Blacklock's Reporter

Allegations of bid-rigging at Library & Archives Canada yesterday collapsed with the acquittal of one former manager, and a stay of charges against another. Prosecutors claimed employees conspired in a $3.5 million scheme on consulting contracts. The most senior manager charged in the case was found not guilty on all counts: "There is no evidence the government actually suffered any deprivation."

Federal agents are attempting to have Canadian pensioners buy the Trans Mountain oil pipeline nationalized by cabinet, the Commons finance committee learned yesterday. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board said it was approached only days after cabinet agreed to buy the 1953-era line: "Has there been any pressure whatsoever?"

Flood victims suffer anxiety years after their property is damaged, says a University of Waterloo study. Researchers said lost work time and mental stress remain incalculable costs from extreme weather related to climate change: "It's just an awful, awful experience."

A federal anti-workplace harassment bill is unlikely to come into force until after the next election, Labour Minister Patricia Hajdu yesterday told the Senate human rights committee. Hajdu appealed to senators to quickly pass the bill without amendments: "Getting these things in place might take a year or more."

Cabinet is quiet on the fate of its national carbon tax after 2.3 million Ontarians elected a government opposed to the levy. Conservative leaders in two other provinces with elections pending have sought intervener status in a Saskatchewan challenge of the tax: "It's just a bad tax."

Newly-disclosed Health Canada research shows a federal marijuana education campaign is ineffectual. Teenagers questioned by government pollsters said they assumed legalization signaled Parliament’s approval of cannabis: “I guess if it’s going to be legal it can’t be that bad.”

Federal data show 1 in 4 Canadians still suffer wireless bill shock five years after regulators introduced a national consumers’ code. Research by the CRTC found many Canadians remain unaware of the 2013 Wireless Code: 'It's seen as a kind of entrapment.'

A federal judge has approved a $17.5 million government payout to settle a class action lawsuit by Canada Student Loan borrowers. The Department of Employment was blamed for misplacing a hard drive with personal information on 585,236 Canadians. The data loss remains unsolved: 'It is unlikely the contents are in circulation on the dark web.'

Federal agencies should give preferential treatment to contractors with “socio-economic objectives”, says the Department of Employment. Staff launched a two-year pilot project on social procurement, but would not release the policy: 'It leverages the government’s buying power.'

Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “Cast-iron stoves became standard in 19th century America. Over half a million produced in 1874 alone…”

The Senate last night voted 56 to 30 to legalize cannabis. Even supporters expressed wariness over far-reaching consequences of the bill, which now returns to the Commons for final debate: "My heart still worries."

Lobbyists are pressuring Parliament to oppose a universal pharmacare program, a Liberal MP yesterday told the Commons health committee. Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor did not comment. The committee endorsed a pharmacare plan in principle in an April 18 report: "There is a lot of pressure coming from insurance companies."

The Department of Public Works yesterday said it has not questioned ex-deputies who oversaw the Phoenix Pay System. Members of the Commons government operations committee expressed incredulity that no managers have been held to account for the costly failure: "Well, I wasn't there and I don't know."

Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard yesterday appealed for new funding to ease a heavy backlog of complaints over federal concealment of records. Maynard said her office has a backlog of 3,489 complaints and receives new requests for investigations at the rate of more than 2,000 a year: "It's a vicious circle."

A Senate ban on junk food advertising to children would cost industry $2 billion, a Conservative MP yesterday told the Commons health committee. Health Canada said it’s up to restaurateurs and food companies to comply with the bill if it becomes law: "This is going to be a massive cost."