Sub.-Lieut. Jeffrey Delisle was “played” by Canadian military intelligence for years before his arrest as a Russian spy, sources tell Blacklock’s Reporter. Delisle faces sentencing in January after pleading guilty to spying for Moscow. “If what’s come out in the media is true, heads would have rolled,” said one source.
Canada’s economy has slowed to its weakest pace since last winter. New figures show declines in oil, gas, mining, construction and manufacturing, with GDP declining month-over-month by 0.1 percent in August.
The developers of a Cape Breton golf course required special permission from the navy to name their facility for a famed explorer, John Cabot. The Department of National Defence cited potential “confusion” with a naval reserve unit 1,000 kilometres away.
MPs should recommend wider use of non-union contractors on public works projects, says the parliamentary secretary to the finance minister. The remark followed claims by a construction lobbyist that hiring non-union labour could lower costs of new infrastructure projects by 12 to 18 percent.
The government must craft cyber security legislation to combat hackers and vandals who are costing the Canadian economy billions, says a UK-based crime fighter undertaking landmark research of internet security nationwide: “Canadian businesses do not understand the financial impact of cyber crime, yet they suffer downtime and loss of manufacturing.”
Canada’s mayors and councillors are warning Parliament time is short in detailing a promised renewal of a $33 billion federal public works program due to expire in 2014. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Bighead Asian carp is the country’s top invading species and must be stopped at the Great Lakes, the House of Commons Committee on Fisheries has been told. One expert says the spread of the carp would be “catastrophic,” noting the fish outsizes native predators like pike and can filter vital nutrients from lake waters.
The nation’s accountants are pressing MPs to create an Office of Tax Simplification to ease the “incomprehensible” jumble of tax statutes, bulletins, regulations and technical amendments. “It’s too big,” said one tax analyst; “It’s larger than the Bible.”
An industry group warns of possible pork shortages and sector job losses unless the government corrects “inadequate” support programs to aid farmers in crisis. “We need short term actions now,” said Canada’s largest pork industry advocate.
Canadians would receive tax credits for charitable-style contributions to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, under a private bill now before a Senate committee: “A family could sit down and talk about what they can do together to solve this problem of greenhouse gas emissions.” Environment Minister Peter Kent told Blacklock’s he opposes the bill.
Canada faces a severe trades shortage despite billions of dollars in federal spending and long waiting lists of applicants eager for training, MPs are warned: “Unless aggressive measures are adopted soon, within 10 years, employers will not find qualified candidates for about 1,500,000 positions.”
Transport regulators spent hundreds of thousands of dollars researching an accident-prevention device for truckers in an effort one safety advocate called a waste of money. Documents show Transport Canada halted its own investigation of truck side guards after spending more than $300,000 investigating the devices mandated in other G8 countries.
The United Church, a friend of the Occupy movement, is speaking out over an Industry Canada application by a British Columbian to trademark an Occupy slogan for use on handbags and t-shirts. Officials said the Trademarks Act is intended to “minimize possible speculation” in catch-phrases, slogans and popular outcries.
Canadian employers should articulate clear policies on monitoring workplace computers following a Supreme Court judgment in the case of a teacher arrested after technicians uncovered disturbing images in a school board-issue laptop.
A Florida-based “banker’s bank” is applying for a federal license to operate in Toronto, with possible expansion to Vancouver, says its CEO. The bank, CXI, currently runs branches from Orlando to Seattle.
