NDP and Liberals shut out of Conservative-led Ukraine delegation

The NDP and Liberals have been shut out of the delegation that will accompany Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird to Kyiv on Friday, sparking fresh criticism that the government is playing domestic politics with an international crisis.

Four prominent Ukrainian-Canadians will join two Tory MPs and a Conservative senator. 

But there are no opposition members among the seven people who will accompany Baird on the list the government released today.

The NDP and Liberals say they asked the government if they could be represented but were turned down. 

The Conservatives, meanwhile, were making no apologies for that.

PMO cites Trudeau joke, past NDP criticism 

Jason MacDonald, the chief spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said that neither opposition party was worthy of inclusion on the trip because of past behaviour.

He cited the flippant joke that Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau made on a Quebec television show about the crisis (Trudeau apologized Tuesday to the Ukrainian ambassador) and the NDP's past criticism of Baird's foray into Kyiv's main square in support of protesters in December.

"Mr. Trudeau's comments about Russia and Ukraine were neither helpful nor did they contribute positively to Canada's efforts to assist the Ukrainian people, and as a result there's no role for the Liberals in this government mission," MacDonald said Wednesday in an email to The Canadian Press.

"The NDP wouldn't pick a side, unlike our government, which has been steadfast in its support for the Ukrainian people. Until they decide on what they stand for they, like the Liberals, shouldn't be a part of the government delegation."

NDP decries lack of invitation

"Canadian parliamentarians of all parties should work together to show that our friendship with the Ukrainian people is a long-term commitment," NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar said in a letter earlier this week asking for an all-party delegation.

When he learned the make-up of the delegation, Dewar tweeted, "Glad for Canadian delegation to .Ukraine as NDP requested. Too bad only MPs from one party. We all stand with Ukrainian people."

The Liberal foreign affairs critic Marc Garneau said he sent an email to Baird asking to participate but received no reply.

"This is not a way to communicate to Ukraine what multi-party democracies are like, because the reality is that all of the main parties share the same concerns about Ukraine," Garneau said in an interview.

'Canadians united in support,' Trudeau says

Garneau said he wasn't surprised by the government's decision.

"This would have been a good opportunity for the government to show that it rises above partisanship."

Trudeau said Wednesday he was disappointed at the latest example of the government "using foreign affairs for domestic political advancement."

"Canadians are united in their support of Ukraine," he said. "All of us represent Ukrainians in various ridings."

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair did not comment directly on the make-up of the delegation, saying only that he wished its members well.

Parliament is also expected to hold a non-binding, take-note debate Wednesday evening over the crisis.

The government, which has sent monitors to Ukraine in the past, is expected to use the debate outline its support of the country's next steps toward democratic elections.

Travel bans still in effect

Ottawa's travel ban against senior members of the Yanukovych regime remains in place, Baird's office said late Wednesday. 

The government said last week it was imposing economic sanctions on the Yanukovych regime and expanding an earlier travel ban that would bar unspecified members of his government from entering Canada. 

Baird's office said the ban is still in effect, while the sanctions will be "calibrated to respond to the developments in Ukraine. 

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Senator Colin Kenny faces new harassment allegations

Five more women have come forward to say they were harassed by Liberal-appointed Senator Colin Kenny, including through inappropriate touching and phone calls, Radio-Canada's Brigitte Bureau has learned.

They join two other women who told CBC News last fall that they were harassed by Kenny, who has been a senator for 30 years and once chaired the Senate's powerful national security and defence committee.

The Senate is currently investigating one of those claims. 

The Senate refuses to talk about the investigation into Kenny. It won't release the investigator's name to CBC News. Women who tried to contact the investigator through the Senate to tell their stories did not have their calls returned.  

None of these allegations have been proven in court and Kenny has never been charged. The senator, who recused himself from caucus, said last fall that he was prevented from commenting on the allegations because of the ongoing Senate investigation. He denied the original allegations, calling them "bogus" and "fabricated."

Four of the five women making new allegations recently came to a CBC studio to tell their stories. Some of them were meeting for the very first time. CBC agreed to conceal their identities because they say they fear for their physical safety. The women knew Kenny from the Senate or from one of the two tanning salons he used to own in Ottawa.

'He would try to grab my breasts'

The new allegations span from the 1980s to early 2000s.

The women describe a pattern of phone calls, several times a day or late at night. One woman says Kenny would turn up uninvited at her home.

