Blacklock's Reporter

Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday: “The message leaves little room for doubt. The Americans should get their acts together and decide on the Keystone pipeline…”

The Royal Canadian Mint is quietly killing a celebrated plan to create its own e-money program. The veto follows a “communication” from the Bank of Canada: "We couldn't issue another currency".

The foreign ministry is being questioned over its sale of millions in overseas real estate for less than appraised values. Documents show two-thirds of foreign missions sold to date went to bargain hunters: "I have no expertise in this area".

A bill to proclaim next January 21 as Lincoln Alexander Day has cleared a Senate committee though it violates Heritage Canada’s own policy. The Senate social affairs committee endorsed a bill that would observe the former labour minister’s birthday: "He loved this country".

Canadian Pacific Rail in an unusual ruling has been cited for trying to intimidate a labour arbitrator. The railway was accused of “resorting to veiled threats” in attempting to defend its firing of a longtime employee: "This to me is a culture of disdain".

A Chrysler salesman who claimed “wages” paid to his stay-at-home wife as a business expense has failed to close the deal in Tax Court. A federal judge threw out testimony from both the salesman and his wife as implausible: “Courts are not required to believe witnesses".

The Canadian Coast Guard must improve its services including safety programs, says the cabinet minister responsible for the fleet of icebreakers and patrol boats. However Gail Shea did not comment on Coast Guard plans to raise fees on a cost-recovery basis.

Canadians are fearful of dangerous rail shipments and untrusting of regulators, says a federal safety official. The chair of the Transport Safety Board says authorities have been too slow to correct hazards since the fatal Lac-Mégantic derailment: 'There is fear and an erosion of public trust'.

CBC-TV is “slipping” and should be radically overhauled, says a former executive. Richard Stursberg told the Senate communications committee reform of the Crown broadcaster is crucial given its loss of hockey revenues for the first time since 1953: "I'm sorry, you have to take the dog if you want the hockey".

Advocates of a ban on bee-killing farm chemicals have been challenged by Senators to produce “convincing science-based facts” that restrictions would justify economic losses. Sierra Club Canada and others have appealed for a moratorium on pesticides already restricted in Europe: "Stakeholders have a lot to lose".

Provisions buried in a 375-page omnibus budget bill may undermine Parliamentary control of user-fees and create a conflict of interest for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, claims an industry group: "The agency will be looking for ways to impose fines".

A federal judge has upheld Transport Canada’s right to strip an airport employee of security clearance on rumours of criminality. The judgment came in the case of an Edmonton woman accused but never charged with drug crimes: "That is not the issue".

A Conservative MP is claiming a partial win in a clean-up campaign on tax amendments. An omnibus budget bill takes a step to corralling orphan tax amendments introduced and then forgotten in Parliament: 'It is just indefensible'.

Dramatic plans for a national monument to Cold War victims of communism include an 800-seat amphitheatre in downtown Ottawa, complete with a 9/11-style beacon. However federal documents suggest the monument itself may already be over-budget: "There will be a beam of light coming up from the ground".

A bill to place federal tribunals under cabinet supervision is a “cost-savings measure” and not a scheme to extend cabinet control, says the Attorney General. However Peter MacKay evaded reporters' questions for a second day and left the Commons by a back corridor: "Why?"