Blacklock's Reporter

Regulators report a growing tide of complaints over telecom with 13,693 consumer grievances in 2013, many involving disputes over wireless usage: “Customers are not willing to take their service providers’ word.”

Canada Revenue continues to unravel a tax fraud that saw crooked preparers claim over $9 million in phantom charity credits. Tax Court in the latest case dismissed testimony of a man who insisted he gave $30,000 to help Africa’s poor: “Simply not credible.”

Canadian performers and other talent are pressing Parliament for expanded intellectual property rights. Members of ACTRA asked for recognition of copyright on images. The alliance estimated, film, TV and radio production comprise 7% of Canada’s economy.

Proposed tax credits for travelling tradespeople are a “lifestyle” perk too open to abuse by dishonest workers, says Canada Revenue’s parliamentary secretary. MP Gerald Keddy likened the credits to “chocolate cake with a lot of icing” that would prove irresistible to dishonest tax filers.

Brewers are “watching closely” for repeal of prohibition-era regulations that forbid Canadians from carrying their own beer and liquor across provincial boundaries. Cabinet pledged to amend the 1928 Act: “It should be legal to carry beer from one province to another.”

Federal eco-policies are so weakly managed cabinet doesn’t meet its legal obligations, says a monitor. Environment Commissioner Neil Maxwell told Parliament that Environment Canada failed to meet its own mandates, and appears compromised by budget cuts.

Cabinet will invoke retaliatory tariffs “if we have to” in a cross-border dispute with the United States. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told reporters a trade war remains a viable option if Washington fails to repeal a 2008 policy blamed for billions in lost sales.

Warming sea temperatures are cited for the lowest sardine catch in decades. Pacific Coast harvests declined as sardines changed their migration routes, reports an industry association: “The fish did not arrive.”

Storekeepers, gas station owners and other merchants will pay to ensure accuracy of their weights and scales under a new privatization of inspections, says Industry Canada. Fees will be determined by the marketplace, authorities told Blacklock’s: “It’s like contracting out a private police force.”

A secret RMCP memo warns “anti-oil sands” critics must be kept under police watch as an economic threat. The memo was provided to the National Energy Board, which asked the Mounties and anti-terrorist CSIS agency to keep an eye on environmental groups: “I find this utterly disturbing.”

Trademark and copyright holders must pay part of the cost of keeping counterfeit goods off the market under new legislation, authorities confirm. But the Department of Industry would not detail how much industry must pay to track, seize, store and destroy black market goods: “Is it reasonable?”

Telecom regulators say rules are rules for wireless carriers that give away “free” cellphones to customers who sign new contracts. The CRTC called for full compliance with a new Wireless Code to take effect December 2, including contracts for customers who pay for phones on the installment plan.

Canada Revenue Agency has been unable to collect four-fifths of the money owed by tax evaders despite vows of a crackdown, new documents show. Officials identified more than $30 million owed by Canadians who filed misleading returns, but recovered only $6 million in fines.