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Apr 19 2023

Strike on. Harper’s appeal. Drone ace.

Apr 19, 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
PSAC workers are going on strike at midnight. Here’s what happens now
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday he believed the government and the union, PSAC, were working hard to avoid a strike. [Global]
Bill C-11 returned to the Senate after the House of Commons adopted most of the upper chamber's amendments to the controversial legislation, and is now expected to pass. [Global]

When the committee was asked to look at electio interference, Poilievre called it 'a secret committee ... controlled by the Prime Minister' [National Post]

Emmett Macfarlane: A group of more than 60 “former top security officials, military commanders and politicians” have signed an open letter “imploring the Liberal government to take national security and defence more seriously.” Among the signatories is former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. [Declarations of Invalidity]

House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans: Report No. 10 [House of Commons]
The transport committee report comes after chaotic summer and winter travel seasons brought on by soaring demand, labour shortages and poor weather. [Global]
From the provinces
[Advertisement] Stephen Harper Issues Direct Appeal to Albertans
The United Conservative Party texted this this video ad -- "Stephen Harper is issuing a direct appeal to Albertans in advance of the coming Alberta election campaign" -- to the smartphones of 1 million Albertans in swing ridings. That's where campaigns happen these days -- on the screen in your hand. - DA [United Conservative Party via YouTube]
Jared Wesley: The 2023 Alberta election is about far more than left versus right. The UCP’s record in office means the votes of Albertans on May 29 are about choosing province over party. [The Conversation]

Catherine Fournier had asked Quebec Superior Court Justice Serge Francoeur during a hearing last month to remove the publication ban on her identity. [Global]
Last year, inflationary pressures led to dramatic spikes in the cost of everything, leading some in the industry to dub 2022 as the most expensive crop year in history. [Global]
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Elsewhere
War in Ukraine: in the Donbass, an ace of drones decimates the Russians
'Le Monde' met with 23-year-old Andriy Skyba, who's killed hundreds of Russian soldiers using drones converted to drop bombs and grenades. [Le Monde]
The governor's team has reached out to at least six Florida congressional Republicans over the past week trying to stop the bleeding. [NBC]
Media

A majority of Americans say they trust podcasts as much as other sources of news. [Axios]
Tech
Journalism instructor Mike Reilley walks through the kind of powerful new AI tool the bad guys used to create fake news -- but one which journalists might also put to some legitimate use. Fascinating yet scary. - DA [Journalists Toolbox]
Issued this day ...
... in 1961: Scott #393: Arthur Meighen. Design: Harvey Thomas Prosser.
Every Canadian prime minister - except those still alive -- has, at one point or another, been featured on a stamp. The most recent prime ministerial stamp: 2021 -- featuring John Turner. Like Turner, Sir Arthur Meighen (1874-1960) had a relatively short and undistinguished tenure as prime minister and never won a general election as party leader. But, again like Turner, both men otherwise had successful and distinguished careers as parliamentarians and cabinet ministers. 

Meighen was Canada's 9th prime minister, assuming that job after the retirement of Sir Robert Borden on July 10, 1920. But Meighen's arch-nemesis William Lyon Mackenzie King would send Meighen and his PCs to crushing defeat in the election of 1921 -- the PCs finished third and Meighen lost his own seat ! --  and Meighen would turn over the post of PM to King in December of that year.

Meighen took over as PM one more time on June 29, 1926  in the wake of the King-Byng Affair but then three days later lost the support of the House and lost the subsequent election to King. HIs second tenure as PM ended less than three months later on Sept 25, 1926. 
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