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Aug 11 2023

Canoe conversation. Saskatchewan upset. Heat primer.

Aug 11, 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
Trevor Tombe: Confidence in the rules laid down by governments is essential for all long-term decisions. The global economy is volatile enough. Politicians in Canada shouldn’t make matters worse. [The Hub]

The audit found several weaknesses that amounted to a significant deficiency in the corporation’s conservation practices that expose the objects in its collections to various risks. For example, the corporation did not have robust inventory management systems and practices. The audit found that more than 800 items were declared as missing through several inventory verifications conducted by the corporation between 2012 and 2022, more than 300 items lacked proper storage, and more than 15,000 items had no source information. The corporation did not have any plans to deal with these issues. [Auditor General of Canada]
Podcast host David McGuffin sits down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss his passion and history with canoeing, including childhood trips and being taught to paddle by canoeing legend Bill Mason. The PM and his family -- despite the recent separation of mom and dad -- are on holiday together in British Columbia this week.  [Canadian Geographic] 
Hate is shifting online, and Canada is struggling to keep up. [Signal Halifax]
'If the government was smart, it would say "OK, we're causing the problem by giving out these visas to international students, how can we solve this problem"' [National Post]
Conservatives continue to dominate Canadian political fundraising
I put together some charts and date from the latest Elections Canada data on political fundraising. This incorporates party activities for the three-months ended June 30, 2023. And, as we've seen in almost every quarter since the Liberals were elected in 2015 -- the Conservatives are dominant. And yet, even with such a fundraising advantage, the Liberals have won all the elections on this plot. - DA 
Here is the data set going stretching back to 2007. (Political financing rules were changed in 2007). A reminder that, in Canada, donations by corporations, unions, and NGOs to any federally registered political entity -- parties, candidates, riding associations -- is prohibited. Only individuals may make donations. 
The 2nd quarter of 2023 was the third quarter in which Pierre Poilievre has been leader of his party and while this was the worst of those three quarters, 2023Q2 followed what were two record-breaking hauls for the party outside a writ period. There's no question his ascendancy has motivated partisans to write cheques. 
In the 66 quarters tracked here since 2007, including four quarters with writ periods in them, 2023Q2 was the .. :
  • 23rd best quarter  for the Bloc Qubécois
  • 7th best for the Conservatives
  • 45th best for Green Party
  • 36th best for the NDP
  • 32nd best for the Liberals.
* No data has been yet published for the People's Party of Canada in 2023Q2

Data source: Elections Canada. Calculation: Akin
From the provinces
Saskatchewan NDP steal two of three seats in provincial byelection
The results for the provinces three byelections are coming in, and it was a big night for the Sask. NDP, as they were able to steal two seats from the Saskatchewan Party and the provincial government. [Global]

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill says that the provincial Liberals were painted with the same brush as the Justin Trudeau government, and it played a part in its by-election loss. [Global]

An OPP spokesperson told Global News the police force 'cannot elaborate on any discussions which may have taken place with the Auditor General' and said the review continues. [Global]
The Alberta Dental Service Corporation was hacked between May 7 and July 9. The hackers communicated that they were holding data ransom and demanded cryptocurrency in payment. [Global]
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Elsewhere
As the Atlantic hits record temperatures, what does it mean for marine life?
Record-high sea temperatures in the northeastern Atlantic are raising concerns by conservationists about how well marine ecosystems can survive in a disrupted food web. [Global]
High temperatures can put the body under immense stress. Here’s what that looks like. [NYT]
Trump's own lawyer has said he would welcome live coverage and a group of Democrats in Congress also wants cameras allowed at the D.C. trial and the one playing out in Florida. [Global]
Victims' families are distraught that Russian prisoners released to fight in Ukraine are reoffending. [BBC]

The right-wing Les Républicains party, which has been in the opposition since 2012, likes to point out it has a history of governing the country, in the hope of undermining the far-right Rassemblement National's credibility. [Le Monde]
Tech
How fame-seeking teenagers hacked some of the world’s biggest targets
A ragtag bunch of amateur hackers, many of them teenagers with little technical training, have been so adept at breaching large targets, including Microsoft, Okta, Nvidia, and Globant, that the federal government is studying their methods to get a better grounding in cybersecurity. [Ars Technica]
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Media
A message from the Nelson Star. [Nelson Star]
Social Media and the Fight For Political Influence in Southeast Asia
Social media has become an increasingly important tool in political campaigns in Southeast Asia. Politicians and national factions in the region are using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to reach out to voters, spread their message, and mobilize support. In the contemporary digital era, several steps can be done to ensure that the use of social media has positive impacts. In this article, we argue that learning from Southeast Asia’s experiences may provide insights into social media usage trends ahead of future elections.” [The Diplomat]

Québecor cesse dès maintenant de payer le loyer pour ses journalistes à l’Assemblée nationale. [JdeQ]
Trialling ActivityPub and the federated model for social media and it's possibilities for the BBC. [BBC]
Issued this day ...
...  in 1971: Scott # 553: Paul Kane. Design: William Eueter.
Issued to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of painter Paul Kane (1810-1871) The stamp features Kane’s Indian Encampment on Lake Huron (1848-50), from the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario. 

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