Blacklock's Reporter

Cabinet advisor Amira Elghawaby used her office to advocate for federal employees “speaking out on Palestinian issues” and lobby against B’nai Brith, records show. Censored documents detailing activities of the $191,300 Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia were disclosed yesterday through Access To Information: ‘Racism takes various forms including failing to acknowledge Palestinians as an Indigenous people.’

Canada’s airports are petitioning the Commons finance committee to introduce digital identification for domestic travelers. Current regulations require only that air passengers carry government-issue photo ID like a driver’s license: ‘It will enhance security.’

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly yesterday called Canada a world leader in artificial intelligence. A Commons committee says Canada actually ranks 21st: “Canada ranked 21st out of 38 OECD countries.”

Keeping the lights on “could be a reliability challenge” as utilities attempt to meet climate targets, the Canada Energy Regulator said yesterday. The federal agency invoked an energy alert in Alberta in the winter of 2024 that saw the province narrowly avert rolling blackouts in -40°: “Higher electricity consumption could make it difficult.”

Parliament would pass regulations against lying public office holders under a Commons petition yesterday sponsored by Liberal MP Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre, Ont.). A similar petition sponsored by a Liberal colleague in July drew more than 34,000 signatures: “Disinformation and manipulation by public officials and political figures at all orders of government erode trust and degrade informed debate.”

Forty-three investigations of misconduct from bullying to forgery are confirmed by the Privy Council, Treasury Board and Department of Finance. “We need to hold ourselves to the highest standard,” said Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia.

The Commons health committee has voted for the first time to investigate immigration’s impact on medicare. Hearings proposed by Conservative MP Dan Mazier (Riding Mountain, Man.) coincided with a Department of Immigration marketing campaign that asked foreigners, “Did you know Canada has public health care?” 

The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association is protesting federal restrictions on protests outside synagogues, religious schools and community halls. The measure could lead “to politicized arrests,” counsel wrote the Commons justice committee: “We have serious concerns.”

Road safety regulations have failed to keep pace with hazards posed by weighty electric vehicles, says the Department of Transport. Large batteries add tonnes to the weight of a motor vehicle representing a “key factor” in collisions, said a report: “It can get to a point where they’re not even subject to the requirements anymore.”

Canadians are carrying about a third less pocket change than before the pandemic, says the Royal Canadian Mint. The agency counted 27,000,000 fewer new coins in circulation: “The Mint continues to deal with ongoing impacts of the shift towards electronic payments.”

The $343,000-a year president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has awarded himself an 85 percent increase in his travel and hospitality budget, records show. Pierre Tremblay in an internal memo acknowledged an “elevated risk” of exposure after cabinet promised to cut unnecessary spending: “The Commission understands the current fiscal context where departments have been asked to reduce their spending.”

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree confirms cabinet has yet to fulfill an April election promise to hire more police and border guards. “I’m not responsible for the hiring,” he told the Commons public safety committee.

A cabinet bill to expand hate crime prosecutions is not a ploy to regulate the internet, says Attorney General Sean Fraser. His remarks follow two failed attempts in four years to censor lawful internet speech: “The only circumstance where you could imagine some online comment attracting scrutiny under this law would attach to behaviour that is criminal today but is punished less severely.”

Federal regulators propose changes to radio licensing as the industry enters its second century, including the issue of long-term permits and approval of new 50-watt commercial stations. “Radio is in a period of transition,” wrote the CRTC.

The Department of Health has completed focus group testing of long-studied food labels intended to cut Canadians’ consumption of sugar, salt and fat. The food industry has complained new labeling regulations to take effect January 1 will cost millions: “More than half of pre-packaged foods in grocery stores are high in nutrients of concern.”