The think-tank Fraser Institute denies it skewed data to support claims that "environmentally-friendly" pipelines are four times safer than railway tank cars. However a senior director acknowledged skipping contradictory research completed by the Senate: "I'm not familiar with that report."
The Department of Public Safety plans a public database, the first of its kind, to map terrorist incidents, crimes and “extremist activities” across the country. Authorities reported no terrorist incidents in Canada last year. The department declined Blacklock's interview request.
The Canadian Coast Guard is cutting its price on an unloved patrol boat once used to lob tear gas at fishermen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and now for sale on the internet. The relic of the Atlantic cod wars has been up for auction since July without a buyer.
Canada’s airports and carriers are appealing for tax and rent relief after blaming government policies for a decline in tourism. Officials said a 4¢ federal fuel tax, provincial excise charges and ground rents have made air travel too expensive.
Less than a third of Red Cross donations for victims of last summer’s Alberta floods came from individual Canadians, records show. Despite claims of a public outpouring of relief, Blacklock’s confirmed nearly 70% of donations were from corporations led by oil and gas firms.
A federal judge has upheld Canada Revenue’s denial of tax credits for donations to the church of scientology. Tax Court ruled that while scientologists had "charitable-like activities", a donor had no claim to tax credits: "His personal choice does not mean he was denied the benefit of a law."
Health Canada is issuing new label requirements that caution certain medicines are no substitute for vaccines. The action follows protests by the group Bad Science Watch that criticized licensing of unproven products: "It's not like Tylenol."
Farm advocates including a former agriculture minister caution that changes to oversight on food safety must keep producers in mind. Health Canada for the first time gains regulatory supervision over all meat, fish and food inspection: "What difference will it make?"
Regina now has one of the lowest urban unemployment rates ever recorded in Canada, according to new federal data. The Saskatchewan capital reported 3% joblessness, a level economists consider as full employment: "We need a lot of skilled trades to come in and move our economy forward."
Police, fire and ambulance services face “a lot of work” in standardizing 911 calls following a critical telecom report, says a national advocate. A CRTC study concluded the emergency system is so uneven that regulators could not determine how much it actually costs: "A lot of work needs to be done."
Shipowners warn of a winter-long legal battle over an obscure U.S. regulation. Washington’s Environmental Protection Agency has given St. Lawrence Seaway shippers till March 2014 to comply with a new rule on ballast: "We don't have much time to get this resolved."
Newly-released documents give a glimpse into one of the most tense job interviews in the country. Bank of Canada records disclose the grilling of candidates for the $431,800-a year governorship. The questionnaire was prepared by an Ottawa headhunting firm and disclosed through Access to Information.
The author, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock's tradition: "With the success of Robocalls, strategists may consider their next move: a free GPS to every Canadian. On Election Day, a built-in module would take over..."
Roy McMurtry is the judge who gave Canada gay marriage. He’s written his memoirs. Finally, Canadians are to learn the whole remarkable story of how the Ontario Court of Appeals overturned 137 years of family law. Unfortunately, they won't hear it from Roy McMurtry.
A twelve-year legal battle over federal powers to search lawyers’ files is bound for the Supreme Court at last. Justices will hear an appeal on whether lawyers must submit to warrantless searches and keep records of clients' ID: "This is a matter of significance."
