Cabinet’s $393,000-a year Chief Science Advisor billed taxpayers for 12 business-class flights to Paris, records show. Nemer earlier told MPs she couldn’t recall flying business class while running up more than $400,000 in expenses: “What exactly are Canadian taxpayers paying you to do?”
Governor General Louise Arbour yesterday in one of her first acts of office notified MPs she is cutting her clothing allowance. Arbour’s predecessor was sharply criticized for billing thousands for shoes, silk jackets and other apparel: ‘The Office has revised its guidelines for clothing.’
Foreign Minister Anita Anand yesterday could not say how cabinet’s approval for 278,989 imported Chinese battery electric cars will comply with a federal ban on slave-made goods. “I cannot confirm what will be on the list,” she said.
Parliament must never allow electronic voting, a House affairs committee report said yesterday. It followed comments by Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault that cabinet might “explore other technologies.”
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree’s department yesterday said it is “extremely close” to launching a registry of foreign agents. The same department said it was “very close” six months ago: “There are going to be consequences.”
Overdose deaths went up with decriminalization of narcotics in British Columbia, then fell once police resumed enforcement of drug laws, federal Department of Health figures confirmed yesterday. Cabinet has denied the B.C. experiment was a failure: “We need to leave aside dogmatism.”
A newly-declassified 1992 federal memo predicted Islamic extremists would attempt to bypass federal security checks by filing refugee claims in Canada. The memo to the Department of Foreign Affairs complained that refugee claimants were “extremely difficult to control.”
Statistics Canada yesterday revised its benchmark inflation calculator to more accurately account for rising costs of auto insurance and other necessities, and reduce the “basket weight” given to the price of books and cigarettes. Adjustments to the Consumer Price Index take effect June 22: ‘It must reflect how Canadians are spending their money.”
Senators yesterday were urged to pass what one proponent called an “easy, beautiful” bill to promote organ donation. The Commons has already given unanimous consent to the proposal by Conservative MP Ziad Aboultaif (Edmonton Manning) to award a federal medal to living donors: “How about the hundreds and thousands of lives we can save?”
Cuban repression remains strictly enforced even as the nation’s economy grinds to a standstill, a Commons subcommittee on international human rights was told yesterday. Prison rations were down to 300 calories a day, testified one human rights advocate: “Do Cubans have a real chance against this tyranny? None.”
Cabinet would gain exclusive powers to exempt China from a slave labour ban under a new Commons bill. Prime Minister Mark Carney has already guaranteed Chinese automakers market access for 278,989 vehicles with slave-made parts.”Do you believe there is forced labour in China?”
Suppliers submitting bids under cabinet’s Buy Canadian program must promise not to hire foreign subcontractors, says the Department of Public Works. The new paperwork followed MPs’ complaints of numerous loopholes benefiting foreigners: “A new Declaration Form has been introduced.”
Canada is soon welcoming a “high level delegation” from Cuba, says the chair of the Senate foreign affairs committee. “Cuba needs friends,” said Senator Peter Boehm (Ont.), who singled out the United States for criticism.
Health and medical benefit claims in the RCMP will cost more than $1.1 billion this year, an enormous figure, said one senator. The Mounties’ chief financial officer expressed alarm: “The rate of active regular members on long term off-duty sick leave has increased by 128 percent.”
The number of Canadian businesses using artificial intelligence remains marginal, fewer than a fifth, and typically only for mundane chores like drafting a Word document, says a federal report. It follows claims by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly that Canada was a world leader in AI: “Overall levels remain low.”
