Brand-name pharmaceutical firms are disputing a claim that free trade with Europe will cost Canadian consumers $1 billion a year. An industry group Rx&D in a letter to Blacklock’s contradicted testimony by a rival association before the Commons trade committee: "Unfounded speculations...add little value to a meaningful policy discussion."
Anti-spam regulations that took years to draft are prompting business protest of limits to"commercial speech”. The rules to take effect next summer would curb unsolicited electronic marketing, but with numerous exemptions: "This isn't going to be an easy thing."
Regulations introduced by Conservative Prime Minister R.B. Bennett that guaranteed “fair wages” on federal works for generations will be repealed at month’s end.
Employees of 3,470 companies are affected, by government estimate. The labour department said supply-and-demand must now determine pay scales.
Repeal of the Act was advocated by lobbyists with Merit Canada, an association of non-union contractors that met 70 times with MPs, senators and senior staff in the 18 months before the law was reviewed: "They are pitting workers against workers."
Canadians will pay an estimated $1 billion more per year for pharmaceuticals under a free trade pact with Europe, says an industry group. Generic drug makers told MPs that extending patent protection under the treaty will be expensive: "We are disappointed."
The Supreme Court is to rule whether Walmart had a right to close a Québec store after employees joined the United Food and Commercial Workers union. The retailer shut its outlet at Jonquière, Que. eight months after UFCW Local 503 was certified as a bargaining agent: "The business doesn't exist anymore."
A Commons motion would require mandatory labeling of all genetically-modified foods. The proposal follows a jointly-issued consumers’ report that advocates plain labelling and other reforms: "What is in a 'fruit cocktail'? What is 'made with whole grains'?"
The RCMP plan more polygraph testing of candidates who apply to join the force. The Mounties are contracting tests to “determine the suitability" of applicants, police said: "A lot of people will tell you what appear to be trivial things that are meaningful to police."
A company at the centre of a far-reaching copyright claim has filed a $172.6 million lawsuit against two oil companies. Geophysical Service Incorporated of Calgary is also challenging four Crown agencies and Natural Resources Canada, alleging its data was used without permission or licensing fees.
The sale of 49,421 acres of pristine B.C. wilderness for coal mining is “a great opportunity” for the Department of Finance, Parliament has been told. MPs prepared to give Third Reading to a bill to sell the tract of alpine forest preserved as Crown land since 1905: "It's about short-term cash."
Industry Canada is pressing ahead with the privatization of weight and scale inspections amid concerns in Parliament and the retail sector. Merchants are to pay for private inspections with fees "determined by market forces", the department told Blacklock's: "Is there opportunity here for conflict of interest?"
Transport Canada is attempting to map railway wrecks to plot the riskiest traffic corridors in the country for dangerous goods. The department is undertaking research on a “risk map” identifying regions with high derailment rates: 'A risk map would allow for identification of areas of highest concern.'
The Department of Finance proposes new regulations on prepaid payment cards first promised in 2011. Authorities noted reforms would not take effect till next May: "They've talked about it and talked about it."
Cabinet outspent itself with an ad blitz promoting next month’s wireless spectrum auction. Nine million was spent promoting a “More Choice, Lower Prices” campaign. By comparison, Finance Canada spent $7.3 million marketing its 2011 budget: "This is a huge waste of money."
Canada’s largest private sector union says Parliament is on a “collision course” over legislation to decertify federally-regulated workplaces. Unifor said members will actively oppose Bill C-525, a measure to repeal the Canada Labour Code’s card-check system: "We are heading on a real collision course."
Facebook creeping and federal monitoring of Twitter accounts “means better public policies”, says a senior cabinet member. Treasury Board President Tony Clement defended round the clock government surveillance of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media: "We're on the verge of Big Brother territory here."
