Blacklock’s pauses for the August bank holiday with warmest regards to subscribers. We wish you a safe, happy holiday. We’ll be back tomorrow — The Editor.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s department recommends Canadians eat with their hands to comply with a federal ban on single use plastic forks. Food trucks should also ask customers to bring their own containers instead of using takeout polystyrene boxes, said the department: “Costs are significant.”
New Bank of Canada figures indicate income inequality is unchanged in a quarter century, contradicting claims of a growing gap. The Bank research follows a June 9 report that the typical Canadian grew their net worth by an average $230,000 last year with real estate gains: “Income inequality in the United States has been higher than in Canada for the last four decades.”
A dispute over a natural gas turbine was among “unintended consequences of sanctions” against Russia, staff to Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly wrote in a briefing note. Cabinet on July 9 granted a sanctions waiver to return the Siemens turbine to Germany to transport imports of Russian fuel: “Germany has certain energy needs.”
Two provinces are in such dire financial shape their net debt will run close to 100 percent of GDP or more within a generation, the Parliamentary Budget Office said yesterday. Most others face steep tax hikes or spending cuts if current trends continue: “The longer this adjustment is delayed the greater will be the required adjustment.”
A labour arbitrator has dismissed another union petition opposing vaccine mandates, this time at a Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd. plant in British Columbia. The company had a right to ask workers to show proof of vaccination even if the science was “uncertain,” said the arbitrator: “We are collectively in my view at a time of scientific uncertainty at least from a legal perspective.”
A total eight vaccine death and injury claims have been paid to date in Canada with almost 700 awaiting completion of medical reviews, federal records show. The eight anonymous claims are the first to be paid under a $75 million vaccination compensation program launched in 2021: “Benefits outweigh the potential risks but it is still a drug.”
Executives responsible for junior and minor hockey in Canada yesterday disclosed out of court settlements cost nearly as much as two years’ worth of federal subsidies. Hockey Canada does not publish audited financial statements though it received $9.4 million in federal grants since 2021, according to accounts: “It seems money can buy anything at Hockey Canada.”
The Commons heritage committee yesterday had hockey executives swear to tell “nothing but the truth” in answering questions on payouts and investigations into alleged sexual misconduct. It marked only the third time in the past decade a Commons committee compelled witnesses to testify under oath: “Would that drive home the culture, that you come to a Senate and Commons committee and tell the truth?”
Cabinet has contracted ongoing repairs to the failed Phoenix Pay System program to continue for another eleven years, according to records. The bungled software has now cost taxpayers $2.8 billion and counting: “It’s pretty sad when the government is spending money on consultants to fix the problems created by consultants.”
Employers struggling with labour shortages will hike pay an average 6.1 percent this year, Statistics Canada said yesterday. Federal regulators have said they are closely watching wage gains: “When you talk to companies they’re telling us they are having a hard time attracting workers.”
Police compiled a blacklist of names of crowdfunders linked to the Freedom Convoy, according to Access To Information records. A secret list of individuals and their credit ratings was sent to Farm Credit Canada, a Crown bank: “Follow the money.”
Public Works Minister Filomena Tassi called police over contracting irregularities, records show. Staff in Tassi’s department discovered an unidentified consultant falsified time sheets and billed identical hours to several federal agencies at the same time: “The case has been referred to the RCMP.”
The Commons ethics committee yesterday voted 6-5 to investigate whether the RCMP spied on parliamentarians. The probe follows an admission from police they used spyware to monitor smartphones: “Why? For what purpose?”
The Department of Health says it has been flooded with 69,000 emails and letters from Canadians petitioning for a ban on animal testing by the cosmetics industry. Cabinet promised a bill seven months ago: “Science has not yet progressed.”
