The Department of Public Works has drafted an ethics test for clothing suppliers to the federal government. It follows complaints over working conditions at garment factories overseas: "The federal government is concerned about ethically responsible practices in the manufacturing of apparel."
Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly yesterday said she is saddened by the latest collapse of Canadian dailies, but proposed no new initiatives to aid publishers. Closures include an Ontario daily that predates Confederation: "I'm sad."
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says travelers whose privacy rights are breached at border crossings can always sue for damages. Goodale yesterday told the Senate national security committee that searches of cellphones, laptops and electronic tablets by Customs agents are commonplace: "Officers have that power right now."
The Competition Bureau is in Federal Court against makers of the AbTronic X2 for alleged false or misleading TV claims. Investigators disclosed in an affidavit the AbTronic was under investigation for two years. A consumers' advocate questioned the Bureau's priorities: "There are dozens of issues that matter more to consumers."
The Commons heritage committee yesterday took just 36 minutes to debate and approve a bill proclaiming Charlottetown as the birthplace of Confederation. MPs noted neither women nor Indigenous people were invited to the 1864 Charlottetown Conference that led to union of the colonies: "The 150th anniversary of Confederation has been a little bit whitewashed."
The Commons today will vote to repeal a 1923 ban on recreational marijuana. The bill must still clear the Senate. Cabinet said final passage is urgently required to meet a July 1, 2018 deadline: "What happens when the kids go to school stoned?"
Auditor General Michael Ferguson says the Canada Revenue Agency misrepresented the number of errors it makes in answering taxpayers’ questions. The rate was five, even 10 times higher than that claimed by the Agency, Ferguson told the Commons public accounts committee: "They need to resolve this very quickly."
A federal lawsuit alleges the RCMP waited more than five years to rule on a routine staff grievance. An Alberta officer complained the Mounties still haven’t issued a decision on the complaint filed April 25, 2012: "They can pretty much do what they want."
The Canada Revenue Agency is spending nearly $80,000 on French lessons for a single dyslexic employee. The Agency is mandated by law to provide bilingual service under the Official Languages Act: "There has to be a limit."
Canada Post is crediting the internet with driving it to an expected fourth consecutive annual profit. The post office in a third quarter financial report said parcel deliveries are up by millions: "Canada Post has reinvented itself."
The Canada Revenue Agency will not compensate Canadians penalized on their taxes after getting bad advice from agents. Members of the Commons finance committee yesterday criticized a 30 percent failure rate involving Agency responses to taxpayers’ questions: “It is not a success.”
Municipalities face billions in costs to replace lead water lines, the Commons infrastructure committee was told yesterday. Expert witnesses testified as many as 500,000 homes nationwide are exposed to lead-tainted tap water: "It's a significant problem."
Federal authorities say they are struggling with estimates of how many billions are hidden offshore by tax evaders. The Canada Revenue Agency yesterday said they will complete a first-ever study next year: "This is not easy for people to calculate."
A 2016 pay equity settlement with female staff at Statistics Canada will cost $46.4 million, by official estimate. Women who were underpaid for years have received average settlements of $3,800 to date. Cabinet has promised to introduce 2018 legislation mandating pay equity: "We are making every effort."
The CRTC after four years of review is recommending telecom firms block so-called “spoofing” calls with fake identification. Regulations are needed to intercept unwanted nuisance calls from underground telemarketers, said the agency: "Can it be done effectively?"
