Money managers should prepare for a flood of climate lawsuits, the federal Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions said yesterday. Canadian courts to date have dismissed liability claims by environmental groups: "Hard to predict."
The labour department says a proposal to mandate free sanitary products for women employees at federally regulated job sites is contentious. “Not providing these products in a private manner could be discriminatory towards gender diverse employees,” wrote staff.
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson for the first time acknowledges climate change programs will see Canadians pay higher net costs for fuel. Wilkinson also called the carbon tax a “carbon tax,” a phrase never used by his department: "Politicians have an obligation to the public to tell them the straight goods."
Taxpayers have paid pandemic relief to five banks operating in Canada including branches of the state-run Bank of China Ltd. The Prime Minister’s Office did not comment: "It’s not good news for anyone if local businesses have to close shop."
The Department of Environment in an educational program for schoolchildren recommends kids avoid party balloons as pollutants. Cabinet proposes to list plastic as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act: "You are never too young or too old to start taking climate action."
An all-white, female RCMP civilian board says cabinet should appoint an Indigenous member and “consider” appointing a Black person in the aftermath of Black Lives Matters protests. The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission made its recommendation to the Commons public safety committee: "The only way the public complaint process works is if people trust the system."
Immigrants are more likely to apply for citizenship to vote rather than to seek a Canadian passport, says in-house research by the Department of Citizenship. Foreigners said they prized the country’s freedom of speech: 'It was for my children.'
Governor General Julie Payette yesterday in a YouTube address to the nation appealed to Canadians to follow her example of self-sacrifice and “stay home except for necessities and essential work.” Payette made no mention of a cross-country, business class flight by her secretary last August: "I appeal to your sense of duty."
The Privy Council Office at the height of Black Lives Matter protests confidentially polled Canadians on whether to take guns from police. Research was conducted after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau knelt at a demonstration on Parliament Hill: "The Privy Council Office wanted to assess the perceptions of Canadians on government priorities."
The Department of Agriculture yesterday defended a sole-sourced training contract to a company led by a former cabinet minister’s brother. Staff said they hired Victor Tootoo’s firm after Googling websites of his competitors: 'It appeared to be a good fit.'
The national archives refuse to declassify cabinet records from Pierre Trudeau’s last tumultuous term as prime minister though secret files were to be unsealed years ago. The agency gave no reason: "They are first evaluated against privacy considerations."
The federal Business Development Bank approved a $100,000 taxpayer-backed loan to a delinquent borrower in a twenty-minute breakfast meeting at a Smitty’s Restaurant, according to court records. The loan was approved so quickly a Bank officer did not print paper copies of the contract: "The transaction appears to have been done hastily."
The Privy Council Office in a scramble for pandemic relief programs confidentially polled Canadians on whether to send free money to everyone in the country, all 37 million of them. Authorities later dropped the idea: "Yes, there are limits."
Economic Development Minister Mélanie Joly yesterday said she played no role in the awarding of more than $42,000 in federal funds to her boyfriend’s company. Joly in a statement through her press secretary did not explain if she received any dividends or share of profits from the firm: "She has recused herself."
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair yesterday confirmed hundreds of federal prisoners are to be given priority access to Covid-19 vaccines. “For others, they’ll simply wait their turn as every other Canadian must wait their turn,” said Blair.
