Cabinet for the second time in two years is enacting new regulations targeting unfair trade by Asian steelmakers. Canada has run a trade deficit in steel since 1996: “We cannot compete with the government of the People’s Republic of China.”
A drug gang member who pleaded guilty to trafficking is not personally responsible for GST on cocaine sales, the Federal Court of Appeal has ruled. Judges cited a Québec law that narrowly defines commercial partnerships for tax purposes: “Tax laws should not be interpreted in the name of vague public policy.”
Andrew Scheer vows to deliver
what recent prime ministers could not:
Build the Trans-Mountain pipeline,
fix Canada-United States relationship,
take politics out of military procurement,
balance the budget
and go very, very tough on China.
These may be unattainable
but
I crave empty promises.
They give me something to cheer for
once every four years.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
The federal Commissioner of Elections yesterday collapsed a first-ever fake news investigation. The office confirmed foreign “individuals” planted a false story to discredit New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh, but could not find out who was responsible or why: “Individuals outside Canada played a key role.”
A federal panel yesterday confirmed start-ups and small, family-run newspapers are excluded from a $595 million media subsidy program, as reported by Blacklock’s July 12. Corporate publishers demanded their own subsidies be paid in time for the general election: “There’s always self-interest.”
A federal labour board has upheld the firing of a Muslim call centre employee at the Canada Revenue Agency over Tweets celebrating deaths of Allied troops in Afghanistan. The board called the social media posts disturbing: “We want revenge. NATO must pay the price.”
A national panel yesterday cited a radio station for breaching ethics guidelines for on-air contests. Listeners were urged to contact the station for a chance to win a sun holiday after the draw was already made: “I’m excited!”
Life insurers may deny claims by policyholders who conceal marijuana use, says the British Columbia Supreme Court. Underwriters testified people who smoke even a fraction of the amount allowed by Parliament are uninsurable: “All insurance is based on risk.”
A federal agency predicts severe labour shortages in Atlantic Canada though local jobless rates are double or triple the national average. Researchers blamed the departure of young people to other provinces, and wage rates ten percent below the rest of the country: “Further research is needed.”
The Transportation Safety Board yesterday said it’s investigating a statistical spike in rail crossing accidents in winter months. The Board counted 151 casualties in the last three years including 61 motorists killed at level crossings: “These tragedies can be prevented.”
A Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed allegations of racism by Tim Hortons customers and staff in Calgary. Investigators said they could find no evidence the restaurant discriminated against Indigenous people: “Excuse me, sir.”
Taxpayers have spent $3.04 billion to date on Parliament Hill renovations with a further $1.26 billion budgeted and billions more in unknown costs, says the Department of Public Works. It is “difficult to forecast”, wrote staff.
The Department of Labour has indefinitely shelved a 2015 Liberal campaign promise to revive a fair wages program for federal contractors. “We are reflecting carefully,” wrote staff.
VIA Rail is running later, says the Crown railway. Only 7 in 10 trains arrived on time last year compared to 85 percent on-time performance in 2001: “Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent and they are no further ahead than they were years ago.”
A proposed class action lawsuit on climate change has been dismissed by Québec Superior Court. A judge ruled forecasts of catastrophic impacts were not persuasive: “If some of the alleged infringements have not yet occurred but they could someday, there is a risk the debate is only theoretical.”
