Cabinet in a confidential order granted its Chief Science Advisor “blanket authority” to travel worldwide even as other federal managers were ordered to cut expenses, Access To Information records show. Dr. Mona Nemer, a University of Ottawa biochemist, was told to charge expenses “where a personal benefit exists or may appear to exist.” READ MORE
Prime Minister Mark Carney has granted federal managers arbitrary powers to ignore his Buy Canadian policy, records show. New reasons to bypass Canadian contractors include “administrative burden.” READ MORE
An Alberta senator yesterday said her personal safety was threatened by public disclosure of a provincial voters’ list. The incident was “very grave,” Senator Paula Simons of Edmonton told the Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee: 'It is a threat to the safety of many Albertans, myself included.' READ MORE
The Commons yesterday by a 189 to 128 vote passed into law new hate crimes legislation. The cabinet bill written to counter anti-Semitic public disorder drew contentious amendments unrelated to safety of Canadian Jews: "It is less sober second thought and more quick hot takes." READ MORE
A Senate panel yesterday rejected assurances by CBC management that news coverage is politically neutral. The transport and communications committee recommended the CBC submit to independent audits of its news content: "Allegations of bias are serious and undermine trust." READ MORE
Cabinet’s $393,000-a year Chief Science Advisor billed taxpayers for 12 business-class flights to Paris, records show. Nemer earlier told MPs she couldn’t recall flying business class while running up more than $400,000 in expenses: "What exactly are Canadian taxpayers paying you to do?" READ MORE
Governor General Louise Arbour yesterday in one of her first acts of office notified MPs she is cutting her clothing allowance. Arbour’s predecessor was sharply criticized for billing thousands for shoes, silk jackets and other apparel: 'The Office has revised its guidelines for clothing.' READ MORE
Anti-Semitism was not uncommon in those days. The worst MP I ever saw? Social Credit’s John Blackmore of Lethbridge. People couldn’t understand how he kept getting elected in Alberta. He was a kook, just out of control, and a blatherskite. He was once cited for using his House mailing privileges to distribute anti-Semitic literature. In 1954, Blackmore sought a federal commission to probe an “imperialist conspiracy of Eastern European Reds of Mongol and Turkic affinities.” He became a figure of fun in the Press Gallery because of the silly things he did, but with a dark, racist tone.
