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Oct 18 2023

Spy summit. Hostage video. Ukraine missiles. The Roundup

Oct 18, 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
“Five Eyes” chiefs gather for security summit on biggest innovation threat: China
While every country has intelligence agencies, including Canada, it’s extraordinarily rare to see or hear from them. David Akin explains what Canada and other members of the "Five Eyes" alliance believe is the biggest threat to innovation and the message they want to send to adversaries. [Global National]
In 2022, a Kyiv-based think tank reported that Canadian-made components from a company called Tallysman Wireless were found in Iranian drones shot down by Ukrainian defence forces. [Global]
Canadians saw a 'broad-based' cooling in inflation in September, thanks in part to an easing in price acceleration at the grocery store. [Global]
A pricey trip for a group of Conservative MPs sponsored by an interest group and a Hungarian think-tank could soon come under the microscope by the House of Commons ethics committee.[CBC]
Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse has announced her candidacy in the upcoming Assembly of First Nations national chief election. [Global]
The board of the Canada Pension Plan says Alberta’s consultation with its citizens on quitting the CPP is not a straightforward fact-finding exercise but rather a biased manipulation of public opinion. Well, that's helpful. [CP]
Israel-Gaza
Hamas releases 1st video appearing to show Israeli hostage
At least 199 people have been taken hostage by Hamas after its surprise attack on Israel, with the militant group now releasing a video appearing to show one of those hostages. [Global National]

The president is set to meet relatives of hostages and those killed in Hamas attacks, one day after a blast at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City left hundreds dead. Biden told Netanyahu he had seen material that suggested the deadly blast 'was done by the other team, not you." [WaPo]

“If you’re given a spot, please take it because we don’t know how long this operation will be able to continue as the situation is very volatile,” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters on her way into Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. [Global]

A retired general, who commanded a multinational observer force during the 2014 Israeli invasion of Gaza, warned civilian casualties are unavoidable. [Global]

Trudeau, speaking at a conference on fighting antisemitism, said Canada had seen a "steady rise" even prior to the ongoing conflict. [Global]
From the provinces
Nearly two-thirds of Ontarians think Ford made “the right decision” when he cancelled his controversial $8.28B Greenbelt land swap, a new poll suggests. [TorStar]
If a provincial election is in the offing, the man who would call it isn't tipping his hand-at all. [VOCM]
In today's speech, the government says it is committed to a safe and welcoming learning environment for students while respecting the role of parents. [Global]
New Brunswick Education Minister Bill Hogan says it's time for Canadians to 'take back our country' and that the federal government says 'that all parents beat their kids, and it's not true.' [Telegraph-Journal]
The party announced Cindy Lamoureux, MLA-elect for Tyndall Park, as interim leader on Tuesday. Lamoureux is set to be sworn in for her third term in office this week. [Global]
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Elsewhere
U.S. releases photos, videos showing rise in ‘risky’ Chinese air intercepts
The Pentagon's disclosures came a day after a Chinese military jet intercepted a Canadian Armed Forces Aurora aircraft in what the CAF called an "aggressive manner." [Global]
Ukrainian forces attacked two key Russian air bases behind enemy lines on Tuesday, using American-made long-range missiles known as ATACMS, a U.S. official said. [NYT]
This is great conversation led by Munk School's journalist-in-residence Paul Wells. Whether you've read Garton Ash or not, you'll be interested to hear him namedrop Chrystia Freeland, get asked about Pierre Poilievre's populism, vouch for Canadian membership in the EU but, most of all, reflect on the "European Project" and how liberal internationalist hubris may have failed that project. - DA [Paul Wells Substack]
“The Mayor is making deep fakes of himself.”  This just isn't right.  [The Verge]
Media
CBC heads won't be summoned over use of word 'terrorist' — for now
An attempt by the Conservatives to pass a motion to do just that was shut down by a majority of Liberals, the Bloc Québécois and the NDP. [National Post]
Users have been unintentionally downloading entire back catalogs. IMO, this is a big problem with Apple's Podcasts app -- users can't set universal defaults for number of podcasts to be stored locally at any given time. [The Verge]
A Greek, German and British consortium has won the 2023 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for investigating the Adriana shipwreck, which left over 600 migrants dead off Pylos in Greece. [European Parliament]
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Sci/Tech
Elgato's new teleprompter is designed for streamers
Elgato, maker of the Stream Deck, just announced a teleprompter gadget. The Elgato Prompter connects to a camera or webcam and displays scrolling video scripts. Would be very cool kit for broadcast journos on the road, too! [Endgadget]
The new Apple Pencil is missing some of the second-gen model's features, but comes at a more affordable price. [CNet]
The reduction in headcount is directly related to the proliferation of generative AI-driven coding assistants from companies such as Microsoft, AWS, Google, and IBM, a study from Cornell University showed. [InfoWorld]
The Calendar
  • 0900 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau welcomes leaders to the CARICOM summit.
  • 0930 ET: West Block -  The Conservative National Caucus will meet.
  • 1000 ET: West Block -  The Liberal National Caucus will meet.
  • 1015 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau will chair a CARICOM session on climate change. He will be joined by Foreign Affairs Min Mélanie Joly, International Development Min Ahmed Hussen and Environment Min Steven Guilbeault.
  • 1100 ET: W110 1 Wellington -  Senate Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators Committee meets: Consideration of an inquiry report of the Senate Ethics Officer
  • 1300 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau will chair a CARICOM session on finance and global financial architecture reform. He will be joined by Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland, International Development Min Ahmed Hussen andEnvironment Min Steven Guilbeault.
  • 1500 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau chairs a CARICOM session on regional security and Haiti. He will be joined by Foreign Affairs Min Mélanie Joly, Defence Min Bill Blair, and Public Safety Min Dominic LeBlanc
  • 1615 ET: W110 1 Wellington -  Senate Banking, Commerce and the Economy Committee meets: Bill C-42
  • 1615 ET: B30 Senate Building -  Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee meets: Bill C-48,
  • 1615 ET: B45 Senate building -  Senate Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee meets: Bill C-35: Families, Children and Social Developmet Jenna Sudds to testify.
  • 1630 ET: 315 Wellington - Standing Committee on Natural Resources (RNNR) | Meeting  77 - Canada’s Clean Energy Plans in the Context of North American Energy Transformation
  • 1630 ET: 420 Wellington - Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting  70 - Committee business
  • 1630 ET: 410 Wellington - Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting  85 - Use of Social Media Platforms for Data Harvesting and Unethical or Illicit Sharing of Personal Information with Foreign Entities
  • 1630 ET: 415 Wellington - Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 82 - Canada Summer Jobs Wage Subsidy Program
  • 1630 ET: 035B West Block - Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 76 - C-20
  • 1630 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting  58 - Drafting report
  • 1715 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau meets with 🇩🇲 Dominica PM Roosevelt Skerrit.
  • 1845 ET: W110 1 Wellington -  Senate National Finance Committee meets: Bill S-258
  • 1845 ET: B45 Senate building -  Senate Transport and Communications Committee meets: Study the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors
  • 1845 ET: C128 Senate building -  Senate Indigenous Peoples Committee meets: Bill C-29
  • 1915 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau speaks at a reception for CARICOM leaders.
  • 1930 ET: 025B West Block - Standing Committee on Health (HESA) | Meeting  82 - C-293
  • 1930 ET: 035B West Block - Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) | Meeting  82 - C-33
Issued this day ...
... in 2013: Sc  # 2684: The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. Design: Sputnik Design Partners Inc.
This stamp was issued to mark the 150th anniversary of this regiment and was part of “The Regiments” series Canada Post has issued over the years.

