Blacklock's Reporter

Easter greetings to all friends and subscribers. Blacklock's pauses for the national observance this Good Friday -- The Editor

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces censure in the Commons after refusing to allow MPs to question his political aides over dealings with We Charity. The Commons ethics committee yesterday saw notice of a motion citing Trudeau’s office for defying a House order: "I always thought Canada was supposed to be a democratic country where decisions by the House held some value."

A Commons committee yesterday by a 6-5 vote ordered the Public Health Agency to disclose records on the firing of two Chinese scientists at a federal lab. Iain Stewart, president of the Agency, refused to take questions on the Winnipeg incident when cross-examined by MPs: "There is obviously a profound public interest in this."

Opposition MPs on the Commons environment committee yesterday overruled cabinet objections in approving a bill to ban plastic waste exports. “Our worry is the domestic situation that could occur,” said Liberal MP Raj Saini (Kitchener Centre, Ont.).

Defendants in criminal court can be ordered to remove face masks even in a pandemic, an Alberta judge has ruled. Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Douglas Mah called it an unusual order, the first of its kind: "Under normal circumstances his face would be completely visible."

Federal regulators yesterday stepped back from major restrictions on two common farm pesticides. The neonicotinoids eight years ago were rated “very highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates,” but yesterday were upgraded to “acceptable.”

Few green energy projects are viable without subsidies, says an internal report at the Department of Natural Resources. Auditors called it a market failure: "Analysis of the financial information was revealing."

CMHC waged a media misinformation campaign to conceal research on a home equity tax, according to Access To Information records yesterday disclosed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Documents show the agency and its CEO Evan Siddall withheld details of research into Canadians who “get rich” on home ownership, and sought to discredit Blacklock’s reporting on the tax study: “This is untrue and poor reporting.”

Cabinet yesterday defended attempts by the Department of Health to promote its pandemic image through paid tweets. The department was doing the best it can, said Senator Marc Gold (Que.), Government Representative in the Senate: 'They are providing information to Canadians to the best of their ability.'

The Senate last night gave Second Reading to a bill threatening $250,000 fines and directors’ liability for companies that import slave-made goods. The bill would require annual reporting by large importers: "Ethics cost money."

Ex-Governor General Julie Payette faces the loss of lucrative pension and expense payments under a bill introduced in the Senate yesterday. Senator Claude Carignan (Que.), the sponsor, said the mere thought of Payette drawing benefits for life was preposterous: "It makes no sense."

Rogers Communications yesterday assured MPs its proposed $26 billion buyout of Alberta-based Shaw Communications will not lessen competition. Members of the Commons industry committee disputed the claim: "The reason why this acquisition is happening is not because you’re really hurting."

Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez yesterday said MPs have no claim to cross-examine political aides over cabinet dealings with We Charity. MPs have ordered testimony from staff in the Prime Minister’s Office on negotiation of a failed $43.5 million grant: "This is preventing Canadians from getting answers."

Liberal MPs on the Commons environment committee last evening slowed consideration of a private Conservative bill to outlaw exports of plastic garbage. Cabinet has said it would disrupt cross-border trading in waste: "It’s just a piece of paper, and what’s the point?"

Consultants with Deloitte received more than $100 million in contracts from federal departments and agencies last year, records show. An MP who requested the figures earlier questioned why the company remained qualified under an Integrity Regime for contractors: "We are aware."