Dec 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
Une conservatrice exige de la ministre St-Onge qu’elle s’adresse à elle en anglais, le chaos s’ensuit
Elle s’est fait clouer le bec par les membres du Comité du patrimoine. Figured the Quebecor empire would absolutely dig into this one -- kicked around by pundits on TVA and QUB etc. You can find some links here Le Journal's site.  [JdeM]
Althia Raj: That is, after all, what this is all about. And it’s unfortunately become what most exchanges in the House of Commons are about. The intention is not to hold the government to account, or to have probing, insightful exchanges; it’s about the video clips of fake outrage that can be generated to mobilize support and raise funds. 100% agree with Althia. The House of Commons, its committee rooms are simply the set, the stage, the backdrop for the social feeds of individual MPs. [TorStar]

Contenders for national chief of the Assembly of First Nations are hitting back against Ottawa’s proposed work to define the Indian status of First Nation members. Last week, Indigenous Services Canada Minister Patty Hajdu announced the establishment of an Indigenous advisory process that would inform the upcoming collaborative process on second-generation cut-off. This process, she said, is the next step in the co-development of reforms to address status inequities that remain within the Indian Act. [Windspeaker]

In Canada, 55 per cent of respondents believed mainstream media manipulates information, while 36 per cent believed that John F. Kennedy's assassination was a coverup. [Global]
From the provinces
A government-funded health project shows that in certain parts of Sarnia there is an increased risk of cancer, particularly leukemia, because of exposure to air pollution. [Global]
Ontario Liberals gather today to elect a new leader
The Ontario Liberals will announce Saturday who will lead them into the 2026 election against Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives. [TorStar]
Emails received by the premier's office the day after Alberta's pension plan report was released were overwhelmingly opposed to leaving CPP. [Edmonton Journal]
Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez says the ferry that operates between Digby, N.S., and Saint John, N.B., will not be moved to another route next year. [Global]
 L’ancien sénateur André Pratte, qui a co-présidé le comité sur la relance du Parti libéral du Québec (PLQ), a pris goût à la vie politique. Celui que les libéraux surnomment le « super militant », mais qui refuse l’étiquette d’éminence grise, devient président de la commission politique du parti. Son mandat : que le rapport de son comité ne soit pas tabletté avant la rédaction de la prochaine plateforme électorale des libéraux. [La Presse]
Premier François Legault says he that he wants the teachers to think of the children who are being harmed by the strike, now into its second week. [Global]
Click to donate $3 a month to support this newsletter!
Elsewhere

At least 178 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting resumed, even as the United States urged ally Israel to protect civilians. [AP]

As bad as the 2023 fire season was, climate scientists agree the planet is in for far worse if global average temperatures are allowed to rise more than two degrees.  [Global]
COP28: A Canadian lawyer’s backchannel strategy to force polluters to act
A Canadian human rights lawyer is trying a different approach to compel the world's biggest polluters to compel nations to drastically lower their emissions. [Global]
The Heritage Foundation asks applicants for a future Republican administration a series of questions about their ideology, showing the extent to which “America First” has shaped the modern G.O.P. [NYT]

Media

X/Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino thought she could manage the mercurial Elon Musk. Her former colleagues and partners are baffled at the result. [Hollywood Reporter]

As conversations within the media start to shift to appreciate the importance of addressing mental health issues and safeguarding reporters in difficult situations, some are also asking the question of how to address emotions in journalism. These could be workplace stress, sadness felt when reporting a tough story, or even excitement at a new opportunity. However commonplace these emotions are, if compounded they can lead to issues that can make journalists’ jobs harder, and in some cases even lead them to quit the profession. [Reuters Institute]

Can u spare $5 a month for this newsletter? Click now!
Sci/Tech
Where could millions of EV batteries retire? Solar farms.
A Southern California company is showing how repurposing EV batteries for stationary storage can extend their usefulness for several years. [Grist]
"... each subject experienced the same complete remission of their persistent disabling disease within a week of MCA infusion. Each rapidly returned to normal health and previous lifestyles/occupations with normalized exercise tolerance, still sustained to date over two years later." [Science]
The Calendar
  • 1100 ET: Toronto, ON - Diversity and Inclusion MIn Kamal Khera makes a funding announcement.