"Two or three times a day, calling, persistent, consistent," one woman said.

"He turned into a pretty aggressive stalker.... He would just come to my house," she added.

"He would try to grab my breasts and I would push him away... He wouldn't take no for an answer."

Another woman told CBC News that "on one occasion, he grabbed my buttocks... [he] would try to peer down your blouse," she said.

'Tried to kiss me'

A third woman said Kenny would comment on what she was wearing and suggest she add high heels to her wardrobe.

"I was hanging posters in the window and I was up on a ladder," she said, describing one alleged incident.

"He came up behind me and the way he secured the ladder was by holding my ... behind. And I quickly came down."

This woman, after having worked in one of Kenny's tanning salons, was offered a summer job at the Senate by Kenny.

Another woman said Kenny parked outside her house and followed her. 

"He tried to kiss me and grope me. He was stalking me. It was non-stop," she said.

In some cases, the harassment stopped when the police were contacted. In other cases, authorities believed Kenny over the women.

Last fall, other women alleged similar behaviour, including his former aide, Pascale Brisson.

Pascale Brisson used to work for Senator Colin Kenny. (CBC)

She submitted a formal complaint to the Senate. That investigation is still pending. 

The Senate refuses to talk about the investigation into Kenny.It won't even release the investigator's name. As a result, the women who have stories to tell about the senator are unable to do so, making them wonder if the investigation is as thorough as it could be. 

'He wanted to see my breasts'

Last fall, Brisson said Kenny would make sexual comments at work and once invited her to his house for drinks.

Brisson also said Kenny asked her to wear high-heeled shoes to work and would sometimes stand with his hand on her waist when they were meeting alone in his office with the door closed.

"When we were discussing different issues, it would happen sometimes that he would put his hand around my waist or try and come closer to me to talk to me. I didn't really feel comfortable at the time with such things, so I would just take a step back and continue the conversation," Brisson said.

Another woman, Candace Amis, alleged Kenny demanded sexual favours from her when she worked at his tanning salon in 2003.

"He wanted to see my breasts and I did not want to do it. I made it clear that I was uncomfortable," she said. "And he communicated to me that if I didn't take my shirt off then I wasn't 'performing' as to be expected, to the level he wanted me to perform at my job. And so, therefore, he would have no other choice but fire me. So I took my shirt off."

Amis said Kenny then told her to take off her pants, then to perform oral sex on him. She said she complied because she was afraid of losing her job.

Amis complained to the Ottawa police. They didn't believe her story, in part because she had lied to the police in the past.

CBC News also reported last fall that an international organization of parliamentarians had complained about Kenny's behaviour. 

In 2001, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly wrote a letter complaining about Kenny making frequent phone calls to a female intern and female staff member, attention that Simon Lunn, then the secretary general to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, referred to as "unwelcome" and "upsetting."

Lunn asked the head of the Canadian delegation, then-Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish, that Kenny be taken off the Canadian delegation. Kenny later quit.

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Mayors get no promise of new federal funding for housing

The mayors from Canada's largest cities gathered in Ottawa on Wednesday to call on the federal government to pony up more cash for housing and infrastructure funding, while raising concerns about the decision by Canada Post to end urban home mail delivery.

"Today, the big city mayors are calling on the federal government to take practical steps to build stronger cities and a stronger economy," Gregor Robertson, the mayor of Vancouver and chair of the big city mayors caucus told reporters gathered at Ottawa city hall.

"We are concerned that high housing costs and transportation gridlock are preventing our cities from reaching their full potential."

The mayors spent an hour this afternoon meeting with Candice Bergen, the federal minister of state for social development, discussing federal funding for affordable housing.

In an interview with CBC News Network's Power & Politics, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said the federal minister did not promise any new money for housing and even conceded there was little she could do.

Gregor Robertson, the mayor of Vancouver and chair of the big city mayors caucus, which met in Ottawa today, called on federal and provincial governments to "guarantee" that the lion's share of the New Building Canada Fund goes to cities for local projects. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

"She, quite frankly, said she's not the finance minister, she's not going to announce funding that we were looking for."

"We're looking for a $1.7-billion investment," Watson said.

Bergen told the mayors that the federal government and the Canadian taxpayers are already doing their "fair share" on this issue, a source close to the discussions told CBC News.

A written statement sent to CBC News after Bergen's meeting with the mayors said, "At the end of these agreements, the federal government will have fulfilled its commitments and the funding will end."

