Transport regulators spent hundreds of thousands of dollars researching an accident-prevention device for truckers in an effort one safety advocate called a waste of money. Documents show Transport Canada halted its own investigation of truck side guards after spending more than $300,000 investigating the devices mandated in other G8 countries.
The United Church, a friend of the Occupy movement, is speaking out over an Industry Canada application by a British Columbian to trademark an Occupy slogan for use on handbags and t-shirts. Officials said the Trademarks Act is intended to "minimize possible speculation" in catch-phrases, slogans and popular outcries.
Canadian employers should articulate clear policies on monitoring workplace computers following a Supreme Court judgment in the case of a teacher arrested after technicians uncovered disturbing images in a school board-issue laptop.
A Florida-based "banker's bank" is applying for a federal license to operate in Toronto, with possible expansion to Vancouver, says its CEO. The bank, CXI, currently runs branches from Orlando to Seattle.
The Prime Minister’s Office privately consulted with industry lobbyists on a bill that would require unions to disclose their finances under threat of $1,000-a day penalties, Blacklock's has learned. Eleven senior Conservative staffers and MPs, including the Prime Minister's chief of staff, met with the same construction group that earlier successfully lobbied for repeal of the 1930 Fair Wages and Hours Act. “Those are big hitters,” said Labour Congress president Ken Georgetti.
Lobbying records disclose tourism promoters requested 39 top-level meetings with cabinet members, MPs and federal staff after the government cut funding for travel promotion. “If we don’t reach out we’re not heard,” said David Goldstein, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association. One government official told Blacklock's the budget reductions were "radical."
Inventive Canadians should qualify for direct federal subsidies under sweeping reforms to the nation’s “antiquated” patent system, a think tank has told the Commons’ Standing Committee on Industry. The Canadian International Council pressed MPs to counter the loss of intellectual property to foreign investors: "We have an IP leakage problem, people."
