Transport executives grumble a federal safety board is “too rigid” and oblivious to the expense of recommendations on system improvements. Complaints of tense dealings with railways, airlines and marine shippers are detailed in Transportation Safety Board interviews with industry: ‘It is too confrontational at times’.
Canada Post faces a post-election pension fight over any proposal to strip benefits as a cost-savings measure, say employee and retirees’ advocates. The corporation yesterday declined comment on claims it plans to cut payments under a new Parliament: “I can’t understand how it would even be legal”.
Media accounts of skin cancer, the most prevalent cancer in Canada, tend to be “narrow” and provide little useful information for the public, says new research. A University of Waterloo study of women’s magazines noted several publications even promoted the “tanned look”.
A final multi-million dollar cleanup of abandoned sub-Arctic mine sites is being contracted by the Department of Northern Development, including sites dating from 1939. Authorities said modern polluter-pay regulations ensure companies, not taxpayers, foot the bill for future cleanups: ‘The properties reverted to the Crown’.
One of the country’s largest airport authorities is in legal dispute with regulators over who’s responsible for tending to passengers. The court challenge follows a 2014 incident in which a blind woman was unable to get help at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport: “Obviously there is a problem”.
Three of four Atlantic provinces are shrinking, according to a Statistics Canada population count. All but Prince Edward Island have seen fewer residents year over year, though declines do not match historic population collapses: “It does have implications”.
A majority of Canadians, 90 percent, say genetically-modified foods should be plainly labeled. But consumers remain divided on whether they’d buy engineered fish or salmon even if approved by federal regulators: “These products need to be identified on the grocery shelf”.
VIA Rail is expected to review pension costs in new contract talks with union employees. Transport Canada earlier vowed the Crown railway must ensure it is not a “burden” to taxpayers: “We’re back into bargaining”.
Health Canada is being petitioned to restrict extra billing amid claims of a Canada Health Act crisis. Lawyers in Québec yesterday urged regulators to halt collection of user fees in the province, with a similar challenge due in a British Columbia court this autumn: “It is a much bigger issue”.
Focus groups testing RCMP recruiting ads found surprising reaction to a TV pitch to women. Researchers said the ad narrated by a female announcer was unexpected and lacked authority: ‘Not one male preferred the female voice’.
The Department of Finance in a staff outlook has spotted at least one growth industry in the Canadian economy: home renovation. Fix-ups worth $44.8 billion a year are projected to grow as more Canadians move into older homes, says a department memo: “More homes will eventually be in need of renovations”.
Cabinet has finalized the sale of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, the country’s leading producer of medical isotopes. The Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. plant went to a consortium including SNC-Lavalin Inc. and Rolls-Royce Civil Nuclear Canada Ltd.: “When it is in the best interests of Canadians, they will be sold”.
Canada’s best known retailers privately warned the finance department that higher tariffs, phased in this year, will cost consumers and kill jobs. Panasonic, Clover Leaf Seafoods, Walmart and others petitioned the department not to raise customs duties on popular imports: ‘It’s the most significant increase in tariffs since the 1930s’.
More than 4 in 10 food services companies are short of workers since cabinet tightened permits under its Temporary Foreign Worker Program, says an industry group. The Restaurants Canada survey found thousands of jobs can’t be filled: “How is the economy being helped?”
Scientists propose DNA tests to keep Canadian waters free of invasive species. The initiative follows new cabinet regulations outlawing the import of aquatic pests: ‘We are 3 to 5 years away’.
