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Dec 7 2023

Gas caps. Election pollution. BC Shift. The Roundup

Dec 7, 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
NDP ridings got more federal rapid housing cash than Conservative ones. Why?
The country's largest cities benefited most from a $4-billion fund to build housing for those most at risk of homelessness, while small centres got less. I crunched the data and found an apparent partisan bias disguises an unintended bias in the program's design. [Global]

The long-promised cap on greenhouse gas emissions for Canada's oil and gas sector will begin as early as 2026 and use a cap-and-trade system that applies by facility. [CP]

There will be another round of voting for national chief at the Assembly of First Nations special chiefs assembly in Ottawa on Thursday morning after the two candidates still standing failed to get the required number of votes. The race is down to Cindy Woodhouse, the current regional chief for Manitoba and David Pratt, vice-chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, commonly called the FSIN. [APTN]
The Tories are also eyeing amendments that could delay passage of legislation to implement measures in the government's fall economic statement. [Global]

Canada's cybersecurity watchdog warns that Russia and China will continue to interfere in elections. It also warns artificial intelligence will be used to undermine democracy. [Global]
A senate committee urged government not to cut foreign affairs budget amid belt tightening, said many issues have persisted for nearly 40 years. [Global]
From the provinces
Anxiety is at an all-time high in Peel Region, as municipal employees wait for Ford government's decision to reverse the dissolution of Peel. [Global]
Premier David Eby and Opposition BC United Leader Kevin Falcon are looking over their shoulders at the political gains being made by the new kid on the block, says [that new kid on the block] BC Conservative leader John Rustad [CP]
The state of emergency accuses the N.B. government of failing to provide support services to the town of St. Stephen, where 70 people are homeless in a community of about 4,150. [Global]
Danielle Smith's government has rejected a proposal that would have compelled it to respect the results of a referendum on whether Alberta should quit the Canada Pension Plan. [Global]
Elsewhere
U.S. Senate fails to advance Ukraine, Israel aid amid border policy fight
The vote came after Biden said it was "stunning" that Congress has not yet approved tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance for Ukraine as funding runs out. [Global]
Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the U.N. Charter that allows him to raise "any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security." [Global]
Media
[Korea] Government asks YouTubers to curb their drinking on camera
The government [of South Korea] has issued guidelines to discourage YouTubers from promoting excessive drinking on their shows, aiming to prevent minors from exposure to heavy drinking culture. [Korea JoongAng Daily]

“Although retractions represent a tiny fraction of all academic papers published each year, bad research can have tremendous impacts…. On Nov. 30, The Journalist’s Resource hosted a free webinar to help journalists find and report on problematic research. Three experts who have covered research misconduct or have hands-on experience monitoring or detecting it offered a variety of tips and insights.” [The Journalist's Resource]
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Sci/Tech
How AI assistants are already changing the way code gets made
AI coding assistants are here to stay—but just how big a difference they make is still unclear. [MIT Technology Review]
We look at the three-year running costs of gasoline, hybrid, and all-electric versions of Canada’s workhorses. [Driving]
The Calendar
  • 0815 ET: 315 Wellington - Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting  87 - Efforts to Stabilize Food Prices
  • 1000 ET: NPT - Environment Min Steven Guilbeault , Employment and Social Development Min Randy Boissonnault, Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson, and Women and Gender Equality Min Marci Ien speak about emissions reductions.
  • 1100 ET: 425 Wellington - Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) | Meeting  90 - Briefing with the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Freshwater
  • 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) | Meeting  122 - Policy Decisions and Market Forces that have led to Increases in the Cost of Buying or Renting a Home in Canada: Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland testifies
  • 1100 ET: 415 Wellington - Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) | Meeting  90 - Women and Gender Equality Marci Ien testifies on FY24 SuppBs.
  • 1100 ET: 315 Wellington - Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) | Meeting  92 - Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
  • 1100 ET: 410 Wellington - Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT) | Meeting  87 - The 2023 Strike at the Port of Vancouver: Selected Impacts, Responses and Port-related Innovation
  • 1100 ET: 025B West Block - Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) | Meeting  97 - Drafting report.
  • 1100 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP) | Meeting  90 - Drafting report
  • 1100 ET: HoC foyer - NDP MPs Niki Ashton and Lori Idlout speak to reporters.
  • 1130 ET: Ottawa - Health Min Mark Holland makes a funding announcement. 
  • 1515 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau presents the Prime MInister's Awards for Teaching Excellence.
  • 1530 ET: 410 Wellington - Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) | Meeting  88 - Closed Work Permits and Temporary Foreign Workers
  • 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting  75 - Experience of Women Veterans
  • 1530 ET: 035B West Block - Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting  86 - Defence Min Bill Blair on FY24 Supp Bs
  • 1530 ET: 125B West Block - Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting  95 - Changeover of the Public Service Health Care Plan from Sun Life to Canada Life
  • 1530 ET: 415 Wellington - Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) | Meeting  88 - Bill C-53
  • 1530 ET: 315 Wellington - Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting  102 - Bill C-27
  • 1530 ET: 425 Wellington - Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting  88 - Bill C-40
  • 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting  75 - Experience of women veterans
Issued this day ...
... in 1898: Scott # 85. Imperial Penny Postage. Design: Warren L. Green.
This was the world’s first Christmas stamp. It earned that distinction for having the word “Xmas” on it. In fact, it was more Canada bragging about the size of the "Vaster Empire" that Britain had at Christmastime in 1898. In any event,  it would not be until 1964 when Canada Post would start issue the regular annual series we now know as Christmas stamp.

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