Captive whales are content and don’t miss ocean life any more than household dogs miss running in packs, says the chief veterinarian of the Vancouver Aquarium. The comments came during Senate fisheries committee review of a bill to ban the purchase and transfer of whales in captivity: "They have happy lives with happy people."
Parliament should anticipate long, difficult negotiations with the U.S. over a 19.9 percent tariff on Canadian softwood lumber, witnesses yesterday told the Commons trade committee. Exports were worth $7.62 billion last year, by U.S. estimate: "Canadians are nervous."
The Canada Revenue Agency says it will complete a long-promised report on uncollected personal income tax by year’s end, past a deadline fixed by cabinet. Authorities yesterday told the Commons finance committee the calculation was difficult: "There have been lots of jurisdictions that do this."
Enforcement of Canada’s proposed regulations on cannabis-impaired drivers will be complex and costly, warns a U.S. state agency. Cabinet will copy a 2014 Colorado law forbidding drivers from consuming more than 5 billionths of a gram of the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana: "I’d tell law enforcement to start looking at your budgets."
The Senate will consider a motion for a comprehensive review of charitable tax credits and the “impact of the voluntary sector” nationwide. Fewer than 1 in 4 taxpayers give to charities, by official estimate: "We want to make this a significant study."
Cabinet has rejected a scientific panel recommendation that it protect iconic Atlantic Bluefin tuna as an endangered species. Canada has supported increased commercial fishing of tuna in the past two years despite a historic decline in population: "The social value of a species is never really considered."
Senators have passed legislation mandating a federal call-before-you-dig system. A final vote on the bill came as Senate office buildings were evacuated due to a natural gas leak: "I can't believe we don't already have this."
Military recruitment remains short more than 4,000 members despite multi-million dollar advertising campaigns, says a senior officer. Commanders yesterday told the Commons public accounts committee that targets are not being met: “We’re competing with the private sector.”
Federal cannabis regulations would see Canadians face a minimum $1,000 fine for driving after smoking a single joint. The proposal echoes a Colorado law that advises motorists no cannabis consumption is safe: "Technicians would be able to take blood samples from a driver without a doctor’s oversight."
A fourth province, Saskatchewan, is protesting Parliament’s passage of an anti-genetic discrimination bill, the first legislation of its kind. Cabinet will refer the bill to the Supreme Court for an opinion on whether it is constitutional: "We continue to have concerns."
Canada Post earned a $55 million pre-tax profit last year despite threatening to lock out employees in a summer contract dispute. It was the third consecutive year of profitable post office operations: "There is no crisis here."
Cabinet says it has no plans to ban imports of shark fins. A narrower Department of Fisheries order to prohibit the finning of sharks caught in ocean trawlers’ longline nets will be fully enforced by March 2018, said a senior Liberal MP: "We're not close."
The Parliamentary Budget Office predicts home prices will level off though costs continue to rise in most cities. Analysts yesterday told the Commons finance committee they believed housing has peaked: "This leveling off will reduce the risk of the bubble bursting."
Cost of a national carbon tax will depend on where Canadians live, says the Department of the Environment. Authorities yesterday declined to release data on the dollar-per-household impact of the tax to be mandated on provinces starting in 2018: "What will this mean for me directly?"
A new National Holocaust Monument in downtown Ottawa will have the tightest security of any memorial in Canada, say Access To Information memos. The National Capital Commission fears it will be targeted by hate groups: "Potential for a violent confrontation is a reality."
