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Apr 3 2024

Dong inquiry. Immigration control. Gravy train : The Roundup

Apr 3, 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
CSIS doc at inquiry details Dong's strategy for dealing with China on "Two Michaels"
The public inquiry into foreign interference has heard from independent MP Han Dong, who according to sources, is alleged to have benefited from China's support. Global News first reported on those accusations in 2023. David Akin reports on what Dong said about Chinese students transported to his nomination meeting, how the commission focused on the threat from China and how intelligence officials warned of the Chinese government's tactics. [Global National]

Former Liberal Han Dong met with international students from China and encouraged them to register as Liberal members during his nomination race in 2019 — but the MP didn't mention that to an ongoing federal inquiry into foreign meddling until he took the stand Tuesday. [CP]

International students bused to a nomination vote were part of what Canadian security officials suspected could be Chinese meddling: documents. [TorStar]
“I find it dumbfounding,” said Kenny Chiu, the former Conservative MP who believes his chances in the 2021 election were torpedoed by a misinformation campaign orchestrated by Beijing. “These are politicians. If they have any skill at all, it’s the ability to read the room. … This is not the right time, during the public inquiry.” [National Post]
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was among Sikh Canadians warned about potential threats against their lives after the killing of a Sikh activist in B.C. last year, the foreign interference inquiry. [TorStar]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the rate of temporary immigrants coming to Canada is causing significant pressure on communities and needs to be brought back "under control." [Global]

"Folks, let's cut to the chase, this carbon tax has to go or in a year-and-a-half, the prime minister is going," the Ontario premier said at a press conference Tuesday.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meet with the premiers to talk about carbon price alternatives "without taxes." [Global]

The Liberals plan on including a $6-billion housing infrastructure fund in the upcoming budget and to access it, municipalities and provinces must allow fourplexes. [Global]

A price-monitoring company says Canadians aren't likely to see gas cost less than $1 per litre again amid a carbon price hike, along with geopolitical strife. [Global]
From the Provinces
Cost of Ontario premier's office surges under Doug Ford: "His own gravy train"
The cost and size of the premier's office in Ontario has ballooned under Premier Doug Ford. Public salary disclosures of those making $100,000 or more, also known as the Sunshine List, for 2023 show the total number of staff in the premier’s office under Ford, along with the number of people earning six figures, has grown since 2019, the Progressive Conservative party’s first full year in office. Global News' Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello explains. [Global]

Four-in-five say government is doing a poor job on each of the top three issues facing the province. [Angus Reid Institute]

Manitoba is facing a nearly $800-million deficit for the year ahead, as the first budget under the NDP government promises incremental progress on a number of election commitments, along with new tax relief geared toward lower-income households. [CBC]

B.C.'s neighbouring province launched its Alberta is Calling campaign in 2022 to entice people to move to that province, promising bigger paycheques and a lower cost of living. [Global]
Thomas Mulcair: The death of party stalwart Benoît Pelletier serves as a reminder that there are big shoes to fill at the PLQ. Keep an eye on Karl Blackburn. [Montreal Gazette]
Elsewhere
China’s Advancing Efforts to Influence the U.S. Election Raise Alarms
China has adopted some of the same misinformation tactics that Russia used ahead of the 2016 election, researchers and government officials say. [NYT]

This was the state of play when Trump announced his candidacy in 2015. A Washington Post-ABC News poll the following March found that views that Whites were losing out were a better predictor of support for Trump than economic insecurity. YouGov polling in February 2016 found that two-thirds of Republicans thought White people faced more discrimination than minorities do. [WaPo]

Former President Petro Poroshenko said on April 2 he plans to run for the presidential office again, but only once the war with Russia ends. [Kyiv Independent]
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Media
She reads the newspaper on TikTok — and her videos are going viral
Newspapers are losing the battle against smartphones as the place to learn the news, but one woman has found a way to bridge the divide and bring the print to the people. [NPR]

Shares of Donald Trump's social media company plunged 21% on Monday, wiping out the gains from its debut last week, after disclosing millions in losses and saying it would struggle to meet its financial liabilities going forward. [Reuters]
Science and Tech
Catan's new board game lets you pit fossil fuels against green energy
With Catan: New Energies, the iconic board game maker is challenging players to think about the realities of climate change. The Akin household recently became players/addicts of the original Catan. And we're told this game is a big hit in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse.  [Fast Company]
Intel’s recent investment in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines should turn things around by 2027. [The Verge]
The Calendar
  • 0930 ET: Ottawa - NDP MP Jenny Kwan and CPC MP Michael Chong will testify at the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference.
  • 1000 ET: 225A West Block - Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP) | Meeting  111 - Report 1, ArriveCAN, of the 2024 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada
  • 1000 ET: Toronto - PM Trudeau and Housing and Infrastructure Min Sean Fraser speak about Budget 2024.
  • 1000 ET: Winnipeg - GPC MP Elizabeth  May meets with the Mainstreet Project.
  • 1030 ET: Gaspé, QC - Fisheries Min Diane Lebouthillier speaks about Forillon National Park.
  • 1100 ET: Quebec City - Public Services and Procurement Min Jean-Yves Duclos , Innovation Min François-Philippe Champagne, and Tourism Min Soraya Martinez Ferrada speak about Budget 2024.
  • 1115 ET: Winnipeg - Health Min Mark Holland and Northern Affairs Min Dan Vandal speak about budget 2024.
  • 1130 ET: Winnipeg - GPC MP Elizabeth  May meets with Forward House Ministries.
  • 1200 ET: Halifax - Immigration Min Marc Miller and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson speak about Budget 2024.
  • 1215 ET: Hamilton, ON - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and NDP MP Matthew Green speak about tax policy
  • 1300 ET: Regina - Justice Min Arif Virani and Indigenous Services Min Patty Hajdu speak about Budget 2024.
  • 1420 ET: Victoria - Labour Min Seamus O'Regan speaks about Budget 2024.
  • 1500 ET: Edmonton - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland and Employment Min Randy Boissonnault speak about Budget 2024
  • 1500 ET: Toronto - PM Trudeau meets with students.
  • 1500 ET: Quebec City - Public Services and Procurement Min Jean-Yves Duclos  makes an infrastructure funding announcement.
  • 1630 ET: Winnipeg - GPC MP Elizabeth  May meets with Premier Wab Kinew.
  • 1930 ET: Winnipeg - GPC MP Elizabeth  May meets with supporters.
  • 2130 ET: Tsawwassen, BC - Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to supporters.
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