Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, April 4 & 5, 2024

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Thursday-Friday, April 4-5, 2024

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Israel dismisses two officers over deadly drone strikes on aid workers in Gaza 

Mother of Canadian aid worker rejects Israel's explanation for his death

Aid worker deaths have appalled Israel's European allies. Some are considering a halt to arms sales 

End the day of Hate

Pro-Palestinian protesters breaking the law, assaulting officers 'will be arrested' : Toronto Police 

A Canadian-Israeli planned to marry this month, He died saving his fiancé from Hamas 

Ottawa is being sued for restoring UNRWA funding by survivors of terror victims 

Ukraine/Russia War           

Ukraine stages major attack on Russian military base, Kyiv source says 

Globe and Mail

Federal officials asked Facebook to take down false allegations about Trudeau in 2019 campaign, inquiry hears 

A look at what happened this week at the foreign interference inquiry 

MPs targeted by China. describe eerie patterns at foreign interference inquiry 

Cameron Ortis, guilty of violating secrets act, granted bail while appeal heard 

Ottawa pledges $100 million for new homebuilding technology  

Ottawa's Billion dollar housing pledges promising but not enough 

Canada risks losing mining capital because of government capacity around Chinese investment in critical minerals sector 

BC's first female lieutenant-governor Iona Campagnolo dies at 91

Whitehorse Star newspaper to cease publication after 124 years covering Yukon

Albertans  lose power in rolling blackouts as grid issues persist 

It's time for Canadians to have the right to a family doctor 

Busloads of international students show a weak spot in Canadian democracy 

Why should Indigenous Canadians not be entitled to the same rights as other Canadians?

Ford's delay of Oakville production shows that EV glitter isn't gold

Montreal MP Anthony Housefather to remain in Liberal caucus despite anger over motion 

Preparations begin for coming wildfire season after last year's strain on military resources 

China paid approximately $250,000 to 'threat actors' working in Canada, inquiry told 

Veteran NDP MP Charlie Angus leaving politics  

CBC

MP Anthony Housefather to stay on with Liberals after period of 'serious reflection' 

US ambassador downplays Canada's military spending shortfall, says Washington takes a 'broader view'

Ford doubles down on refusal to allow four-plexes province wide  

India-Pakistan attempted to interfere in Canada's deletions: CSIS

Cameron Otis, ex-RCMP official convicted of leaking secrets, granted bail

Canada's job numbers almost unchanged in March, while unemployment rose to 6.1%

3 NDP MPs announce they're leaving politics 

Security briefings for political parties not meant to reveal specific intelligence, inquiry hears 

Some Canadians are out money after CRA made last-minute changes to bare trust rules 

CSIS report on Liberal nomination race recalled after mean with PM's top security adviser  

Ex-foreign minister Peter McKay decries 'ludicrous' bureaucratic hurdles for Palestinians trying to flee Gaza

Former Afghanistan interpreter suing Global Affairs employee, Canadian government for alleged sexual assaults 

 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Canada's spy agency recalled intelligence about suspected Chinese-state interference, inquiry documents reveal

The 'black box' of Chinese language social media made Canada's monitoring of foreign interference that much harder, inquiry hears 

Queen's Park and Ottawa caught off guard by Ford's delay of EV manufacturing in Ontario 

Immigration minister reveals Ontario's drop in incoming international students. It's not as steep as expected 

Justin Trudeau is behaving as if he's about to call an election 

I believe Canada got it right with Afghan War memorial design but why don't you be the judge 

Toronto Police Union urges chow to 'condemn' letter signed by six city councillors about violent clashes between pro-Palestinian protesters and officers 

The total eclipse could lead to massive drop in solar power generation. Here's how Ontario is preparing 

Vacant home tax 'fiasco': Here's what you need to know

Patti Starr, who was the centre of one of Ontario's biggest political scandals, dies 

Justin Trudeau is angering Canada's premiers with his legacy projects. Inside the fight between provinces and the prime minister  

Expectations of a June interest rate cut solidify as cracks widen in labour market 

BC's first female Lieutenant-Governor, Iona Campagnolo, dies at 91

Canada to end assistance in departures from Haiti this weekend 

Justin Trudeau announces $600 million in loans, funding to jump start homebuilding, rentals 

Toronto Sun

Trudeau's out of control immigration hurting jobs and housing 

Trudeau needs to answer question on foreign interference 

Councillors throw Toronto cops under bus for doing their job

$12 million spent on policing demonstrations in Toronto since October 7 

A petty minded response to a gracious adversary 

Debating the path to carbon pricing 

Liberals love minimum wage though it hurts people they love 

Justin Trudeau's housing strategy spending only driven up inflation

Olivia Chow hoping all of this rain-tax talk will simply wash away

When will Trudeau shut off the immigration spigot?

Gambling on electric vehicles

National Post

Stephen Harper, Jean Chrétien reportedly team up to raise funds to restore dilapidated 24 Sussex

Ottawa asked Facebook to suppress false report about Trudeau before 2019 election, inquiry hears 

Trudeau's $600 million plan to solve supply crunch includes 3D printed, prefabricated homes 

BC tells nurses to ignore rising phenomenon of armed patients doing drugs in hospitals 

MP Anthony Housefather to stay in Liberal caucus despite anger over Palestinian statehood motion  

Danielle Smith says her past comments about carbon tax benefits 'out the window' as federal program costs rise

Elections task force cited 'privacy concerns' in disregarding Conservative evidence of foreign meddling  

Defence lawyer questions if 'disorganized' Coutts border protest had anyone in charge  

Petition to recall Calgary mayor reached 72,000 signatures, far short of 514,284 needed to oust her

Trudeau says provinces looking for alternative to federal carbon tax must still include pricing. 

Global 

Cameron Ortis, convicted RCMP leaker, granted bail pending appeal 

New foreign interference documents raise questions about special rapporteur report 

2nd grid alert in a week leads to rotating power outages in Alberta. What's going on?

Jump in unemployment rate puts Bank of Canada in a 'tricky spot' Here's why

Diabetes medication Humalog faces shortage in Canada 

Last Canadian evacuation flight to leave Haiti on Sunday, Ottawa says 

Can more federal cash ramp up pre-fab housing? Trudeau pitches funds

Budget 2024: Here's what Canadians want from Ottawa  

BC's first Female lieutenant governor, Iona Campanolo, dies 

Shocking video shows motorcyclist speeding and weaving on Vancouver bridge 

Province finally announces long-promised Olympic Village school in Vancouver  

'No justice' says family after charges stayed against Mounties in death of Prince George man 

Home, vehicles peppered with bullets in Mission 

New drone images reveal orca calf trapped of BC coast is female 

'A wake up': Whistler known for its snow, to start wildfire drills 

Miscellaneous            

Quesnel Mayor resists calls for resignation over Residential School denialism 

Democracy is under siege globally, Canada is being tested  

Will space junk obscure the Solar Eclipse?

Whistleblower complaint by five Edmonton surgeons dismissed 

Why locking in logging deferrals to save BC Old Growth is so slow 

Donnie Rosa becomes the New CEO of Atira