The new 2016 census will include the most detailed questionnaire to date on aging Canada’s disabilities and mental health. Canadians over 65 now comprise 15 percent of the population: ‘It’ll paint a better picture of what is going on in Canadian society’.
Animal test bans in the cosmetics industry would promote “social consciousness”, the Senate has been told. Conservative senators are attempting to ban manufacturers’ use of animal test data, noting most research is done outside the country: “Testing cosmetics on animals is known as the ugly face of the beauty industry”.
A bid to block steep hikes in Maritime shippers’ pilotage fees has failed at the Canadian Transportation Agency. Regulators said they did not have sufficient information to investigate a complaint of excessive charges by the Atlantic Pilotage Authority: “It’s a juggling act”.
Senators are again attempting to repeal a little-noticed Conservative bill granting cabinet the power to borrow money without pre-approval from Parliament. Critics have tried and failed to repeal the bill four times in the past six years: “They don’t like the idea of having to face the people”.
Cabinet faces a “stiff test” in the Conservative-dominated Senate to repeal contentious union bills, the Commons has been told. Liberals are attempting to speed the repeal of two bills on labour finances and certification: “It’s payback time”.
An “able-bodied white man” has lost a human rights complaint against the Canada Revenue Agency. The employee cited data that hiring practices in his tax office left Caucasian males outnumbered 9 to 1: ‘This is not to say he does not raise a policy issue’.
A federal agency has won the right to publicly release information already available on the internet. Oil giant Husky unsuccessfully sued the Canada-Newfoundland & Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board to conceal the names of executives listed on Zoominfo: “The law is clear”.
Cabinet must adopt a national rail policy to promote Crown-managed VIA passenger service, says Unifor. VIA is attempting to draw private investment to revamp its busiest passenger routes: ‘Billions have been put into airports’.
They all have a vision for our
future:
The Prime Minister
wants to legalize pot;
the Ontario Premier
wants to sell us more booze;
and the Ottawa mayor
wants a casino downtown.
Meet the new Joe Canadian:
stoned,
hammered,
sinking his sagging Loonie
down the slot machine.
Must be smiling.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
Cabinet must repeal more Conservative labour bills after moving to kill two measures on certification and finances, says Unifor president Jerry Dias. Several laws remain on the books, including curbs on public employees’ right to strike: “It’s not good enough to revert back to the pre-Harper days”.
All railways would be forbidden from weekend shunting of freight cars or idling locomotives in urban neighbourhoods under a private bill introduced in the Commons. Noise complaints are currently subject to lengthy appeals at the Canadian Transportation Agency: “We’re going to do whatever the hell we want”.
It’s Heartaches By The Number as the CRTC ruled Country Music Television can stop broadcasting so much country music. Musicians expressed dismay: ‘Our friends will have no home’.
Cabinet will “bend the curve” on rising prescription drug prices, says Health Minister Dr. Jane Philpott. The remarks followed a warning Canadians will soon pay the second-highest drug costs outside the U.S., according to the federal Patented Medicine Prices Review Board: “Canadians pay far too much”.
A national broadcast regulator has cleared two networks of ethics complaints over stories touting in-house corporate handouts. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council said it found no proof CTV or Global skewed their “news” to boost management initiatives: “Heads up”.
Federal marine distress call centres are working well despite cuts imposed since 2012, says cabinet. The union representing emergency monitors said the service is vulnerable with budget rollbacks and poor technology: “I can assure you”.
