Blacklock's Reporter

A grocery CEO admits he called competitors days before supermarket chains simultaneously rolled back a $2 an hour pandemic bonus for workers. One executive, Sobeys CEO Michael Medline, told MPs he was so wary of discussing wages in a teleconference with rival chains he put his general counsel on the line and refused comment. The Commons industry committee is investigating whether grocers breached the Competition Act: “It seems odd.”

Life insurance premiums may rise with enforcement of the nation’s first DNA privacy law, says the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court in a 5-4 decision Friday ruled insurers cannot compel policyholders to disclose findings of genetic test results: “Insurers may need to raise premiums overall.”

The RCMP routinely breaches the Access To Information Act that mandates disclosure of public records, says an internal audit. The finding follows complaints Canadians are “fed up” with federal concealment of documents, according to Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard: ‘Individuals have waited months, even years, to get their hands on information.’

The Department of Public Works says 38 percent cost overruns in construction estimates are “normal”. MPs have expressed wariness with the scope and expense of the largest renovation project in the country, a multi-billion dollar refit of Parliament Hill: “We’re digging a hole on the front lawn but we don’t know what’s going to be in it, and we don’t know how much it’s going to cost.”

The Commons government operations committee last night by unanimous vote ordered an investigation of federal dealings with the Prime Minister’s favourite charity. It followed new disclosures We Charity after inviting Justin Trudeau’s wife to host events in New York also paid large speaking fees to the Prime Minister’s mother and brother: “We will be very, very busy.”

Hospital records nationwide show 137 children have been rushed to emergency departments for marijuana poisoning since Parliament legalized cannabis edibles last October 17. Department of Health research says overall cannabis use among youth increased, reversing a long term downward trend before Parliament repealed a criminal ban on recreational marijuana: “I guess if it’s going to be legal it can’t be that bad.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs breached an Act of Parliament in contracting for a G7 summit in Québec two years ago, according to an internal audit. Canada’s G7 presidency cost $604.5 million including $374,679,717 spent to entertain world leaders for two days in June, 2018 in Charlevoix, Que.: “The audit team identified some areas for improvement.”

Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion yesterday dismissed allegations of cronyism in hiring at a federal tribunal. Dion did not name the tribunal that saw in-fighting over promotions: “It’s the old-fashioned favouritism.”

A labour board has upheld the firing of a warehouse foreman for using the n-word in an angry exchange with a junior coworker. The days of excusing foul language in workplace outbursts are over, ruled an Ontario arbitrator: “Times have changed.”

The equivalent of more than a quarter of federal employees took pandemic leave from work with pay though they weren’t sick, according to Treasury Board records. Ongoing costs total more than $439.3 million: “It’s a stunning figure.”

Federal agents have lost track of 34,700 fugitives wanted for deportation including 2800 criminals, the Auditor General said yesterday. The disclosure came six years after the Canada Border Services Agency boasted of its ability to track foreigners living in the country illegally: “I don’t quite understand why we would tolerate this.”

Finance Minister Bill Morneau yesterday promised he would not raise taxes despite a deficit now six times the largest ever run in Canada. Extraordinary spending totaled $7.8 billion in March and $343.2 billion since April 1 for an unprecedented $351 billion deficit: “Raising taxes would be exactly the wrong response.”

The Department of Health yesterday ordered storekeepers nationwide to remove all vaping advertising “seen by young persons” under threat of $50,000 fines or six months in jail. The crackdown follows an appeal from the Canadian Medical Association: “The addiction was candy-coated.”

Auditors yesterday faulted the Department of Employment for failing to report deadbeat student loan borrowers to credit bureaus. The department said it will comply with the recommendation by 2022: “This would prompt borrowers to repay their loans more quickly.”

Labour Minister Filomena Tassi yesterday allowed federally-regulated employers to avoid immediate payment of wages owed workers on long-term pandemic layoff. Tassi’s department said following the letter of Canada Labour Code regulations could drive companies into bankruptcy: ‘Employers are struggling.’