Climate change may trigger killer earthquakes in Canada, the Department of Infrastructure says in Access To Information memos. No scientific data was cited. Canadian and U.S. geologists note most major quakes occurred prior to 1965: ‘Extreme weather events can potentially trigger earthquakes.’
A federal agency today will award another subsidy to a billion-dollar corporation, Cooke Aquaculture, the nation’s largest fish farmer. The funding comes a year after the Environment Commissioner complained regulators are too close to the aquaculture sector: “Where there’s long-term funding for research, that’s to help promote the industry.”
Parliament should consider a plastic tax, says an Environment Canada report. Researchers cautioned the tax would cost consumers since plastics are found in almost every manufactured product: “Get everybody on board to collect all plastics.”
The federal cost of reviewing illegal immigrants’ claims to remain in Canada will eclipse $100 million for the first time this year, says the Immigration & Refugee Board. The agency estimated the expense of hearings since 2017 will have grown 56 percent by 2020: “You need more money because you need to hire more people.”
The Department of Public Works proposes a Greening Of Food policy affecting all contracts for military and prison meals. Suppliers would be rated on “green point” criteria: ‘Do they operate any hybrid vehicles?’
A Texas family-owned business is serving notice of a record $3 billion copyright claim against the Government of Canada. The claim for damages, largest of its kind, accuses federal agencies of driving the company to ruin by copying oil and gas exploration maps without payment or permission: “This once lucrative business was destroyed.”
The province with the highest voter turnout in Canada is today suspending its practice of telling parties the names of electors who cast ballots. The Prince Edward Island policy was ruled a breach of privacy: “It definitely wasn’t meant to be nefarious.”
Wealthy Canadians shifted billions in income to avoid a new income tax rate of 33 percent introduced by cabinet in 2016, says the Parliamentary Budget Office. Analysts said higher taxes on Top One Percenters were known so far in advance that people earning more than $217,000 a year had ample time to rearrange their tax affairs: “It may look simple on paper.”
A federal agency is copying a U.S.-invented program Refund To Savings that encourages households to put away a portion of their tax refunds. The electronic initiative follows federal research that most Canadians did not have $5,000 in cash for a family emergency: ‘There’s job loss, unexpected medical expenses or vehicle repairs.’
Canada Post suffered its first loss in five years in 2018 due almost entirely to the cost of a half-billion dollar pay equity order, according to accounts. The post office said profitable parcel revenues increased last year, by 14 percent, despite 35 days of rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers: “This is a vicious circle.”
Easter greetings to our friends and subscribers. Blacklock’s pauses for the federal holiday, and will return April 23 — The Editor
Infrastructure Minister François-Philippe Champagne in a six-month period logged more than 7,000 kilometres driving by car and chauffeur through Québec, including repeated trips from Parliament Hill to his Shawinigan home. Champagne had urged Canadians to lower greenhouse gas emissions for the sake of climate change: “He’s a Minister. He’s very busy.”
A federal agency responsible for food safety appears unprepared for a public health emergency, says an internal audit. The report comes seven years after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was faulted for a lackadaisical response to the biggest poisoned beef recall in the country’s history: “The Agency may not be adequately prepared.”
The Commons heritage committee yesterday served notice it will examine online resales of concert tickets. The investigation follows the 2018 suspension of regulations under Ontario’s Ticket Sales Act that banned the resale of tickets with 50 percent markups under threat of $10,000 fines: “The artists aren’t getting anything from that.”
A judge has thrown out an Air Canada passenger’s claim for damages after he invoked a constitutional right to board a flight with an expired passport. The airline testified its website advisories are clear that travelers should not fly out of the country without valid papers: “The Charter does not apply.”
