Cabinet changes to the Statistics Act will ensure researchers’ independence, says Canada’s Chief Statistician. Two chiefs have resigned in the past seven years in protest over government policy: 'The bill now removes any kind of doubt."
Twenty dollars for lunch is plenty in claiming business tax deductions, a Tax Court judge has ruled. The decision came in the case of a St. John’s businessman who claimed the equivalent of $33 for business lunches: "Anything beyond $20 per day for lunch would be unreasonable."
Alberta for generations was famous for mountains, rodeos, Mormonism, football, Ukrainian culture, meatpacking and Social Credit. Say “Alberta” today and any focus group replies, “oil”. That’s no accident, writes Prof. Geo Takach of Royal Roads University. From the 1947 oil strike at Leduc Number One, “resource extraction became heroic”. Alberta’s very identity was intertwined with oil sands production, for better and worse.
Tar Wars documents this modern cultural phenomenon. Takach calls it framing: “The concept of framing has roots in the disciplines of psychology and psychiatry. When we frame something, we make meaning of it as we locate, perceive, identify and label it.”
A whistleblower fired after alleging misconduct at Employment Canada says she was left penniless and unemployable. Members of the Commons government operations committee yesterday cited other “horrific cases” of Canadians ruined for exposing federal wrongdoing: “Whistleblowers are ethical and yet they get penalized.”
Cabinet should modify but not repeal 2012 Conservative amendments to the Navigation Protection Act, says a panel of MPs. The Commons transport committee objected to wholesale rejection of revisions that narrowed environmental assessments: "It will be a much better process."
Farm groups and transport companies are protesting tougher animal welfare regulations, the first revisions in 40 years. Nearly 1.6 million poultry and livestock die in transit each year in Canada, by official estimate: 'It's very akin to human beings traveling.'
Air Canada is doing its best to comply with the Official Languages Act, say executives. Cabinet is reviewing a proposal to fine the carrier over service complaints involving lack of bilingual staff: "It’s really hard to find people who are bilingual."
Smoking rates have plateaued at more than five million Canadian tobacco users, by official estimate. New data by Statistics Canada followed more dramatic declines in the last decade: "There is a long term trend."
Cabinet will increase unspecified business fees and mandate inflationary hikes in charges every year after, say 2017 budget documents. The Department of Finance did not detail the program: 'It is likely to make it worse, not better.'
A federal labour board has ordered a diligent public employee fired for allegedly cheating on a civil service exam to be reinstated. Investigators had claimed the woman’s work was improbably thorough: "It can be explained."
Unions will gain rights to intervene in cross-border trade disputes, says cabinet. Labour has sought amendments to the Special Import Measures Act allowing unions to file unfair trade complaints: "Unions have the right to participate."
An information commissioner has upheld a complaint over $2.50 in excess charges for processing an Access To Information request. Disputes over fees to obtain public records are “a permanent point of tension,” said Saskatchewan’s commissioner.
VIA Rail has won a three-year federal funding commitment to cover ongoing deficits. The Crown railway’s operating shortfall, currently $280 million a year, is projected to continue for at least another decade as management attempts to revamp the service: "Why can't VIA make money?"
Canada’s first government bond program sold directly to consumers is ending in its 100th year. The Canada Savings Bond introduced as a patriotic loan program in 1917 is no longer worthwhile, said the Department of Finance: 'I remember a woman who subscribed for a $1,000 bond and had it framed.'
Cabinet is abolishing a costly tax credit rated a failure despite billions in expenses. The 15 percent Public Transit Tax Credit will end effective June 30: "There has been a lot of debate over how useful it is."
