A federal case over wine labeling is headed back to court for the fourth time in four years. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs filed notice in Federal Court it seeks to submit evidence in a dispute considered a proxy fight over Israeli boycotts: “We are just lawyers.”
A Halifax man banished from Air Canada as a safety risk because he bickered with a flight attendant has won his day in Federal Court. A judge ordered the Canadian Human Rights Commission to investigate the passenger’s claim of discrimination: ‘They asked him to step outside.’
Federal employees awarded paid Covid furloughs took an average of almost $10,000 in salary and benefits while off work, says the Parliamentary Budget Office. Total costs were $1,269,900,000 for employees who were neither sick nor working from home: “We’ve made sure to take care of our employees.”
Labour arbitrators in separate rulings have recognized National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a paid holiday even for workers who aren’t federally regulated. The decisions affecting thousands of workers relied on common wording in union contracts: ‘It should have been recognized as a paid holiday.’
Even obnoxious speech is protected by freedom of expression, the Supreme Court has ruled in a 5-4 decision. The judgment comes ahead of cabinet’s reintroduction of a bill that would threaten bloggers and Facebook users with $70,000 fines for hurtful online comments: ‘Everyone can manifest their opinions however unpopular, distasteful or contrary to the mainstream.’
The federal definition of “fully vaccinated” will remain at two Covid shots for the time being but may change this winter, says Dr. Theresa Tam, chief public health officer. Tam’s remarks followed a recommendation that provinces consider third shots for some five million pensioners: “Do you foresee that becoming the new definition of fully vaccinated?”
Cabinet has given itself 60 days to finalize a multi-billion dollar settlement with Indigenous families over discriminatory welfare programs dating from the 1960s, says Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller. The promise came after a federal judge lamented the “extraordinary proceeding” was ongoing for fifteen years: “I don’t think there is any intention to want to reduce any amounts.”
