An Ontario court has denied workplace death benefits to a firefighter who dropped dead of a heart attack at 47. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for fire crew: “Firefighters have a physically active job.”
Albertans believe
they are treated unfairly,
citing job losses,
taxation,
environmental regulations
and difficulty in getting
resources to markets.
A growing number
call for separation
from Canada.
But where would they go?
I turn the page
of my morning paper.
Two Albertans,
Jenni Sidey-Gibbons and Joshua Kutryk,
just graduated
NASA’s Artemis program.
They would be the pioneers
exploring opportunities
on the Moon,
preparing for Mars.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
An internal report cites cronyism in the Department of Public Works. Unnamed employees privately complained to an ombudsman of preferential hiring by managers, including sweetheart appointments of family members: “Many employees are afraid to speak openly.”
Cabinet yesterday said it’s resigned to parliamentary hearings on a continental free trade pact. Two opposition parties questioned the agreement, while the Senate trade committee has asked for greater scrutiny of claimed benefits of all trade deals: “This is way too important to stall.”
Parks Canada yesterday said it’s restoring a decrepit 18th century landmark after auditors faulted the agency for letting the property fall into disrepair. The Auditor General rated Old Montréal’s Joseph-Louis Papineau House in poor condition though Parks Canada has owned it since 1982: “I mean, the government doesn’t look good.”
The Federal Court yesterday opened hearings on a challenge of Health Canada’s continued licensing of a bestselling weed killer. Lawyers for Safe Food Matters Inc. sued to halt the sale of glyphosate marketed under the Roundup brand developed by Monsanto Co.: “We know it’s in lentils, chickpeas and baby food.”
The Supreme Court yesterday without comment dismissed an appeal by the City of Victoria to ban single-use plastic bags. Plastics manufacturers accused the city of trying to demonize their business: “We are doing a job.”
The national archives suffered a “major flood” in 2018 that damaged books and records but withheld information from the public. The agency yesterday denied any parts of its collection were ruined, though an auditors’ report cited “damage” and photos obtained through Access To Information showed an inch of water pooled on the floor: “Water is pouring in.”
Insurers may reject claims by homeowners who fail to report marijuana on the property, the British Columbia Court of Appeal said yesterday. Judges upheld the refusal by Wawanesa Mutual Co. of Winnipeg to honour payouts under a $1.37 million policy to a cannabis grower: “Would it matter if I grew tomatoes or cucumbers?”
A cabinet promise to cut cellphone bills by a quarter would save Canadians $11 to $25 a month, according to CRTC data. Legislators have grumbled over weak federal regulation of rates for mobile service plans: “It’s basically a cartel, let’s face it.”
The Department of Public Works yesterday said it will launch a top-to-bottom review of current contracts to ensure no federal goods are made by children or slave labour. A private Liberal bill to ban all imports of forced labour goods lapsed in the last Parliament: “Ethics cost money.”
Environment Canada has paid $195,000 to settle out of court with a family-run business over a mistaken raid by RCMP and wildlife officers. Lawyers argued the department owed a “duty of care” to protect the public from overzealous federal agents: ‘It was based on speculation, innuendo and half-truths.”
The Canada Border Services Agency yesterday said in a two-year period it searched more than 27,000 travelers’ cellphones and iPads, the highest figure disclosed to date. MPs have sought greater privacy protection from random searches of personal data: “It’s basically your life history and all your records.”
A Halifax tradesman fired after a supervisor smelled marijuana from his vehicle has won his job back. A Nova Scotia tribunal ruled employers must meet a minimum standard of proof before dismissing cannabis users: ‘There was a distinct ‘skunky’ smell.”
The Department of Health has again postponed final environmental risk assessments on three common pesticides after years of study. Regulators had promised a final verdict three weeks ago: “This decision has been delayed.”
