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May 9 2023

Diplomats out. Legault’s triple? Facebook threat.

May 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
Canada expels Chinese diplomat who allegedly targeted Conservative MP
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement that Zhao Wei has been declared "persona non grata" in Canada and will send home any diplomats who interfere in Canada's affairs. [Global]
China expels Canadian diplomat in tit-for-tat move amid alleged threats to MP
China has declared a Canadian diplomat as 'persona non grata' in retaliation for Ottawa's expulsion of a Chinese consular official. [Global]

Leading universities say they would avoid working with the organizations altogether — despite potential $100M loss in annual funding from foreign partners. [TorStar]

Dans une lettre au premier ministre, le juge en chef déplore la lenteur du processus de nomination des juges. [Radio-Canada]
The public safety minister told reporters in Toronto that he can’t say whether other MPs allegedly targeted by China’s security services received briefings. [Global]
The Liberal Party’s lawyers argue that a new law, which does not include privacy safeguards for Canadian voters, supersedes B.C. watchdog’s orders. [Global]
From the provinces
Smith told UCP supporters about Alberta state of emergency before public
The video shows UCP Leader Danielle Smith telling supporters she's giving them a little bit of inside information regarding the wildfires raging across the province. [Global]
Smith compared those who received COVID vaccinations to those in Hitler's Germany who 'succumbed to the charms of a tyrant, somebody telling them that they have all the answers.' [Global]
As Canada’s oil province Alberta gears up for a May 29 election, some political analysts say the candidates being put forward by right-wing premier Danielle Smith's ruling party may deter voters more used to moderate conservative lawmakers. [National Post]
United Conservative leader Danielle Smith and Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley will be taking the stage to dive into issues that are important to Albertans this election. [Global]

La CAQ tiendra un grand congrès samedi et dimanche. Ce sera l’occasion pour les délégués de remettre leur bulletin de notes à François Legault, puisque le chef caquiste sera soumis à un «vote de confiance». [Le Soleil]

The Liberal MP for the riding of Beaches-East York has been elected at the federal level three times since 2015 and says he's running to rebuild the provincial party. [Global]
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Elsewhere
Putin tells WWII event West is waging a 'real war' on Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his country’s traditional Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square that the West’s “untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity” are driving “a real war” against Russia. His remarks Tuesday came just hours after the Kremlin’s forces fired another cruise missile barrage at Ukraine. Putin said at the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II that “today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point.” He said, “A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.” Russia invaded Ukraine more than 14 months ago in what it officially refers to as a “special military operation.” [AP]

Syrians fleeing their country's civil war were once welcomed in Turkey out of compassion, making the country home to the world’s largest refugee community. But as their numbers grew — and as Turkey began to grapple with a battered economy, including skyrocketing food and housing prices — so did calls for their return. The repatriation of Syrians and other migrants has become a top theme in Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections when the country will decide whether to give incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a new mandate to rule or bring an opposition candidate to power. But following through on promises to repatriate Syrians may be easier said than done for the eventual winner. [AP]
Media
Meta has team working to block news on Facebook, Instagram from Canadian users
Tech giant Meta has learned from the mistakes it made blocking online news from Facebook in Australia, when it accidentally limited access to emergency services pages. [CP]
Without debate, Liberal Party members passed a policy resolution to combat disinformation this weekend that critics warn could give the government control over Canadian media outlets. [CBC]

"[Y]ou will probably see follower count drop," Twitter owner Elon Musk has warned the website's users, because the company is purging accounts that has "had no activity at all" for several years. [Endgadget]
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Tech

The Singapore government is looking to pass new legislation that will allow it to issue directives to combat the "scale and speed" of cyber-criminal activity, including blocking access to suspected scam sites. [ZDNet]
Issued this day ...
Issued this day in 2007: Scott # 2218a - vertical se-tenant strip of 4: Royal Architectural Institute. Design: Ivan Novotny, Taylor | Sproules Corp.
This set of four was issued to mark the centennial of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. It is a unique presentation in that, in addition to the stamp, there what Canada Post called “labels” on either side of the stamp. When seen in the full pane of stamps — the item from my collection above is a left half-pane — one gets an architectural drawing on the left label and a photograph of the architect on the right. The featured works are, from top to bottom, (sc 2215) University of Lethbridge (1968), Arthur Erickson (1924-2009), (sc 2216) St Mary’s Church, Red Deer, AB (1969), Douglas Cardinal (1934- ), (sc 2217) Ontario Science Centre (1964), Toronto, Raymond Moriyama (1929- ) and (sc 2218) National Gallery of Canada (1988), Ottawa, Moshe Safdie (1938- ).

Only one of those buildings is currently a political hot potato ... :)

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