Past issues Subscribe

Jan 31 2024

Inquiry inquiries. Gun crime. Wine war: The Roundup

Jan 30, 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
Ethics czar verifies ‘allegations of friendships’ in Trudeau Jamaica trip
Interim ethics commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein said his office did 'our research' before Trudeau and his family left for the Caribbean nation Dec. 26 to Jan. 4. [Global]

A prominent Sikh advocacy group wants to play a role at the foreign interference inquiry after commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue added India to the list of countries she's probing as part of her work. [TorStar]
The inquiry mandate calls for the commissioner to look at China, Russia and other states. [National Post]

The Federal Court's rebuke comes after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has been repeatedly accused of breaching its duty to be forthright with judges. [Global]

An internal message sent to GAC staff said steps are currently being taken to protect sensitive employee information and network security. [Global News]
In 2022, slightly less than 3% of police-reported violent crimes in Canada (or approximately 14,000 violent crimes) involved a firearm. This corresponds to a rate of 36.7 firearm-related violent crimes per 100,000 population, an increase of 8.9% from the 2021 rate. The 2022 rate of firearm-related violent crime is the highest since comparable data were first compiled in 2009. [Statistics Canada]
In their new roles, Ms. Brière, Mr. Housefather, and Mr. Naqvi will support their respective cabinet ministers to make progress on the priorities that matter most to Canadians. They will help advance new legislation, engage directly with Canadians on key initiatives, and represent the government at home and abroad. Their appointments are effective immediately. [PMO]
Catherine Blewett succeeds Graham Flack as Secretary of the Treasury Board, making her arguably the second most influential civil servant after the Clerk of the Privy Council. The government of Canada also has a new Chief Information Officer. - DA [PMO]
From the provinces
‘Absurd’: Alberta sends warning letter to B.C. winemakers
John Skinner, the proprietor of Painted Rock Estate Winery in the Okanagan, was one of the wineries that received the letter. He said many wineries in B.C. are already struggling. [Global]

Fred Hutton has been elected as the MHA for Conception Bay-East Bell Island. A lifelong resident of the district, Hutton spent much of his career in journalism. He was an anchor with NTV for over two decades and later worked with VOCM and the CBC. He made the move to politics several years ago as […]
“His decision comes as an active police investigation is occurring into historical complaints unrelated to his duties as an MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow,” according to an email statement. [Global]

The Parti Québécois is calling on the government to tighten up Quebec’s political financing rules, making it illegal for cabinet ministers to attend fundraising events, following allegations that several Coalition Avenir Québec MNAs tried to sell access to ministers for a $100 donation to the party’s electoral fund. [Montreal Gazette]
An e-mail sent last night to supporters of the New Brunswick PCs over the signature of campaign manager Steve Outhouse finishes with this post-script: "I'm pleased to report that November was our best fundraising month of 2023...until December! And January is already on track to beat December ..." - DA
Elsewhere
Contradicting reports point at dismissal of Zaluzhnyi as top commander; Zelensky's office denies it
Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi may have been dismissed on Jan. 29, according to sources of the Kyiv Independent and several other Ukrainian media. [Kyiv Independent]
The 14-year imprisonment is harsher than the 10-year sentence given to Khan on Tuesday on charges of revealing state secrets, and just a week before national elections. It was not immediately clear if the two sentences for Khan would run concurrently. [Reuters]

The committee responsible for overseeing the program includes officials from the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Nations and the European Union. [Global]
[A new series of Haley campaign ads], with its reference to a movie from 1993, could prove a risky bet as she looks to court a Republican base that is largely graying, white and Christian. Polls show her trailing the former president by double digits in her home state. Attacks on Mr. Biden’s age did not play well during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. [NYT]
CEO Arvind Krishna long touted importance of in-person work. US office attendance stagnant in 2023 despite new rules. [Bloomberg]
Media
CBC head Catherine Tait won't rule out accepting a bonus amid widespread cuts
The president of CBC and Radio-Canada won't say if she's getting a bonus this year despite the public broadcaster's plans to cut 10 per cent of its workforce. [CP]

The publication is hiring engineers and editors for a new team that will experiment with uses for generative AI but says journalists will still write, edit, and report the news. [The Verge]
The Daily Iowan -- the student newspaper at the University of Iowa -- has purchased two weekly newspapers near Iowa City — the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun and Solon Economist. The acquisition from Dubuque-based Woodward Communications marks the first newspaper purchase for the DI. Publishing of these newspapers is effective with the Feb. 8 editions. [Daily Iowan]
Global News/Corus Entertainment has the following openings:
Global News:
  •  - Writer / Producer - Global Regina (Contract)
  •  - Video Journalist - Global Kingston (Part-Time)
  •  - Video Journalist - Global Kingston (Full-Time)
  •  - Affiliate Coordinator - Global Toronto
  •  - Supervising Producer, The Morning Show (TMS) Toronto
Radio:
  •  - Midday Announcer - JUMP! 106.9 Ottawa
  •  - Traffic Anchor - AM 730 Vancouver
Can u spare $5 a month for this newsletter? Click now!
Sci/Tech
James Webb telescope captures luminous images of 19 spiral galaxies
A batch of newly released images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope show in remarkable detail 19 spiral galaxies residing relatively near our Milky Way, offering new clues on star formation as well as galactic structure and evolution. [CBC]
The Calendar
  • 0900 ET: Aurora, ON - Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc , Justice Min Arif Virani and Premier Doug Ford make an announcement and speak to reporters.
  • 0930 ET: 025B West Block - The CPC national caucus will meet.
  • 0930 ET: Wellington Building - The NDP national caucus will meet.
  • 1000 ET: 225A West Block - The LPC national caucus will meet
  • 1230 ET: Ottawa - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland meets with the Assembly of First Nations about the 2024 Budget.
  • 1300 ET: House of Commons foyer - BQ MP Jean-Denis Garon speaks to reporters.
  • 1315 ET: House of Commons foyer - Health Min Mark Holland , Public Works Min Jean-Yves Duclos and Seniors Min Seamus O'Regan speak about the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
  • 1630 ET: 025 West Block - Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting  100 - ArriveCAN Application
  • 1630 ET: Ottawa - Crown-Indigenous Affairs Min Gary Anandasangaree speak about the Canada-Métis Nation Accord.
  • 1630 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting  107 - Bill C-27
  • 1630 ET: 125B West Block - Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting  89 - Lack of Housing Availability on or Near Bases for Canadian Armed Forces Members and Their Families and the Challenges Facing Members and Their Families When They Are Required to Move Across the Country
  • 1630 ET: 425 Wellington - Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting  79 - Drafting report
  • 1630 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 97 - Intergenerational Volunteerism
Issued this day ...
... in 1973: Scott #611. Bishop Laval. Design: Gerry Lorange and Michael Fog.

Previous Issues

Load More