A hundred percent of people questioned in Privy Council focus group research say cabinet is “headed in the wrong direction” on immigration, records show. Researchers acknowledged universal opposition to record-high immigration levels: "All believed it was headed in the wrong direction."
Draft regulations on a first-ever federal ban on food ads targeting children have again been deferred. Advertisers warn the ban would cost a billion a year: "Industry is critical of the government advancing regulations."
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu's department redefined “short term” to show progress in eliminating “long term” boiled water advisories on First Nations, records show. A Department of Indigenous Services report yesterday acknowledged even with the redefinition many First Nations will have undrinkable tap water into 2025 and beyond: "We can simply change the definition."
Parks Canada managers two years ago acknowledged they failed to take full precautions to save Jasper, Alta. from wildfires, documents show. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault was told Park managers failed to carry out controlled burns of dead pine trees that posed an obvious fire risk: "My heart is broken."
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson’s department in focus group research says Canadians do not see “a clear path forward” on climate programs, question the point of federal regulations and are wary of the cost. There was “too much money spent too soon and too many risks taken,” said a report.
New federal data confirm Canadians are becoming more sharply divided over record high immigration quotas. Worries range from housing shortages to foreigners "causing Canada to change in ways they don't like."
Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory has finally installed X-ray scanners six years after suspected Chinese spies were found working at the Winnipeg facility, says a Department of Health briefing note. Other measures include a new rule prohibiting visitors from wandering the halls without a security escort: "See how easy it was."
Home equity savers typically pay it forward to make their children homebuyers, says a Bank of Canada study. Researchers said the incidence of parents co-signing mortgages tripled in a decade: "How important are parents?"
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom writes: “Pedestrian crossing downtown Ottawa marked by silhouette: John Cleese performing Silly Walk…”
Border towns have a unique world view rarely documented by historians. The city flag of Lethbridge, Alta. is red, white and blue. The Columbia in British Columbia is named for an American schooner. New York’s Buffalo News used to publish a monthly commentary of legislation passed by Parliament. Most residents of Emerson, Man. can name the best place to eat in Fargo, North Dakota.
Author Brandon Dimmel documents this border culture and its cataclysmic change born from fears of terrorism more than a hundred years ago. Engaging The Line is a smart, crisp account of the First World War’s impact on border life. The topic is not merely timely but compelling.
Most interesting in Dimmel’s account is the story of Windsor, Ont. and neighbouring Essex County, a place so Americanized newsboys used to hawk the Detroit Free Press on local street corners. Longtime residents still speak with a slight Michigan accent discernible to fellow Canadians.
More than 3,000 Gazans to date have been approved for visas to enter Canada, says a Department of Immigration briefing note. Staff boasted Canada with its 5,000-visa program was “the only country in the world” to offer residency to Gaza residents ineligible under immigration programs: "We are being as flexible as possible."
Media and public health agencies have misled Canadians on the true impact of federal drug policy, Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre yesterday told reporters. “Be more responsible,” said Poilievre: "Results of their policies are plain for all eyes to see."
Jews last year were targeted in more police-reported hate crimes than any other group, Statistics Canada said yesterday. Anti-Semitism led all other hate crime categories though Jews account for less than one percent of Canada’s population: "I never thought in my lifetime I’d see anti-Semitism like this in our streets."
A $500 million Loblaw Companies class action settlement in a bread price fixing scandal represents a fraction of industry profits from the alleged conspiracy, according to court records. Loblaw yesterday apologized for cheating customers: "Sorry."
The federal archives must release all relevant records to determine how many children died at Indian Residential Schools, the Senate Indigenous peoples committee said yesterday. The recommendation follows contradictory evidence regarding “unmarked graves.”
