9 in 10 government scientists caution federal cuts have gone too far, according to a pre-budget survey by the Professional Institute of the Public Service. Pollsters questioned scientists in fisheries, agriculture and the Canadian Space Agency: "I can relate to what these scientists are saying".
A Commons committee has voted to speed passage of a Conservative bill that makes it easier to decertify unions. The government majority vetoed five days of hearings on Bill C-525, limiting expert testimony to a few hours: "This is a sham".
A senior Environment Canada official says the department has never heard of proposals for aquaculture legislation, despite years of appeals by fish farmers, critics and lawmakers. The remarks came at a Senate committee now studying regulation of the sector: "I'm not aware of what that proposal is at all".
Public Works Canada proposes to spend another $72.9 million on a heritage building that’s been under near-continuous renovation for years. The department is hiring consultants to oversee a six-year refit of the Gothic East Block, including repairs to earlier fix-it jobs: "I do have concerns that the money's being spent wisely".
The CBC faces “doomsday” with the loss of hockey revenues to Rogers Communications Inc., a Senate committee has been told. The public broadcaster stands to lose half its ad budget: "The ratings are atrocious and the revenues aren't there".
Industry Canada is proposing a new policy on unsightly wireless towers two years after Parliament rejected an identical initiative, and a full year after municipalities and the telecom industry penned their own solution to the issue: "Ironic".
Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers are too old to keep vital St. Lawrence River shipping open in extreme conditions, says an industry group. The complaint comes as the Coast Guard prepares to increase 2014 service fees on a “full cost” basis following next week's federal budget: "The Coast Guard has not been a model of efficiency".
Parliament must develop a national policy on beekeeping amid staggering losses and fears of pesticide poisoning, a Senate committee has been told. Lawmakers are investigating whether farm chemicals are to blame for the deaths of up to half of bee colonies in select provinces: “It's up to you guys".
A homebuilder whose firm was implicated in a $15 million GST-avoidance scheme has been reappointed a director of Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation. Jason Kenney, minister responsible for CMHC, would not comment on his naming of Mattamy Homes’ chief operating officer to the federal board: “Mattamy’s actions were extremely careless”.
Secret Environment Canada polling shows half of people surveyed oppose new oil pipeline and rail shipments as unsafe, even if it means job losses. Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said the findings suggest the country is "torn" over the petroleum industry.
Campaigns to "buy local" groceries may run afoul of free trade pacts, cautions an industry group. A New Democrat bill now before Parliament would have Agriculture Canada promote local food purchases as a national procurement policy: "I don't know how you can put that kind of bill in place".
The Department of Fisheries is nearly tripling one species’ quota this year amid industry-wide concerns over catches and revenues. The department said the Atlantic haddock catch will nearly triple this year: "It didn't just happen overnight".
VIA Rail is pledging publicly to save its main Atlantic run though a corporate plan identifies the service as a chronic money-loser slated for cuts. The future of the Montréal to Halifax line is in doubt after Canadian National, owner of the track, proposed to abandon a portion in New Brunswick: 'I hope for leadership'.
The Al Jazeera Network says continued restrictions on its Canadian broadcasts are unfair to Arabic-speaking viewers. The network filed an appeal to lift conditions imposed amid complaints of anti-Semitic commentary. Arab-speaking Canadians today outnumber those who speak Polish, Dutch or Ukrainian.
Sixteen percent of pesticide manufacturers have failed to report chemical sales as required by Health Canada regulations, data show. And records indicate the department is now years behind in mandatory reporting of sales by its Pest Management Regulatory Agency: "Where is the data for 2011, 2012?"
