Nearly 1 in 4 small businesses forecast poor sales through to 2014, according to Industry Canada data. Research determined the outlook is so uncertain that small business now rates financing a minor problem: "If your business isn't growing your demand for capital is not there."
Water quality in one of Canada’s most famous lakes has declined over a decade despite efforts to reclaim the landmark. Satellite imagery confirms that algae growth spiked by farm chemical runoff and urban waste has worsened in ten years: "The entire lake is a concern."
The Canadian Transportation Agency is extending a certificate of fitness for the bankrupt railway implicated in the fatal Lac-Mégantic wreck. The railway meets liability insurance requirements, but only because its freight business is down 70% and it no longer ships crude oil.
Cabinet proposes to renew grants to the auto and defence industries amid a slump in manufacturing sales. Authorities called it an investment in "proven" job creation. The pledge followed new data confirming another drop in manufacturing sales: "It's really taking a beating."
Cabinet is contemplating more privatization in a bid to balance its budget in 2015. The government in its Throne Speech vowed it “will review federal assets” in an attempt to eliminate its $26 billion deficit: “When it is in the best interest of Canadians, they will be sold.”
The think-tank Fraser Institute denies it skewed data to support claims that "environmentally-friendly" pipelines are four times safer than railway tank cars. However a senior director acknowledged skipping contradictory research completed by the Senate: "I'm not familiar with that report."
The Department of Public Safety plans a public database, the first of its kind, to map terrorist incidents, crimes and “extremist activities” across the country. Authorities reported no terrorist incidents in Canada last year. The department declined Blacklock's interview request.
The Canadian Coast Guard is cutting its price on an unloved patrol boat once used to lob tear gas at fishermen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and now for sale on the internet. The relic of the Atlantic cod wars has been up for auction since July without a buyer.
Canada’s airports and carriers are appealing for tax and rent relief after blaming government policies for a decline in tourism. Officials said a 4¢ federal fuel tax, provincial excise charges and ground rents have made air travel too expensive.
Less than a third of Red Cross donations for victims of last summer’s Alberta floods came from individual Canadians, records show. Despite claims of a public outpouring of relief, Blacklock’s confirmed nearly 70% of donations were from corporations led by oil and gas firms.
A federal judge has upheld Canada Revenue’s denial of tax credits for donations to the church of scientology. Tax Court ruled that while scientologists had "charitable-like activities", a donor had no claim to tax credits: "His personal choice does not mean he was denied the benefit of a law."
Health Canada is issuing new label requirements that caution certain medicines are no substitute for vaccines. The action follows protests by the group Bad Science Watch that criticized licensing of unproven products: "It's not like Tylenol."
Farm advocates including a former agriculture minister caution that changes to oversight on food safety must keep producers in mind. Health Canada for the first time gains regulatory supervision over all meat, fish and food inspection: "What difference will it make?"
Regina now has one of the lowest urban unemployment rates ever recorded in Canada, according to new federal data. The Saskatchewan capital reported 3% joblessness, a level economists consider as full employment: "We need a lot of skilled trades to come in and move our economy forward."
Police, fire and ambulance services face “a lot of work” in standardizing 911 calls following a critical telecom report, says a national advocate. A CRTC study concluded the emergency system is so uneven that regulators could not determine how much it actually costs: "A lot of work needs to be done."
