Heritage Minister Marc Miller on a July junket to the United Kingdom scheduled confidential briefings on a Labour Party proposal to promote “social cohesion,” according to an Access To Information memo. A Labour report targeted individuals it called “digital grifters” and “politicians of grievance.” READ MORE
Cabinet’s $90 billion regional high speed railway faces new barriers, specifically land use restrictions at federally-designated historic places along the proposed route including a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parks Canada in an Access To Information memo expressed concern over “possible impacts.” READ MORE
Canada was the best prepared country in the world for pandemic risk, officials boasted in newly-declassified 2005 cabinet minutes made public yesterday. The Public Health Agency to date has failed to explain what went wrong: "Canada was the best prepared among countries for a pandemic risk." READ MORE
Sales of heat pumps grew sixfold nationwide even before cabinet launched a costly subsidy program to promote their use, new figures from the Canada Energy Regulator showed yesterday. The devices were most popular in Atlantic Canada where oil furnaces had been a mainstay of home heating: "Once you make the switch to get off oil and gas you can save hundreds." READ MORE
A federal judge has upheld the Canada Border Services Agency’s confiscation of thousands in Vegas winnings from a cross-border traveler deemed improbably lucky. Under the Proceeds Of Crime And Terrorist Financing Act, Canadians returning home must account for all cash holdings over $10,000: "This can hardly be characterized as unreasonable." READ MORE
A federal delegation on tour in China urged battery electric car makers to increase Canadian demand for their vehicles, according to a report to Parliament. Automakers with assembly plants in Canada have warned a guaranteed five-year quota of 278,989 Chinese imports will cost jobs here: "Unfettered access, even if limited by quotas, will weaken Canada’s ability to protect its people." READ MORE
The Assembly of First Nations says it rejects any fixed deadline under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s legislated plan to speed approval of “nation building” projects. The group in a report to parliamentarians dismissed Carney’s deadlines as a pressure tactic: 'It is aggressive.' READ MORE
I was representing a person who won a $2,000 award in Small Claims Court. The other side appealed. The judge heard the case, required us to make a full presentation over this $2,000 and reserved judgment, that is, took it under consideration. Years later, the judge had still not issued his judgment on this $2,000 claim. I waited. The judge died. It was unbelievably unfair to the client.
