Blacklock's Reporter

Benjamin Perrin, former counsel in Stephen Harper’s office, writes a provocative book, almost calculatingly so. “I’m a white male law professor and a settler,” writes Perrin. At one point he appears to liken the jailing of Indigenous prisoners to the crucifixion of Jesus. “I see Jesus as someone who was wrongfully convicted and executed by an occupying power,” he says.

“I unreservedly apologize for my role in perpetuating the criminal justice system and supporting ‘tough on crime’ laws and policies earlier in my career, especially in 2012-2013 when I was on leave from my job as a law professor to advise Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper,” writes Perrin. “He is responsible for his decisions. But I am responsible for the advice that I gave and didn’t give.”

Perrin’s Indictment: The Criminal Justice System On Trial advocates “transformative justice.” The remedies he proposes have been articulated by Olivia Chow and the John Howard Society.

A judicial inquiry into alleged Chinese election fraud is expected to "follow the evidence" in probing party nomination meetings, cabinet said yesterday. Documents to date have cited irregularities at a 2019 Liberal Party nomination won by MP Han Dong (Don Valley North, Ont.): "Follow the evidence."

There will be no recession, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem yesterday assured reporters. Macklem quickly modified his remarks to caution there could be a “technical recession” but not what most Canadians “think of when they think of a recession.”

Replacement workers are used in 40 percent of strikes and lockouts in the federally regulated private sector, according to labour department figures. Cabinet has promised by year’s end it will introduce a bill to ban the practice: "You are looking at passing the bill next year?"

A tax hike on the wealthiest tax filers will affect fewer than 26,000 people and raise less money that cabinet expected, the Budget Office said yesterday. The tax increase followed a Commons finance committee recommendation to “close the growing income gap.”

Newly-declassified cabinet records disclose then-Energy Minister Pat Carney feared a national unity crisis over the 1986 collapse in oil prices. “We should do something about it!!” Carney wrote in a memo to cabinet: "The benefit of lower oil prices accrue almost exclusively to central Canada."

Former New Democrat leader Thomas Mulcair yesterday was cited by a national broadcast ombudsman for spreading misinformation in a radio show. The station was ordered to read a correction on the air: "The public is entitled to expect that hosts and commentators will convey accurate information."

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland yesterday would not say if she will use statutory powers to direct the Financial Consumer Agency to investigate public complaints. Access To Information records show the federal Agency did not contact any of 27,323 bank customers who wrote to complain of breaches of the Bank Act: "It is window dressing."

A confidential 1986 cabinet memo proposed massive job and service cuts at the post office as the only way to eliminate recurring deficits, Access To Information records show. Then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney dropped the plan as “too Draconian,” he said: "Measures would be unpopular with the public and the probability of labour unrest could not be discounted."

A secret 1986 federal task force proposed cabinet consider selling the Royal Canadian Mint. Access To Information records released yesterday indicate the proposal was reviewed by cabinet as part of a privatization drive: "The strategy is for the government to divest itself of those assets which are no longer fulfilling public policy objectives."

The Bank of Canada says it is worried by rising gas prices and will hike interest rates again this fall “if needed.” The Bank yesterday held its prime rate on interbank loans at five percent, the highest in 22 years: "With the recent increase in gasoline prices, inflation is expected to be higher in the near term."

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada did not follow up any of more than 27,000 consumer complaints it received against banks in the past five years, Access To Information records show. Parliament created the Agency to "protect the rights" of bank customers. Judith Robertson, cabinet’s $285,000-a year Commissioner responsible for the Agency, refused an interview: "Thank you and have a nice day."

Food costs continue to rise faster than the headline inflation rate, Statistics Canada figures showed yesterday. Prices of the most basic family staples were running at 10 to 18 percent more year over year ahead of today’s Bank of Canada interest rate announcement: "We have been surprised."

The CRTC yesterday rejected a 12 percent increase in rates for “skinny basic” cable and satellite TV. Data show more than a million Canadians subscribe to $25 monthly packages introduced in 2015: "I can’t remember the last time I’ve had a $25 bill for television."

A ban on clown pants for police on duty has been struck down by a Québec judge. Wearing irregular clothing to illustrate labour grievances is a constitutionally protected act of free expression, ruled Québec Superior Court: "It protects not only accepted opinions but also those which disturb, even those which shock."