New oil and gas projects must include a federal assessment of cumulative effects on the environment, says a government bill introduced yesterday in the Commons. Cabinet’s 351-page rewrite of regulations stopped short of moving National Energy Board directors from Calgary to Ottawa as recommended by a 2017 panel: “You can’t get projects through if you don’t have the trust of the public.”
Canada Revenue Agency call centres are so dysfunctional, management has a dedicated tax line for federal employees with payroll problems. One official told the Senate national finance committee that answering tax questions should be “as easy as possible” for staff: “We serve our employees as best we can.”
The Department of Justice says random workplace testing for legalized marijuana is a labour relations issue to be decided by unions and employers. Courts and arbitrators nationwide have issued conflicting decisions on enforcement of workplace policies: “We are going to have to amend this bill.”
Railway executives last night appealed to the Senate transport committee to quickly pass a bill mandating workplace surveillance cameras. Liberal and Conservative senators questioned the bill to exempt locomotive crews from federal privacy law: “Your unions are pretty strong in their opposition.”
Bankers, credit unions and other lenders yesterday appealed to senators to oppose revisions to Parliament’s usury law. The Criminal Code permits up to 60 percent annual interest: “It’s not just a matter of handing over the money.”
Cabinet yesterday defended spending a larger share of government ad dollars with U.S.-owned media corporations. Canadian publishers and legislators protested the favouritism: “U.S. multinationals do not pay tax in Canada.”
A federal agency counts nearly 90,000 commercial drones in Canada, including devices used by the government for border and coastal patrols. The Library of Parliament cited concerns: ‘There are wider societal questions relating to persistent surveillance.’
Cabinet says it has no advice for drivers or equipment operators on safe use of legal cannabis. Senators yesterday questioned ministers on consequences of the legislation slated for passage by July; “I find that a bit strange.”
A private Commons bill would mandate disclosure of all corporate loans and guarantees approved by the Department of Industry. The bill’s Conservative sponsor yesterday said taxpayers require more information on subsidies: “It cannot be confidential if it is public money.”
Air Canada faces another federal lawsuit over bilingual service. The airline won a 2014 Supreme Court judgment against a francophone couple who sought $18,982 in damages over English service: “I want to be respected.”
Cabinet yesterday introduced a long-promised rewrite of the Fisheries Act that restores environmental protections limited by the previous Conservative cabinet six years ago. Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc had called the 2012 amendments an “abuse of process”.
Shippers yesterday appealed to the Senate transport committee to amend a cabinet bill on rail regulation. Senators were told the promise of more competitive freight rates should be expanded: “They are basically hog-tied.”
A federal agency yesterday calculated the price of generic drugs has declined in the past decade but remains high compared to other OECD countries. The data is the first on generic prices since the Commons rejected a proposal to negotiate a national pharmacare plan: ‘Prices have stabilized in recent years.’
Federal cannabis bills could see courts flooded with thousands of new impaired driving cases, say Access To Information memos by the Department of Justice. Police and courts will require new funding, wrote staff: “The implications for this possible impact are wide-ranging.”
The Department of Health says it will investigate whether to compel restaurateurs to publish Nutrition Fact Tables. Regulators cited a gap in federal rules that exempts restaurants from detailing the sugar, salt and fat content of prepared meals: “It gets confusing.”
