Live reactions to Ontario’s election results, you can have drugs, you can’t have guns and the Legislature wraps for the spring.

* Ontario Election Results 2022

* Independent Bobbi Ann Brady leading in Haldimand-Norfolk | CTV Kitchener  

* Top Doug Ford Adviser Sent Premier’s Office Backchannel Message About Meeting With Russian Government

* BC receives exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use

* BC to decriminalize possession of small amounts of ‘hard’ drugs such as cocaine, fentanyl and heroin – The Globe and Mail

* Exemption from Controlled Drugs and Substances Act: Personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs in British Columbia (January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026) – Canada.ca

* MEDIA STATEMENT: “WE NEED DECRIMINALIZATION FOR ALL”: DRUG POLICY & HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SAY MODEL IN BRITISH COLUMBIA LEAVES MANY BEHIND

* Canadians Split on Decriminalization of Possession of Narcotics, Prostitution | Ipsos

* Government tables bill to limit handguns, pledges to buy back assault-style weapons | CBC News

* Matt Gurney: Trudeau’s Goldilocks moment, but for pistols instead of porridge

* Bill C-21

* Gun Deaths by Country 2022

* Legislative session focused on building stronger BC for everyone

* Vaugn Palmer’s criticisms of BC Ferries changes

* BC investing more than $2.4 billion in Metro Vancouver transit improvements | BC Gov News

* Trudeau government has adopted dozens of secret cabinet orders since coming to power | CBC News

* Opposition MPs call for more transparency about secret orders-in-council | CBC News

* Trudeau government defends its use of secret orders-in-council | CBC News

Ontario goes to the polls next week. The election has been pretty boring – like most pandemic elections – and it looks like Doug Ford is set to cruise to re-election with another majority government. Queen’s Park Today and Wag the Doug’s Allison Smith joins us from Toronto to break down how we got here.

Then the business case for the Royal BC Museum redevelopment is out. We react to the parts that weren’t redacted.

Links

* Find Allison Smith @QueensParkToday (and subscribe!)

* Confidential NDP memo insists they have the momentum to stop Doug Ford

* Business case released for modern, new museum | BC Gov News

* Downtown Museum Busines Case

* Minister defends pricey rebuild of Royal BC Museum, says ‘there is a risk to doing nothing’ | CBC News 

* Melanie Mark posts chart of options considered in 2018

* How the BC NDP will make it impossible to cancel the $1 billion Royal BC Museum plan 

* Tom Hawthorn thread on 2010 opportunity to rebuild the museum

* Canada bans Chinese tech giant Huawei from 5G network

* Western countries considering whether to let Russian oligarchs buy relief from sanctions | CBC News

The Government of BC has announced plans to rebuild the Royal BC Museum – or more like plans to release plans. But it’s going to cost $800 million. And Conservatives are in chaos as Jason Kenney’s career comes to an untimely end, Ed Fast loses his critique portfolio and the BC Conservatives were subject of a possibly hostile takeover by Aaron Gunn supporters.

Links

Segment 1

* Historic investment to build modern, new RBCM, safeguard collection | BC Gov News

* Minister’s statement on Royal BC Museum business case | BC Gov News

* BC Liberals promise to scrap Royal BC Museum project if elected in 2024 | Globalnews.ca

* Les Leyne: Museum questions piling up, answers aren’t

* House Debates Transcripts (at 2:55pm)

* Adam Olsen criticism

Segment 2

* Alberta Premier Jason Kenney resigning as UCP leader despite narrow win in leadership review | CBC News 

* UCP keeps Kenney as interim leader

* Tory finance critic Ed Fast steps down after criticizing Poilievre’s attacks on central bank – National | Globalnews.ca 

* Common Sense BC wins BC Conservative board seats

* Aaron Gunn Facebook post

Quick takes

* New oil and gas royalty system ending inefficient subsidies | BC Gov News

* Furstenau: Oil and gas royalty plan inadequate response to a climate crisis – BC Green Party

* BC Cancels Province’s Largest Fossil Fuel Subsidy | Stand.earth

* Gas royalty review fails to rein in fossil fuel extraction | Wilderness Committee

*  Craig James, former BC legislature clerk, guilty of fraud, breach of trust | Globalnews.ca 

The only winner of this week’s Conservative Party leadership debate were people who didn’t watch it.

