CN Rail is suing a federal regulator and the nation’s largest agri-business over its refusal to move a rival railway’s grain cars. The case comes amid unrelated complaints of poor service across the rail sector: “It’s really terrible; their service has been lousy”.
Canada must revise regulations to restrict the sale of children’s toys found to contain arsenic, lead, cadmium and other toxins, say researchers. A study has found unsafe chemical traces in 24 metallic toys and children’s jewelry: “This needed attention a long time ago”.
Canada Post is quietly expanding doorstep service cuts to residents of another community, this time an Ontario army base, documents show. The post office has targeted 11 neighbourhoods in five provinces to become the first to lose at-home mail service: “It doesn’t make sense”.
Natural Resources Canada is paying a $150,000 grant to auto “journalists” to celebrate the fuel efficiency of new cars. Authorities said the funding is to educate everyday drivers on how to cope with high fuel prices: “This is smoke and mirrors”.
VIA Rail would be recast as an on-time national passenger service for commuters and tourists with electric locomotives in some regions, under a private bill introduced in the Commons: “It’s time to secure VIA’s role”.
Foreign Affairs Canada has lost more money in real estate. Records obtained by Blacklock’s point to a five-figure loss on a Washington, D.C. townhouse purchased six years ago: “Canadians may question any spending associated with embassies abroad”.
A British Columbia MP has won endorsements from conservation groups and the Vancouver Aquarium to put Parliament on record as endorsing sustainability of the multi-billion dollar fisheries sector: “We have years of over-fishing”.
Parliament rejected a salary disclosure bill to avoid an “inflationary” parity race for ever-higher benefits by public servants, says a Conservative MP: “Instead of keeping salaries down it has the opposite effect”.
Finance Canada must not permit foreign ownership of the country’s only government-run coal export terminal, say local authorities. The formerly deficit-ridden Ridley Terminals Inc. of Prince Rupert, B.C. projects revenues will nearly double by 2016: “This was created with taxpayers’ money”.
The Senate may summon CBC anchor Peter Mansbridge for questioning over his confidential speaking fees from lobbyists. A member of a Senate panel reviewing the Crown broadcaster said lawmakers need answers on perquisites by senior staff: ‘Is there a double standard here?’
The Supreme Court will hear an appeal on a class-action lawsuit against Cash Store Inc., one of the nation’s largest payday lenders. The appeal involves Manitoba borrowers charged heavy “brokerage fees” in addition to high interest: “It is the poorest and least able who are being abused”.
Mayors say Canada Post must meet unforeseen costs of abolishing doorstep mail delivery. A Big City Mayors’ Caucus in a resolution to cabinet demanded payment for easements and maintenance of thousands of proposed community mailboxes: “There has to be an awful lot of compensation”.
Governments should regulate farm and feedlot run-off blamed for choking Lake Erie with phosphorous, says the International Joint Commission. The Canada-U.S. panel said agricultural chemicals are largely to blame for feeding the lake’s algae bloom, a toxic scum: “Lake Erie is at risk”.
Cabinet must revise a voluntary Code of Conduct on credit card issuers, merchants have told MPs. The Commons finance committee heard complaints against Visa and MasterCard over billions in fees to process payments: ‘Are we waiting for regulations to fix this?’
The Criminal Code must be amended to imprison thieves who steal copper wiring, says the Canadian Electricity Association. The industry blamed weak legislation and a rise in copper prices for an outbreak of stealing: “It doesn’t involve sophisticated tools”.
