The Commissioner for the Communications Security Establishment has concerns that the information we share with our allies may be used improperly, and that they may not be properly protecting information about Canadians. Not coincidentally, there are serious concerns (paywall) that the American government won’t protect information on tax filings with those they deem “American persons” to comply with FATCA also aren’t going to be properly protected, and their Congress is already tabling laws that would ensure that said tax information on ostensible Canadians isn’t protected either. It underscores the dangers and uncertainties with information sharing – particularly when the Americans seem to feel that the rules that others abide by don’t apply to them.
It shouldn’t really be a surprise, but a report confirms that the CRTC’s rule changes that allow Canadians to end their mobile phone contracts after two years instead of three has meant higher prices for basic plans, in order to recoup costs (especially as many of those plans involve subsidizing the cost of the phone itself). That said, more competition in the field has meant that other plans, for heavier use and whatnot, have come down in price.
The Assembly of First Nations annual meeting takes place in Halifax next week, and not only will they be discussing how their next election for Grand Chief will take place, but they will also be discussing the recent Supreme Court rulings on land rights and titles, in particular the Tsilhoqot’in ruling in BC. Speaking of that ruling, two more BC First Nations have launched title challenges, which also challenges the Northern Gateway pipeline.
In Maclean’s, Tamsin McMahon has a really fascinating look at some of the challenges facing First Nations when it comes to reforming their education system, especially as some of those challenges are internal and entrenched.
Rona Ambrose is launching consultations on “easier to read” nutrition labels on foods.
Here’s some analysis on how tepid our jobs market really has become, and why it’s nothing that the government should be bragging about.
RIMPAC exercises near Hawaii demonstrated our newly upgraded Aurora aircraft, which now boast some of the most advanced submarine-tacking sensors in the world. Yay RCAF!
Access to Information documents detail Canada’s response to when the UK embassy in Iran was attacked in 2011, and how our embassy debated sheltering UK staff, as well as evacuation in the likelihood that hostilities spread, and while they didn’t, we shuttered our embassy in 2012.
A group of Liberal and Conservative senators have been quietly meeting to discuss internal reforms and modernizing the operations of the chamber.
Emmett Macfarlane writes his own scathing analysis of why the Prime Minister can’t simply stop appointing senators, and notes that if appointments aren’t made soon, it could soon wind up back at the Supreme Court and we’d be facing a constitutional crisis – all because we can’t grow up and be mature about our own constitution.
A US military appeals court has refused to overturn Omar Khadr’s conviction, despite the revelation of the secret memo that undermines the entire legal basis for said conviction.
While whinging to John Ivision about how awful it is that the Charter has given rights to minorities, Conservative MP Larry Miller makes a somewhat valid point about the NDP going to the courts because they are being made to repay the Commons for their improper mailing expenses, and how that is trying to put even more power in the hands of the courts at Parliament’s expense. I might have more sympathy if his government wasn’t drafting laws with deliberately vague language that forces the Courts to interpret it for them.
They finished giving evidence at the Dean Del Mastro trial yesterday, but closing arguments won’t be made until September.
Carleton journalism professor and former Toronto Star reporter Alan Thompson is planning to seek the Liberal nomination in Huron-Bruce.
Andrew Coyne dismisses the notion that Ontario’s fiscal shortfall is because it may or may not be getting the short end of the stick from Ottawa.
With all of the Canada 150 preparations going on, it looks unlikely that the 200th anniversary of George Brown’s birth will be celebrated in 2018, even though he was just as instrumental in the formation of the country as Sir John A Macdonald and George-Étienne Cartier was.
And here’s an interview with Roméo Dallaire about his “retirement,” which is anything but.