Public cynicism is an “ongoing challenge” for federal institutions, Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion said yesterday. The Commissioner noted Canada dropped rank in a global corruption index since the SNC-Lavalin Group scandal: “Safeguarding democratic institutions is a perpetual endeavour.”
The Parliamentary Budget Office yesterday formally cited Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna for “missing” details on thousands of subsidized public works projects. Of more than 52,000 projects claimed, analysts could find addresses and details of only 32,566 that received funding: ‘We’re just looking for proof.’
Near-record high immigration quotas are “doubtful” this year, a deputy minister yesterday told the Commons immigration committee. Cabinet in a plan written before the pandemic said it would admit 341,000 immigrants in 2020: “What are your estimates today?”
Cabinet’s leader in the Senate yesterday said he’s still in the stock market though the practice is banned under the Conflict Of Interest Act. Senator Marc Gold (Que.) came under the Act when he took appointment last January 24 as the $244,800-a year Government Leader in the Senate: “Where is this at?”
A federal arbitrator has ordered Canada Post to pay wage increases of up to 2.9 percent to its largest union. The arbitrator said the two sides were “not that far apart” when Parliament in 2018 passed a back-to-work bill forcing an end to rotating mail strikes: “The parties would not have settled for less than these amounts had they been left to their own devices.”
Federal agencies will spend $120 million on pandemic advertising this year to “get the news to Canadians”. The Privy Council Office yesterday credited ads with promoting social distancing, though one MP noted “it’s on the news cycle 24 hours a day” at no charge to taxpayers: “Do you think this is a fair use of taxpayers’ money to advertise about something that every single person in the entire world knows is going on?”
Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna yesterday told MPs she does not know what bonuses or severance pay were awarded to a former CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The executive abruptly resigned April 3. It was a “determination”, said McKenna’s deputy.
Cabinet will review airlines’ use of vouchers in lieu of cash refunds for cancelled flights, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said yesterday. Garneau said he expected all airlines to compensate travelers “as generously as possible”.
Workplace safety violations in the building trades may trigger a tax audit, the Canada Revenue Agency said last night. Assistant Revenue Commissioner Ted Gallivan said auditors have used data on jobsite accidents and injuries to delve into contractors’ books: “A construction company that plays fast and loose with the safety of its employees may not be all compliant with their tax obligations either.”
Legislators yesterday proposed the Senate conduct a year-long committee investigation of systemic racism in Canada. The panel would have twelve members. No budget was proposed: “What is wrong with us?”
A Commons committee yesterday voted to conduct a riding by riding review of lucrative grants under the Canada Summer Jobs program. MPs gained new powers to award 100 percent wage subsidies to local employers regardless of whether they’d applied: “We want to get on this right away.”
The labour department in an Access To Information report says breaches of the Canada Labour Code are more common than thought. Cabinet has proposed five-figure fines on scofflaws: “The labour program does not appear to be achieving its intended purpose.”
The Commons health committee yesterday ordered public release of records regarding ongoing restrictions on Canada-U.S. border traffic. Closure to all but “essential” travelers has seen traffic cut by ninety percent or more at the busiest land crossings: “There has been no issue which comes up more frequently than border issues.”
The $60 billion Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be extended, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday. Cabinet did not estimate additional expenses for the program, the costliest pandemic relief plan to date: “We’re working on a solution to extend the benefit.”
Few Canadian businesses see privacy breaches, only four percent, says a national survey by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. A third of operators polled said they were “not at all concerned about a data breach”.
