A Senate committee will probe Canadian investments in the munitions industry. Senators gave Second Reading to a Conservative bill to ban Canadian corporations from knowingly investing in foreign firms that manufacture cluster bombs: “They are a poor investment.”
Cabinet faces Senate pressure to rewrite its budget bill if it wants it to pass by Parliament’s summer recess. Conservative, Liberal and Independent senators last evening expressed fears a proposed $35 billion Canada Infrastructure Bank is susceptible to political interference: “Who wants to partner with the government in a business venture? I’ll tell you who.”
Health Canada says it will restrict but not ban farmers’ non-medical use of antibiotics in food production. Officials yesterday told the Commons health committee they have no data on the number of Canadians who die from antimicrobial-resistant superbugs: “The more I read about it, the more scared I get.”
The Department of Employment says it will detail new restrictions on hiring of migrant workers “over the next few months”. Cabinet has proposed that employers give first options to youth, immigrants, women, Indigenous people and applicants with disabilities before hiring temporary foreign workers: “How do they go about doing this?”
In-house research by the Department of Agriculture confirms a majority of Canadians oppose the sale of genetically modified Atlantic salmon. The department commissioned the data before opposing a Commons bill to mandate labeling of engineered fish sold in supermarkets: “There is a fair level of anxiety.”
Industry Canada is awarding a $90,000 sole-sourced contract to a former employee as an advisor on U.S. relations. The contract appeared unnecessary, said an MP: “Mr. Miller is well-positioned.”
A federal judge has upheld a CUPE appeal for review of workplace health complaints at Air Canada. The Court heard crews on some flights were sickened by the stench of burning engine oil. The complaints were earlier dismissed by the Occupational Health & Safety Tribunal: “The entire crew experienced headaches.”
Bank branches award bonuses for reaching annual sales targets, the Commons finance committee has been told. Executives with Canada’s largest banks also acknowledged employees have been fired for sales misconduct, but denied widespread wrongdoing: “The vast majority of fraud cases we would refer to police.”
Environment Canada will not formally respond to a damning UNESCO report on park protection until fall. “There has been no money coming to the department on any of these initiatives,” Carol Najm, assistant deputy minister, yesterday told the Commons environment committee.
MPs have concluded an unwieldy review of the health impacts of pornography with a recommendation for more education. The study by the Commons health committee was prompted by a Conservative motion unanimously passed by MPs: “It was a difficult subject.”
The Commons in 13 minutes yesterday passed into law a bill to correct overzealous enforcement of the Customs Act by the Canada Border Services Agency. The Senate bill was prompted by public protest after a U.S. boater was handcuffed for drifting into Canadian waters: “Boaters are not our enemies.”
Retiring Governor General David Johnston is budgeting nearly a quarter-million dollars for a 90-minute masquerade ball and concert at Rideau Hall. The party, organized in the name of mental health awareness, will not raise funds for any charity. It marks Johnston’s farewell to Rideau Hall: “They definitely enjoy wasting money.”
The Canada Revenue Agency is testing a new tax filing system to have returns submitted by phone or internet without charge. The Agency scrapped a similar program four years ago: “I actually used the Telefile system.”
Canadian truckers say the carbon tax will put them at a sharp price disadvantage with U.S. competitors. The tax will add 12¢ a litre to the price of gasoline and 14¢ for diesel by 2022: “Figure it out.”
Federal regulators have ordered an airline to pay $1,316 in damages after losing a passenger’s luggage for a month. A claim for an additional $1,000 against Jet Airways Ltd. for high-handed customer service was dismissed: ‘We appreciate your patience.’
