Federal departments oppose a demand by MPs and the Privacy Commissioner for more fines over corporate privacy breaches, say Access To Information records. Cabinet is drafting confidential amendments to a privacy law that currently mandates fines of up to $100,000 for failing to report loss or theft of customers’ personal information: “From the public’s perspective, they don’t really care.”
Canada has shipped tonnes of meat products to China for processing only to see it shipped back as imports, according to Access To Information records. The Department of Agriculture explained the crisscross trade was a small portion of total exports: “Who benefits other than China?”
The Department of Public Works has budgeted $400,000 in a rush order for exterminators following an outbreak of bed bugs in federal buildings in Ottawa. “There is an urgency,” wrote staff: “This is something that is not expected in an office setting.”
Blacklock’s Reporter pauses for Remembrance Day with gratitude to all who honoured our country. Thank you for your sacrifice.
The Department of Industry sped approval of $31.9 million in subsidies and tax credits to a start-up tech firm to “create good middle-class jobs” only weeks before the company laid off employees, Access To Information records show. The deputy minister claimed to take rigorous steps to ensure taxpayers’ money was safe: ‘This will build upon the failures of previous attempts.’
Liberal MPs yesterday met in their first caucus since the Party lost twenty-seven Commons seats and a million votes in the October 21 general election. “Some of our colleagues are not here anymore,” said Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez. “We have to understand why.”
The Senate budget committee yesterday endorsed nearly half-a-million in funding for a new pro-energy industry caucus on predictions the chamber will see more “splintering” of members. There are now four separate caucuses in the Senate: “It’s very early still.”
A Crown bank yesterday said it settled out of court with a client over a US$41 million offshore loan it called a mistake. Terms were not disclosed by Export Development Canada: “We’re not perfect.”
The national archives in an inspection report was found to store historic records in freezers, on loading docks and haphazardly stacked in boxes after it ran out of filing cabinets. Other pieces of Canadiana were damaged by water leaks. The agency has a $127.4 million annual budget: “This is inadequate.”
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer last evening averted a secret leadership vote at a rare seven-hour caucus session on Parliament Hill. The Opposition Leader faces a wider leadership vote by Party members in five months: “We are not destroyed.”
Steep overdraft charges on chequing accounts are prohibited by federal law, the British Columbia Supreme Court has ruled. Ten B.C. credit unions argued the charges, up to $25, were mere service fees intended to recover costs: ‘I would not characterize this as an innocent mistake.’
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a claim that cuts to prison pay breached the Charter Of Rights. The previous Conservative cabinet in 2013 cut prisoners’ wages thirty percent and imposed a 42¢ charge for telephone privileges: “Although not luxurious, the offenders’ needs are met adequately.”
The Privy Council Office feared United We Roll protesters contemplated storming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, according to internal emails. Access To Information records detail extraordinary security measures taken under the Emergency Management Act regarding the February 19 protest: “All rooftops, scaffolding, crane and above-ground access is NOT permitted.”
A federal judge has ruled a $100 million class action lawsuit over delayed payment of veterans’ pensions may proceed to trial. Government lawyers had tried to block the litigation: “I am satisfied there exists a reasonable cause of action.”
A British Columbia labour arbitrator has suspended drug testing of a commuter rail employee who lied about marijuana use. “This case raises sensitive and complex issues related to the tension between employee privacy and public safety,” the arbitrator wrote.
