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Apr 16 2023

Town talk. Crime focus. Succession insider.

Apr 16, 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
Trudeau’s town halls have a new format. Here’s what’s different
Many Canadians who attend the town halls know it's a rare opportunity to air their grievances face-to-face with the prime minister, and say they are grateful for the chance. [Global]
“The key takeaway here is that the reality is, is that regardless of what part of the region that you live in, the two things that, the piece of advice that they’d like to see municipal politicians take would be either to focus on roads and housing.  I’ll call that meat and potatoes issues that affect peoples’ day to day lives.” Also: Learned that pollster Nik Nanos is from Trenton! [Quinte News]
From the provinces
Five First Nations reach historic $800 million, 44,266 hectares settlement with B.C., federal government
The settlements resolve long-standing claims that the First Nations did not receive all the lands owed to them under Treaty 8, which they signed in 1899, government officials said. [Global]
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is doubling down on her refusal to allow journalists to ask followup questions despite criticism she is dodging accountability. [Edmonton Journal]

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson focused on crime and taxes as she spoke to Progressive Conservative party members. [CityNews]

Toronto’s mayoral byelection saw another busy week. Here’s a quick recap of where things stand. [CBC]
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Elsewhere
Trump turns from past to future at RNC donor retreat
The former president traded his election grievance rhetoric for a forward-looking vision for party and country. [Politico]

Leaders and diplomats from Europe have worn a path to Beijing since Chinese leader Xi Jinping was anointed president for a third time. The European Union wants Xi to persuade President Vladimir Putin to end Russia's costly war on Ukraine. It's also concerned about a military escalation around Taiwan. China launched wargames there after French President Emmanuel Macron visited. Then there's business. The EU wants to decrease its dependency on China for critical resources without harming trade. Macron exposed divisions within the EU when he insisted that the bloc should not become a “vassal” to the U.S. or China. The U.S. has different strategic interests and is seeking help from partners to rein in Beijing. [AP]
Media
Inside Rupert Murdoch’s Succession Drama
With the $1.6 billion Dominion lawsuit threatening to hobble Fox News, the ink on his divorce to Jerry Hall still wet, and his broken engagement to Ann Lesley Smith even fresher, it’s been a chaotic 12 months for the 92-year-old conservative media baron. As Fox and family insiders tell it, this could just be the beginning. [Vanity Fair]

Intercom will no longer support Twitter in its customer service and live chat products. The company cited Twitter's new high-priced $42,000 per month API plan as the reason. [Mashable]
Issued this day ...
... in 1943: Scott # 259: King George VI War Issue: Ram Tank, Canadian Army. Design: Herman Herbert Schwartz.
"Ram" tanks of the Canadian Army, named after the Rocky Mountain ram, were produced in Canada by the railway equipment and locomotive manufacturers. The Ram tank, weighing 32 tons heavily armed, was probably the first piece of armament of a specifically United States type produced in Canada. It was patterned after the commonly known General Lee tank developed in 1939 in the United States. After actual combat in Libya, the design was materially modified; it had a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour.
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