Blacklock's Reporter

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly’s department in an Access To Information memo contemplates “legal action” against users on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media sites it suspects of spreading “false and misleading information.” The censored 35-page memo did not explain what action federal lawyers would take: “This strategy seeks to uphold the integrity of and public trust in government information.”

The CEO of Farm Credit Canada had her corporate Visa card suspended as “delinquent” for failing to make minimum payments, Access To Information records show. Staff questioned thousands in late fees and interest charges run up by Justine Hendricks in her role as the Crown bank’s $458,000-a year chief executive: “The audit division may find this particular transaction as non-compliant.”

A $1.45 billion bailout of Metro Vancouver condo developers is an “opportunity” for taxpayers, Prime Minister Mark Carney said yesterday. He did not explain what profit the public would see in buying thousands of vacant condos from speculators facing losses: “A bad development becomes a good development on the second or third owner, but in between there’s that opportunity.”

Cabinet yesterday withdrew a suggestion it might “adjust” a 2019 ban on oil tanker traffic off the northern British Columbia coast. “There is no way,” said B.C. Premier David Eby: “The tanker ban remains.”

Artificial intelligence “nonsense” has no place in Tax Court, a judge has ruled. The remarks came in the case of a taxpayer who challenged the Canada Revenue Agency using fabricated case law: “AI is no substitute for real lawyering.”

The $458,000-a year CEO of the Crown bank Farm Credit Canada billed four times the expenses of her predecessor including Filet Mignon steak dinners, round-the-world business class flights and a $543 Uber ride, records show. Justine Hendricks had no comment but earlier told employees to “tighten the belt.”

Attorney General Sean Fraser’s department says it uncovered an executive implicated in malfeasance but would neither name the person nor explain why police were not called. The latest case is in addition to 37 employees disciplined last year for wrongdoing: “The executive retired.”

Foreign agents operating in Canada will not be compelled to disclose how much they’re paid under regulations finalized yesterday. Disclosing cash transactions was too “sensitive,” said Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, though such disclosure is mandatory in the United States: ‘We do not intend to publish specific dollar amounts.’

TV reporters must attempt to verify all news, even breathless eyewitness accounts of breaking stories, a national broadcast ombudsman has ruled. The Canada Broadcast Standards Council faulted CTV National for televising a Canadian tourist’s alarming account of street violence in Mexico: “A clearly inaccurate statement, even if made by someone other than the reporter, can constitute a breach.”

A 10 percent tariff on Lebanese chickpeas, Filipino beans and other imported canned goods will have a “downstream effect” at supermarket checkouts, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said yesterday in a regulatory notice. Cabinet had no choice but to protect Canadian growers and canners, he said: ‘It is likely to have a downstream effect on the price of certain canned vegetables for consumers.’

Blacklock’s pauses for the 159th anniversary of Confederation to wish all friends and subscribers a happy Canada Day.  We’re back tomorrow  — The Editor

Attorney General Sean Fraser yesterday said he “will occasionally” check if judicial appointees made political donations, but denied any partisan intent. “I will on occasion have a candidate’s political activities flagged before a final appointment is made,” he said.

Judges must beware of “potential danger” when discussing current events with reporters, Supreme Court nominee Glenn Joyal said yesterday. Joyal avoided reference to the Chief Justice’s criticism of the Freedom Convoy in a Québec newspaper, but said all judges must avoid editorializing: “There is a risk.”

The Prime Minister’s Office yesterday would not say who gave an Ottawa pollster advance notice of an unusual proposal to finance public works through corporate donors. Pollster Bruce Anderson conducted a survey seven weeks before the announcement to gauge support for tax credits for donors who renovate 24 Sussex Drive: “My take based on these results is the approach announced by Prime Minister Carney will experience some, but pretty limited, opposition.”

An Ontario judge describes the Canada Border Services Agency as ineffectual in rounding up foreign fugitives. The remarks came in the case of an illegal immigrant repeatedly arrested, jailed, released and re-arrested for theft despite a 2022 federal warrant for deportation: “I have no confidence that the Canada Border Services Agency will actually deport.”