Regulators are cautioning Canadian insurers to plan for “catastrophic losses from exposure to earthquakes,” but could not explain the timing of their report. The nation has had five fatal earthquakes in the past 400 years, according to the Geological Survey of Canada, with a majority of deaths due to drowning and heart attacks.
Canada’s outgoing Commissioner of the Environment, in his final testimony before a Senate committee, said regulators are outnumbered in monitoring the long-term safety of resource development: “We cannot cover everything.”
A ceasefire in neighbourhood wars over cellphone towers is being touted by wireless providers and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Cities complain of taking flak over 15-metre towers that are actually regulated by the federal Department of Industry.
Regulators have told Canada’s largest airline to immediately comply with federal law that forbids discrimination against blind passengers. The ruling came in favour of an Ottawa woman who missed a flight after being issued unreadable documents.
MPs last night rejected a motion for long-term public works funding as critics invoked a range of complications from the federal deficit to elections in Italy. “This motion is completely useless,” said Transport Minister Denis Lebel; “Our record speaks for itself.”
New federal legislation on financial literacy is no remedy for weak regulation, says a national advocacy group. The Senate passed a bill to appoint a “Financial Literacy Leader,” though Ottawa already has a Financial Consumer Agency commissioner.
A federal agency charged taxpayers $11,000 to fund a study program called “Understanding Canada” at the University of Michigan, a 40 kilometre drive from Canada. The program was intended to “develop greater knowledge and understanding of Canada,” located a short drive down Interstate 96.
Federal regulators are being petitioned against giving Air Canada another break on funding of its multi-billion dollar pension deficit. Competitors oppose any ad hoc regulation to favour the carrier that’s been struggling with pension liabilities since its 2003 bankruptcy.
The nation’s twin national railways propose a combined $3 billion in spending this year on new equipment and upgrades. Canadian National is allocating $1.9 billion in spending; Canadian Pacific $1.1 billion, figures show.
A defence agency raced through a multi-million dollar computer contract evaluation in 9 business days in an apparent outbreak of “March Madness.” It is the annual springtime burn of unspent funds before the expiry of the federal fiscal year at midnight on March 31.
One of Atlantic Canada’s top executives has lost a court challenge against Canada Revenue after trying to write-off cellphone charges and the costs of a trip to Vancouver as a business expense. “With all due respect,” ruled a federal judge, “being a lawyer is not in and of itself a business.”
Canada’s 3,700 golf pros have applied to the Department of Industry to trademark a fundraiser for the nation’s army, air force and navy veterans: “They are ecstatic.”
At least a fifth of dried teas sold nationwide fail to meet Canadian standards on pesticide contamination, according to federal inspectors. Fully 75 percent of oolong tea samples contained detectable levels of chemicals. The Canadian Tea Association declined an interview.
A federal board proposes $100,000-a day penalties for safety violations by oil and gas pipeline operators, a fraction of the penalties levied in the United States. Regulators are also rewording Canadian rules to avoid mention of “very serious” spills.
Canada’s cities and wireless telecom providers are making peace in a long dispute over aerial towers. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and an industry group, the Canadian Wireless Telecom Association will detail “a tool to help municipalities in their planning.” Neighbours complain of four-storey eyesores regulated by Industry Canada.
