A band of MPs is protesting an obscure procedural change they warn will limit the public’s ability to alter legislation in Commons committees. Three legislators petitioned committees to reject a government motion they said will gag opposition amendments to any bill: "We have a system that is rigged."
The Financial Consumer Agency reports a 28% increase in complaints against banks and other financial institutions, though fines for lawbreakers remain few and far between. 85% of the agency budget is paid by banks and institutions: “When you start policing yourself…”
Canada Revenue Agency is being cited for “disturbing” privacy breaches involving thousands of files. Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart reported the tax department failed to guard citizens' personal information stored by the government: "It was perplexing."
An anti-trust probe of hockey retailing has prompted a flurry of Federal Court hearings. Canadian Tire Ltd. is asking a federal judge for permission to attend questioning of its major suppliers as part of a year-long investigation of sports retailing: "Remaining competition is highly ineffective."
Government MPs are opposing a bid to abandon 146 years of tradition by permitting Canadians to submit electronic petitions to Parliament. Members expressed unease with a New Democrat proposal to recognize internet petitions: "We should all tread very carefully with changes to our rules."
Cabinet has failed to gauge the impact of unfair trade practices in promoting a “free” pact with Europe, say the nation’s milk and cheese producers. Dairy farmers and processors say Canada's surrendered more market share than the U.S. or any E.U. nation: "We're giving away some of our investment."
Canadians may see simplified drug patent rules under a free trade pact with Europe, say the nation’s largest pharmaceutical associations. Generic and brand-name drug makers told Blacklock’s they anticipate the treaty will limit multiple lawsuits over patents: "The government has promised us..."
The Bank of Canada, responsible for monitoring the nation’s financial fitness, lost more than a million dollars a year operating a little-noticed Currency Museum, records show. The museum closed this year after running a $1.7 million annual budget with a staff of 24, including a $114,000-a year curator.
Big city mayors are appealing for renewal of $1.7 billion in yearly housing subsidies. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is petitioning cabinet to maintain funds due to expire with the completion of federal programs over the next five years: "We need governments to step up."
Passport Canada is providing names, ages, addresses and other confidential data of 25,000 passport owners to a pollster, Blacklock’s has learned. The file transfer is for a customer satisfaction survey, officials said: “It is a bit much for the government to give this information to a polling company.”
A judge is condemning frequent Federal Court appeals by Canadians who are “just fishing” for reasons not to pay taxes. The rebuke came in a case of a billion-dollar corporation that appealed and appealed after being assessed back-taxes by Canada Revenue: "There must be a 'show stopper' or a 'knockout punch'".
Oversight of all federal food inspection by Health Canada should eliminate “potential conflict” in enforcement, says a scientist who investigated Canada’s largest beef recall: "The minister of health has no interest in whether the Canadian Cattlemen's Association is doing well or not."
The Department of Finance tried to dig up names of Canadian coffin-makers to justify a tax hike on caskets, newly-released documents show. The attempt came amid criticism of higher tariffs to be charged on goods from 72 countries and territories, including China-made coffins: "If there are no domestic producers, a tariff doesn't make sense."
Research on a work program for migrant labour suggests too many permits were approved too quickly. The number of applications okayed under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program more than doubled over two decades, from 86,000 to 213,000 last year: "This program could grow to be too large."
Federal inspectors are pressing for updated safety regulations affecting hundreds of thousands of Canadian who travel by float plane. Rules call on crews to undergo more thorough emergency training and provide shoulder harnesses for all passengers.
