The underground “de-tax” movement, blamed by Canada Revenue Agency for costing millions, has suffered a lethal blow at the Supreme Court. Justices refused to hear an appeal from a delinquent tax-filer who claimed exemption from federal law: “This scheme is being actively promoted”.
Health Canada proposes to award a $638,000 contract to a food processors’ group for “educational messages” on labeling at supermarkets. The funding follows appeals from consumers’ advocates that cabinet legislate standard nutrition labels on food products: “What is in a ‘fruit cocktail’?”
Federal agencies almost never suffer budget cuts for inefficiency regardless of whether they meet annual targets, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office. Analysts in a critical report concluded funding was divvied up whether or not individual agencies were proven well-managed: ‘It is like a gong show’.
Environment Canada in an enforcement blitz has cited a leading oil recycler for illegally shipping millions of litres of hazardous waste to the U.S. without a permit. New Brunswick’s Atlantic Industrial Services shipped reclaimed oil to Maine: “It was a hazardous material’.
Air Canada in a landmark ruling is being ordered to divulge confidential records on security complaints by travellers who allege racial profiling. The order is the first public glimpse into secretive federal security blacklists enacted after 9/11. It follows an appeal by a Halifax man who complained he was repeatedly badgered by airline staff and employees of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority: “I am a citizen”.
A rail reform rated the most sweeping in decades is only temporary, cabinet confirms. Transport Canada says interswitching regulations permitting Western shippers to bypass Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Rail Co., will expire in 2016: “Is there going to be emergency legislation every time there’s a commodity stuck out there?”
Cabinet has fixed new grain shipment quotas for railways after lamenting the “inability” of major carriers to keep to delivery schedules. The quotas are mandated under legislation signed into law May 29: ‘Regulations spell it out’.
New data suggest the Government cut its hiring of students despite MPs’ complaints of chronic youth unemployment. The number of student hires by federal agencies has declined an average 23% in the past five years: “The cuts are across the board”.
In a venture one former executive called “depressing”, the Canadian Space Agency is hiring consultants to persuade cabinet of the benefits of investments in science. The initiative follows a 10% budget cut: “Help us talk to the politicians so they will think we do something useful”.
Cabinet proposes to harmonize regulations on workplace chemicals in sync with U.S. rules. Health Canada estimated the measure will cost industry $14 million a year but result in long-term savings on relabeling goods for cross-border shipment: ‘There are real concerns’.
A Saskatchewan businessman has lost a bid to avoid a six-figure tax bill by declaring bankruptcy – twice. Court of Queen’s Bench ruled the delinquent tax-filer must make at least partial payment after going 14 years without paying tax: “Canada Revenue was really pushing to get that money”.
The St. Lawrence Seaway has rebounded strongly enough from a delayed start to fuel speculation about whether it can match or surpass its 2013 traffic total of 37.1 million tonnes: “All forecasts suggest this trend will continue”.
Privatization of Canada Post appears likely under a cabinet proposal to lower the corporation’s pension deficit by cutting benefits, say retirees. A Department of Finance plan would repeal defined benefits guaranteed under the Canada Post pension, currently struggling with a deficit that has grown 25% since 2011: ‘They are doing everything they can to privatize’.
Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. is budgeting $7 million to help employees brush up on résumé writing, “having difficult conversations” and other skills. The initiative comes amid persistent speculation the corporation is to be privatized: “Does the government have any plans to do this?”
Consumer groups are petitioning cabinet to overturn a CRTC decision on expiry dates for prepaid wireless cards. The appeals come a year after the telecom regulator finalized its Wireless Code that allows prepaid cards to run out even with a cash balance: “I don’t know how anyone can justify that”.
