Private landowners have no automatic right to compensation from federal orders protecting species at risk, says the Federal Court. The ruling came in the case of a rare frog that halted completion of a $22 million subdivision in Québec: “It is better to leave the Minister of the Environment all the latitude necessary.”
Members of the Commons finance committee last night questioned a federal tax cut worth $1.73 a week. “It is incumbent on us to be more familiar with Canadians’ needs,” said Prosperity Minister Mona Fortier.
MPs last night depicted Canada’s ambassador to Beijing as a China apologist who personally profited from dealings with the People’s Republic. “My integrity matters a lot to me,” said Ambassador Dominic Barton. “It matters a huge amount to me.”
The Senate yesterday took up a private Liberal bill to ban all sweatshop imports produced by slave or child labour. Importers would be personally liable for damages: “This is a bill that has real teeth to it.”
Senator Lynn Beyak yesterday said she has never claimed to be Métis. Beyak attributed the quote to a bad-tempered instructor in sensitivity training classes who lectured the Senator on white privilege: “We would have to agree to disagree.”
McDonald’s restaurants may hire migrants if they can’t find Canadians who’ll work for $17 an hour, a federal judge has ruled. Complaints of McDonald’s hiring earlier prompted a federal moratorium on temporary foreign workers in the food trade: “Its advertising complied with the prevailing wage.”
Former two-term Liberal Joe Peschisolido yesterday was cited for multiple breaches of the Commons Conflict Of Interest Code while a British Columbia MP. Peschisolido only escaped sanctions by losing his seat in last October’s election, wrote Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion: “There is no doubt in my mind.”
The Canada Revenue Agency says taxpayers still have a thirteen percent chance of getting the wrong answer when they dial a call centre with tax questions. “The Agency has made substantial improvements,” said Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier.
The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it knows of 123 Canadians detained in Chinese prisons including two on death row in the People’s Republic. MPs expressed frustration as staff invoked the Privacy Act in refusing to detail the cases: “It shouldn’t take a crisis for people to get basic information.”
Hoteliers yesterday petitioned the Commons finance committee to impose a $100 million tax on Airbnb. The industry complained website rentals pose unfair competition to hotels, motels and resorts that must pay federal tax: “The hosts are running a business.”
Finance Minister Bill Morneau yesterday said cabinet is ready to ‘roll up its sleeves’ on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project. The Federal Court of Appeal yesterday rejected a challenge by six Indigenous groups of federal licensing for the oil pipeline: “Do you expect backlash?”
Senators yesterday expressed unanimous approval to again suspend Senator Lynn Beyak without her $153,900-a year salary for conduct unbecoming a legislator. A formal vote expected as early as this afternoon will make Beyak the first senator in Canadian history to be suspended twice: “Racism has no place within the institution of the Senate.”
A federal agency, the National Capital Commission, confirms a case of office bullying so severe it prompted a complete review of its Code Of Conduct. A private investigator was hired in the case: “Employees constantly strive to achieve excellence.”
The Department of Finance yesterday acknowledged taxpayers will see cost over-runs on the Trans Mountain Pipeline. “Costs tend to go up over time,” Associate Assistant Deputy Finance Minister Evelyn Dancey told the Commons finance committee. “I would not be surprised if that’s the direction based on the delays and so on.”
Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault yesterday distanced cabinet from a federal report recommending the licensing of internet news media. “Who should have a license?” asked a reporter. “We will have to wait until I table the bill,” replied Guilbeault.