* The Conservatives’ Edmonton debate: Yikes – Paul Wells

* ‘That’s bull****’: David Dodge fires back at Poilievre’s criticism of the Bank of Canada | Financial Post

* Patrick Brown would push for no-fly zone over Ukraine | True North

* Patrick Brown under fire for comments about Israeli-Palestinian conflict | National Post

Quick takes

* Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes unannounced trip to Ukraine – The Globe and Mail

* Advisory panel calls for Liberals’ online hate law to cover Airbnb, video games

* The Government’s commitment to address online safety – Canada.ca

* Alberta’s top court rules Ottawa’s environmental assessment law is unconstitutional – The Globe and Mail

* https://twitter.com/davevwright/status/1524077924021784576

* https://www.albertacourts.ca/docs/default-source/ca/reference-re-impact-assessment-act-2022-abca-165.pdf?sfvrsn=8eeea683_5

* 2022 BC Liberal Party Leadership Contestant Financing Reports Available | Elections BC

* Horgan not ruling out run for 3rd term as BC premier | CTV News

Byelections in BC, the first face off of federal Conservative leadership candidates and the abortion debate ripples through Canada.

Segment 1: BC horse races

* 2022 Vancouver-Quilchena By-election

* Face of Surrey RCMP taking run at Surrey South seat for BC Liberals

* Q1 2022 Interim Financial Reports – Elections BC

Segment 2: Conservative crossfire

* Six verified candidates vying to lead the Conservative Party of Canada

* Conservative leadership debate at Canada Strong and Free Networking Conference – May 5, 2022

* Rejected Conservative leadership hopeful demands to be let back into race as party defends vetting process

* Grenier – CPC leadership fundraising

* Grenier – CPC leadership fundraising cont

* Q1 2022 Interim Financial Reports – Elections Canada

Segment 3: The debate is opened

* Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows – POLITICO

* Why Canada’s Roe v. Wade didn’t enshrine abortion as a right | CBC News

* What access to abortion looks like across Canada – The Globe and Mail

* What is the legal status of abortion in Canada?

* Justin Trudeau promises more protection for abortion rights in Canada | The Star **

* 338Canada: Why Canada’s conservatives are keeping quiet on abortion – POLITICO

Quick takes

* BC housing: 81/87 MLAs own a home, 42 have second property – Burnaby Now

* ICBC changes its policy on seeking costs from cyclists and pedestrians​​

* Province, mayors co-ordinate investigation into prolific offenders | BC Gov News

* Proposal – British Columbia – Federal Electoral Districts Redistribution

The Special Committee On Reforming The Police Act recommends creating a new provincial police service and what to do about the shortage of family doctors.

Links

* Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia [pdf]* BC should ditch RCMP and form its own police force, committee says | CBC News * Minister’s statement on Police Act report | BC Gov News* Almost a million BC residents have no family doctor. Many blame the province’s fee-for-service system | CBC News* BC Greens Family Doctor Petition* ‘All the trends paint a dire picture’: BC facing looming shortage of family physicians – Healthy Debate* Editorial: These factors have brought family-doctor system to brink of collapse* Pandemic stalls BC’s plan to integrate foreign-trained doctors into health care system | CBC News* MLA Cadieux urges action on pay equity during unique legislature debate | Indo-Canadian Voice * 2022 Vancouver-Quilchena By-election * Prime Minister announces Public Order Emergency Commission following the invocation of the Emergencies Act* Emergency Act Inquiry Order in Council * Health Canada lifts ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men | The Star* Canadian Blood Services to remove eligibility criteria specific to men who have sex with men* The Daily — Canada is the first country to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people 

The latest Conservative leadership promises and a roundup of assorted news.

