Roundup: Enjoy your Victoria Day

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It’s now approximately day eighty-seven of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Russia says that they now have full control of the steel plant in Mariupol, and by extension the whole city. That means Russians are starting to pull back forces from the area to redeploy elsewhere in the Donbas region, and it looks like fighting is intensifying in the Luhansk region.

Closer to home, it is Victoria Day this weekend, which is the official birthday of the Queen of Canada. So be sure to raise a toast to the current Queen, and Canada’s first Queen (and maybe while you’re at it, the Queen of the North).

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau is promising more action to prepare to counter cyber-security threats, through legislation, spending and partnerships.
  • Chrystia Freeland announced a new $250 loan to Ukraine to help their government continue functioning, along with a new round of sanctions targeting Russians.
  • The Public Health Agency has confirmed two cases of monkeypox in Canada—the first outbreak in this country. (The US had an outbreak a few years ago).
  • Dr. Theresa Tam also says that we do have a small stockpile of smallpox vaccine which could be used for monkeypox if necessary, at least in a limited amount.
  • There seems to be some confusion between what the broadcasting bill says about user-generated content, and what the minister, the CRTC and its chair are saying.
  • Pierre Poilievre’s camp says they are trying to shut down a merch store that claims to be associated with their campaign that sells Trudeau Blackface stickers.
  • Former Kenney principal secretary Howard Anglin gives his take on the demise, saying that Kenney gave his caucus too free a hand. (Not too sure about that).
  • Jen Gerson gives her read of Kenney’s demise, and she and I agree on a lot of points in it, particularly around the political culture in the province.
  • Chantal Hébert also has a take on Kenney’s downfall, but she also sees echoes of it in the current federal Conservative leadership, particularly with Poilievre.
  • In reference to Kenney, Althia Raj takes a broader look at conservatives federally and provincially trying to weaponize anger to their benefit, which is very risky.
  • Paul Wells interviews Rachel Notley in the aftermath of Kenney’s announced demise, given she has to fight his successor.
  • My weekend column also tackles Kenney’s downfall, but with an emphasis on how it was partly a symptom of the province’s political culture that is toxic to democracy.

Odds and ends:

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