A federal judge for the second time in a week has cited Transport Canada for misapplying security checks. The Court ruled a department panel appeared to make up facts in revoking a staffer’s security clearance at Pearson International Airport: ‘It was not reasonable or fair.’
The Transportation Safety Board yesterday recommended federal regulations to compel the nation’s 46,000 commercial fishermen to wear life jackets. The proposal followed the latest investigation of fatal drownings at sea: “Fishermen often underestimate the risk.”
Canada Post reforms are stalled at cabinet. A federal response to recommendations for sweeping changes at the post office was originally promised in April: “There is no timeline.”
The Department of Fisheries says recreational boaters are to blame for the spread of invasive aquatic species. A small, enthusiastic number of Canada’s 1.5 million boaters put lakes at greatest risk, said research: “Predicting these rare events remains a core challenge.”
The Bank of Canada cannot explain why it billed taxpayers for memberships in a gun club. Access To Information records disclosed staff and “non-staff acquaintances” were welcome to shoot at a members-only gun range, so long as they followed essential rules: “Do not shoot at cans or bottles.”
Tax Court has upheld a 50% penalty for gross negligence in the latest unraveling of a cross-Canada fraud. A now-defunct consultancy Fiscal Arbitrators Ltd. coached tax filers to claim cash refunds for non-existent business losses: “There was something seriously wrong.”
Environment Canada says it has yet to levy any fines under Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations that took seven years to draft. The system was designed to avoid costly prosecutions of poachers and polluters: “We’re currently rolling out the regime.”
Canadians expect federal regulators to fine companies that sell customers’ personal data, says in-house research for the Privacy Commissioner. Parliament in 2014 rejected a private bill to levy $500,000 penalties for corporate breaches of individual privacy: ‘Information is being collected and shared without consent.’
The Department of Agriculture killed a “buy local” reference in the Canada Food Guide. Confidential memos and emails obtained through Access To Information detail heavy lobbying on behalf of food processors: ‘It might lend credence to criticisms the process was unduly influenced by the food industry.’
A federal agency on jobsite safety says the impact of legal marijuana is “unknown”. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety advised employers to hire a lawyer: “Will provinces have to rewrite policies and regulations on workplace safety?”
Toronto has used an obscure provision of an Act of Parliament to permanently trademark itself as “Canada’s downtown”. MPs have debated repeal of the odd section of the Trademarks Act that allows public agencies to claim exclusive rights to ordinary words and phrases: “A lot of people are upset with this provision of the Act.”
The defence department has filed a lawsuit after being cited for mishandling a contract. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal on June 14 faulted the department for cancelling work it had already awarded to an Ottawa consultant: “It’s a pain, but it’s all part of doing business.”
Department of Justice research shows Canadian fear the crime rate’s higher than it really is. Department consultants blamed media: “You don’t know what the truth is when you are seeing it in the media.”
A federal employee denied access to personal records for nearly two years has filed a claim in Federal Court. Even a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada did no good, according to Court documents: “There are incredible delays.”
Natural wetland filters may save Canadian waterways from toxic farm chemical runoff linked to algae bloom, says University of Waterloo research. Environment Canada has attempted to curb phosphorous runoff under a cross-border treaty with the U.S.: “We have to protect these wetlands.”
