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Reader Notes

Author! Author! : Who writes 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!

David Akin's Roundup

Science and tech

The Calendar

  • 1030 ET: Sherbrooke, QC: Revenue Min Marie-Claude Bibeau speaks about her political future.
  • 1100 ET: HoC Foyer, - NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo speaks about a private member's bill.
  • 1100 ET: 430 Wellington - Canadian Heritage (CHPC) | Meeting 132 - Senior Management Compensation at CBC/Radio-Canada
  • 1100 ET: 420 Wellington - Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) | Meeting 126 - Profits and Emissions Reduction Efforts in Canada's Oil and Gas Industry
  • 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) | Meeting 122 - Impact of the Reopening of the Cod Fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec
  • 1100 ET: 035-B West Block - International Trade (CIIT) | Meeting 121 - Protecting Certain Canadian Manufacturing Sectors, Including Electric Vehicles, Aluminum and Steel, Against Related Chinese Imports and Measures. Trade Min Mary Ng and Industry Min François-Philippe Champagne to testify.
  • 1100 ET: 025-B West Block - Natural Resources (RNNR) | Meeting 110 - Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
  • 1100 ET: 415 Wellington - Public Accounts (PACP) | Meeting 145 - Report 6, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, of the 2024 Reports 5 to 7 of the Auditor General of Canada
  • 1100 ET: 330 Wellington - the Status of Women (FEWO) | Meeting 125 - Breast Cancer Screening for Women Aged 40
  • 1400 ET: HoC Foyer - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to reporters.
  • 1530 ET: 025-B West Block - Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) | Meeting 111 - Drafting report
  • 1530 ET: 415 Wellington - Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) | Meeting 124 - S-16. Crown-Indigenous Relations Min Gary Anandasangaree to testify.
  • 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting 140 - Credit Card Practices and Regulations in Canada
  • 1530 ET: 430 Wellington - Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting 116 - Drafting report
  • 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting 109 - Recognition of Persian Gulf Veterans and Reviewing of: (a) the definition of “War”, “Wartime Service”, and “Special Duty Service“; and (b) the Difference, the Process of Determining, and Criteria for Veteran’s Benefits
  • 1830 ET: 225-A West Block - Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship (CACN) | Meeting 48 - Drafting report
David Akin's Roundup

Issued this day ...

… in 2004: Sc #2066a se-tenant pair: Canadian Victoria Cross Winners. Design: Pierre-Yves Pelletier.

This pair was issued on the 150th anniversary of the awarding of the first Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award in the British decorations system.

Dunn was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854, when he was 21 years of age. That’s Dunn’s VC on the left (Sc 2065).

Veterans Affairs Canada says there have been 1,351 Victoria Crosses and three Bars awarded worldwide, 99 to Canadians (Canadian-born, serving in the Canadian Army or having a close link to Canada). If you collected the pane of 16 stamps issued by Canada Post, you would see the centre portion of that pane contains the list of Canada’s VC recipients.

The Victoria Cross has had a bit of an awkward history in Canada. The government of Pierre Trudeau, keen to sever all imperial ties in an era when Trudeau was trying to repatriate our Constitution from Britain, he essentially suspended the decoration. But, after a campaign by advocacy groups, the government of Brian Mulroney would successfully 'repatriate' this medal with a “Canadian” Victoria Cross. That’s what you see on the stamp on the right here (Sc 2066).

But, so far, no Canadian Victoria Cross has ever been conferred; Smokey Smith, who died in 2005, was the last living Canadian recipient of the Imperial Victoria Cross, personally receiving it from King George VI at Buckingham Palace in December 1944.

David Akin's Roundup