Senators are drafting amendments to Bill C-377 with final debate on the contentious union measure set to begin next week. Similar last-minute amendments blocked passage of the bill in 2013: “If we think the bill needs amending, we should amend it”.
A parliamentary committee is questioning the legal authority for millions in fees collected from telemarketers by the CRTC. Lawmakers complained of “unsatisfactory” answers from the Commission in a dispute dating from 2013: “I don’t think we quite got the point across to the CRTC”.
Military procurement is so inefficient Canada appears unready to defend itself, says a Conservative senator. The criticism comes a year after the defence department announced a Procurement Strategy to modernize its policies: ‘What would we do if we went into a major war?’
The fisheries department must improve its monitoring of bluefin tuna in Atlantic Canada, say fisherman and conservation groups. The warning comes ahead of a deadline for a stock rebuilding plan that conservationists report is far from being achieved: “They only have a few years left”.
Horses should be federally regulated as livestock to promote meat sales, says a trade association. Canadian horse exports are the nation’s leading red-meat export to the European Union, by official estimate: “Horse meat is a great delicacy in Europe and in Toronto restaurants”.
Cabinet is reviving a 2013 blacklist of U.S. imports facing punishing tariffs in a cross-border trade dispute, including Florida orange juice and Washington State apples. The agriculture department yesterday said it will seek authority from the WTO to retaliate against U.S. restrictions on Canadian beef and pork: “This caused injury on both sides of the border”.
The Supreme Court today hears appeals challenging laws enacted by every province that allow police to immediately suspend licenses of suspected drunk drivers. Attorneys focused on a British Columbia Act that sanctions suspensions even if a driver tests below the legal blood alcohol limit: “It ends up on your driving record and it’s there forever”.
The defence department has counted cars and cellphone subscribers in Afghanistan in claiming success after 13 years’ involvement in the country. The figures are itemized in a document released through Access To Information: ‘If we weren’t there to help, I’m not sure why we were there’.
The federal Wireless Code for telecom consumers trumps all billing practices including corporate contracts, broadcast regulators have ruled. The CRTC order followed a request for an exemption from Rogers Inc.: “The Wireless Code has to apply across the board”.
Parliament must enact a sugar tax on soda pop if Canada is to lower obesity rates, say three of the nation’s largest health advocacy groups. Executives also urged a Senate panel to outlaw fast food advertising targeting children: “Canada needs to address sugary drinks”.
Canada’s usury law, unchanged in nearly 40 years, must be updated to counter “whack-a-mole” practices of predatory lenders, the Senate banking committee has been told. Senators are reviewing a bill to lower criminal interest rates to 21%: “Are people in debt because of payday loans, or are people going to payday loans because they are in debt?”
A bill introduced in the Commons would enforce a ban on a cosmetic additive already declared toxic by MPs. Pinpoint-sized polyethylene microbeads found in Great Lakes fish are under Environment Canada review: “It is not like a big oil spill that comes to your attention”.
Most social housing operators should be “financially viable” without ongoing subsidies, says the federal mortgage insurer. CMHC said in a report to the Commons it saw little need for continued aid for housing with expiring agreements: ‘Use your equity’.
A convicted drunk driver who complained his Charter rights were breached has lost a bid to take his case to the Supreme Court. Justices declined to hear the appeal from an Edmonton man asked to take four separate roadside tests, without a lawyer, till he blew positive for impairment: “This case tried to move the law a little”.
A Senate committee has speedily passed a bill mandating disclosure of confidential union data without a special exemption sought by hockey stars. The NHL Players’ Association earlier warned Bill C-377 would hijack multi-million-dollar licensing agreements for hockey cards, jerseys and other paraphernalia: “I’d like to move on with this”.
