A senator says he has now waited two years for a reply to a routine question on government policy, setting a new standard for inertia and “lack of disclosure” in Parliament. “Canadians have a right to know what the government is doing,” said Sen. Percy Downe, who asked June 23, 2011 for details of decentralization — and is still waiting.
Canada is introducing first-ever federal regulations on icewine in a bid to curb counterfeiting. Winemakers praised the initiative though it calls for federal-provincial consensus, and one province — Quebec — is improperly freezing grapes: “Establishing these standards is critical.”
Port officials say coordinated policies, not more federal regulations, have reduced crime. Authorities speaking at a Port Secure conference said they curbed contraband with common-sense precautions. The remarks came as the Canada Border Services Agency proposed new regulations creating cordoned “controlled areas” at ports and airfields.
The Department of Justice has banned six more obsolete models of breathalyzer machines on the advice of forensic scientists. Authorities did not comment on the order, the second in six months. The department earlier cited “human error” as cause for banning certain blood-alcohol instruments.
Official job figures are skewed by counting 300,000 unpaid interns as members of the workforce, says a Liberal senator. “It is almost incomprehensible,” said Senator Grant Mitchell of Edmonton. Statistics Canada confirmed it does not remove free volunteers from its monthly job calculations.
Canadian travellers face new security cordons at major airports and marine ports. The Department of Public Safety said anti-smuggling regulations will bring more restricted areas beginning at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Trudeau International at Montreal, and Vancouver International Airport.
One of the nation’s largest fisheries should not expect taxpayers to “bail them out” without concessions, says the parliamentary secretary for fisheries. MP Randy Kamp said he questions aid for the $1 billion lobster fishery without new measures: “We’ve been sort of nibbling around the edges of this individual quota…”
Cabinet is extending a freeze on new immigration sponsorships for families. A freeze in place since November 2011 will continue till year’s end, with a quota of 5,000 applicants annually after that: “It doesn’t take too long for a backlog to build up.”
Conservative senators are being pressured to quickly pass a labour bill, sources tell Blacklock’s. Parliamentary contacts said three Conservatives were threatened with removal from the Senate trade and commerce committee if they failed to ensure passage of Bill C-377. The committee expressed its concerns over the bill’s “constitutional validity”.
MPs have given speedy final passage to a landmark bill permitting seismic exploration and horizontal drilling in a national park. The measure permitting “low impact” oil and gas exploration at Sable Island, N.S., southeast of Halifax, was signed into law.
RCMP members attempting to unionize the force predict more lawsuits with the enactment of new legislation. “Members have no recourse but to go to court,” said Rae Banwarie, national president of the Mounted Police Professional Association. Bill C-42, extending powers to fire or demote members, was signed into law in the Senate chamber.
A majority of provinces, and thousands of doctors are balking at Health Canada’s privatization of its medical marijuana program. The Canadian Medical Association said many members will not write prescriptions under the new plan amid objections from six provinces: “This has been poorly handled.”
Twelve million Canadians will see their private financial data published on the internet under poorly-written provisions of Bill C-377, says Conservative Senator Hugh Segal. Opponents are attempting to curb provisions that require disclosure of transactions over $5,000 in any mutual fund, trust or benefit plan with a union member.
Tax benefits to offset the cost of children’s sports programs have seen thousands of credits go to Canadians earning more than $150,000 a year, documents show. The kids’ credits cost a record $120 million last year: “We should help those who have little or no access to these programs.”
Canadian employers are paying the price for rule-breaking by the Royal Bank in its hiring of foreign workers, says an MP. Brent Rathgeber said firms are “very, very upset about changes to the program” enacted April 29 amid protests over the bank’s misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker plan.
