Cabinet yesterday appointed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s favourite charity to manage a pandemic grant relief program. The Prime Minister’s wife has appeared as an "official ambassador" and public speaker at We Charity events in New York: "I’m curious how that’s not a conflict of interest?"
The Senate today will pass into law the last of a flurry of spending bills that drive the federal debt to a trillion dollars. One Senator noted bills received scant scrutiny: "A $44 billion supply bill whipped through here in forty-six seconds."
The Governor General yesterday said Canadians must be wary of “self-appointed experts” on the internet. The remarks by Julie Payette came as cabinet ponders mandatory registration of all digital media: "It’s difficult to decide what is real."
Senators yesterday expressed regret for misconduct by ex-legislator Don Meredith. An unnamed "independent expert" is to recommend compensation for employees who accused Meredith of lewd behaviour: "It is just so exasperating."
Arbitrary rules under the $71.3 billion Canada Emergency Response Benefit program discourage people from working, Opposition leader Andrew Scheer said yesterday. Conservatives proposed a descending scale of benefits instead of an all-or-nothing regulation that disqualifies applicants who earn more than $1,000 a month: "Workers are penalized for picking up shifts."
The Public Health Agency of Canada paid more than $300,000 to host a convention including meetings at a ski hill at the same time it ordered cancellation of hockey games, church services and other public events, records show. The Agency yesterday confirmed it cannot get a refund: "We take that extremely seriously."
The ex-chief of the federal public service predicts job cuts in the aftermath of the pandemic. “The federal service will be smaller,” said Michael Wernick, former $326,000-a year clerk of the Privy Council: "We saw that before."
Police unions have “frequently been a huge problem” in protecting bad officers, says the Liberal chair of the Commons public safety committee. The RCMP Commissioner told a hearing on police abuses she “won’t appreciate getting thrown under the bus” by union members.
The Canadian Medical Association is petitioning Parliament for $300,000 grants to families of front line health care workers who die of Covid-19. Dr. Sandy Buchman, association president, blamed the Public Health Agency for failing to stock up on masks, goggles, face shields and other pandemic supplies: "We would never permit a firefighter to go into a burning building without adequate protection."
Legislators will extend until September a suspension without pay for Senator Lynn Beyak (Ont.). The Senate deferred a vote on reinstating Beyak after she was compelled to attend hours of Indigenous sensitivity training: "She has learned."
A federal judge is being asked to rule on whether shouting constitutes workplace harassment. A National Research Council investigation that dismissed a 'raised voice' complaint is being challenged in Federal Court: 'You are a lowly advisor, nothing else.'
Taxpayers are to compensate ex-staff of former senator Don Meredith following a sexual harassment investigation. The Senate committee on internal economy meets tomorrow to discuss claims: "What are you wearing? Can you send me a picture?"
The recession could knock an average $100,000 off home prices in the largest Western cities, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation warned yesterday. Average prices in Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal will rebound sooner, said analysts: "There is a lot of uncertainty out there."
Canadian airlines owe customers billions for prepaid travel cancelled due to the pandemic, says the Department of Transport. Airline executives told the Commons health committee the industry will take years to recover: "We are where we are."
Foreign Minister Françoise-Philippe Champagne yesterday said he refinanced $1.2 million in Bank of China mortgages with a Canadian bank. Champagne would not say if he previously received preferential terms from the People's Republic: "I feel very transparent."
