A Senate bill would allow first-ever investigation of racial profiling allegations at border crossings, says the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Commission has heard 77 complaints against the Border Services Agency since 2011: 'Everyone is entitled to basic human rights protection'.
Transport Canada has lost a six-year campaign to conceal basic details of its no-fly list. A federal judge ordered the department to reconsider a media request for the number of Canadian citizens on the security blacklist: "It's a heartening decision".
The “detax” movement has lost again in Court. A taxpayer who claimed the Income Tax Act is unconstitutional was fined $99,053 for failing to fully report earnings from 2004 to 2010: "I don't want to talk to you".
Only a third of Canadian companies train staff on privacy issues and 23% are unaware of federal law governing safeguards, says federal research. The study by the Privacy Commissioner noted a quarter of companies also store customer data on USB sticks and other portable devices: "They are still rolling the dice".
A Conservative MP vows to launch a national campaign for school board tax relief. The Commons’ Liberal majority signaled it will not support the Saskatoon sponsor’s bill for 100 percent GST rebates on purchases by school boards: "We need this money back in the classrooms".
MPs complain they can’t get straight answers from Canada Post over a costly program to abolish doorstep mail delivery. The post office spent more than $76 million on the plan before it was suspended by cabinet last year: "No, no, no, no".
Fracking is inherently risky but poses only a “mild” peril in triggering earthquakes, a fracker has told the Senate transport committee. Cabinet has exempted industry from disclosing toxic chemicals used in shale gas drilling: "At the end of the day there is still risk".
Federal prison sentences for a pair of Vancouver tax preparers underscores a need for federal registration of all bookkeeping firms, says an industry group. The British Columbia case followed discovery of other multi-million dollar frauds: "Maybe you shouldn't be in the business".
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “The sale of arms to Saudi Arabia: approved. Armoured vehicles bound for the National Guard, protecting a pattern of tyranny and human rights abuse…”
The Canadian author of a bestselling Holocaust novel has won a copyright lawsuit. Producers of a documentary film sought $6 million in damages from the Toronto author and publisher. One historian who participated in the case called the verdict astonishing: “It’s the family’s story for God’s sake”.
Conservative MPs are seeking confidential briefing notes and other records in alleging a “sweetheart deal” between Air Canada and the Department of Transportation. MPs filed Access To Information requests regarding a bill that protects the airline from liability for breaching an Act of Parliament: "Something changed".
The number of minimum-wage migrants permitted into Canada fell 85 percent last year, says the Department of Employment. The decline followed a 2014 crackdown under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program: 'We all know the program was a scandal'.
Statistics Canada would compile a first-ever national fire database under a private bill introduced in the Commons. The proposal followed a Natural Resources Canada forecast of more catastrophic wildfires: "I think it will save lives".
Health Canada should monitor guidelines on plain labeling of prescription drugs, says the chair of the Senate social affairs committee. New research by the University of Waterloo confirmed typical pharmacy labels are more difficult to read, particularly for millions of Canadians over 65: "Labels currently in use are not following guidelines".
Cabinet promises to immediately ban overtly partisan advertising by federal agencies. Government research showed past billboard and TV campaigns were costly but largely ineffective: "From this day forward government advertising using tax dollars is unacceptable".
