Health Canada says it will complete by year’s end its special reviews of three common pesticides. The department’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has already proposed to phase out one pesticide, imidacloprid, as an environmental risk: “We must protect biodiversity.”
Blacklock’s reporters and contributors pause to wish you a happy Canada 150th. We’re back on July 4 — The Editor.
A federal judge has issued an injunction against an air passenger complaints’ website. The Court ruled parody is no defence against breach of the Copyright Act: “Like all free speech, it is not unrestricted.”
Airlines have joined a list of Canadian employers seeking exemptions from the national carbon tax. An industry group said the tax, to take effect in 2018, will result in higher fares: “There is no evidence it will reduce emissions in our industry.”
Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is declining comment on a media creators’ appeal to overturn a costly regulatory decision. Joly’s office yesterday refused to say if the ruling by the CRTC will be overturned: “The impact will be huge.”
RCMP are launching an extraordinary mental health study of members. The initiative was detailed as cabinet struck a review panel to hire a new commissioner: “Examples of operational stress injuries are depression, anxiety, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse.”
A federal agency has again been cited for imposing arbitrary fines on scofflaws. The critical ruling is the fourth since 2014 against the Financial Transactions & Reports Analysis Centre: “It is impossible.”
Cabinet has ordered the Royal Canadian Mint to strike a commemorative loonie for the hard-luck Toronto Maple Leafs. The new executive order leaves a single Canadian charter member of the NHL to be denied a coin: “Its a blessing and a curse.”
Transport Canada yesterday enacted new climate change controls on diesel locomotives. Regulators were silent on railways’ request for a cut in the national carbon tax. Operators of the nation’s few remaining steam locomotives were exempted from greenhouse gas regulations: “In those days nobody was thinking of the environment.”
The Senate banking committee warns cabinet should beware of the impact of any U.S. corporate tax cuts. Finance Canada currently taxes corporations at a rate not seen in the U.S. in 80 years: “I doubt if it will get down to 15%.”
A Canada Revenue Agency guide on dealing with “difficult” clients and tax protesters recommends auditors be polite and avoid being videotaped. The Agency released the internal employee manuals through Access To Information: “I’ll uphold your Charter rights if you’ll uphold mine.”
Two Federal Court of Appeal decisions further weaken Canada’s Access To Information Act. The rulings, including a rare split decision, follow a cabinet bill granting federal agencies new grounds to conceal public records: “If we get it wrong…”
Cabinet faces demands it order commercial airlines to staff more attendants on Canadian flights. The Commons transport committee recommended a review of a 2015 staffing order that prompted a federal lawsuit: “Liberals had promised.”
Cabinet has listed a popular home heating oil as toxic. Industry has until 2018 to prepare risk management plans for spills that number hundreds a year: “There will be some challenges for industry.”
Health Canada says provinces can draft their own marijuana regulations similar to liquor controls under a federal cannabis bill. Legislatures are free to lower possession limits or restrict public marijuana use: “Are we not normalizing the use of this substance?”
