Had 7 Staffers Work On UFOs

Cabinet’s $393,000-a year science advisor Dr. Mona Nemer assigned seven employees to work on UFOs, according to records. Authorities yesterday said staff compiled tens of thousands of pages of research most Canadians rated pointless when questioned in a federal survey: "Enthusiasm and responses have been uneven." READ MORE

First Petition Seeks Apology

The first petition of the 45th Parliament asks that cabinet apologize for the transatlantic slave trade. The petition was sponsored without comment by New Democrat MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni, B.C.): "Apologize for the historical and ongoing injustice." READ MORE

Israel Was Rated A Good Buy

The Canada Pension Plan tripled wartime investments in Israel even as dozens of MPs demanded an international boycott of Jewish industry. Pension managers put than a third of a billion in Israel from banks to supermarkets: 'We navigate these turbulent times.' READ MORE

Feds Revive Broken Promise

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne yesterday announced a “call to action” on financial crime after meeting with G7 counterparts. Champagne made no mention of cabinet’s broken 2021 promise to create a white collar crime unit: "I can think about tackling financial crime." READ MORE

Says Public Business Is Public

Canadians can do what they like with public records including videos of open meetings, says an Information Commissioner. The ruling by Saskatchewan Commissioner Ronald Kruzeniski came in the case of a provincial board that threatened sanctions over the posting of a videotaped hearing on YouTube: "Applicants do not need to justify a request." READ MORE

51% Struggle With Mortgage

Most mortgage holders are struggling to pay their debts with nearly a quarter now using credit cards or other borrowing to meet bills as they fall due, CMHC said yesterday. The federal insurer said financial well-being of householders had deteriorated over the past year: "Fourteen percent missed a mortgage payment." READ MORE

Pension CEO Won 24% Raise

The CEO of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board last year won a 24 percent hike in benefits to $6.3 million, records show. John Graham yesterday told Canadian workers it was his “privilege to lead this institution.” READ MORE

Guest Commentary

Richard Rohmer

The Cold War

I was commanding two fighter squadrons. From my point of view, we understood very clearly there was a real threat from the Soviet Union, and we were the first line of defence. Contingency plans had to be made. We had to evacuate or cities if there was a bomb threat. We were totally open to an attack by Soviet bombers. They would come straight over the top, from Siberia where their bases were located – and still are. They’d deliver their weaponry against the United States, that was the big target, but we were on the way. No question. They really meant business.