Blacklock's Reporter

Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “We no longer masturbate in Ontario. That part of our sex-ed flew out the window…”

In a national census 409,065 Canadians identify themselves as Métis. They represent the 18th largest “ethnic” group in the country after Portuguese, Norwegians and Filipinos. Of course the Métis are unique, with centuries-old roots that define much of the nation’s history. And yet – Métis are a nation, but for centuries had no constitution or identifiable self-government. They rely on self-identification to count their numbers, yet “a person can identify as Métis and not be legally entitled to exercise the Métis Aboriginal right to hunt for food,” note editors of Métis in Canada.

A federal agency has cited an unnamed bank for misleading more than 300,000 customers over mortgage payments. The breach of Cost Of Borrowing Regulations occurred over a seven-year period before it was reported: 'The bank argues its customers did not suffer harm; I do not agree.'

Taxpayers have only a limited right to know how much government lawyers spend on contentious cases, says the British Columbia Information & Privacy Commission. The ruling contradicted federal decisions allowing disclosure of fees in ongoing or high-profile litigation including the Omar Khadr case: "There is no doubt a significant public interest."

Hoteliers yesterday appealed to the Canada Revenue Agency for a tax sweep of Airbnb vendors. The Agency since 2004 has targeted similar audits against eBay sellers and PayPal account holders in Canada: "Home-sharing is one thing; it’s the commercial operations we’re looking at."

A charity that won a landmark July 17 court ruling on free expression yesterday accused the Canada Revenue Agency of duplicity in appealing the judgment while promising reforms. The Ontario Superior Court struck down a 1985 policy that limits charities’ participation in policy debates; "I don't see any silver lining here."

An employer breached human rights law in laying off migrant workers ahead of Canadians, an Alberta Department of Labour adjudicator has ruled. ATCO Electric Co. said it feared it would violate federal regulations by keeping Jamaicans on staff while cutting its Canadian workforce: "There is no issue about ATCO’s good faith."

The Department of Citizenship says immigrants are more entrepreneurial than Canadians. “This helps create jobs,” staff wrote. The department yesterday did not comment on the claim based on a 2016 analysis that included business-class immigrants.

The Federal Court of Appeal has faulted the military over a routine workplace grievance that stretched into a nine-year legal battle. Judges ordered reconsideration of a claim that a medically-released veteran be allowed to sue the army for $400,000 in damages: "He did not have the opportunity to be heard."

Health Canada yesterday proposed to ban farm use of two of the nation’s most commonly used pesticide seed treatments by 2024. A manufacturers’ group described the proposal as disappointing: 'It is a serious matter.'

In-house federal research points to a growing public backlash against illegal immigrants, especially by foreign-born residents who came here lawfully. “It’s unfair,” a Department of Citizenship pollster quoted one immigrant questioned in government focus groups.

A federal ombudsman yesterday launched a review of how the Canada Revenue Agency treats taxpayers. The examination comes five months after the British Columbia Supreme Court faulted auditors for malicious prosecution of a small, family-owned business: "This examination will seek to identify gaps that may exist."

The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday confirmed two new fraud investigations against senior staff. The disclosures follow a series of internal audits over a 20-year period that uncovered wrongdoing resulting in losses of millions to taxpayers. The scope of the latest investigations include “misuse of public funds”.

Advocates yesterday petitioned cabinet to enact a statutory right to housing. Cabinet has promised to introduce legislation by October that would mandate aid for social housing and rental subsidies for low-income Canadians: "Affordability is going down the drain all over Canada."

The Canada Revenue Agency is questioning retailers with bitcoin ATMs to determine the scope of tax avoidance by speculators. Officials interviewed convenience store operators, barkeepers and coffee shop owners for details of bitcoin customers and their habits: 'There was an impression of some sort of wrongdoing.'