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Jun 2 2023

Clerk check. Picking cabinet. Meta blocks.

Jun 2, 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
Chong interference memo fell into a ‘black hole’, Trudeau adviser tells committee
Ottawa needs to improve the way it manages intelligence and is working to close communication gaps, Trudeau's national security adviser told a parliamentary committee Thursday. [Global]
The next clerk of the Privy Council is a diplomat and lawyer who came up through Foreign Affairs and knows security. He doesn’t fit the traditional mould. [Policy Options]
Just published vis the federal government's Open Data portal: The RCMP instructions to its members and employees about "the stages to release data and information, in the interests of transparency and Open Government (OG) within the RCMP. This document will outline each step thoroughly and provide [employees] with context. Should you want to publish open data and/or information the Open Government and Data Governance team will support throughout the entire process and can provide additional resources, such as the Step-by-Step Infographic. [RCMP]
From the provinces
Manitoba legislature session ends, sets tone for upcoming election campaign
The Manitoba legislature rose Thursday for the summer break and an upcoming election campaign that is expected to focus on health care, taxes and crime. [CP]
Now that Alberta voters have decided Danielle Smith should remain premier, assembling a new cabinet will be among her first tasks. [CBC]
The Quebec government wants to ban the sale of products that aren't intended to last and reinforce consumers' ability to repair the products they buy. [CP]
The Quebec government has described the law as a moderate response to what it says is the declining use of French, but others are worried about its far-reaching impacts. [Global]
Elsewhere
The summit has been overshadowed by China's refusal to let its defense minister meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the forum. [NPR]
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Media
Meta to test blocking news on Facebook, Instagram in Canada over Bill C-18
The company says it wants to work out the kinks before permanently blocking news on its platforms when the Liberal government's online news act becomes law. [Global]

The head of Canada's public broadcaster will remain in her role for another 18 months, after her contract was extended by the federal heritage minister. [CP]

OPEC has not invited Reuters or Bloomberg news agencies to report on ministerial meetings in Vienna this weekend to discuss future oil policy, according to reporters, Bloomberg and an OPEC source on Wednesday. [Reuters]
Tech
AI-expanded album cover artworks go viral thanks to Photoshop’s Generative Fill
Generative Fill uses AI to dream up larger versions of famous artwork. [Ars Technica]

One common task [in R] is exporting data to Excel files which allows for easy sharing and presentation of results. Here, three popular R packages for writing Excel files are compared. [Steve’s Data Tips and Tricks]
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Issued this day ...
... in 1994: Sc #1523 Souvenir Sheet of 5 stamps: United Nations International Year of the Family. Design: Suzanne Duranceau. 

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