The House of Commons has paid tribute to the nation’s longest-serving municipal politician. MPs noted the passing of a former Ontario parks commissioner who served a record 52 years in elected office: "If we had more politicians like him things would be a lot better off."
A Department of Finance-friendly think tank is urging regulators to oppose “intervention” on retail credit card fees. The Macdonald-Laurier Institute reported any controls would have far-reaching impact on the nation’s economy: 'It's not some global conspiracy'.
Cabinet will press ahead with limits on federal employees’ right to strike despite an impending Supreme Court appeal on whether the measure is illegal. Treasury Board President Tony Clement said he would not pause for the court’s judgment: "I represent a national government."
Cabinet is quiet on appeals for limits on trans-Atlantic bidding for government contracts under free trade with the European Union. However one trade official tells Blacklock's that contracts will be "opening up" to EU bidders: "There will be more competition."
Canada’s largest labour organization is citing cabinet for secrecy over changes to workplace health and safety coverage inserted in the 176th page of a budget bill. Labour Minister Kellie Leitch would not speak to reporters on the measure: "What reason do they have to implement this?"
Industry Canada is opposing a bill to require mandatory disclosure of corporate breaches of privacy under threat of half-million dollar fines. The bill's author noted current federal law does not require that Canadians be told when their private information is leaked or pilfered.
Independent merchants say regulators must review growing consolidation in the grocery trade following approval of the latest mega-merger. The Competition Bureau declined an interview on calls for scrutiny of retail food: "Somebody needs to look at it."
Cabinet is quietly restricting health and safety coverage for 800,000 workers. An obscure notice on the 176th page of a budget bill proposes a redefinition of workplace “danger” under the Canada Labour Code to repeal coverage for long-term illness and other perils: “It seems like a sneaky and subversive way to gut the Code.”
Cabinet is raising fines on companies that make false claims for a tax credit dubbed an “open bar” for Canadian industry. The penalties apply to dubious applications for the Scientific Research & Experimental Tax Credit: "There's been a lack of oversight."
In an impending clash over right-to-strike, cabinet introduced a bill that casts any federal employee as an “essential” worker forbidden from picketing. The bill was introduced as the Supreme Court agreed to weigh a similar Saskatchewan law struck down as unconstitutional: 'It's a far-reaching attack'.
The resolution of an Ontario dispute on the bottling of groundwater marks a new era of scrutiny over the resource, analysts tell Blacklock’s. Nestlé Waters Canada abandoned its application to draw 1.13 million litres of water a day from a well regardless of drought conditions: "This will be persuasive".
One of nation’s largest tire manufacturers is suing Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq over restrictions on an additive rated an ecological risk. Regulators say chemicals commonly used in tires by Goodyear Canada Inc. are highly toxic to water organisms and take months, even years to break down in the environment. Nonsense, said Goodyear.
Federal cabinet members are fanning out across the country to sell a proposed Canada-European Union free trade deal minus the one document people most want to see. Trade Minister Ed Fast said a final legal text may take months to release, and warned no amendments are contemplated: "There will be no changes."
Parks Canada’s attendance fell in 5 of 10 provinces last year, according to new data. Analysts noted even sharper declines are expected in the current year with rising fees and reduced hours of operation: 'Uncertainty has disrupted business'.
Federal chemists, biologists and other scientists say their work has become subordinate to public relations, according to a union study. Ninety percent say they are unable to speak openly about their research: "Muzzling of scientists is an issue that affects us all."
