federal government – mackaycartoons

Friday, February 21, 2014

February 20, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday, February 21, 2014

Tories want to dump Lift Bridge

The federal government wants to off-load the half-century-old Burlington Canal Lift Bridge onto the cities of Hamilton and Burlington.

But outraged local politicians say cash-strapped cities can’t afford to take on responsibility for more aging infrastructure — especially a bridge that controls commercial ship traffic and acts as a critical emergency detour for the QEW.

Coyotes and the lift bridge

“It’s a real jaw-dropper,” said Councillor Chad Collins, who has been pushing the federal government to add a safe, multi-use pathway to the bridge that connects the Hamilton and Burlington sections of the beach strip.
“There is no financial reason — and no capability — for us to take on something like that,” he said, pointing to the city’s estimated $200-million infrastructure deficit.

His cross-bridge colleague in Burlington, Rick Craven, was even more blunt in his dismissal of the idea.

“For them to abandon their responsibilities and dump on the municipalities, that is not acceptable … they are not going to get away with it,” said the Ward 1 councillor.

Opposite the lift bridge

Craven called the bridge an “absolutely critical piece of infrastructure” because of its twin service to 10,000 vehicles and 6,500 vessels each year.
The bridge serves local motorists and the HSR, but also acts as an emergency route for the QEW when the skyway bridge is blocked. The lift bridge also rises and falls about 4,000 times a year to allow vessels into Hamilton Harbour.

Council received a letter Wednesday from Diane Finley, the minister of public works and government services, responding to the request for a safe trail across the bridge. Finley wrote the ministry has been “directed to divest of the bridge” and, therefore, can’t spend money on non-essential improvements. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Thursday, February 27, 2013

February 27, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday, February 27, 2013

House calls being made as part of EI audit

The federal government has begun visiting employment insurance recipients at home as part of an “examination” being conducted while the program undergoes an overhaul.

The majority of individuals selected for a random audit are receiving invitations, in person, to appear at their customary EI interviews as part of the project, which wraps up next month.

Some recipients are already on edge, given the changes to the program that have seasonal workers fearing their benefits might be cancelled. The union representing federal employees, meanwhile, says it’s concerned for the safety of its workers.

The federal government has confirmed the house calls, but says that Service Canada also attempts to contact people by mail and telephone.

“An examination to ensure the integrity of the employment insurance program is currently underway,” Human Resources Development Canada told The Canadian Press in an email.

Federal employees have been making the unannounced visits since January, and have been hand-delivering requests for people to appear at the regular EI interview.

About 50 federal employees have been assigned to the project.

The sample of 1,200 EI recipients has been randomly selected from across the country, according to the government.

“Every year, unfortunately, in our employment insurance system, hundreds of millions of dollars are identified or are lost through false or fraudulent or inappropriate claims,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said at an event Thursday in Saskatoon. (Source: CBC News)