Sept 28, 2016
National Newswatch – Jim Bronskill
Feds failed to assess privacy implications of C-51 info-sharing: watchdog
Privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien says that the government needs to do more with protecting the privacy of average Canadians in the light of the C-51 legislation, first passed by the last Conservative government and now needing a review for government personnel on the implications for the average person. The bill gives authority to the various federal agencies to share personal information among themselves and with foreign intelligence services. The scale of information-sharing that could occur “is unprecedented,” says Therrien. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/09/27/feds-failed-to-assess-privacy-implications-of-c-51-info-sharing-watchdog-3/#.V-qSvPnyuUk Related article: Globe and Mail – Colin Freeze Privacy watchdog urges Ottawa to pass ‘metadata’ legislation http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/privacy-watchdog-urges-ottawa-to-pass-metadata-legislation/article32094827/
Regina Leader-Post – D.C. Fraser
What you can afford making minimum wage in Saskatchewan
What will minimum wage bring when the wage goes up to $10.72 / hour on Oct. 1? The answer is $428.80 a week or just over $1700 a month. Fraser offers a break-down of what the minimum wage is able to provide for and what the options are in the province, with the assumptions, frugality and few extras. There are 23,200 on minimum wage, 56% of which are under 25 years old. Those working in accommodations, food services or retail are most likely to be impacted. http://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/what-you-can-afford-making-minimum-wage-in-saskatchewan
Hill Times – Chelsea Nash
‘Victory!’: MP immigration hotline restored
There used to be a ‘hotline’ in the federal immigration system that allowed MP’s advocating for immigrants to get quick access to unresolved problems in the system. In April past, the hotline was discontinued and now has been re-instituted, a victory at least for the MP’s whose queries make up a bulk of their constituency work. There are now two lines: one in Montreal for simple queries and one in Ottawa for more complex cases that may require ministerial intervention. http://www.hilltimes.com/2016/09/28/immigration-hotline/81371
CBC News – Katie Simpson
MPs unanimously support regional representation for Supreme Court
Based on an opposition motion, all parties in the House have approved a motion calling for the government appointments to the Supreme Court to respect the traditional regional representation. The concern springs from Atlantic Canada where the possibility of an Indigenous appointment may have eclipsed the Atlantic as a traditional region. The motion does not address the question of an Indigenous appointment. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/09/27/mps-unanimously-support-regional-representation-for-supreme-court/
CBC News – Dean Beeby
Tardy bureaucrats causing First Nations’ cost overruns, report finds – Timely findings come as Liberal government plans to fix water problems, improve schools and health
Canada’s government paid a consultant $134,000 to find out why so many First Nations projects are over budget. The answer it seems is the federal government bureaucracy itself. Efforts to build housing, schools and water / sewage infrastructure appear doomed to over runs from the beginning. “The problem, the consultants found, was that feasibility studies were often badly outdated by the time the department got around to approving projects, sometimes years later. And delays in funding approval meant that existing infrastructure on reserves deteriorated, further raising costs.” http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/first-nations-orbis-infrastructure-water-consultants-budgets-1.3780760 CBC News: Donna Carreiro Indigenous children for sale: The money behind the Sixties Scoop Adoptive U.S. parents paid thousands for Indigenous Manitoba children http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/sixties-scoop-americans-paid-thousands-indigenous-children-1.3781622
Tyee – Jeremy Nuttall
Ottawa to Consult on Charity Rules — but Continue Audits Environmental group asks why Liberals are continuing Harper-era crackdown.
Controversy around the political activities of charities and the use of audits to force their neutrality is back in the news as Ottawa and Canada Revenue Agency are proposing a consultation on the issue while refusing to halt the audits. The definition of what constitutes ‘political’ activity is unclear; the environmental charities are particularly impacted but the faith community as well. Government has asked a panel of five from the larger foundations to consult and promises to hold on-line consultations as well. Additionally, consultations with reps of the charity sector will take place in locations across the country: Halifax, Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/09/28/Ottawa-Charity-Rules/