Canada’s population shrank slightly since July for the first time since 1971, Statistics Canada said yesterday. Analysts said the decline was due to the flight of thousands of foreign students and migrant workers whose permits had expired: "Every province and territory except Alberta and Nunavut saw population decreases." READ MORE
A York University researcher assigned to work on pro-Palestine reports at taxpayers’ expense called Canada a “racist settler colonial state,” records show. Cabinet advisor Amira Elghawaby met personally with the author and approved the assignment, but yesterday had no comment: "Thank you for the work you are doing." READ MORE
Cabinet yesterday agreed to issue a new toonie commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the CN Tower. Once dubbed an unexciting concrete pillar that went twice over budget, the Tower today is an iconic “symbol of national pride,” it said. READ MORE
Employees at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ran up nearly $17,000 in traffic tickets, records show. Bad drivers were told to cover fines out of pocket though other federal agencies charged taxpayers for infractions from photo radar to parking in a towing zone: "How many have received tickets?" READ MORE
Federal judges have faulted the Department of Indigenous Services for dismissing appeals to fix First Nations housing so substandard it made schoolchildren ill. The Federal Court of Appeal ruling followed Minister Mandy Gull-Masty's pledge to "deliver the proper care for children." READ MORE
Cabinet advisor Amira Elghawaby secretly paid $80,000 for pro-Palestine research to counter alleged “disinformation" by MPs, senators and media, Access To Information records disclose. Elghawaby's Office of the Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia had flatly denied the confidential funding at taxpayers' expense: "Thank you again for this impeccable work." READ MORE
The Department of Industry sought tips from Value Village on “affordability,” Access To Information records show. The nation’s largest commercial second-hand retailer met top federal executives to discuss the benefits of thrift, said a staff memo: "What strategies has Value Village used?" READ MORE
I went to Canadian Tire for some Christmas shopping. On my way out of the store a hot dog vendor said, “Did you see the police lights? There must have been an accident.” And I replied, “Isn’t that a shame, just before Christmas.” The police called the house later that evening. Maybe they were excited school was over for the holidays. Maybe the music was a little too loud. They made a bad left turn at a busy intersection and collided with a fuel truck. The impact blasted the car apart.
