Access to Information

Topic: Access to Information


Quebec language office pressed transit agency for months before Habs playoff run

Quebec’s language watchdog contacted the Montreal transit agency at least six times in the wake of a complaint about using the word “go” on city buses to cheer on a local soccer team.  The watchdog — the Office québécois de la langue française — asked for multiple updates on the agency’s efforts to remove the […]

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North Perth councillors call strong mayor powers anti-democratic

LISTOWEL – At its April 29 meeting, North Perth Council requested a report from staff to help council members to understand the new strong mayor powers, in order to avoid exploiting them.  As of May 1, strong mayor powers have been expanded to an additional 170 Ontario municipalities, including North Perth. Bestowed by the Ontario […]

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Councillors want information on disturbing rise in St. Catharines homeowners unable to pay soaring tax bills

The revelation that since 2022 an additional 1,180 property owners in St. Catharines are unable to pay their tax bill has prompted at least one member of City Council to take action. Less than two weeks after The Pointer reported a sharp rise in the number of properties in municipal tax arrears, information that had […]

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Despite clear violation, St. Catharines Integrity Commissioner excuses Mayor Mat Siscoe for using taxpayer dollars to endorse Doug Ford

In a decision that appears to contradict itself, the municipal watchdog hired by Council members to hold them accountable has determined that even though Mayor Mat Siscoe violated rules set out in the Code of Conduct that governs the behaviour of local elected officials, his conduct somehow did not rise to a punishable contravention of […]

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West Virginia governor implements policy changes in embattled foster care system

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey vowed Wednesday that his administration will improve transparency and policies within the state’s embattled foster care system. Morrisey, a Republican, announced the changes after eight listening sessions statewide to identify areas of improvement and a review of critical cases. Morrisey said he heard attendees at one […]

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Via Rail subsidiary paid Quebec marketing firm $330K as it pivoted to high-speed rail

A federal Crown corporation paid more than $330,000 to an outside marketing firm to rebrand a planned passenger rail project between Toronto and Quebec City and boost its popularity. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press detail how the corporation, concerned about “widespread disinterest” in a high-frequency rail corridor announced in 2021, decided to change its […]

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Chief Justice agrees to pause court orders requiring DOGE to turn over records about its operation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice John Roberts agreed Friday to temporarily pause orders that would require Elon Musk ’s Department of Government Efficiency to publicly disclose information about its operations. The order came after the Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court in a lawsuit filed against DOGE by a government watchdog group. Citizens for […]

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‘Under a microscope’: Cottagers call for wildfire management plans after fatal fires

Cottage owners and disaster prevention experts in Manitoba are urging governments to develop comprehensive wildfire management plans after a pair of devastating wildfires. Close to 1,000 people were forced from their homes last week as a wildfire near the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, spurred by dry, hot and windy conditions, burned nearby. The […]

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Sask Rivers board sees success in advocacy and development plans

The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division Board of Education is seeing excellent progress after revamping their Board Advocacy Plan and Board Development Plan. Trustee Alan Nunn updated the board of the progress of both plans at their recent meeting. This year the Board focused their development work on Governance and Leadership, as well as Learning and […]

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N.B.’s 3-member panel won’t rule out sale of debt-laden power utility

A three-person team who will lead a review of New Brunswick’s debt-laden public power utility says “nothing is off the table” when it comes to finding solutions. The members are Michael Bernstein, who has worked in the Canadian power and utilities sector; Anne E. Bertrand, the province’s former information and privacy commissioner; and Duncan Hawthorne, […]

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FTC dismisses lawsuit against PepsiCo that was filed by Biden-era FTC

The Republican-controlled Federal Trade Commission voted Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit against PepsiCo that the previous commission filed in the waning days of the Biden administration. The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that PepsiCo was giving unfair price advantages to Walmart at the expense of other vendors and consumers. The lawsuit had relied on the […]

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Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block watchdog access to DOGE documents

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to block court orders requiring Elon Musk ’s Department of Government Efficiency to turn over documents about its operations to a government watchdog group. The Justice Department’s latest emergency appeal to the high court concerns whether DOGE, which has been central to President […]

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