Staff at the century-old National Research Council complain they are poorly led and overworked, with nearly half saying they’re ambivalent about going to work in the morning. The data released through Access To Information follows a 2011 cabinet program to turn the agency into a “concierge” to industry: ‘My work suffers’.
A long, cold winter is creating a massive cover of thick ice on the Great Lakes that could be worse than last year’s ice buildup, which delayed the start of full navigation by a month, according to shippers’ data: “It’s going to be difficult out there”.
A Department of Finance scheme permitting tax-free investment income is inherently “regressive” and mainly helps wealthy Canadians at other taxpayers’ expense, says the Parliamentary Budget Office. Researchers faulted Tax-Free Savings Accounts, introduced in 2009, as a multi-million dollar subsidy for individuals with money: “It’s unfair and it’s unaffordable”.
Canada Revenue Agency must work harder to track “aggressive tax planning” like offshore accounts that cost billions in legitimate tax collections, says a Commons report. It follows a federal survey that rated the agency as inconsistent and weak in tracking wealthy tax avoiders: ‘It is not acceptable’.
A popular home heating oil is toxic and should be listed under schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, say regulators. Health Canada cited more than 6,300 spills of Fuel Oil No. 2 over a nine-year period: “It hits the ground, you see the environmental impact right away”.
Health Canada is endorsing a Commons report citing the perils of marijuana use though critics dubbed the study a “sham”, and the government’s own surveys show many Canadians are ambivalent about cannabis use: “It was a set up”.
Cabinet once bitten is twice shy of rewriting the national anthem to insert gender-neutral lyrics. Conservatives yesterday said they will not support the change following public protest when cabinet made an identical proposal five years ago: “This is an issue for the Ottawa bubble”.
Transport Canada is objecting to a bill mandating minimum service and Crown funding for VIA Rail passenger service. MP Jeff Watson, parliamentary secretary for transport, said the legislation would place “a greater burden on the taxpayer”. VIA had estimated a loss of $321 million on operations last year: “We see the sad result”.
RCMP are underpaid, overworked and face difficulties in recruitment without reforms, reports an internal board. The finding follows a Supreme Court judgment revoking a 95-year ban on a Mounties’ union: “They’re underpaying us significantly”.
Canada’s food processors and restaurateurs have been likened to cigarette manufacturers at Senate obesity hearings. Lawmakers accused the industry of being slow to accept responsibility for the nation’s weight gain: “It’s not rocket science”.
The Government of Canada has no way of tracing bitcoin transactions, says the federal agency mandated to track money-launderers. The admission came as regulators attempt to draft rules on trading of the pseudo-currency: “That will be a challenge for sure”.
Canada Post is being sued by a homeowner who accuses the Crown agency of garbling his address. Post office executives admit to selecting a non-legal name for the community due to the “consternation” of neighbours, according to Federal Court documents: “They will decide where I live”.
The Canada Revenue Agency is conducting a sweep of cheque-cashing companies. Authorities filed Federal Court applications seeking the identities of customers at four companies in three provinces: “Members have not made us aware of any Canada Revenue Agency campaign against them”.
Smaller Canadian railways face steeper insurance costs under new liability regulations prompted by the Lac-Mégantic disaster. Transport Canada said minimum liability insurance will rise as much as five-fold for short line rail companies: “What needs to be done, will be done”.
Ottawa reporters, photographers and cameramen face expulsion from Parliament Hill on the complaint of any politician or federal employee, with grievances to be heard at closed-door disciplinary hearings. The unprecedented measures are proposed by the Parliamentary Press Gallery, a volunteer group representing media.
“We thought we’d bring the proposal,” said Laura Payton, Gallery president, a CBC writer; “We’re leaving it quite open because the executive needs some discretion.”
The Gallery proposed to amend its own constitution to suspend or banish media from Parliament Hill for a range of new offences including “harassment” and “intimidation”. The amendment must be approved by Industry Minister James Moore as cabinet officer responsible for the Canada Corporations Act, according to the Gallery constitution. Payton acknowledged Ottawa members were not told of the code till Friday evening. The gallery executive did not consult any general members in drafting the code, Payton said: “Nobody.”
“We have been working on it for a while and just finalized it this week,” Payton said; “We could always discuss the wording.” Payton, asked if any government official had requested the change, replied: “Absolutely not.”
Under current rules dating from 1885, the only Gallery members who face expulsion are those moonlighting as lobbyists, speechwriters or political activists. Under proposed amendments, members may be expelled for a range of new offences including:
Reporters would be expelled on the recommendation of a “confidential” meeting of the Gallery executive ratified by 10% of the membership – some 40 people. Expulsion for most members would mean the loss of livelihoods.
“Parasites”
Journalists could face complaints from any source including rival media; government employees; lawmakers; lobbyists; campaign workers; corporations and unions; advocacy groups; agents of foreign governments; or the general public.
“The press should be held to account, but is this the instrument?” said Prof. Sean Holman, of Mount Royal University’s school of journalism. “I think it’s open to abuse.” Holman, a former member of the British Columbia Press Gallery, said he was unaware of any Canadian gallery with such an enforcement code.
“Reporters covering legislatures are often treated like parasites and barely tolerated by the administration,” Holman said. “The administration has enormous power. We should really think about that. How is it that this space that is supposed to be a public space is so often treated as anything but? That is troubling.”
Prof. Holman said the Gallery plan to create “a tribunal of sorts” appeared ill-defined. “On the surface it may seem reasonable, but the challenge is: when does that interfere with freedom of expression? When does it become an opportunity for people who don’t like media criticism?”
The amendment also states the Gallery may defer to “House administration” if complaints against a journalist are deemed a “security concern”. The head of House administration is Conservative MP Andrew Scheer (Regina-Qu’Appelle), Speaker of the House of Commons.
In the past, parliamentary journalists never deferred to the Speaker and operated as a self-regulating association in a custom dating from 1867, noted Mark Bourrie, a 21-year gallery member and author of the bestseller Kill The Messenger: Stephen Harper’s Assault On Your Right To Know.
“Bonanza For Lawyers”
“They are really endangering press freedoms,” Bourrie said. “If the government told the Gallery to do this, the press would go berserk. This is all part of the failure of the Gallery to stand up for our press freedoms in the face of continuous assault.”
Bourrie said purported offences like “intimidation” or “harassment” were too broad, and would attract partisan or score-settling complaints against media. “The idea that anyone who feels aggrieved – an MP, political staffer, lobbyist, security guard or offended reader – can launch some sort of action in a secret committee is both a violation of long-established press rights, and basic concepts of fundamental justice.”
Bourrie described the new offence of summary conviction as “bizarre”, noting reporters could be subject to banishment for doing their job. “A reporter could easily end up charged and convicted of obstructing police while covering a protest under section 129.a of the Criminal Code,” Bourrie said; “In that case a reporter could be expelled. I find it troubling.”
Reporters summoned to in-camera disciplinary hearings would be permitted to bring attorneys, though the Gallery said it would not provide any legal assistance to journalists unable to afford legal counsel.
“The Gallery will be litigated into the ground,” said Bourrie. “This is a bonanza for lawyers. You can see the cost and the stress that would be involved, not only for the journalist but also for the Gallery, which would definitely need a lawyer at hand through this process. In the end, I would expect this process to end up in court, and I think the Gallery would lose.”
The press association did not identify any specific complaint against any member that prompted the amendment. The proposal is to go to a membership vote February 27, a legal requirement under the Canada Corporations Act.
By Tom Korski 
