Vax Files Closed For 15 Years

Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s department has sealed internal reports on vaccine and drug injuries for 15 years, records show. The documents run to “several million pages," it said.

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Feds Confirm Pro-Castro Talk

Farm Credit Canada confirms its $458,000-a year CEO in a speech to staff praised Fidel Castro as an impressive and visionary leader. The Crown bank had no comment on remarks by Justine Hendricks, who also praised Communist Party management of Cuba: "It’s Fidel Castro. There’s all sorts of aspects of Fidel Castro."

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10% Of Small Operators Gone

A tenth of small businesses in Canada have vanished since the pandemic, new Department of Industry figures show. Data confirmed Canadian Federation of Independent Business research showing nationally, closures now outnumber start-ups: "We are bleeding businesses."

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McGuinty Defends Rent Hike

Defence Minister David McGuinty has vetoed a recommendation by MPs that he freeze rents on military housing. Money was required to upgrade accommodation on military bases that failed a 2025 audit, he said: "The Government of Canada disagrees with this."

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Toxic Plastic Order’s Upheld

A cabinet order blacklisting all plastic goods as toxic was “simply an enabling provision,” says the Federal Court of Appeal. Judges upheld the 2021 order by then-Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault but acknowledged more legal challenges are possible: "There was overwhelming scientific evidence."

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Ottawa Lost: The Roxy Apt’s

The landmark was expropriated by the National Capital Commission in May 1965 and all tenants including MPs and a Supreme Court justice were evicted six months later. The building was demolished. “A disgrace,” one 89-year old tenant said of the destruction. “They are pulling down the only decent apartment building in the city.”

Book Review: Petty — And Profound

What do municipalities and First Nation reserves have in common? Both are used to being told what to do. It’s natural, then, that any review of Indigenous self-government would examine how these two get along at the most elemental level. A Quiet Evolution is the first research of its kind, and prompts the reader to wonder why nobody thought of this before.

It turns out relationships between cities and reserves can be petty or profound. Human, in other words. If Parliament ever settles outstanding land claims and accepts Indigenous property rights nationwide, it would look something like this.

“It would be easy to conclude that the Indigenous-Crown relationship is almost entirely adversarial and problematic,” authors write. “While this pessimism is certainly pervasive and somewhat justified, given Canada’s history of colonialism, a much different story seems to be unfolding at this local level.”

Feds Blame ‘Political Actors’

Heritage Minister Marc Miller in a letter to MPs says political organizers are using the internet to undermine Canadians’ trust in public institutions. He did not identify any by name: "The needs of protecting public interest journalism are urgent."

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Gov’t Hired Foreign Students

Records show federal managers hire more than 800 foreign students a year while lamenting high jobless rates for Canadian students. The Treasury Board noted federal employers were supposed to hire Canadians first: "The Public Service Employment Act gives preference to eligible veterans first, then Canadian citizens."

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Gridlock Frustrating Cabinet

A senior Liberal MP yesterday complained cabinet is unable to pass most of its bills despite winning the 2025 general election. MP Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), parliamentary secretary to the Government House Leader, blamed Conservatives: "We have a Prime Minister who was just elected."

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Promise ID Plan Is Voluntary

Digital identification is a convenience that will never be mandatory in Canada, says cabinet. The Department of Employment overseeing digital ID development at a cost of billions said it had “no plans” to force Canadians to use the technology: "Using this online will be completely voluntary."

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Cineplex Loses $1.50 Appeal

Cineplex Corporation, the nation’s largest theatre chain, has been ordered to pay $38,987,000 plus costs for breach of the Competition Act. The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the penalty over a $1.50 online booking fee: "We are shocked."

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Bank Cuts 2026 GDP Outlook

The Bank of Canada yesterday cut its 2026 growth forecast. Governor Tiff Macklem released a report warning of stubborn unemployment and weak investment: "Between October and now, what has changed?"

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$263K For Committee Coach

Federal managers in the past two years billed taxpayers more than a quarter million for coaching on how to answer questions at parliamentary committees. Disclosure of coaching fees followed complaints from one deputy minister that questioning by MPs was too rough: "One source of harassment stems from short, decontextualized clips of committee appearances by public servants being posted on social media."

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Gov’t Bank Plans For Layoffs

A Crown bank, Farm Credit Canada, yesterday said it is hiring counselors to provide “emotional support” for staff facing layoffs. The notice came as the Treasury Board said it will cut 1,000 executive positions government-wide: "Career transition can be a stressful time."

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