Daily Digest: Liberals win in Canada as left loses ground in BC, WA passes rent control
Liberals win in Canada as leftist parties lose ground in BC
In a stunning reversal from its position in the polls a few months ago, Canada's centrist Liberal party won Canada's federal election last night, selecting Mark Carney to lead the country as he took aim at Donald Trump is his victory speech, noting the US president was trying to "break us." The Liberals are currently ahead in races for 168 seats in the legislature, a few short of the 172 needed to form a majority government. In British Columbia, the left-leaning NDP saw substantial losses, including party leader Jagmeet Singh, who failed to win re-election in his home seat in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby. Paul Willcocks at The Tyee looks at how what's remaining of British Columbia's left could still gain leverage in a Liberal government. Meanwhile, Alberta remains deeply in the Conservative column, and has been making noises about separation.
Portland stands firm on sanctuary as Trump retaliates
According to OPB, Portland mayor Keith Wilson, in response to an executive order issued by Donald Trump seeking to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities, put out a statement standing behind the city's sanctuary policy that forbids the city from assisting federal immigration enforcement without a signed warrant. Portland and Seattle are part of a lawsuit against the retaliatory policies, and last week a federal judge issued an injunction preventing the Trump administration from using funds to pressure cities to comply with his federal immigration crackdown.
Washington legislature passes rent stabilization
The Urbanist looks at the rent stabilization bill passed by the Washington legislature in the last days of the session: if signed by the governor, the bill would limit annual rent increases to 7% plus inflation, with a top limit of 10%. Meanwhile, Sightline Institute looks at a big package of housing reforms the Montana legislature passed this session, which include removing most parking mandates and allowing six-story residential buildings on commercial land.
When are totem poles cultural appropriation?
OPB looks at a controversy in Eugene public schools, in which a non-native carver led Indigenous students in the creation totem poles – in response, tribal members are asking for their removal from public display because of concerns over cultural appropriation. The article quotes a Native educator who notes that "No tribe in Oregon has carved totem poles. Totem poles were not carved by any tribes south of Seattle.” Meanwhile, in Seattle, a park near Pike Place Market has been the site of a clash over two controversial totem poles, which aren't part of traditional Coast Salish culture. Mayor Bruce Harrell re-opened the park in March, but the status of the poles, which are being restored, is unclear.
-Andrew Engelson
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