Canada
Michael Kovrig reflects on ‘brutally hard’ Chinese detention: ‘You’re totally alone
Michael Kovrig, who spent 1,019 days in a Chinese prison, has described for the first time the emotional and psychological toll that the detention took on him and his family.
Michael Kovring: The full interview
“I was grabbed out of the blue by about a dozen men in black. They stuffed me into a car and took me to a secret black jail and then proceeded to interrogate me relentlessly and hold me in solitary confinement,” he told Global News, sharing his story of incarceration and the aftermath. The (full) sit-down interview with Global National's Jeff Semple comes three years after he was released following 1,019 days in a Chinese detention cell. Kovrig is now sharing his story for the first time, including details of his two-and-a-half-year incarceration and meeting his daughter following his release.
PM Justin Trudeau On "Canada's Trump" And The Rise Of Far-Right Xenophobia In Canada
Stephen [Colbert] asks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about reports of rising xenophobia in Canada and far-right political figures modeling themselves after Donald Trump.
Naqvi and Harden could face off again in next federal election
The current Ottawa Centre MPP, who has served the riding at Queens Park since 2018, officially announced in July that he was hoping to make the switch to federal politics.
Here comes another confidence motion
The House of Commons will spend the day debating the motion, put forward by Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre "That the House has no confidence in the Prime Minister and the government." The vote on that motion will be held Wednesday and it appears Poilievre will not have the support of the House.
But more chances are coming.
After Question Period Monday, Deputy Prime MInister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland rose to say:
" Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to fairness for every generation and to investing in Canadians. Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I would like to table, in both official languages, a notice of ways and means motion, which contains our plan to make our tax system and our economy fairer for everyone. Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of this ways and means motion."
That day has not yet been designated but when that day comes (and I expect it will be relatively soon), and after debate, that vote on that Ways and Means Motion will be a matter of confidence. -DA
Tax Bills and the Ways and Means Process
If the ways and means motion is adopted, a bill (or bills) based on its provisions may be brought forward by the Government. The rejection of any ways and means motion is interpreted by parliamentary convention as a loss of confidence in the Government by the House.
The Provinces
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad regrets COVID vaccine
"When I talked to Bonnie Henry about it, I started to realize that it wasn't so much about, you know, trying to get herd immunity or trying to stop the spread, but it was more around shaping opinion and control on the population."
N.B. party leaders tout health plans on campaign trail
New Brunswick’s provincial election campaign is in full swing. And parties are touting their plans for the health-care system as they try to win over voters.
NDP unveils $1.1-billion plan for additional health-care spending
“After 17 years of the Sask. Party government, our health-care system in this province is in crisis,” Beck said Monday during a media event outside the Regina General Hospital. The NDP’s plan was described as focusing on “critical front-line services, implementing an aggressive strategy to keep doctors and nurses and health-care professionals working in Saskatchewan.”
MLA booted from caucus alleges he was asked to 'lie for Wab,' discredit PC account of tense handshake in 2023
Mark Wasyliw, who was ousted from the NDP caucus last week, said Monday he was asked to refute Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Obby Khan for accusing NDP leader Wab Kinew of swearing at him and shoving him during an extended handshake.
After controversial directive, Quebec now says anglophones have right to English health services
It is meant to replace an older directive, published in July, that raised concerns the government was limiting access to health care in languages other than French.
Elsewhere
US intel says AI is boosting, but not revolutionizing, foreign efforts to influence the 2024 elections
Artificial intelligence is helping “improve” rather than “revolutionize” influence operations from Russia and Iran aimed at November’s US elections, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in an assessment released Monday. “The (US intelligence community) considers AI a malign influence accelerant, not yet a revolutionary influence tool,” an ODNI official told reporters.
Four takeaways from the (Australia) prime minister's 48 hours in the US for the Quad
In 48 hours, Anthony Albanese attended the Quad Leader's Summit, had three bi-lateral meetings, launched a cancer initiative and breathed in the air of the US presidential election campaign in an important swing state.
