Nearly a year after ratifying an international treaty on mercury reduction, Environment Canada documents indicate regulators still lack any means of safely disposing of the toxin. The disclosure came in a consultation paper issued by the department: ‘It’s currently unknown’.
The energy workers’ union Unifor is suing to quash cabinet’s approval for the Northern Gateway Pipeline. In court documents the union argues the decision followed a flawed public review that ignored threats to the environment and fisheries: “Is this pipeline in the public interest or not?”
Tax authorities have seen more than a half-billion dollars in bogus tax claims under an internet-fueled conspiracy movement, records reveal. Canada Revenue Agency counts thousands of participants in a national “tax protester” campaign they described as aggressive and costly. The agency files were released through Access To Information: “The tax protest movement appears to be on the rise”.
The federal Business Development Bank is embroiled in a lawsuit after unwittingly giving a $550,000 loan to an apparent drug front. The bank financed a garden supply company later raided by police as a wholesaler for marijuana grow-ops: “It is hard to imagine this as an operating commercial establishment”.
The Senate will pass a bill proclaiming every April 2 as Pope John Paul II Day amid grumbling over a growing number of federal observances cluttering Canadians’ calendars: “What’s next, hot dog day?”
The Canadian Transportation Agency has dealt “a big blow” to farmers with a narrow technical ruling dismissing complaints of poor rail service, says the Canadian Canola Growers Association. The group was among the first to file complaints under 2013 legislation that promised to hold Canada’s largest railways to strict terms of service contracts: ‘They can’t be held to account’.
Cabinet is hiring consultants to develop a speedy “funding policy” for 313,000 employees’ pensions after proposing to cut benefits for government staff. The federal Treasury Board said a report is due by mid-2015 to consider “options regarding an appropriate funding policy structure”.
Cabinet is signalling rare support for a private Liberal bill, this one to simplify reporting of deaths to federal agencies. It follows a critical report that complained of red tape facing families who attempt to contact government departments to settle tax claims and cancel benefit cheques: ‘We think it’s common sense’.
Credit card executives have been grilled by the Senate banking committee over $5 billion-a year merchants’ fees charged for using Visa and MasterCard. Senators cautioned that years after cabinet introduced a voluntary Code Of Conduct on the industry, fees remain too high: “Enough is enough”.
A Conservative bill granting Health Canada new powers to recall unsafe medicines will put a “chill” on industry, executives say. Representatives testifying at a Senate committee said the bill giving regulators access to confidential industry data must be amended: ‘It includes trade secrets’.
Long-awaited aquaculture fees will see British Columbia operators pay an estimated 10 percent of the cost of federal regulation. The fee schedule drafted over four years was quietly tabled in the Senate and will take effect by year’s end: “This looks like just another subsidy”.
The Commons has passed an anti-counterfeiting bill amid fears of poor enforcement and onerous costs. Bill C-8 grants the Canada Border Services Agency new powers to seize, store and destroy black market goods: ‘You write a blank cheque to the government’.
A Commons bill would ban imports of whole Asian carp in a bid to stem the spread of the invasive species. Authorities estimate carp imports remain a multi-million dollar business despite efforts to keep the species out of the Great Lakes: “This is the cost of doing business”.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by an unhappy office worker sued by her boss after writing a bad review on the website RateMyEmployer.ca. The Montréal IT worker landed in trouble after posting anonymous comments urging job applicants to stay away: “Do yourself a favour and don’t work here”.
Dairy Farmers of Canada are asking a federal judge to define “milk” in a trademark dispute with a California company. Farmers filed a court application to overturn a 2008 trademark for non-dairy Monster Milk for athletes: ‘The average consumer is likely to believe it is dairy milk’.
