The Senate is weighing a private Liberal bill to undo cabinet powers to borrow money without consent of Parliament. The measure would repeal obscure changes adopted in 2007: "This goes back to the fundamentals of responsible government".
Canadian food processors are under “considerable pressure” from foreign competition but can thrive despite plant closures, cautions a leading analyst. The forecast at a farm economics conference follows the recent announced shutdown of factories by two famous firms: "It is changing".
Consumers are watching for price cuts on ebooks after anti-trust investigators at the Competition Bureau persuaded four publishers to comply with fair trade practices: "Publishers shouldn't be able to get into a room and decide what prices will have to be".
Secret Canada Post files obtained by Blacklock’s show executives rated postal banking a “win-win” before cabinet apparently killed the scheme in favour of drastic rate hikes and service cuts. Confidential documents indicate managers spent years on research, polling and focus group study that concluded postal banks were a proven money-maker: “This could be a win-win strategy”.
Canada’s revenue minister is being sued by three tax theorists who allege the Income Tax Act is unconstitutional. The trio are affiliated with the fast-growing “natural person” movement, whose adherents claim a tax exemption due to Scripture and English common law: "People are tired of being stomped on by the government".
Railways “have not lived up to their obligation” to improve service despite reforms promised in federal legislation, says the nation’s largest agri-business. An executive with Richardson International of Winnipeg said shippers still face inexplicable delays in rail service: "Nothing has changed".
The Commissioner of Lobbying is proposing new legislation this year to tighten scrutiny of advocates on Parliament Hill. Karen Shepherd said she will propose at least 11 amendments to the Lobbying Act. It follows a first-ever conviction for illegal lobbying last August: "Most lobbyists want to comply".
The Supreme Court has rejected a claim of privacy by a Canada Revenue employee who wanted to prevent her union from calling the house. Justices in a 5-2 ruling said the auditor was not entitled to withhold contact information while enjoying union benefits: "It's an important decision".
VIA Rail must spend the $10 million required to save a New Brunswick track and assure the future of its Atlantic passenger service, say Opposition MPs. However the Crown railway warned it has no budget to buy the line: "John A. Macdonald's national dream of passenger train service from coast to coast will be over".
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “Veteran Affairs is closing 8 offices. On the positive note, WWI is commemorated in an extraordinary display…”
The Competition Bureau is clearing the way for a key merger in hockey retailing. The agency last night ruled a Canadian Tire takeover of a major rival does not violate anti-trust laws, though it leaves the retailer in control of a thousand stores.
Airline passengers are not getting the “security” they’ve paid for at Canadian airports through a security surcharge that's become a federal money-maker, say union executives. Profits from the fees are to increase ten-fold by next year: "This is a tax on the flying public".
Cabinet has misrepresented the number of sick days federal employees take, according to Parliament’s Budget Office. Authorities dismissed claims a typical government worker takes 18.26 paid sick days annually, noting the actual number is far lower: "It's really unfortunate".
A bill to extend tax credits to tradespeople who move for work may become law in time though MPs killed it by a 149 to 126 vote, says its New Democrat sponsor. An all-party Commons committee had endorsed the plan to ease local labour shortages: "This is a mom and apple pie initiative".
Dairy farmers and processors warn they face a “giant wave” of subsidized imports under a Canada-E.U. trade pact. European cheese makers stand to gain thousands of tonnes of new tariff-free sales: "We could see a giant wave of cheese coming across the water into our market".
