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Jan 24 2024

Unreasonable judgement. Target Alberta. Trump fallout: The Roundup

Jan 24, 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
Canadian court finds use of Emergencies Act was ‘unreasonable’
Canada’s federal court has ruled that the Trudeau government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act to shut down protests in 2022 was “unreasonable” and unjustified — contradicting a previous public inquiry. The federal government invoked the emergency measures to clear Ottawa’s streets after the capital was occupied for nearly a month and blockades were set up at border crossings by so-called “Freedom Convoy” protesters. David Akin explains. [Global National]
Emmett Macfarlane: The judge ... ends up not so much reviewing the reasonableness of the decision in light of the circumstances facing the government so much as undertaking a total reappraisal, with the judge substituting his judgment for that of the government’s, with little to no deference to be found. [Substack]

Already beset with lengthy court delays, the trial of accused convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber will now extend into March — and likely beyond — before reaching its much-anticipated conclusion. [Ottawa Citizen]
Canada tapping key ministers to prepare for potential outcomes of U.S. election
Canada is also getting ready for the U.S. election and the possibility of another Trump presidency. Canada-U.S. relations were at the top of the agenda at the Liberal cabinet retreat. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a “Team Canada” approach – tapping key ministers to work with Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. and business leaders to prepare for possible outcomes. Abigail Bimman reports. [Global National]
Federal New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says former U.S. president Donald Trump is completely in his own world, and if he makes it back to the White House it could spell trouble for Canada [CP]
Liberal government has invoked a shroud of secrecy around a controversial warship project estimated now to cost around $80 billion. [Ottawa Citizen]
From the provinces
Quebec Liberals want Champagne for the provincial leadership—and he's not ruling it out
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s name generates the ‘most interest and enthusiasm’ amongst Quebec Liberals for the provincial party’s top job, says a top Quebec Liberal Party source. [Hill Times]
The president of the Alberta Medical Association says a recent survey of family doctors suggests primary care in the province is in critical condition and needs immediate attention. [CP]

Alberta's resources, economy, and sizable ethnic communities make it a "very attractive" target to foreign powers to exert their influence. [Edmonton Journal]
Robinson Huron Treaty settlement finalized
Provincial and federal reps sign off on $10-billion annuities case. Funds from the Robinson Huron settlement are set to be distributed sometime this spring. [Sault Star]
Court documents filed in Smith-McCrossin’s challenge of bid to remove her from legislature. What a tangled web here ... [SaltWire]
Elsewhere
BJP’s Saral app gathers unusual levels of data about Indian voters
In the run-up to India’s national elections in 2024, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term, the Saral app — which has more than 2.9 million Google Play store downloads — has emerged as a key piece of technology in the BJP’s campaigning operations. The party’s head of information technology and social media, Amit Malviya, reportedly referred to Saral as an election-winning machine at a 2023 tech conference in Delhi. Canadian politial parties engage in this kind of database building as well. [Rest of World]

The U.K. government itself, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, will stay steadfastly neutral as it tries to avoid annoying either the incumbent Joe Biden or his likely contender Trump. But in British conservative circles, the prospect of Trump 2.0 come November is now a live topic. [Politico Europe]
The move is a significant setback for Duda, who is embroiled in a fight over rule of law with new PM Donald Tusk. [Politico]

It becomes the first nation in the world to roll out a universal anti-malaria jab for infants. [BBC]
Media
Reporters put up with low salaries, long hours and uninspiring roles in the hope they will find a full-time job. Many may never have one. [Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism]
"We are not in turmoil. We have a real plan,” the paper's owner, billionaire businessman Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, said. An NPR reporter says this represents nearly one-in-four staffers. [Nieman Journalism Lab]
Global Regina is looking for a full-time Managing Editor. Reporting to the News Director of Multi-Market Content, the successful candidate will be required to work primarily weekdays, with weekend and evening work as required. If you have a positive, can-do attitude, a passion for storytelling, and a proven track record of effective leadership in a multi-platform newsroom, then we want to hear from you! [Corus]
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Sci/Tech
Top Harvard cancer researchers accused of scientific fraud; 37 studies affected
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is seeking to retract six scientific studies and correct 31 others that were published by the institute’s top researchers, including its CEO. The researchers are accused of manipulating data images with simple methods, primarily with copy-and-paste in image editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop. [Ars Technica]
The Calendar
  • 1000 ET: Windsor, ON - Employment Min Randy Boissonnault and LPC MP Irek Kusmierczyk make a funding announcement. 
  • 1100 ET: Edmonton -  The NDP national caucus will meet.
  • 1300 ET: West Block and Wellington Building  -  The LPC representative caucuses will meet.
  • 1300 ET: Peterborough, ON - LPC MP Ryan Turnbull makes a funding announcement. 
  • 1630 ET: Edmonton - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh meets with housing stakeholders.
  • 2100 ET: Galiano Island, BC - GPC MP Elizabeth  May holds a community meeting.
Issued this day ...
Issued this day in 2004: Scott #2017: NHL All-Starts — 5: Design: Stéphane Huot.
Featuring, l-r from the top row, Larry Robinson, Marcel Dionne, Ted Lindsay, Johnny Bower, Brad Park and Milt Schmidt. Not a bad starting six versus anyone. Love Park and Robinson on the back end. 

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