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Mar 21 2023

Punjab pushback. Budget days. Algopopulism.

Mar 21, 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
‘Targeted’ inflation relief for vulnerable Canadians coming in 2023 budget: Freeland
Ottawa's 2023 budget will include measures to support vulnerable Canadians struggling with high levels of inflation and rising interest rates, Chrystia Freeland said Monday. [Global]

A cross-section of Canadian MPs are calling out an Indian government crackdown in the state of Punjab, and those criticizing internet restrictions are receiving threatening responses online. [CP]

Freeland’s comments Monday come as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow for a three-day visit in the nation that’s at war with its neighbour, Ukraine. [Global]
The Department of National Defence has awarded about $30 million in work to McKinsey through 15 contracts since 2011, Anand told a House of Commons committee probing the contracts.
A United Nations panel has warned the world is teetering dangerously close to missing its critical targets to keep global warming in check.

The Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System was launched in October 2022 with a mandate to advise the Government of Canada on how to modernize the federal system supporting academic research to ensure agility and coordination across its components and to maximize the impact of investments and position Canadian researchers for success. The panel was asked to focus on the structure and governance of the federal research support system. [Government of Canada]
From the Provinces
Income tax cuts expected as Quebec finance minister to table budget today
Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard is scheduled to table the first budget of the Coalition Avenir Québec's second mandate this afternoon. [CP]
New Brunswick's finance minister is scheduled to table a provincial budget today as the government grapples with problems in health care and housing and the effects of a population surge. [CP]
A rancher who was disqualified from challenging a Jason Kenney cabinet minister as UCP candidate will run as a Danielle Smith-loving independent. [CBC]
The NDP say there's a conflict of interest in the premier's office as it hired Kris Kinnear, who like Smith lobbied for the Liability Management Incentive Program. [Global]
Paul Merriman says he did follow the advice of the province's top doctor. A Global New investigation showed the top doctor warned Merriman the acute care system would collapse. [Global]

“I'm committed to the fixed election date” — Premier David Eby when asked last week if he was planning to call a snap election. [Vancouver Sun]
Elsewhere
Ukraine says Russian missiles destroyed in Crimea - BBC News
If confirmed, the strike suggests Ukraine's capacity to deploy drones has increased. [BBC]
Humanity still has a chance, close to the last one, to prevent the worst of climate change 's future harms, a top United Nations panel of scientists said Monday. [Global]
Media
Algorithms are moulding and shaping our politics. Here's how to avoid being gamed.
Chantelle Gray: In a recent paper, I coined the term “algopopulism”: algorithmically aided politics. The political content in our personal feeds not only represents the world and politics to us. It creates new, sometimes “alternative”, realities. It changes how we encounter and understand politics and even how we understand reality itself.  [The Conversation]
Mastodon is just the start—here comes the Fediverse. [IEEE Spectrum]
Tech

Want to be more efficient and proficient in Excel? Here's a quick step-by-step guide to creating drop-down lists. [ZDNet]
Issued this day ...
... in 2011: Sc #2449i: Signs of the Zodiac - Aries. Design: Paprika.
This is the first of a 12-stamp series issued between 2011 and 2013 to feature each sign of the Zodiac. In addition to individual stamps, such as this one, Canada Post also issued four souvenir sheets plus booklets for each Zodiac sign. Plenty for the collector to spend their money on in this series!

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