'I Could Be Next': Afghans Fear For Future After Germany Announces Deportations
Germany deported several dozen Afghans in August -- all of them convicted criminals -- for the first time since the Taliban takeover in 2021. But the move has fueled panic among Germany's large Afghan community, many of whom fear they could be next as Berlin tightens the country's asylum policies and anti-immigration parties rise in popularity.
Reader Notes
How it works with this newsletter
This newsletter is curated by David Akin, chief political correspondent at Global News. The headlines, excerpts, and photos are generated by the publishers of the clipping. The publisher is at the bottom left of the clipping. If I've got a comment, you''ll see that in italics. But if I've generated the headline and the excerpt, you'll see me taking attribution by finishing with -DA in bold. The stuff about the stamps at the bottom — that’s all me.
You can help keep this newsletter going with a monthly pledge -- Just $5 would do it -- via Patreon or, if you want to make a one-time donation, send an e-transfer to jda@davidakin.com. Thanks for all your help!
Science and tech
U.S. moves to ban Chinese software, hardware from all vehicles in America
The move marks the latest crackdown on China's EV industry by the Biden administration and would effectively bar all Chinese cars from entering the U.S. market.
Assa Abloy partners with Boston Dynamics to let the dogs in
Assa Abloy has one of the world’s largest install bases of door access systems already. Working closely with Boston Dynamics might mean a normalized future of robot patrol guards is coming faster than we think.
The Calendar
- New York City - PM Trudeau attends the opening of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly
- New York City - PM Trudeau speaks to reporters.
- New York City - PM Trudeau speaks about sustainable development goals.
- New York City - PM Trudeau speaks at a United Nations event on industrial growth and decarbonization.
- New York City - PM Trudeau meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
- New York City - PM Trudeau speaks at a United Nations event on extremism and defending democracy.
- New York City - PM Trudeau meets with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- 0830 ET: Ottawa - PACIFICCan Min Harjit Sajjan makes a funding announcement.
- 0900 ET: National Press Theatre - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland and Public Services and Procurement Min Jean-Yves Duclos speak to reporters.
- 1000 ET: 349 Confederation - GPC MP Elizabeth May meets with the National Council of Canadian Muslims.
- 1100 ET: 035-B West Block - Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting 140 - Indigenous Procurement
- 1100 ET: 330 Wellington - Health (HESA) | Meeting 127 - Opioid Epidemic and Toxic Drug Crisis in Canada
- 1100 ET: 415 Wellington - Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 124 - Compensation Disparities Between Unionized and Non-Unionized Workers in Canada
- 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting 109 - Drafting report
- 1100 ET: 225-A West Block - Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) | Meeting 123 - Forms and Procedural and Interpretative Guidelines
- 1100 ET: 420 Wellington - Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 119 - Drafting report
- 1300 ET: 135B WestBlock - Representatives of Fairbnb Canada Network speak to reporters.
- 1300 ET: HoC Foyer - Diversity and Inclusion Min Kamal Khera and Public Safety Min Dominic LeBlanc speak about combatting hate and community security.
- 1400 ET: HoC Foyer - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to reporters.
- 1530 ET: 420 Wellington - Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting 128 - Drafting report
- 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting 109 - Committee Business
- 1530 ET: 025-B West Block - Finance (FINA) | Meeting 153 - Changes to Capital Gains and Corresponding Measures
- 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting 114 - Defence Policy Update
- 1530 ET: 415 Wellington - Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting 97 - Innovation, Science, and Research in Recycling Plastics
- 1530 ET: 125-B West Block - Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) | Meeting 127 - Drafting report
- 1530 ET: 410 Wellington - Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR) | Meeting 55 - Committee Business
Issued this day ...
… in 1951: Scott #301. Stamp Centenary: Trains of 1851 and 1951. Design Herman Herbert Schwarz.
The of a four-stamp series issued this day in 1951 to mark 100 years of a Canadian postal admininistration. The stamps were also issued for attendees of CAPEX, the first international philatelic exhibition that Canada had ever hosted.