Canada Post management said it was never told of cabinet research on job and service cuts at the post office. The in-house polling by the Privy Council Office followed similar proposals in a 2013 Action Plan: “Have you been presented with the results of that?”
The Commons public safety committee yesterday voted 11-0 to investigate crowdfunding for “ideologically-motivated violent extremism in Canada.” The vote came as one MP compared Freedom Convoy truckers to terrorists: “I think any casual observer looking at Ottawa right now could probably make a link.”
The Commons public accounts committee yesterday determined no Public Health Agency executive was fired for mismanaging a national stockpile of medical supplies. Records show the Agency ignored warnings to prepare for an inevitable pandemic and instead threw masks away to save on warehouse leases: “No one in your department was held accountable for putting our front line workers at risk.”
A Public Health Agency data scoop on millions of Canadian cellphone users would never have been allowed under foreign laws, the Commons ethics committee was told yesterday. “This was staggering to me,” testified Ann Cavoukian, former Ontario privacy commissioner: “Never, ever give up on privacy. Privacy and freedom, they go hand in hand.”
Federal regulators yesterday partially repealed an order permitting telecom companies to abandon paper billing as a cost-savings measure. Consumer groups petitioned the CRTC to guarantee billing by mail: “A paper bill is the cost of doing business.”
A federal committee is recommending cabinet drop plans to legislate a statutory “right to disconnect” under the Canada Labour Code. Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan received the report last June but withheld it until yesterday: “There was substantial divergence on how the government should proceed.”
VIA Rail will require ongoing bailouts for years to come due to far-reaching Covid losses, says management. Millions are required to avoid “drastic cuts,” said the Crown railway: “Without sufficient and timely funding VIA Rail would be obliged to make drastic cuts.”
Cabinet would enshrine a legal “right to a healthy environment” under a bill yesterday introduced in the Senate. MPs defeated a similar New Democrat measure two years ago: ‘This would lead to strong protections for Canadians no matter who they are or where they live.’
We Charity now relies entirely on U.S. donors following the collapse of a 2020 federal grant, according to records. The charity outlined its finances in a 458-page filing in U.S. federal court: “We Charity’s reputation in the United States is its most valuable asset.”
The Commons yesterday voted unanimously to formally repeal terms of a contract awarding Canadian Pacific Railway exemption from taxation. Lawyers for the corporation have sued to enforce the 19th century contract promising the CPR a perpetual tax holiday: “Ridiculous.”
Vehicle traffic should be banned within two blocks of Parliament Hill, a former Ottawa police chief said yesterday. Senator Vern White said cabinet should ensure the Freedom Convoy blockade now in its 14th day is the last street encampment of its kind: “The city and federal governments can make these changes quickly.”
A group of thirteen senators last night vowed it will not rubber stamp any more cabinet bills. Senator Scott Tannas (Alta.), leader of the Canadian Senators Group, said he was weary of political horse-trading that has seen bills rushed into law without proper scrutiny: “It is a gun to your head if you are an individual senator.”
The Commons yesterday by a 173-155 vote ordered federal regulators to suspend a data scoop on millions of cellphone users. Telecom customers were never properly advised their tracking data would be compiled by the Public Health Agency, said MPs: “This news was shocking to many Canadians.”
Cabinet’s vaccination campaign is needlessly divisive and political, the ex-chair of the Québec Liberal caucus yesterday told reporters. “Where the hell are we heading here in Canada?” said MP Joël Lightbound (Louis-Hébert, Que.): “A decision was made to wedge, to divide and to stigmatize. I fear this politicization of the pandemic.”
Cabinet has no role in forcing an end to growing Freedom Convoy blockades, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said yesterday. Seventy trade groups petitioned cabinet to force an end to border blockades at Windsor and Coutts, Alta.: “I hope the blockaders or occupiers or protesters stop their protesting.”
