Federal auditors have lost a key court ruling that strikes down Canada Revenue Agency’s access to taxpayers’ confidential records. The case is expected to go to the Supreme Court: “It can be seen as a question of national importance, no doubt.”
Cabinet has issued an order to ratify a United Nations treaty on mercury emissions. Canada signed the Minamata Convention in 2013 but had yet to bring the anti-pollution pact into force: “Nobody is regulating logging as a source of mercury.”
A tribunal has upheld a $1,300 fine against an Alberta woman for a “very serious violation” of federal law, carrying four small cans of chicken paté in her luggage. Adjudicators have no power to waive Canada Border Services Agency penalties on humanitarian grounds, the tribunal said: “Officers must protect Canadians.”
Cabinet has no estimated cost of the impact of legalized cannabis on police budgets, hospital visits, border enforcement, insurance claims or traffic injuries, say records. Ministers in documents tabled in the Senate acknowledged a lack of research, but noted Health Canada spent $174,396 on polling: “Our question to the government is simple.”
Environment Canada must disclose the full scope of its carbon tax plan, say legislators. A secret memo published yesterday by Blacklock’s indicated a tax of $300 per tonne – six times the rate claimed by cabinet – is required to meet greenhouse gas emission targets: “It will bankrupt many families in my riding.”
Environment Canada reports 100 percent of businesses it consulted support a national carbon tax. Steelmakers said nobody asked them: “Do you want to continue to manufacture steel in Canada?”
A Senate panel last evening approved a private Conservative bill mandating prompt payment to subcontractors and tradespeople on public works. The legislation would counter abusive practices by large general contractors, senators said: “We had men in tears here talking about this problem.”
A Senate bill banning the capture and display of whales would criminalize research, claim Canada’s aquariums. Witnesses testifying at the Senate fisheries committee could not cite any peer-reviewed studies inspired by whales in captivity: “I don’t think I feel like a criminal.”
Police departments nationwide last year hired just enough new officers to fill ranks lost through attrition, says Statistics Canada research. Police salaries averaged $96,231: “Think about how much time it takes to do an investigation.”
Environment Canada in a secret memo admits it will not meet pollution targets with its $50 carbon tax. Rates must rise up to $300 per tonne – the equivalent of 70¢ a litre on gasoline – to lower greenhouse gas emissions, said the Access To Information document: “Impacts obviously depend on tax rates.”
Canada should mandate computer skills training for kindergartners, says an Access To Information report by the industry department. Schools must be “brought up to date” to prepare children for an automated workplace, the report said. The Canadian Teachers’ Federation did not comment: “Educators are not aligned on what skills are important.”
The Commons agriculture committee is faulting federal regulators for proposing to ban a common pesticide. MPs claimed a Health Canada review was incomplete and should be reconsidered: “They’ve set a terrible precedent here.”
The fate of a Liberal bill to rewrite O Canada is uncertain after a senior Liberal senator opposed gender-neutral lyrics as unnecessary. “I am an ardent feminist but I do not support this bill,” said Senator Joan Fraser (Liberal-Que.).
A federal report rates U.S. President Donald Trump a greater threat to Canadian exports than war or terrorism. Export Development Canada in its latest Country Risk Quarterly warns of “high impact” from any serious renegotiation of continental trade pacts: “We should not assume the worst.”
Taxpayers are paying nearly $1 million a year to maintain an aging warship acquired by Parks Canada, records show. Ongoing funding for the vessel, one of the agency’s least popular attractions, totaled $15.6 million even as Parks Canada cut essential maintenance for historic sites: “She offers Canadians a unique opportunity.”
