Provincial tax hikes on top one percenters have seen diminishing returns as wealthy Canadians adopted more sophisticated tax avoidance schemes, says new research. The findings come as cabinet proposes to raise federal taxes on families earning more than $200,000 a year: ‘It questions how effective that is’.
Winter ice blamed for cutting power production from Canadian wind turbines is under research by the Department of Natural Resources. The department is spending $105,000 to develop computer models that would predict ice build-up on turbine blades: “It’s one of the biggest challenges to the operation of wind turbines in Canada”.
Industry successfully lobbied Transport Canada to delay for years the introduction of new air safety rules, documents show. Amendments to Canadian Aviation Regulations were put off due to costs though the department said current rules are inadequate, according to a cabinet memo released through Access To Information: “Transport Canada requires additional time to work with industry”.
The Commissioner of Official Languages is investigating why approximately one-third of Canadians oppose bilingualism though it’s been federal law for nearly fifty years. New research is needed to develop a socio-economic profile of opponents, the Commissioner’s office said: “This does not seem at all necessary”.
Canada Revenue Agency plans a Twitter blitz to get young people to pay their taxes, but requires a consultant to tell it “what to say”. The initiative follows federal research showing Canadians are five times more likely to read a weekly newspaper than use Twitter: ‘We require an analysis of the social media landscape’.
There is no statistical evidence shoppers spend more on Black Friday in Canada. New data show the share of retail sales occurring in November and December has remained flat since 2006 despite retailers’ advertising and media hype: “Retailers understand that”.
A federal agency is accused of skewing its contracting to favour U.S. multinationals. Shared Services Canada is the target of an inquiry by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. The hearing follows complaints from Eclipsys Solutions Inc. of Ottawa over its treatment in the tendering of an estimated $100 million contract for electronic server and storage devices: “We were never given the opportunity”.
A Christmas copyright feud is sending two of the country’s largest retailers to Federal Court in time for the holidays. Canadian Tire Ltd. accuses Walmart Canada of copycatting its distinct holiday lights down to the photo on the box: “The statement of claim speaks for itself”.
Federal scientists are commissioning a semi-detached environmental home of the future at a cost of up to $714,000. The 2,000 sq.ft. model home includes solar panels and garage plug-ins for an electric car: ‘It will win national and international prestige’.
The impact of climate change will not be as rosy as the Department of Agriculture forecast in a 2014 report, a Canadian Climate Forum has been told. Delegates to the Ottawa conference said global warming will challenge growers: ‘The impact on Canada is uncertain’.
Canada Post spent some $60 million on its failed plan to convert all home delivery to community mailboxes, new figures show. The cost of the boxes was double the Crown corporation’s projected profit for the entire year: “We were very responsible on this”.
The Supreme Court is sidestepping a defamation case against one of the country’s best-known former premiers. A blogger sued by Danny Williams claims his right to a fair trial was compromised in Newfoundland & Labrador after a courthouse was named for the two-term premier: “This is a highly unusual case”.
Canadians’ household water consumption has declined even as overall usage grew nationwide, according to new data. It follows government polling that found the public more concerned about water conservation than climate change: ‘The state of fresh water in Canada is an issue’.
A Saskatchewan liquor dealer has lost a Supreme Court bid to challenge a local bylaw on bootlegging. Justices declined to hear the case. Parliament since 1878 has left liquor regulation to municipalities and provinces: “It has become a lot harder to fight city hall”.
A disaster hits, and
Canada is quick to respond.
Equipped with our latest technology
– capable of purifying 50,000 litres of water per day –
the DART is deployed to the ends of the Earth.
Meanwhile,
Health Canada lists 93 First Nations communities
under Drinking Water Advisories.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
