The parliamentary secretary for the Coast Guard yesterday signed a pledge not to discuss business with his wife. Liberal MP Mike Kelloway (Cape Breton-Canso, N.S.) said it would a breach the Conflict Of Interest Act since Mrs. Kelloway works as a Coast Guard manager: “The Ethics Commissioner and I have agreed.”
Unnamed Canada Revenue Agency executives are accused of going for drinks during business hours, according to a confidential report. A consultant cited widespread complaints at the Agency’s Competent Authority Services Division responsible for international tax matters: “Questionable behaviour and work ethic by some staff members or managers were brought to our attention.”
Foreigners convicted of crimes in Canada would automatically have all immigration permits and papers cancelled under a cabinet proposal. Currently the Canada Border Services Agency complained employees must spend an average half-hour manually voiding permits one at a time for every person named in a deportation order: “In 2018 over 30,000 removal orders were issued.”
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.”
