Senators are considering amendments to a bank-friendly budget bill that exempts the nation’s largest financial institutions from provincial consumer protection laws. The Senate will also vote on whether to investigate the bank-funded Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: “We know about the power of the banks in this country.”
Cabinet will not meet its greenhouse gas emission targets without damaging the economy, says a federal scientific panel. The forecast came in testimony at the Senate energy committee, the only parliamentary panel examining the impact of a national carbon tax: “We tend to first set the targets and then stumble to try and figure out how to achieve them.”
Cabinet will “have to see” the impact of a 20 percent increase in Canada Pension Plan premiums, says Finance Minister Bill Morneau. The rise in mandatory payments takes effect in 2019: “Deal with it.”
Cabinet is repealing a little-used law threatening jail for Canadians who boycott the Census or submit false information on government surveys. The last prosecution was in 1983: “I want to see the list of Canadians who support putting people in jail for not filling out forms.”
The RCMP will not mandate the use of body-worn cameras by front line officers. The Mounties blamed costs and mechanical issues in concluding mini-cams are not feasible: ‘If taxis can do it, how dare the RCMP say they can’t do it.’
Cabinet should be stripped of its automatic veto over new licensing of interprovincial pipeline projects, says the Senate transport committee. Senators yesterday said pipeline approvals were too politicized: “We want to build pipelines.”
Senators are protesting a cabinet bill to exempt banks from provincial consumer protection laws. Legislators warned bank-friendly amendments will weaken customers’ rights. MPs last night passed the bill by a vote of 168 to 129: “Certainly the banks will love this.”
Foreign investors have attempted illegal purchases of Prairie farmland using local agents as fronts, says Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister. The testimony last night at the Senate agriculture committee came as lawmakers consider U.S.-style regulations to monitor foreign investment in farmland: “We’ve pretty well stopped any underground foreign transactions.”
Employees at three federal agencies quietly billed taxpayers more than $13,000 for GoodLife gym memberships in the past four months, records show. A budget line item described the spending as “corporate wellness”.
Senators have agreed to hold committee hearings on a bill to ban food ads targeting children under 13. One legislator cautioned the bill could have a far-reaching impact: “Do you know how much revenue YTV is going to lose as a result of this?”
Food prices increases will more than double the national inflation rate next year, predicts a Dalhousie University study. Price hikes could average up to 5 percent due to uncertainty over energy costs, said the research: “We are looking at higher energy prices and our currency as being problematic.”
The Senate last night gave Second Reading to a bill raising Canada Pension Plan premiums and benefits. “Workers and business owners are worried about this bill,” said one Conservative legislator.
Federal consumer protection for bank customers is weak and almost incestuous, the Senate banking committee has been told. Witnesses targeted the Financial Consumer Agency, a panel that draws 90 percent of its funding from financial institutions and hasn’t issued a decision in 17 months: “The consumer is a stranger to you until he files a complaint.”
Federal departments and agencies in the past year spent $4 million on media and management coaching, hairdressers and cosmetics, according to accounts. MPs questioned the budget priority: “We’ve seen exorbitant expenses.”
A bill to proclaim November 11 a national legal holiday is back in Commons committee for the second time in two years. MPs yesterday gave Second Reading to the legislation, opposed by school boards and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business: “My bill is a modest measure.”
