Ottawa under cyber attack

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here to get it delivered weekday mornings.

Under attack: Global Affairs Canada is coping with a multi-day network disruption that security and government sources describe as a “cyber attack,” likely from Russia, Global reports.

“GAC has been the target of a cyber attack but it is not clear if the Russians, the alleged perpetrators, hacked into the system or were able to merely disrupt its service,” a national security source, who spoke on the condition they not be named, told Global News. The Liberal government has been vocal in its support for Ukraine as Russia masses troops on the former Soviet state’s borders, with Ottawa announcing a $120 million loan to the Ukrainian government last week and re-committing Canadian soldiers to train Kyiv’s security forces.

Guns to Kyiv? Speaking of Ukraine, Trudeau's cabinet is considering sending weapons to that country, Global reports.

According to the sources, who spoke on background as they are not authorized to discuss the proposal publicly, the federal cabinet will be asked to decide on the possible shipment of the small weapons along with the potential for increased military capabilities support for Ukraine from the Canadian Forces.

Out of storage? The Citizen reports that Canada might send arms that were originally destined for Kurdish fighters.

The $10 million package of small arms and anti-tank systems had been promised to the Kurds in 2016, but after Iraq raised objections the Canadian military put the equipment into storage.

Ottawa-bound: A convoy of hundreds of truckers and supporters left Calgary Monday en route for Ottawa to protest a cross-border vaccine mandate, the Star reports.

Thousands of truckers and supporters gathered in a group chat were looking for rides and praising “modern-day blue collar soldiers” standing up against vaccine mandates. A GoFundMe raising money to help the truckers with the cost of fuel, food and lodging along the way had reached more than $3.2 million as of Monday morning. As many as 26,000 of the 160,000 drivers who make regular trips across the Canada-U.S. border would likely be sidelined as a result of the vaccine mandate in both countries, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Associations.

CPC support: The convoy increasingly seems to have the backing of Conservative MPs, CBC reports.

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, the party's finance critic, claimed the government's vaccine policy is "emptying grocery shelves and ballooning food prices," leaving some Canadians to "go hungry." Garnett Genuis, a Conservative MP from Alberta, said he stands with unvaccinated truckers who plan on protesting the mandate. "Time to end Justin Trudeau's nonsensical vaccine vendetta," he said in a recent social media post. The party's transport critic, MP Melissa Lantsman, urged supporters to sign a petition opposing new vaccine requirements. She claimed the policy would result in the loss of thousands of jobs and "empty shelves in Canadian retail sectors."

Ambiguous O'Toole: BUT, at a newser on Monday, Erin O'Toole dodged questions on his position on the truckers, the Post reports: “It’s not for the leader of the opposition or a political party to attend a protest on the hill or a convoy. It’s up to politicians to advocate for solutions in a cost-of-living crisis, in a supply chain crisis in a way that’s responsible and respectful of the public health crisis we’re in.”

Most jabbed: Trudeau told reporters Monday that the Conservatives are stoking fear, Global reports, and pointed out that most truckers are vaccinated: “Almost 90 per cent of truckers in Canada are vaccinated. I regret that the Conservative Party and Conservative politicians are in the process of stoking Canadians’ fears about the supply chain. The reality is that vaccination is how we’ll get through this.”

Funds frozen: The convoy's online fundraising campaign — which raised $3.5 million in 10 days — is frozen while GoFundMe considers the situation, Le journal de Montréal reports (translation)

O’Toole could have said he understands the truckers’ disappointment but doesn’t support their methods, of blocking roads and busy borders. He could have said he has no plans to meet with the group but would have liked the Liberals to negotiate with the U.S. a waiver for unvaccinated Canadian drivers. Or he could have said he agrees with his Alberta MP Garnett Genius who tweeted that he stands with the truckers and called on Trudeau to end his “nonsensical vaccine vendetta.”

Ontario near deal: Sources tell the Star that Ottawa and Ontario are “very close” to a deal on $10-a-day child care, after Nunavut unveiled its agreement Monday, which leaves Ontario as the last holdout. “I expect a deal to be finalized shortly,” a Ford confidant told the Star.

Lithium objection: Former Conservative minister Peter MacKay thinks it's terrible that Canada has agreed to let the Chinese buy a Canadian lithium company without a security review, he writes in the Post.

— Stephen Maher

Politics News & Analysis