Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. has won a legal battle against an ex-consultant it accused of masterminding a million-dollar scheme. The Supreme Court cleared the way for Shoppers to pursue its former contractor for misappropriated payments: 'It operated in Ponzi-like fashion'.
Managers and accountants rate Canada Revenue weak on enforcement with scorn for toothless treatment of offshore tax avoiders, the department’s own research shows. The findings are in a $149,000 study commissioned by management: "As soon as tax lawyers are brought in by the wealthy, the Canada Revenue Agency backs off".
New regulations will see thousands of Canadian lab workers fingerprinted and subject to criminal background checks as an anti-terror precaution. The Public Health Agency said employees with access to deadly bacteria and viruses must be scrutinized: 'The damage related to a SARS outbreak is 200 times the cost of these regulations'.
A Senate panel conducting landmark hearings on the environmental impact of farm chemicals should report to the public this fall, officials say. Senators aim to complete and publish findings on bee mortality and pesticides after Parliament returns from its summer recess September 15: "It's up to you guys".
Twelve million Canadians who signed onto the national Do Not Call List are being promised lifetime freedom from unwanted telemarketing calls. The nation’s telecom regulator the CRTC said the list of registered users is now permanent: "It makes sense".
Accountants are celebrating passage of legislation that requires MPs to sweep up orphaned tax amendments that clutter Parliament year over year. The measure was signed into law with an omnibus budget bill: "We are really happy".
One-third of children's foods tested contain trace levels of agricultural chemicals including two meals rated unsafe, says a Canadian Food Inspection Agency report. Chemicals found in kids' meals included a common pesticide currently the subject of a Senate investigation: "Heavy metals may pose the greatest inherent risk".
Lobbyists are proposing a bill to sanction roadside tests for motorists suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana. The group Mothers Against Drunk Drivers said police should gain greater powers to stop the drug-impaired: "I'd love to see drugs included in the bill".
Canada Border Services Agency expects to collect $23 million a year in new mandatory visa fees on foreign visitors beginning in 2015. The Electronic Travel Authorization program applies only to air passengers: "There's a risk of nickel and diming our tourists".
Fewer than one-fifth of groups representing homeowners affected by Canada Post cuts have been contacted by the Crown corporation, research shows. Post management will begin eliminating doorstep mail delivery this October: "They didn't consult at all".
Another multi-million dollar charity fraud has unraveled in Tax Court. Canada Revenue revealed a church issued $3 million in faked receipts for parishioners. The Jesus Healing Centre acknowledged it falsified the accounts: "No sum ever approaching the $3 million was received".
Telecom giant Bell Mobility is being ordered to pay thousands in damages after divulging a Manitoba cellphone customer’s PIN number and account history to an imposter. Federal Court concluded Bell breached the law by releasing the information, then waiting weeks to notify the account holder: "An unwarranted invasion of privacy occurred".
A federal port authority is accused of breaching freedom of information laws with concealment of audited expenses. The Toronto Port Authority was named in a Federal Court action by the Office of the Information Commissioner in a case dating back five years: "I'd expect them to at least comply with federal law".
Boat manufacturers are pressing Parliament to restore service cuts on the nation’s historic canal system amid sharp declines in traffic. Reduced hours followed a $29 million cut in Parks Canada's budget two years ago: "What are the real savings?"
Changes to rules on migrant labour have left food processors and meatpackers scrambling to assess the impact on labour shortages, officials say. Foreign workers comprise one-tenth of the sector workforce: 'The impact would be swift and severe'.
