The CRTC yesterday revived a decade-old proposal to fine broadcasters rather than pull licenses for breach of regulations. No television station has ever had its license forcibly revoked by Commission, though five radio licenses have been pulled since 1970: “That’s not going to happen and we know it.”
Cabinet yesterday introduced a long-promised Pay Equity Act mandating compensation for underpaid women in federally-regulated workplaces. The law would not take effect until 2022 at the earliest. Estimating costs is impossible, said Labour Minister Patricia Hajdu: “It’s a very difficult thing to assess.”
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna yesterday would not disclose the impact of new carbon tax exemptions on federal emission targets. Cabinet’s plan was 29 percent short even before cabinet approved new waivers for greenhouse gas polluters: “It is hard.”
Copyright and trademark owners yesterday appealed to the Commons industry committee to tighten piracy laws. The Public Prosecution Service has not prosecuted a single counterfeiter since 2014: “If you look for it, you’re going to find it.”
The Senate banking, trade and commerce committee yesterday expressed dismay over RCMP inaction on cyber crime. The Mounties earlier testified corporate breaches of Canadians’ personal data are not a Criminal Code matter: “It is alarming.”
The Federal Court of Appeal yesterday upheld an ethics ruling one advocacy group called a charade. The Commissioner of Ethics was sued over a 2016 decision allowing then-Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc to endorse a so-called “conflict of interest screen” over dealings with a New Brunswick millionaire: “They are a reasonable exercise.”
Environment Canada in a rare emergency order admits it miscalculated greenhouse gas emissions by more than a million tonnes. Staff blamed a faulty survey that would have seen Canada violate a treaty to cut emissions of a common coolant: “Immediate action is required.”
Conservative MPs are appealing this week for a Commons committee hearing to examine cabinet’s carbon tax and rebate program. “Action on climate change is not a gimmick,” Environment Minister Catherine McKenna told reporters.
Cabinet says it has no plans to legislate an end to rotating Canada Post strikes now entering their second week. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has scheduled a series of one-day strikes in cities following unsuccessful contract negotiations: ‘We believe in collective bargaining.’
The Department of Finance is formally repealing part of the Income Tax Act already struck down as an unconstitutional speech gag on Canadian charities. “This is a huge victory for the charitable sector,” said an Ottawa group that successfully challenged the law in Ontario Superior Court.
The Commons transport committee has opened hearings on airport noise with a public appeal to curb night flights over sleeping neighbourhoods. Federal regulators take noise complaints from residents near train yards, but not airport runways: “I invite you to my home when we have night flights.”
The Senate languages committee recommends French-language federal ads be mandated in English newspapers, and unilingual Anglophone judges be disqualified from serving on the Supreme Court. The proposals follow the Commons tabling of cabinet regulations mandating French service and signage at airports in every provincial capital: “We have heard the cries of Francophone communities.”
“We need to help immigrants,”
says Sylvain,
sinking his teeth
into a Double Angus Burger
he gets at Harvey’s.
“Agree,”
says Stephanie,
sipping Iced Mocha Latte
from Tim Hortons.
Anne joins them,
unwrapping the chicken donair,
tabouli, and baba ganoush
she gets at the Lebanese bakery.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
Cabinet is mandating French signs and service at airports from St. John’s to Victoria. Airport managers have protested compliance will be difficult in cities with few Francophones: ‘It is a challenge to find bilingual people to work at Tim Hortons.’
Municipalities may enforce zoning bylaws against marijuana, a judge has ruled. The Ontario Superior Court decision is the first in Canada since cabinet legalized home cultivation of cannabis October 17: “Times have changed.”
