A defence industry start-up whose chief lobbyist is the brother of Deputy Defence Minister Christiane Fox won a private audience with the Prime Minister to discuss drone technology, records show. The Privy Council yesterday had no comment: "Can you assure Parliament and Canadians that you won’t be using your office as a public office holder to further the interests of private individuals?" READ MORE
It will take 1,000 years at current construction rates to fully restore housing affordability for the poorest Canadians, says Housing Advocate Marie-Josée Houle. The cabinet advisor in her annual report to Parliament said new supply of public and co-op housing was critical: "The current pace of building deeply affordable homes is so slow it would take over 1,000 years." READ MORE
Young Canadians respect the military though few want to actually enlist, says in-house Department of National Defence research. Cabinet is on a recruitment drive to meet its minimum target of 71,500 regular forces, trained and equipped: "The most compelling reasons to consider an Armed Forces career are practical and financial." READ MORE
Parliament spends more than $14 billion a year on Old Age Security for pensioners with household incomes over $60,000, records show. A federally-funded research group has petitioned cabinet to tighten income testing for seniors: "It’s appropriate to ask retirees with six-figure incomes to accept fewer taxpayer dollars." READ MORE
Alberta separatists are rational people who share “legitimate grievances,” Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre said yesterday. The native Calgarian said he personally opposed independence but cautioned critics from being snide or dismissive: "If you want frustrated Albertans to vote for Canada, the absolute worst thing we can do is dismiss their legitimate grievances." READ MORE
Managers have spent nearly $1.6 million advertising a regional high speed rail service that doesn’t exist, records show. The Crown corporation responsible for the railway-on-paper now has 13 vice presidents: "How many?" READ MORE
Anti-trust lawyers are asking a federal judge to compel disclosure of confidential terms of leases held by one of the nation’s largest grocery chains. Operators of Sobeys are accused of breaching the Competition Act by negotiating restrictive clauses in leases with mall owners: "Real estate that is suitable and commercially attractive for grocery stores appears limited." READ MORE
Defenders of the Senate often use that phrase about “sober second thought.” It is no joke. Senators should be chosen, not as beneficiaries of taxpayer largesse but because they have the brains and the practical experience to see the flaws in proposed laws. Voter anger and outrage at the Canadian Senate is not new. From the outset, prime ministers used their power to appoint to the Red Chamber as a reward for party supporters and faithful allies in the cabinet and caucus.
