Mystery VIP Charged $1,822

An unnamed Canadian delegate to the last United Nations Climate Conference booked a $1,822-a night Dubai hotel suite, records show. The delegation led by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault cost taxpayers more than $1.3 million overall: "Together we will carve a brighter future." READ MORE

Won’t “Pick Sides” Says Joly

Cabinet will not “pick sides” in Israel’s war with Hamas, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said yesterday. Joly made the remark as the Commons passed by a 204 to 117 vote a New Democrat motion to end the conflict: "Where do we stand?" READ MORE

MPs Ridicule Telecom Claim

Canadian cellphone customers are “getting more for less,” the CEO of Rogers Communications yesterday assured MPs. Members of the Commons industry committee ridiculed the testimony by Tony Staffieri: "Canadians are telling us different." READ MORE

Finds Seven Layers Of Bosses

Federal employees typically answer to seven levels of management, Budget Officer Yves Giroux said yesterday. “Yes, there is room to reduce,” said Giroux, who earlier calculated payroll costs at a record $67 billion a year: "An employee can have seven levels of management above them." READ MORE

Don’t Trust Fed Fact Checkers

Canadians say they’re able to spot fake news online without help from federal fact checkers, says in-house research by the Communications Security Establishment. Participants in federal focus groups expressed unease with the government “declaring what is true or not.” READ MORE

Say Convoy Was Anti-Semitic

A federal report cites the 2022 Freedom Convoy as “anti-Semitic and racist” but makes no mention of anti-Israel street protests targeting Jews. The Department of Canadian Heritage report was completed after Hamas attacks on Israel: "Address the rise of right wing extremist groups in Canada and the spread of alt-right and veiled white nationalist narratives." READ MORE

Gov’t Paid Profane TikToker

The Department of Canadian Heritage paid thousands to a Toronto pundit who disparaged Conservatives in a series of profane TikTok posts, Access To Information records show. Dylan Horner did not comment: "Shut the f--k up. This is exactly why you can’t trust Conservatives." READ MORE

Guest Commentary

Francesco Sorbara, MP

Sacrifici

Italians came to Canada with nothing. Theirs was not a celebrated arrival. There were no Welcome Wagons or resettlement programs or language training. In 1961 Ontario’s provincial secretary said of Italian-Canadians, “They need to learn about us, about our way of doing things, the ideas and institutions we prize, and to acquire some work skills.” When the CBC broadcast a 1963 documentary on our community they called it Ciao Maria and profiled a singing barber. As late as 1971 the Globe & Mail would still publish a Letter to the Editor that complained you can’t invite Italians to dinner: “They bring their own gallon of wine.”