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Mar 9 2023

Beijing memos. Greedy grocers. Afghan journos.

Mar 9, 2023
David Akin's Roundup
Clippings of #cdnpoli, #media, and #tech content aimed at those with an interest in Canadian politics and policy. And sometimes Canadian postage stamps.
Canada
Two high-level memos allege Beijing covertly funded Canadian election candidates
The two reports, from 2019 and 2022, raise questions about what senior federal officials knew and how seriously the Trudeau government took the warnings. [Global]

L’équipe dédiée à la sécurité nationale de la GRC enquête sur deux présumés «postes de police» chinois dirigés par une élue municipale de Brossard. [Journal de Montréal]
There are concerns about Chinese Canadians being tarred by association during a debate about political interference has recently triggered calls for a public investigation. [Global]
Scarborough—Guildwood MP John McKay made the comments about China to reporters in Ottawa amid a new Global News report into Beijing’s suspected foreign interference efforts. [Global]
Parliamentary committee grills grocery store chain CEOs about greed
A House of Commons committee roasted the top executives of Canada's largest grocery store chains Wednesday about their rising prices and record profits, as more shoppers struggle to pay for food. My file on how CEOs were put on the hot seat and on notice, how they politely pushed back, and meagure solutions the committee is considering to fix the problem. [Global National]
The Conservative leader told his team that it’s incumbent upon them to know exactly who they are meeting with when they are out in public. [TorStar]
Former Liberal cabinet minister Marc Garneau is resigning from his role as an MP, delivering a farewell speech to the House of Commons on Wednesday. [Global]
Committee Report No. 7 - of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and Security. [House of Commons]

Committee Report No. 9 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities [House of Commons]
From the Provinces
Alberta exploring 2030 Commonwealth Games bid
The event would be held over 11 days in August 2030, with events shared between Calgary, Edmonton, Tsuut'ina Nation, the Bow Valley and other Alberta communities. [Global]
The Alberta Firearms Act would allow the province to develop regulations that it sees as necessary to protect gun owners in the province.
While the premier is officially remaining neutral in Toronto’s June 26 mayoral byelection, some Progressive Conservatives are rallying behind Mark Saunders. [TorStar]
Elsewhere
Georgians Protest New Russian-Style Foreign Agents Law
Tbilisi looks to crack down, Moscow-style, on NGOs and free expression. [Foreign Policy]
Geoffrey Wheatcroft: The British Conservative Party was once one of the great popular political movements of Europe. What happened? [NY Rev of Books]
China’s leader Xi Jinping has called for “more quickly elevating the armed forces to world-class standards,” in a speech just days after a top diplomat warned of the growing possibility of conflict with the U.S. unless Washington changes course. [AP]
COVID and Vaccines

Australia will drop the requirement for travellers arriving from China to test for COVID-19 before departure from midnight on March 11, the country's health minister said in a statement on Thursday. [Reuters]
Media
Women journalists under assault in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has never been an easy country for women to be journalists, and it's become even tougher for the few who remain since the Taliban retook control of the country. After spending much of her career in Kabul, Shogofa Danish recently joined our Parliamentary Bureau and in this item, she speaks with a colleague who is risking her life to remain a journalist in Afghanistan. [Global National]
Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker has told reporters outside his London home that he stands by his criticism of the government's asylum seeker policy and does not fear suspension by the BBC. [Sky News]
Twitter thread 👇 re: 👆
While Trump told Hannity on the radio he could’ve prevented war by negotiating a deal with Russia, that portion was curiously edited out when aired on Fox News. [Daily Beast]
Tech

A surprising number of industries, from embroidery to aviation, still use floppy disks. But the supply is finally running out. [Wired]
Issued this day ...
Issued this day in 1999: Sc # 1778: UBC Museum of Anthropology. Design: Barbara Hodgson. Sculpture: Bill Reid. Photographs: William McLennan and Jacqueline Gijssen

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