Nearly 50,000 Canadians had their personal records breached by federal agencies last year including tax records, passport files and pension applications, data show. Fewer than 1 in 10 breaches were reported to the Privacy Commissioner: "None of the privacy breaches are known to have led to criminal activities".
Pharmacare is too costly and will not be introduced in this Parliament, says Health Minister Dr. Jane Philpott. Groups including the Canadian Medical Association and National Pensioners Federation have appealed for expanded prescription drug coverage: "I’m not in the business of off-loading expenses".
Reform of Canada’s oil and gas regulator will determine whether the National Energy Board should be rebuilt from scratch, says Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr. The remarks coincided with new academic research that concluded the regulatory system is flawed: "If you had to create a Canadian regulator from scratch, what would it look like?"
There is no evidence of price gouging by gas retailers amid slumping oil prices, says the Department of Finance. A staff memo released through Access To Information did not explain anomalies between low oil costs and high retail prices for consumers: "The entire benefit of lower gasoline prices has been passed on fully".
Canadians eat too much sugar, says a senior health department official. Staff did not comment on lobbying by grocers to delay new sugar labeling requirements on processed foods: 'We obviously have concerns about obesity'.
Cabinet will not disclose documents justifying an unannounced repeal of hiring caps on migrant workers benefiting seasonal employers. The labour minister told a Commons committee that restrictions were “not sensitive enough” in addressing labour shortages: "This flies in the face of the commitment that we heard".
A Conservative bill promising $1 billion in new charitable tax credits could offset federal social spending, says an advocate. MPs yesterday opened debate on the private bill that would see charity credits raised to the same level as political contributions: "Is it good economics? Absolutely".
Anti-trust investigators are expanding a probe of two of the nation’s largest retailers for alleged breach of the Competition Act. Federal lawyers want to question current and former employees at Sears Canada and Hudson’s Bay Co. over sales practices: 'The strategy is known as high-low pricing'.
A federal board faces a second lawsuit from an offshore oil company over release of records through Access To Information. A judge earlier upheld the ability of the Canada-Newfoundland & Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board to disclose contested documents to the public: "The law is clear".
Federal courts for the second time in three months have dismissed dubious claims of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome by government employees. The latest judgment came in the case of a Mountie who complained of stress after being reprimanded for drinking: 'The RCMP is not prevented from applying discipline'.
The go-ahead for a class action lawsuit will determine the legality of millions paid by Canadians for courier brokerage fees, say consumer advocates. United Parcel Service Canada Ltd. challenged the lawsuit against mandatory fees for eBay buyers and others who ship goods from the U.S.: "We get calls every day".
The public works department has quietly shelved a three-year program to abolish paper cheques. Staff confirmed a scheme to force all Canadians owed tax refunds, pensions or benefits to submit their bank account data to the government is ended: "They put it in there when no one was looking".
Industry is seeking answers from Finance Canada over promised tariff breaks for food processors and manufacturers. The department has withheld details of the cross-border tax cuts pledged in the March 22 budget: "A careful analysis would be necessary".
Telecom companies are not necessarily subject to human rights complaints from customers, judges have concluded. The Supreme Court declined to hear any further appeal in the case involving a blind Winnipeg subscriber who complained of discrimination: "Back to the drawing board".
A retiree who claimed disastrous penny stock investments as business losses has seen his write-offs dismissed by Tax Court. A federal judge cautioned against throwing “good money after bad” in the stock market: "The business plan was to act on tips".