This stamp features a poppy laid over the painting Assault on Assoro by Korean War veteran Ted Zuber. 

As for the regiment at hand, Canada Post sketches out the regimental history in this note published at the time of issue: 
“On March 15, 1920, two old and storied county regiments, The 49th Hastings Rifles and The 16th Prince Edward Regiment were amalgamated to form The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. Unofficially, the latter regiment can trace its origins even to the early 1800s with the formation of early militia regiments by the United Empire Loyalists in Hastings and Prince Edward counties. When the 9th Anti-Tank Regiment (-Self-Propelled) (Argyll Light Infantry) – formerly the 15th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry) Canada – was amalgamated with The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment on September 1, 1954, the Regiment could officially trace its roots to January 16, 1863.

The Regiment has served with distinction and earned many battle honours throughout its history, beginning with North-West Canada 1885 for its service during the North-West Rebellion. It also provided volunteers to fight in the South African (Boer) War.

During the First World War, the Regiment sent troops to fight in Europe. Their valour brought additional battle honours, including Mount Sorrel, Somme 1916, Arras 1917 and 1918, Hill 70, Ypres 1917, Amiens, Hindenburg Line and Pursuit to Mons.

In 1939, the Regiment mobilized for the Second World War on December 22. Following landings in Sicily on July 10, 1943, and on the Italian peninsula on September 3, 1943, the Regiment fought in southern Europe until 1945. In March of that year, it moved to northwestern Europe where it fought near Nieuw Milligen, Holland, on April 17, 1945.

By the end of the war, the Regiment held the distinction of winning more battle honours (31) than any other regiment in the Canadian Army. Ten of the many honours it earned during the Second World War appear on its regimental colours. Since that time, volunteers from the Regiment have remained active by serving in Sierra Leone, Egypt, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Somalia, Haiti and Afghanistan.

Nicknamed the “Hasty Ps,” members of The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment also earned the moniker of “Plough Jockeys” during the Second World War, as many had enlisted straight from their homes in rural Ontario. Far from finding the term insulting, the Regiment embraced its new name; to this day, the Regimental Association’s tabloid is titled The Plough Jockey.”

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