Roundup: A growing humanitarian crisis

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We are now on day fourteen of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and some of the big concerns are the growing humanitarian ones—not only the inability to safely get civilians out of cities under bombardment, but the fact that in some of those cities, particularly Mariupol, people are trapped with no electricity, little food, running water, or medical supplies. Meanwhile, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the British Parliament via video, and called on them for even tougher sanctions against the “terrorist state” Russia. The US has decided to ban all Russian oil and gas, while corporations like McDonald’s and Starbucks have decided to suspend operations in Russia (though more likely because the ruble is nearly worthless and not something they want to be doing business in).

Justin Trudeau was in Latvia for NATO meetings, where he announced that Canada’s mission there would be extended for several more years. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also made the point of warning Russia against attacking any supply lines supporting Ukraine within NATO territory, citing that it would trigger Article 5. Poland also floated the idea of sending fighter planes to a US/NATO base in Germany to then somehow send to Ukraine, but the Pentagon nixed the idea as unworkable.

All of this talk, of course, leads to yet more questions about military spending in Canada, and that “two percent of GDP” target, which is a very poor metric.

Good reads:

  • Karina Gould’s office says that Ontario submitted their proposal for $10/day childcare last week, so now they can move to the “next phase” of negotiations.
  • Some old complaints are resurfacing about the government’s digital broadcasting bill, particularly when it comes to YouTube and TikTok.
  • Canadian Forces trainers are feeling mixed emotions as their former students in Ukraine are now taking their lessons and applying them against the Russians.
  • The committee to study next steps in medical assistance in dying legislation has not been reconstituted following the election, which…is not a surprise, frankly.
  • The government and public sector unions are going to attempt simplifying pay rules before the next payroll system gets underway, and good luck to them with that.
  • In a shocking (not shocking) development, the online forums used by the grifter occupation are now hotbeds of Russian disinformation about Ukraine. Imagine that!
  • Leslyn Lewis is now officially the second contender for the Conservative leadership.
  • Conservative MP Garnett Genuis tabled a bill to protect “political belief and activity” under human rights grounds to protect anti-vaxxers, but it’s a useless gesture.
  • In spite of high oil prices, oil companies in Alberta still aren’t paying their taxes to rural communities, and the province doesn’t want to do anything about it.
  • Kady O’Malley’s Process Nerd column looks at where we are at with the Parliamentary Review Committee related to the Emergencies Act.
  • Heather Scoffield sees a balancing act on energy security versus the environment in the short term as countries cut off oil and gas supplies from Russia.
  • Colby Cosh makes the case for cheapness when it comes to our prime minister’s aircraft (and other aspects of our national character when it comes to frugality).
  • My column sees the likelihood that the Parliamentary Review Committee for the Emergencies Act will likely become a vehicle for yet more showboating.

Odds and ends:

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One thought on “Roundup: A growing humanitarian crisis”

  1. Canadian trainers having “mixed feelings” about their Ukrainian trainees using what they learned against their enemy?
    What is that all about? What a useless article and sentiment.
    As for oil companies not paying their taxes….what else is new? They don’t pay to have their abandoned wells decommissioned either. The big oil companies joined with the Alberta government right from the get go in the biggest grift since John Paul Getty and it continues. Speaking of grift…
    Leslyn Lewis has thrown her shift into the Con contest again. Her defeat and subsequent cow tow to the eventual winner will ensure a cabinet position if the Cons manage an election win, although after the voters see the split that is unlikely.

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