The Department of Employment yesterday tightened migrant hiring as new figures showed 766,520 temporary foreign worker permits were issued last year. The number was in addition to 982,880 foreign students able to work in Canada and a general immigration quota of 465,000: "We know it’s time to ease our reliance on foreign workers."
Catherine Tait, the $497,000-a year CEO of the CBC, lied to Parliament in finagling a budget hike and millions in bonus money for executives, say members of the Commons heritage committee. MPs voted 6-5 to summon Tait for questioning by April 9: "Miss Tait actually lied."
Public Works Minister Jean-Yves Duclos yesterday confirmed millions were stolen through double-billing by federal subcontractors over a period of four years. “We need to do better when it comes to ensuring the integrity and reputation of our procurement system,” he told reporters: "This is a troubling outcome."
Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre yesterday said he will introduce a vote of non-confidence to dissolve the 44th Parliament “so Canadians can vote in a carbon tax election.” It followed the Commons’ rejection of a Conservative motion to block a 23 percent increase in the tax April 1: "We are not going to put up with it."
Cabinet spends more money collecting an equity tax on vacant, foreign-owned property than it raises in tax revenue, records show. "Why can we not make the government simpler?” asked Conservative MP Adam Chambers (Simcoe North, Ont.), who requested the figures: "The form is six pages long."
It is “incredible” anyone would believe Government of Alberta claims about its share of the Canada Pension Plan, says a Liberal-appointed Senator. Figures were absurd, said Senator Donna Dasko (Ont.), a former executive with the polling firm Environics Research Group Ltd.: "Who would ever believe them?"
New Democrat MP Brian Masse (Windsor West, Ont.) yesterday apologized after suggesting there would be no end to anti-Semitism until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza. The MP earlier described conditions there as genocidal: "I am thinking of my area in Windsor-Detroit where outside of the Middle East we have the largest Muslim population."
It is “fairly common” for federal employees to moonlight as contractors, says a former Department of National Defence employee who worked as an ArriveCan supplier. David Yeo, CEO of Dalian Enterprises Inc. of Ottawa, yesterday said plenty of public servants “have a little side gig.”
Canadians who think Ottawa is corrupt should “take a look at Afghanistan,” the parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs said yesterday. Liberal MP Pam Damoff (Oakville-North Burlington, Ont.) told the Commons ethics committee her government is also better than Russia’s: "Take a look at what is going on in the Middle East right now if you actually want to see countries where there are terrorists running a country."
The Department of Public Safety in a briefing note acknowledges popular support for mandatory registration of foreign agents in Canada. Attorney General Arif Virani has rejected any standalone registry: "There is broad support for a registry."
A new Housing Act will not specifically build more houses, officials acknowledged yesterday. Members of the Commons finance committee questioned the point of the legislation: "You’re presumably putting gas in the car to drive it."
Small business has received 14¢ on the dollar in carbon tax rebates promised four years ago, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. The figure follows repeated appeals from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for full payment of promised rebates: 'Enterprises are the backbone of the economy.'
An unnamed Canadian delegate to the last United Nations Climate Conference booked a $1,822-a night Dubai hotel suite, records show. The delegation led by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault cost taxpayers more than $1.3 million overall: "Together we will carve a brighter future."
Cabinet will not “pick sides” in Israel’s war with Hamas, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said yesterday. Joly made the remark as the Commons passed by a 204 to 117 vote a New Democrat motion to end the conflict: "Where do we stand?"
Canadian cellphone customers are “getting more for less,” the CEO of Rogers Communications yesterday assured MPs. Members of the Commons industry committee ridiculed the testimony by Tony Staffieri: "Canadians are telling us different."
