Blacklock's Reporter

Blacklock's reporters and contributors pause to wish you a happy Canada Day weekend. We're back on July 2 -- The Editor.

Cabinet yesterday raised by 60 percent the cap on thousands of sweetheart contracts that can be awarded to consultants without open bidding. The Office of the Procurement Ombudsman noted federal managers requested the change: "You did a terrible job – here’s another contract."

A steep fine on dirt bikers for breach of the Fisheries Act sends a message to community groups, environmental advocates said yesterday. The Brooks, Alta. Motocross Club was handed a five-figure penalty for riding through mountain streams home to near-extinct trout: "This is a precedent-setting judgment."

Music Canada yesterday faulted the Commons industry committee for an “unfortunate” study it says did not properly focus Copyright Act reforms on creators. Parliament received contradictory recommendations from MPs on revisions expected to be introduced in 2020: "We need to help creators."

You can’t shoot a woodland caribou on Crown lands under a cabinet order issued yesterday. Environment Canada acknowledged the order applies only to army bases, lighthouse stations and other federal property, and would have little impact: "It is an iconic Canadian wildlife species."

Canadians are skeptical of carbon tax rebates, says in-house research by the Privy Council Office. Federal claims that most householders will get more in rebates than they’ll pay in higher fuel taxes were dismissed as unlikely: "There was confusion about the calculations and mistrust of the math."

A U.K. index that rated Ottawa number one in public service has lowered Canada's rating amid worries on “openness”. Former Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick repeatedly cited the old results prior to his resignation over SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. allegations: "We have the most effective public service on the planet."

Elections Canada confirms voters lie about casting ballots. Newly-released research from one 2018 byelection found 66 percent of people surveyed were positive they voted, double the actual turnout: "People have a sense of civic duty and might be embarrassed to say."

The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected a challenge of employee benefit cost hikes by 174,500 government retirees. The Treasury Board defended the 2014 changes as “fair to members and to Canadian taxpayers”.

An anonymous Twitter user so profane he was blocked by MPs is a federal employee. The Public Sector Values And Ethics Code prohibits staff from outside activities that “cast doubt on your ability to perform your duties in a completely objective manner”.

Arctic sea icefields grew by nearly a third overall last year, according to newly-released federal data. The figures contradict claims by Environment Minister Catherine McKenna that the Arctic “is literally melting”.

Elections Canada should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny, a senator said yesterday. The proposal followed acknowledgment staff knew of 112,000 illegal voters on the 2015 election list, but did not have time to check “more than 68,000 poll bags” to find how many illegal ballots were cast: "So they’re not going to bother checking?"

Auditors at the Department of Foreign Affairs have uncovered improper contracting at the Singapore mission. The disclosures are the latest in an audit sweep that found cronyism and weak financial oversight at Canadian embassies overseas: "The audit team identified instances of improper procurement."

Cabinet in Access To Information documents grossly overestimated cannabis tax revenues at up to a billion a year. Actual revenues in the first six months of legal sales were a fraction of the forecast: "Organized crime does not share its data with us."

Cabinet will not say how much the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion will cost taxpayers. MPs at the only parliamentary hearing on the pipeline – a one-hour session of the Commons natural resources committee – pressed for details: "How much?"