Canada
Why aren’t more foreign grocers in Canada? Lack of space a hurdle: minister
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne likened attracting foreign grocers to Canada to efforts to bring in electric vehicle investment with the need for personal outreach.
Canada grounded Boeing MAX-8s after chance encounter led to new data: docs
The data that the Canadian government relied on to ground Boeing MAX-8 jets in 2019 was the result of a chance encounter at a European aviation conference, documents suggest.
Is it time for Jagmeet Singh to end the Liberal-NDP deal?
Susan Delacourt and Matt Gurney: Two views about the ongoing value of the deal by which the New Democrats are propping up Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government.
Justin Trudeau May Be No Match for the New World of Polarization
Stephen Marche: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and his Liberal Party are facing increasing unpopularity in an era of right-wing ascendancy.
The Provinces
Quebec unveils $603 million five-year plan to protect French language
The provincial government said its nine priorities include better monitoring of language trends, boosting the French cultural offering, and improving students' mastery of French.
Émilise Lessard-Therrien démissionne de son poste de co-porte-parole de Québec solidaire
Elle avait par ailleurs annoncé il y a quelques semaines qu'elle prenait un pas de recul de ses fonctions, pour un « souci de santé » alors non divulgué.
New plan to limit cellphone use, ban vaping in all Ontario schools
The Ford government announced it is introducing limits on cellphone use in schools and banning vaping devices in a move to help improve learning in the classroom.
Elsewhere
Why Germany ditched nuclear before coal – and why it won’t go back
One year ago, Germany took its last three nuclear power stations offline. When it comes to energy, few events have baffled outsiders more. This decision can only be understood in the context of post-war socio-political developments in Germany, where anti-nuclearism predated the public climate discourse.
Donald Trump Has Never Sounded Like This
No major American presidential candidate has talked like he now does at his rallies — not Richard Nixon, not George Wallace, not even Donald Trump himself.
RFK Jr.'s third-party threat: Does it hurt Biden or Trump more?
The Trump and Biden campaigns are both acting as if Kennedy poses a small, but significant threat to Biden's reelection.
Media
Bidders express interest in buying all or part of SaltWire newspaper business
More than 250 prospective purchasers and potential investors were sent so-called teaser letters and non-disclosure agreements advising them of the sale process.
‘Slow Journalism’: Montana reporter sheds light on communities in news deserts
Many communities in the Mountain West region are news deserts — geographic areas with limited access to credible and comprehensive local news. Nate Hegyi, who was once a reporter in Montana, sought to address this issue. He embarked on an 800-mile journey to report on communities in news deserts across four states. ‘Just talk to people… We don’t have enough conversations, person-to-person, across that political divide,’ Hegyi says.
Some families push back against journalists who mine social media for photos – they have every right to
Laura Wajnyrb McDonald: When these photos enter the public domain following homicide, they become photos of a victim. In this new domain, private photos serve altogether different purposes. They furnish media stories now and into the future. Their original context and personal meaning are typically overridden or removed, often along with families’ consent.
Reader Notes
This newsletter is curated by David Akin, chief political correspondent at Global News. All my contact information and disclosures are here.
This newsletter also relies on your financial help. 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
23 Google Maps Tricks You Need to Try
Google Maps is the Swiss Army Knife of apps, chock-full of navigation, geospatial-search, and customization tools. These tips and tricks will help you unlock its full potential.
How to write better ChatGPT prompts in 5 steps
ChatGPT is the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool that's taken the world by storm. While there's always the possibility it will simply make stuff up, there's a lot you can do when crafting prompts to ensure the best possible outcome. That's what we'll be exploring in this how-to. In this article, we'll show you how to write prompts that encourage the large language model (LLM) that powers ChatGPT to provide the best possible answers.
The Calendar
- 0900 ET: 135B West Block - Infection Prevention and Control Canada officials speak to reporters.
- 0930 ET: Vaughan, ON - LPC MP Francesco Sorbara makes an infrastructure funding announcement.
- 0930 ET: Gatineau, QC - LPC MP Sophie Chatel makes a funding announcement.
- 1100 ET: Ottawa - Fisheries Min Diane Lebouthillier and LPC MP Mike Kelloway speak about Budget 2024.
- 1100 ET: 025-B West Block - Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting 118 - Federal Government Consulting Contracts Awarded to McKinsey & Company
- 1100 ET: 415 Wellington - Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) | Meeting 104 - Report 2, Housing in First Nations Communities, 2024 Reports 2 to 4 of the Auditor General of Canada; Report 3, First Nations and Inuit Policing Program, 2024 Reports 2 to 4 of the Auditor General of Canada
- 1100 ET: 425 Wellington - Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting 120 - Bill C-27
- 1100 ET: 430 Wellington - Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting 102 - Bill C-273
- 1100 ET: 330 Wellington - National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting 100 - Space Defence
- 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting 91 - Transition to Civilian Life
- 1130 ET: Ottawa - LPC MP David McGuinty makes a funding announcement.
- 1400 ET: HoC foyer - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to reporters.
- 1530 ET: 315 Wellington - Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) | Meeting 104 - Canada's Approach to Africa
- 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Health (HESA) | Meeting 112 - Opioid Epidemic and Toxic Drug Crisis in Canada
- 1530 ET: 025-B West Block - Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 110 - FY24 Supp Cs and FY25 Main Estimates. Diversity Min Kamal Khera and Labour Min Seamus O'Regan testify.
- 1530 ET: 035-B West Block - Natural Resources (RNNR) | Meeting 95 - Drafting report.
- 1530 ET: 125-B West Block - Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting 96 - Committee Business
- 1530 ET: 425 Wellington - Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 104 - Growing Problem of Car Thefts in Canada
- 1600 ET: Gatineau, QC - Employment Min Randy Boissonnault speaks about housing.
- 1830 ET: 025-B West Block - Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship (CACN) | Meeting 39 - Canada–People's Republic of China Relations
