Bats are neither pests nor rodents, a British Columbia court has ruled in a pre-Halloween judgment. The decision came in the case of a homebuyer who uncovered a colony of 85 bats roosting in a hidden ceiling: “Not everyone views bats as unwanted house guests.”
The post office, the biggest civilian employer in the federal public service, will permit unvaccinated employees to work by taking free weekly Covid tests, according to its largest union. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said accommodation was reached with management and lawyers to ensure workers “have options that respect your rights.”
Canada’s largest protestant church complains its “predominantly white” members lack understanding of the Black experience and have not atoned for slavery. “Some people in the United Church have been slow to respond,” the Church wrote in a report: “The Church has not yet been able to apologize for its role in slavery or work towards reparations.”
Festive lighting is not constitutionally-protected free speech, a judge has ruled. The decision came on a pro-life legal challenge of light displays on Edmonton’s midtown landmark High Level Bridge: “Pink represents unborn girls, blue represents unborn boys.”
The Senate is hiring independent lawyers on retainer. It follows a three-year lawsuit by a former legislator alleging senators breached Charter rights: “The Court has no role in judging their lawfulness or fairness.”
Courts have again rejected claims for a multi-million dollar payment in a defamation case. Million-dollar defamation awards are rare but not unprecedented in Canada: “The internet can be a particularly dangerous mode of publication for defamatory content.”
Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy chief public health officer, says he tells unvaccinated friends it’s their personal choice but recommends they take precautions like avoiding large gatherings. Four million eligible Canadians have declined their Covid shots, according to Public Health Agency figures: “If they choose not to be immunized that’s their choice.”
A Canadian-funded cellphone company in Kenya lost more than $25 million last year, according to new corporate filings. Taxpayers have not seen a penny in dividends though the firm had paid CEO Jesse Moore of Toronto a six-figure salary equal to $397,000 with stock options valued at $633,000: “Did any cabinet member approve?”
The CRTC has rejected a license for a local German-language radio station in a Prairie town after claiming it would prevent residents from fully participating in Canadian society. The ruling was issued on Multiculturalism Day: “I do not understand why they would do this.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada cited for early pandemic mismanagement and cover-up of documents now has its third president in thirteen months. Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, former associate deputy health minister, today took over the $321,000-a year post after his predecessor was censured for contempt of Parliament: ‘They are doing their absolute best.’
Only one in ten Canadians are able to correctly answer a handful of questions on consumer rights when dealing with banks, says in-house research by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. A majority of customers insisted they read the fine print in credit card contracts though men were less likely to do so than women: “True or false: A bank can issue you a credit card without your prior approval.”
We are grateful this holiday to friends and subscribers for your support as Blacklock’s embarks on a tenth great year of independent, all-original Canadian journalism. On behalf of all our contributors, please accept our thanks. We’re back tomorrow — The Editor.
A paper-thin résumé
could come in handy
in politics.
Opponents may find it difficult
to dig deep,
hunting for dirt.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, writes for Blacklock’s each and every Sunday)
A total 85 percent of federal emergency medical supply flights from China went to Québec in the first two months of the pandemic, records show. Political aides in the Prime Minister’s Office concealed the figures for fear “it’ll beg questions that we’re playing favourites with Québec and end up in English media.”
The high cost of living has exceeded federal targets and is proving “more complicated” than thought, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said yesterday. “We are acutely aware Canadians are paying higher prices,” Macklem told reporters: “We are really watching.”
