Cabinet’s campaign to win a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council will cost millions, documents show. Expenses this year are near $500,000 including large sums for hospitality and staff salaries, though the election won’t be held until 2020: 'They have an unhealthy focus on this.'
Whales in captivity are no better than human beings in a jail cell, says a senator. The Senate fisheries committee is examining a bill to ban the capture and display of whales in Canada: "Imagine putting yourself in that situation."
The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a labour board ruling that the RCMP wrongfully fired an employee for smoking marijuana off duty. The judgment comes as cabinet prepares to introduce a bill legalizing recreational cannabis: 'They punished behaviour the RCMP deemed unacceptable – using marijuana."
A federal court for the second time in six weeks has faulted Canada’s Public Sector Integrity Commissioner for mishandling whistleblower complaints. The watchdog was ordered to reopen an investigation abandoned on narrow technical grounds in 2013: "The Commissioner acts as a filter and not as a shield."
A bill to celebrate the national seal hunt will not become law in time for a scheduled May 20 observance. MPs last night adjourned final debate without allowing it to come to a vote: "First they condemned us for killing baby seals."
Statistics Canada remains on a short leash despite cabinet claims of greater independence, say two former chief statisticians. Retired chiefs told the Commons industry committee a federal bill to reform the agency falls short: "Canadian legislation has been among the worst."
The Senate is being asked to probe a secretive $372.5 million loan to Bombardier Inc. A senior Conservative senator yesterday served notice of a motion to have lawmakers examine private terms and taxpayers' cost of the Bombardier concession. The company in the past has sued to block disclosure of detailed subsidies: "We can get to the bottom of this whole sordid affair."
Senate Conservatives are waging a last stand to save a union bill slated for repeal. Conservatives yesterday proposed 11th hour amendments to maintain secret balloting for certification of new unions in any federally-regulated workplace: "Be careful."
Bank of Canada lawyers in a vulgar email said media deserve a “kick in the knackers” on copyright. MPs and senators this year undertake a statutory review of the Copyright Act: “Respect for intellectual property is absolutely non-negotiable.”
Federal departments last winter paid nearly $5 million in Christmas bonuses to a few hundred senior managers. MPs protested the payments at the same time cabinet ran a $23 billion deficit and garbled payroll records for thousands of government employees: "It's ridiculous."
Farm groups and supporters fear new regulations to prevent animal suffering will harm industry. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency proposes to rewrite animal welfare rules for the first time since 1977: "Don’t give in to the irrational objectives of the animal activists."
Experts testifying at the Commons health committee say there is no clinical evidence pornography is damaging Canadians' mental health. MPs are conducting the first parliamentary review of obscenity in 32 years: "Adolescents are not having sex any younger."
MPs are citing Transport Canada for “shocking” conduct disclosed in an audit of auto safety regulation. Auditors found the department was too slow to enact reforms, and too close to industry lobbyists in considering the cost to automakers of necessary improvements: "This is what makes people cynical."
Federal agencies grew the TV budget last year, spending more than $2.5 million on thousands of new sets for teleconferencing and daytime viewing. The spending was 200 percent higher than normal, according to an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the Commons: "That blows my mind."
The fisheries department is expanding regulations against shark finning after acknowledging rules are inadequate. Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc signed the confidential order to have ocean trawlers stop removing fins from sharks caught in longline nets. The memo was obtained through Access To Information: "This responds to international calls."
