Climate change is already having a severe impact on some Canadian fish species, says new research. Data on more than a thousand lakes confirmed some have lost entire local populations of minnows over the past 30 years: “It is problematic if you value biodiversity”.
A federal initiative to harmonize labelling of hazardous chemicals ongoing since 2011 will not be fully enacted till 2019, says a cabinet notice. The labour department said the program should replace “inconsistent and incoherent” regulations on handling of dangerous goods in the workplace: “We’re going to have more accidents”.
The military targeted video gamers with a 2015 recruitment campaign deemed “dark” and “aggressive”, according to in-house research. The Department of National Defence assembled focus groups to pre-screen the TV ads depicting guerrilla warfare with flash explosions, leaping paratroopers and “heavy breathing” sound effects: “You are preaching to the converted”.
Transport Canada is detailing first-ever regulations to mandate public notice of all airport expansions with final approval of new construction resting with cabinet. The proposed rules follow a little-noticed clause inserted in a 2014 omnibus budget bill that drew protest from airport operators: “It may be expensive, it may be time-consuming”.
A federal judge has knocked down lawyering fees of up to $1,130 an hour claimed as costs by an insurance company that successfully sued the Canada Revenue Agency. The Tax Court lawsuit detailed expenses claimed by Bay Street lawyers, from four-figure hourly rates to expensive hotel bills: “Hypothetical rates do not meet the criterion”.
A lawsuit alleging unfair trade practices in the federally-regulated egg trade have come up short at the Supreme Court. Justices declined to hear a case alleging two of the nation’s largest egg producers engaged in a “conspiracy” to drive out competition: ‘The case crashed in a deep ditch of dismissal’.
A federal tribunal has upheld the firing of a senior civil servant for nepotism with the loss of $123,000 in benefits. Evidence showed the manager attempted to land government jobs for her son and her cleaning woman: “What is the problem?”
Environment Canada has begun “consultations” on curbing chemical runoff in the Great Lakes in a process experts describe as ineffectual. U.S. authorities have warned this summer could see one of the largest chemically-fed algae blooms ever recorded on Lake Erie. The toxic scum produces botulism harmful to marine life: “You need to know what you’re dealing with”.
Canada’s telecom regulator is proposing national quality standards on emergency 911 networks described as fragmented and haphazard. The “reliability and resiliency” of the one-call service should be determined, said the CRTC: “There is a lot of work that needs to be done”.
Legislators should do more to help small and medium-sized businesses become exporters, says a Liberal senator. The Senate trade committee in a July 6 report proposed more guidance for a million small companies to sell overseas: “You have everybody doing bits and pieces but there is no convergence”.
Canada Post is again raising stamp prices for the sixth time in five years, to a record 90¢ to mail a letter. Employees and customers described the rate hike as senseless, noting the Crown corporation reported a $218 million pre-tax profit in the past fifteen months: “If your mail volumes are going down, your solution is to increase pricing?”
Parks Canada is spending $800,000 on private consultants for new concepts on hiking trails. The agency said the contracting is part of a “hearts and minds” campaign to promote national park use. Authorities declined an interview: ‘It’s a stronger, deeper understanding of the very essence of Canada’.
Veterans’ benefits should be paid on the same basis as unemployment insurance and other civilian entitlements, says the federal Veterans Ombudsman. Guy Parent yesterday said payments should be criteria-based and subject to audit, just like EI benefits, noting ex-service members face a “frustrating” process in claiming pensions they are owed: “There should be an element of trust”.
An 85-year old motorist who waged a Charter of Rights challenge against mandatory exams for senior drivers has lost a bid to appeal to the Supreme Court. Justices declined to hear the case: ‘Driving is a privilege, not a right’.
Cabinet is reviving a seniors’ grant program that is funding sex manuals, iPads, Italian films and a Chinese cooking course. The New Horizons For Seniors program cost taxpayers $34.1 million last year: “That’s crap”.
