At a town hall meeting in Ashcroft, B.C. in July, Green Party leader Elizabeth May suggested that if SNC-Lavalin is found guilty on corruption and fraud charges, the Quebec-based engineering giant should face a court order to perform “community service” by repairing water infrastructure on reserves.
Veteran northern Ontario NDP MP Charlie Angus, his party’s ethics critic, released a statement late last week saying he was “appalled and disappointed”by May’s proposal. He accused Greens of seeking to “turn over water infrastructure contracts on reserve” to a corporation facing serious charges.
Manitoba MP Niki Ashton, whose riding includes two First Nations under boil-water advisories, told the Winnipeg Free Press in a statement that May’s idea “opens the door to privatizing water.”
Friday, August 2, 2019
FBI WARNS ACADEMIA ABOUT CHINA
“It is every university and institution’s responsibility to safeguard its information,” states the document, a copy of which was obtained by the National Post. “The Chinese government (poses) a particular threat to U.S. academia for a variety of reasons.”
In Canada, where 143,000 Chinese students are enrolled at colleges and universities, there’s little evidence of the same level of vigilance, or willingness to name China as a prime villain. The RCMP says it has produced no such document and has no country-specific enforcement programs, while universities report little in the way of warnings from security agencies.
The country’s spy agency does acknowledge an economic espionage problem, without mentioning any one country.
In Canada, where 143,000 Chinese students are enrolled at colleges and universities, there’s little evidence of the same level of vigilance, or willingness to name China as a prime villain. The RCMP says it has produced no such document and has no country-specific enforcement programs, while universities report little in the way of warnings from security agencies.
The country’s spy agency does acknowledge an economic espionage problem, without mentioning any one country.
YOUR CAR'S COMPUTER CAN SPILL THE BEANS
If you thought your days of looking over your shoulder to see if someone was tattling on you ended in grade school, think again. But this time it’s not the nosy neighbour or the uber-ambitious coworker you have to worry about, it’s a member of your own family — your daily driver.
The more computers that vehicle engineers can cram into your ride, the more memory these devices can retain.
And while lawyers can argue who owns that info and who has a right to it, these little circuit boards go on their merry way, compiling data on how we drive and crash our vehicles, and sometimes that data can byte you in the hard-drive.
The more computers that vehicle engineers can cram into your ride, the more memory these devices can retain.
And while lawyers can argue who owns that info and who has a right to it, these little circuit boards go on their merry way, compiling data on how we drive and crash our vehicles, and sometimes that data can byte you in the hard-drive.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
NO HELP FROM OTTAWA WHEN SIN STOLEN, USED IN FRAUD
The one million Canadians who saw their social insurance numbers stolen in the massive Capital One data hack shouldn't count on Ottawa to help bail them out of trouble with identity thieves.
In 2018, the federal government issued replacement SINs in just 60 cases of fraud and abuse, according to recent testimony before a House of Commons committee.
Elise Boisjoly, an assistant deputy minister with Employment and Social Development Canada, told the Commons standing committee on public safety and national security that her department handed out more than 1.6 million new social insurance numbers last year — but issued only a few dozen replacement numbers because "getting a new social insurance number will not protect individuals from fraud."
In 2018, the federal government issued replacement SINs in just 60 cases of fraud and abuse, according to recent testimony before a House of Commons committee.
Elise Boisjoly, an assistant deputy minister with Employment and Social Development Canada, told the Commons standing committee on public safety and national security that her department handed out more than 1.6 million new social insurance numbers last year — but issued only a few dozen replacement numbers because "getting a new social insurance number will not protect individuals from fraud."
LIBERALS' SHOW FOR THE PEASANTS
The Supreme Court’s chief justice and the federal justice minister recently signed an accord “recognizing and reinforcing” the top court’s independence, a move Conservative justice critic Lisa Raitt says is “ironic,” given reports earlier this year that the government “clearly sought to interfere with a Crown prosecutor’s independence.”
Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti (LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, Que.) and Chief Justice Richard Wagner signed the accord, which “publicly” defines the role of the federal justice minister in making recommendations related to the Registrar of the Supreme Court and in decision-making over funding for the court’s operations, on July 22.
The accord “exemplifies Canada’s commitment to safeguarding its institutions and protecting democratic values such as judicial independence,” said Justice Wagner in a press release. “A judiciary that is independent—and seen to be independent—benefits all Canadians.”
Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti (LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, Que.) and Chief Justice Richard Wagner signed the accord, which “publicly” defines the role of the federal justice minister in making recommendations related to the Registrar of the Supreme Court and in decision-making over funding for the court’s operations, on July 22.
The accord “exemplifies Canada’s commitment to safeguarding its institutions and protecting democratic values such as judicial independence,” said Justice Wagner in a press release. “A judiciary that is independent—and seen to be independent—benefits all Canadians.”
LIBERALS' CYA POLICY ON DISPLAY
Liberal members of the House committee on foreign affairs Tuesday shut down opposition parties' attempt to launch an investigation into claims a federal official pressured two former diplomats over their statements on Canada-China relations.
Opposition parties allege the government tried to muzzle two ex-ambassadors who have been outspoken about Canada's ongoing diplomatic conflict with China. The bid to open an investigation failed after the Liberals, who hold a majority of the committee's seats, defeated the motion in a 5-4 vote Tuesday afternoon.
The Globe and Mail reported last week that former Canadian ambassador to China David Mulroney said Paul Thoppil, an official with Global Affairs Canada, instructed him to clear any public comments on Canada's China policy with the department beforehand. The official reportedly cited the "election environment" and said he was passing on a request from the Prime Minister's Office.
Opposition parties allege the government tried to muzzle two ex-ambassadors who have been outspoken about Canada's ongoing diplomatic conflict with China. The bid to open an investigation failed after the Liberals, who hold a majority of the committee's seats, defeated the motion in a 5-4 vote Tuesday afternoon.
The Globe and Mail reported last week that former Canadian ambassador to China David Mulroney said Paul Thoppil, an official with Global Affairs Canada, instructed him to clear any public comments on Canada's China policy with the department beforehand. The official reportedly cited the "election environment" and said he was passing on a request from the Prime Minister's Office.
BECOMING A BUTTERFLY IN CHINA'S COLLECTION
A senior Liberal MP says it’s still safe to travel to China today even as the fate of two Canadians arrested by Beijing remains uncertain, but some former diplomats and analysts advise extra prudence.
Robert Oliphant, the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the travel environment for Canadians in China remains unchanged from years previous. He offered this advice even though former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor remain in Chinese jails more than half a year after they were seized by Beijing in what critics call “hostage diplomacy." Their detentions came soon after Ottawa arrested a Chinese technology executive.
“We are saying it is still safe,” Mr. Oliphant said this week. “These, I think, were very targeted abductions.
Robert Oliphant, the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the travel environment for Canadians in China remains unchanged from years previous. He offered this advice even though former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor remain in Chinese jails more than half a year after they were seized by Beijing in what critics call “hostage diplomacy." Their detentions came soon after Ottawa arrested a Chinese technology executive.
“We are saying it is still safe,” Mr. Oliphant said this week. “These, I think, were very targeted abductions.
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