The Department of Public Works quietly awarded millions in untendered contract fees to the nation’s largest newspaper chain twelve days after announcing a media bailout, records show. The sole-sourced contract to Postmedia Network Inc. was the largest of its kind approved for “communications research services”.
A bill to ban junk food advertising to children will cost industry at least $956 million, according to lobbyists’ submissions to Health Canada obtained through Access To Information. The bill is one Senate vote away from becoming law: "A blunt instrument is being applied here."
Banks, radio stations and other federally-regulated employers cannot work unpaid student interns more than 40 hours a week under proposed Canada Labour Code regulations. The rules mirror a 2015 New Democrat bill prompted by student deaths: "It’s something they have been asking for, for a very long time."
Senate amendments to an oil and gas bill appear ghostwritten by lobbyists, say Liberal MPs. The Commons will reject revisions that fail to restore “trust in the process”, officials said: "Some of those amendments in the package come directly from oil lobbyists."
Transport Canada proposes the strictest regulations yet on oceangoing vessels to curb the spread of invasive water species. Zebra mussels, sea lampreys and other pests have cost millions, said the department: "They were the ones who created the loopholes in the first place."
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “Premier Ford may be immortalized with a monument built of flexible, six-feet long tube, bearing a tiny camera…”
Elections Canada investigators have waged a four-month manhunt for sponsors of a fake news item targeting New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh. Access To Information records indicate the hoax was traced to a company registered in Israel: ‘The identity is unknown.’
The nation’s postmasters yesterday said they reached final settlement in a 27-year pay equity dispute with Canada Post. A federal judge in 2016 called the delay proof of a failed pay equity system: "It has been a struggle to have their rights recognized."
The Senate by an 86 to 3 vote yesterday passed a bill to rewrite the Fisheries Act. Senators approved amendments sought by industry lobbyists to narrow the definition of protected habitat: "I know there continues to be some questions over the need for higher standards."
A tweet by a Manitoba senator yesterday prompted members of the Senate budget committee to propose a review of social media practices. All senators’ Twitter accounts should be examined, the committee was told: "Senators must be held to a higher standard."
MPs on the Commons public accounts committee yesterday said there is little chance cabinet will increase funding for the Auditor General’s office. Auditors will abandon audits of cybersecurity, employee travel and other issues after they were denied an extra $10.8 million: "We have money for everything, except this."
Former labour minister Kellie Leitch in a farewell speech to the Commons said “not all Canadians are tolerant”, and urged MPs to confront controversial issues. Leitch complained she was targeted with hurtful incidents dating from the 2015 general election: "I was subjected to the worst type of threats online."
A $595 million bailout for federally-approved news media may cost more than budgeted, the Department of Finance yesterday told the Senate national finance committee. Costs may “not be proved entirely accurate”, said Assistant Deputy Finance Minister Brian Ernewein.
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. was the only company invited to participate in a Department of Public Works review of its Government-Wide Integrity Regime, the Commons government operations committee was told yesterday. The invitation came as the company prepared for a pending trial on fraud and bribery charges: "Why was SNC-Lavalin brought in?"
A third or more of Canadians in four provinces oppose the carbon tax, according to in-house polling by the Privy Council Office. Pre-election research obtained through Access To Information shows opposition runs as high as 44 percent on the Prairies: 'Opponents felt it was a new form of taxation that mostly hurt the little guy."
