A 33 percent increase in mandatory security fees will cost air passengers millions more than originally estimated, says an Access To Information memo. The finance department claims the Air Travelers Security Charge merely recovers costs though data show it generates a profit for the federal treasury: “I wish I could say these increases in fees would lead to better service.”
Then-Industry Minister Navdeep Bains named a Liberal Party donor to a federal post knowing the appointee was in a conflict of interest, the Commons industry committee was told last night. One witness testified Bains’ office was repeatedly warned the appointment was improper and may have breached an Act of Parliament: ‘The Minister was personally aware of serious problems but did it anyway?’
The Canada Border Services Agency has misled and “even lied” to Parliament over sweetheart contracting for the ArriveCan program, Conservative MP Kelly Block (Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek, Sask.) last night told the Commons government operations committee. Witnesses testified contracting was so irregular the $54 million program cost much more than it should have: “We have I think been misled and perhaps even lied to.”
Canada has more than tripled coal exports since claiming to ban coal exports under its climate plan, new records show. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault had threatened to use criminal sanctions against provinces that continue running coal-fired power plants: “Canada is driving the international phase-out of emissions from coal power.”
Government-issue Ford pickups and Toyota Highlanders are most popular among thieves targeting the federal motor pool, the largest vehicle fleet in the country, records show. The disclosure came as Attorney General Arif Virani yesterday suggested a Criminal Code crackdown on auto thieves: “This is truly a national issue.”
Canada does not export weaponry to Israel, says a cabinet report. The document was requested by a New Democrat MP who repeatedly claimed Canada is selling armaments to Israel: “We haven’t exported arms to Israel in 30 years.”
Cabinet budgeted more than $199 million to enforce vax mandates on federal employees though 95 percent were already vaccinated, records show. Treasury Board President Anita Anand in a report to Parliament noted undisclosed millions were approved for “legal services.”
Catherine Tait, the $497,000-a year CEO of the CBC, yesterday declined to forego her $100,000 annual bonus even as the network issues layoff notices. “It is extremely difficult to not have the love,” Tait told the Commons heritage committee: “This is performance pay.”
SNC-Lavalin Group pandemic field hospitals delivered by rush order two years ago under a $150 million contract remain warehoused at a secret location, records show. The Department of Public Works has estimated storage of the little-used units is costing taxpayers an additional $135 million: “The exact location of the warehouse cannot be shared.”
Record immigration “may exacerbate existing pressures” on the housing market, says a Department of Employment memo. It noted requests for migrant labour work permits jumped 66 percent: “What is the department doing?”
A “friend” exemption allowing MPs to accept costly free gifts should be narrowed under the Conflict Of Interest Act, legislators said yesterday. Debate at the Commons ethics committee followed the Prime Minister’s $84,000 expense-paid Christmas holiday in Jamaica: “We should have a cap.”
The Commons Speaker yesterday ordered Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s latest omnibus budget bill to be split up into nine separate votes. The order sought by Conservative MPs followed Freeland’s appeal to pass the mammoth bill and “do so quickly.”
FinDev Canada yesterday had no reply when asked if its $43.4 million worth of shares it purchased in a Kenyan phone company are lost. The company M-Kopa has never turned a profit since FinDev bought shares at taxpayers’ expense: “Did any cabinet member approve the M-Kopa investment?”
Justice Marie-Josée Hogue yesterday opened a year-long federal inquiry into election meddling by Chinese agents with a pledge to “uncover the truth whatever it may be.” Evidence uncovered by parliamentary committees to date shows authorities knew foreign agents were targeting Opposition MPs but took no action: “Get to the bottom of this.”
ArriveCan supplier GC Strategies Inc. of Woodlawn, Ont. landed millions in sole-sourced contracts with no record it even complied with procurement rules, a federal report said yesterday. Kristian Firth, a company partner, earlier denied any favouritism in federal contracting: “I wasn’t prepared for that question.”
