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May 20 2023

Smuggler’s tale. Moe’s missive. Instagram’s Twitter.

May 20, 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
Inside Canada’s most popular people smuggling route: ‘This is my job’
At the U.S.-Canada border near the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne, human smugglers help migrants cross the river in search of a better life. One smuggler tells us how. [Global]

A report for Canada’s military research branch finds the Armed Forces are 'poorly placed and inadequately prepared' to defend against misinformation and disinformation campaigns. [Global]

Anton Trofimov has been accused of being a key supplier of parts for drones used to attack Ukraine. [Global]
Interim Report of the House of Commons Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship. [House of Commons]
From the provinces
It's Time, Alberta
30-second spot from the UCP features candidates  and the leader. And not just any candidates: Includes candidates who ran against Danielle Smith for leader and represent different UCP constituencies: Brian Jean and Rebecca Schulz. The ad talks about tax cuts, crime, drug addicts and -- no, we're not going to make you pay out of pocket for health care. You've got three 'sword' issues there and one 'shield' issue -- all in 30 seconds. - DA  [UCP campaign ad via YouTube]
UCP Leader Danielle Smith and Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley addressed issues like affordability, health care, the economy, education and trust in leadership. [Global]
In 2018 the federal government passed coal power regulations that require all coal plants to be closed, converted to natural gas, or equipped with CCS by the end of 2029. [Global]
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Elsewhere
New York City May Be Sinking Under the Weight of Its Skyscrapers
A scientific journal suggests that the city’s 1.68 trillion pounds of buildings are causing the city to descend, in some neighborhoods faster than others. [Architectural Digest]
At our meeting today in Hiroshima, we, the Leaders of the G7, reaffirmed our commitment to stand together against Russia's illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine ... [G7]
We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), met in Hiroshima for our annual Summit on May 19- 21, 2023, more united than ever in our determination to meet the global challenges of this moment and set the course for a better future. Our work is rooted in respect for the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and international partnership ... [G7]
[Researchers] find evidence that the sanction regime on Russia has been mostly effective thus far in dimensions of deterrence, international symbolism, and domestic symbolism, partially effective in terms of compliance, and mostly ineffective in terms of subversion. [Canadian Foreign Policy Journal]
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Media

Meta's hosting secret meetings with select creators to share details... Based on a (somewhat blurry) example I got, Meta's new app looks a lot like Twitter. [ICYMI]
Tech

Deep tech aims to advance technology in areas ranging from biotech to semiconductors to AI. Is it the next big thing in tech? [InfoWorld]
Issued this day ...
in 1982: Sc # 910: Canada 82: Champlain’s Departure. Design: Stuart Bradley Ash
The 2nd in a 5-stamp series issued by Canada Post in honour of the 1982 International Philatelic Youth Exhibition which was held in Toronto from May 20 to 24 that year. (The 18-year-old version of me did not attend!) These five stamps all featured early Canadian stamps. This stamp, showing Champlain’s departure from Quebec City for the west is a reproduction of Scott #102, issued in 1908.

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