Cabinet has little to show for millions spent on ads for a federal works program, says the government’s own research. Pollsters reported most Canadians surveyed had no recollection of the ad blitz, and those who did only vaguely recalled images of people at work: ‘It was propaganda’.
All-for-one talks on a massive Pacific trade treaty should beware of exemptions for “sensitive products” like dairy that would jeopardize the effort, say exporters. The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance said ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership talks must not hinge on continued protection for quota-based producers: ‘All countries have interests’.
Industry Canada’s consumer Wireless Code remains virtually unknown to cellphone users amid widespread complaints of poor service and high telecom fees, the government’s own research shows. Surveys by the CRTC also indicate a large number of cellphone users — up to a third in some provinces — are unhappy with their telecom provider: “Bill shock”.
The Department of Fisheries is accused of violating federal law with a first-ever proposal allowing the use of chemicals in fish habitat. The proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act follows appeals from aquaculture operators to allow pesticides on fish farms: ‘The department is shirking its obligations’.
Canada Revenue Agency is reassigning 120 staff as “liaison” officers for business in a program that critics called a poor substitute for simpler tax forms. The agency earlier closed service counters at 26 offices nationwide: “What’s a capital cost? How do you depreciate this?”
A court has upheld a tobacco sales ban on a Canadian Tire franchisee twice convicted of selling cigarettes to children. The retailer had invoked the Charter of Rights in protesting the ban as a violation of “fundamental justice”: ‘They’re expected to know the regulations’.
The Royal Canadian Mint is hiring a U.S. consultant to recoup millions spent on an electronic currency scheme vetoed by the Bank of Canada as government-backed currency. The agency contracted Boston Consulting Group to sell its MintChip technology to any takers in the private sector: “Great name; mint cookie”.
Federal agencies should monitor Canadians’ Facebook and Twitter conversations to track “social movements” and public rumblings over government policy, says an Industry Canada memo. The document hails the value of social media surveillance: “We have near-instant access to a vast universe of data”.
Canada Post must invoke an immediate moratorium on service cuts targeted to impact 100,000 homeowners beginning next month, say Opposition MPs. New Democrats said unexpected profits reported by the Crown corporation suggest there is no reason to cancel doorstep mail delivery: ‘It makes money’.
Canada is again rated just mediocre in the World Economic Forum’s annual ranking of global economies. The nation rated 15th overall, with less per capita spending on corporate research than El Salvador and fewer mobile broadband subscribers than Azerbaijan: “Competitiveness covers a lot”.
Federal agencies are budgeting more than $13 million over two years – the equivalent of $127,000 a week – to commemorate the First World War in a blitz one MP called “narcissistic” in the face of cuts to modern veterans’ services: “I’m upset by this”.
A popular federal program that offered homeowner grants for energy refits was cancelled though it cost millions less than budgeted, newly-released documents show. The Natural Resources Canada program offered up to $5,000 in subsidies to replace water heaters, upgrade windows and other energy-saving projects: “Homeowners will be angry”.
Environment Canada is considering first-ever regulation on an obscure source of lead contamination – wheel weights. The finger-sized weights used by auto repair shops to balance tires pose a poison hazard, the department warned: “There is no safe level of lead”.
New federal regulations on dumping of waste at sea suggest reduced oversight, says an MP. The finalized Environment Canada rules tighten the public notice period on dumping permits from 30 to 7 days: “I worry about anything that reduces regulatory oversight”.
A Crown agency created to invest in public works increased spending on staff salaries and consultants even as it paid out a fraction of its cash holdings to finance urgently-needed infrastructure. New financial reports show spending on staff and consultants at PPP Canada jumped 13% in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year: ‘It’s high-quality advice’.
