Public Works Minister Anita Anand’s chief of staff personally vouched for a Liberal lobbyist seeking a federal contract for his son, internal emails show. The exchange was never reported to the Commissioner of Lobbying though federal law restricts undisclosed favour-seeking under threat of six months’ jail: “I vouch for Elly here.”
A bill to grant farmers a quarter-billion carbon tax break last night survived a Commons vote by 177-145. Cabinet opposed the private bill: ““I have numerous invoices that show that the carbon tax was $10,000 to $20,000.”
Sun holidayers who claimed $1,000 pandemic benefits will have to pay the money back. Cabinet yesterday served notice it will introduce a bill retroactively voiding claims by returning travelers under quarantine: ““A lot of mistakes were made.”
The Commons by a 295-32 vote yesterday rejected a New Democrat bill on pharmacare. Cabinet in a Throne Speech last September 23 said it was “exactly the right moment” for more publicly-funded drug insurance: “We had our doubts when they said that.”
The Department of Public Works justified a sole-sourced contract to Amazon Canada on claims the company is Canadian. It’s not. Staff confusion detailed in internal emails was prompted by ridicule from a Conservative MP: “Could the Minister advise the House when Jeff Bezos took out Canadian citizenship?”
Federal agencies were so embarrassed by pandemic mask rationing they downplayed donations from South Korea, internal emails show. Seoul diplomats donated 35,000 masks to aged Canadian combat veterans of the Korean War but were asked to keep it quiet: “We don’t want to have unnecessary controversy.”
Waiting times at Canada Revenue Agency call centres now average almost half an hour, the worst ever, the Commons human resources committee was told yesterday. Some callers can wait hours to speak to a live agent: “It is absolutely true there are some people waiting a very long time.”
Canadians listen to commercial AM and FM stations over CBC Radio by more than two to one, says federal research. A CRTC survey found fewer than a third of Canadians rate the CBC as important: “I think they are irrelevant.”
Internal emails disclose federal agencies shipped expired medical supplies to provinces within days of the pandemic’s outbreak, but fretted it “undermines our messaging about being able to get what we need.” Political aides feared angry premiers would pressure cabinet over failures to stockpile goods: “I don’t think we can hold them back with the shortage.”
A $216,000-a year federal corporate ethics ombudsman last night said two years after her appointment her office has yet to answer any complaint or conduct any investigation. Ombudsman Sheri Meyerhoffer in testimony before a Commons subcommittee appeared confused by questions: “Did you not hear the question?”
MPs are wary of match fixing under a bill to repeal an 1892 ban on bookmaking. At least one Canadian sports league is on record against legalizing single event sports betting: “I can’t sit here today and tell you it won’t happen. I just can’t.”
Friends of cabinet attempted to pull strings with Public Works Minister Anita Anand for lucrative pandemic contracts, internal emails show. Lobbyists included a former aide to a Liberal MP, and the ex-president of a Liberal Party riding association who sought millions in contracts: “We’ve been seeing a lot of people who ‘know a guy’ in China.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday skipped a Commons vote condemning China for crimes against humanity. MPs including 87 Liberals voted 266-0 to cite the People’s Republic for genocide, and petition the International Olympic Committee to relocate the 2022 Winter Games from Beijing: “This is an issue that matters deeply to me.”
Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office struggled to find positive news in early weeks of the pandemic, according to internal emails. Sabrina Kim, then-director of communications, urged coworkers to find “positive updates” at the same time the Public Health Agency complained it was short of body bags for pandemic victims: “We love good news!”
The Department of Finance yesterday would not comment on whether it will stick with deficit targets set just three months ago. Cabinet has since detailed more than $12 billion in new spending: “Are we headed for no discipline at all?”
