Friday, June 28, 2024

News roundup, 28 June 2024

- Many who watched the first Biden-Trump debate say that it was a disaster for Biden, notwithstanding the torrent of lies and deflection that poured from Trump's mouth. Biden apparently froze up for 14 seconds early on in the debate; some Democrats think he should be pressured into withdrawing from the race, although his performance apparently improved later in the debate. As to who could replace him on the ballot, several names have been proposed.

- The US House of Representatives has passed an amendment to prohibit the State Department from citing statistics from the Gaza Health Ministry in discussing the conflict there. 62 Democrats voted with the Republicans to pass the amendment.

- Catherine McKenna, who served as environment minister in Trudeau's cabinet until 2021, has joined the ranks of those calling for him to step down before the next election.

- The head of the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg, Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, is stepping down. He says this is to take on a position at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. His tenure was marked by the espionage scandal at the lab, though he did not mention that in citing his reason for resigning.

- The shutdown of the Ontario Science Centre is being justified by the Ford government on safety grounds, but the architecture firm that built the facility says that the issues with the centre were identified years ago and not corrected. In any case, they say, even now the facility could be saved if the political will was there - but it's a safe bet that educating the public about science is not one of Ford's priorities.

- A looming strike by WestJet mechanics has been averted, as the federal government has imposed binding arbitration.

- A proposed bylaw in Kitchener, Ontario would require Airbnb hosts to be licensed and insured. Of course, they're up in arms, saying it will ruin their business - but any legitimate business should be licensed and insured. And if you can't afford it, you shouldn't be in business. Moreover, if some of these people are put out of business they might have to make their houses or apartments available for people to actually live in rather than play in.

- A former neurology resident in Ottawa who presented himself as a fully licensed doctor and provided medical services to convoy protesters in 2022 has been suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

- The residents of the house that exploded in Transcona are safe; they were apparently not home at the time. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

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