Workplace equity in the military is weak despite two committees and eight programs mandated to promote diversity and inclusion, says an audit. The report complained of “confusion,” “lack of clarity,” “lack of cohesiveness” and no “common understanding of clearly defined concepts.”
Canada Student Loan write-offs are up fifteen percent from pre-pandemic levels, according to budget documents. The Department of Employment that manages the program yesterday declined comment on its resumption of debt collections following a brief reprieve: “Repayment continues to be one of the priorities.”
A federal system promising Canadians access to government secrets is “on the brink,” Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard last night told the Commons government operations committee. Maynard contradicted claims by the Prime Minister that Access To Information is better than ever: “It is on the brink of being unable to be fixed.”
The Commons by a 202-115 vote yesterday rejected a private bill to outlaw “green” expropriations of private land without a public hearing. “My goal is to protect the property rights of average Canadians,” said Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew-Nipissing, Ont.), sponsor of the bill.
You can’t run down an employee with a forklift under a new Senate anti-harassment policy. An official guide also forbids leering, off-colour jokes and “invading personal space.”
A national broadcast ombudsman yesterday cited the NHL’s Brian Burke for breach of an ethics code. Burke was accused of using a violent metaphor while commenting on a playoff game: “Commentators can still use colourful expressions to make their point.”
Directors of the Parliamentary Press Gallery yesterday rewrote new ethics rules that shield China’s Xinhua state news agency from expulsion. A proposed code of conduct applies only to new applicants seeking membership. Xinhua has been a member for 57 years: “This is particularly important when it comes to the very halls of power.”
Federal failures to properly stock medical supplies prior to the pandemic were a “significant error,” the Canadian Public Health Association said yesterday. Managers of the national stockpile were so short of goods they recommended nurses wear aprons due to lack of medical gowns: “We are facing a real crunch.”
Canada must ensure “all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed” before citing China for genocide, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday told reporters. His remarks followed a Conservative protest against having Canadian athletes attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing: “There is no question there have been tremendous human rights abuses.”
Cabinet yesterday budgeted nearly $190 million in pandemic funding for VIA Rail. The Crown railway reported disastrous losses with the collapse of passenger revenues: “VIA Rail has managed its expenses responsibly.”
Cabinet yesterday introduced a bill allowing municipalities to ban handguns under threat of two years’ imprisonment. “Gun ownership in this country is a privilege and not a right,” said Public Safety Minister Bill Blair: “We rely on the rule of law, not the end of a gun.”
A meatpacker that admitted to mistakenly selling turkey sausage containing chicken has lost a Federal Court bid to block disclosure of inspection reports under Access To Information. The processor said it feared media would publish “sensationalistic articles” on the contents of sausage: “The unfair manner in which the media will publish the identifying information will exacerbate the economic harm.”
Ongoing legal expenses from Julie Payette’s brief term as Governor General have cost taxpayers a quarter million, according to accounts. Payette abruptly resigned January 21 following complaints of workplace harassment: “Participants used the expressions ‘climate or reign of fear or terror.’”
The federal Leaders’ Debates Commission yesterday said it is hiring a TV producer in anticipation of a snap election call. The Commission said more than two debates may be held, but did not comment on its censure by a federal judge for running a media blacklist: “They botched it.”
The Department of Health in three weeks of spot checks found $1,440,000 in counterfeit medical products, records show. The Canada Border Services Agency said it also intercepted shipments of fake pandemic masks from five countries: “They should start going after the people importing this.”
