Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer yesterday would not commit any future Conservative cabinet to repealing a $595 million media bailout under the Income Tax Act. His remarks followed disclosure of an untendered $5.5 million federal contract for “communications research services” to Postmedia that endorsed Conservatives in the 2015 campaign: "We’re going to have our own plan."
A federal judge has faulted the Canadian Human Rights Commission for a slipshod review of a discrimination complaint. Investigators “only heard one side of the story” and quickly closed the case, wrote Federal Court Justice Susan Elliott: "That failure is inexplicable."
MPs yesterday passed into law a bill to ban the capture of live whales for profit. No federal license has been issued for whale capture in Canadian waters since 1992: "This bill does not help one single marine mammal that is currently living in captivity."
Promised federal monitoring of fake election news appears weak and slow, New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh yesterday told reporters. Singh is the subject of a first-ever Elections Canada probe of fake news targeting a candidate: "We've got to do better."
The Department of Agriculture will consider expanding taxpayer-guaranteed farm loans in 2020, says a report. Researchers noted farm debt in Canada has grown 56 percent since 2009 to more than $98 billion: "I remember the 1980s."
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."
