Canada Post yesterday reported a 35 percent increase in pre-tax profits from $55 million to $74 million last year. The post office credited a large gain in parcel revenues for its fourth consecutive annual profit: “There is no crisis at Canada Post, and never was.”
The Commons by a 161 to 121 vote yesterday rejected key Senate amendments to a rail transport bill. MPs dismissed proposals to grant rail shippers new rights, and reinstated a provision granting rail companies random access to workplace surveillance recordings: “This is a serious issue.”
Conservative members of the Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee yesterday called for legislated mandatory random workplace drug testing. Any amendment would counter a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that workers may only be tested with cause and consent: “You hit the nail on the head.”
Senators yesterday piled more proposed amendments onto a cabinet bill to legalize marijuana. “This is not tinkering,” said one legislator, as Senate committees urged numerous changes five weeks before a cabinet deadline for a final vote: “We’re supposed to have this done.”
The Royal Canadian Legion has filed a federal lawsuit against an Alberta retailer over unauthorized use of its famous poppy. The Legion said it must defend itself from improper use of lookalike emblems: “You’re stealing from those who supported this country by laying down their lives.”
The Department of Employment has monitored grant applicants’ Twitter feeds and Facebook posts for comments deemed inappropriate, according to evidence in a Federal Court case. Staff submitted records of social media monitoring in affidavits: “I can’t speak to that.”
Farm groups yesterday urged caution at the Commons fisheries committee over revisions to protection of fish habitat. Advocates complained federal inspectors used the Fisheries Act to hector farmers over minor water projects: “The devil is always in the details.”
Environment Canada managers yesterday declined to release actual costs of the national carbon tax despite being asked 15 times in the Commons finance committee. “I’m afraid we can’t tell you that at this time,” said John Moffet, associate assistant deputy minister.
Federal aid for corporation totals $5.5 billion this year, Industry Minister Navdeep Bains yesterday told the Commons industry committee. Bains said subsidies generally benefit Canadians, but did not detail the number of jobs created: “How can you manage?”
Cabinet’s cannabis bill yesterday hit its first Senate roadblock with a committee report to delay implementation for up to a year. The Senate aboriginal peoples’ committee complained of “an alarming lack of consultation” on the bill to legalize recreational marijuana: “People are entitled to a say.”
Environment Commissioner Julie Gelfand yesterday said findings of an aquaculture audit were the worst she’s seen in four years in office. The April 24 audit concluded the Department of Fisheries failed to protect wild fish species from salmon farmers: “I found the most number of gaps in any audit I’ve ever done.”
The Commons health committee yesterday recommended research on the number of hospital deaths in Canada due to antimicrobial resistance. Health Canada has no data on patients who die from illnesses that can’t be treated with antibiotics: “It’s a big deal.”
Environment Canada research obtained through Access To Information anticipates a $75 national carbon tax scenario, equal to an 18¢ rise in the cost of a litre of gas. The department yesterday confirmed for the first time its $50 per tonne tax will not meet emissions targets: “It’s quite clear there is a gap.”
A bill to ban junk food advertising to children yesterday passed the Commons health committee. The private Conservative bill, already approved by the Senate, would outlaw marketing of unhealthy foods or beverages to children under 13 by 2020: “It raises my eyebrow.”
Legal marijuana may run afoul of bank and mortgage insurance rules for homebuyers, the Senate social affairs committee was told yesterday. The Federal Court of Appeal in 2017 cited one bank’s mortgage ban on licensed marijuana users who grow plants at home: “Who knows what is going to happen when it is legal?”
