Treasury Board President Anita Anand yesterday described herself as “an extremely thorough and systematic minister” but said she did not know why Board employees paid social calls on ArriveCan contractors. “It is not my purview to oversee the day to day work of employees,” Anand told the Commons public accounts committee: "I do not know." READ MORE
Cabinet yesterday denied any plans to recognize Sharia law in federal financing after citing “halal mortgages” in Tuesday’s budget. CMHC in 2023 funded research by the Islamic Family Social Services Association into mortgages suitable for observant Muslims: "Why is it in the budget?" READ MORE
The federal sale of new $22,000 ventilators as scrap metal for $6 apiece is inexplicable, an MP said yesterday. The Department of Health said it had no records on the purchase of devices it licensed for use in 2020: "Was it incompetence or corruption?" READ MORE
Cabinet’s signature Canada Dental Care Plan is confusing and bureaucratic with 61 percent of dentists declining to participate, the Canadian Dental Association yesterday told the Commons finance committee. Health Minister Mark Holland said he was confident difficulties will be resolved: "We heard from a lot of dentists." READ MORE
Complying with a federal bill on replacement workers will put “a lot more pressure” on the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the chair yesterday warned MPs. The bill mandates rulings within 90 days though the Board currently takes an average seven months to settle Canada Labour Code complaints: "It will be difficult for us to meet the timelines that are in the bill." READ MORE
Millionaire ArriveCan supplier Kristian Firth yesterday named names of federal managers he met over meals and drinks to discuss lucrative contracts. Firth’s disclosures followed his summons to the bar of the House as the first federal contactor in 111 years to be cited for contempt of Parliament. Firth said his company GC Strategies Inc. of Woodlawn, Ont. “could have been stopped” at any time as it billed $19.1 million for the ArriveCan project. READ MORE
A federal contractor’s summons yesterday to the bar of the House of Commons was the first punishment of its kind since 1913. The last contractor named and shamed by MPs was jailed for months as a “prisoner of Parliament.” READ MORE
Once I had a specific idea of what parenthood would be like. I was competitive as a young man, and was sure when my wife Debi and I had children I’d teach them to compete: I’d build a backyard rink and devise fun drills and help them make it to the NHL. Instead I learned about compassion. At 18 months Jaden was babbling constantly, but never formed words. The pediatrician said, “He’s a boy – he’ll grow out of it.” If I saw a boy like Jaden now, I would know within minutes he had autism.
