Cabinet is writing more loopholes into a much-vaunted law intended to reduce government red tape. New regulations allow cabinet to bypass the law in undefined “unique or exceptional” circumstances, and give departments years to comply in ordinary cases: “We see the Act as nothing more than a public relations exercise”.
New rules granting interns the right to refuse dangerous work in federally-regulated industries will take effect September 14, says cabinet. Amendments under the Canada Labour Code apply to unpaid workers at railways, oil and gas companies, marine shipping and air transport: “Why do federally-regulated employers need access to unpaid interns?”
Natural gas firms have won 40-year terms on federal export licenses. Cabinet yesterday enacted amendments to the National Energy Board Act that previously required gas companies to reapply for permits every 25 years: “The market is quickly disappearing”.
The Canadian Press, self-described “trusted news leader”, solicited a $75,000 grant from Natural Resources Canada at the same time its reporters covered the department, records disclose. Documents obtained by Blacklock’s indicate the news agency received funding for a failed venture to compete with Google Maps, and invoiced taxpayers for time spent on the project by CP staff: “I don’t know what I could contribute on that”.
Pre-election polling by cabinet shows Canadians share a gnawing fear of recession with a large number, one-third, predicting a “significant downturn” in the economy by winter. Government focus groups rated the economy fragile, “weak” and unreliable: “This was a major source of worry”.
Regulators must act against “dangerous” unlicensed online payday lenders operating beyond the scope of federal or provincial law, says the Consumers Council of Canada. The group in federally-funded research cautioned up to a third of payday loans may now be issued by website operators: “You don’t know who you are dealing with”.
In a further sign of a slowing economy, urban housing starts in July declined 3.4 percent year over year, says the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. New home construction for the month – traditionally one of the busiest for starts – totaled the fewest since January: “There are legitimate fears”.
Parliament is instructing tour guides to ban all mention of the Ottawa attack that prompted passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Guides escorting thousands of daily visitors past the Centre Block spot where a gunman was fatally shot by police must not speak of the event even if questioned, officials confirmed: “We don’t talk about that!”
Major changes to air regulations are being postponed due to the general election. Advocates yesterday expressed frustration with the delay in amending flight crew rules for the first time since 1996: “There are a lot of good excuses — I get that”.
A federal board is claiming the right to void copyright on protected works after five years. The claim is made in court documents filed in a multi-million dollar Alberta lawsuit: “They are creating a precedent here”.
The Department of Canadian Heritage proposes a marketing study of the music business amid complaints of inadequate support for the industry. The department seeks “insight into current marketing trends, practices and challenges of artists and entrepreneurs”, it said: “How do you get exposure?”
The Department of Finance in a confidential 2015 memo contemplates a collapse of Alberta’s economy. The memo says a repeat of a devastating 1982 recession complete with bank failures “should not occur”, but cautioned that modern circumstances “only partially mitigate the negative impacts of declining oil prices”.
Citizenship Canada in defiance of the digital age is buying microfilm to store millions of old immigration files. One analyst described the purchase as “unusual”, though a film distributor said the pre-war technology remains the cheapest way to store archival data: “Most organizations assume they will somehow figure it out”.
A single mother who pleaded for jail rather than pay an $800 customs fine she couldn’t afford has won sympathy but no relief at a federal panel. An adjudicator noted “frustration and injustice” with the harshness of the Canada Border Services Agency penalty: “This regime provides tough justice”.
Intended as a place
of solemn reflection on the
meaning of oppression,
the Memorial to the Victims of Communism
has already claimed
a growing list of casualties:
the citizens of Ottawa;
the Mayor;
the NCC;
the Supreme Court.
Even before construction begins.
If this trend continues,
they will soon be eligible
for a Memorial to the Victims of “Democracy”.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
