Canada’s bilingualism commissioner yesterday told the Commons languages committee he should have new powers to levy fines for English-only signage or service. “The Act should be modernized as quickly as possible,” said Raymond Théberge.
Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould yesterday called cabinet a world leader in freedom of information, though Canada ranks 56th in a global rating. Members of the Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee criticized a cabinet bill that further limits disclosure of important public records: “It can be a shield as well, right?”
Cabinet yesterday introduced a bill to ban bear-baiting. The U.K. abolished the spectacle in 1840. Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould told reporters she did not know how often it occurs in Canada: “I’m not exactly clear on how prevalent it is.”
The Federal Court in a rare account has released a partial transcript of a legal immigrant’s unsuccessful interview for a visa to travel to Canada. Visa officers overseas process more than a million applications a year: “You don’t remember?”
The federal prison system yesterday said it will spend more than a million dollars to drone-proof penitentiaries. The program follows incidents in British Columbia and Ontario where drugs were dropped into prison yards: “It’s a challenge.”
Canada’s Information Commissioner says government offices take so long to release public records, she may begin targeting scofflaws with special audits in 2019. Federal agencies typically take months, even years to disclose records under the Access To Information Act: “I receive 2,400 complaints per year.”
Atheists have filed a Federal Court challenge of Canada Revenue Agency guidelines on charitable status for religious groups. A group of atheists who meet weekly deserve equal status, said the Church of Atheism of Central Canada: “Why can’t we?”
Cabinet yesterday banned asbestos in consumer goods effective January 15, 2019. The mineral fibres have been listed as toxic by Health Canada since 1975: “We can’t undo the sins of the past, but we can take steps to prevent cancer in the future.”
Cabinet should refund any carbon tax revenues collected from residents of provinces defying the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, says a report by the C.D. Howe Institute. The research noted the tax was intended to curb pollution, not make money: “I don’t know if they are struggling with this or not.”
Home insurers yesterday said policyholders must report legal marijuana on the premises, and face higher premiums or loss of coverage. Cancellation of insurance could affect mortgages, brokers said: “Because marijuana is now legal, that does change things.”
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers yesterday served notice of rotating strikes effective Monday. Cabinet did not comment. The action would see brief, temporary shutdowns in select cities. Canada Post has responded in the past with costly national lockouts: “The intent is to highlight issues by taking action one town at a time.”
The chair of the Senate banking committee yesterday invited a registered business lobbyist to join in releasing a report advocating corporate tax cuts. “It’s unusual,” acknowledged Senator Douglas Black (Independent-Alta.), committee chair: “We think it’s so important for the country.”
Factory managers yesterday told the Commons trade committee metal tariffs have cost Canadian jobs and may result in plant closures. “When you lose it, you lose it,” said one manufacturer: “We have basically lost 25 percent of our business.”
The Treasury Board yesterday warned federal employees must not consume marijuana at work. One department, Public Works, earlier fired two employees for smoking cannabis on their break: “Don’t get too excited.”
Full costs of cabinet’s decision to nationalize a British Columbia pipeline are confidential and will not be disclosed, officials yesterday told the Senate national finance committee. The refusal came moments after the Privy Council Office boasted of its “payback” analysis on public spending: “I can’t say more.”
