 

The Canadian Dental Plan starts next month - but many dentists are reluctant to participate 

ArriveCan contractors found in contempt of Parliament, ordered to appear before the House

Why the Conservatives and NDP are headed for a clash over Canada's working-class votes 

Indian calls allegations of foreign interference in Canada's elections 'baseless'

 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Doug Ford forces LCBO to reinstate paper bags for customers 

Doug Ford bristles at questions about $100,000 salaries in his office 

Canada's spy agency knew China 'deceptively' interfered in two federal elections - and told Justin Trudeau,  inquiry hears 

TDSB wants to shut down some schools - but Ontario's education minister rejected its request 

Old elevators are foiling a plan to renovate a historic Toronto building - and leaving 6,000 people in limbo

Canada needs more soldiers.  Here's now it plans to recruit them

Why Pierre Poilievre's over the top attacks on Justin Trudeau are bad for the country 

What's in Canada's new "Our North, Strong and Free' defence policy

Trudeau government announces billions more for the military - but still won't meet NATO's spending target  

Is Doug Ford's put-down of Bonnie Crombie a smear, or just politics as usual?

Justin Trudeau is getting impatient and it shows 

Toronto Sun

Trudeau reuses to meet premiers on carbon tax, they met in 2016

Deportation hearing set for trucker who caused fatal Humboldt Broncos bus crash

Trudeau continues to spend, spend, spend!

Ford orders LCBO to bring back paper bags. It's about time!

Poilievre says he will support Justin Trudeau's budget if ... 

Sinking Liberal fortunes prompting NDP MPs to jump ship

ChatGPT works its way into Canadian courtrooms

Foreign interference goes far beyond federal elections 

Trudeau needs to get a grip on immigration to fix housing and healthcare 

Leftist city councillors' police interference inexcusable  

Canada must pay its fair share on defence 

No free lunches -  even for unicorns 

Nuclear power is the future 

National Post

Canada to look at new submarines, and Trudeau doesn't rule out nuclear option 

New defence policy to focus on Arctic security, fixing 'unsustainable' gap in force size

The new Liberal defence policy is in no hurry to face dangerous global realities 

Nomination irregularities, misinformation about candidate weren't enough to raise foreign interference alarm, inquiry hears 

Why Doug Ford wants LCBO to bring back paper bags in stores 

What Canada forsook by failing to develop LNG 

Drug policy activists are only hurting themselves by calling opponents serial killers 

Ontario schools blame social media after years of failing to educate 

Mike Harris was a very Canadian revolutionary 

Global 

Canada exploring possibility of joining AUKUS alliance, Trudeau says 

Deportation hearing set for truck driver in deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash 

Trudeau briefed on alleged interference in Dong's riding before 2019 election: document

Defence policy update raises spending by $8B with focus on Arctic, cyber security 

CSIS prepped briefing on China's election modelling, inquiry hears 

Trudeau announces $2.4B federal investment in AI, tech 

BC Port firm says its greenhouse gas emissions data is a 'trade secret' 

Suspected arson at Gaston condo building damages numerous suites

BC's vulnerable urged to get COVID-19 booster as peak of illness season passes 

Task force to tackle concerns about drugs in BC hospitals, health minister says

Data shows  BC NDP with hefty cash advantage heading into 2024 election 

Vancouver Park Board passes bylaw changes, tightens rules for sheltering 

Auditor general to probe conflict of interest allegations in BC clean tech grant program 

City of White Rock mulling CCTV cameras for public safety 

BC United holds Vancouver campaign rally amid low polling numbers  

Miscellaneous            

Why is Weirdo Alex Jones hyping Poilievre?

Inside SFU's Secret surveillance of striking workers 

How many Tourists re too many?

Reclaiming Wet'suwet'en Storytelling in "Yintah'