"That is why Economic Action Plan 2014 confirmed that we will continue to work with provincial and territorial governments, municipalities, the FCM and other stakeholders at the community level to ensure that social housing helps those most in need achieve economic independence," Bergen said in the written statement.

The federal government's key infrastructure plan was also a main topic of discussion as numerous questions remain on how the federal funds will be used to meet local needs.

"The last federal budget was a big disappointment," Robertson said.

Ottawa recently announced the details of a 10-year, $14-billion New Building Canada Fund designed to provide both small and large communities with predictable infrastructure funding. Of that, $10 billion has been earmarked to fund provincial and territorial infrastructure projects. 

Under the new plan, Ontario will receive $2.7 billion over 10 years from Ottawa, the most federal dollars of any province. Quebec will receive $1.7 billion and British Columbia just over $1 billion over 10 years under the new plan.​

Robertson said the mayors are calling on both the federal and provincial government to "guarantee" that the lion's share of the new infrastructure fund goes to cities for local projects.

The mayors said they are also concerned about the changes recently brought in by Canada Post, which they say they weren't consulted about.

Watson passed a resolution calling on Canada Post to "halt the elimination of door-to-door delivery until concerns are addressed through meaningful consultations with municipalities," according to a spokesperson for the mayor.

Another resolution also urged Canada Post "not to download the costs and maintenance of community mailboxes onto municipalities," Watson's office told CBC News in an email.

Robertson and representatives from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the group that organized today's gathering, will be meeting with Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney to discuss emergency preparedness.

 "Tomorrow's meeting is to discuss the Harper government's commitment in Economic Action Plan 2014 to provide $200M for disaster mitigation projects in Canada," Jean-Christophe de Le Rue, a spokesman for Blaney told CBC News.

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CBC president apologizes for $30K expenses error

CBC president Hubert Lacroix is apologizing to CBC staff and supporters for claiming $30,000 in expenses to which he wasn't entitled.

Lacroix, in his opening statement before a Senate committee studying the challenges facing the news organization, said both he and the CBC made an error in reimbursing his Ottawa business expenses.

"When I was told, I was stunned. I immediately asked for a full accounting and I voluntarily paid back every cent," Lacroix said.

"I want to apologize to my fellow employees at CBC/Radio-Canada.… We are now entering a period of great challenge, and I want to assure our CBCers and Radio-Canadiens that they can continue to have faith in their leaders. I also want to apologize to all those Canadians who support CBC/Radio-Canada for this careless error."

Lacroix said he's devoted to integrity and transparency and has spent most of his career in corporate governance. He called the error "deeply embarrassing" and said he was angry at himself for not clarifying the rules when he was hired. 

"I'm deeply distressed that this could damage the integrity of CBC/Radio-Canada and its management of public resources," Lacroix said.

The Senate transport and communications committee is looking at the "changing environment of broadcasting and communications" and how that will affect the CBC. The committee started the study at the end of January.

An internal audit, made public last week, found Lacroix had been wrongly claiming accommodation costs since his 2008 appointment. Lacroix had been submitting claims for living expenses since he started his job as CEO and president of CBC on Jan. 1, 2008. He was also getting a $1,500 per month living allowance after deciding not to move to Ottawa, where the CBC is headquartered. Lacroix lives in Montreal. 

The expense claims were approved despite an appendix to a CBC bylaw for director compensation that says the president is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and living expenses for CBC work "at any place other than the head office of the corporation," the auditors said in a memo about the review of Lacroix's expenses.

The audit said internal auditors and those who handle expense claims weren't aware of the rule, which had been in place since the 1990s.

"I'm not going to even try to understand what happened," Lacroix said, repeating how frustrating he found the matter.

Lacroix was asked pointedly why his total compensation and that of some CBC personalities' salaries aren't publicly available. Conservative Senator Leo Housakos, who chairs the committee, said those salaries are paid by taxpayers and they deserve to know how much is being paid.

"I think the public has seen how rigid we have been with our own colleagues," Housakos said. "We have a hard time, Mr. Lacroix, understanding why the CBC holds back certain information."

Lacroix says the salary ranges for all groups of employees are posted online, but that there are privacy concerns with posting individual salaries.

"Peter Mansbridge, his salary, [is] clearly competitive in an environment like we are. And there's all sorts of privacy legislation in the country that would prevent us from doing that," Lacroix said.

