Cabinet will not meet its own 2018 deadline to ban asbestos. The Department of Environment said regulations will be delayed at least a year, and will not require any inventory of tonnes of asbestos hidden in homes, factories and commercial buildings nationwide: “Requiring all asbestos to be removed from sources such as buildings and homes would be extremely costly.”
The Newfoundland & Labrador Supreme Court has upheld narrow limits on workplace drug testing. The latest judgment comes amid calls for new federal legislation sanctioning random tests for legal marijuana: “We must take all precautions.”
If you live your life
like Hugh Hefner,
your pupils must widen –
heart rate accelerate –
blood pressure skyrocket –
when seeing a woman
all dressed up.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
A Commons petition seeks a public apology from Governor General Julie Payette over remarks she made at an Ottawa conference. Rideau Hall yesterday did not comment on the controversy: “Oh my goodness, lo and behold — “
The Canada Revenue Agency is trying to use hydro bills to identify tax evaders. Auditors previously resorted to examining Craigslist car ads and eBay listings to spot unreported income: ‘It keeps lawyers busy.’
The Department of Canadian Heritage has awarded a six-figure grant to a gay rights group for an undisclosed commemoration project. Access To Information memos suggest the department plans a national observance of 1969 Criminal Code reforms: “I am aware of the funding.”
The Department of National Defence is expanding its enlistment targets. The military yesterday said it must counter “myths about life in the forces” to attract more women and minorities: “That’s a big target for us.”
A Federal Court of Appeal judgment upholds rights for cross-border travelers subject to searches for unreported cash. The Court ruled an obscure provision of federal law permits lawful citizens to walk away from intrusive questioning: “We as Canadians are rightfully uncomfortable with any Act that forces you to answer questions.”
Library & Archives Canada is budgeting $1.58 million to collect and preserve the personal papers of former prime minister Stephen Harper. The agency yesterday did not comment on the acquisition, rated less costly than records from Harper’s predecessor: “Documents deemed to have national importance are those that bear witness to the Canadian experience.”
Bank of Canada research suggests consumers use credit cards for small purchases simply to avoid pocket change. The “burden of holding coins on consumers” cannot be understated, said a Bank study: “We model consumers who dislike carrying a thick or heavy wallet.”
Canadians are wary of higher energy costs, says in-house research by the Department of Natural Resources. This year’s national carbon tax will add up to 12¢ a litre to the price of gas: “Climate change was not a top of mind concern.”
A University of Ottawa law professor in a confidential email advocated punishment of digital media that enforce copyright. Professor Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in internet law, refused questions on his correspondence obtained under Ontario’s Freedom Of Information Act. His remarks targeted Blacklock’s.
“I’m going to decline your request for an interview,” said Geist when asked for comment.
In a November 10, 2015 email to staff, Geist wrote the University should retaliate against Blacklock’s after the company won a $13,470 copyright judgment with a third party. “This decision makes no sense and hopefully will be appealed,” wrote Geist.
Ontario Small Claims Court ordered an Ottawa lobbyist to pay punitive damages for knowingly copying Blacklock’s works without payment or permission. The defendant did not appeal. Geist called it a “crazy copyright case” and suggested reprisal.
Using a personal email address, Geist wrote: “The University is currently a subscriber. I read the occasional article, but I must admit that I think we should cancel the service. Rewarding companies like this ultimately supports undermining fair copyright in Canada.”
In a series of confidential emails, librarians described Blacklock’s as “nasty” and “unethical” and promptly flagged the publication for cancellation at Geist’s request. Nearly half the University records obtained under Freedom Of Information, 25 of 51 pages of emails, were redacted.
Geist did not repeat his confidential remarks in public. In a February 8, 2016 Toronto Star commentary he promoted Blacklock’s and others as “specialty digital publications” representing “new voices” in Canadian media. “The work of journalists at these publications, along with niche print sources and experts who blog or write independently, offers the chance to reach different audiences and to cover specialized issues in greater depth,” wrote Geist.
The Professor made identical public remarks in testimony to the Commons heritage committee on October 6, 2016 without repeating his “crazy copyright” allegations.
“A Nasty Business, For Sure”
“Michael, thanks for this,” University Librarian Leslie Weir wrote Geist in reply to his “crazy copyright” email. “The decision definitely makes no sense and should be appealed”; “Blacklock’s was on my radar,” wrote Weir.
Documents show library staff on April 14, 2016 rated Blacklock’s as “definitely a candidate for cancellation” following Geist’s complaint. The University did not renew its three-year licensing agreement with Blacklock’s in 2017.
“This is not a vendor whom one can have a reasonable discussions with,” wrote then-Associate Librarian Tony Horava; “It is a nasty business, for sure.”
Freedom Of Information records indicate University staff struggled with a plausible explanation for cancelling Blacklock’s and issued contradictory statements, even on the same day. In a March 8, 2017 email Librarian Weir wrote a colleague, “We probably should have a heads-up that the cancellation was going ahead and prepared a message for responding to any concerns raised.”
That day at 4:13 pm Weir wrote in a confidential staff email: “Blacklock’s is known for its unethical behaviour”:
At 4:32 pm that same afternoon Weir wrote Blacklock’s publisher: “It is regrettable that we have had to cancel Blacklock’s Reporter. I am not sure if you have been following the media on the situation with our collections budget at the University of Ottawa, but we have had to cancel $1.9 million in content over the past year.”
Library staff issued similar misleading statements to a faculty member who complained over Blacklock’s cancellation.
Prof. Ravi Malhotra of the University’s law faculty emailed the library, “I think it is a valuable service and if there is any chance to find $ (I realize it is hard), it would be nice to keep.” Margo Jeske, director of the University’s law library, replied: “Hi Ravi: thank you for your feedback about Blacklock’s. As you know, we have been facing budget cutbacks all year. As such, I have had to make hard decisions about what to cancel and what to renew.”
Librarian Weir did not respond to an interview request.
By Staff
Cabinet will stop purchasing regular gas or diesel-powered autos effective April 1, according to a Treasury Board directive. All new chauffeured vehicles for ministers must be hybrids or plug-in electrics: “All new executive vehicle purchases will be zero emission.”
The Department of Fisheries in Access To Information memos considered public insurance for fish farmers. Lobbyists for aquaculture corporations complained of immediate risks after private insurers dropped coverage: “Companies in Atlantic Canada claim they may not be able to survive.”
The Canadian Human Rights Commission has dismissed a complaint of racial profiling by border guards due to lack of jurisdiction. The case involved a New York pensioner detained four hours after attempting to drive into Canada in 2016: “It’s not over.”
