Past issues Subscribe

Apr 18 2023

Trudeau’s trip. More ridings. Twitter v CBC.

Apr 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
Trudeau family vacationed with wealthy friends who donated to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family spent the last holiday season at a luxurious estate in Jamaica belonging to a wealthy family that made a large donation two years ago to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, Radio-Canada has learned. [CBC]
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says Canada will not issue a blanket exemption to terrorism laws for humanitarian workers as allies have done, saying it risks abuse.  [Global]
The Liberals are facing calls to establish a foreign influence registry in response to reports of alleged interference by the Chinese government in recent Canadian elections.  [Global]
National President Chris Aylward told reporters on Monday that despite progress being made on several fronts, there has been little on the union’s key priorities.  [Global]

Elections Canada is insisting that regulated fundraising events be publicly advertised with their precise locations, despite safety concerns raised by the Liberal government and Conservative Opposition. [CBC]

A new report says hundreds of thousands of Canadians may have missed out on government money intended to help with the rising cost of living because the housing and dental benefits rolled out last year have had "atrocious" take-up. [CP]
From the provinces
Alberta campaign will be long as culture wars keep escalating
Don Braid : Trudeau, Twitter, even Fox News — the culture wars keep escalating and spilling over into Alberta's election campaign. [Calgary Herald]
Alberta's Opposition NDP is promising up to $200 million to create a post-secondary campus in downtown Calgary if it wins the upcoming election.  [Global]
The group helped take down ex-premier Jason Kenney and built support for replacement Danielle Smith, but is accused of being extremist. [National Post]
Jim Wickett, treasurer and secretary and former chairman of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, a farm advocacy organization, pleaded guilty to assault.  [Global]
Several organizations intervening at the Supreme Court argue that if the Ontario government's broad interpretation of what should be considered a cabinet record is adopted, it would vastly expand the scope of records the government can keep secret from the public in a way that would undermine democracy and impair the public's ability to hold the government accountable. [CBC]
Ontario Liberal leadership race swings into high gear as party sets the date to elect a new leader. Not everyone is thrilled with the date .. [TorStar]

British Columbia's electoral map is poised to expand by six ridings, increasing the number of provincial constituencies to 93 from the current 87 ahead of the 2024 fixed election date. [CP]

Manitoba's plan to expand private sales of liquor is on hold, and its private retail system for cannabis may come under review after an upcoming election. [CP]
Click to donate $3 a month to support this newsletter!
Elsewhere
Canada closes embassy in Sudan as violent clashes enter 3rd day
At least 185 people have been killed and over 1,800 wounded since the sudden eruption of violence in Khartoum over the weekend, UN envoy Volker Perthes said.  [Global]
NATO’s upcoming Vilnius summit has to produce more than a rhetorical expression of support for Ukraine. Allied leaders must leverage the opportunity to drive forward a NATO defense and deterrence posture that underscores NATO’s resolve to support Ukraine and begins the process of fully integrating Ukraine within the transatlantic community, including as a NATO member. [Atlantic Council]
Media
But then, a Twitter user noted that government funds account for 69% of the CBC's annual income. And so ...👇
The Conservative leader has suggested in media interviews that while he believes in defunding the CBC, he sees the value in its French-language programming. [Global]
A major defamation lawsuit against Fox News is set to go to trial, carrying the potential to shed additional light on former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election lies and reveal more about how the right-leaning network operates. The trial could even redefine libel law in the United States.  [AP]
Tech
Using R to style and format Excel tables. [Steve's Data Tips and Tricks]
Issued this day ...
... in 1973: Scott # 615: Jeanne Mance. Design: Raymond Bellemare. 
Issued to mark the 300th anniversary of the death of Jeanne Mance (1606-1673), co-founder of Montreal, founder and director of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal. Per the Canadian Enyclopedia, "Mance was the business head behind a missionary settlement on Montreal Island in 1642. She recruited wealthy sponsors in France and became the settlement’s treasurer, director of supplies and hospital director. When the nascent colony was under threat, she offered hospital funds to raise troops, which allowed the settlement to survive."

Designer Bellemare used a detail from an oil painting by the French artist L Dugardin (c1865).  However, although this painting has been assumed to be of Mance, there is debate about whether it is in fact a true representation," according to McGill University. 
Click and donate $5 a month to support this newsletter!

Previous Issues

Load More