The resolution of an Ontario dispute on the bottling of groundwater marks a new era of scrutiny over the resource, analysts tell Blacklock’s. Nestlé Waters Canada abandoned its application to draw 1.13 million litres of water a day from a well regardless of drought conditions: "This will be persuasive".
One of nation’s largest tire manufacturers is suing Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq over restrictions on an additive rated an ecological risk. Regulators say chemicals commonly used in tires by Goodyear Canada Inc. are highly toxic to water organisms and take months, even years to break down in the environment. Nonsense, said Goodyear.
Federal cabinet members are fanning out across the country to sell a proposed Canada-European Union free trade deal minus the one document people most want to see. Trade Minister Ed Fast said a final legal text may take months to release, and warned no amendments are contemplated: "There will be no changes."
Parks Canada’s attendance fell in 5 of 10 provinces last year, according to new data. Analysts noted even sharper declines are expected in the current year with rising fees and reduced hours of operation: 'Uncertainty has disrupted business'.
Federal chemists, biologists and other scientists say their work has become subordinate to public relations, according to a union study. Ninety percent say they are unable to speak openly about their research: "Muzzling of scientists is an issue that affects us all."
Counterfeiting crimes account for less than 1% of federal prosecutions despite a five-fold increase in seizures of fake goods, records show. The Prosecution Service reported "about" 100 individuals and companies were charged for intellectual property crimes last year: "Are we giving prosecutors the tools?"
A Prairie case cited as a “fundamental question” of labour rights is bound for the Supreme Court. Justices agreed to hear an appeal of a Saskatchewan law that designates virtually all government employees as essential workers: "They have to grapple with the question."
Business is pressing the Department of Finance to regulate $5 billion in credit fees in the wake of a federal anti-trust ruling. Merchants propose a rewritten Code of Conduct that would limit the ability of Visa and MasterCard to levy fees: "Time and patience are running out."
VIA Rail Inc. is hiring a new $241,000-a year CEO after reporting a pre-tax loss of more than a third of a billion dollars last year. Chief executive Marc Laliberté will not seek reappointment on the expiry of his term Jan. 4: "It was a difficult decision for him to make."
Canadian furniture manufacturers, ice-cream makers and other industry leaders say they are uneasy over the signing of an unseen trade pact with the European Union. Executives expressed qualms with the process that would repeal thousands of tariffs on imports from 28 countries: "There should have been some public discourse before this deal was signed."
A promise to open all government contracting to European bidders is drawing cautious scrutiny. Cities had sought a cap to save the trouble of trans-Atlantic procurement processes on every tender: "Sometimes the devil is in the details."
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says dairy farmers should not “hold back the day” for free trade with Europe. In an interview, Ritz acknowledged E.U. cheese producers stand to gain a larger market share under a pact, but said cabinet remains committed to supply management. Dairy farmers called the treaty "unacceptable".
The Supreme Court has ruled against narrowly defining mandatory disclosure of environmental damage as required by law. The unanimous 7-0 judgment came in the case of a road contractor who failed to report fallout from a rock blast: "This is a very important decision."
Union organizers say they are bracing for unspecified amendments to the Public Service Labour Relations Act including feared repeal of their right to strike. Government employees said they were neither consulted nor provided drafts of any proposed changes: "We are pretty shocked."
Cabinet leadership is required to address failings of Canada’s Access to Information system, says a federal commissioner. Suzanne Legault said cabinet must ensure compliance with federal law, as in the case of one department that improperly withheld documents for three years.
