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Mar 21 2024

Immigration failure. Budget blocked. Leo leaves: The Roundup

Mar 21, 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
Canada's Gaza visa program a "failure," immigration minister admits
Immigration Minister Marc Miller has made a startling assessment of the federal government's temporary visa program for Gaza refugees, calling it a "failure." David Akin looks at the program's problems and the latest move that could make it even more difficult for Gazans to come to Canada. [Global National]
A Conservative motion to stop the carbon price increase will face a vote in the House of Commons, while the environment minister warns, 'We can't put climate change on pause.' [Global]
Israel's ambassador to Canada isn't saying whether this week's vote in the House of Commons to end future arms exports to his country will actually impact the war with Hamas. [CP]
Newly released internal emails show how Infrastructure Canada staff raced to clarify Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s controversial remarks on federal road funding. Three ministers, including Guilbeault, will be grilled on this today. See today's Calendar, below.  [Global]=
Health Minister Mark Holland promised a major crackdown on nicotine pouches Wednesday, and issued a stern warning to tobacco companies he says are marketing the pouches to children. [CP]
Records tabled in Parliament late last month say the scientists played down their collaborations with Chinese government agencies. [Global]

Syed Salman Samani is the second Iranian official ordered deported under Canadian sanctions. [Global]
Sabreena Delhon: Women play a vital role across all aspects of our democracy. They make essential, often unmeasured and unacknowledged civic contributions in our communities. Women have long played a crucial role in mobilizing against anti-democratic forces. Just recently, young female voters turned out in record numbers to defeat Poland’s authoritarian Law and Justice Party, and there’s been a surge in female candidates running for office in response to laws restricting women’s bodily autonomy in the United States. [The Honest Talk]

Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the changes "will enhance Canadians' ability to exercise their vote while strengthening protections against foreign interference in our elections." [Global]
Gary Johal running against at least two other candidates for the nomination -- Penticton’s current MLA Dan Ashton, and Chris Pequin. A date for a nomination meeting has yet to be announced. [Penticton Herald]
From the Provinces
Stanley Park's “necessary” dead tree removal plan sparks BC petition
After a few bad years, roughly one-third of the trees in Vancouver's Stanley Park are being removed because they have either died or are dying. Neetu Garcha explains what caused so much damage to the park's forest and the criticism to what the city says is a critical move. [Global National]

The provincial budget was slated to be delivered on Wednesday, but protesting fish harvesters blocked the entrances to the Confederation Building, effectively forcing an unprecedented delay of presentation of the budget in the House of Assembly. [SaltWire]
The Saskatchewan government is promising big-ticket spending on health, education and communities along with no tax hikes and a $273-million deficit. [CP]
The BC Coalition for Affordable Dependable Energy was launched on Wednesday, and it says the need to keep energy affordable and dependable for homes and businesses is paramount. [Global]
A deeply divided electorate in New Brunswick is likely to result in the closest provincial election of 2024. [Spark Advocacy]

After the owners of a processing plant announced its closure, there's fear that it's not only the Matane shrimp that are on their way out, but the Quebec shrimp fishery as a whole. [Global]
Elsewhere
As Haiti violence continues, U.S. begins helicopter evacuations of citizens
A department spokesperson estimated that more than 30 U.S. citizens a day would be able to depart Haiti on multiple helicopter flights. [Global]

In a surprise move, Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday he would step down as Ireland's prime minister and the leader of the governing Fine Gael party. [Global]
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Media
Quebec newspaper La Presse has apologized for publishing a cartoon Wednesday that depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the vampire from the film “Nosferatu” after criticism that the caricature used antisemitic imagery. [CP]
Science and Tech
It may be neither higher nor intelligence
“Chatbots can write sermons in seconds, making it easier to ensure the timeliness of the message, and worshippers can interact one-on-one on their own schedule with robots and AI-powered machines, such as an AI rabbi, an android Buddhist priest, or Catholic robot SanTO. For Greg Epstein, Harvard Humanist chaplain and author of a forthcoming book on AI’s impact on religion, a major source of concern is that some people are treating AI itself as a higher power.” [Harvard Gazette]
Here are instructions for how to clean your TV, plus all of the rest of the screens in your home. [Endgadget]
The Calendar
  • 0815 ET: 415 Wellington - Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 105 - Bill C-58. Labour Min Seamus O'Regan to testify.
  • 0815 ET: 315 Wellington - Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting  99 - FY24 Supp Cs. Justice Min Arif Virani testifying.
  • 0815 ET: 125-B West Block - Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting  91 - Language Obligations Related to the Process of Staffing or Making Appointments to Key Positions
  • 0815 ET: 025-B West Block - Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 100 - Mandate and Priorities of the Minister of Public Safety. Public Safety Min Dominic LeBlanc testifying.
  • 1000 ET: 425 Wellington - Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting  106 - Briefing on Infrastructure in Canada. Housing and Infrastructure Min Sean Fraser, Transport Min Pablo Rodriguez and Environment Min Steven Guilbeault to testify..
  • 1100 ET: 410 Wellington - Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting  78 - The Distribution of Federal Government Funding Among Canada's Post-Secondary Institutions
  • 1100 ET: 315 Wellington - Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting  109 - Federal Government's Use of Technological Tools Capable of Extracting Personal Data from Mobile Devices and Computers. Treasury Board President Anita Anand to testify.
  • 1100 ET: 330 Wellington - Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting  96 - Bill C-355
  • 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Finance (FINA) | Meeting  133 - Bill C-59 and FY25 Main Estimates. Finance Min Chrystia Freeland to testify.
  • 1100 ET: 415 Wellington - Health (HESA) | Meeting  107 - FY24 Supp Cs. Health Min Mark Holland and Mental Health Min Ya'ara Saks to testify.
  • 1100 ET: 025-B West Block - Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) | Meeting  110 - Drafting report; Parliamentary Protocol Related to an Incident in the Speaker's Gallery on Friday, September 22, 2023
  • 1130 ET: Hoc foyer - Defence Min Bill Blair and Veterans Affairs Min Ginette Petitpas Taylor speak about amendments to the National Defence Act and Other Acts.
  • 1300 ET: National Press Theatre - Immigration Min Marc Miller and Employment and Social Development Min Randy Boissonnault speak about temporary resident levels.
  • 1530 ET: 315 Wellington - International Trade (CIIT) | Meeting  98 - The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management system (CARM
  • 1530 ET: 125-B West Block - Canadian Heritage (CHPC) | Meeting  113 - Harms Caused to Children, Women, and Men by the Ease of Access to, and Online Viewing of, Illegal Sexually Explicit Material
  • 1530 ET: 425 Wellington - Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) | Meeting  101 - Freshwater
  • 1530 ET: 410 Wellington - Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) | Meeting  103 - FY24 Supp Cs. Fisheries Min Diane Lebouthillier to testify.
  • 1530 ET: 315 Wellington - International Trade (CIIT) | Meeting  98 - The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management system (CARM)
  • 1530 ET: 415 Wellington - Natural Resources (RNNR) | Meeting  90 - Bill C-49
  • 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - Public Accounts (PACP) | Meeting  110 - Report 1, ArriveCAN, of the 2024 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada
  • 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Status of Women (FEWO) | Meeting  101 - Red Dress Alert
Issued this day ...
… in 2011: Sc 2449: Signs of the Zodiac: Aries: The Ram. Design: Paprika.

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