Blacklock's Reporter

Liberal MP Stephanie McLean (Esquimalt-Saanich, B.C.), secretary of state for seniors, yesterday would not say how many cabinet meetings she’s attended since her appointment last May 13. Secretary McLean under questioning from Senator Denise Batters (Sask.) also declined comment on her salary, office budget, core duties or whether she was assigned a car and chauffeur: “I am pleased to have received an invite.”

A Senate committee yesterday cleared a bill mandating federal restrictions on sports betting ads. Professional leagues including the Canadian Football League and NHL oppose the measure: “Tens of thousands of Canadians’ lives will have been devastated through problem gambling.”

A cabinet-appointed watchdog assigned to investigate Canadian corporate ethics overseas is merely an advisor whose work has no legal weight, a federal judge has ruled. The decision came on union complaints targeting use of Bangladeshi labour by Mark’s Work Wearhouse: “The issue of a living wage and how to determine it remains under active consideration.”

The Leaders’ Debates Commission in a report to Parliament says it will not define “journalism.” The agency twice cited by the Federal Court for attempting to enforce arbitrary definitions concluded it had no business trying to “legally define what constitutes journalism.”

A long-promised investigation of contracting at Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty’s department has confirmed widespread irregularities. Verification was “missing” for two-thirds of audited suppliers who claimed Indigenous ownership in seeking preferential contracts: “Sixty-eight percent of cases had missing or incomplete verification.”

It is irresponsible for MPs to suggest cabinet is “cooking the books,” Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said yesterday. Opposition critics ridiculed Champagne’s announcement that the traditional spring budget and Fall Economic Statement will be replaced with a fall budget and Spring Economic Statement: “Are you guys going to be cooking the books?”

Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne yesterday said he was never consulted on a telecom bill that would allow cabinet to secretly cancel Canadians’ internet accounts. Opponents have expressed alarm over the proposal: “We need to make sure by protecting national security we are not doing so at the expense of privacy.”

A federal labour board has upheld the firing of a Department of Employment staffer who pocketed the Canada Emergency Response Benefit while on the payroll. Evidence showed the employee claimed jobless benefits while working as a call centre operator assisting other Canadians seeking $2,000-a month CERB payments: “He was repeatedly dishonest.”

Ridicule and skepticism regarding UFOs are discouraging Canadians from reporting suspicious activity, says cabinet’s $393,000-a year science advisor. Dr. Mona Nemer in an internal memo said she preferred the phrase “unidentified aerial phenomenon.”

One year on the job, a political appointee named Senator for Alberta over elected nominees says the position is a “huge burden” that takes a toll on health and well-being. Senator Kris Wells made the comment at a budget committee hearing: “This job requires a lot of us.”

Opposition MPs on Friday pledged to block a bill granting cabinet extraordinary powers to target internet users in the name of public safety. Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis (Haldimand-Norfolk, Ont.) said Bill C-8 An Act Respecting Cybersecurity “as it stands would allow the government to deprive individuals of essential services without ever seeing the evidence.”

Taxpayers oppose Prime Minister Mark Carney’s promise to raise defence spending to 5 percent of GDP, says in-house Privy Council research. “Almost all reacted negatively” in federal focus groups, said a report: “Many believed 5 percent of GDP was far too high.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs has revoked a quota on wreaths honouring war dead. MPs had questioned the cutback as mean-spirited: “Many ridings have dozens of cenotaphs that request wreaths for Remembrance Day.”

Federal programs to have immigrant health care workers fill nursing shortages showed “mixed” results, says new Department of Immigration data. Figures indicate a quarter of immigrants let into Canada as prospective nurses were not hired: “This study reveals a mixed picture.”