Blacklock's Reporter

A total 85 percent of federal emergency medical supply flights from China went to Québec in the first two months of the pandemic, records show. Political aides in the Prime Minister’s Office concealed the figures for fear “it’ll beg questions that we’re playing favourites with Québec and end up in English media.”

The high cost of living has exceeded federal targets and is proving “more complicated” than thought, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said yesterday. “We are acutely aware Canadians are paying higher prices,” Macklem told reporters: “We are really watching.”

Federal managers claim they will fire unvaccinated employees though it breaches union contracts. One group of MPs in the Commons yesterday demanded cabinet go further and abolish religious exemptions under the Canadian Human Rights Act: “We categorically oppose it.”

New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh yesterday revoked blanket support for cabinet bills even if it spells another snap election. Singh said cabinet must make concessions, including enactment of a Liberal Party platform proposal to ban replacement workers in the federally-regulated private sector: “I am very skeptical about the words and promises of Mr. Trudeau.”

A federal labour board has overturned the suspension of a Canada Revenue Agency tax collector who told a taxpayer on the phone that “I can call anyone to get information.” The language was blunt but did not warrant discipline, an adjudicator ruled: “Have a nice day.”

The Native Women’s Association yesterday questioned if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had “suddenly seen the light” after he apologized for observing Truth and Reconciliation Day with a beach holiday. “Do better,” said Lynne Groulx, CEO of the Association: “This moment of contrition comes after much public pressure.”

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland yesterday detailed a vaccination program for federal employees that exempts more than 200,000 workers and does not require automatic proof of immunization. Exempted employees include call centre operators, federal judges, meat inspectors, park wardens, postal workers, tax auditors, Commons and Senate staff, soldiers, sailors and air crew and members of the public entering federal buildings: “The Canadian public service is vast.”

A Québec woman has been ordered to pay $15,300 in damages after berating a Muslim family out for a restaurant meal. Witnesses said children burst into tears as the woman shouted “get out of my country” and videotaped the family’s reaction to post on Facebook: “I’m talking to you, the one with the veil.”

Canadian travelers face a hodgepodge of unwritten rules on Covid immunization under a federal program detailed yesterday. Authorities acknowledged a requirement that all passengers be vaccinated will not be fully enforced until November 30 under regulations yet to be spelled out: “These are among the kind of issues we will be working through in the coming weeks.”

The Department of National Defence faces another lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct, this time involving schoolchildren. The Army Cadet League, the longest-running federal youth program, is named in a $5 million lawsuit alleging it employed a pedophile: “It implemented and maintained a system which was designed to cover up the existence of such behaviour.”

The Department of Public Works yesterday would not disclose terms of a sole-sourced contract to a Québec supplier for “last resort” mask sterilizing machines. The devices retail at up to $125,000 apiece through U.S. distributors: “Definitely a last resort.”

MPs will ask the new Parliament to revive Covid investigations, Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole said yesterday. The September 20 election campaign interrupted committee reviews of millions of pages of internal documents on pandemic mismanagement and the firing of Chinese scientists at a federal lab: ‘It will have to be re-examined.’

A federal judge has dismissed Canadian Pacific Railway’s claim for a perpetual tax holiday under an 1880 contract signed by then-Railways Minister Charles Tupper. The railway paid $758 million worth of income tax last year.: “As of 1880 the federal government did not directly tax the income of individuals or corporations.”

Conservative MPs yesterday deferred any leadership review of Erin O’Toole. The Opposition Leader accepted personal blame for the loss of nearly 492,000 votes and two seats in the minority 44th Parliament: “Changing the leader every two years after every election is not the way.”