Blacklock's Reporter

No federal employee will be fired under a Treasury Board vaccination policy, according to internal documents. The Board yesterday would not comment on documents that also grant wide exemptions for workers who decline Covid shots based on sincere beliefs “religious in nature” regardless of whether they are recognized by any religion: “The validity of the belief itself must not be challenged.”

The Commissioner of Elections yesterday levied fines against 15 Liberal Party organizers for technical breaches of the Canada Elections Act including the agent for a Member of Parliament. MP Mike Kelloway (Cape Breton-Canso, N.S.) did not comment: “Publication of the penalties was not withheld.”

Federal regulators yesterday rejected appeals from airports and transport companies to delay enforcement of accessibility regulations. Companies had ample time before Covid to prepare, said the Canadian Transportation Agency: “It is not enough for transportation service providers to simply make an assertion that a cost is too high.”

Bats are neither pests nor rodents, a British Columbia court has ruled in a pre-Halloween judgment. The decision came in the case of a homebuyer who uncovered a colony of 85 bats roosting in a hidden ceiling: “Not everyone views bats as unwanted house guests.”

The post office, the biggest civilian employer in the federal public service, will permit unvaccinated employees to work by taking free weekly Covid tests, according to its largest union. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said accommodation was reached with management and lawyers to ensure workers “have options that respect your rights.”

Canada’s largest protestant church complains its “predominantly white” members lack understanding of the Black experience and have not atoned for slavery. “Some people in the United Church have been slow to respond,” the Church wrote in a report: “The Church has not yet been able to apologize for its role in slavery or work towards reparations.”

Festive lighting is not constitutionally-protected free speech, a judge has ruled. The decision came on a pro-life legal challenge of light displays on Edmonton’s midtown landmark High Level Bridge: “Pink represents unborn girls, blue represents unborn  boys.”

The Senate is hiring independent lawyers on retainer. It follows a three-year lawsuit by a former legislator alleging senators breached Charter rights: “The Court has no role in judging their lawfulness or fairness.”

Courts have again rejected claims for a multi-million dollar payment in a defamation case. Million-dollar defamation awards are rare but not unprecedented in Canada: “The internet can be a particularly dangerous mode of publication for defamatory content.”

Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy chief public health officer, says he tells unvaccinated friends it’s their personal choice but recommends they take precautions like avoiding large gatherings. Four million eligible Canadians have declined their Covid shots, according to Public Health Agency figures: “If they choose not to be immunized that’s their choice.”

A Canadian-funded cellphone company in Kenya lost more than $25 million last year, according to new corporate filings. Taxpayers have not seen a penny in dividends though the firm had paid CEO Jesse Moore of Toronto a six-figure salary equal to $397,000 with stock options valued at $633,000: “Did any cabinet member approve?”

The CRTC has rejected a license for a local German-language radio station in a Prairie town after claiming it would prevent residents from fully participating in Canadian society. The ruling was issued on Multiculturalism Day: “I do not understand why they would do this.”

The Public Health Agency of Canada cited for early pandemic mismanagement and cover-up of documents now has its third president in thirteen months. Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, former associate deputy health minister, today took over the $321,000-a year post after his predecessor was censured for contempt of Parliament: ‘They are doing their absolute best.’

Only one in ten Canadians are able to correctly answer a handful of questions on consumer rights when dealing with banks, says in-house research by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. A majority of customers insisted they read the fine print in credit card contracts though men were less likely to do so than women: “True or false: A bank can issue you a credit card without your prior approval.”

We are grateful this holiday to friends and subscribers for your support as Blacklock’s embarks on a tenth great year of independent, all-original Canadian journalism. On behalf of all our contributors, please accept our thanks. We’re back tomorrow — The Editor.