In Death of a Salesman,
Biff talks about jobs he had,
pointing out suffering
fifty weeks each year
for the sake of a two-week vacation.
Evidently,
Death
wasn’t referring
to the Canadian federal bureaucracy
where even an entry-level position
grants you a three-week annual leave.
With so many days to enjoy Life,
the rest of the year
just flies by.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines writes for Blacklock’s each and every Sunday)
Cabinet claims that Freedom Convoy political protesters were largely foreign funded were false, MPs learned yesterday. Executives with crowdfunding sites that attracted millions for truckers said individual donations were small and overwhelmingly Canadian: “Our records show 88 percent of donated funds originated in Canada.”
The cost of living will climb even higher than the Bank of Canada forecast just five weeks ago, Governor Tiff Macklem said yesterday. The Bank has repeatedly raised its forecast to keep pace with climbing expenses: “With oil prices rising further in recent weeks we can expect inflation to move up again.”
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault yesterday claimed the green energy sector runs without federal subsidies. Records show cabinet in fact paid billions in subsidies with one minister promising to “look at anything really” in aid for clean energy: ‘Tidal energy in Nova Scotia, we put $9.4 million towards that. We’ve got $15 million worth of solar farms in Alberta. We’re building solar farms in Prince Edward Island.”
Canada’s new housing supply is short of demand by about 40,000 homes a year, says a federal bank regulator. The “structural mismatch” is to blame in part for high prices, the Senate banking committee was told: “Speculators know that there’s a shortage of housing.”
The Commons yesterday voted unanimously to rename the street in front of the Russian Embassy in Ottawa to honour the president of Ukraine. The symbolic protest came as cabinet temporarily imposed 35 percent tariffs on Russian goods while acknowledging Canadian trade with Moscow is marginal: “We are being very creative.”
Cabinet is shelving a proposal to force interprovincial truckers to show proof of vaccination. It follows the 24-day Freedom Convoy blockade of Parliament by drivers opposed to a vaccine mandate at the Canada-U.S. border: “Science changes. Lots of things are changing.”
Canada’s last ambassador to Afghanistan was disorganized and dismissive of cries for help as Kabul fell to the Taliban last August 15, eyewitnesses have testified at the Commons Special Committee on Afghanistan. “We really don’t have time for you,” witnesses quoted Ambassador Reid Sirrs and his staff.
Owners of a subsidized Regina mill that hosted a 2018 tour by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are now making steel for Putin’s war machine, the Commons was told yesterday. A cabinet announcement on new general sanctions against Russian investors was abruptly postponed: “There may be some impacts.”
The CRTC yesterday would not comment on Access To Information records suggesting its CEO personally arranged a meeting with a telecom lobbyist in an Ottawa barroom. Ian Scott had told MPs all his meetings were recorded: “Presumably your meeting in that bar wasn’t recorded.”
Federal budgeting leaves taxpayers with little ability to “follow each and every dollar,” Budget Officer Yves Giroux said yesterday. Current practice sees cabinet propose billions in spending with little oversight, he said: “Essentially what the government is telling you is, ‘Trust us.'”
Cabinet yesterday faced demands it target Russian investors in Canada including billionaire owners of a federally-subsidized Regina steel mill once toured by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine “may involve some sacrifice from us,” said a Liberal-appointed senator: “What has the Government of Canada done to get our $40 million back?”
Taxpayers have bought snowmobiles for Northerners, the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations yesterday disclosed. Free machines were purchased under a multi-million dollar program to promote Indigenous hunting and berry picking: “What does that mean?”
Materials used by the renewable energy sector are often produced by slave labour, the Senate human rights committee has been told. Forced labour including children are used in supply chains that produce electric car batteries and wind turbine parts: “Look at issues like modern slavery and the environment.”
Cronyism and nepotism remain rampant in federal hiring, says the Public Service Commission. A majority of staff, 53 percent, “believe appointments depend on who you know,” the Commission said yesterday: “There are still areas for improvement.”
