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Apr 6 2023

Racism barrier. Smith’s judgement. Indictment reaction.

Apr 6, 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.
This edition delayed a bit thanks to an ice storm that hit the Ottawa area. No heat, no power, and, crucially, no Internet for your newsletter publisher this morning. Any Patreon pledges today -- and we're still looking for more supporters -- might go towards a generator :) - DA
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Canada
Canada’s farms face a wave of retirements, worker shortages. Will food prices rise?
Two in every five farm operators in Canada are set to retire in the next decade, a new report shows, putting at the country's agricultural output at risk. [Global]

The violence, which comes as Muslims mark the holy month of Ramadan and Jews prepare to mark Passover, has raised fears of a wider conflagration. [Global]
The Liberal government announced last week that it will unveil a plan aimed at speeding up the federal permitting process for major infrastructure projects before the end of 2023. [Global]

A report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer said federal government spending on employees grew at a record pace during the pandemic. [Ottawa Citizen]
Grocery executive Galen Weston received a $1.2-million raise in 2022, bringing his total pay to $11.79-million, after consultants hired by his family-controlled company determined that he was underpaid. Read the room, Westons! Read the room! [Globe and Mail]
Konrad Yakubuski: Champagne switches with ease from playing good cop to bad cop, in both official languages, steadily building a case that he is the best person to lead the Liberals next. [Globe and Mail]
From the provinces
‘Clear violation’: Experts say Alberta premier must explain call with accused
Premier Danielle Smith must explain to Albertans why she discussed a criminal case with the accused before his trial, legal experts and political scientists say. [Global]
'There will be a narrative that will emerge out of this and that will be in Albertans' faces from now until the end of the election,' political analyst Jason Ribeiro said. [Global]

Bernard Drainville told reporters today he has learned of at least two Montreal-area schools that have permitted students to gather for prayer. [Global]
The president of APAS called on Ottawa Wednesday to compensate farmers and ranchers for the preservation of pastures and grasslands. [Global]
The Nova Scotia Progressive Conservatives say they will back down on a move to oust an MLA over a debate about the use of NDAs in cases of sexual assault and harassment. [Global]
Elsewhere

Tunisia will cut off water supplies to citizens for seven hours a night in response to the country's worst drought on record, state water distribution company SONEDE said in a statement on Friday. [Reuters]

The invitations to King Charles III's coronation were unveiled on April 4, and invited attendees to the 'Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla.' [Global]
Media
Twitter labels NPR as "state-affiliated media"
The label has only been applied to NPR's primary Twitter account and is not currently on accounts like NPR Politics or NPR Health. [CBS]
Social media services such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat have implemented pay-for-subscription services (Twitter Blue, Snapchat Plus, and Meta’s bundled Facebook and Instagram Blue Badges). The buzz from users, long inundated with a large number of advertisements but now also facing subscription fees, is passionate and increasing. We asked a nationwide sample of 1,056 users for their opinions of these subscriptions (with a sampling margin of error of less than 3 percent). We analyzed 1) what users expect, 2) the quality of features, 3) prices given the quality, 4) ideal social media services, and 5) how likely the users are to subscribe. [Harvard Business Review]
Tech
Huge battery gives Ram 1500 REV 500 miles of range between charges
The production Ram 1500 REV looks more normal than the CES show truck. [Ars Technica]
Issued this day ...
Issued this day in 2001: Sc #1900: Canada Post - 150 Years. Design: Tom Yakobina.
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