RCMP Defend Policing Costs

The RCMP are defending their $934 million-a year Alberta policing contracts, saying one of their constables costs less than a municipal police officer. A costing report followed a provincial vote to make Alberta the third province to manage their own police: "Providing clarity on these factors is not about influencing the decisions of municipalities or the provinces." READ MORE

Paid Millions For Misconduct

Misconduct at the Canada Border Services Agency has cost taxpayers millions in legal fees and out-of-court settlements with complainants, new records show. The Agency admitted to 91 settlements since 2020: "There are hundreds of young women currently working as officers at the Agency who are afraid to say something." READ MORE

No “Illegitimate Discussion”

Cabinet’s bill to regulate legal internet content will attempt to determine “what constitutes legitimate and illegitimate discussion,” says Heritage Minister Marc Miller. The bill was introduced June 10 but has yet to be called up for Second Reading debate in the Commons: "What about Reddit?" READ MORE

Hajdu Claims Union Support

Union leaders have expressed support for legislation limiting their right to strike, claims Labour Minister Patty Hajdu. She did not identify any by name: "I don’t think all labour is upset. I’ve spoken with labour unions that are not upset." READ MORE

Predict Golden Age Of Rail

Canada is on the brink of “a new golden age” in railroading, VIA Rail says in a report to Parliament. The Crown railway acknowledged its operating deficits will average nearly $400 million a year to the end of the decade: "VIA Rail is ready to lead a new golden age in passenger rail service." READ MORE

World’s Toughest Tax Regime

Cabinet in 1996 considered forcing taxpayers to post a bond before transferring capital gains out of the country in what it called the “toughest regime worldwide” on tax avoidance, newly-declassified records show. The suggestion was prompted by one case involving a family trust: "If you or I owed $100 to Revenue Canada it would hound us to our graves." READ MORE

Sunday Poem: “Ephemera”

Poet W.N. Branson writes: "There are those that understand the value of work, the word, a life, know how to spin a tale, especially their own. An economist runs the numbers..." READ MORE

Guest Commentary

Phil Lind

Busting The Monopoly

We only had the CBC. It was hard to take. That’s all we had. Honest to God, it was deadly. It was also dangerous, absolutely dangerous. You had a situation where the government perpetuated the CBC as a monopoly provider. This was television in Canada. Private TV was not just about making money. It was to liberate the country, to provide new, fresh ideas, to have a new and different perspective on the world. This was like a holy war. They lost.