The Senate will debate a proposal to strip Heritage Canada of its multi-million dollar plans for the nation’s 150th anniversary. The initiative follows department proposals to emphasize wartime exploits, including the obscure 1866 Fenian Raids and lost battles of WWI: “That is not the function of a government institution’.
Cabinet has decreed a permanent secrecy oath for thousands of government employees, including retirees who worked for now-disbanded organizations: ‘It puts pressure on whistleblowers’.
A federal law deemed a “critical impediment” to aquaculture by the Department of Fisheries has been assigned to Environment Canada. The transfer is seen as a step to legalizing fish farmers’ use of pesticides under controls similar to crop sprays: “We’re taking pragmatic steps”.
The Official Language Commissioner has been cited by MPs for embellishing a report to Parliament. Legislators said Commissioner Graham Fraser had “no evidence” to substantiate his claim job cuts affected francophone language rights: “He admits it is a hypothesis only”.
The Transport Safety Board after seven years has finalized regulations to simplify accident investigations, including confidentiality of witness statements. The rules were first proposed in 2007: “There are a lot of steps involved”.
Insurers are monitoring Health Canada’s planned privatization of medical marijuana production following a court judgment on stolen cannabis.
Judges dismissed a homeowner’s claim for full replacement costs of stolen marijuana plants as too peculiar to qualify as personal property: ‘This is a new business’.
A federal panel has cited a drug manufacturer for overcharging on medicine for multiple sclerosis patients. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board complained of a 20% price hike over seven years: “What do you know?”.
Cabinet is being pressed to release the text of a South Korean trade pact that industry groups say holds promise and peril for Canadians. The treaty lowers tariffs on forestry, farm and fish products, but gives Korean manufacturers greater market access on autos and appliances, and allows Korean bids on federal contracts over $100,000: “The devil’s in the details”.
Natural Resources Canada is attempting to find some industrial use for tens of thousands of ash trees devastated by an Asian beetle. Researchers will run tests to determine if dead trees can be converted into fertilizer, or fuel for thermal power plants: “There is a potential market”.
Fishermen are closely watching an April deadline for permanent adoption of a policy on owner-operators that promotes independent harvesters. It follows a 2012 scare that the Department of Fisheries would permit processors to buy up licenses: ‘That is extremely worrisome’.
A company that won Environment Canada approval to grow made-in-the-lab salmon is now applying to have its engineered fish certified as good enough to eat — a Canadian first: ‘This is happening in total secrecy’.
Mutual funds are “failures” for RRSP savers, says an advocacy group. Economists calculated many individuals cannot hope to match the returns of the $201 billion Canada Pension Plan: ‘It isn’t working’.
Cabinet faces complaints over the rollout of new public works subsidies that’s left municipalities and contractors with few details only days before the program’s launch. The New Building Canada Fund pledges details will follow April 1: “How can they plan?”
Dairy farmers are fending off a proposal by the Conference Board to wind up their national supply management program. Farmers acknowledged Canadians pay 30% more for milk than Americans, but pointed to the economic impact.
Senators are proposing changes to the National Do Not Call List, citing complaints that telemarketers continue to flout the program. An Alberta senator quoted one constituent who gets up to 20 calls a week including Sundays: “It’s nothing less than harassment”.
