MPs yesterday asked the House affairs committee to investigate how ex-Speaker Anthony Rota arranged a parliamentary tribute to a Waffen SS member. The Nazi military unit was named a criminal organization by the 1946 Nuremberg Tribunal for its participation in mass murders of Jews: "How in God’s name did this occur?"
Meeting a federal target to triple annual housing starts to the highest levels in Canadian history will be “difficult to attain,” CMHC said yesterday. One MP described the target of an extra 3.5 million new homes by 2030 as a fantasy: "I don’t see how we will attain it with the current environment."
Two Regina refinery workers fired for declining semi-weekly Covid tests have regained their jobs. A Saskatchewan labour arbitrator said the firings were unjustified once the men were suspended without pay: 'They had a sincere personal objection to an invasion of their bodily integrity and protection of private health information.'
Parliament must enact stern measures to counter disruptive animal activists, says the sponsor of an anti-trespassing bill. Conservative MP John Barlow (Foothills, Alta.) said six-figure fines and jailing are needed to counter groups whose “sole goal is to end animal agriculture.”
A Senator yesterday filed a formal complaint alleging sloppy journalism by CBC reporter John Paul Tasker. The parliamentary coverage was “false,” “inaccurate” and appeared to breach network standards, said the complaint to the CBC Ombudsman: 'Tasker misinterpreted information.'
A parliamentary tribute to a Waffen SS “hero” points to the need for more Holocaust education, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday. Opposition MPs expressed scorn for the Prime Minister’s remarks six days after the incident: "It is important that we learn from this."
Department of Finance in-house research rates Minister Chrystia Freeland boastful and self-congratulatory. Canadians also concluded Freeland was disconnected from economic realities on inflation and housing, said a department report: 'They were somewhat cynical and questioned what had been actually accomplished.'
Contractors don't have to build affordable apartments to qualify for a GST break because cabinet does “not want to be building cheap homes in a bad part of town,” Housing Minister Sean Fraser said yesterday. The tax break will cost $383 million a year by Budget Office estimate: "It is one of the most important things we could do."
One of Canada’s biggest discount furniture dealers yesterday agreed to pay a $3.35 million penalty for “false or misleading” advertising. The federal settlement with Dufresne Group Inc. of Winnipeg followed a Competition Bureau investigation dating from 2019: "Tactics that pressure consumers to make a purchase quickly like limited time offers must be truthful."
Federal inspectors last year imposed a record $1.54 million in fines on employers for breach of migrant labour regulations, the Department of Employment said yesterday. Thousands of inspections were completed after the department failed to do any spot checks as recently as 2017: "The department’s approach to on-site inspections was flawed."
Anthony Rota yesterday became the first Commons Speaker in 66 years to resign under threat of formal censure. All parties in the House expressed disgust after Rota sponsored a VIP welcome on Parliament Hill for a Waffen SS member: "It was embarrassing."
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem and his advisors have “all powers to do anything they want” to fight inflation regardless of consequences, the Senate was told yesterday. Senators took up Second Reading debate on a private bill seeking greater public scrutiny of Macklem: "The Governor and his team could get it wrong and the Bank Of Canada Act is of no assistance."
CMHC yesterday said it does not know how many new apartments will be built under a $383 million-a year GST holiday. Cabinet’s own estimates range from “thousands” to “millions.”
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne yesterday promised MPs a landmark bill proclaiming Canadians' “fundamental right to privacy.” However Champagne would not put the proposal in writing, frustrating members of the Commons industry committee: 'I would like to have it in front of me.'
The post office is expected to become financially self-sufficient but only in the “longer term,” says the Department of Public Works. Canada Post lost more than a half billion last year: "As the business shifts from mail to parcels, pressure on costs continues."
