Federally regulated private sector companies should be subject to Québec language regulations, Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole said yesterday. O’Toole said any Conservative cabinet within 100 days of taking office would “work with Québec to apply Bill 101 to federally regulated businesses.”
Taping a Chuck Norris poster to the side of a police van does not amount to misconduct, Québec’s Police Ethics Tribunal has ruled. The decision followed complaints by demonstrators who spotted the poster during 2018 street rallies against the G7 Summit: “It was a running gag.”
Taxpayers oppose amnesty for undeserving Canadians who claimed $2,000 pandemic relief cheques they weren’t entitled to, says in-house research by the Canada Revenue Agency. Authorities have yet to explain why the Canada Emergency Response Benefit program went 200 percent over budget: “If ineligible recipients were not asked to repay benefits it would be unfair.”
The CRTC yesterday cautioned broadcasters to play fair in campaign news coverage. Guidelines for TV and radio stations followed a 2016 investigation that found coverage of one Conservative MP was so one-sided it breached the Broadcasting Act: ‘It asked listeners to vote for a candidate who wears a turban.’
The Ethics Commissioner yesterday fined a political aide in Foreign Minister Marc Garneau’s office, Sara Amash, for breach of the Conflict Of Interest Act. Opposition MPs have sought an increase in the current $500 maximum fine for scofflaws: “Retaining public trust remains an ongoing challenge for institutions in Canada.”
The Covid economic crash sent more Canadians to the bank to withdraw large bills, $50s and $100s, data show. The Bank of Canada reported an extraordinary increase in the amount of cash withdrawn by Canadians from the outbreak of the pandemic: “A sharp spike in withdrawals of banknotes occurred.”
People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier yesterday opened his national campaign with a pledge not to promise any new programs. The Party polled 294,092 votes in the 2019 campaign but did not elect an MP: “All the other parties play this vote-buying game.”
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair’s department commissioned confidential research on whether to defund police. Data showed the largest number of Canadians surveyed said police should get more money, not less: “Which would you choose?”
The Conservative Party yesterday said it will repeal a half billion in federal subsidies for the press if elected September 20. Leader Erin O’Toole also pledged to review $1.2 billion in annual funding for CBC-TV’s English language service: “Government funding of ‘approved’ media undermines press freedom.”
Air quality has markedly improved since 2006, says a Department of Environment report. The data contradicted claims by then-Environment Minister Catherine McKenna that worsening pollution was fatal: “Air quality in the country has generally improved over time.”
A federal landlord seeks a sixfold increase in spending to upgrade wiring and plumbing at official residences after spending money on frills like fresh-cut flowers. The National Capital Commission did not account for unpaid maintenance at Rideau Hall and other properties: “Funding is not the only requirement.”
The RCMP yesterday declined comment on a seven-figure budget to build a three-bedroom house near a rural British Columbia detachment. The budget is at least triple the cost of housing in the region: ““It will be a wood framed structure.”
Dissolution of the 43rd Parliament spells the end for two cabinet bills to regulate the internet. Other bills that passed the Commons or Senate but not both chambers included a carbon tax break for farmers, a ban on plastic waste exports and a measure to outlaw organ tourism: ‘Dissolution ends all business.’
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday called a rare September election in part to answer complaints of government overreach in pandemic management, he said. The September 20 vote was so rushed the Liberal Party last evening had yet to nominate candidates in 83 of 338 federal ridings: “The answer to tyranny is to have an election.”
More than 990,000 records documenting pandemic mismanagement were successfully concealed by cabinet. The Commons health committee confirmed an October 26 House order compelling public release of the records yesterday expired with the dissolution of Parliament: “They have refused to send those documents.”