Links

* At least 8 Conservatives now officially in the race to lead party | CBC News

* Poilievre Will Fire Gatekeepers And Build Homes (backgrounder)

* Charest promises to permit more private health services as Poilievre attacks his record | CBC News

* Charest commits to ending lockdowns by revitalizing Canada’s healthcare system

* Scott Will End Supply Management, Lower Grocery Bills

* ‘If you show up, I win’: Inside Patrick Brown’s drive for Conservative leadership

* Conservative Leadership Candidate Leslyn Lewis Claims Bill Gates is Behind a Plot Against Canada

* Premiers, mayors, head of CBC all banned from visiting Russia in latest round of sanctions

* Canadian veterans group gives up Afghan rescue efforts, citing burnout and Ottawa’s bureaucratic roadblocks – The Globe and Mail

* Inquiry into Emergencies Act set to start soon | CBC News

* Stewart Prest Attacking opponents as socialists and dictators weakens the fabric of our democracy | CBC News

* Crown corporation proposes a bigger building to replace PM’s residence at 24 Sussex

* ‘We need more nurses now’: B.C. to fast track approval for internationally trained nurses

* Litigation directives uphold Indigenous rights | BC Gov News and Adam Olsen reacts

A byelection is called for Vancouver-Quilchena and Conservative Leadership candidates release housing and childcare plans

Links

Segment 1

* 2022 Vancouver-Quilchena By-election* Candidate nomination closes for Vancouver-Quilchena by-election 

Segment 2

* Conservative Party of Canada announces dates for its leadership debates* Jean Charest Announces Flexible Family Friendly Policies  * Does Pierre Poilievre have a point blaming city hall for Vancouver’s soaring property prices? | CBC News* YIMBY: A Plan to Build More Homes for Canadians – Scott Aitchison for Conservative Party Leader

Quick takes

* Liberal government tables legislation to force online giants to compensate news outlets | CBC News* Environment group sues BC government alleging its climate plan fails to adequately address emission targets | Vancouver Sun* Vancouver officially in the running to host men’s FIFA 2026 World Cup games | CBC News

Image by awmcphee – Own work, CC0

The federal budget is out but do the housing measures live up to the hype (no). There’s also lost happening in BC and we chat with  Bowinn Ma and Christine Boyle about their news podcast.

Links

Segment 1: Budget

* Budget 2022

* Liberal government tables legislation to force online giants to compensate news outlets

Segment 2: BC Roundup

* Province to increase housing, services near transit hubs | BC Gov News 

* Single-step certification will protect right to join a union | BC Gov News 

* Public service bargaining hits impasse over wage proposals – BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) 

* Annual Financial Returns

Segment 3: People’s Pod

* People’s Pod

We talk plans: UNDRIP, Emissions Reductions and to buy fighter jets.

 

Links

Segment 1

* A New Path Forward

* Historic action plan guides UNDRIP implementation in BC | BC Gov News

* BC reveals 89-point action plan to advance the rights of Indigenous Peoples | CBC News

Segment 2

* 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy – Canada.ca

* Dr Sara Hastings-Simon reaction

* Emissions Reduction Plan charts ambitious but achievable path to meet Canada’s climate goals (Clean Energy Canada)

* Initial response on Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan – The Canadian Climate Institute

* A watershed moment for Canadian climate policy – The Canadian Climate Institute – Blog

* New climate plan’s reliance on carbon capture called ‘not at all realistic’ | Canada’s National Observer

Segment 3

* Liberals launch negotiations to buy F-35 fighter jets | CBC News

* NDP reaction to government’s announcement on F-35 fighter jets

* Buying single-engine F-35s for Canada a ‘serious mistake’: report | CBC News [2014 CCPA report]

* Tories dismiss ‘One Dead Pilot’ report after think-tank revives F-35 safety debate | National Post (Conservative gov response)

* Five problems with America’s F-35s (now that Canada is buying its own) | National Post

Quick Takes

* Relief rebates coming to BC drivers this spring (ICBC rebate) 

* ‘A punch in the gut’: Vancouver cyclist charged thousands to repair vehicle that hit him | Globalnews.ca

* Canadians encouraged to apply for Senate appointments – Canada.ca