Access to Information

Topic: Access to Information


Councillors question bringing Aurora’s Procedural Bylaw in line with Strong Mayor Powers

A recommendation for Council to adopt an updated Procedural Bylaw governing how meetings are run, bringing it in line with Strong Mayor powers, sparked a debate at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Supporters of the recommended changes before lawmakers last week stated Council does not currently have a Procedural Bylaw in line with […]

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Why northern First Nations still rely on diesel fuel — and what could power the coveted Ring of Fire

The fumes coming through the walls of Neskantaga First Nation’s nursing station warned of a crisis with a familiar smell. Diesel wafted from the flooded basement, a stench so strong it made people sick with headaches and nausea, residents said.  After they detected the scent, the building was shut down and with it the community’s […]

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Inside the Ring of Fire: A tale of two First Nations and a road that could change everything

I. THE WARNING The ancestors knew. First Nation elders understood the south would march north eventually. They knew it would come in waves, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Those ancestors told their kids, who told theirs, and so on until today. The south has already carved many changes. Decades ago, Webequie First Nation and Neskantaga First […]

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Major procedural changes set in motion for Crowsnest Pass council

Crowsnest Pass municipal council has opened the door to major procedural changes, voting to draft amendments to its meeting bylaw that could affect how the public speaks to council, how meetings are scheduled and how councillors receive correspondence. The discussion took place during the Nov. 25 regular council meeting, where Coun. Doreen Johnson asked council […]

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Justice Department can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records, judge says

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday granted the Justice Department’s request to publicly release grand jury transcripts and other material from Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking case, citing a new law that requires the government to open its files on Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime confidant, but he cautioned that people shouldn’t expect […]

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EU leader warns of US interference in Europe’s affairs as Russia praises Trump’s security vision

BRUSSELS (AP) — A top European Union official on Monday warned the United States against interfering in Europe’s affairs and said only European citizens can decide which parties should govern them. European Council President António Costa’s remarks came in reaction to the Trump administration’s new national security strategy, which was published on Friday and paints […]

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City, province knew for weeks that a system to filter harmful toxins was disconnected but left public in the dark, FOI reveals

On October 28, officials at the City of St. Catharines knew the filtration system designed to prevent highly toxic chemicals from leaching into the former GM property on Ontario Street and the surrounding area was no longer functional, but for weeks they have failed to tell the public. A freedom of information request by The […]

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The Supreme Court seems likely to back Trump’s power to fire independent agency board members

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday seemed likely to expand presidential control over independent federal agencies, signaling support for President Donald Trump’s firing of board members. The court’s conservative majority suggested it would overturn a unanimous 90-year-old decision that has limited when presidents can fire agencies’ board members, or leave it with only […]

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The Supreme Court weighs another step in favor of broad presidential power sought by Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice John Roberts has led the Supreme Court ‘s conservative majority on a steady march of increasing the power of the presidency, starting well before Donald Trump’s time in the White House. The justices could take the next step in a case being argued Monday that calls for a unanimous 90-year-old […]

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Disability advocates call for province to reverse provisions of Bill 60

The Ontario government’s proposed Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act (Bill 60) is not just a bill; it’s a ticking time bomb that will accelerate evictions and push more people with disabilities into homelessness, the ODSP ActionCoalition warns. The group says 70  per cent of Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients rely on  private market rentals, […]

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First military procurements managed by Defence Investment Agency revealed

The federal government has disclosed the first eight projects to be managed by the new Defence Investment Agency. The large military procurements include Canada’s next fleet of submarines, Arctic over-the-horizon radar, and a fleet of early warning-and-control surveillance aircraft. The other projects include in-service support and software upgrades for the CC-130J Hercules transport aircraft, and […]

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Cameras keep an eye on safety

Thanks to an agreement with Telus, Drayton Valley now has cameras at four major intersections on the outskirts of the municipality. Cody Rossing, the manager of enforcement and emergency management for the Town, says the four cameras will have the same purpose as the CCTV cameras at the Team Auction Centre and the skate park. […]

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