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Mar 18 2024

EV rebates. Palestinian debate. Landline love: The Roundup

Mar 18, 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
EV rebates: Canada mulling over new strategy as program set to expire
To avoid pain at the gas pumps, more than 350,000 Canadians have taken advantage of federal rebates to purchase electric or hybrid vehicles. But those programs that began back in 2007 are set to end next spring. And Trudeau’s cabinet is now facing pressure to extend the rebates as part of an overhaul of Ottawa’s electric strategy. David Akin has the details. [Global National]
NDP foreign affairs critic has brought forward an opposition day motion that calls on the government to take several actions in response to the war in Gaza. The most controversial and far-reaching is recognition of Palestinian statehood. The motion risks dividing the Liberals. [CBC]
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was in Halifax, where hundreds turned out for a St. Patrick’s Day rally. Poilievre continued his calls for the Trudeau government to “axe the tax” — a reference to the federal carbon pricing plan which is set to increase next month. But how much will that actually cost Canadians? Heidi Petracek reports. [Global National]
B.C. Premier David Eby called Poilievre's plea to halt the upcoming federal carbon price increase a "baloney factory" campaign tactic. It didn't please the Conservative leader. [Global]
Prime ministers always say they leave their political legacies to historians. But it’s their successors who largely write that history by deciding what parts of any governing agenda survive. [TorStar]
From the Provinces
Just add Nenshi, and it's a whole different Alberta NDP race
Jason Markusoff: The ex-mayor may have burst into the leadership contest with a show of strength. But buzz fades, and momentum can die down. [CBC]
The Saskatchewan Party will unveil its 2024-25 budget on Wednesday afternoon. Still, much is already known about what will be included thanks to a string of announcements by the government. [CBC]
Elsewhere
In Haiti, how gangs working together are adding to the ‘uncertainty’
Canada's ambassador to Haiti says the willingness of gangs in the Caribbean country to work together and coordinate is adding to the 'uncertainty' of the current crisis. [Global]

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Monday that a direct conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance would mean the planet was one step away from World War Three but said hardly anyone wanted such a scenario. [Reuters]
The International Olympic Committee condemned Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, saying the Russian government had breached the Olympic Truce. [Global]
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Media
Kremlin steps up online censorship in order to silence last opposition voices ahead of presidential election
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the new Chinese-inspired laws regulating the “Runet,” the Russian Internet,” which the Kremlin has imposed in the run-up to the bogus presidential election in order to silence dissent and prevent Russians from accessing reliable online reporting. [Reporters Without Borders]

Conducting interviews that provide everything you need for an article, eliciting details from experts for color and juicy quotes, and building rapport with sources are essential skills for any journalist. By mastering the nuts and bolts of interviewing, you can limit the number of follow-up questions you have to ask in an email or second call and set yourself up to write engaging, fully fleshed out stories. [Open Notebook]
Science and Tech
Landline Users Remain Proudly ‘Old-Fashioned’ in the Digital Age
Traditional phones may seem like relics in the iPhone era, but a recent AT&T cellular service outage had some landline lovers extolling their virtues. [NYT]

Can you take your phone swimming? Here's what those IP67, IP68 and IPX8 water resistance ratings really mean. [CNet]
The Calendar
  • 0500 ET: Hamburg, Germany - Energy and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson participates in the Canada–Germany Hydrogen and Ammonia Producer-Offtaker Conference.
  • 0600 ET: Hamburg, Germany - Energy and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson visits the Aurubis AG factory
  • 0800 ET: Hamburg, Germany - Energy and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson visits the Mabanaft GmbH & Co fuel depot.
  • 0900 ET: Toronto - Small Business Min Rechie Valdez speaks about the 2024 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship report
  • 1100 ET: 135B West Block -  The National Council of Canadian Muslims speaks to reporters.
  • 1100 ET: 315 Wellington - Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) | Meeting  94 - Drafting reports
  • 1100 ET: 025-B West Block - Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting  110 - Supplementary Estimates (C) 2023-24
  • 1100 ET: 415 Wellington - Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) | Meeting  99 - Opinion by the Supreme Court of Canada Regarding An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families (C-92)
  • 1100 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting  114 - Accessibility and Affordability of Wireless and Broadband Services in Canada
  • 1100 ET: 410 Wellington - Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting  98 - Bill C-332
  • 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting  96 - Space Defence
  • 1100 ET: 425 Wellington - Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting  86 - Committee Business
  • 1115 ET: Hamburg, Germany - Energy and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson makes an announcement.
  • 1130 ET: Ottawa - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks at the 2024 ATU Canada Conference
  • 1130 ET: Orford, QC - Innovation Min François-Philippe Champagne , Revenue Min Marie-Claude Bibeau, Heritage Min Pascale St-Onge and LPC MP Élisabeth Brière speak regional chambers of commerce.
  • 1300 ET: Regina - Health Min Mark Holland makes a funding announcement. 
  • 1400 ET: HoC foyer - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to reporters
  • 1515 ET: House of Commons -  Parliamentarians pay tribute to the late Rt Hon Brian Mulroney
  • 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Health (HESA) | Meeting  106 - Drafting reports
  • 1530 ET: 315 Wellington - Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 104 - Drafting report
  • 1530 ET: 035-B West Block - Standing Committee on Natural Resources (RNNR) | Meeting  89 - Bill C-49
  • 1530 ET: 125-B West Block - Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting  90 - Language Obligations Related to Staffing Key Positions
  • 1530 ET: 425 Wellington - Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 99 - Bill C-26
  • 1645 ET: West Block - PM Trudeau meets with the family of the late Rt Hon Brian Mulroney
  • 1710 ET: West Block - Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre meets with the family of the late Rt Hon Brian Mulroney
Issued this day ...
… in 2005: Scott #2094: Toronto Dominion Bank. Design: q30. Photograph: Bernard Bohn. 

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