Tag Archives: Natasha Bulowski

Energy

Trans Mountain expansion’s price tag surpasses $30-billion threshold

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Trans Mountain expansion project is now expected to cost $30.9 billion in yet another sign it is becoming a fiscal disaster for Trudeau’s government.

“Buying and building this pipeline will go down in the history books as one of, if not the, worst infrastructure decision a Canadian government has ever made,” said Greenpeace Canada senior energy strategist Keith Stewart. “It was always a disaster from a climate change perspective, but this is now an economic crime that has stolen $30 billion of public funds from real climate solutions.”

Continue reading Trans Mountain expansion’s price tag surpasses $30-billion threshold →
Food

Parliamentary committee questions grocery chain CEOs over high food prices while studying food price inflation

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Grocery chain CEOs fielded tough questions from MPs at a parliamentary committee meeting attempting to get to the root of why Canadians are facing such high food prices.

Across the food and beverage industry, net income has more than doubled, and this is reflected in the balance sheets of all three companies under scrutiny at the committee, said Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull.

Continue reading Parliamentary committee questions grocery chain CEOs over high food prices while studying food price inflation →
Finances

Canada’s emergency wage subsidy served as ‘blank cheque’ for companies: Canadians for Tax Fairness

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Some of Canada’s biggest corporations received a pandemic subsidy intended to keep their employees on the payroll, but a new report finds that in many cases, these large companies actually reduced employment while padding the pockets of shareholders.

These findings, from a report by Canadians for Tax Fairness, should make Canadians angry and point to a double standard, the federal NDP’s finance critic Daniel Blaikie told Canada’s National Observer in an interview. It is “egregious” for the federal government to have the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) “hound” some individuals who applied for and received financial support through emergency programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to return the money, he added.

Continue reading Canada’s emergency wage subsidy served as ‘blank cheque’ for companies: Canadians for Tax Fairness →
Politics, Seniors

New disability benefit would make ‘major difference’ in many people’s lives

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A government bill aiming to lift Canadians with disabilities out of poverty is working its way through the Senate after MPs voted unanimously to pass it late last week.

If it clears the Senate, the Canada Disability Benefit Act, or Bill C-22, will provide a tax-free, monthly payment to low-income Canadians with disabilities under the age of 65.It would be the first federal guaranteed income supplement for working-age Canadians with disabilities and is meant to top up inconsistent provincial and territorial benefits to bring people at least up to the poverty line.

Continue reading New disability benefit would make ‘major difference’ in many people’s lives →
Finances

Corporations are winning the inflation bump, while Canadians struggle with high prices

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As Canadians struggle to afford essential goods and services, the spoils of inflation are ending up largely in corporate profits, particularly in oil, gas and mining industries, a new analysis reveals.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) crunched the numbers to see how much more Canadians spent over the last two years due to inflation and pinpointed which industries benefited the most.

Continue reading Corporations are winning the inflation bump, while Canadians struggle with high prices →