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Canada’s First Commercial Spaceport Submits Environmental Assessment To N.S. – Halifax | Globalnews.ca

July 12, 2018 mdbincbi

Canada’s first commercial spaceport has submitted its proposal for environmental assessment, and is now awaiting approval from Nova Scotia’s environment minister to begin construction on the site that is expected launch its first rocket in 2021. The environmental assessment study filed this week by Maritime Launch Services Ltd. references surveys of at-risk species in the area, such as mainland moose and bats. The study, prepared by independent contractor Strum Consulting, also proposes mitigation efforts in the event of a fuel spill or launch failure, and cites consultations with local groups…

Trade War Fallout: Why Oil And The Loonie Are Finally Headed Apart | CBC News

July 9, 2018 mdbincbi

It’s a relationship that Canadians had gotten used to. For years, when the price of oil went up, so did the value of the Canadian dollar. That led to a soaring loonie when oil prices were flying high, but double-takes while travelling in the U.S. once the wind came out of oil’s sails and the Canadian dollar was lower. But a funny thing has happened of late, as the symbiotic relationship between the two has weakened. Or, as Bank of Montreal economist Doug Porter put it, “The Canadian dollar continues to diverge…

U.S. Border Patrol Questions Crews Of At Least 2 Canadian Fishing Vessels In Disputed Waters | CBC News

July 5, 2018 mdbincbi

The federal government is investigating reports that two Canadian fishing vessels were approached, and crew members questioned, by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Canadian waters in the Gulf of Maine in late June. According to Global Affairs Canada, the incidents occurred June 24 and 25 around Machias Seal Island and North Rock. While details are scant, the fishermen are members of the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association. Laurence Cook, the association’s chair, wrote on Facebook that the U.S. officials claimed they were “looking for illegal immigrants.” On Wednesday, Cook said further that border officials…

Revenue Agency Falling Behind As Uncollected Taxes Owed Rise To $44 Billion | CBC News

June 25, 2018 mdbincbi

The amount of tax that Canadians admit to owing Ottawa but haven’t paid rose to a record $43.8 billion this year, despite a Liberal government promise to “stabilize” that sum. And an internal Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) projection obtained by CBC News says the amount of unpaid tax owed is set to hit more than $47 billion by 2020. The steady increase in the tax debt — up by about $2 billion annually since the Liberals came to power — comes despite a major investment in the 2016 federal budget…

With Trump As Commander-in-Chief, Canada’s Dithering On Procurement Becomes Intolerable | CBC News

June 25, 2018 mdbincbi

Defence procurement is the government promise that keeps on rebooting. At the moment, Canada is preparing to purchase 25 second-hand F-18 fighter jets from Australia — pending U.S. approval —as a stop-gap measure until it can replace its fleet with new jets. The earlier plan was to buy 18 used jets, making this the roughly zillionth update to Canada’s defence procurement plan. This de facto refusal to truly modernize our fighter jet fleet will make Canada look like the runt compared to our allies. And by “allies,” I am referring mainly to…

Legal Recreational Marijuana: What You Need To Know | CBC News

June 22, 2018 mdbincbi

The legislative battle over marijuana may be over, but as Canadians look ahead to Oct. 17 — the date legalization takes effect — there are some practical considerations that should be top of mind for those keen to light up legally. First of all — and this is typical of Canada’s federal system — not all provinces and territories are following the same path to legalization. Some are imposing different regulations on the drug within their jurisdictions. Two provinces, Quebec and Manitoba, are banning home cultivation altogether. Canadians who cross the border…

Canadians At Risk Of Being ‘Data Cows’ Absent Big Data Strategy, Documents Show | CBC News

June 20, 2018 mdbincbi

Artificial intelligence could give internet giants like Facebook and Amazon even more power to reshape the Canadian economy, threatening the viability of domestic businesses, researchers warn. A December presentation to senior civil servants said that Canadian companies were losing ownership of — and access to — data to the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google, requiring a federal policy response. Artificial intelligence “will reinforce this trend,” presenters from the National Research Council warned top officials, adding that a national data strategy would be necessary to prevent Canada from becoming…

Ottawa Orders CRTC To Investigate Reports Of ‘Aggressive’ Telecom Sales Practices | CBC News

June 16, 2018 mdbincbi

The federal government is ordering an investigation following allegations that Canada’s largest telecommunications companies are using “misleading” and “aggressive” tactics to sell products and services. Innovation, Science and Economic Minister Navdeep Bains has ordered the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to investigate and report on the sales practices used by Canada’s largest telecommunication companies. The minister also called for a public inquiry to allow Canadians to voice their concerns and said the resulting inquiry report will have to propose potential solutions. The call for inquiry follows months of CBC stories on the issue. Read full story here: Ottawa Orders CRTC To Investigate Reports…

Mounties, CSIS Still Haven’t Publicly ID’d People Behind Electronic Cell Surveillance In Ottawa | CBC News

June 12, 2018 mdbincbi

After investigating for over a year, the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) are still unable to publicly identify those who have deployed electronic espionage devices in the national capital. In April 2017, a CBC/Radio-Canada report revealed that IMSI catchers were being used in Ottawa and Montreal. These devices can capture cellphone data and listen to telephone conversations. News that sophisticated spying tools had been deployed within range of Parliament Hill caused some tumult within the government. Following the CBC/Radio-Canada report, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale announced the launch…