Lacroix was also questioned about a paid speaking engagement by Mansbridge, the CBC's chief correspondent. Liberal Senator Terry Mercer asked whether the engagement complied with the CBC's conflict of interest policy.

Lacroix said all of Mansbridge's speaking engagements are cleared with senior CBC management ahead of time.

"And each one is looked at to make sure there is no conflict of interest with respect ... to editorial coverage and to make sure that our rules are respected," Lacroix said.

"He knows that he never offers up his opinion or takes a position on anything that is in the news when he makes those speeches."

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Aga Khan brings deep ties to Canada in address to Parliament today

When the Aga Khan addresses a joint session of Parliament today, it will be the latest link in a deep connection to Canada that goes back more than four decades.

The Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam to the world's 15 million Shi'a Imami Ismaili Muslims, and became an honorary Canadian citizen in 2010.

In 1972, when Ugandan President Idi Amin expelled Asians and Ismailis, thousands found refuge in Canada. The community has grown ever since, with a population in Canada of around 100,000 today.

The Canadian government in 2006 announced a partnership with the Aga Khan in establishing the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa. When the CBC's Peter Mansbridge asked him why he chose Canada for that project, the Aga Khan pointed to Canada's unique track record in building a diverse society.

"Few countries, if any, have been as successful as Canada has" in that regard, he explained.

The Aga Khan was last in Canada in November, when he received an honorary degree from Trinity College at the University of Toronto for humanitarian work done through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). 

The AKDN's group of agencies is active in 30 countries and employs 80,000 people. The private development agencies concentrate efforts in the areas of social and economic development as well as culture.

For example, the Aga Khan Hospital in Tanzania launched its first oncology program earlier this year, which the hospital says is designed to meet the needs of the 35,000 new cancer patients reported each year in that country. The Canadian government partners with AKDN agencies on some projects, particularly where maternal, newborn and child health are concerned. 

And while the AKDN works well beyond the Ismaili community, the Aga Khan explains that Islam informs its goals and values.

Islam works on a premise of "helping to render the individual capable of governing his or her destiny," he said in a 2012 discussion with Peggy Dulany, founder and chair of Synergos, an organization dedicated to solving the problems of poverty and inequality based in New York.

"When you educate, when you help in health care, when you give access to credit, you are not looking at just helping the individual survive, you are trying to reposition the individual and the family in society."

Toronto is the site of what will be the world's sixth Ismaili Centre, a major complex nearing completion in the north end of city and expected to open later this year. The centre, which includes a worship space, shares the same grounds as the Aga Khan Museum, which will house objects and artifacts from various parts of the Muslim world, and will offer the public the opportunity to engage with Islamic civilizations.

When the Aga Khan visited Canada in November, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada also awarded him its 2013 Gold Medal for his achievements in using architecture as an instrument for development. 

The Aga Khan says about Ismaili Centres, "(w)e saw them as structures where we could receive other communities and institutions in a dignified manner, and where we could demystify our faith — which was sometimes badly misunderstood.

"They would be symbols of new hope, replacing past pain."

Shelina Jaffer is a fellow in global journalism at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and an intern at CBC Radio's Tapestry.

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Rob Ford in Ottawa to get 'fair share' of infrastructure fund

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is in Ottawa today for a gathering of 22 big city mayors, a meeting he has shunned in the past, dismissing it as "the lefty caucus."

Ford will speak to reporters in Ottawa at 9 a.m. ET. CBC News will carry the news conference live.

Ford, who is running for re-election as mayor of Canada's largest city, said on Tuesday he would attend this meeting to make sure that Toronto gets its "fair share" of a new federal infrastructure plan.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, as chair of the group, will also speak to reporters in Ottawa after the mayors' morning session.

CBCNews.ca will carry Robertson's news conference live starting at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will be in Ottawa on Wednesday with other big city mayors to discuss the details of a new federal infrastructure fund. Ford said he wants to make sure Toronto gets its 'fair share' of the fund. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

Wednesday's meeting will also mark the first time former Liberal MP Denis Coderre will meet his municipal counterparts since being elected Montreal mayor.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi told CBC News on Monday the mayors are expected to spend a "fair bit of time" discussing the growing housing crisis with Candice Bergen, the federal minister of state for social development.

"I'm looking forward to that discussion and continuing that discussion with the federal government about the housing crisis that we're facing across municipalities in Canada," Nenshi said in Calgary Monday.

The federal government's key infrastructure plan will also be a main topic of discussion as numerous questions remain on how the federal funds will be used to meet municipal needs.

