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May 5 2023

Woke wake. CPC Attack ad. Sunak’s losses.

May 5, 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 tells Poilievre to ‘wake up,’ urges Liberal convention to reject populism
Trudeau delivered an opening night keynote speech to Liberal faithful at the party's policy convention in Ottawa, strongly indicating he plans to run in the next election. [Global]
Development contradicts Prime Minister’s version of events where he said the spy agency made the decision not to send the report up the chain of authority. [Globe and Mail]

Beijing reacts angrily after Canada said it sought to intimidate the MP over his anti-China stance. [BBC]
Don Martin: Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino is a bright former federal prosecutor, who was destined to be a star in Justin Trudeau's cabinet. But Mendicino has taken a stunning fall from grace, stumbling badly on important issues just 18 months into the job. [CTV]
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says the federal government is keeping all options open, including expelling Chinese diplomats, over the threats against Michael Chong. [Global]
CPC, flush with cash, buys commercial times during NFL playoffs
The Conservative Party of Canada raised $8-million in the last fiscal quarter and are putting their riches to use right away, buying commercial time during the NFL playoffs to air this ad. - DA.
From the provinces
NDP hopes to woo undecided conservatives; UCP looks to workers
Alberta NDP's leader delivered a direct message Thursday to people who have voted conservative in the past and are undecided on how to cast their ballots later this month. [Global]
On Wednesday, Brian Jean said the NDP’s support of decarbonizing Alberta’s electricity grid will cost “at least $87 billion.” But the report authors and experts dispute that claim. [Global]
Vaughn Palmer: Redacting huge parts of troublesome reports is something the B.C. NDP and former Liberal governments have in common. [Vancouver Sun]
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Elsewhere
King's coronation draws apathy, criticism in former colonies
When King Charles III is crowned on Saturday, soldiers carrying flags from the Bahamas, South Africa, Tuvalu and beyond will march alongside British troops in a spectacular military procession in honor of the monarch.  [AP]
It was the first election in England to require photo ID - which the Electoral Commission says meant some people were "regrettably unable to vote" [BBC]
Republicans in the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would make it a felony to help a voter fill out an absentee ballot. House Representatives approved the bill with a 76-28 vote that fell almost entirely on party lines, after Republicans voted to cut off a filibuster by Democratic lawmakers. [AP]
Media
Egale Canada called for the public consultation in response to "false and horrifying claims" made by then-host Tucker Carlson about transgender people. [Global]
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Tech
Weather apps are infuriating. There’s a clear reason why. [Slate]
To compete against the ChatGPT beer for People's Choice, the brewery also created their own 'HUMANS' version and had customers vote in favour of which one they enjoyed more. [Global]
Issued this day ...
Issued this day in 1989: Scott # 1181: High Values — Architecture - Runnymede Library. Design: Raymond Bellemare.
The first of a very handsome six-stamp set of high-value definitive celebrating some unique and perhaps overlooked examples of Canadian architecture. This one, the first in the series, shows the front of the Runnymede Library in Toronto’s west end.  Canada Post takes it from here in the press release issued at the time: 
“The Runnymede Library, whose architect was John M. Lyle, opened in 1929. Lyle also designed Toronto’s new Union Station, which was officially opened in 1927, as well as the 1497-seat Royal Alexander Theatre, which commenced stage performances in 1907, and the impressive headquarters of the Bank of Nova Scotia at King and Bay Streets. 

Lyle was born in Ireland in 1872, but spent his childhood in Hamilton, Ontario. He studied at Yale University and in Paris. He commenced his career in New York City, but returned to Canada in 1905, and lived in Toronto. He is often referred to as a “progressive traditionalist,” as he combined the best of the traditional architectural styles, but included modern motives that combined English, French, and Aboriginal traditions. The Runnymede Library is one of the best examples of a building that includes these three traditions. Lyle greatly promoted  Beaux Arts Classicism.  

The walls of the two-storey Runnymede Library are constructed of rough, highly textured stone from the Credit River Valley. The steep black-slate roof and gabled windows are reminiscent  of French Canadian architecture. The four gables that face Bloor Street break the roof line on the south side. The doorway has carved-stone totem poles and other Native Peoples’ motifs. Since the library opened in 1929, it has been expanded to the north, but Lyle’s original design has never been compromised.”

Last time I drove this section of Bloor Street West it was still there … 

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