Past issues Subscribe

Nov 22 2023

Fiscal update. Hostage deal. Assassination plot. The Roundup

Nov 22, 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
Liberals’ fiscal update keeps $40B deficit, pledges new shortfall guidelines
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented her fiscal update in the House of Commons, stressing the pressure inflation and a slowing economy are putting on federal finances. [Global]
The fall economic statement proposed a new Canadian Mortgage Charter to set expectations for homeowners' interactions with federal lenders. [Global]
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled her fall economic statement on the country's financial health and introduced some new measures to target the housing crisis. [Global]
“Alberta and our industry partners have lost three construction years because of federal delays in implementing their commitments,” Allberta Energy Minister Brian Jean said. [Edmonton Journal]

The 11th report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade. [House of Commons]
From the provinces
Manitoba NDP's 1st throne speech pledges geothermal help, Orange Shirt Day stat, but warns of fiscal pain
The throne speech, delivered in the midst of the Israel-Hamas war, also commits to making Holocaust education mandatory for students in the kindergarten to Grade 12 system and to give educators anti-Islamophobia tool kits, prepared by Manitoba's Islamic community. [CBC]
The Alberta government is asking residents to participate in an online survey that will help the province 'refocus' its public health-care system. [Global]

The Saskatchewan government says Ottawa's target to have net-zero emissions by 2035 would cost the province billions of dollars and cause electricity rates to spike. [CP]
The Quebec government has faced criticism over the subsidy while citizens grapple with cost-of-living woes and while public sector unions are on strike. [Global]

L’ancien sénateur et co-président du comité sur la relance du Parti libéral du Québec (PLQ), André Pratte, ferme définitivement la porte à tenter sa chance pour devenir le prochain chef de l’opposition officielle à Québec. [La Presse]
Click to donate $3 a month to support this newsletter!
Elsewhere
Israeli cabinet approves ceasefire with Hamas that includes release of hostages
Under the deal, Hamas is to free 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it is holding in the Gaza Strip over a four-day period, the Israeli government said Wednesday. [Global]
Assassination attempt said to have targeted Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leader of the Sikhs for Justice movement, on US soil. [The Independent]

India restored electronic visa services for Canadian nationals, an Indian foreign ministry official said Wednesday, two months after Canada alleged the South Asian nation was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. [CP]
Media
Bill C-18 Bailout: Government Announces Plans to Pay For 35% of Journalist Costs for News Outlets With 116% Increase in Tax Credit Per Employee
News Media Canada lobbied for Bill C-18. Then it lobbied for a bailout. The government just gave it what it demanded right down to the last penny. Reminder: Private broadcasters -- like Global, CTV or TVA -- are prohibited by law from receving this subsidy. This is a subsidy only for legacy newspapers. The chief beneficiary is Postmedia but also TorStar Corp and The Globe and Mail. Those who write about "media bailouts" should use a different term as a very significant portion of "the media" is not getting any bailout.  [Michael Geist]

Premier Dennis King says he's thinking about whether the P.E.I. government should sponsor the obituaries page in SaltWire's Island newspapers after the company recently decided to move the online death notices behind a paywall. [CBC]
Campaigns should rethink their comms strategies as some may be limiting the reach of their clients’ messaging by “icing” out certain outlets.  [Campaigns and Elections]
Can u spare $5 a month for this newsletter? Click now!
Sci/Tech

The ousted leader of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is returning to the company that fired him late last week, culminating a days-long power struggle that shocked the tech industry and brought attention to the conflicts around how to safely build artificial intelligence. [AP]
LitterDrifter's means of self-propagation are simple. So why is it spreading so widely? [Ars Technica]
The Calendar
  • 0930 ET: 025B West Block -  The CPC National Caucus will meet.
  • 0930 ET: Wellington Building -  The NDP National Caucus will meet.
  • 1000 ET: 220A West Block -  The LPC National Caucus will meet.
  • 1630 ET: 410 Wellington - Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 90 - Implications of Artificial Intelligence Technologies for the Canadian Labour Force
  • 1630 ET: 425 Wellington - Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting  77 - Drafting report
  • 1630 ET: 420 Wellington - Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) | Meeting  84 - Drafting report.
  • 1630 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting  66 - Use of Federal Government Research and Development Grants, Funds, and Contributions by Canadian Universities and Research Institutions in Partnerships with Entities Connected to the People’s Republic of China
  • 1630 ET: 415 Wellington - Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 84 - Rights of Victims of Crime, Reclassification and Transfer of Federal Offenders
  • 1930 ET: 035B West Block - Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) | Meeting  90 - Bill C-33
  • 1930 ET: 025B West Block - Standing Committee on Health (HESA) | Meeting  90 - Drafting report.

Previous Issues

Load More