A loophole in a cabinet bill to curb usury would still allow payday lenders to charge 365 percent interest, the Department of Finance confirms. One senator described the clause in the bill as inexplicable: "It’s a lousy situation."
Attorney General David Lametti says he will review changes in federal law to allow postal inspectors to open suspicious letters. The Canada Post Corporation Act states inspectors may only open larger packages suspected of carrying contraband: "I am open to looking at that."
New data confirm more small businesses have gone deeper in debt. Figures from a federal loan guarantee program show applications approved last year jumped 34 percent: "That is the price we have to pay."
Blacklock's pauses for the Victoria Day observance with warmest wishes to friends and subscribers. We're back tomorrow -- The Editor.
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom writes: “O Canada en français. It’s where the arm prepares to bear the cross…”
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault yesterday dismissed Budget Office arithmetic showing climate change regulations will cost Canadians thousands a year. Guilbeault said the numbers were wrong but provided none of his own: "My office will be happy to provide you with a number of numbers with which we disagree."
Major changes to the federal election map should be in place in 2024, Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault said yesterday. Boundary changes would remove seats in Toronto and northern Ontario and add seats in Alberta and British Columbia: 'We will be ready to hold an election on the new map should one be called.'
Canadians are "upset and in a bad mood" over air travel, says Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. Testifying at the Senate transport committee, Alghabra said he recognized consumers are fed up with poor service: "People are tired, exhausted and losing faith."
Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen yesterday said builders must construct more homes but outlined no new proposals to boost supply. Builders and analysts appealed for a cut in taxes and mandatory charges on new construction: "Governments need to stop adding costs to homes."
A far-reaching clause in cabinet’s 430-page omnibus budget bill is shocking, says the Canadian Bankers Association. Cabinet seeks to charge GST on credit card issuers with retroactive audits back to 1990: "This is coming as a complete shock."
China Central Television, voice of the Communist Party, must be removed from the CRTC’s approved list of programs for distribution in Canada, MPs said yesterday. It follows a 2022 federal ban on state-run Russia Today: "In mainstream society they have no idea what is happening in our Chinese community."
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault yesterday threatened criminal sanctions against coal-burning provinces that fail to comply with climate change regulations. His remarks came a day after Saskatchewan’s Premier said the province will run its coal and gas-fired power plants so long as they're useful: "Not complying with this regulation would be a violation of Canada’s Criminal Code."
Legalization of marijuana has normalized cannabis use by 13-year olds, says a Department of Health report. Children considered it a natural relaxant from ordinary stresses like schoolwork or loneliness, said federal research: "Cannabis use poses a significant health risk during adolescence, in particular interfering with brain development."
The Department of Health says it worries private employers who currently provide dental coverage for most Canadians nationwide will offload costs onto taxpayers as cabinet expands its national dentacare program. “It is something that we are concerned about,” the head of the department’s dental task force yesterday told the Senate social affairs committee: 'Are there any mechanisms the government can use to prevent clawing back coverage by insurance companies?'
CMHC in the largest known privacy breach of any federal agency last year mistakenly emailed personal information on 45,000 homeowners to an unnamed bank. The Privacy Commissioner was never notified, according to newly-disclosed records: "An email with an MS Excel attachment was sent."
