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Feb 8 2024

Theft summit. Soldier shortage. Fact-checking Carlson: The Roundup

Feb 8, 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 introduce new measures to prevent auto theft on eve of national summit
Auto theft is a rapidly growing problem in Canada, with the country gaining an international reputation as an easy mark. Abigail Bimman reports on what's driving the problem; how the federal government plans to put the brakes on this crime; and the suggested solutions from advocates. [Global National]
Representatives from Big Tech companies say a Liberal government bill that would begin regulating some artificial intelligence systems is too vague. [CP]
In a news release, Conservatives say the FNRC would result in simplified negotiations between resource companies and First Nations and that the proposal will respect treaty rights and constitutional rights. [Globe and Mail]
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he is against the use of puberty blockers for transgender minors, arguing that children should be able to “make adult decisions when they become adults.” [National Post]
The Conservatives break records and beat the Liberals in fundraising (almost) everywhere. [The Writ]
Justice Maranger, calling the trial “unprecedented,” said the sentence reflected both the severity of Ortis’ actions and the damage to Canada’s reputation with close security partners. [Global]

Officials say demolition work is essentially done as the renovation continues, including removal of around 12,000 tonnes or 26 million pounds of hazardous materials like asbestos. [Global]
From the provinces
Quebec government to table bill extending notwithstanding clause for secularism law
The Quebec government will table a bill Thursday aimed at ensuring the province's secularism law — known as Bill 21 — remains shielded from potential Charter challenges. [CP]

As Ontario ramps up its economic ambitions around minerals in the north and rural advocates complain of underinvestment, Sioux Lookout is struggling with a unique housing crisis. [Global]

Leader Kevin Falcon says another medical practitioner will run as a candidate in the 2024 election, this time in the Kelowna Centre riding. [Vancouver Sun]
Elsewhere
Frontline Ukrainian infantry units report acute shortage of soldiers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has resisted a call by his top general to mobilize nearly 500,000 new troops. But commanders at the front say they desperately need reinforcements. [WaPo]
Boris Nadezhdin, who has won support for his criticism of the Ukraine war, vows to challenge poll commission’s decision. [Al Jazeera]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday total victory in Gaza was within reach, rejecting the latest offer from Hamas for a ceasefire. [Global]
Media
The Pierre Poilievre Media Circus
Justin Ling: I incur the wrath of the paranoid populist ringleader. [Bugeyed and Shameless]

Carlson's claim that no other Western journalist has tried to interview Putin was instantly debunked by reporters and now, the Kremlin itself. [Vice]
The analysis documents two variations of congenial interviewing practices, one in the absence of adversarial questioning, and the other in the presence of ostensibly accountability questions, that are nevertheless deployed as interviewer resources for doing strategic image-repair work in the benefit of the interviewee. The attested questioning practices have implications for the normalization of authoritarian populist discourses and agendas, and, also, for the future of journalism as watchdog and safeguard of democratic institutions in liberal democracies. [Journalism]
Launched this morning, FlamboroughToday joins growing network of Ontario community news sites dedicated to telling stories that matter most: the ones in our neighbourhoods. [Guelph Today]
Can u spare $5 a month for this newsletter? Click now!
Sci/Tech
Cern aims to build €20bn collider to unlock secrets of universe
Cern drew up plans for the next machine, the Future Circular Collider (FCC), in 2019. The €20bn (£17bn) machine would have a 91km circumference and aim to smash subatomic particles together at a maximum energy of 100 teraelectronvolts (TeV). The Large Hadron Collider achieves maximum energies of 14TeV. [The Guardian] 

Stanford researchers say the frequency of students cheating on assignments remained ‘surprisingly’ stagnant in fall 2023. [The74million]
Understanding how to manipulate dates on R is essential. We’ll explore two popular methods: using base R and the powerful lubridate package. [Steve’s Data Tips and Tricks]
Today, we’ll explore both base R and the powerful lubridate and timetk packages to master this handy skill. [[Steve’s Data Tips and Tricks]
The Calendar
  • 0815 ET: 330 Wellington - Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 99 - Bill C-319. BQ MP Andreanne Larouche to testify
  • 0815 ET: 415 Wellington - Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 93 - Bill C-26
  • 0900 ET: Library and Archives Canada - PM Trudeau, Public Safety Min Dominic LeBlanc, Justice Min Arif Virani, Transport Min Pablo Rodriguez, Innovation, Science and Industry Min François-Philippe Champagne, and Treasury Board Pres Anita Anand speak at the National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft.
  • 0900 ET: B45 Senate building - Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry drafts a report.
  • 0900 ET: W110 1 Wellington - Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans meets to study the federal government's current and evolving policy framework for managing Canada’s fisheries and oceans including maritime safety. Fisheries Min Diane Lebouthillier to testify.
  • 0915 ET: 425 Wellington - Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting  93 - Proposals for the 2023 Corrective Act
  • 0945 ET: Ottawa - Small Business Min Rechie Valdez and LPC MP Yasir Naqvi make a funding announcement. 
  • 1000 ET: 135B West Block -  Canadian Home Builders Association representatives speak to reporters.
  • 1030 ET: Toronto - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland meets with business leaders about Budget 2024
  • 1100 ET: 330 Wellington - Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting  90 - Efforts to Stabilize Food Prices
  • 1100 ET: 315 Wellington - Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting  102 - Federal Government's Use of Technological Tools
  • 1100 ET: 035-B West Block - Finance (FINA) | Meeting  126 - Statutory Review of the Proceeds of Crime
  • 1100 ET: 225-A West Block - Health (HESA) | Meeting  100 - Committee Business / Drafting reports
  • 1100 ET: 025-B West Block - Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) | Meeting  105 - Drafting report
  • 1100 ET: 410 Wellington - Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting  72 - Integration of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge
  • 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) | Meeting  99 - Projects of High Frequency Rail Between Quebec City and Toronto, Between Calgary and Banff, and Between Calgary and Edmonton
  • 1130 ET: W110 1 Wellington - Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy studies Bill C-34
  • 1130 ET: C128 Senate building - Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade meets to Examine and report on Canada’s interests and engagement in Africa.
  • 1145 ET: B45 Senate Building - Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology studies Bill S-230.
  • 1200 ET: Toronto - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland meets with policy experts about Budget 2024
  • 1230 ET: Library and Archives Canada - Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc , Justice Min Arif Virani, Transport Min Pablo Rodriguez, Innovation, Science and Industry Min François-Philippe Champagne, and Treasury Board Pres Anita Anand speak at the National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft
  • 1315 ET: Vancouver - Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to reporters.
  • 1330 ET: Toronto - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland meets with post-secondary education leaders about Budget 2024
  • 1430 ET: Senate of Canada - Crown-Indigenous Affairs Min Gary Anandasangaree speaks about the Haida Nation.
  • 1530 ET: 125-B West Block - Canadian Heritage (CHPC) | Meeting  109 - Drafting report
  • 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - International Trade (CIIT) | Meeting  92 - Canadian Businesses in Supply Chains and Global Markets
  • 1530 ET: 425 Wellington - Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) | Meeting  96 - Freshwater
  • 1530 ET: 410 Wellington - Status of Women (FEWO) | Meeting  95 - Drafting report.
  • 1530 ET: 315 Wellington - Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) | Meeting  97 - Drafting report
  • 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - Public Accounts (PACP) | Meeting  97 -Committee Business
Issued this day ...
… in 1961. Scott # 391 — Northern Develompent. Design: Bernard James Reddie.

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