The post office must “struggle to keep it all going” unless it adopts significant changes, management has written MPs. The remarks come ahead of new loss figures described by one executive as grave: "Canada Post is now at a critical juncture."

Auditors have uncovered routine irregularities in the hiring of consultants in Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s department. The review followed a public outcry over billions spent on consultants government-wide, said an internal audit report: "In the last five years the department signed more than 8,000 consulting service contracts totaling $567 million."

Costly new Covid ventilators sold for scrap by the Department of Public Works were still in their original factory wrapping, says a paramedic who bought 51 units at bargain prices. Dissembled units that sold for $6 apiece cost taxpayers more than $22,000 each, according to figures earlier submitted to the Commons ethics committee: "They are still sitting in my driveway."

The Department of Immigration in an internal report acknowledges complaints of “privileged” treatment of Ukrainians compared to Afghan war refugees. Aid for Ukrainians included free flights and $490.7 million in cash grants: "There is a perception of unfairness."

Cabinet’s feud with Facebook cost the CBC millions of website visitors, according to financial statements. CBC.ca had been the longest-running, most popular news site in the country with content uploaded from 1,000 staff, by official estimate: "It is Facebook’s decision."

Cabinet yesterday approved an increase in annual funding for the CBC of more than $96 million. It followed CEO Catherine Tait’s threat to lay off 600 employees on claims of “chronic underfunding.”

The Canadian Human Rights Commission faces international naming and shaming after mistreating Black employees. A coalition of unions and human rights groups yesterday petitioned a United Nations agency to investigate misconduct by managers: "It has to start at the top."

Cabinet yesterday budgeted more than $11 million for its judicial inquiry into election meddling by Chinese agents. Fifty-three lawyers are attending the Commission on Foreign Interference: "I will make every effort to get to the bottom of things."

A federal homeless relief program paid millions to consultants, documents show. Overall spending on consultants jumped 13 percent last year despite cabinet's promise to cut spending on consultants: "This is not about doing more with less."

The Senate proposes to increase its spending this year to a record $134.9 million, new budget documents show. Increases including 10 percent more for administration costs follow cabinet’s promise to cut discretionary spending in 2024: "You will see that all the ministries need to ensure they are doing their part to reduce wasteful spending."

Federal spending on consultants is up 16 percent this year to a record high despite cabinet’s promise to curb the practice, the Parliamentary Budget Office said yesterday. Federal managers earlier paid almost $670,000 to consultants for advice on how to save money on consultants: "Spending on professional services continues to increase."

The Department of Health yesterday would not comment on its continued concealment of what taxpayers were charged for Pfizer vaccines. An Access To Information copy of the 2020 Pfizer contract obtained by The Canadian Independent redacted the “price and payment” schedule: "When will the department divulge the costs?"

The Royal Canadian Air Force faces a “personnel crisis” with fewer volunteers joining and more veterans leaving the service, says a federal report. It follows a 35 percent decline in military recruitment across the board last year: "The RCAF is experiencing a personnel crisis."

Cabinet’s promise of “$15 billion of savings” does not mean federal spending will be cut by $15 billion, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said yesterday. “Savings” meant spending would be redirected from some programs to others, Freeland told reporters: "It is not new savings."

Cabinet has donated a small portion of its mammoth pandemic ventilator stockpile to Ukrainian war victims. The Department of Public Works spent more than $700 million on Covid-era rush orders for ventilators that were never used: "I do have the Canadian taxpayers’ interests at heart when I am doing my job."