A federal bill to regulate rail service will merely cause “service problems”, predicts a rail executive. Managers with CN and CP protested Bill C-52 even as it cleared the Senate transport committee. “This is about jobs,” said Liberal Senator Terry Mercer; “This is very important to Canadians.”
The Commons fisheries committee has quietly killed a proposal for an urgent investigation of Canada’s $1 billion lobster fishery. MPs went in camera to quash a probe of the industry that’s seen thousands of fishermen face losses: “If this was taking place in Toronto or Montreal or Ottawa, they’d call it a crisis.”
Federal inspectors propose new tracking measures to guard against food poisoning. Yet an industry analyst told Blacklock’s the initiative by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the bare minimum consumers deserve: “What we put into our bodies is rarely traceable to source; why is that?”
Organizers of Canada’s first Olympics, the ’76 Summer Games in Montreal, celebrated aboriginals in sport by hiring 250 professional dancers to dress up as Indians. When the 1988 Winter Games came to Calgary, the local Stampede board proposed the festivities include a mock Indian wagon-burning.
Railways’ biggest customers are resigned to a federal reform bill they say is less than meets the eye. Farmers, forestry companies and fertilizer producers told a Senate committee they foresee conflict over ambiguities in Bill C-52, but acknowledge Parliament’s reluctance to amend the Conservative bill: “We now feel we are out of time.”
The Commons has passed a bill to observe Pope John Paul II Day. MPs endorsed the private Conservative measure by a 217 to 42 vote. MP Wladyslaw Lizon, sponsor of the bill, said he hoped for speedy passage in the Senate in time for observance next April 2, the anniversary of John Paul II’s death: “I would like to see this enacted as soon as possible.”
VIA Rail should be managed by Parliament not cabinet, says an independent MP. Bruce Hyer proposed the Commons enact Amtrak-style legislation to “depoliticize” passenger rail service. VIA’s operating deficit hit 33.5¢ per passenger mile last year: “We have no vision, we have no strategy, we have no legislation.”
Canadian employers who hire foreign migrants face surprise visits and spot audits by the Department of Citizenship, including workplace raids without a warrant. Employers who hire nannies are exempt, though live-in caregivers account for half the applications for Temporary Foreign Worker permits.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting media scrutiny of government — overseas. Foreign Minister John Baird’s office declined comment on why it gave cash grants to foreign journalists, referring Blacklock’s questions to department staff which also refused comment.
Inflation figures may be misleading due to outdated calculations on the cost of living, according to federal research. Statistics Canada noted prices of fruits and vegetables have risen sharply in the past decade while the relative cost of durable items like appliances and clothing declined with inexpensive imports. “There are many other more sophisticated ways of doing this,” said the Bank of Canada governor.
MPs have voted to delete an adjective from legislation on culture. The Commons heritage committee vetoed an opposition proposal to change the wording of a museums bill, C-49: “If it’s just a celebration, then much of history will never be uncovered.”
Canada’s landlocked submarine fleet will have spent more time in repairs than at sea by the expiry of the naval program, say defence analysts. In a critical review, researchers with the Rideau Institute and Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives faulted cabinet for its management of the fleet: “The submarines were badly flawed.”
Secret military documents withheld from Parliament show most Afghans rated Canada’s war mission a failure. Declassified research obtained by Blacklock’s and considered “invaluable” by military commanders documented growing opposition to NATO even as Parliament was assured the war was progressing.
Retailers are pressing the Department of Finance for a “line by line” review of tariffs to repeal unnecessary charges on consumers. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says he needs retailers’ help to see “if it works” to reduce tariffs. Budget plans propose to raise import taxes by $1 billion over five years.
Companies in transport, banking and other federally-regulated industries can more easily decertify unions under a private Conservative bill. C-525 permits as few as 45% of employees to disband a union local by secret ballot in any business under the Canada Labour Code: “They don’t want workers to organize.”
