Canada Revenue Agency managers enjoy watching daytime TV in business hours and do “not have to account for the time,” according to evidence in a labour board hearing. Sports were popular, testified one manager: "You have to ask, where is the money to blow on TVs?"
Send RCAF To Gaza, Says MP
New Democrat MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona) yesterday sponsored a Commons petition to have the Royal Canadian Air Force rescue refugees from Gaza. McPherson, the Party’s foreign affairs critic, has repeatedly accused Jews of genocide and compared Israeli military action in Gaza to the murder of civilians in the Second World War: "Deploy Canadian military aircraft."
Landmark Win For Travelers
Canadian airlines cannot refuse passengers’ compensation for poor service under the guise of “safety” compliance, says the Federal Court of Appeal. The landmark ruling came in the case of an Ottawa businessman whose WestJet flight from Regina was cancelled due to staffing shortages: "He arrived at his final destination approximately 21 hours later."
No Profit In Patriotic Appeal
Canada Post yesterday said it expected to record its steepest pre-tax loss to date in 2025 despite a patriotic appeal to consumers to “shop Canadian, ship Canadian.” Losses would eclipse last year’s $841 million shortfall, said management: "Canada Post is on track to post its eighth consecutive year of losses."
Public Meant It On Tariff War
Canadians supported retaliatory tariffs against the United States even if it meant job losses, says in-house research by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The public expected cabinet would “not back down” prior to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to fold $30 billion in retaliatory tariffs: "I know it's a little complex."
Dep’t Hires More Consultants
The Department of Employment yesterday said it will hire more consultants, this time to interview employers to gain an “in-depth understanding” of its hire-a-student program. The department earlier confirmed it tripled spending on consultants because none of its 34,410 employees were "available.”
Admit Shelter Use Unknown
Illegal immigrants and refugee claimants occupy more than a tenth of beds in homeless shelters, says a memo to Housing Minister Gregor Robertson. Actual figures are likely higher but unverifiable due to the refusal of “sanctuary cities” like Vancouver to keep records on foreigners without permits, said the document: "This allows individuals to access services without fear of being deported."
‘We Were Unprepared’: Feds
Executives at the Public Health Agency in an internal report admit they were unprepared and poorly trained to manage the Covid outbreak that killed 60,871 Canadians. The acknowledgement came three years after the Agency awarded a pandemic hero’s medallion to every manager and employee for “their commitments towards pandemic relief.”
Mad Dash Thru The Airport
A British Columbia family made to hurry up and wait for a WestJet flight to Kelowna has been awarded $5,323 in compensation. The airline falsely blamed the weather for an inexplicable delay in boarding, said a British Columbia Tribunal: "It was caused by WestJet."
Cabinet Faked Success Stories
A federal subsidy program that gave away more than $130 million on a promise of promoting business start-ups and creating jobs achieved neither, says a Department of Industry report. Auditors could not identify a single start-up or count any net job creation despite claims of success by then-Trade Minister Mary Ng: "These would have been useful."
PM ‘Backed Down’ Says Ally
Prime Minister Mark Carney has gone too far with trade concessions to the United States, says a key ally. Lana Payne, national Unifor president, said Carney’s elimination of $30 billion in retaliatory tariffs was “not an option.”
Black Market In Work Permits
Federal inspectors have confirmed a black market in migrant worker permits, says a labour department briefing note. The department said it would tighten inspections amid public complaints that foreigners have cost Canadians jobs and wages: 'Misuse includes the buying and selling of permits.'
Shortage Bad But Improving
Canada shows slight improvement in easing a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses, says a Department of Health briefing note. The department noted there are still tens of thousands of foreign-trained health care professionals here who do not work in the medical field: "Only 58 percent, 114,000 workers, have employment in the field."
Good Enough For Gretzky
The City of Niagara Falls, Ont. presented Prime Minister Mark Carney with a bottle of Wayne Gretzky-brand whiskey as a token of thanks for his service, according to ethics filings. Carney’s nemesis Donald Trump has repeatedly praised Gretzky as one of his favourite Canadians: "The Great One, Wayne Gretzky the Great. How good is Wayne Gretzky? He’s the Great One."
Sunday Poem: ‘Bad Timing’
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom writes: “Gas rates sharply drop. Radio says rising supplies of North American crude are pushing prices down…”



