The Canadian Transportation Agency has dealt “a big blow” to farmers with a narrow technical ruling dismissing complaints of poor rail service, says the Canadian Canola Growers Association. The group was among the first to file complaints under 2013 legislation that promised to hold Canada’s largest railways to strict terms of service contracts: ‘They can’t be held to account’.
Cabinet is hiring consultants to develop a speedy “funding policy” for 313,000 employees’ pensions after proposing to cut benefits for government staff. The federal Treasury Board said a report is due by mid-2015 to consider “options regarding an appropriate funding policy structure”.
Cabinet is signalling rare support for a private Liberal bill, this one to simplify reporting of deaths to federal agencies. It follows a critical report that complained of red tape facing families who attempt to contact government departments to settle tax claims and cancel benefit cheques: ‘We think it’s common sense’.
Credit card executives have been grilled by the Senate banking committee over $5 billion-a year merchants’ fees charged for using Visa and MasterCard. Senators cautioned that years after cabinet introduced a voluntary Code Of Conduct on the industry, fees remain too high: “Enough is enough”.
A Conservative bill granting Health Canada new powers to recall unsafe medicines will put a “chill” on industry, executives say. Representatives testifying at a Senate committee said the bill giving regulators access to confidential industry data must be amended: ‘It includes trade secrets’.
Long-awaited aquaculture fees will see British Columbia operators pay an estimated 10 percent of the cost of federal regulation. The fee schedule drafted over four years was quietly tabled in the Senate and will take effect by year’s end: “This looks like just another subsidy”.
The Commons has passed an anti-counterfeiting bill amid fears of poor enforcement and onerous costs. Bill C-8 grants the Canada Border Services Agency new powers to seize, store and destroy black market goods: ‘You write a blank cheque to the government’.
A Commons bill would ban imports of whole Asian carp in a bid to stem the spread of the invasive species. Authorities estimate carp imports remain a multi-million dollar business despite efforts to keep the species out of the Great Lakes: “This is the cost of doing business”.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by an unhappy office worker sued by her boss after writing a bad review on the website RateMyEmployer.ca. The Montréal IT worker landed in trouble after posting anonymous comments urging job applicants to stay away: “Do yourself a favour and don’t work here”.
Dairy Farmers of Canada are asking a federal judge to define “milk” in a trademark dispute with a California company. Farmers filed a court application to overturn a 2008 trademark for non-dairy Monster Milk for athletes: ‘The average consumer is likely to believe it is dairy milk’.
Public Safety Canada must mandate body-worn minicams for RCMP officers, says a Conservative MP. The Mounties have ordered a national feasibility study on assigning body-worn miniature video recorders to all frontline officers: “It gives much better evidence”.
The CBC is appealing a Federal Court ruling that would see the Crown broadcaster subject to scrutiny by Canada’s Official Languages Commissioner. Attorneys argued in the Court of Appeal the cash-strapped corporation is already regulated like other networks by the CRTC: “Why do we need two different bodies to do the same thing?”
Forest fires continue to burn longer and hotter in national forests, says Natural Resources Canada. Fire damage last year was more than double the 10-year average, according to newly-released data: ‘It’s climate change’.
Cabinet has no plans “at this time” to further raise Old Age Security eligibility after increasing the age from 65 to 67. Officials at Employment & Social Development Canada said they assumed the pension scheme is financially sound, though one told a Senate committee: “I couldn’t even hazard a guess.”
Fears of an earthquake on Parliament Hill have prompted Public Works Canada to hire “seismic experts” to assess one of Canada’s oldest heritage buildings, the East Block. Authorities said a top-to-bottom study of the 1867 structure is needed. The block is home to John A. Macdonald’s original office: ‘It’s a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture’.
