Many Canadians remain wary of a federal Covid Alert app more than seventeen months after it was introduced, says internal federal research. The Department of Health questioned why smartphone users wouldn’t use the app if it could easily scan QR codes to track Covid outbreaks: "Is there a Plan B?"
Charles Robert, the $231,000-a year clerk of the House of Commons, yesterday said he is off duty following allegations of incompetence and pro-Liberal bias. The Speaker’s office said it knew nothing of his paid leave: "I have decided to take a few days away in light of recent events."
Saskatchewan Senator Denise Batters last night was expelled from the federal Conservative caucus after demanding a Party leadership review. “I will not be silenced by a leader so weak he fired me via voicemail,” said Batters.
The House of Commons yesterday threatened to cancel Hill access passes for reporters and photographers who do not disclose their vaccination status. The Parliamentary Press Gallery executive made no objection: "If they make a choice not to get the shots, they are going to deal with the consequences."
A federal judge has ruled legal challenges of mandatory vaccine orders “raise a serious issue” to be decided at trial, but declined to issue an injunction suspending the orders for the time being. “Rights protected by the Charter are not absolute,” said the Federal Court: "This motion is about the consequences."
Millions in payouts are expected under new claims to compensate federal employees for damages caused by payroll errors. Treasury Board President Mona Fortier yesterday said ongoing impacts of the Phoenix Pay System failure were far-reaching: "We know Phoenix was difficult for people."
A news story stating some people in China eat rodents as a delicacy was insensitive, says a CBC ombudsman. The reference perpetuated an ethnic stereotype that Chinese people are strange and different, the Ombudsman said: "The article went wrong."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the Covid election after staff conducted psychographic polling that showed most Canadians trusted cabinet and were “very angry” with people who didn’t follow pandemic rules, records indicate. Pollsters suggested useful messages in “exploiting” divisions among voters: “Successful segmentation of the general population depends upon exploiting the diversity.”
The Prime Minister’s Office yesterday had no comment after Sophie Grégoire Trudeau vowed to “remember always” her grandfather killed in Normandy in 1944. Mrs. Trudeau did not have a grandfather killed in Normandy in 1944: "I share this poem that I wrote in tribute to my grandfather."
A Saskatchewan senator yesterday became the first member of the federal Conservative caucus to petition for a leadership review following the Party’s third consecutive election loss. “Erin O’Toole lost this election by every measure,” Senator Denise Batters said in a video message to Party members: "You can't come back from that."
CEO Ian Scott yesterday said the CRTC “may sometimes make mistakes” but complained its work was not understood by everyday Canadians. Scott referred to public protests after the Commission reversed a 2019 policy on wholesale telecom rates: "We reversed course."
The Department of Environment yesterday acknowledged it does know the impact of climate change targets on common use of thousands of diesel and gasoline generators. “Are alternatives to fossil fuel-powered generators suitable for use in emergency situations such as power outages?” wrote staff.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says he will travel Canada by train this winter to discuss climate change. Guilbeault made no mention of frequent flyer miles logged by a predecessor, Catherine McKenna, who booked first-class flights to speak against global warming: "I’ve been at this climate fight for a long time."
Christmas caroling is unsafe, says Dr. Theresa Tam. The chief public health officer said singing indoors is not recommended this Christmas even among people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus: "Singing is not the best idea if Covid is circulating."
One of Canada’s largest newspaper chains fired 111 employees after pocketing taxpayers’ subsidies, according to court records. Federal documents confirm a $595 million newspaper bailout did not create jobs as promised: "The loss of even just one job is a tragedy."
