Another federal report confirms commuter tolls are no certain fix to finance new roads and bridges. The Parliamentary Budget Officer reported tolls needed to recover costs of refitting a federal bridge in Montréal are so high, thousands of commuters would avoid payment by taking alternate routes: ‘It will be catastrophic’.
Federal inspectors acknowledge “lots of questions” from processors over long-awaited revisions to regulations on food safety. Industry analysts expressed wariness that cabinet will rush changes in anticipation of a 2015 election: “We haven’t yet seen a shift in thinking”.
Canada Revenue Agency is launching a secret surveillance system to spy on employees and managers suspected of “fraudulent activities”. The agency stresses the network will rely on anonymous tips from inside informants, and must operate outside the Access To Information Act. Two-thirds of the tax department’s 40,000 employees have electronic access to tax files, by official estimate: “Fraud and integrity lapses pose a serious threat”.
The group Farmers of North America is bidding for majority ownership of the Canadian Wheat Board as a ‘once in a lifetime’ investment. The board will be privatized under cabinet order by 2017: ‘It’s a rare opportunity’.
The latest federal report on the Privacy Act finds little consultation between government departments on personal information requests. Of 81 applications from Canadians for their own files and documents from government agencies, most were redirected to other departments: “Where are they?”
Transport Canada proposes a new fatigue management plan for civilian flight crews, mandating that flyers get at least 12 hours off for proper rest. It’s the first revision to rules on flight times since 1996: “Kudos”.
An Alberta company litigating the largest copyright dispute in the country is citing a win for “the little guy” in Court. Geophysical Service Incorporated won dismissal of a claim that it put up thousands of dollars as a condition of proceeding with a copyright case against a Halifax-based oil and gas company: “It’s very difficult in Canada to protect your interests”.
Environment Canada is accused of a lackadaisical approach to the landfilling of mercury-laden light bulbs as a consequence of federal regulations. Analysts sought national standards on the safe disposal of fluorescent bulbs promoted as energy-savers: “We are dealing with a hazardous substance”.
One of Canada’s largest private broadcasters is being cited by a federal panel for telecasting “offensive” programming in prime time without adequate warning for viewers: “The episodes in question contained instances of coarse language”.
The House of Commons is reviewing a red-tape reduction bill dismissed by critics as weak and unenforceable. The legislation commits that every new regulation or “administrative burden” be offset with the repeal of some other regulation: “Why not just cull?”
A federal judge has complained of “understandable confusion” over tax treatment of medical marijuana. The Court ruled the drug should be taxed as over-the-counter medicine, though regulations forbid its sale over the counter: “The legislation has twisted itself out of shape”.
Federal regulators are contracting Ducks Unlimited to monitor safety of waterfowl over Alberta’s oil sands. The research follows a record $3 million fine levied on Syncrude Canada over the 2008 mass death of birds in a tailings pond: ‘It’s a perfect storm’.
The Department of Finance in confidential memos is lamenting the loss of billions in tax revenue under a Conservative campaign promise due in 2015. Authorities in memos marked SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL said a plan allowing wealthier single-income couples to lower their tax bill will put Canada out of line “with most OECD countries”. The documents were released through Access to Information: “Fairness requires that individuals pay the taxes they owe”.
Environment Canada is leaving disposal of mercury-laden fluorescent lights to the provinces despite federal regulations that restrict the use of safer alternative incandescent bulbs. The department said it will develop a voluntary code for mercury waste as a “reference” for municipalities: ‘Mercury accumulates in the food chain’.
CP Rail is launching a federal lawsuit against regulations promising more competition for shippers. Attorneys say the company will suffer “irreparable harm” if cabinet permits rival railways more access to the Canadian market: ‘It’s the result of political maneuverings’.
