Federal employees fear being branded as rats or snitches if they report wrongdoing, says a report commissioned by the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. The Office declined to say how much it paid for the psychoanalytical study: "This sends a chilling message."
Parks Canada in a directive coinciding with Canada 150 observances says it is no longer buying historic properties. Authorities blamed insufficient funding. The agency added it has no plans to revive a 2007 program that offered subsidies to property owners to restore historic buildings: "It’s linked to a budget plan that we don’t have."
A federal ombudsman appointed to answer consumers’ banking complaints did not levy a single fine in 2016, according to its latest Annual Report. The Financial Consumer Agency did not comment: "Nobody has reviewed how this benefits Canadian consumers."
The Canadian Transportation Agency has referred 8 in 10 complaints from air passengers to mediation where customers were offered modest settlements like frequent flyer points. One MP questioned the close relationship between the regulator and commercial airlines: "That's not consumer protection."
A Liberal senator says a cabinet bill promising greater independence for Statistics Canada still sanctions political coercion. Three former chief statisticians have protested the bill fails to outlaw cabinet influence in data gathering: "The public would not be aware."
A Tax Court judge has dismissed thousands of dollars in business write-offs claimed by a former child actor. Claims included $4,256 for DVDs and theatre tickets written off as “research and development”.
We’re thankful this holiday to friends and subscribers for your support as Blacklock’s embarks on a fifth great year of independent, all-original Canadian journalism. On behalf of reporters and contributors, please accept our thanks.
Comptroller General Bill Matthews says fraud occurs within the federal government, though total costs are unknown. Matthews’ testimony at the Commons public accounts committee followed an audit that faulted federal agencies for a lack of staff ethics training: "There is no reliable estimate on the financial impact of fraud."
Attorneys and executives yesterday urged the Commons industry committee to rewrite a 2014 anti-spam law. MPs were told current regulations are too broad, target the wrong people, and are largely ineffectual in combating malware: ‘It is breathtakingly large in scope.’
Cabinet has no plans to introduce a so-called “sunshine list” detailing salaries of its highest-paid executives. Cabinet in 2015 Ministerial Mandate letters had pledged, “It is time to shine more light on government”.
MPs yesterday took up a motion to negotiate a national pharmacare program with provinces. The Parliamentary Budget Office in a September 28 report said universal drug coverage would cost $19.3 billion a year, but reduce prices and administration costs: 'Do not take my word for it.'
The Commons languages committee yesterday explored the prospect of fining Air Canada for bilingualism complaints. MPs questioned two federal agencies on how to deal with scofflaws: "We're not talking about the private sector."
Repeal of a ban on recreational marijuana is closer with approval of two cannabis bills by House committees. MPs adopted technical amendments in anticipation of a July 1, 2018 legislative deadline, and dismissed a Conservative proposal for a national referendum on legal cannabis: "I dare you."
The Department of Finance paid researchers $55,756 for real-time emotional responses to Minister Bill Morneau’s March 22 budget speech, according to newly-released records. Morneau’s repeated references to “middle class” were rated tiresome: "The speech used too many buzz words."
The Senate social affairs committee yesterday approved a private Conservative bill to ban animal testing by cosmetics companies. The bill would not take effect until four years after its passage: "The world is actually moving this way."