"There were some concerns that we had with the criteria of the Building Canada Fund. As I've said before, I think these are solvable … and if they're not solvable for 2014, let's at least fix them for 2015," Nenshi said.

The federal government recently announced the details of a 10-year, $14-billion New Building Canada Fund designed to provide both small and large communities with predictable infrastructure funding.

Of that $14 billion fund, $10 billion has been earmarked to fund provincial and territorial infrastructure projects.

Under the new plan, each province and territory will receive a base funding amount of $250 million per year, plus a per capita amount based on the 2011 census figures.

As it is, Ontario will receive $2.7 billion over 10 years from Ottawa, the most federal dollars of any province. Quebec will receive $1.7 billion and British Columbia just over $1 billion over 10 years under the new plan.

Glen Murray, Ontario's minister of infrastructure, was critical of the new plan and called on the federal government to commit more money to infrastructure spending.

"Since they collect the majority of taxes, we need them as a full partner. The Building Canada Fund might do many things, but it doesn't do much building in Canada," Murray told reporters in Toronto on Tuesday.​​

How the federal dollars will be allocated is the question on the mind of anyone who intends to apply for funding under the new federal infrastructure plan.

Ford said on Tuesday that "years of under-investment" have left Toronto far behind where the city ought to be when it comes to transit and housing needs.

While cities can't apply for the new federal dollars until March 31, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced last fall that Toronto would receive $660 million for the extension of a subway line.

"This vital project will drive economic development and unlock countless opportunities," Ford said in Toronto on Tuesday.

"This is a great first step and a major achievement. But even with the Scarborough subway line, our transit system is still years behind where it needs to be."

"The city of Toronto faces unique challenges and we need the federal government to acknowledge this," Ford said.

Ford, who is a longtime friend of federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, will not be meeting with him while in Ottawa. Nor will the mayor be meeting with Harper, the Prime Minister's Office told CBC News on Tuesday.

Federal Conservatives have tried to steer clear of answering questions about the embattled mayor's use of alcohol and drugs, with the exception of cabinet minister Jason Kenney, who said Ford should "step aside."

Kenney may have rubbed Flaherty the wrong way with his comments, but he was seen as representing the concerns of his caucus colleagues at the time.

The Big City Mayors' Caucus consists of 22 mayors who are members of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, a group that represents more than 2,000 communities across the country.

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Crude oil must be tested before shipped by rail, U.S. regulators say

U.S. federal regulators say they've issued an emergency order requiring tests of crude oil before shipment by rail in response to a string of train explosions and fires since last summer, including the Lac-Mégantic disaster last year.

The order also would place crude oil under the two most protective sets of hazardous materials shipping requirements, rather than allowing some shipments to be treated as less dangerous, the Federal Railroad Administration said.

"Today we are raising the bar for shipping crude oil on behalf of the families and communities along rail lines nationwide. If you intend to move crude oil by rail, then you must test and classify the material appropriately," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.

U.S. Bakken oil more flammable than others, regulator says

INFOGRAPHIC: The amount of oil in Lac-Mégantic derailment

Oil-by-rail labelling rules tightened

Shippers already had to classify oil shipments based on the risk for explosion or fire, but federal investigators found that many shipments were being misclassified as less dangerous. The order now requires testing for classification before shipment.

Government investigators found crude oil being transported from the Bakken region was misclassified in samples taken from 11 out of 18 truck shipments en route to rail loading stations, federal officials said earlier this month.

Hazardous materials shipments are supposed to be classified into one of nine categories depending on the risk involved. If the materials are misclassified, they could wind up being shipped in less protective rail tank cars, and emergency personnel might follow the wrong protocols when responding to a spill.

A runaway train with 72 tank cars of Bakken oil derailed, exploded and burned in the downtown area of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, near the Maine border in July. Forty-seven people were killed and 30 buildings destroyed. Oil trains have also exploded and burned in North Dakota and Alabama in recent months.

The Lac-Megantic accident was a wake-up call for safety officials, who were surprised by its severity. Tests taken of Bakken oil since the accident shows it is more dangerous than some other types of crude. The oil in the train that derailed in Lac-Megantic was misclassified as "packing group III," which the safety administration equates to minor danger.

U.S. crude oil production is forecast to reach 8.5 million barrels a day by the end of 2014, up from 5 million barrels a day in 2008. The increase is overwhelmingly due to the fracking boom in the Bakken region.

