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Nov 13 2024

Port orders. NS polls. Horgan remembered.

Nov 13, 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.
Note to readers: The platform that normally delivers this newsletter -- curated.co -- is misfiring yet again and failed to deliver any newsletters at the appropriate time. So this newsletter comes today from the backup platform -- goodbits.io. There is a chance the curated.co wakes up and some point today and will put another version of this in your inbox. Apologies for that and thanks for your patience as I try to sort out these gremlins -- DA.
Canada
Ottawa orders end to B.C., Montreal port shutdowns with binding arbitration
Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon said Tuesday he has directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to 'order that all operations and duties at the ports resume.' [Global]

Newly-released documents reveal suspected target of alleged ISIS-linked plot on Ottawa Jewish community. [Global]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Mexico "shouldn't have a seat at the table" in upcoming North American free trade talks if it doesn't match tariffs on Chinese imports. [Global]

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault has been called to testify before the ethics committee for a third time after new court documents revealed more ‘Randy’ texts. [Global]
Former Conservative Party president Rob Batherson has been tapped to carry the CPC banner in the next federal election to try to steal a riding in Halifax Regional Municipality that has been pretty much a Liberal stronghold: Halifax West. The riding is held by Liberal Lena Metlege Diab, who, it seems to me is a pretty formidable incumbent. Metlege Diab was an MLA from 2013-2017 and served as former NS Premier Stephen McNeil's Justice Minister and Immigration Minister. She was the first female Justice Minister in the province. And the first person of Lebanese descent to hold any cabinet role in that province. In Ottawa, as an MP, Trudeau has not featured her as much as McNeil did.

Transposing the 2021 vote on to the 2024 boundaries, Metlege Diab wins 47% to the NDP's 26% and the CPC in third place at 21%. So Batherson has some work to do here. But in my model right now, Metlege Diab, if she runs again in an election held this fall, holds by 7 points or 2800 votes. -DA
From the Provinces
Majority Favours Tim Houston, PCs Lead Everywhere: Nova Scotia
Over half of eligible Nova Scotian voters who have made up their minds, so far, would prefer incumbent Progressive Conservative premier Tim Houston stay in the role, according to a new poll by MQO Research. [MQO]
Nova Scotia PCs extend lead as campaign hits halfway mark
The results indicate that the Nova Scotia PC  and Premier Tim Houston have increased their lead over the opposition parties with the campaign having yet to fundamentally shift preferences or opinions about the political choices in Nova Scotia. [Abacus]
Elections Nova Scotia confirmed the receipt of the official complaint, and a spokesperson says the agency is investigating. [Global]
After keeping her distance, Liberal premier ready to work with Trudeau
Susan Holt, who repeatedly emphasized her differences with the prime minister leading up to last month’s election, was on more welcoming terms Tuesday after their first official meeting in Fredericton. [CBC]

New Brunswick's premier says her newly elected Liberal government will draft a carbon pricing plan that will be submitted for Ottawa's approval. [Global]

Horgan had been in the hospital for much of the past five months after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in June. He was serving as Canada’s ambassador to Germany. [Global]
'John from Langford' one of the most popular premiers in B.C. history
John Mackie: Ex-Premier John Horgan, who died in Victoria on Tuesday at the age of 65, was that rare politician who got more popular in office. [Vancouver Sun]
Elsewhere
What Biden will say about Trump at APEC and the G20
President Biden used to tell world leaders "America is back," implying the Trump era's go-it-alone ethos was a one-term blip. But Biden needs a new line for this week's APEC and G20 summits. [NPR]

Voters really don't like inflation. In fact, whenever there's a sustained jump in the cost of living, the party in power often pays a price. [NPR]

Pressure on Welby had been building since Thursday, when release of the inquiry’s findings kindled anger about a lack of accountability at the highest reaches of the church. [Global]
Media

CBC today announced it is investing more in local and regional news coverage as part of its mandate to deliver trusted news to Canadians across the country. This investment follows the CRTC’s approval of Google’s plan to compensate Canadian news organizations for the use of their news content. [CBC]
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Science and Tech
Microsoft is killing off Windows 11’s Mail and Calendar apps by the end of the year
Microsoft is moving users of Windows 11’s Mail and Calendar apps to the new Outlook for Windows app. Existing users have until December 31st to move apps. [The Verge]
The Calendar
  • 0900 ET: Edmundston, NB - LPC MP René Arseneault makes a funding announcement
  • 0930 ET: Vaughan, ON - Employment Min Randy Boissonnault makes a funding announcement
  • 1030 ET: Burnaby, BC - Citizen Services Min Terry Beech makes a funding announcement
  • 1200 ET: Vancouver - Immigration Min Marc Miller speaks to the Board of Trade.
  • 1215 ET: Washington, DC - Public Services and Procurement Min Jean-Yves Duclos signs an international shipbuilding agreement.
  • 1300 ET: West Block - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland chairs a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations
  • 1300 ET: Milton, ON - Government House Leader Karina Gould and LPC MP Adam van Koeverden make a funding announcement
Issued this day ...
… in 1992: Sc #1454. Christmas (Personages) - Weihnachtsmann. Design: Louis Fishauf and Stephanie Power. Illustration: Anita Kunz.


In 1991, Canada Post issued a series of “Santa Claus” stamps, featuring the elfin various different national contexts. Series was so popular, Canada Post brought back the idea in 1992 and had illustrator Anita Kunz interpret four different versions of Santa Claus: the fat and jolly old elf we know in North America along with the Estonian, Italian and German versions. This is the German version showing - Weihnachtsmann - a thin, stooped, heavily laden, white-bearded old man who makes his rounds on Christmas Eve with his sack of presents and a Christmas tree. He is a secularized version of Saint Nicholas, who is still associated with December 6.

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