New regulations for air cargo screening are raising concerns proposed rules would mean less federal oversight of shipments. The regulations are intended to saves shippers $20 million a year: “Industry would be policing itself”.
Shippers are gearing for a final push in the last weeks of the Great Lakes freighting season following a contract settlement with workers on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Seaway management and Unifor representing 460 employees agreed to a new contract that eliminates the risk of a strike: “We have been meeting day and night”.
The National Capital Commission, a Crown agency that manages the Prime Minister’s home, Rideau Hall and other Ottawa landmarks, should be held to account by taxpayers say MPs. New Democrats propose a series of citizen consultations on the work of the commission that saw 16% of its staff reassigned last year: “It is fair to ask questions”.
Conservative Bill C-377 that would compel unions to disclose confidential information is illegal and may breach parliamentary rules, says a Conservative Senator. Diane Bellemare, a Québec economist named to the Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said the measure will have repercussions that merit close study: ‘Does it infringe on rights?’
The Supreme Court will hear a landmark patent case alleging a drug maker sought to keep low-cost generic versions of a popular hypertension medication off the market. Justices agreed to hear an appeal in the dispute that saw generic manufacturer Apotex Inc. sue for lost profits: “It’s the fault of Parliament for creating this insane system”.
Canadians should stop eating processed food or pay higher taxes for the privilege, Senate obesity hearings have been told. One legal scholar urged legislators to adopt a “clear, consistent, simple message” that the marketing and consumption of snacks and processed food is unsound: “That is a real challenge”.
Animal rights advocates are protesting a $6,000 federal fine on a trucking company repeatedly cited for negligence in the death of chickens. The shipper was fined following an investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: ‘It’s staggering’.
A bill to proclaim a national Pope Day has come to more grief in Parliament over Roman Catholic Church philosophies on gender and sexuality. The bill that sped through the Commons now awaits a final vote in the Senate amid complaints it was given short shrift in hearings: ‘Let’s have a Billy Graham Day’.
CBC should cut all news and sports content to focus exclusively on Canadian drama, films and other artistic programming, says the deputy chair of the Senate communications committee. Leo Housakos dismissed the Crown broadcaster’s coverage as mere repetition of programming available from other media: “Everyone is doing news”.
Canadians are wary of foreign combat missions with a majority, 57 percent, saying the military should stick to domestic and continental defence. The finding is contained in Department of National Defence in-house research: “Canadians are split”.
Exemptions to a federal anti-corruption bill will not see Canadian mining companies evade disclosure of offshore payments, says a trade group. The Canadian Mining Association pledged full disclosure of payments under long-promised ethics legislation: “It captures everything we do”.
Federal agencies remain lackadaisical on privacy protection with a doubling of reported breaches last year, according to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Newly-appointed privacy chief Daniel Therrien refused an interview on his findings: “Is there a disconnect?”
Taxpayers are seeing few dividends from Canada Post with ‘unfair’ fee increases and service cuts, the Senate has been told. The protest follows complaints one business was charged a 55% premium to post goods within Canada compared to the U.S.: “It’s not good enough”.
Legislators should tax soda pop and restrict “irresponsible” marketing of processed foods that target children, a pediatricians’ group has told the Senate science committee. The Childhood Obesity Foundation said the country faces a “significant toll in terms of the dollars cost and lives lost” due to calorie-laden food.
The Senate has quietly revived a bill that would force unions to divulge confidential information on a government website. Bill C-377 had languished since a 2013 revolt by Conservatives stripped provisions to compel disclosure of financial data under threat of $1,000-a day fines: “We thought it was dead”.
