Evidence at the China inquiry yesterday depicted Defence Minister Bill Blair, 70, as distracted and ineffectual. Witnesses testified Blair liked to work from home and had employees explain what security memos meant rather than reading the documents himself: "We were aware when drivers went to his house." READ MORE
Legislators targeted by Chinese Communist Party agents should have been warned in person, the Department of Public Safety said yesterday. Canadian MPs were among 400 parliamentarians worldwide who were targeted by Chinese hackers in 2021: "Is the current system adequate? No." READ MORE
Canadian employers have become addicted to migrant labour, Immigration Minister Marc Miller told the Senate last evening. Miller in November is expected to table a new Immigration Levels Plan that cuts the number of temporary foreign workers let into the country: "All of them ask for more and more." READ MORE
A make-or-break Bloc Québécois bill to raise Old Age Security would cost almost $20 billion over six years, the highest estimate to date, says a federal Briefing Binder. Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet has warned the bill must pass into law by Halloween or his caucus will “bring down the government.” READ MORE
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland yesterday said cabinet would like to adopt an Irish-style three percent annual federal tax on vacant lots. The Department of Finance opened consultations on the proposal: "Ireland has an example of a measure like this." READ MORE
British Columbia Premier David Eby asked the Prime Minister’s Office for security checks on provincial candidates including members of his own New Democratic Party, records show. An internal memo yesterday disclosed at the Commission on Foreign Interference said Eby worried about “covert ties to foreign states or significant organized crime links.” READ MORE
Opposition MPs yesterday sought a committee inquiry into a videotaped incident in which an armed constable denied Parliament Hill access to a passerby because “he is not a supporter of Palestine.” It occurred during protests over Hamas' October 7, 2023 kidnapping and killing of Jews in Israel including eight Canadians: "What has become of this country?" READ MORE
I was a teenage lifeguard at the High River swimming pool where a little girl came to swim. Her name was Georgina. She and her brother Ricky were from the Hobbema Reserve. They were sent to live with foster parents in High River who had seven children of their own. I knew the foster family. They were good people. I remember them as sweet kids. Looking back, I don’t think they ever had a chance. I wondered, how many times in Georgina’s life did she feel good about herself?
