Senators have been drinking toxic tap water, says the Department of Public Works. Testing of samples from offices and drinking fountains at Parliament’s East Block uncovered high levels of lead: “We are asking honourable senators and employees to refrain from consuming water.”
Most Canadians question how the carbon tax is supposed to reduce emissions and fear the charge will merely “increase the overall cost of living”, says in-house focus group research by the Privy Council Office. The tax went up again yesterday, to an extra 7¢ per litre of gas and six cents more per cubic metre of natural gas for home heating: “The average Canadian seems to be hit most by this approach.”
The Conservative Party is citing the Charter Of Rights in an unprecedented copyright dispute with the CBC. The network sued over use of bootlegged news video in an online campaign ad: “Can a political ad contain a news clip without the approval of the broadcaster?”
A federal analyst serving as director and shareholder of a green tech company that previously received a federal contract said there is no conflict. Shared Services Canada in an ethics code permits staff to moonlight in the private sector providing there is no “real, apparent or potential conflict”.
A homeowner who complained Scotiabank pulled his mortgage for legally growing marijuana has won a court order compelling the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to hear his case. Federal investigators had dismissed the complaint three times in nine years: “Growing marijuana at a mortgaged home was prohibited by bank policy.”
Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier will have direct control over which newsrooms receive $595 million in subsidies under a federal press bailout, says the Canada Revenue Agency. Media seeking subsidies must answer rebuttals from anyone they criticize, including Canada Revenue agents: “I am pleased to deliver.”
The Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery has paid $13,000 to settle a copyright claim over a lookalike graphic it used for years at news conferences attended by the Prime Minister and cabinet. The Gallery had insisted an employee designed the iconic image of a maple leaf identical to the work of a British Columbia artist: “I’m not posting any new material on the internet.”
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland three days before the election hosted an exclusive Sunday evening “Meet Chrystia” fundraiser for bankers, lawyers and a federal contractor at a Toronto hotel, according to federal filings. Freeland did not comment: “Questions regarding Party fundraising events can be directed to the Liberal Party.”
The Department of Health has pulled endorsements of vaping after Blacklock’s exposed the practice December 16. The department in a regulatory notice now says vaping is harmful, contradicting its earlier promotions: “Canadians know very little about vaping products and the health hazards.”
The Supreme Court of Canada in a key judgment on workplace safety ruled 7-2 that federally-regulated employers are not obliged to conduct inspections for benefit of employees who work outside a physical building. The ruling came in a seven-year dispute between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and management: “The employer does not control the workplace.”
A federal panel yesterday recommended Parliament enact a minimum wage of up to sixteen dollars an hour, the highest in the country. The increase, the first in twenty-three years, would “provide decency” for low-wage workers in the federally-regulated private sector, wrote advisers: “There would be some upward pressure for provincially-regulated private sector employees.”
A Department of Infrastructure audit says the state of roads and utilities in the territories is among the worst in the nation despite federal subsidies equivalent to nearly $10,000 for every resident. Auditors blamed the high cost of Arctic construction: ‘It is generally worse than anywhere else.’
The Department of Employment in an Access To Information memo said it is watching public reaction to a proposal that Parliament increase the minimum age for Old Age Security benefits. Parliament in 2016 repealed legislation by the previous Conservative cabinet that raised the age of eligibility from 65 to 67: “The department will monitor public and stakeholder reaction.”
A fake travel agent has been sentenced to ten weeks in jail for peddling holiday cruises as a purported fundraiser for combat veterans. An Ontario Provincial Court judge depicted the woman as a habitual liar: “She sold these trips to anyone who would pay money.”
The Department of Environment in a confidential 2017 briefing note planned future increases in the carbon tax, but withheld the fact from voters. Then-Environment Minister Catherine McKenna publicly denied any tax hike was considered: “This is not some sort of election trickery.”