U.S. freight railroads transported nearly 234,000 carloads of crude oil in 2012, up from just 9,500 in 2008. Early data suggest that rail carloads of crude surpassed 400,000 in 2013, according to the Association of American Railroads.

The emergency order calls for "minimum testing" of any large bulk quantity of crude that it being transported.

That includes determining the crude's flash point, how corrosive it is to steel and aluminum, and whether the dangerous and explosive gas hydrogen sulfide is present. It also requires determining the percentage of flammable gasses in the crude — an issue of heightened concern for the oil from the Bakken region, which has higher levels of natural gas than other crudes.

Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said in an interview last week that industry standards for how those tests would be conducted could take several months to finalize.

"Current law requires that we test and characterize" crude oil, Gerard said. "We're taking this in a much more granular, detailed way to look at the factors we test, how often we test."

Gerard said testing practices among different oil companies have varied.

"Some are very, very frequent," he said. "Others are intermittent, based on where the oil is coming from, where's it's stored."

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Lake Erie's algae blooms threaten its survival

Lake Erie, once a success story about how a polluted lake can be brought back to life, is once again struggling to survive.

During the summer months, the most southern of the five Great Lakes is smothering under huge blooms of green algae, often thousands of square kilometres in size.

A new report to be released by the International Joint Commission (IJC) this Thursday recommends some immediate steps to save the lake.

The acting Canadian chair of the IJC, Gordon Walker, told the House of Commons environment committee that Lake Erie is in a crisis.

"Something has happened," he told federal MPs. "It was all right 10 to 15 years ago, but not now."

That "something," according to Walker, is phosphorus from agricultural fertilizers getting into the lake.

Phosphorus was a problem that many people thought had been solved in the mid-60's.

Canadian researchers discovered that phosphorus in laundry detergent was turning lakes green with algae.

The phosphorous feeds the algae, which absorb the oxygen in the lakes and create dead zones. 

In 1972, the U.S. and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which committed them to take action.

That included banning phosphates from all laundry detergent. Within 10 years the levels of phosphorus had dropped and the lakes were on the mend.

But in 2011, a 5,000-square-kilometre algal bloom in Lake Erie was a sign of more trouble. It prompted the IJC to launch a study into the problem.

The report concludes that phosphorus is getting back into Lake Erie from agricultural fertilizers used in growing corn for ethanol and other crops. Domestic lawn fertilizers are also a source of the phosphorus, said Walker.

"Every home wants to have it on their front lawn, he said. "It all runs into the river and it's untreated and that becomes a problem."

The report says rivers in Indiana and Ohio that flow into Lake Erie are the largest sources of phosphorus, but some of it also comes from Ontario's Grand and Thames rivers.

"We have our problems in Canada, in Ontario but they're not nearly the same degree of a problem that we see over in the U.S. states," said Walker in an interview with CBC News.

The report, called A Balanced Diet for Lake Erie, recommends the lake be declared "impaired," which will trigger action under the U.S. Clean Water Act. In Canada that designation serves as a recommendation for action to the federal and Ontario governments.

The report also recommends that both countries ban the use of fertilizers on frozen fields and increase the amount of protected wetlands that serve as a natural filter.

For Walker, a disturbing lesson from Lake Erie is how quickly an ecosystem can deteriorate.

"I was a commissioner on IJC in the 1990s, and that point in time we held up Lake Erie as the poster child around the world. It was huge, it was beautiful, it was a restored lake, with the greatest recreational  and commercial fishing in the world. Now I come back on the IJC 20 years later and look what we find — a lake that is imperilled."

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John Baird leading Canadian delegation to Ukraine

Canada is encouraging Ukrainians to reject "the past" as they form a new government after weeks of turmoil and deadly violence, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

In a clear indication of where his Conservative government's support lies in the midst of the Ukrainian crisis, Harper joined other Western leaders Tuesday in reaching out to Ukraine's yet-to-be formed transitional government, announcing that a high-level delegation would meet with the new leadership in Kyiv.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was to depart Wednesday with a group of parliamentarians and Ukrainian-Canadians bound for the capital, the epicentre of political unrest that has rocked Ukraine for months.

The prime minister met with representatives of Canada's Ukrainian community Tuesday, where he encouraged Ukrainians to pursue closer ties with the West.

"I think we really have to credit the Ukrainian people themselves with resisting the attempt to overturn their democracy and to lead their country back into the past," Harper said, flanked by Conservative MPs Ted Opitz and James Bezan and Senator Raynell Andreychuk.

