More than a thousand Canadians remained in Afghanistan months after diplomats fled Kabul, say Department of Foreign Affairs briefing documents. Records did not indicate if Canadians are still trapped under Taliban rule: 'There has been an alarming rise in forced disappearances and arrests.'
Increased federal hiring surpasses rates in the private sector, Budget Officer Yves Giroux yesterday told the Commons government operations committee. “It’s mostly recent and ongoing,” said Giroux, who earlier estimated payroll costs will top $50 billion this year: "Growth has been faster in the public sector."
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra yesterday said he could not explain how a reputed anti-Semite was invited to a Parliament Hill reception he attended with more than 100 others. Alghabra and the Liberal MP who hosted the event said no background checks were conducted: "There is always a risk of us meeting unsavoury individuals."
Thirty-five publishers attended a confidential 2020 teleconference with the Canada Revenue Agency and Department of Finance to discuss terms of a $595 million media bailout, Access To Information records show. Publishers submitted questions in advance. None reported it: "What is the expected wait time to receive payment?"
Cabinet’s use of the Emergencies Act “is not likely to be unique” in years ahead, a former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said yesterday. Richard Fadden told a policy hearing of the Freedom Convoy inquiry he expected more “disruptive events” in the future: "What happened with the invocation of the Emergencies Act is not likely to be unique."
Canada Post has only 25 inspectors nationwide to spot contraband by mail, says the Senate sponsor of a bill to expand police powers. Federal law currently prohibits police from intercepting mail in transit even if it is suspected to contain guns or drugs: "My bill is an attempt to put an end to the perception our postal service is the best way to ship illegal drugs."
The largest federal public sector union is challenging a $20,000 cap on damages for breach of human rights law. The Public Service Alliance of Canada in a Federal Court claim said the maximum payout set decades ago was unconstitutional: "This legislation has prevented federally regulated employees and their human rights claimants from obtaining full compensation."
The Senate in a symbolic shaming has voted to strip former member Don Meredith of his “honourable” title, a Canadian first. No senator spoke in Meredith’s defence: "Do we really want to run into him at state functions or see him still using his title in the public domain?"
Liberal appointees to the Senate transport and communications committee yesterday by a 10 to 4 vote rejected a proposal to narrow regulation of legal internet video content. “It’s time we pass that bill,” said Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez: "The Senate had it for over six months."
Federal drug policy is headed to “ultimately decriminalization” of illegal narcotics, a Liberal MP yesterday told the Commons health committee. Two cabinet ministers attending the committee did not contradict remarks by MP Dr. Brendan Hanley (Yukon): "How much should we rely on values alone versus evidence in determining drug policy?"
Almost one in five small businesses face permanent closure in Canada, the Senate national finance committee was told yesterday. The figure represents the equivalent of more than 200,000 operators: "The economy has not moved on. We are still way behind."
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser yesterday claimed Canada is a world leader in protecting refugees. Figures from Fraser’s own department show the refugee quota fell last year and is a fraction of the number accepted by countries like Germany or Turkey: "We are not just a leader, we are the leader."
Tesla Motors Canada seeks more federal subsidies to promote car sales. The automaker in a petition to Parliament said taxpayers should subsidize the installation of electric chargers at apartment and condo buildings: "This is a Canada-wide challenge and would benefit from federal leadership."
Then-Alberta Premier Jason Kenney privately called the Freedom Convoy a “magnet for every crazy in the province." His remarks came in a confidential teleconference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers on the Emergencies Act: "Folks at the core of this movement are not rational."
The Department of Finance yesterday declined to spell out $14.2 billion in unidentified spending outlined in its Fall Economic Statement. “$14.2 billion, that’s a big chunk of change,” said Conservative MP Marty Morantz (Charleswood-St. James, Man.): "It’s an awfully large sum of money."
