Tax scams detailed in federal court point to millions in false claims over fictitious business accounts. The Canada Revenue Agency would not disclose the amount of claims it’s faced through so-called business agent losses: "You may accuse me of being silly or reckless".
Farm groups are appealing for specific regulatory details of any federal climate change initiative. The Department of Agriculture earlier forecast global warming will likely result in better harvests and more varied crops for growers: 'It depends on the rules'.
The Department of Canadian Heritage has written off hundreds of thousands in unpaid loans after missing deadlines on collections, records show. In two cases the department allowed debts to go unpaid for years before the statute of limitation expired: 'Internet research indicates the company ceased operations'.
Regulators must prepare for dumping of used batteries in anticipation of an electric car boom, says an international panel. Environment Canada should draft regulations to ensure safe disposal and recycling of auto power packs, said the Commission for Environmental Cooperation: "The biggest challenge for electric cars is the battery".
A Tax Court judge has dealt a costly blow to service companies that pool customers’ tips. The Court ruled a restaurateur that collected and redistributed $1 million a year in gratuities is liable for federal Canada Pension Plan and employment insurance deductions: 'The test is not who the tips belong to, but who paid them'.
Natural Resources Canada has awarded another six-figure research contract on wind energy, the second in five weeks. The department proposes to study reliability of electricity generation from a wind farm in Prince Edward Island: "It is critical to have that information".
Warmest wishes to all friends and subscribers for a safe and happy holiday. Blacklock's reporters, contributors and shareholders pause to bid you all the best in 2016. Thank you for another tremendous year! -- The Editor
At least 5 percent of applicants for jobs as Transport Canada policy analysts plagiarized answers in their civil service exam, say court documents. Applicants were tested on “knowledge of key issues relating to transportation”, and were expected to show values and ethics: "Who can tell?"
Health Canada is commissioning a five-figure study on processed food labeling after proposing stricter regulation of salt and sugar. The department awarded a sole-sourced $426,000 research contract to a U.S. firm for “trend monitoring” on food labels and marketing: 'We require a significant amount of data'.
A bill introduced in the Commons aims to end once and for all the confusion over numeric dates. The Conservative bill comes 27 years after the Canadian Standards Association proposed a uniform method of listing dates like today’s, 2015-12-23: "Misinterpretation of the significance of numbers can occur".
Federal regulators have cited a national chain of houseware stores for breach of the Textile Labeling Act for the second time in two years. JYSK Canada was not fined, but ordered to pull items and post a “correction notice” for customers: 'If it occurs again penalties will be severe'.
Regulators knowingly allowed an insolvent Canadian airline to continue selling tickets for months before it collapsed, says an advocacy group. Air Passenger Rights released whistleblower emails to Transport Canada that warned of financial difficulties at SkyGreece Airlines two months before the company was grounded: “It seems no action was taken”.
Cabinet has gutted provisions of Bill C-377 only ten days before unions and labour trusts nationwide saw a legal requirement to compile confidential financial records for publication on a government website. The Canada Revenue Agency refused to say how much it spent in preparing to enforce the law: "We're talking real money".
Another sporting good supplier faces a five-figure federal penalty for misleading claims its hockey helmets may protect players for concussions. Consumers’ advocates described the Competition Bureau settlement as weak: "It lets the company spend on brand remediation".
Trade groups say they spent some $5 million on lawyers’ fees in waging a seven-year battle to repeal U.S. restrictions on Canadian meat exports. Authorities yesterday marked the formal end to the 2008 dispute over so-called country of origin labeling: 'It was a long and expensive fight'.
