The impact of grizzly bears on mining and drilling is being researched by Environment Canada. The initiative comes amid concerns that British Columbia programs to protect grizzlies are inadequate; B.C. is home to the largest grizzly population in the country: "Undocumented killing remains a problem".
A Prince Edward Island woman declared a “vexatious litigant” by the justice system has found no relief from the Supreme Court. The Charlottetown activist waged a decade-long quest to have the government refund her $50 driver’s license fee: 'There were lengthy, confused ramblings'.
Newly-released records show cabinet cuts to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program came only weeks after government polling identified a public backlash against migrant labour. More than a third of Canadians surveyed wanted the entire program abolished; and 68 percent of Canadians said employers abused the plan: 'Raise wages first'.
Two of the country’s largest cellphone companies face a class action lawsuit over nickel-and-dime charges on millions of customers, according to allegations. Bell and Telus are accused of rounding up cellphone billing minutes to charge seven million clients for time they never used: "Why?"
Parliamentary committees have passed a contentious amendment to federal law granting cabinet a veto over operations at Canadian airports. Industry executives cautioned the changes will see political meddling in management of airfields: "That seems rather quaint to say at this point".
One year after cabinet’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol, experts have told a Senate climate change forum new federal initiatives are needed to combat greenhouse gas emissions. Canada was the first signatory to the 1997 pact to revoke its endorsement, saving some $14 billion in penalties: "We need to make serious changes".
The Commons finance committee has unanimously passed a federal ban on paper billing fees by telecom companies amid questions on why banks are exempt. Industry Minister James Moore said abolishing identical bank statement fees will require separate legislation: "It's the dog that didn't bark".
The Department of Canadian Heritage is hiring consultants to study the viability of daily newspapers. Authorities ordered a $30,000 report on dailies’ content and viability: “Why don’t they just ask us?”
Two Conservative Senators who voted to kill union bill C-377 say the measure remains flawed, and ripe for constitutional challenge. The two were the only members of the government caucus to support a motion to strike the Conservative bill before Second Reading: “I find it offensive, to tell the truth”.
Seal hunters are asking MPs to expand a security cordon around their annual harvest for fear media and protesters will use camera drones to take video and photographs. The Seals & Sealing Network said media scrutiny is stressful for hunters: “They cannot work as well when they have a camera filming them".
Aquaculture fees are “not the right tool” to regulate the environmental impact of fish farms, says a federal official. A proposed fee schedule to take effect by year’s end will see British Columbia operators pay 10 percent of the cost of federal oversight of the industry: "The world needs fish".
Canada Post reports another surprise quarterly profit, and says original forecasts of a disastrous drop in 2014 revenues appear unfounded. The Crown corporation estimated revenues on its core post office business increased $100 million since January to $4.5 billion to date: 'They panicked and cut, cut, cut'.
One of the country’s largest media publishers has been hit with a $28,000 judgment over trademark infringement. A Federal Court judge cited Black Press Group Ltd. for a copycat publication that violated an Alberta company’s trademark: 'They kept on using it'.
Cabinet will not reopen energy regulatory hearings to the general public despite clashes over a British Columbia pipeline project, says the Minister of Natural Resources. Greg Rickford reaffirmed only Canadians “directly affected” by projects should be permitted at hearings of the National Energy Board: "There will always be a difference of opinion".
A contentious Conservative labour bill C-377 last evening survived its first test in the Senate on word the government aims to pass it within sixty days. Senators voted 42 to 28 to reject a motion to defeat the bill. Two Conservatives supported the motion declaring it “erroneous” and unconstitutional: “I don’t know the appetite yet for a flat-out mutiny”.
