Canada Revenue Agency has lost again in its three-year legal battle with an oil company over a lost letter. A federal judge ruled ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp. is entitled to ask the Agency to reconsider a reassessment over millions in unpaid oil royalties: "The Minister owes a duty of fairness to all taxpayers".
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “The National Capital Commission wants to develop LeBreton Flats…”
Conservative senators are being pressed to block repeal of two key labour bills, 377 and 525, passed by the last Parliament. Cabinet yesterday introduced legislation to revoke the bills that made it easier to decertify union locals, and required disclosure of confidential labour records: "It repeals the good work that we did".
Government spokespeople who talk to reporters must speak slowly, as if addressing small children, and avoid facial expressions that look bad on TV. The tips are contained in a fisheries department manual obtained through Access To Information: “Clenched jaws and darting eyes are a sign of nervousness”.
Nearly 7,000 federal operating agreements for social housing lapsed to the end of 2015 including 827 last year, according to new data. Housing advocates have appealed for a renewal of subsidies for non-profit and co-operative housing corporations: "These are real people with real kids".
Environment Canada is updating its national freshwater quality index for the first time in more than a decade. It follows private research that found scores of unmonitored chemicals in Canadians’ drinking water: "The current index doesn't tell you what's wrong".
Cash-strapped VIA Rail is in the “early stages” of contract talks with employees including review of the Crown railway’s pension liabilities. VIA reported a record $317.1 million deficit in 2014: 'There are cost pressures on our bottom line'.
A DNA privacy bill has passed Second Reading in the Senate amid appeals to protect employees and insurance policyholders from discrimination. Lawmakers referred the Liberal bill to hearings of the human rights committee: "It’s unconscionable".
Lawyering fees are ballooning to rates so “disturbing” that courts are inaccessible to all but corporations and wealthy Canadians, says a senior judge. The remarks came over six-figure claims for costs in a routine appeal in a civil case: "When a client asks his lawyer the time of day he doesn’t need to be told how to build a watch".
The fisheries department cut funding for scientific research by as much as 18 percent in the past decade, new accounts show. Cuts included reductions in programs on fisheries protection and management: “That’s serious”.
Cabinet is effectively rolling back Conservative changes to the National Energy Board Act that limited the scope of public hearings on pipeline projects. Final decisions on two pipeline expansions already under review will be deferred for months: "We will do this right".
Directors and senior executives of publicly-traded companies face caps on benefits under a Liberal bill introduced in the Senate. The bill also imposes term limits on directors: 'Let's get competent directors who recruit competent managers'.
The Canada Revenue Agency cut payouts 23 percent under a tax credit scheme it dubbed an “open bar” for industry. It followed an increase in fines on companies that falsified claims in applying for the Scientific Research & Experimental Development tax credit: "You can't have an uncapped program".
Canadians have a 100 percent chance of waiting on the phone when they call a 1-800 federal call centre with pension complaints, record show. It follows a pledge to “transform” communications with taxpayers: "They would disconnect you, and you'd call back later".
Health Canada has never revoked a single conditional permit for the sale of any pesticide even if manufacturers failed to comply with federal regulations, a new report discloses. “There appeared to be no consequences,” wrote Commissioner of the Environment Julie Gelfand.
