Blacklock's Reporter

The CBC last year paid nearly $12 million in raises in addition to $15.4 million in bonuses while management complained it was under “immense pressure” due to the pandemic, records show. Access To Information records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation confirmed pay hikes and perks were paid even as cabinet qualified the CBC for a Covid bailout: “Taxpayers have every right to question why the CBC is taking so much.”

A judicial inquiry into cabinet’s use of emergency powers against the Freedom Convoy will cost nearly $19 million, says the Privy Council Office. Eighteen lawyers are on staff at the Public Order Emergency Commission: “The Commission has requested up to $18.8 million in funding.”

Drug-impaired driving has increased for a fourth consecutive year since Parliament legalized marijuana, Statistics Canada said yesterday. Figures were drawn from police reports nationwide: “Do you have any statistics where you’ve asked people whether they will use marijuana or use it more often after it’s legalized?”

Universities may continue to enforce vaccine mandates even if they’re not required by local health authorities, a labour arbitrator has ruled. The decision came as 2.2 million college and university students prepare to return to campus: “Universities are by nature gathering places that have the potential to create a significant public health risk.”

The number of drug addicts in federal prison has increased since Parliament passed a Drug-Free Prisons Act, according to Correctional Service data. Critics had questioned the Act as ineffective: “It is doubtful there is a prison in the world that is drug-free.”

A Bloc Québécois public safety critic who criticized cabinet’s use of emergency powers against the Freedom Convoy will be the only MP in Québec to lose her riding under federal redistricting. MP Kristina Michaud had ridiculed claims that “someone in a hot tub in the middle of Wellington Street” posed a threat to national security: “Seriously, what will it take for the government to realize?”

The Department of Public Works says the Freedom Convoy cost millions in a work slowdown on Parliament Hill but acknowledged an unrelated carpenters’ strike was more significant. Cabinet to date has not detailed economic losses it attributed to the truckers’ protest: “That’s not good enough.”

Sanctions against Putin should not include ejecting Russia from a Halifax-based fisheries group, says a Department of Fisheries briefing note. Canada would “need to consider the implications” of sending our fish inspectors to confront Russian trawlers on the high seas, it said: “If it was kicked out its vessels would still be able to fish.”

Few Covid violations of workplace safety rules were documented in the federally regulated private sector, say labour department records. Staff upheld eight cases of refusal to work due to pandemic safety issues under the Canada Labour Code. The sector has 910,000 employees: “What is the definition of danger?”

Canadians think of the military as firefighters and peacekeepers not warriors, says in-house Department of National Defence research. Only 25 percent strongly agree the Canadian Armed Forces should play “combat roles in support of the United Nations and NATO.”

Blacklock’s pauses for the August bank holiday with warmest regards to subscribers. We wish you a safe, happy holiday. We’ll be back tomorrow — The Editor.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s department recommends Canadians eat with their hands to comply with a federal ban on single use plastic forks. Food trucks should also ask customers to bring their own containers instead of using takeout polystyrene boxes, said the department: “Costs are significant.”

New Bank of Canada figures indicate income inequality is unchanged in a quarter century, contradicting claims of a growing gap. The Bank research follows a June 9 report that the typical Canadian grew their net worth by an average $230,000 last year with real estate gains: “Income inequality in the United States has been higher than in Canada for the last four decades.”

A dispute over a natural gas turbine was among “unintended consequences of sanctions” against Russia, staff to Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly wrote in a briefing note. Cabinet on July 9 granted a sanctions waiver to return the Siemens turbine to Germany to transport imports of Russian fuel: “Germany has certain energy needs.”

Two provinces are in such dire financial shape their net debt will run close to 100 percent of GDP or more within a generation, the Parliamentary Budget Office said yesterday. Most others face steep tax hikes or spending cuts if current trends continue: “The longer this adjustment is delayed the greater will be the required adjustment.”