Statistics Canada is still threatened by political interference under a cabinet bill claimed to guarantee its independence, says a chief statistician who quit the agency in 2010. One Liberal MP told the Commons industry committee he now questions labour stats in his home riding: “I’ve always been suspicious.”
Health Canada is proposing to gauge the cumulative effects of multiple pesticides under the Pest Control Products Act. Regulators called it an “emerging area of science”, though environmental groups said it’s been a legal requirement for more than a decade: “Slowness, incredible slowness.”
At the construction site of the
new Champlain Bridge,
pre-fabricated sections
are laid down, put together
to connect between
people, communities, cities.
At the Breitbart site,
pre-fabricated news items
are laid down, put together
to break any bridge between
nationalities, ethnicities, religions, opinions.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
Taxpayers have a right to probe details of a $372.5 million federal loan to Bombardier Inc., say senators. The Senate last evening opened debate on a Conservative motion for first-ever parliamentary scrutiny of Bombardier subsidies: “We’re talking about public money here.”
Health Canada faces trademark lawsuits if it attempts to mandate plain packaging of tobacco, say cigarette makers. A cabinet bill introduced in the Senate would sanction an Australian-style law requiring that all tobacco be sold in a plain brown wrapper: “We have the right to use our trademarks.”
A Senate panel has voted to issue the nation’s only Canada 150 medal, citing popular demand. The Department of Canadian Heritage cancelled plans for its own commemoration, though predecessors issued jubilee medals dating from 1869: “It is inexplicable.”
Only a third of Canadians, 37 percent, say Environment Canada’s climate change plan is on the right track, says in-house research. The survey avoided mention of a carbon tax: “Results suggest that Canadians may not respond as favourably to specific measures.”
Chemical manufacturers have paid as little as 16% of the cost of registering pesticides, new data show. A Health Canada fee increase on the industry took effect April 1: ‘They will now pay a greater share of this cost.’
A group attempting to unionize RCMP officers says a members’ pay hike is no substitute for collective bargaining. Cabinet yesterday approved a total 4.8 percent increase, the first in three years: “This doesn’t even come close.”
Cabinet’s campaign to win a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council will cost millions, documents show. Expenses this year are near $500,000 including large sums for hospitality and staff salaries, though the election won’t be held until 2020: ‘They have an unhealthy focus on this.’
Whales in captivity are no better than human beings in a jail cell, says a senator. The Senate fisheries committee is examining a bill to ban the capture and display of whales in Canada: “Imagine putting yourself in that situation.”
The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a labour board ruling that the RCMP wrongfully fired an employee for smoking marijuana off duty. The judgment comes as cabinet prepares to introduce a bill legalizing recreational cannabis: ‘They punished behaviour the RCMP deemed unacceptable – using marijuana.”
A federal court for the second time in six weeks has faulted Canada’s Public Sector Integrity Commissioner for mishandling whistleblower complaints. The watchdog was ordered to reopen an investigation abandoned on narrow technical grounds in 2013: “The Commissioner acts as a filter and not as a shield.”
A bill to celebrate the national seal hunt will not become law in time for a scheduled May 20 observance. MPs last night adjourned final debate without allowing it to come to a vote: “First they condemned us for killing baby seals.”
Statistics Canada remains on a short leash despite cabinet claims of greater independence, say two former chief statisticians. Retired chiefs told the Commons industry committee a federal bill to reform the agency falls short: “Canadian legislation has been among the worst.”
