The pandemic left Canadians with “increased distrust of government and science,” says a Public Health Agency report. Less than a quarter of people surveyed, 22 percent, said they were more likely to trust federal agencies: “Asked what the remedy might be for restoring trust, participants suggested being honest.”
The Commons yesterday by a 177 to 146 vote passed cabinet’s half-trillion budget bill. It followed a five-week filibuster by Conservatives: “If someone had a time bomb ticking away under their home, what would they do about it?”
The Privy Council Office in a confidential August 13, 2021 memo said Liberal and New Democrat voters were more likely to get vaccinated than Conservatives. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a vaccine mandate election two days later: “We’re a government that is grounded in science.”
The Canada Revenue Agency in Access To Information records scripted a Zoom call with employees by Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre, Ont.), parliamentary secretary for revenue. Fragiskatos was instructed to tell a “very touching” anecdote about an auditor he never met and praise the Agency’s work: “Wow, congratulations!”
The latest interest rate hike will see “a lot of people struggling,” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said yesterday. The Bank of Canada raised its charge on interbank loans from 4.5 to 4.75 percent. The rate was 1.5 percent a year ago: “It is an issue that worries me a lot.”
The first federal employer to introduce random workplace marijuana testing has won a Federal Court judgment upholding the practice, it said. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission yesterday described random tests as essential though they were struck down by the Supreme Court a decade ago: “We are proud to have been the first.”
The Senate has given Second Reading to a bill allowing police to intercept parcels in the mail. Federal law dating from the Confederation era prohibits police from opening suspicious packages in transit: “This ban is far too broad.”
There were “clearly strange practices” in the nomination of MP Han Dong (Don Valley North, Ont.) as a Liberal candidate in 2019, David Johnston yesterday told the House affairs committee. Johnston admitted he never questioned Dong about his dealings with Chinese officials: “There clearly were strange practices, unusual practices going on,”
David Johnston, 81, yesterday testified he did not see “every bit of information we would like to” before absolving cabinet of any wrongdoing in its handling of suspected election fraud involving Chinese agents. Members of the House affairs committee expressed astonishment that Johnston never bothered to talk to Elections Canada: “Are you saying you didn’t have all the material evidence?”
Canadians want “stronger legislation” to regulate legal internet content, says a report by Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez’s department. Findings were based on comments from groups handpicked to attend Department of Heritage meetings on censorship: “There was support among participants for creating an online safety regulator.”
Cabinet has awarded millions more to Baylis Medical Technologies Incorporated on a sole sourced service contract, records show. The firm previously run by ex-Liberal MP Frank Baylis (Pierrefonds-Dollard, Que.) in 2020 was a subcontractor on a $237 million deal for Covid ventilators: “When the crisis hit my partner and I, we took a decision.”
Profit margins for landlords in Canada average eight percent, the Commons human resources committee was told yesterday. Witnesses disagreed over means to increase the national housing supply: “We have a large task in front of us.”
The Privy Council Office in a secret memo said Covid vaccine injuries and deaths “have the potential to shake public confidence” and must be carefully managed with “winning communication strategies.” A federal compensation fund to date has paid out millions on injury and death claims: “Government messaging following an adverse event will be important.”
Former governor general David Johnston yesterday agreed to take MPs’ questions over his role at the Trudeau Foundation. Johnston for weeks ignored requests that he appear before the Commons public accounts committee and narrowly avoided a summons last Thursday: “It’s not easy.”
The Department of Public Safety issued a false security bulletin claiming it had “confirmation” Freedom Convoy protesters ransacked federal office buildings, Access To Information records show. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s office yesterday said it had nothing to do with the disinformation: “There’s a danger.”
