Past issues Subscribe

Feb 14 2024

Road ends. Freedom movement. PQ rising: The Roundup

Feb 14, 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
Feds increasing student loan forgiveness for rural doctors, nurses
Finding medical help can be difficult in rural and remote parts of Canada. Now the federal government is increasing student loan forgiveness for medical and nursing students if they choose to work in these areas. But Abigail Bimman explains why health-care workers say the solution is more complicated than just money. [Global National]
“Our government has made the decision to stop investing in new road infrastructure," Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said. "Of course we will continue to be there for cities, provinces and territories to maintain the existing network, but there will be no more envelopes from the federal government to enlarge the road network. " Think the Gazette buried the lede and the headline here. This paragraph was buried halfway down and seems to me to be a major switch in federal infrastructure policy.  [Montreal Gazette]
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is again saying he could pull support for the federal government if a deal is not reached on universal pharmacare in less than a month. [Global]
The Alberta RCMP front-line officer faces multiple charges as part of a national security investigation, including breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer. [Global]
He made the comments on a Ukrainian TV network last week, aired after the Tories voted against legislation to implement an updated Canada-Ukraine free trade deal. Ukrainian groups expressed disappointment over the vote and Liberals accused the party of mimicking right-wing politicians in the U.S. who want to reduce aid to Ukraine. [CP] 
Canada's fisheries minister says she wants to shut down this year's lucrative baby eel fishery with only weeks to go before the season opens in the Maritimes. [CP]
The loosely knit collective that vocally opposed COVID-19 health measures has morphed into a movement waging a broader fight against "perceived government overreach," says a newly released assessment by CSIS. [CP]
While a federal election isn’t on the radar at the moment, the federal Conservative Party has already chosen its candidate to run in long range mountains, and they’re turning to a familiar face to set up a rematch from 2021. NTV’s Don Bradshaw picks up the story. Liberals are polling very poorly right now in Atlantic Canada and especially in NL. As result, my model has the CPC taking 5 of the province's seven seats, including this one, currently held by cabinet minister Gudie Hutchings.  [NTV]
Riding 👆has no incumbent but was won last time by Omar Alghabra. CPC will have to overcome what was more than an 11,000 vote deficit. The could come close but I have this staying in the LPC column. - DA
Percy Downe from Prince Edward Island has walked back comments he made urging security checks on international students and immigrants from Gaza, but an advocacy group is still calling for his resignation. [CBC]

The 2024 Proof Strategies CanTrust Index found that only 23% of Canadians believe that the federal government can effectively deliver affordable housing. Canadians believe the same of their provincial governments. Overall, a decline of trust is experienced for several policy issues. Meanwhile, only 16% of Canadians believe that political parties are a unifying force in our country. In terms of party leadership and governance, only 25% of Canadians believe the Prime Minister is doing what is right for Canadians and our society, a 21% decline from 2016 levels. [Proof Strategies]
From the Provinces
Ford uses announcement of carbon tax referendum bill to take digs at Bonnie Crombie
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government will introduce legislation that would put any future provincial carbon pricing program to a referendum. [Global]

The new system of automatic licence plate renewal will only apply to drivers whose records are in “good standing,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation said. [Global]
Almost a year and a half after it was widely seen as being near death, the Parti Québécois is topping provincial polls. And the party's leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, is the seen as the best person to be premier. [CP]
This year will be a story of slowing growth across the country, but not all slowdowns are created equal, and Canada’s provinces will exemplify that. Rather than being about which province comes out on top, however, it will more be about which provinces look the least bad. Canada's energy-producing provinces - AB, SK, NL - expected to lead the way. [CIBC Capital Markets]

Savage, 63, was first elected mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality in 2012. He also served three terms as the MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour. [SaltWire]
Elsewhere
The United States plays a crucial role in Europe's defense
Former president Donald Trump's suggestion of an American withdrawal from NATO is worrying Europe, which does not have the resources, logistics or equipment to ensure its own security. [Le Monde]

