Elections Canada last night said nearly five million ballots were cast in advanced polls Thanksgiving weekend, the highest number in Canadian history. Turnout increased but was below percentage gains seen in 2011 and 2015: “This is the way of the future.”
The Privy Council Office considered asking half-a-million federal employees to wear pedometers at work to stay fit, according to an Access To Information memo. The scheme was abandoned following in-house research: ‘It could offer an exciting opportunity.’
The Parliamentary Budget Office yesterday completed its costing of major election platforms. Only one of six parties in the Commons did not propose a penny in new taxes: “It is a reasonable and committed plan.”
Canada’s last federally-owned marine service has survived another Court challenge. The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed petitions by a private sector competitor that complained of unfairly low freight rates charged at taxpayers’ expense: “There was no legal requirement.”
The Liberal Party will not disclose details of a private mid-campaign fundraiser attended by unnamed donors in New York City. The Canadian Consul General in New York, a former Liberal contributor, did not take Blacklock’s questions: ‘It was at a Canadian citizen’s home.’
The CBC in a legal first sued the Conservative Party over use of bootlegged news video because it feared viewers would have “the impression that CBC is biased”, lawyers wrote the Federal Court. Copyrighted video was used without payment or permission in “sensational and one-sided” attack ads, said the Crown corporation: ‘This is particularly damaging to CBC’s reputation as a trusted source.’
Environment Canada spent nearly $80,000 testing public reaction to an ad campaign promoting biodiversity targets. Messages were “meaningless and confusing”, according to in-house research: “Are you putting in more laws?”
The New Democratic Party proposes more than $29 billion in tax increases by 2021, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office. Measures range from a new levy on multinational digital service providers to a twelve percent surcharge on yachts: “I’m not working for the wealthiest.”
We’re grateful this holiday to friends and subscribers for your support as Blacklock’s embarks on an eighth great year of independent, all-original Canadian journalism. On behalf of reporters and contributors, please accept our thanks.
A Department of Public Works venture intended to save taxpayers’ money on federal office space has not measured any savings, says a consultants’ report. Analysts concluded the project went 65 percent over budget: “Cost savings have not been measured or reported.”
TV weather forecasters should become announcers for climate change, says the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. The scientific group acknowledged obvious shortcomings in the plan: “The reason people watch the weather is for weather.”
The Bank of Canada in a research paper says Amazon.com has clobbered Canadian online retailers. Three parties campaigning in the October 21 election have proposed to tax e-commerce sales by foreign vendors: “We want it to be fair.”
A labour board has confirmed bias in a federal public service appointment. The ruling follows a 2018 survey that found most federal employees think their workforce is rife with cronyism: “What do you do?”
The Liberal Party in a campaign questionnaire yesterday said if re-elected it will regulate Facebook, YouTube and other social media to prohibit content deemed hurtful. Scofflaws will face significant fines. Authors of the questionnaire said regulations should also ban “false attacks” on politicians: “We will move forward with new regulations for social media platforms.”
A Conservative Party proposal to hire 250 new border agents would cost nearly $30 million a year, the Parliamentary Budget Office said yesterday. The Agency already routinely hires more than 250 new officers each year, according to an internal audit: “I will take steps to restore confidence.”
