Cabinet takes Canadian democracy as it is and will not pursue electoral reform, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon yesterday wrote the Commons. The remarks followed Justin Trudeau’s lament that dropping a 2016 proposal for a national referendum on reform was his greatest regret: "I do wish we had been able to." READ MORE
Workers whose jobs require sound judgment, physical contacts or special skills have little to fear from artificial intelligence, the Bank of Canada said yesterday. While AI to date had limited impact on jobs in Canada, analysts warned some occupations were vulnerable: "Exposure is lowest in occupations that rely more heavily on judgment." READ MORE
A Nova Scotia Court has ordered the eviction of a Halifax tenant over derogatory remarks against his South Asian neighbours. A “good behaviour” clause in tenancy laws of most provinces applies to rudeness, a Small Claims adjudicator ruled: "Good behaviour extends beyond merely refraining from threatening to commit physical or property damage." READ MORE
Opposition parties yesterday demanded Prime Minister Mark Carney disclose to Parliament the secret terms of a cross-border trade pact. A draft agreement outlined by U.S. authorities would end 61 years of tariff-free Canadian auto exports to the U.S. and grant unprecedented Canadian market access for American farmers: "We have the right to know what concessions are being granted to Donald Trump." READ MORE
The Privy Council spent $34,291 to poll the public on whether they fear Canada will run out of fresh water due to climate change. It followed earlier research on whether Canadians should be afraid of running out of food, though the country is self-sufficient in both: "Please rate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statement: Canada will not have enough fresh water to meet its needs in the future." READ MORE
It may take “up to seven years” to 2033 before cabinet is anywhere near its targets on housing starts, says an internal Department of Finance memo. Delays were due to ordinary lags in planning and permits compounded by inflation and labour shortages, it said: "Homebuilder confidence has remained depressed." READ MORE
A federal agency, the Canada Energy Regulator, has tightened in-house ethics rules for politically-appointed directors. No specific reason was given, though Access To Information records earlier showed one unnamed staffer was caught trading in energy shares: "Appointees are expected to respect the principles." READ MORE
I walk through our warehouse and study the artifacts the same way others people-watch on the subway. There is character in things. They tell a rich story. My favourite is the Theratron Junior built in 1956. Canada made 140 of these radiation therapy devices and sold them all over the world for $25,000 apiece. We were so proud of them we put the Theratron in the Canadian exhibit at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle. The German exhibit had strudel. The French exhibit had art from the Louvre. Canada had the Theratron and a Black Brant rocket and an Alouette satellite. We were fresh and modern and confident, and a scientific powerhouse. This is how we showed ourselves to the postwar world.
