Blacklock's Reporter

A former Conservative candidate who won a record $650,000 defamation award against the National Post says election monitoring of Twitter falsehoods should include scrutiny of mainstream media. Federal Election Commissioner Yves Côté is monitoring social media to enforce a federal law prohibiting false statements against candidates: “Standing for office in the internet age means a reputational free-fire zone.”

Federal risk management of fisheries appears “shot full of holes”, a Liberal MP yesterday told the Commons fisheries committee. MPs reviewed a critical audit that faulted the Department of Fisheries for weak supervision of salmon farming: "The aquaculture industry demonstrates a deep lack of transparency."

Federal tariffs on U.S. metal imports have only hurt Canadian consumers and manufacturers, a factory owner yesterday told the Commons trade committee. Cabinet last July 1 imposed 25 percent duties on American steel and 10 percent on aluminum in retaliation against identical U.S. taxes on Canadian exports: "Does our government care?"

The Department of National Defence yesterday said it will hire real reporters to pose fake questions in a staff training session to expose “media techniques”. The department did not comment on the cost of the fake news exercise, or identify journalists who agreed to participate: “What would the public think?”

Airports and airlines will see new mandatory regulations on accessibility next year, the CEO of the Canadian Transportation Agency last night told the Commons human resources committee. Enforcement will include fines for non-compliance: 'It is a fundamental human right.'

Federal departments and agencies have paid out $135,092 in damages to employees who did not receive paycheques, according to newly-released Public Accounts. The Public Service Alliance of Canada has requested a general compensation fund for employees affected by the failed Phoenix Pay System program: "No worker should be forced to sell their vehicle."

The Commons yesterday rejected a motion to examine postal banking. Critics noted debate occurred as the Canadian Union of Postal Workers began rotating strikes to press contract demands on management: "We do not get great service, but we are well served by the banking industry."

Cabinet yesterday said it may seek a wider Code Of Conduct on internet and TV service providers’ sales practices. Federal data show 1 in 4 Canadians still suffer bill shock five years after regulators first introduced a consumers’ code for wireless subscribers: "It’s basically a cartel, let’s face it."

A $2 million taxpayers’ loan to a green technology company created a single job, according to Access To Information records. The loan to a money-losing Québec firm was awarded a year-and-a-half after it received an outright grant of $2.4 million: "We are grateful."

Street language is okay on TV political talk shows, a national broadcast council has ruled. The decision follows “insulting” remarks by a former co-chair of Ontario’s failed Liberal campaign: 'He could have used equivalent terms such as ‘idiot’ or ‘goofball’."

Parks Canada says it may rewrite rules to amend speech gag regulations under the Canada National Parks Act. MPs and senators on Parliament’s scrutiny of regulations committee called it a breach of the Charter of Rights: "You know what? We’re just going to leave it the way it is."

Nuclear safety officers cruelly caricatured as donut-eating Homer Simpsons must meet rigorous fitness tests, says the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The agency in a notice spelled out annual physicals for staff including stair-climbing and knee bends wearing a 20-lb. safety vest: "These standards must be met."

A Saudi airline is suing the Canadian Transportation Agency for legal costs in scheduling, then canceling a hearing over a $2,500 fine. “The Agency under its current leadership seems to be on a crusade against airlines,” said a lawyer in the case.

Members of the Senate trade committee yesterday expressed skepticism over claimed benefits of a new Pacific trade pact. The government’s own data suggest the treaty could result in job losses, said one legislator: "Why should we all get on the bandwagon?"

Canada’s bilingualism commissioner yesterday told the Commons languages committee he should have new powers to levy fines for English-only signage or service. “The Act should be modernized as quickly as possible,” said Raymond Théberge.