A federal agency is weighing an appeal to the Supreme Court on whether cuts to CBC French-language programming violate official bilingualism. The Federal Court of Appeal rejected the claim: "We have received a number of complaints".
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “Welcome to the Government of Canada’s Barbaric Cultural Practices Hotline. If you wish to report on mass killing of seal pups, press 1…”
Auto production in Mexico will double Canada’s share of the North American market by 2020, says a confidential Industry Canada report. The research cited an “employment-less recovery” in the sector with the loss of 50,000 jobs since 2009: "How best can we align our policy framework in preparation for this future?"
The National Energy Board is hiring consultants to monitor public criticism of the regulator by media, Facebook and Twitter users and bloggers. It follows protests over 2013 disclosures the Board asked police to keep watch on opponents of the Northern Gateway project: "Criticisms of the Board’s processes and reputation have grown significantly".
The new cabinet should ban asbestos after years of appeals, says a petition from 140 researchers and advocates. Use of asbestos as insulation in residential and commercial buildings ended 25 years ago, though the product remains legal: "Asbestos poses a threat to lives in Canada".
Forty percent of recent university graduates are under-employed with jobs that don't require their degrees, says the Parliamentary Budget Office. Analysts said the rate was worse than in the 1991 recession: "If you’re an engineer working as a bartender, that’s a clear mismatch".
The Bank of Montreal is being cited for an “insidious practice” in arbitrarily hiking a debtor’s credit card limit, then suing for unpaid MasterCard balances. “It seems like giving people more of the proverbial rope to hang themselves,” wrote a judge: "Large financial institutions must know the consequences of their practice, but they do it anyway".
Federal licensing of an Enbridge Inc. pipeline is headed for the Supreme Court on whether regulators followed a “duty to consult” Indigenous people. Lawyers representing the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation say they will ask the high court to review the Line 9 project: "It has to be meaningful consultation with accommodation; it’s not just a phone message".
The economy remains a worry following new data on a continued slowdown, says Finance Minister Bill Morneau. The Parliamentary Budget Office forecast weak growth averaging 2.3 to 1.8 percent through 2020: "We are expecting a relatively slow recovery over the next five years".
The Supreme Court is being asked for guidance on federal environmental assessments. Advocates will seek leave to appeal a lower court ruling that risk studies were unnecessary in the licensing of nuclear reactors: "It’s not like we are pioneering; we are playing catch-up".
Blacklock's Reporter today pauses for the federal Remembrance observance with gratitude to all who honoured our country -- and a thought for Tom Hyland Blacklock, 2nd Lieutenant, 20th Halton Battalion, 1893. Thank you for your service, Tommy.
Delays in new Health Canada guidelines on sugar consumption followed lobbying by the nation's largest supermarket chain, documents show. Loblaw Companies Ltd. protested a federal proposal to cut Canadians’ sugar consumption 30 percent. The grocers' input was "vital", says a 2014 memo obtained through Access To Information: “Loblaws should be encouraged to continue working with the department".
Federal contracting is too complex and fails to reward small Canadian-owned suppliers, says a Department of Public Works report. The findings follow consultations mailed to 130,000 government suppliers: "The current process is long and confusing".
Changes to a federal lobbyists’ Code Of Conduct, the first in 18 years, would prevent lobbyists from concealing client identities or accepting confidential government documents. The new Code makes no mention of promised fines on advocates who breach the Lobbying Act: "There's nothing substantive".
A majority of Canadians, 78 percent, support more vigorous federal leadership on greenhouse gas emissions, according to University of Ottawa research. Fifty-seven percent rated environmental protection a higher priority than job creation or economic growth: "Some work needs to be done".
