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Jan 17 2024

Chinese threats. Running Tories. After Notley: The Roundup

Jan 17, 2024
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
Canadians say climate caused a warm December they both enjoyed and worried about
Canadian attitudes toward climate change are about as consistent as Canadian weather, a new poll suggests. [CP]

The government also named 12 Iranian and 6 Russian research institutions connected with military, state security or defence agencies. [Global]
A prominent conservative commentator wants to run as a Conservative MP in the next federal election, adding to the names being bandied about for who might govern alongside Pierre Poilievre. [TorStar]

John Manley, also a former deputy PM, said Canada is good at pointing fingers at other countries, but is missing in action when needed most. [National Post]

Longtime Liberal member of Parliament and former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett is set to become the next ambassador to Denmark. [CP]

Treasury Board secretary Graham Flack resigns after three decades in key public service posts. Now the government must find a replacement. [Policy Options]
From the provinces
Who could run to replace Rachel Notley as NDP leader?
Rachel Notley is bidding farewell to the top opposition job in Alberta, setting the table for what could be a fascinating leadership race. [Edmonton Journal]
B.C. Premier David Eby has announced a push to expand the province's electricity system that could see billions in extra spending on infrastructure projects. [CP]
The Ontario Medical Association is pitching an 11-point plan to address weaknesses in the health-care system, with primary care the main priority. [Global]

Ontario finance ministry officials took issue with how Alberta's report calculated its asset withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan. [Edmonton Journal]
Snowclearing spat erupts as weather advisories issued across N.L. [SaltWire]
Elsewhere
Gaza civilians, Israeli hostages to get urgent aid in deal between Israel, Hamas
Qatar and France have brokered a deal with Israel and Hamas to deliver urgent medication to Israeli hostages held in Gaza in return for humanitarian and medical aid for civilians. [Global]

Zelenskyy is endeavoring to keep his country’s long and largely stalemated defense against Russia on the minds of political leaders, just as Israel’s war with Hamas, which passed the 100-day mark this week, has siphoned off much of the world’s attention and sparked concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East. [ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
Trump’s ascent took root in places like Chickasaw County, where the electorate had once supported Barack Obama but by 2020 backed Trump by 65 percent. [WaPo]
Media
Northerners hopeful for survival of local newspapers, as Black Press files for creditor protection
The future may be a little uncertain for some northern newspapers, as Black Press Media — which owns several publications in the three territories — is dealing with money troubles. [CBC]
Baltimore businessman David Smith told Sun staff he had not been a regular newspaper reader for decades. [Baltimore Banner]
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Sci/Tech

The semantic web, Web 3.0, and Web3 are three guiding ideas shaping the future of the Internet. Here's how they come together, bonded by technologies like blockchain, generative AI, and HTMX. [InfoWorld]
The Calendar
  • 0930 ET: Saint John, NB - PM Trudeau tours an affordable housing development, makes an announcement and answers reporters questions
  • 1000 ET: Saint-Rémi, QC - Revenue Min Marie-Claude Bibeau and LPC MP Brenda Shanahan make a funding announcement. 
  • 1030 ET: Mirabel, QC - Public Services and Procurement Min Jean-Yves Duclos makes a defence procurement announcement.
  • 1030 ET: 025B West Block - Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting  98 - Meeting Requested Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4) to Discuss a Request to Undertake a Study of the Prime Minister's Vacation to Jamaica
  • 1100 ET: Edmonton - International Trade Min Mary Ng speaks about the Indo-Pacific strategy
  • 1115 ET: Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, SK - Indigenous Services Min Patty Hajdu marks the opening of a new school.
  • 1200 ET: Vancouver - Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc , International Development Min Harjit Sajjan and LPC MP Hedy Fry make a funding announcement. 
  • 1300 ET: Charlottetown - LPC MP Sean Casey makes a funding announcement. 
  • 1315 ET: Regina - Innovation Min François-Philippe Champagne speaks about critical minerals.
  • 1400 ET: 415 Wellington - Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting  97 - ArriveCAN  Application.
  • 1430 ET: New Hamburg, ON - Agriculture Min Lawrence MacAulay and LPC MP Tim Louis make a funding announcement. 
  • 1515 ET: Winnipeg - Energy and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson makes a funding announcement. 
  • 1600 ET: Edmonton - International Trade Min Mary Ng speaks to Ukrainian business leaders.
  • 2130 ET: Capital, BC - GPC MP Elizabeth May hosts a community meeting.
  • Davos, Switzerland - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland will attend the World Economic Forum.
Issued this day ...
... in 2013: Scott #2618: Raoul Wallenberg. Design: Glenda Rissman / q30 Design Inc.
From the press released at time of the stamp's issue: "What happened to Raoul Wallenberg after 1945 is a bit of a mystery. What is known – and is legend – is his mission to save as many as 100,000 Jewish people in Budapest, Hungary during the Second World War.

Wallenberg – then 32 – arrived in Budapest in 1944. He designed a protective passport called the Schutz-Pass featuring the symbols and colours of Sweden, which he handed out indiscriminately, often in dangerous circumstances, to people in the Jewish community. But before he could return home at the end of the war, he disappeared into Soviet custody with no satisfactory explanation of his fate.

In recognition of his efforts, the Canadian government made the Swedish-born Wallenberg Canada’s first honorary citizen in 1985, and designated January 17, the day of his disappearance, as Raoul Wallenberg Day.

The stamp, featuring Wallenberg’s passport photo from 1944, shows a number of elements related to his efforts in Budapest including Hungarian Jews rescued from deportation and images from the Schutz-Pass.

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