Opposition MPs last evening called for disclosure of a secret audit on millions in cost overruns for one of cabinet’s signature programs, the Canada Dental Care Plan. A summary referred to soaring administration charges: ‘Just so we’re clear, this is to produce information that has been hidden from Canadians.’
The Department of Natural Resources yesterday denied any favouritism in financing a Nova Scotia wind farm benefiting friends of the Liberal Party. “There is no conspiracy here,” said Minister Tim Hodgson.
Housing Minister Gregor Robertson yesterday blamed war in the Middle East for Canada’s housing crisis. Speaking in the Commons. Robertson stopped short of explaining the connection amid jeers from MPs: “Wow.”
The Department of Public Works yesterday disclosed billions in emergency loans for Canada Post do not carry any deadline for repayment. The open-ended financing means “taxpayers will be responsible,” Conservative MP Kelly Block (Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek, Sask.) told the Commons government operations committee: “Where exactly are you getting the money?”
Senators are seeing overwhelming support for a private bill to proclaim the Whiskey Jack as Canada’s national bird. Ornithologists and birders including Grammy-award winner Anne Murray petitioned the Senate to celebrate the rugged bird also known as the Canada Jay: “I think it’s time Canada had a national bird.”
The Commons yesterday by a 295 to 22 vote rejected a New Democrat bill to impose new restrictions on military trading with the United States. However 15 Liberal MPs defied cabinet in voting for the measure described by Foreign Minister Anita Anand as “irresponsible.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs has hired another Washington consultant for tips on how to “communicate information” to Americans, records disclosed yesterday. The department has 16 offices and 486 employees in the United States but was unsure how Americans “consume information online,” according to a contractor’s notice.
Two-term New Democrat MP Lori Idlout (Nunavut) yesterday defected to the government caucus five days after appearing as guest speaker at a Party rally for leadership candidate Avi Lewis. “Our love is an infinite thing,” one New Democrat said in describing the event.
The president of the nation’s leading LGBTQ rights group yesterday abruptly resigned on complaints the community has failed to confront anti-Semitism. Federal agencies would not say whether funding for Egale Canada would be reconsidered: “The minister now has an option to immediately terminate a contract.”
Cabinet yesterday formally repealed its 100 percent tariff on Chinese battery electric cars as promised by Prime Minister Mark Carney. The industry department claimed Chinese manufacturers would “create new auto manufacturing jobs” in Canada but provided no details: “These are the most affordable and energy efficient and innovative vehicles in the world.”
Cabinet is trying to “put the house in order” on borrowing, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said yesterday. Champagne did not explain past misses on deficit targets: “We are a nation that does big things.”
The Commons government operations committee yesterday in a rebuke to cabinet voted 5 to 4 to recommend reinstatement of ex-Budget Officer Jason Jacques a week after his dismissal. Liberal MPs opposed the motion: “You know something is going to break.”
Canadians are owed “solid proof” of unmarked graves at Indian Residential Schools, Alberta Senator Scott Tannas said yesterday. “How do we address deniers when we don’t have any kind of solid proof?” Tannas asked the Senate committee on Indigenous peoples: “How do you see this ending?”
The CBC yesterday would not release an internal guide detailing which public figures are banned from interviews by the news department. Travis Dhanraj, a former CBC-TV host, told the Commons heritage committee he had seen the guide and a companion blacklist of 45 names: “Do not go near these people.”
A Commons committee yesterday proposed sweeping changes to Employment Insurance. Temporary benefits for the jobless should offer “equitable income replacement that respects the dignity of workers,” it said.
