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Mar 29 2023

Rebates or recession. “Mr. Hitler”. Pope fakery.

Mar 29, 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
Budget breakdown: "Grocery Rebates", Green tech, and a possible recession
The federal government released its 2023 budget, with the centrepiece focused around what Ottawa is calling a "grocery rebate," though Canadians can spend it on anything they want. The Liberals also aimed to set the country on its "green path to the future" with clean energy announcements made, while shoring up Canada's fiscal foundation for a potential slowdown of the economy. My colleague Touria Izri and I report on the big takeaways of the budget, while Mercedes Stephenson explains the political strategizing Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland had to navigate. Plus, Dawna Friesen speaks with Freeland on how a potential recession could play out. [Global National]
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland unveiled the second budget of the Liberals’ current minority mandate on Tuesday and put the focus on reining in spending. [Global]

Canada's Finance Minister insists spending necessary to prevent de-industrialization. [National Post]
Tuesday's budget shows the Liberals are planning a government-administered insurance program, at a cost of $13 billion over five years beginning in fiscal year 2023-24.
Foreign interference in Canada’s politics and banks is the target of new spending in Budget 2023 along with plans to give the country’s financial watchdog more powers. [Global]
The potential federal legislation also comes at a time when the Liberals enjoy an edge over their political opponents when it comes to data collection. [Global]
Much of the federal Liberal government’s 2023 budget is geared towards helping Canadian households make ends meet as inflation soars. [Global]

Ontario’s finance minister was among those who offered praise, but others saw burdens and misplaced priorities. [TorStar]
From the Provinces
Phillips details NDP plan to protect pensions
Albertans will start to see a ramp up in political campaigns over the next two months, with the provincial general election scheduled to be held on May 29. [Lethbridge Herald]

SK Premier Scott Moe and Opposition Leader Carla Beck say their MLAs will not be taking their full salary increase on April 1. [CBC]

Brett Smyth and Mayor Peter Jones have clashed over the review process for the district’s official community plan. [Vancouver Sun]
Elsewhere

ON BOARD A TRAIN FROM SUMY TO KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A team of journalists from The Associated Press spent two days traveling by train with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he visited the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, which still faces regular shelling from Russian forces, and northern towns in the Sumy region that were liberated shortly after the war began a year ago. [AP]

President Joe Biden is opening his second Summit for Democracy with a pledge for the U.S. to spend $690 million bolstering democracy programs around the globe. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend the summit via videoconference this afternoon. [AP]
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Media
“I’ll Walk Away From Anything”: Kara Swisher Calls the Shots
The ultimate media insider is juggling podcasts, writing a memoir, and texting with “half the planet.” (“She has a coffee before bed,” says Ben Smith.) Swisher opens up to Vanity Fair about her career, including leaving The New York Times, and laments journalists’ lack of business savvy. “If you don’t understand the economics of what’s happening,” she says, “you’re fucked.” Long admired Kara's reporting. [Vanity Fair]
Only users in the new verified subscription service will soon be allowed to vote in polls, Musk said. [Axios]
William Shatner, Monica Lewinsky and other prolific Twitter commentators — some household names, others little-known journalists — could soon be losing the blue check marks that helped verify their identity on the social media platform. [ABC News]
Tech
Immaculate AI images of Pope Francis trick the masses
Faux “puffy pontiff” AI image fools many in viral social media post. [Ars Technica]
Apple is getting into the buy now, pay later space with a few tweaks to the existing model — including no option to pay with a credit card. The company will roll out the product to some consumers this spring, and will begin reporting the loans to credit bureaus in the fall. [AP]
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