Attorney General David Lametti says he is “open to other ways of attacking” drug crimes. Lametti made the remark at the Commons public safety committee when asked if he would support decriminalizing possession of heroin and other narcotics: “I don’t think we should close off any possibility of solving those problems.”
A majority of Canadians worry the impact of the pandemic will never end, says in-house research by the Department of Health. Young Canadians were most upset at the prospect of perpetual disruption of everyday life: “Do you think it will look more like pre-pandemic times?”
The Public Service Alliance of Canada, the largest federal union, has won an appeal against restrictions on paid Covid furloughs. A federal labour board ruled management unfairly tried to cut entitlements after costs surpassed $1 billion: “At the beginning of the pandemic we sent everyone home.”
Cabinet yesterday said its iron rule of deficit reduction is a yearly decrease in the debt to GDP ratio, currently 45 percent. It was 30 percent in 2019: “We are absolutely determined that our debt to GDP ratio must continue to decline.”
Out of town senators may now bill taxpayers for Airbnb rentals in Ottawa whether they stay there nightly or not. A Senate committee yesterday approved the policy as a nice change from hotels: “Senators have requested this.”
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland yesterday detailed billions in subsidies to boost new construction of about 20,000 homes a year nationwide. It is half the number needed to meet a supply shortfall, by official estimate: “We need more of them fast.”
Banks and insurers face $1.1 billion in new federal taxes this year including a permanent higher rate that would make them the most heavily taxed corporations in Canada. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland also proposed a minimum tax on one percenters who “make significant use of deductions and tax credits.”
Cabinet will extend for years the payment of $5,000 rebates to electric car buyers despite criticism the program is costly. In-house research by the Privy Council Office showed Canadians considered electrics too expensive for everyday drivers regardless of subsidies: “Several worried about the cost.”
All parties yesterday expressed support for a face-saving bill to prevent Québec from losing a seat in the Commons for the first time since 1966. The bill would allow Québec to keep its 78 seats with proportional gains by higher growth provinces: “It is not a significant piece of legislation. That is why I like it.”
Cabinet will impose a $15 million-a year tax on house flippers and require all mortgage lenders to report cash transactions. Budget documents today also affirmed Liberal adoption of a Conservative proposal to curb foreign speculators: “I would like to offer one caution.”
Canadians favour a federal rent to own program and more investment in co-op housing to help young families, says in-house Privy Council Research. Taxpayers opposed any blanket attempt to lower home prices overall as a threat to the middle class: ‘Most indicated they would worry if the value of their own home declined.’
Cabinet may compensate anyone who unfairly suffered financial loss as a result of a bank account freeze on Freedom Convoy sympathizers. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the department did not know of any account holders blacklisted by mistake but would review compensation claims: “The government is not aware of anyone who suffered losses due to accounts being wrongly frozen.”
A newly approved oil mega project will have to fit with cabinet’s emissions cap, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said yesterday. Guilbeault approved the US$12 billion Bay du Nord venture off the Newfoundland and Labrador coast: “It will have to fit under the cap.”
The Ottawa Police Service yesterday confirmed a second person arrested in the attempted arson of a local apartment building had nothing to do with the Freedom Convoy. Public office holders falsely blamed truck drivers for the incident: “People would be burned alive.”
Public disclosure of sexual misconduct is fueling a crisis in the military, Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman Gregory Lick said yesterday. Lick’s office counted 687 outstanding grievances in the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence including complaints dating back “four to nine years.”