"They have rejected that and we want to encourage them on that path."

Harper says Baird would offer Canada's support for efforts to restore democracy in Ukraine, although it was unclear whom he would be meeting.

Lawmakers within the Ukrainian parliament have delayed the formation of a new government until Thursday, just one sign of the political tensions and economic challenges faced by the country after Russian-leaning President Viktor Yanukovych fled the capital and went into hiding. 

Harper and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron talked on the phone earlier today about the situation in the troubled country, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. They agreed that "every possible option" must be considered to support Ukraine through its "delicate" transition, including what possible role the International Monetary Fund might play, said the statement. 

News of the Canadian mission came after Russia's ambassador to Canada dismissed as nonsense the possibility of Russian troops invading Ukraine.

Georgiy Mamedov, Russia's ambassador to Canada, says Russia 'is no NATO, and [Ukraine] is not Libya,' so Russian troops will not be sent to Ukraine. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Georgiy Mamedov said categorically that a Russian invasion was not in the cards, despite recent events in Kyiv that have pushed Ukraine away from renewed ties with Moscow.

"It's very simple. We are no NATO, it's not Libya, you won't see any Russian troops in Ukraine," he said.

"Whoever discusses rumours about Russian military intervention in Ukraine is committing an insult to the intellect of the Canadian public, full stop."

As late as Monday, a Baird spokesman and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander were raising questions of possible sanctions against Moscow should it intervene in the Ukrainian crisis.

Harper's announcement also came just hours after Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau apologized to Ukrainian Canadian Congress head Paul Grod for joking that Russia might be angry enough over its hockey losses at the Sochi Olympics to intervene in Ukraine.

Grod, who has met with the prime minister several times since the crisis began last fall, had gone into Tuesday's meeting with Harper hoping for a high-level delegation to meet with the transitional government in Kyiv.

Parliament was also expected to hold a non-binding take-note debate Wednesday evening over the crisis in Ukraine, where Bezan hoped the government would outline its support of next steps toward democratic elections.

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Ottawa's responsible mining review awaited by NGOs

The federal government's five-year review of Canada's corporate social responsibility strategy for the mining, oil and gas industry is expected to be released as early as next week.

But documents obtained by CBC News suggest the long-anticipated report is unlikely to recommend the creation of a legislated ombudsman who would investigate complaints and oversee the activities of the extractive sector.

It's something non-governmental organizations have been calling for since 2007, without success.

The international trade minister's office would not provide any details as to what the review, which began last September, would entail, saying only that it is "ongoing."

The government has made it clear, however, it prefers voluntary initiatives over mandatory mechanisms.

In a letter contained in documents obtained through an Access to Information request, International Trade Minister Ed Fast responds to a call for an industry ombudsman by emphasizing "the government's support for voluntary mechanisms for dispute resolution."

"The use of voluntary initiatives, based on internationally recognized standards, can be effective in resolving issues of mutual concern, and can advance public policy objectives in a more flexible, expeditious and less costly way than regulatory or legislative regimes," he wrote.

The government's corporate social responsibility​ (CSR) strategy, dubbed Building the Canadian Advantage, was launched in March 2009 to help Canadian mining, oil and gas companies improve their competitive advantage abroad "by enhancing their ability to manage social and environmental risks."

As part of the mandated five-year review, the government is carrying out consultations with various stakeholders across the country.

'I believe the time is right for fresh perspectives and sufficient flexibility to explore policy options.'—Marketa Evans, Canada's former CSR counsellor

On Dec. 12, 2013, Fast held a meeting with 13 non-governmental organizations to solicit feedback for the review.

The consultation was run by parliamentary secretary Erin O'Toole, and, according to NGO representatives who attended, lasted about an hour. Each organization was given about three minutes to present their comments, which addressed the four pillars of the CSR strategy.

In 2009 the government had adopted the following strategies:

• Support governance-building in host countries to reduce poverty through development assistance.

• Endorse and promote international CSR guidelines.

• Support development of a centre for excellence in CSR.

• Create the office of the extractive sector CSR counsellor.

But some in attendance weren't satisfied with the consultation, noting its brevity.

"I'd say others were happy to be invited to give comments and they felt their comments were heard," said Jeff Geipel, venture leader at Engineers Without Borders.

But he added, "They might have wanted more time for input."

