A federal proposal to force homeowners to use less energy will be unaffordable for some, cautions a first-ever parliamentary review. Draft changes to the National Building Code would impact owners of 14 million homes nationwide: "Not all Canadians can afford to reduce their household’s carbon footprint."
A new policy on blacklisting federal contractors convicted of wrongdoing will be detailed next month, says the Department of Public Works. Critics complain the current program punishes small business while offering a “get-out-of-jail-card” for corporate criminals: "The revised policy will be finalized in mid-December."
Canada’s trademark office is so burdened with paperwork it takes up to a year to process routine applications, says an internal audit. A Department of Industry review found staff could not locate 20 percent of paper files when auditors asked for them: 'There is a risk Canada's reputation suffers.'
A man who filed dozens of unsuccessful lawsuits, appeals and complaints in a three-year period has been declared a vexatious litigant – for the sixth time. “It is time to say enough is enough,” wrote an adjudicator with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.
A crooked bookkeeper convicted of defrauding the Canada Revenue Agency of millions must be kept behind bars in the name of public safety, an Alberta judge has ruled. Evidence showed the tax preparer falsified refunds worth $2.9 million in exchange for kickbacks from clients: 'He caused great emotional and financial hardship.'
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “A rose named after Queen Elizabeth II. Decades of reign held in pink petals and thorny stems…”
The Ethics Commissioner yesterday cited a Transportation Safety Board member appointed on condition of “good behaviour” for breach of the Conflict Of Interest Act. Paul Dittmann did not respond to an interview request. Other “good behaviour” cabinet appointees have been dismissed for non-statutory offences like billing too much for luncheons: "Each case will be examined individually on its merits."
Three Liberal-appointed senators propose to launch an Association of Feminist Parliamentarians to create a “safe space for meeting and discussions”. Membership is $25. Men are welcome but not allowed to serve as co-chairs of the executive committee: 'It's groundbreaking.'
Public Works Minister Carla Qualtrough yesterday banned use of the mail by the publisher of an anti-Semitic attack sheet. The order is rare but not unprecedented: "There is no absolute right to use the mail."
Confidential government records remain private even if they’re leaked and republished on Facebook, the British Columbia Supreme Court has ruled. The decision came in the case of personal records obtained from Nanaimo City Hall: 'The City was likely the source of the leak but I am not sure it matters.'
The incidence of contraband drugs in federal prisons actually went up after Parliament passed a Drug-Free Prisons Act, data show. Authorities report nearly 6,000 cases a year: "We keep passing new laws, plugging up the courts."
The post office yesterday said it will no longer accept any foreign mail for the duration of rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, now in their 24th day. Management also took an unusual step of detailing a take-it-or-leave-it contract offer to workers: "We are unable to accept incoming items."
A Newfoundland & Labrador chocolate factory received thousands in federal grants to create a single job, say Access To Information records. Funding was approved as then-Tourism Minister Bardish Chagger called funding by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency “quite motivational”.
Extra Employment Insurance benefits for chronically-unemployed seasonal workers will cost about $900 per claimant, cabinet yesterday estimated. A similar program ended in 2012. Typical beneficiaries were men over 45: "Times have changed."
An Ontario judge overseeing a murder trial has ruled defence counsel may ask prospective jurors if they don't like minorities. The decision comes as the Senate considers a cabinet bill to ban peremptory challenges: "We would be naïve to assume none of the members of our jury panels hold some racist or prejudiced views."
