Federal employees were driven to a panic by complaints of waste from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, according to Access To Information emails. Staff exchanged dozens of messages on how to justify spending $24,636 on seat cushions for the Canadian Embassy in Mexico: “They are not pillows.”
The first challenge of municipal marijuana regulation under cabinet’s Bill C-45 is headed for Alberta’s highest court. Cities have warned of numerous problems with zoning and bylaw enforcement: “Slow down.”
A $215,000-a year Canada-China Legislative Association now touring the People’s Republic earlier wrote a report citing “mutual respect” for its political system, and once visited a Huawei Technologies Co. plant. The group claims it is protesting the arbitrary detention of Canadians in retaliation for the arrest of a Huawei telecom executive in Vancouver: ‘It’s a testament to our relationship.’
Industry Canada spent more than $46,000 to ask 20 people how they liked using a federal website. The research was proportionately the costliest since the Canada Revenue Agency spent more than $47,000 to ask 67 poor people how they filed their tax returns: ‘There was widespread satisfaction.’
Transport Canada yesterday said it will spend $2.6 million a year regulating drone hobbyists though it knows of only three minor injuries in three years related to the pastime. The department counted 141,800 drone enthusiasts in Canada: “We do not know the full extent of the incidents.”
A federal Office of the Inspector General for meat inspection created in 2014 should now have its work plan finalized by January 31, says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The Office opened following a tainted beef scandal seven years ago: “It was all preventable.”
A Department of Health study rates social media as the leading addiction among young people. Canadians under 24 are more likely to spend time on Facebook than smoking, drinking or partying: “Who do you follow on the social media you use?”
Environment Canada scientists yesterday blamed climate change for British Columbia forest fires described as “record-shattering”. They weren’t. The worst provincial fires occurred in Alberta in 1950 and New Brunswick in 1825: “You see these extreme forest fires.”
A federal judge has upheld a complaint of wrongful dismissal by a truck driver fired for pushing his foreman. Workplace violence is wrong but should not draw automatic dismissal, the Federal Court ruled: “He was a good employee.”
Tax Court has again upheld steep penalties against taxpayers who enrolled in a cross-Canada fraud. Auditors have sought 50 percent penalties for gross negligence against participants in the now-defunct Fiscal Arbitrators scheme: ‘They were taken by refunds.’
Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard is citing the RCMP for improperly concealing records from the public. Maynard has proposed to launch 2019 audits of federal agencies that misuse the Access To Information Act to hide files: “The RCMP initially refused.”
An Alberta Court has dismissed a discrimination claim on the basis of a Newfoundland accent. More Newfoundlanders and Labradorians move to Alberta than any other province, according to Statistics Canada: ‘She believes she speaks with a Newfoundland accent, although I did not detect one.’
Federal managers are drafting a questionnaire to gauge employees’ self-esteem and “positive outlook”. A 2018 Treasury Board report found 4 in 10 government staff rated their workplace psychologically distressing: “By distress, we mean having difficulty dealing with stress.”
The Department of Social Development in an internal audit admits a severe backlog in processing benefits claims by the poorest seniors. New funding should reduce seven-month wait times by 2020, wrote staff: “A service standard is a public commitment.”
A Globe & Mail columnist in a submission to the House heritage committee acknowledges third-party dealings with federal agencies, software investors and unnamed organizations, but denied any conflict of interest. The newspaper’s Editorial Code Of Conduct restricts columnists from “outside involvement with a group or association being covered”. Globe management did not comment.
“I have never advised the Department of Justice on copyright litigation,” columnist Michael Geist wrote MPs. “I have advised them on issues that may have created a solicitor-client relationship.” The committee released Geist’s written statement January 3.
Geist is a $209,000-a year professor at the University of Ottawa and frequent Globe contributor writing on legal and IT issues. The columns identify Geist only as Canada Research Chair in internet and e-commerce law at the University.
In his submission to the committee, Geist said he accepted Google Corp. sponsorship for a book launch, acts as a legal advisor to groups he did not identify, and arranged a private meeting with Department of Industry regulators on behalf of a private software company.
Access To Information files show Geist also had personal email correspondence with Industry Canada managers – he signed emails “MG” – and was offered grant money to pay visiting speakers to meet with federal staff.
The Globe did not respond to questions. The newspaper’s 22-page Code Of Conduct states columnists should tell readers of third-party dealings even with charities “in columns touching on the interests of the organization”.
“At a minimum, writers must inform their editors and seek guidance when they have significant personal interests in matters they may have occasion to write about,” the Code states: “As a general rule, reporters and columnists should avoid taking part in coverage of matters in which they have or may be perceived to have significant personal interest.”
“In this context, personal interest means a financial stake in a manner being covered, a close friendship, romantic attachment or near-family relationship to someone whose career or other interests may be affected, or any other arrangement that could lead to less than even-handed treatment,” the Code continues.
“No Lobbying”
Geist did not detail his solicitor-client dealings with the Department of Justice. “I am an independent academic,” he wrote MPs.
“I have provided some non-advocacy related legal advice to some organizations on copyright-related matters,” said Geist. He provided no details.
Geist said he did not take any direct payments from Google Corp., adding: “Google sponsored a book launch that I held in 2013”; “The sponsorship covered the cost of a reception,” he said. The cost of the October 4, 2013 publicity event for The Copyright Pentalogy was not disclosed.
Newly-released department records show Industry Canada in 2013 offered Geist $5,000 to pay expenses for visiting speakers to meet with department staff. “We’re planning to run the delayed copyright event this fall,” Geist wrote the department. “It is currently scheduled for October 4. There are a number of speakers coming from out of town that could use financial support via the travel letters that we discussed.”
The department said it didn’t considered the funding request extraordinary. “The department sometimes supports the sharing of knowledge produced by academics,” wrote staff.
Geist also arranged a meeting with Industry Canada regulators on behalf of SurfEasy Inc., a Toronto software firm. The company appointed Geist to its advisory board on June 19, 2013. “There was no lobbying and no compensation for the email,” Geist wrote MPs.
On October 15, 2013 Geist emailed now-Assistant Deputy Industry Minister Paul Halucha: “Hope you are well. I sit on the advisory board of (SurfEasy)…The company has some questions about the potential applicability of the notice-and-notice provisions to its operations. It was hoping for a chance to discuss those with you…Best, MG.”
The meeting was scheduled a week later. Halucha did not comment. The department said it could not find details of the SurfEasy meeting.
“As a general rule, in fulfilling the department’s mandate and serving Canadians, department officials regularly meet with stakeholders including private companies, and sometimes on short notice when a department official is available,” said Bernard Beckhoff, spokesperson for Industry Canada. “Free and open access to government is a matter of public interest. Lobbying is a legitimate activity that must be done transparently.”
By Staff 
