A federal agency paid an upfront cash advance to a Chinese company for pandemic vaccines never delivered. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had denied the contract with CanSino Biologics Inc. of Tianjin existed, calling it “disinformation.” The agreement was disclosed through Access To Information records obtained by Conservative MP Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard): “That is simply not true.”
Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier had government aircraft fly empty on a 2,200-kilometre round trip from Ottawa to her Gaspé home so crew could taxi her to a local news conference. “This is getting weird again,” a Department of Transport manager wrote in an Access To Information email. Lebouthillier had said all Canadians must reduce their carbon footprint: “Climate change has repercussions everywhere.”
The Conservative chair of the Senate communications committee managing Bill C-10 said he’s been flooded with protest emails on the measure. Senator Michael MacDonald (N.S.) said the bill sends Canada “down a rabbit hole on internet regulation.”
Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault has issued a guide for reporters on how combat “disinformation and misinformation.” Guilbeault’s department will detail “concrete action they will take to implement the guiding principles” within a year, he said: “We have to act now.”
A $15 minimum wage is a “powerful tool when it comes to fighting poverty,” says Labour Minister Filomena Tassi. The labour department in a report said in fact there was only weak evidence suggesting minimum wages cut poverty rates: “Individuals in many poor families work very little or not at all.”
Blacklock’s pauses for the Canada Day observance to wish all friends and subscribers a happy First of July. We’re back tomorrow — The Editor
