The Harper government has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars airing prime-time ads for a new federal Canada Jobs Grant for training workers—a program that doesn’t exist yet.

Prime-time ads began airing this week during NHL playoff games. According to CBC News, at $95,000 per 30-second spot—currently the priciest time slot for advertising—the government’s ad buy could easily cost in the millions of dollars. 

The newly announced program is no more than a concept at this point, one that has yet to be negotiated with provincial governments, and which requires buy-in from employers as well.

Peter Van Loan, Conservative government House leader, described the Canada Jobs Grant as a "proposal that needs to be fleshed out and developed fully,” adding that what has been announced is a concept of how the program could work.

Said concept requires that Ottawa, the province and the employer contribute up to $5,000 each toward the training of a worker. The program will require provincial agreement as well as business approval.

However, Parliament remains months away from even considering the legislation to create the federal training grant—a fact reflected by the fine print in the TV ads that the program is "subject to parliamentary approval.”

Flickr Photo by: SOMBILON ART, MEDIA and PHOTOGRAPHY

STORY WRITTEN BY: SPOON JUNG

Amid a senate expense scandal, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff has resigned.

The now ex-chief of staff, Nigel Wright, resigned Sunday after it was discovered that he wrote a 90 thousand dollar cheque for Senator Mike Duffy to repay improperly claimed housing expenses.

According to the CBC, Liberal MP Bob Rae told the media that Senator Duffy’s audit had been shortened because of the 90 thousand dollar payment he was able to make, thanks to Wright.

Wright said in his statement that he accepts sole responsibility, and did not advise the PM of the means of Senator Duffy’s repayment before or after the fact, and that his actions were only to secure the repayment of funds. 

He added that he regrets the impact that his actions have had on the government and his colleagues. 

In his own statement, Harper said he regrettably accepted Wrights resignation and accepts that Wright believed that he was acting in public interest. He then thanked Wright for his contribution to the government for the past 2 and a half years. 

Harper’s principal secretary, Ray Novak, will take over as chief of staff.

Flickr Photo by: Jezz

STORY WRITTEN BY: CATLIN SPENCER 

Hosted by: Spoon Jung

Stories by: Catlin Spencer, Saturn De Los Angeles & Carlo Spiridigliozzi

Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi

The Cree Grand Council is asking for Montreal based Resolute Forest Products to have its sustainable forestry certification revoked.

According to the Gazette, the Cree insist that Resolute is not following sustainable forestry practices in the 750 thousand hectare area of land north of Chibougaumou where their traplines are located.

Among the complaints, the Cree say Resolute didn’t obtain their consent for forestry operations, and that Resolute has been clear-cutting.

Resolute was certified for sustainable forestry management by Forestry Stewardship Council last year, but an audit found that the company had not obtained Cree consent after the Cree objected, and the company was given three months to correct the situation.

Last month, the certification was reconfirmed, despite Cree demands for the contrary.

Greenpeace has also published a 20 page report which accuses Resolute of problematic relationships with first nations, unsustainable practices in the Boreal forest and making false claims about their green product line. 

Seth Kursman, spokesperson for Resolute, said the company will take the necessary steps to protect the reputation of the company, its employees and their customers.

Flickr Photo by: intdev

STORY WRITTEN BY: CATLIN SPENCER