New data show federal agencies for the first time are diverting more advertising dollars to U.S.-based marketers than Canadian media. The spending occurred as Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly lamented the death of local news in Canada: “It’s critical to our democracy.”
Regulators will compile a national registry of derelict vessels and act as quickly as possible to clear harbours, Transport Minister Marc Garneau yesterday told the Commons transport committee. A cabinet bill requires owners of all large ships to prove they have adequate insurance: “We want to stop the runaround.”
Health Canada expects at least 3 million smokers to quit by 2036. Staff described the target as aggressive; currently 5.3 million Canadians are casual or daily smokers: “Health Canada has no funds that go for mass media campaigns to discourage smoking.”
Transport Canada had only 141 rail inspectors on staff last year despite a pledge to go “full tilt on recruitment” after the Lac-Mégantic disaster. The department also cut its budget for mandatory training of inspectors by nearly a fifth: “This is a top priority.”
The Correctional Service is spending more than $115,000 on theatre at a women’s prison. Program funding includes puppet workshops and performances drawn from inmates’ personal stories and passions, wrote staff: “There are huge questions over the decision to fund this over other initiatives.”
Draft environmental risk assessments of three common pesticides should be completed next month, says Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. The reviews coincide with a federal lawsuit alleging the Agency improperly licensed farm chemicals: “They just are the right kind of product that Canadian agriculture sees benefits from.”
Parks Canada spent more than $100,000 on French lessons for a single Saskatchewan employee. The billings disclosed through Access To Information included thousands for travel: “Parks Canada is committed to providing bilingual services.”
Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien says he should gain new powers to compel private companies to obey federal privacy law. The current Act requires that Therrien sue firms for damages in Federal Court: “We are behind.”
The Prime Minister
goes to Davos
to persuade the world’s rich
to invest in Canada.
He may have a case,
and documents to prove it.
The Panama Papers.
The Paradise Papers.
Canada Revenue Agency says
it will take years
to process these files.
Until then,
come and enjoy
the lowest tax rates
in the entire industrialised world.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says cabinet will consider whether to permit random workplace drug testing with legalization of cannabis. Railways and other employers have sought statutory rights to test on the jobsite: “I understand the concerns.”
MPs yesterday gave Second Reading to a cabinet bill upholding public employees’ right to strike. The bill follows a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that governments cannot unilaterally designate which employees are forbidden from strike action: “Liberals are on the side of the union bosses.”
Payday lenders must be regulated to control a “cycle of debt” for borrowers, the Senate banking committee was told yesterday. A Senate bill would update Canada’s usury law for the first time since 1978: “I encourage the Senate to act quickly.”
The Senate will pass into law a private Liberal bill proclaiming November 11 a legal federal holiday. The Legion and small businesses opposed the bill, predicting it will result in Remembrance Day becoming a day off with pay in all ten provinces: “You then have an argument.”
A federal judge has rejected prisoners’ claims that 2013 cuts to inmate pay breached the Canada Labour Code. The previous Conservative cabinet cut benefits 30 percent and imposed a 42¢ fee for telephone privileges: “Although not luxurious, the offenders’ needs are met adequately.”
Parliament should promote jury reforms including better pay and free counselling for trial participants, witnesses yesterday told the Commons justice committee. Experts said low jury pay and lack of support compromise the justice system: “Jury duty is in itself stressful.”
