The big news yesterday was obviously the crash of Flight PS752 outside of Tehran, with some 63 Canadians aboard (about half of those from Edmonton) – a large number owing to the limited travel options to go to Iran because of the loss of diplomatic relations with Canada, as well as US sanctions. Canada is hoping for a role in the investigation, but without any diplomatic relations or consular access, it limits our ability to do so (thanks to the belief of the Harper Conservatives that diplomacy is a cookie for good behaviour and not how countries communicate even when relations are strained). That lack of access will also make repatriating bodies more difficult, especially as Iran doesn’t recognize dual-citizens. In a press conference yesterday, Justin Trudeau would not categorically state that it was or was not a stray missile that brought the aircraft down – it’s still too early and the investigation has only just begun – but there is already talk that it may have been some kind of engine fire. Trudeau also mentioned his call with Donald Trump, but would not offer much in the way of specifics as to whether or not he agreed with the American plan to kill the Iranian general that touched off the attacks on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Justin Ling suggests that NATO take Trump’s suggestion and do more heavy-lifting in Iraq. Colby Cosh is reminded of when the Americans accidentally shot down an Iranian plane in 1988. Paul Wells notes how minimally this government seems to have acted in this crisis – and the weeks post-election – and suggests it’s time they get back to work.

Prince Harry and Megan

The other big news, in a day full of news, was the announcement that Prince Harry and Megan, Duchess of Sussex, plan to step down as “senior royals” and split their time with “North America” (which most are reading as Canada) and the UK, and focus more on certain patronages and charitable endeavours while looking to be more financially independent from the royal family (even though that could mean independent from the Sovereign Grant while still getting funded by the Duchy of Cornwall). And then Buckingham Palace said that this was “early days” and they were still discussing things – because it’s going to be a lot of details to work out.

https://twitter.com/PhilippeLagasse/status/1214992623942983680

https://twitter.com/PhilippeLagasse/status/1214996433587331072

It has been noted that if Harry in particular wants to go through the Canadian citizenship process, he may have some difficulty given that he doesn’t have a university degree, so that could limit his points – even if they do have connections to Canada. My own half-joking suggestion is that we could set them up in Rideau Hall, because it’s not like anyone is living there currently.

https://twitter.com/PhilippeLagasse/status/1214998671420469249

Good reads:

• Justin Trudeau confirmed that that there were Canadian personnel at the Erbil military base that Iran attacked (and seems to have deliberately avoided harming).
• The Canadian Forces say that the attack on Erbil underscores Canada’s need for new ground-based air defence systems.
• ITK president Natan Obed wants some kind of Indigenous human rights commission to accompany UNDRIP legislation so there is a body to rule on matters.
• The Chair of the CRTC says it’s inevitable that streaming services will have to contribute to Canadian productions like traditional broadcasters do.
• Crunching the election numbers shows that the Liberals lost ground to the NDP among on-reserve First Nations voters.
• The Conservatives remain on Rona-watch, to see if she will enter the contest, likely gaining much of the caucus support if she does.
• Surprising nobody, Peter MacKay is “seriously considering” a leadership bid, even if Jean Charest may be fishing from the same donor pool.
• Attacks against Charest have already started, with word that he and his firm are working on behalf of Huawei’s 5G efforts in Canada.
• The polls about potential Conservative leaders keep coming up with people who aren’t running.
• Heather Scoffield looks at the bank economists’ predictions, which are showing that our economy is still strong, even though there are a few worrying signs.
• Robert Hiltz offers his predictions for 2020.

Odds and ends:

Bombardier’s trains sold to New York City’s transit authority have been pulled from service for door faults. And here MPs praised their trains as the “best in the world!”

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