Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and MPs yesterday demanded assurances cabinet will not strong-arm collections of a national carbon tax. The finance department in Access To Information memos said the tax is an issue in renegotiating cash transfers to provinces – a measure one MP called “a gun to the head”.
Loan defaults under federal small business guarantees have increased 21 percent since 2013. The cost of claims rose as cabinet increased loan limits to $1 million: "Is this big program with a large bureaucracy really what we need?"
The Department of Canadian Heritage is budgeting $10 million for a national Indian Residential Schools monument. Staff in Access To Information memos expressed concern a smaller, more modest memorial would be dwarfed by a $7.4 million National Holocaust Monument: "The memorial would require up to five years to build."
The finance department will not introduce any new tax credit for commuters after eliminating a $200 million-a year program, say officials. The department rated a 15 percent Public Transit Tax Credit as ineffective: "Credits are not the best way."
A federal department is purchasing book scanning technology to copy thousands of library titles. Publishers and writers have objected to use of scanners as a breach of copyright: "Once a scanner is in use, copyright lines are easily crossed."
Conservative MPs vow to “fight back” against any cabinet attempt to restore a Canada Labour Code provision dating from 1944. Cabinet introduced a motion to revive card check certification of new bargaining agents: "The field is tilted towards employers."
The carbon tax will be “one of the issues” in renegotiating cash funding for provinces in 2019, says a secret Department of Finance memo. Staff declined comment on the document obtained through Access To Information: 'There is a change to the treatment of carbon revenues.'
MPs have sped passage of a bill celebrating the Canadian seal hunt. The May 20 observance coincides with the European Union’s Maritime Day. A 2009 E.U. ban decimated seal exports: 'We do not judge them nor should they judge us.'
Most Canadians who’ve purchased homes on flood plains are unaware of the fact, says University of Waterloo research. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said homeowners have a responsibility to plan for disasters: "A changing climate is having serious impacts."
MPs on the Commons industry committee have rejected amendments to a statistics bill despite protests from three former chief statisticians. Ex-heads of Statistics Canada said the legislation sanctions political interference in the agency’s work: "We have to rely on the Senate."
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “We don’t subsidize our aerospace industry. We just hand them a 15-year interest-free, 372 million dollar loan…”
Senators last evening passed a bill mandating prompt payment to trades and subcontractors on federal public works. A Senate committee heard testimony that large general contractors typically pocket government payments to finance operations, then defer settlement of bills with small suppliers: "We want something done. Figure it out. Find a way."
The new president of the Public Service Commission promises to do more to hire medically-released veterans. A 2015 law promising preferential government hiring of ex-military has largely failed, authorities say: "No veteran deserves to be left behind like this."
Captive whales are content and don’t miss ocean life any more than household dogs miss running in packs, says the chief veterinarian of the Vancouver Aquarium. The comments came during Senate fisheries committee review of a bill to ban the purchase and transfer of whales in captivity: "They have happy lives with happy people."
Parliament should anticipate long, difficult negotiations with the U.S. over a 19.9 percent tariff on Canadian softwood lumber, witnesses yesterday told the Commons trade committee. Exports were worth $7.62 billion last year, by U.S. estimate: "Canadians are nervous."
