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Jan 29 2024

Interference inquiry. Change time. Parliament returns: The Roundup

Jan 29, 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

The case focused on the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office's spying and intimidation. [Global]
The judicial inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s politics is under a tight timeline to produce ways to harden the country’s defences. [Global]

The highly anticipated public inquiry into foreign election interference is set to begin Monday, but some national security experts warn it would be a mistake to overlook Iran. [Global]
Timely given that that PIFI begins public hearings today. Just published via the govenrment's open d ata portal -- here is the briefing book prepared for Global Affairs Canada deputy minister David Morrison ahead of his appearance at a June meeting of PROC. - DA [Govt of Canada]
Wind in his sails and up in the polls, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre keeps his message tight on housing affordability and economic issues.
The Conservatives will spend 2024 convincing Canadians they are ready to govern, political observers say. [National Post]

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told caucus members on Sunday he plans to slash funding to a United Nations agency that supports Palestinians amid allegations some of its staff played a role in last October's terrorist attacks against Israel. [CP]
Stintz, who left politics in 2014 after an unsuccessful run for Toronto's mayor, hopes to get a chance to try to win over voters in the traditionally Liberal stronghold of Eglinton-Lawrence. Eg-Law went Tory blue when Stephen Harper won his majority in 2011 and, in my model right now, I have it going Conservative. Incumbent LPC MP Marco Mendicino will be in for a challenge. [TorStar]

A federal byelection will be held in the Conservative stronghold of Durham, Ont. on March 4 to fill the seat left vacant by Erin O'Toole last spring. [CP]
The Liberals intend to move quickly to get a Ukraine free-trade bill back up for debate and pressure the Conservatives to support it as MPs return to the House of Commons today following the Christmas break. [CP]
Great dishing from Kathryn May about the turmoil in the ranks at the top of our civil service -- could Graham Flack's departure clear the way for Bill Matthews? Why did Chris Fox get moved out of Immigration? Why are there 2 deputy clerks? Really interesting inside-the-Queensway stuff - DA [The Functionary]

Mohammad Al Zaibak is an entrepreneur with expertise in corporate governance, international business, and diverse technology industries. Beyond his professional experience, he has shown a deep commitment to improving social development and promoting diversity. [PMO]

Flags on federal buildings were flying at half-mast in advance of what officials were billing less as a funeral and more as a celebration of Broadbent's life. [Global]
From the provinces
One B.C. ski mountain calls off season over lack of snow
Mount Timothy in Lac La Hache blames a lack of snow, continued warm temperatures, and no precipitation in the forecast. [Vancouver Sun]

A byelection scheduled for Monday in the Newfoundland riding of Conception Bay East - Bell Island has been delayed due to weather. [CP]
Elsewhere
Three U.S. troops killed, dozens injured in drone strike by Iran-backed militia
President Joe Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by the groups against American forces across the Middle East. [Global]
France’s interior ministry has ordered a large deployment of security forces around Paris as angry farmers threatened to head toward the capital. [AP]

The European economy, hobbled by unfamiliar weakness in Germany, is barely growing. China is struggling to recapture its sizzle. And Japan continues to disappoint.
But in the United States, it’s a different story. Here, despite lingering consumer angst over inflation, the surprisingly strong economy is outperforming all of its major trading partners. [WaPo]
'If he starts to feel he’s losing it, it would be the one reason he would not go ahead,' claimed Joe Hockey in exclusive interview. [Latika Takes]
Long lines have popped up in Russia and beyond to get Boris B. Nadezhdin, an antiwar candidate, onto the ballot for Russia’s presidential election in March. [NYT]
Media

As news producers learn about and experiment with AI, their early projects and prototypes tend to focus on opportunities that are well understood and that offer early returns on investment. These generally involve the automation of existing tasks within existing workflows, and essentially help to make the existing process of news production more efficient. But behind this early focus on efficiency looms another question: how might AI fundamentally change the entire news ecosystem? [Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism]
Can u spare $5 a month for this newsletter? Click now!
Sci/Tech
Check whether your online credentials have been comprised with our up to date personal data leak checker tool. Used this tool myself yesterday -- to surprising results. [Cybernews]
The Calendar
  • 1100 ET: 025-B West Block - Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting  99 - Committee Business
  • 1100 ET: 425 Wellington - Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting  91 - Meeting Requested Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4) to Discuss a Request to Undertake a Study of the Prime Minister’s Failure to Fill Judicial Vacancies
  • 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting  88 - Briefing on the Situation in the Indo-Pacific Region
  • 1100 ET: 410 Wellington - Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting  78 - Committee Business
  • 1130 ET: Ottawa - Employment Min Randy Boissonnault speaks to the Canadian Club of Ottawa.
  • 1130 ET: Ottawa - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks at the National Council of Canadian Muslims’ National Advocacy Day
  • 1245 ET: NPT - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland , Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Min Sean Fraser, Innovation, Science and Industry Min François-Philippe Champagne, Treasury Board President Anita Anand, and Immigration Min Marc Miller speak to reporters.
  • 1400 ET: HoC foyer - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to reporters.
  • 1530 ET: 315 Wellington - Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) | Meeting  91 - Committee Business
  • 1530 ET: 035-B West Block - Standing Committee on Health (HESA) | Meeting  97 - Committee business
  • 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 96 - Bill C-318
  • 1530 ET: 415 Wellington - Standing Committee on Natural Resources (RNNR) | Meeting  81 - Bill C-49. Witness: Energy and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson
  • 1530 ET: 125-B West Block - Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting  83 - Drafting report
  • 1530 ET: 425 Wellington - Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 90 - Technical Briefing on Bill C-26
  • 1630 ET: West Block - PM Trudeau meets with BC Premier David Eby.
  • 1830 ET: 025B West Block - Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship (CACN) | Meeting  31 - Canada–People’s Republic of China Relations
Issued this day ...
Issued this day in 2005: Scott #2085: NHL All-Stars — 6: Design: Stéphane Huot. Illustrations by François Escalmel and Pierre Rousseau. 
The all-stars featured on this series, from left to right beginning with the top row, Henri Richard, Grant Fuhr, Allan Stanley, Pierre Pilote, Bryan Trottier, and John Bucyk.

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