A federal out-of-court settlement with Volkswagen over polluting diesel cars shows Canada is “hesitant, weak and inadequate” in enforcing its own laws, the Commons environment committee was told yesterday. The Department of Environment settled with VW at a fraction of billions paid by the automaker in the United States: "This was a sophisticated illegal scheme."
A federal agency yesterday confirmed it quietly put millions more into a money-losing, door-do-door sales company in Nairobi. Taxpayer spending at M-Kopa Holdings Ltd. of Kenya to date totals $15,400,000: 'We are informed about M-Kopa’s business.'
Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna’s department approved subsidies for tennis courts, free Wi-Fi and Indigenous art exhibits in the name of public works, say auditors. “We build infrastructure for the next fifty to one hundred years,” McKenna earlier told the Commons.
Any federal bailout of Canadian airlines must be conditional on prompt cash repayment of tickets for cancelled flights, consumer advocates yesterday told the Commons transport committee. The Department of Transport has estimated passengers are owed billions: "They were forced to provide interest-free loans to the airlines."
A federal moose hunt in a national park has cost taxpayers more than $4,300 per animal. The cull at Cape Breton Highlands National Park was launched in 2015 after staff complained of “severe moose browsing.”
A Conservative bill to allow Canadians to buy interprovincial liquor by mail yesterday was introduced in the Commons. The bill would see consumers use Canada Post to bypass provincial liquor board monopolies: "There would be open free trade in this."
A federal bank hired consultants for tips on China’s “business practices” amid the arbitrary detention of two Canadian consultants in Beijing. The Business Development Bank yesterday would not say if its training included advice on avoiding arrest: "Our mission is to create more and better business."
Federal court managers in an ethics audit credit themselves with upholding “high standards” but omitted all reference to staff editing plaintiffs’ Wikipedia pages. André Bolduc, chief auditor at the Courts Administration Service, yesterday did not comment: “Disciplinary measures were taken.”
Former Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro is petitioning a federal judge to examine a refusal by the Canada Border Services Agency to grant him a Nexus travel card. Del Mastro said the decision appeared to be score-settling by political opponents: "I have been a good person my whole life."
Attorney General David Lametti yesterday said his department is reviewing whether Canadian-based pornography websites breach the Criminal Code. Twenty MPs and senators including Conservative, Liberal and Green Party members yesterday petitioned cabinet to take action: "It is happening here in Canada."
Justin Trudeau’s talent agent yesterday said he has been badgered by unnamed accusers over corporate sponsorship fees paid to the Prime Minister. Trudeau has acknowledged collecting $1,341,500 in speaking fees in the period from 2006 to 2012 including payments by federal contractors: "Have you ever been a member of the Liberal Party?"
A former Québec Liberal MP’s company needed an advance payment to meet a $237 million federal contract for pandemic ventilators. Frank Baylis said his firm had re-mortgaged buildings and asked bankers to extend lines of credit in weeks prior to winning the contract: "I didn’t speak to anybody to try and influence them to give a contract to Baylis Medical."
Pandemic lockdowns unfairly punish small business while permitting big retailers to remain open, says an Ontario judge. “Small businesses can ill afford yet further losses in this horrible year,” said Superior Court Justice Frederick Myers: "Everyone sees the apparent unfairness."
A Department of Finance executive who dismissed the cost of a $43.5 million We Charity grant in a breezy email says she was just joking. Michelle Kovacevic, assistant deputy finance minister, was questioned by the Commons ethics committee: "Have you ever knowingly misrepresented the facts?"
The Department of National Defence is refusing comment that it advised members, including young reservists, they will get rationed Covid-19 vaccinations before the frail and elderly. Health Minister Patricia Hajdu said a portion of vaccine shipments must be ‘protected’ by the federal government: "Supplies will be limited at the outset."
