Federal agencies last year mailed more than a million government cheques that were never cashed, records show. Payments totaling $609.4 million ranged from Old Age Security to unclaimed carbon rebates: "How many cheques?" READ MORE
Can’t Run Without Suppliers
The Department of National Defence in three years spent nearly $300 million hiring transport contractors due to its inadequate vehicle fleet, say auditors. A total 203 separate contracts were approved: "Armed Forces transport capability cannot satisfy the transportation requirements." READ MORE
Green Plan At $9K Per Capita
A federal climate program to install clean energy in First Nations cost the equivalent of more then $9,000 per person, records show. The disclosure follows a 2023 report acknowledging a multi-million dollar program to phase out diesel generators in Arctic Canada was nowhere near to reaching its target: "Projects can take more than 10 years to develop." READ MORE
I’m Too Lib For Radio: Adler
Talk radio is a lucrative medium for white bigotry, says Liberal appointee Senator Charles Adler (Man.). Speaking in a podcast, Adler said his radio career was impacted by his refusal to “play that game.” READ MORE
CMHC Wary Of Booster Talk
CMCH yesterday cautioned Canadians against celebrating temporary gains in housing starts amid a longer term construction decline. Housing Minister Gregor Robertson repeatedly pointed to a temporary increase in housing starts last summer as proof that “our plan is working.” READ MORE
Hate Crime A Part-Time Job
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme assigned a total seven officers to policing hate crimes in seven provinces, records show. Most were part-timers. The disclosure followed complaints of weak protection of Jews, the leading target of hate crimes in Canada, by official estimate: "What are the risks?" READ MORE
‘Obligated’ To Recover Art
Cabinet acknowledges a “moral obligation” to recover Indigenous artworks that vanished from government offices, the Commons heritage committee was told. One MP said federal managers appeared determined to downplay the loss of paintings, jewelry, sculptures and other art that went missing from a multi-million dollar collection: "I do believe there is a moral obligation." READ MORE
Guest Commentary
I will never forget the 1993 campaign. It was electric. There was a cry for change and tempers ran high. I got into a fight with one voter on his own front porch. And I learned never to campaign in bars. Alcohol brings out cynicism in the electorate. When we almost killed the Conservative Party, the hunger for change was genuine. We won 2,559,245 votes from Canadians who sought to reform forever the way Ottawa worked. It’s a shame we failed to do it. There’s a proverb that reform movements are like bees: They sting and then they die.