NATO’s guidelines say countries should spend 2 percent of their GPD on defense each year. Here’s the breakdown of how much NATO members spend on defense, by GDP. [WaPo]
Media
Writing Science Explainers for Local Audiences
Explainers can be a great way for local reporters to connect with their audiences and help them understand what they need to know about science and health topics, such as COVID-19, weather events, and water quality. The simplified format of explainers makes science more accessible for reporters, too, especially those looking to gain more confidence in covering this beat. [Open Notebook]
Paramount Global, amid a swirl of M&A discussions, is laying off about 800 employees worldwide as it looks to trim costs. [Variety]
Articles including posts feature a greater number of actors but are not more diverse as mainly actors from the political center are referenced. Moreover, articles with posts are associated with a higher position responsiveness but on the other hand a decreased civility of the represented political discourse. This pattern only emerged inside but not outside campaign periods. [Journalism]

Analysis of 15 textbooks from before the launch of the commercial Internet through the “digital turn” of the late 2000s finds many texts focused on persuading reluctant newsworkers to get on board with CAR — suggesting a pollyannaish technological determinism regarding the potential of computer technology to save newspapers and transform society. [Journalism]
Can u spare $5 a month for this newsletter? Click now!
Sci/Tech
Lake Superior shipwreck: SS Arlington found 84 years later
Eighty-four years after it set off for what would be its final voyage, the SS Arlington has been found in the depths of Lake Superior. Eric Sorensen explains how the Second World War era steamship was finally found, and the mystery of the ship captain's actions the day it sunk. [Global National]
ChatGPT is getting the ability to recall snippets of information you ask it to remember. Here's how the feature works and how to opt in (or out!). [ZDNet]
The Calendar
  • 0530 ET: Paris - Energy and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson speaks at  Government-Industry Breakout at the International Energy Agency Ministerial Meeting 2024
  • 0930 ET: Wellington Building -  The NDP national caucus will meet.
  • 0930 ET: 025B West Block -  The CPC national caucus will meet.
  • 1000 ET: 225-A West Block -  The LPC national caucus will meet.
  • 1130 ET: HoC Foyer - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet and GPC MP Elizabeth May speak about the Chalk River HSDF Project.
  • 1320 ET: HoC Foyer - Labour Min Seamus O'Regan, Environment Min Steven Guilbeault, Revenue Min Marie-Claude Bibeau, and Rural Economic Development Min Gudie Hutchings speak to reporters. 
  • 1600 ET: Ottawa - Environment Min Steven Guilbeault makes a funding announcement. 
  • 1615 ET: W110 1 Wellington - Senate Committee on Banking - Bill C-34
  • 1630 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau meets with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.
  • 1630 ET: 125B West Block - Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting  83 - Transition to Civilian Life
  • 1630 ET: 415 Wellington - Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) | Meeting  92 - Persons with Temporary Status and Undocumented Individuals
  • 1630 ET: 425 Wellington - Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) | Meeting  96 - Improving Graduation Rates and Successful Outcomes for Indigenous Students; Restitution of Land to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Communities; Committee Business
  • 1630 ET: 410 Wellington - Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting  111 - Bill C-27
  • 1630 ET: 330 Wellington - National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting  93 - Transparency within the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces; Threat Analysis Affecting Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces’ Operational Readiness to Meet Those Threats
  • 1630 ET: 025B West Block - Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting  102 - ArriveCAN Application
Issued this day ...
… in 2010: Sc # 2371 souvenir sheet of 2: Canada Strikes Gold! Design; Tandem Design Associates Ltd.
Hours after freestyle skier Alex Bilodeau became the first Canadian to win Olympic gold on home soil, Canada Post announced it would issue a stamp in honour of that accomplishment and this is it (or rather this is the souvenir sheet containing two of the stamps). Canada Post had the stamp at the ready well before the Games began and the corporation, like most of Canada, was fairly confident Canada would win gold at the Vancouver Games. In fact, Canada would go on to win 14 gold medals at those games.

Previous Issues

Load More