The Senate national security committee yesterday passed a cross-border travelers’ bill in 12 minutes without debate. One diplomat warned the bill must not be amended, though Canada’s Privacy Commissioner cautioned it exposes travelers to intrusive searches of cellphones, laptops and tablets: “It’s a curious way to make law.”
The Commons yesterday passed amendments to the Access To Information Act that give federal departments new reasons to conceal public records. MPs supported the cabinet measure by a vote of 157 to 126: “All expert opinion gives it a fail.”
Federal contracting remains mired in red tape, witnesses yesterday told the Commons committee on government operations. Cabinet last year disbanded a Red Tape Regulatory Advisory Committee appointed in 2013 to monitor rules and regulations: “Why is it so difficult?”
A new Canada Food Guide will promote basic ingredients and home cooking, a Health Canada manager yesterday told the Commons health committee. The department said it excluded food and beverage lobbyists from development of the new Guide, to be completed in 2018: “Get away from distracted eating.”
Canada has become a leading importer of shark fins used as an Asian-style delicacy, the Senate fisheries committee was told yesterday. A private Conservative bill would ban fin imports: “Millions of sharks are left to die each year simply to meet the demand for shark fin soup.”
Finance Minister Bill Morneau last night defended a cabinet bill to invest millions in a Chinese-controlled infrastructure bank headquartered in Beijing. Members of the Senate national finance committee questioned Canada’s purchase of less than a 1% share in the bank for US$199 million: “Why are we funding pipelines in Asia?”
An air force veteran injured in a car wreck on the way to work has lost a bid for disability benefits. A federal judge rejected the appeal on technical grounds: “I say to people, you must never give up.”
MPs yesterday faulted Equifax Canada Inc. over service offers it’s made to 19,000 Canadian customers whose files were hacked. The credit agency told the Commons privacy committee that victims are entitled to an apology, and a year’s worth of $50,000 identity theft insurance at no charge: “What happens after that 12 months?”
A former Canadian Red Cross manager broke a federal Code Of Conduct by contacting MPs and the Prime Minister’s Office, says the Commissioner of Lobbying. There was no penalty. The RCMP investigated but did not file charges: “Obviously it is not something to be taken lightly.”
A cabinet bill permitting unlimited searches of cross-border travelers’ cellphones by U.S. Customs must be amended, says Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien. The Commissioner yesterday told the Senate national security committee that government reassurances on the bill are meaningless: “Individuals should think twice.”
A federal judge has cited the Canada Revenue Agency for whitewashing employee complaints of harassment. The Agency made only a “very cursory investigation” before dismissing one woman’s allegations of workplace bullying by managers: “It is important not to trivialize harassment.”
A Commons committee yesterday recommended federal agencies resume advertising in Canadian print media. Publishers earlier shamed MPs for spending more ad dollars with Google than Canadian newspapers: “It seems to be going south.”
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says a federal review of a farm migrant workers’ program should not curb use of foreign labour. The department earlier acknowledged “criticism from some groups” over abusive practices: “We need the workers.”
Health Canada is promising the public cheaper prescription drugs with the first major revisions under the Patent Act since 1987. The proposals are not retroactive, and would not take effect until 2019: “Canadians are not getting value for money.”
A single federal agency is budgeting nearly $400 million to clean up contaminated Crown lands. The cost of remediating all known contaminated sites is estimated at ten times as much: “There is never any guarantee we won’t find more.”