World Vision Canada's Harry Kits agreed and said there was "not a lot of chance for interaction."

The government did accept written submissions beyond the in-person consultation. Contained within some of those submissions is criticism of the government's strategy.

While much has been accomplished in advancing the social responsibility of mining companies, significant gaps need to be addressed, particularly with respect to the centre of excellence and the office of a CSR counsellor, according to some of the organizations that attended the Dec. 12 consultation.

More powers for CSR counsellor

The office of the CSR counsellor is still vacant after Marketa Evans quietly resigned from her position in October 2013 — four years after the position was created and a year before her contract was up. She didn't publicly provide a reason for her resignation.

A memo sent to Fast from his deputy minister quotes Evans as saying, "I believe the time is right for fresh perspectives and sufficient flexibility to explore policy options." 

Cases brought before CSR counsellor

April 7, 2011 — Excellon Workers, National Mining Union vs. Excellon Resources Inc. in Mexico

Aug. 14, 2011 — Maître Ahmed Mohamed Lemine, et al vs. First Quantum Minerals limited in Mauritania

July 9, 2012 — Center for Human Rights and Environment (CEDHA), Argentina and Fundación Ciudadanos Independientes vs. McEwen Mining Inc. in Argentina

Feb. 11, 2013 — Inhabitants of Cerro de San Pedro and the Mexico Canada Responsible Mining Network vs. New Gold Inc in Mexico

April 4, 2013 — Confidential requester vs. Silver Standard Resources Inc. in Argentina

July 9, 2013 — Confidential requester vs. Golden Arrow Resources Corporation in Argentina

The mandate of the CSR counsellor is to give individuals or groups that may have been harmed by activities of mining, oil and gas companies a place to bring complaints for a voluntary mediation process.

However, many NGOs have criticized the efficacy of the office, especially as the position had no judicial power or the ability to compel parties to remain in negotiations. All six cases brought before the office are closed. Of those six, at least three ended with mining companies walking out of the process.

It's because of these documented shortcomings that NGOs renewed their push for an ombudsman. 

"Reforming the office into an ombudsperson role, with powers of investigation and sanction, would help lower the potential for conflicts in resource-rich countries where Canadian countries operate. This in turn would help developing countries feel more confident in allowing Canadian-led natural resource projects to go forward," according to Engineers Without Borders' written submission to the federal government.

However, others are wary of a watchdog with such powers. 

Kernaghan Webb, founder of Ryerson University's CSR Institute, said the government's hesitance "is out of respect for the sovereignty of other nations to resolve disputes about matters taking place within their borders."

"Do we know better than the Latin American country [about] what should happen within that country? Isn't that colonialism?" he said in an emailed response to CBC News.

The mining industry suggests combining the role of the extractive sector's CSR counsellor with the CSR office of the OECD, which promotes good business practices and addresses social concerns for the activities of multinational corporations.

The president of the Mining Association of Canada said his organization favours a two-step process that would start with mandatory verification of complaints by the CSR counsellor's office followed by voluntary mediation through the OECD if necessary.

"That sort of fact-finding role is critically important," Pierre Gratton said. "Let's make sure that's done properly."

'Major disappointment'

The centre for excellence was touted as a credible CSR information hub, operating independently from government, for experts from industry, the public sector, academia and NGOs. It was initially funded equally by industry and government, but an end to government funding has limited its activities.

MiningWatch Canada said in submission to the government that the centre "has been a major disappointment."

"We have serious concern that the centre, in line with government policy objectives, will become yet another vehicle for the advancement of government policy and/or corporate interests, rather than an institute that reflects and advances the interests of all stakeholders and rights holders," the submission read.

'Official Development Assistance should not be supporting mining-related CSR projects and partnerships'-—MiningWatch Canada, in a written report to the federal government

MiningWatch helped establish the centre and was part of its executive committee for four years, but left with a number of other founding NGOs after funding ran out. 

Ryerson's Webb, who is interim co-chair of the centre, said critics are "entitled to their opinion, but that doesn't mean that their opinion is the correct one."

"The ones who leave have lost their ability to participate in its decision making, which is an unfortunate decision on their part given the important work that carries on after they leave," he said.

But World Vision, which recently joined the centre, nevertheless agreed with MiningWatch.

"Right now, it's effectively not functioning much at all," said senior adviser Harry Kits in an interview with CBC News.

Many, including Engineers Without Borders and World Vision, are calling on a renewed long-term government funding commitment.

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