The Department of Finance is at a loss to explain how it mistakenly set a $30 million sugar tax, then withdrew it by special amendment. Canada's largest sugar refiner said the tariff error would have disrupted a longstanding policy: "It didn't make any sense whatsoever."
The Department of Agriculture’s removal from meat inspection for the first time in 146 years should eliminate “confusion and finger-pointing” over food safety, legislators and analysts tell Blacklock’s: "There was plenty of blame to go around."
Opposition MPs propose that parliamentary watchdogs gain new powers to subpoena documents and enforce regulations. It follows complaints by federal commissioners that legislation is weak and obsolete: "That's the way to get the type of democracy we want."
A Department of Finance error that meant a $30 million sugar tax is being remedied following appeals from industry. A trade group said a mistaken tariff hike on Brazilian imports would have forced the closure of at least one Canadian sugar refinery: "We would have been a casualty."
Canada Post should revive its 19th century banking business as a means to bolster revenues, says an Ottawa think-tank. The corporation disbanded its Postal Savings Banks after a century of use in 1968: “It’s something just about every other country has.”
Government investment is “not the right approach” to resolving internet failings, says a Crown executive. A federal study warns direct federal competition to provide inexpensive, accessible broadband service would provoke an outcry from industry: "The private sector is the owner."
The last decade has seen little real growth in federal public sector wages despite contrary claims, says the Parliamentary Budget Office. Inflation and new hiring, not fat bonuses, were responsible for salary costs: 'You hire a bunch and fire a bunch.'
Industry Canada lacks a “clear strategy” on internet policy but cannot serve millions of Canadians priced out of the market without offending industry, says a Crown study: "If left on its own, the fragmented environment in Canada will not align itself in a consistent fashion."
Enbridge Pipelines Inc. has won intervener status in a gag lawsuit against the National Energy Board. Critics fear the decision will make the Federal Court case slower and more costly. Enbridge did not comment: "It will drive up the cost of this proceeding."
Housing starts nationwide have dropped sharply with construction of single family homes down in 4 of 5 cities, reports the federal insurer CMHC. Only three provinces saw a general increase in starts so far this year: "The economy is having an impact."
Industry Canada has “confused international markets” with its veto of the sale of a Manitoba telecom asset, a former CRTC regulator tells Blacklock’s. The department blocked the $520 million sale of Manitoba's largest fibre-optic network to an Egyptian buyer: "Terrible."
Canada Revenue auditors are prowling Auto Trader magazine, Craigslist and municipal building permits in a multi-million dollar crackdown on tax cheats, documents show. The strategies are detailed in tax office reports: “Building permits proved to be an excellent source of information.”
Air Canada has been ordered to halt liver enzyme testing of employees to ensure they don’t drink at home. CUPE won the arbitrator's order pending a full hearing on the case of a woman flight attendant tested to see if she was sober off-duty: "It is a violation of privacy."
Natural Resources Canada is spending on research for “clean coal” technology that is commercially unviable without a price on carbon emissions, says an expert: 'Who'd build a plant 10% less efficient when you’re not forced to do that?'
Cabinet has taken another step to slapping $1 billion worth of tariffs on U.S. goods from Wisconsin cheese to Washington apples. The World Trade Organization complied with Canada's request for a panel hearing in a five-year dispute over meat labeling.
