Mark Carney’s Stance On Iran Throws His Davos Doctrine Into Question
>“What we’re hearing right now, at a time when it really matters, is … that we’re giving in,” Neve said. “We’re not prepared to be that bold leader in that ‘middle power’ space. Instead, we are capitulating to the ‘might is right’ world that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are intent on forging.”
Just so I’m clear on all this:
There's no PBO: Ottawa fails to appoint new fiscal watchdog as interim term expires (full text in post)
>There is currently no parliamentary budget officer scrutinizing federal finances in Ottawa as the interim fiscal watchdog’s term expired Monday without a successor in place. >The PBO is an independent agent of Parliament tasked with analyzing federal budgets, spending proposals and election campaign promises to raise the quality of public debate. >With no budget officer installed, the office itself cannot publish any reports or accept new work requests from parliamentarians. The budget office will continue to work on existing requests while waiting for a new officer to be named. >Interim PBO Jason Jacques was appointed to a six-month term in September that ended at 5 p.m. ET Monday. >Ottawa opened applications for a new permanent PBO in November and last week a Privy Council Office spokesman said information about the appointment of a permanent budget officer would be “made available in due course.” >The appointment of a permanent budget officer to a seven-year term is decided by cabinet and must be approved by Parliament. Interim PBOs, like Jacques, can be appointed without parliamentary sign-off for six-month terms. >The federal government’s “persistent delays” in appointing new fiscal watchdogs were highlighted as a shortcoming in an otherwise glowing review of Canada’s parliamentary budget office published last week by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. >Jacques argued at the House of Commons standing committee on government operations and estimates Thursday that it would benefit Ottawa to shift the watchdog’s mandate from the budget officer to the office itself to help with continuity between mandates. >Bloc Québécois MP Marie-Hélène Gaudreau told the same committee in French that the federal government’s failure to date to name a replacement PBO is “unacceptable” with Jacques’ term coming to a close. >Jacques’ tenure heading up the budget office started with a bang in September as he criticized the Liberal government’s fiscal track as “unsustainable.” >Later, when Liberals tabled their 2025 federal budget, Jacques said Ottawa’s debt path was broadly sustainable in the long term but argued the feds had used up some of their ability to absorb future fiscal shocks. >He also pushed for a new independent body to clarify definitions of capital spending under the Liberals’ new budget framework.
Feds shut down assessment ask for Ring of Fire mine
>Wyloo’s proposed underground copper, nickel and platinum mine in the Ring of Fire will not be subject to a federal impact assessment, despite the unified calls of more than half a dozen First Nations. >The Perth-based company wants to build the Eagle’s Nest mine about 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont. in the mineral- and carbon-rich Ring of Fire region. Premier Doug Ford paved the way last spring with the passage of the controversial Bill 5 and removed the requirement for a provincial environmental assessment of the mine. >Neskantaga First Nation submitted a formal designation request under the Impact Assessment Act in late October. Six neighbouring First Nations supported this request: Attawapiskat, Fort Albany, Ginoogaming, Moose Cree, Nibinamik and Peawanuck. >But on Feb. 20, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada decided the project does not warrant a federal impact assessment because the project still “must be carried out in compliance with applicable federal and provincial legislative mechanisms” and the company has been “actively consulting” with Indigenous groups. Agency president Terence Hubbard acknowledged the project will cause adverse effects, but said there are ways to address this other than through an impact assessment, including federal and provincial legislation like the Species at Risk Act, Fisheries Act and Mining Act. >The decision was a disappointment for the First Nations. >“Every First Nation that commented supported our request. Ottawa chose to ignore us,” Neskantaga First Nation Chief Gary Quisess said in a press release. “This decision puts our river, our homelands, and our Treaty rights at risk. We will not allow mining companies or governments to decide the future of the Ring of Fire without us.” >Neskantaga First Nation is assessing next steps in collaboration with neighbouring First Nations, legal counsel and community members, according to the press release. The mine poses a risk to the region’s carbon-rich peatlands, the Attawapiskat watershed and Neskantaga’s constitutionally protected treaty rights. >Prime Minister Mark Carney has not referred the Eagle’s Nest mine to the Major Project Office for fast-tracking, but has indicated unlocking mining projects in the Ring of Fire is a priority and previously told Canada’s National Observer that several mines and roads in the area are under consideration for fast-tracking. >Along with Bill 5, Ford moved Ring of Fire development forward by signing an agreement in October with Webequie First Nation to speed up construction of all-season access roads to unlock mining in the region. >Early this year, the former CEO of Wyloo Canada, Kristan Staub, was appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation (a subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation). It manages the $10-billion federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, which supports Indigenous groups in acquiring equity ownership in major projects. >— With files from Matin Sarfraz & John Woodside
Autopsy of Canadian in ICE custody indicates his death was preventable, experts say
Carney, Poilievre say they want to work together after one-on-one meeting
Anyone else feel like Shoppers pharmacies are aggressively trying to charge extra fees?
BOISE — The Idaho Attorney General’s Office will not file charges against four Pocatello police officers who shot a teenager with developmental disabilities this spring. The officers fired 14 times in fewer than two seconds, with 12 of the bullets hitting 17-year-old Victor Perez. The police were called to his home on April 5 for a report of a disturbance. The teenager died a week later after doctors amputated his leg and he was clinically declared brain dead. The shooting garnered attention from around the world. Cell phone video of the incident has been viewed millions of times, and protests have been held across the state with participants demanding justice for Perez. Members of the community expressed outrage at City Council meetings and demanded the officers be arrested and charged. The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force investigated the shooting, and Bannock County Prosecuting Attorney Ian Johnson asked the office of Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador to determine whether criminal charges should be filed. In a 12-page letter sent to Johnson on Wednesday morning, Idaho Deputy Attorney General Jeff Nye acknowledged the shooting was a tragedy and explained why the officers will not be charged. “The State would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the four officers who discharged their weapons were not justified in using deadly force,” Nye wrote. “We will thus not file criminal charges against the officers.”
Anyway for anyone wondering if this is really a big deal, check out Palantir’s operations in the UK and consider the fact that Carney is doing much the same as Starmer in other aspects of governance.
EXCLUSIVE Nerve investigation finds Trump ally Peter Thiel's surveillance firm has won at least 34 contracts, including management services for Britain's nuclear deterrent, with MPs warning of 'gaping vulnerability' as US president threatens Nato allies. By Carole Cadwalladr, Charlie Young and Max Colbert
