VIA Rail predicts it will draw private investment by 2016 to dramatically revamp its busiest passenger routes. The Crown agency is seeking $3 billion to build its own track for speedier service from Toronto to Montréal: "We are confident".
Canada rates poorly compared to other countries on new hiring of workers who lose their jobs, according to an international study. Newly-unemployed Canadians are less likely to quickly rebound from layoffs than jobless in much of Europe, said the OECD: "Rates for displaced workers are lower in Canada".
The Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade in confidential notes praised Vietnam for “progress” on human rights even as lawmakers condemned the Communist state at parliamentary hearings. Files released through Access To Information indicate diplomats downplayed the issue when speaking with Vietnamese authorities: "We note progress has been made in many areas".
A federal scheme to eliminate all paper cheques by 2016 has run into more difficulties. Canada Revenue Agency said it will not meet the deadline to substitute all cheques with direct deposit. The Department of Public Works earlier withdrew a notice that Canadians “must” submit bank account information to receive pension benefits and tax refunds: "CRA was granted an extension".
The federal mortgage insurer is spending $124,000 on an audit of its French-language Twitter account and bilingual services at offices nationwide. CMHC proposes to hire investigators to randomly call employees to test their facility with English and French: 'Social media are transforming our lives'.
Emissions from hundreds of thousands of gas lawn mowers, leaf and snow blowers, golf carts and other small engines are being researched by Environment Canada. The department said it requires data on whether equipment sold here meets U.S. emission standards introduced five years ago: "We don't take the initiative on any of these things".
A revised cabinet pledge to expand Canada-wide broadband service is “unambitious”, says an advocacy group. Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday said a re-elected cabinet would spend $200 million in subsidies over seven years to promote rural hook-ups: "It's really just a drop in the bucket".
The cash-strapped Canada Border Services Agency has resorted to once or twice-a-week checks for stolen autos under a federal law intended to curb black market exports. Memos obtained through Access To Information disclosed only a fraction of export containers have been checked for stolen vehicles: "We need funding".
The Canadian inventor of the Hockey Tower equipment bag is suing Costco and others alleging infringement of its patent. The company earlier settled similar patent cases against Walmart and Sport Maska Inc.: 'We take intellectual property rights pretty seriously'.
Enforcement of new disclosure rules on mining companies is being questioned by advocates. Natural Resources Canada is requiring that corporations disclose all six-figure payments to foreign governments: 'It should be available from the get-go'.
The federal Tax Court has dismissed an unusual claim from a bibliophile. The booklover claimed Excise Tax credits for a collection of thousands of first editions, including one title that appeared to irritate the judge: "Everyone likes it".
Cabinet proposes an 18 percent cut in funding for meat and poultry inspection, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A fifteen percent reduction in staff is due by 2017. The cuts follow release of a leaked Agency memo that food inspectors are to be deployed “based on emergencies” as a cost-savings measure: "Focus on back-office efficiency".
Nearly every employee at a federal pension board last year received a five-figure bonus for “superior” performance, according to accounts. The cash payments averaged $69,963 apiece. The Public Sector Pension Investment Board declined an interview: "We are very proud".
A Transport Canada proposal to order installation of new emergency locator transmitters in every aircraft in the country is drawing protests over costs. The department said the regulation would apply to all craft including private planes: "Mandatory is not really the answer".
A cabinet pledge to set a 20 percent target on reduction of obsolete regulations appears random, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The Prime Minister proposed that a re-elected Conservative cabinet would set a fixed quota of red tape cuts: 'Setting arbitrary targets is dangerous'.
