A cabinet bill to set new rules for a 2021 pandemic election hangs by a typo. Conservative MP Brad Vis (Mission-Matsqui, B.C.) yesterday stunned the Commons by announcing he’d uncovered a major discrepancy in the legal text of the bill: "Oh, no."
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson yesterday said he’s focused on “keeping plastics in the economy.” Testifying at the Commons environment committee, Wilkinson wavered on a pledge to blacklist plastics as toxic under federal law though he was asked six times: "Can I just get confirmation you are committed?"
The Commons yesterday by a 178-155 vote gave Second Reading to a bill threatening steep fines or jail for animal rights activists who trespass in poultry and livestock pens. It follows a 2019 recommendation from the House agriculture committee: "Are we free game for protesters?"
Tax write-offs cost more than $3.3 billion last year, an increase of millions over 2019, according to an internal Canada Revenue Agency audit. The report disclosed the Agency typically “stockpiled” unrecoverable taxes for write-downs: "An uncollectible amount can be written off at any time."
A bill to expand carbon tax exemptions for farmers is crucial as cabinet hikes rates every year until 2030, the Commons agriculture committee was told yesterday. “Farmers are struggling now,” said Conservative MP Philip Lawrence (Northumberland-Peterborough South, Ont.), sponsor of the bill.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday would not set any date for a federal budget, the first since 2019. Trudeau told reporters pandemic management was a greater priority: "Of all the money invested in helping Canadians get through this pandemic, eight or nine of every ten dollars has come from the federal government."
A bill to legalize bookmaking will not eliminate black market gaming and loansharking, the Commons justice committee said yesterday. Cabinet in 2016 rejected an identical bill on warnings that public regulators could not compete with private bookies: "Their motivation is making money and greed."
The Commons transport committee yesterday by unanimous vote scheduled hearings on rail safety seven years after the fiery Lac-Mégantic wreck. A February 25 federal audit faulted the Department of Transport for gaps in rail inspections: "Communities are worried."
A federal bank, Export Development Canada, approved more than $3 billion in loan guarantees and insurance on exports to China last year after claiming to enact a human rights policy, according to Access To Information records. “We truly do believe in responsible business,” Mairead Lavery, the $458,000-a year CEO of the Crown bank, earlier told the Commons finance committee: "We all have a role to play in defending human rights."
We Charity co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger have until Friday to testify to the Commons ethics committee on conflicts of interest or face threatened arrest for defying Parliament. “I will sign the summons immediately,” Conservative MP Chris Warkentin (Grande Prairie-Mackenzie, Alta.), chair of the committee, said yesterday.
The Department of Finance yesterday declined comment on its appointment as feminist advisor an Alberta economist who published profane tweets about “men and their horseshit,” and ridiculed male legislators as juvenile and pathetic. “Deal with it,” tweeted Lindsay Tedds, an associate professor at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.
Cabinet is committed to raising last year's immigration levels 117 percent to the highest rate in Canadian history, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said yesterday. This year’s quota eclipses the previous record of 400,900 immigrants set in 1913: "Those who possess the skills and experience will accelerate our economic recovery."
Parks Canada proposes to introduce Mandarin-language programs in celebration of “a great Canadian hero,” Maoist propaganda figure Dr. Norman Bethune. The agency said Bethune’s Ontario birthplace will become a shrine to the Communist surgeon: "The man is a giant!"
A Toronto MP expelled from the Liberal caucus for nepotism approved severance pay of $9,391 to her sister. The Commons yesterday ordered MP Yasmin Ratansi (Don Valley East, Ont.) to pay the money back: "The Board noted Ms. Ratansi’s lack of cooperation."
A federal climate bureau spent more than $600 million last year, says an internal audit. Spending did not include $800,000 in annual staff time to manage newly-detailed carbon offset regulations: "Doing nothing is not an option."
