Blacklock's Reporter

Canada Revenue Agency has cut staffing to the lowest level since 2005, new data show. Payroll records indicate more than 1100 jobs were eliminated last year, even as the tax department hired more IT consultants and policy analysts in Ottawa.

A judge has rebuked the Privy Council Office for extraordinary delays in a lawsuit now dragging into its eighth year. The criticism came as staff proposed to review thousands of pre-trial documents at the rate of two per day: “There cannot be any delay”.

The St. Lawrence Seaway is hiking tolls for the second year in a row, with a total 5.5% increase since management lifted a rate freeze. The system ran at less than half-capacity last season: “People don’t like the increase”.

An Alberta firm involved in the largest copyright case of its kind has filed another lawsuit citing wrongdoing by federal agencies. Geophysical Service Incorporated, owner of marine seismic data, filed a $189.8 million claim in Court of Queen’s Bench: “All efforts to resolve issues have failed.”

Environment Canada is being sued over its licensing of made-in-the-lab salmon. Critics are asking that a federal judge quash the license, claiming the department broke the law in approving the first genetically-modified living organism in Canada at a P.E.I. lab: “There was no public participation”.

A Natural Resources Canada campaign to “improve the image” of the mining industry is raising questions. The department says publicity of eco-friendly technology is required to promote positive thoughts about mines: “The point of the program is to improve the image”.

Health Canada proposes to list four petroleum and refinery gases as toxic substances. The department said all four should be regulated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act: “This is just the first step.”

A federal campaign to develop Canada’s most energy-efficient building code is prompting a Natural Resources survey of so-called “net zero” houses. Authorities are studying model homes that consume no more energy than they produce: “We’re working with the innovators”.

Canada’s food processors are joining farm groups in protesting rail service rated “abysmal” despite promised reforms. Food & Consumer Products Canada in a joint letter to Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said rail service is so unreliable it’s impacting factory production: ‘It’s unsatisfactory service’.

In a study that analysts rated unusual, the Public Health Agency is surveying Canadians on which foods make them sick. More than 11,000 consumers nationwide will be questioned on their “gastrointestinal illness” and eating habits: “I haven’t heard of surveys of this kind I must admit”.

A federal judge has quashed a workplace order by the Canada Border Services Agency in only the latest court reprimand involving compliance with labour rules. The agency was cited for an “unreasonable”, “incoherent”, “clearly deficient” order involving an airport employee who attended a safety meeting: “This is not normal”.

Canada Revenue Agency is proposing all tax preparers register with the federal government. The regulation follows the unraveling of a multi-million dollar fraud by a single Ontario company: “It’s absolutely fair for the agency to try and understand who is submitting returns”.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union has won a court battle alleging Mexican diplomats meddled in a B.C. labour dispute. Judges dismissed a claim of immunity by Mexico over charges it coerced migrant workers into voting to decertify a union local: “It’s a very unusual case”.

Canadian mining firms and advocacy groups say they are finalizing a process to disclose corporate payments to overseas governments. The anti-graft proposals follow adoption of a pioneering law in the U.S. four years ago: “We saw this as eventually coming to Canada”.