The Department of Finance in pre-budget surveys polled Canadians’ growing anger over gasoline prices. The department commissioned the research before its national carbon tax took effect April 1: "The costs would just be passed down to consumers."
Federal staff confirmed more than 7,000 security breaches in the past two years involving classified or protected documents, records show. Fourteen cases involved political staff working for cabinet ministers. The largest number of breaches occurred in the office of then-Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc: "No employees have lost their security clearance as a result."
The Commons last night by a vote of 194 to 91 rejected a bill mandating disclosure of “grassroots communication” by foreign-funded lobbyists. The bill’s Conservative sponsor said the intent was to target U.S. environmental groups opposed to pipelines and other projects: "It goes far deeper."
Most Canadians surveyed are still wary of the Senate despite changes to appointments, says research commissioned by a Senator. Nearly half of people surveyed, 46 percent, had a negative opinion: "If your image is bad, it can affect how you carry out your job."
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has struck punitive damages against the Canada Revenue Agency for malicious prosecution of a Nanaimo restaurateur. The Court ruled just because the business owner was acquitted of tax evasion was no reason to doubt auditors sincerely believed they had “circumstantial evidence” of wrongdoing: "This does not mean that conviction is certain."
Cabinet yesterday defended an investigation of the SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. political scandal by a team headed by a Liberal cabinet minister’s sister-in-law. “They feel, in their view, their independence has been preserved,” said Senator Peter Harder (Ont.), Government Representative in the Senate.
Federal climate change regulations to be detailed in June will effectively double the price of natural gas, chemical manufacturers said yesterday. The industry based its calculations on data from the Department of the Environment: 'It would be great to get transparency.'
Cabinet will privatize the federal agency responsible for airport security screening following years of complaints of poor service and long line-ups. Passengers should not see hikes in mandatory security fees of $15 for domestic roundtrip fares and $26 on international flights, said Transport Canada: "It is a big decision."
Cabinet in a long-promised National Housing Strategy Act is declaring basic shelter a statutory right. Advocates had sought the designation in law: "Future governments would be essentially required to maintain ongoing support."
Cabinet will mandate prompt payment to trades and subcontractors on most federal public works. The initiative follows the Senate’s 2017 passage of a private Conservative bill amid complaints of bankruptcy and blacklisting of contractors: "As a small business, not being paid on time is huge."
A cabinet bill to restrict Pacific oil tanker traffic is discriminatory and should be amended or defeated, two provinces yesterday told the Senate transport committee. Critics noted the bill does not touch the majority of the country’s oil tanker shipments, in Atlantic Canada: "This has a gargantuan impact."
A cabinet bill proposes sweeping changes to the Pilotage Act that regulates safe passage of vessels into Canadian harbours. Amendments follow a federal review that complained the Crown service is too costly: 'Monopolies when left unchecked typically result in high prices.'
The Office of the Ethics Commissioner yesterday confirmed its acting director of investigations is sister-in-law to a Liberal cabinet minister. The Office is conducting a closed-door investigation of the SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. political scandal: "We question whether the Commissioner understands the notion of conflict."
Federal investigators have conducted a covert sting of Bell Canada Inc. sales practices dating back eight months, Court records disclose. The Competition Bureau accuses the telecom firm of alleged deceptive marketing: "Bureau officers including myself have been the recipients of false or misleading representations."
The Senate national security committee by a 6 to 2 vote yesterday rejected a national ban on handguns. A Manitoba senator sought to amend a current gun bill to classify 839,000 licensed handguns as prohibited weapons: "We have an opportunity to take action."
