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Nov 29 2023

Three quarters. Regina review. India investigates. The Roundup

Nov 29, 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.
Thanks to so many of you who responded to the request for donations to help with the production of this newsletter. Some of you had questions -- about annual donations, one-time donations, and so on. Still working with Patreon and others on some solutions. But again, thanks to all who chipped in -- and, if you haven't done so yet, the blue buttons below are your opportunity to help out! 
Canada
Poll says three in four want Trudeau to go, but Trudeau insists he’ll stay - National | Globalnews.ca
The Conservatives have a 16-point lead. Three-quarters of the country think it's time for a change. But Justin Trudeau is vowing to fight Pierre Poilievre in the next election. Latest from me ...[Global]
'Premier Smith said herself yesterday that the sovereignty act is a largely symbolic gesture. You don’t take someone to court for something that’s symbolic' [National Post]

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he hopes the long-promised online harm reduction legislation will be tabled soon, following the death by suicide of a 12-year-old boy. [Global]
We argue that establishing a more professional licensing and credentialing system for the consulting industry through a regulatory intermediary would improve the efficiency of its services and allay many of the concerns raised. [Canadian Public Administration]
Report No. 32 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts. [House of Commons]
Report No. 34 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts. [House of Commons]
From the provinces

The Saskatchewan government is using its autonomy legislation for the first time to review the federal government's proposed clean-electricity regulations. [CP]

Olivier Bolduc, a former Québec Solidaire candidate in the Jean-Talon riding, confirmed that he longer wants to be part of QS, after members passed a resolution on how the party will choose byelection candidates. [CBC]

The Ontario government is set to release its long-promised 'business case' today for moving the Ontario Science Centre from its current location to Ontario Place. [Global]
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Elsewhere
India to probe US concerns linking it to foiled murder plot
India will formally investigate security concerns aired by the United States in a warning to New Delhi about its links to a foiled plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. [Reuters]

The endorsement comes as Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and governor of South Carolina, has gained momentum in the Republican primary, and has in many ways surpassed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the top alternative to Trump. [WaPo]

Marianna Budanova was poisoned from heavy metals, according to multiple spokespeople for Ukraine's military intelligence agency. [Global]

The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s largest oil producers. It's also the site of this year’s UN COP28 climate summit, which kicks off later this week in Dubai.

It's a controversial host, but the truth is that there’s massive potential for oil and gas companies to help address climate change, both by cleaning up their operations and by investing their considerable wealth and expertise into new technologies.

The problem is that these companies also have a vested interest in preserving the status quo. If they want to be part of a net-zero future, something will need to change—and soon. [MIT Technology Review]

Chinese health authorities say there has been no detection of 'unusual or novel pathogens' amid the surge in respiratory illness, which is primarily impacting children. [Global]
Media

Pro-Palestinian TikTok posts gain traction with Gen Z, while slicker Israeli content is popular on X. [BBC]
What do you do when you don’t get the dataset you need from authorities, or it doesn’t exist? Two experts provided tips at GIJC23. [Global Investigative Journalism Network]

Leaving a staff job to freelance sounds daunting, but for many science writers, it results in a richer career and a better work-life balance. Six journalists who have made the leap share their motivations for leaving and offer advice for anyone pondering a similar path. [Open Notebook]
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Sci/Tech
Is sustainable fuel the best path to greener aviation?
A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 has made history by becoming the first passenger plane to make a transatlantic flight powered by 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel. But critics don't see this as progress. Redmond Shannon explores the debate surrounding green aviation. [Global National]

Today, we’re introducing additional enhancements to the Drive scanner on Android devices, which now powers the Google Pixel camera and includes improvements to the scanner experience when capturing content. [Google]
The Calendar
  • 0900 ET: Wellington Building -  The NDP national Caucus will meet.
  • 0930 ET: 025B West Block -  The Conservative national caucus will meet.
  • 1000 ET: 225A West Block -  The Liberal National Caucus will meet.
  • 1230 ET: 135B West Block - NDP MPs Alexandre Boulerice and Matthew Green speak about the telecom industry.
  • 1245 ET: Fort Saskatchewan, AB - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland , Innovation, Science and Industry  François-Philippe Champagne, Employment and Workforce Development Min Randy Boissonnault and Premier Danielle Smith make an announcement.
  • 1530 ET: Ottawa - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will meet with United Steelworkers Local 1944
  • 1610 ET: Victoria - Energy and Natural Resources Min Jonathan Wilkinson makes a funding announcement. 
  • 1630 ET: 415 Wellington - Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 92 - Bill C-318
  • 1630 ET: 315 Wellington - Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting  79 - Economic Development of Official Language Minority Communities
  • 1630 ET: 410 Wellington - Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting  68 - Integration of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and Science in Government Policy Development
  • 1630 ET: 330 Wellington - Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting  95 - Use of Social Media Platforms for Data Harvesting and Unethical or Illicit Sharing of Personal Information with Foreign Entities
  • 1630 ET: 035B West Block - Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) | Meeting  86 - Drafting report / Canada's Diplomatic Capacity
  • 1630 ET: 425 Wellington - Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 86 - Rights of Victims of Crime, Reclassification and Transfer of Federal Offenders
  • 1900 ET: Toronto - GPC MP Elizabeth  May attends an event recognizing a science journalist.
  • 1930 ET: 025B West Block - Standing Committee on Health (HESA) | Meeting  92 - Women's Health
  • 1930 ET: 035B Wet BLock - Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) | Meeting  92 - Bill C-33
  • 1930 ET: 025B West Block - Standing Committee on Health (HESA) | Meeting  92 - Women's Health
  • 2030 ET: Toronto - GPC MP Elizabeth  May departs for Dubai.
Issued this day ...
Issued this day in 1974: Scott #655: William Hamilton Merritt. Design: William Rueter. Painting by Robert Reginald Whale.
Issued to to mark the 150th anniversary of the construction of the Welland Canal between Lakes Ontario and Erie, featuring its project supervisor and designer, William Hamilton Merritt (1793-1862).

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