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Dec 16 2023

Emergency response. House adjourns. Russian switchers. The Roundup

Dec 16, 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 considering options for national emergency response agency: Sajjan
After a record-breaking wildfire season, Canada's Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said it is clear some kind of federal co-ordination agency is required. [Global]

Canada's spy service warns that dramatic shifts caused by climate change and the ensuing fractious upheaval around the world could leave Canada vulnerable, imperilling its food and water supplies, energy security and Arctic sovereignty. [CP]
Five Canadian cities have landed in the top 25, including Vancouver (8), Toronto (17), Ottawa (19), Montreal (20) and Calgary (23). Vancouver, known for its scenic surroundings, outdoor recreation, and diversity, is the highest-ranking city in all of North America. [Mercer]

Citing the "complicated" nature of pensions and need for all provinces and territories to weigh in, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland would not provide a specific timeline for determining how much Alberta would be entitled to if it leaves the CPP. [CP]

Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem is pushing back on expectations that the central bank will start cutting rates soon, arguing there are still risks to the inflation outlook. [Global]
The federal government is considering whether to further pause its original plan to broaden the rules that govern medically assisted dying. [Global]
Report No. 13 of the Standing Committee on  Fisheries and Oceans. [House of Commons]
Greg Fergus apologized once again on Friday for filming a video played at a partisan event, after a parliamentary committee called on him to show more contrition. [Global]
The Speaker:  It being 4:14 p.m., the House stands adjourned until Monday, January 29, 2024, at 11 a.m. pursuant to Standing Orders 28(2) and 24(1).
Happy holidays, everyone.
[House of Commons]
From the provinces
Trudeau vows $100M+ to build more than 40K homes in Vancouver
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to build more than 40,000 homes in Vancouver in the next decade. He didn't say if the homes would be houses or apartments. [Global]

Examples of what someone will need to do to achieve this level, according to the official government guide. [Montreal Gazette]
"We have to figure these things out. Everyone has to put their ego — and, to some extent, their jurisdictional responsibilities — to the side, and say, “What is the problem here, and how do we get people housed?” That’s the focus that we have." [Global]

A Nova Scotia MLA said he's reached a 'tipping point' after he says a man assaulted two staff members at his government constituency office on Thursday. [Global]

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, today announced that the federal government will deliver an historic $99.4 billion in major federal transfers to provinces and territories in 2024-25, in addition to other significant financial support provided by the federal government. This represents an increase of $4.8 billion in major transfers from 2023-24. [Government of Canada]
Elsewhere
Global coal use to reach record high in 2023, energy agency says
IEA report says demand is expected to grow in India, China but decline in United States, European Union. [Al Jazeera]
“Renewables, particularly solar photovoltaics, are growing rapidly and making large contributions to electricity generation,” [EVWind]
The Siberian Battalion is unique in many ways. It's soldiers are Russians who have joined Ukraine's military ranks to fight against their homeland. [AP]

Leaders of all 27 EU states except Hungary agreed at a summit on Thursday to start accession talks with Ukraine despite Russia's invasion of its neighbour. [Global]
Media

“You get to the point where you feel it's useless. But you have to show the world what's happening,” says reporter Youmna ElSayed. [Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism]
The government this morning released the final Online News Act regulations, effectively gutting the law in order to convince Google to refrain from blocking news links in Canada and to fix some of the legislative mistakes that have been apparent from the start.  [Michael Geist]
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Sci/Tech
Instagram head Adam Mosseri has big plans for Threads in the fediverse, and says a full integration might not come for “the better part of a year.” [The Verge]

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