The Senate last night passed into law a private bill extending unpaid funeral leave for Canadians stricken by death in the family. The bill passed both House and Senate without dissent: "Parliament can work."
Iain Stewart, president of the Public Health Agency, today faces arrest by the Commons Sergeant-at-Arms if he fails to appear for a public shaming in the House by 3:30 pm Eastern. Stewart in a strained appearance by video at the Commons health committee said he was unsure if he''ll appear to face formal censure: "Is that what this is about, Mr. Stewart, your own hide?"
The CBC failed to disclose financial interests of another pundit for the third time in the past year, records show. Calgary economist Trevor Tombe received a sole-sourced federal contract while criticizing the Alberta government in online commentaries. Pundits’ interests must be disclosed under a network ethics code and directive from the CBC ombudsman: "CBC needs to do better in this area."
The Public Health Agency in an internal memo last July 31 predicted a “reasonable best case scenario” that the pandemic would peter out with relatively low infection rates. Covid instead erupted in a second wave that tripled the death count and prompted lockdowns nationwide: "We need to strike the right balance."
A subsidized newspaper that petitioned for federal aid has been cited by a Nova Scotia judge for wrongfully firing a 39-year employee without notice or severance. Layoffs at the Halifax Chronicle Herald occurred though the publisher received pandemic wage subsidies and payroll rebates under a $595 million media bailout: "An employee of 39 years has earned a moral right to be treated with dignity."
An industry-financed rail compensation fund intended to save taxpayers the cost of cleanup from a catastrophic oil spill totals just $87 million in its fifth year. Claims from the fatal 2013 Lac-Mégantic wreck were almost $1.5 billion: "The Fund was set up to ensure polluters pay and not Canadian taxpayers."
Federal regulators should be more transparent with investigations of environmental scofflaws, say MPs. The Commons environment committee expressed unease over a settlement with Volkswagen at a fraction what the automaker paid to U.S. regulators: "This works out to about $55,000 per vehicle in the United States versus $1,500 per vehicle in Canada."
The Supreme Court judge who upheld the federal carbon tax yesterday said all Canadians must do their part to lower carbon emissions, but did not detail his own efforts to fight climate change. “It’s not everybody for instance who can use a bicycle,” said Chief Justice Richard Wagner, who is provided a car with chauffeur: "You have to try your best."
MPs yesterday in a 176-150 vote censured the president of the Public Health Agency, Iain Stewart, and summoned him to the bar of the House to be formally cited for contempt. It is the first public shaming of a federal executive on the floor of the Commons in 130 years: "We settle this by democracy."
Heritage Minister Steven Gulbeault’s department plans a pre-election advertising blitz on racism to “deal with pressing, urgent or emergency-driven marketing that may arise.” The "social cohesion" campaign targeting white voters is set for launch in September: 'It is targeted to non-racialized Canadians, middle aged adults and non-racialized Canadian adults.'
Police unions should not “protect officers from consequences of malfeasance,” the chair of the Commons public safety committee said yesterday. The committee in a report recommended RCMP officers cited for racial profiling be publicly named: "I would stand by that comment."
MPs yesterday banned telephone voting in an expected pandemic election, a measure sought by cabinet. The House affairs committee by a 6-5 vote prohibited returning officers from collecting votes by phone under an obscure provision of the Canada Elections Act: "This is pretty significant."
Iain Stewart, president of the Public Health Agency, faces censure for contempt of Parliament over the hiring of Chinese scientists at a federal lab. The Agency defied MPs in refusing to disclose documents concerning an RCMP raid that led to the researchers’ firing January 20. “People do sneak through,” a cabinet appointee said yesterday.
Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier in a report to Parliament said her own agency defaulted on more than $200,000 in credit charges. The costs were run up on government-issue credit cards used by employees: "We note the increased pressure to spend budgets at fiscal year-end."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday joined a Commons majority in passing a Bloc motion declaring Québec a French nation, 281-2. Trudeau did not speak on the motion. Thirty-four MPs abstained: "There will be consequences."
