Canada
Canadian government buys lavish $9M NYC condo for consul general
While many Canadians struggle to afford a home, the Canadian government has splurged on a lavish new condo in an area of New York known as “Billionaire’s Row.” The extravagant $9 million condo will be the official residence of Consul General Tom Clark. Global Affairs Canada says the home currently used by Clark “doesn’t meet New York building code and required significant investments… to modernize the property.”
Poilievre’s caution on defence spending
Philippe Lagassé: [Here is] the dilemma Conservatives face when they must reconcile their preferred fiscal policies with the cost of national defence. If you want to keep federal spending in check, without cutting social spending or raising taxes, then your defence expenditures can’t get too high. It’s that simple.
The Provinces
'Extreme fire behaviour': Labrador City ordered evacuated as wildfire approaches
In a video posted to social media, Mayor Belinda Adams urged residents to pack up their essentials and leave as quickly as they could. The town is asking people to head east to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which is a six-hour drive along a remote, two-lane highway.
Year-end financial returns show New Brunswick Liberals beat Tories in donations
For the 2023 year, the Liberals beat the Tories in fundraising, collecting a total of $539,081 in contributions, with the Progressive Conservatives amassing $423,355.
Quebec town leaders, residents unite to decide fate of mine with ties to Pentagon
When Lomiko Metals Inc., a mining company based in Surrey, B.C., announced plans for a mine in Quebec's Laurentians region to produce graphite — one of the world’s most sought after critical minerals needed for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries — some residents living nearby began protesting the project, fearing the potential harm to the environment.
Elsewhere
Canadian leaders say democracy must prevail following Trump rally shooting
"It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable," Trudeau said in a post on social media Saturday evening.
France’s Attal secures way forward with liberals after election debacle
Outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Saturday seized a lifeboat out of the political storm that has engulfed his government, becoming the leader of the centrist parliamentary group belonging to President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party.
Putin Signs Bill Banning Lawmakers From Leaving Russia Without Permission
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill that bans members of parliament from leaving the country without permission, a move likely aimed at curtailing dissent among the country's elite over his struggling invasion of Ukraine.
Is AI Asking for Your Vote? A Survey of How Election Law Deals with Generative Artificial Intelligence Across the U.S.
The increased use of generative AI has prompted concern across the United States, leading states to hurriedly craft laws either barring the use altogether of these tools or requiring disclosures in political advertisements. In some cases, because these laws are so new, some practitioners may be unaware they even exist. FWIW: My last survey of Canadian election administrators -- within the last six months -- indicated that while many, like Elections Canada, are monitoring AI tools in elections campaigns, most believe existing laws, electoral or criminal, are currently sufficient to prevent illegal use of AI. And campaign pros in Canada, regardless of party, are also cautious about incoroporating AI tools.
Science and tech
Google Search app gets customizable icons on iPhone
The Google Search app for iPhone and iPad, which basically is its own browser, now offers customizable homescreen icons...
