Blacklock's Reporter

Canadians who think Ottawa is corrupt should “take a look at Afghanistan,” the parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs said yesterday. Liberal MP Pam Damoff (Oakville-North Burlington, Ont.) told the Commons ethics committee her government is also better than Russia’s: "Take a look at what is going on in the Middle East right now if you actually want to see countries where there are terrorists running a country."

The Department of Public Safety in a briefing note acknowledges popular support for mandatory registration of foreign agents in Canada. Attorney General Arif Virani has rejected any standalone registry: "There is broad support for a registry."

A new Housing Act will not specifically build more houses, officials acknowledged yesterday. Members of the Commons finance committee questioned the point of the legislation: "You’re presumably putting gas in the car to drive it."

Small business has received 14¢ on the dollar in carbon tax rebates promised four years ago, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. The figure follows repeated appeals from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for full payment of promised rebates: 'Enterprises are the backbone of the economy.'

An unnamed Canadian delegate to the last United Nations Climate Conference booked a $1,822-a night Dubai hotel suite, records show. The delegation led by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault cost taxpayers more than $1.3 million overall: "Together we will carve a brighter future."

Cabinet will not “pick sides” in Israel’s war with Hamas, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said yesterday. Joly made the remark as the Commons passed by a 204 to 117 vote a New Democrat motion to end the conflict: "Where do we stand?"

Canadian cellphone customers are “getting more for less,” the CEO of Rogers Communications yesterday assured MPs. Members of the Commons industry committee ridiculed the testimony by Tony Staffieri: "Canadians are telling us different."

Federal employees typically answer to seven levels of management, Budget Officer Yves Giroux said yesterday. “Yes, there is room to reduce,” said Giroux, who earlier calculated payroll costs at a record $67 billion a year: "An employee can have seven levels of management above them."

Canadians say they’re able to spot fake news online without help from federal fact checkers, says in-house research by the Communications Security Establishment. Participants in federal focus groups expressed unease with the government “declaring what is true or not.”

A federal report cites the 2022 Freedom Convoy as “anti-Semitic and racist” but makes no mention of anti-Israel street protests targeting Jews. The Department of Canadian Heritage report was completed after Hamas attacks on Israel: "Address the rise of right wing extremist groups in Canada and the spread of alt-right and veiled white nationalist narratives."

The Department of Canadian Heritage paid thousands to a Toronto pundit who disparaged Conservatives in a series of profane TikTok posts, Access To Information records show. Dylan Horner did not comment: "Shut the f--k up. This is exactly why you can’t trust Conservatives."

Opposition MPs are signaling another slowdown on federal budget bills. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland last year faced a five-week filibuster on complaints of deficit spending: "Canada feels more broken than ever before."

The Department of Immigration in an internal report acknowledges complaints of “privileged” treatment of Ukrainians compared to Afghan war refugees. Aid for Ukrainians included free flights and $490.7 million in cash grants: "There is a perception of unfairness."

A labour board has upheld the firing of a federal employee for selling $1,663 worth of scrap metal without permission. The Montréal plumber with the Department of National Defence said he didn’t consider it stealing: "Although he argues he believed the scrap was sent to the dump, still, it was not his property."

Poet Shai Ben-Shalom writes: “A fire drill at my workplace….”