The federal Business Development Bank approved a $100,000 taxpayer-backed loan to a delinquent borrower in a twenty-minute breakfast meeting at a Smitty’s Restaurant, according to court records. The loan was approved so quickly a Bank officer did not print paper copies of the contract: “The transaction appears to have been done hastily.”
The Privy Council Office in a scramble for pandemic relief programs confidentially polled Canadians on whether to send free money to everyone in the country, all 37 million of them. Authorities later dropped the idea: “Yes, there are limits.”
Economic Development Minister Mélanie Joly yesterday said she played no role in the awarding of more than $42,000 in federal funds to her boyfriend’s company. Joly in a statement through her press secretary did not explain if she received any dividends or share of profits from the firm: “She has recused herself.”
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair yesterday confirmed hundreds of federal prisoners are to be given priority access to Covid-19 vaccines. “For others, they’ll simply wait their turn as every other Canadian must wait their turn,” said Blair.
Cabinet yesterday threatened airlines with $25,000 fines for allowing anyone, including citizens, to return to Canada without proof they are Covid-free. Even air passengers who’ve been vaccinated cannot enter the country without a negative test, said Transport Minister Marc Garneau: “Our country must continue to function.”
A national count of homeless Canadians, the most comprehensive to date, is proposed for March and April. A 2020 survey was cancelled due to the coronavirus: “Many municipalities had to postpone their counts.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday said he was disappointed in politicians who ignore bans on non-essential travel, but stopped short of censuring his own health minister. Patricia Hajdu repeatedly jetted home for weekends in Thunder Bay after advising the public to limit their travel to buying groceries: “We are all in this together.”
The Department of Natural Resources yesterday said it will take homeowners’ applications by July 1 under a multi-billion dollar national refit program. A similar program was cancelled in 2012 over costs: “The program will last for a period of six years.”
Eight in ten applications for Canada 150 grants were rejected after cabinet changed the rules, says a newly-released audit. Criteria for funding were so confusing even the Minister of Tourism couldn’t recite them: “We only get to do it one time.”
Less than half of one percent of new federal employees hired last year were medically released veterans despite a 2015 law mandating priority hiring of ex-army, navy and air force members. The Public Service Commission noted the low compliance rate came amid a ten-year hiring boom: ‘They served our country.’
Cabinet yesterday said it will veto pandemic relief payments to sun holidayers but did not explain if it must rewrite legislation. A bill passed by Parliament October 2 allows returning vacationers to claim $1,000 while under two weeks’ quarantine: “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation buried a six-figure “re-branding” expense in its budget and lied about it at parliamentary hearings. The federal insurer contradicted testimony by its own CEO Evan Siddall over money spent on a new name for the corporation: “Can you tell me how much?”
Canadians paid millions more in carbon taxes than they received in rebates, newly-released data show. Figures contradict claims by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that households “actually get more money” under the program: “How is that possible?”
Health Minister Patricia Hajdu approved orders for 1,920,000 failed Covid-19 test kits without first finding out if they worked, according to internal records. A total 5,500 kits from Spartan Bioscience Inc. of Ottawa were initially delivered before regulators discovered the devices failed clinical trials: “Many businesses put up their hand and asked us what they can do.”
A Liberal MP says he never profited from investments in a company that received a half-million, sole-sourced federal contract. “No, no and no,” said MP Sean Casey (Charlottetown) when asked if he was aware of the contract, or played any role in its award.
