Access to Information

Topic: Access to Information


Ontario considering change to length of teachers’ college, documents suggest

The Ontario government is considering shortening the length of teachers’ college in order to address a worsening shortage of educators, documents obtained by The Canadian Press suggest. A freedom-of-information request on teacher supply and demand came back with research and jurisdictional scans the Ministry of Education conducted last year on the supply issue and the […]

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Ottawa police investigate death of young woman India high commission says was student

Ottawa police are investigating the death of a young woman who was found in a park on the shore of the Ottawa River on Sunday.  The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has identified her as a student from India, saying she went missing several days before her body was found.  Ottawa police say they won’t […]

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Power outages across Spain and Portugal affected millions. How to prepare for a major blackout

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — An unprecedented blackout across Spain and Portugal upended the lives of millions across the Iberian Peninsula, a stark reminder of modern society’s reliance on electricity, and how quickly life can descend into chaos when the grid goes down. Power was nearly completely restored across the region on Tuesday, but the cause […]

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After allegations of Conservative nomination irregularities Liberals sweep all six Mississauga ridings again

In what turned out to be a much closer two-way race, Mississauga will send six Liberal MPs back to the House of Commons.  After being shut out in the last three federal elections since 2015 the Conservatives thought they could break through, especially with popular longtime Mississauga councillor Sue McFadden carrying the flag in one […]

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Iowa governor sues the Des Moines Register to stop request of emails she claims are protected

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor on Friday sued the Des Moines Register over the newspaper’s open records request, asking the court to validate her office’s withholding of certain emails she claims are protected. A Register reporter submitted a records request in February to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office, according to the complaint. In response, […]

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Trump science cuts target bird feeder research, AI literacy work and more

Ashley Dayer’s dream of winning a National Science Foundation grant to pursue discoveries in bird conservation started when she was an early-career professor with an infant in her arms and a shoestring laboratory budget. Competition is intense for NSF grants, a key source of funding for science research at U.S. universities. It took three failed […]

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CAJ hands dubious honour to federal government over Residential School records

The Canadian Association of Journalists bestowed a dubious honour on the federal government last week over its policy of fighting Indigenous groups over access to records from Residential Schools for the last decade. The CAJ made the federal government the 2024 recipient of the federal Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy […]

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Three Rivers implements video surveillance

The Town of Three Rivers council unanimously voted to move ahead with a video surveillance policy at the April 14 regular council meeting. The camera systems are installed at several municipal buildings and facilities and the policy will be effective immediately. Mayor Debbie Johnston said the policy is being implemented for two main reasons. “We’ve […]

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Student loans in default will be sent for collection. Here’s what to know for borrowers

NEW YORK (AP) — Starting next month, the Education Department says student loans that are in default will be referred for collections. Roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans and soon could be subject to having their wages garnished. Referrals for collection had been put on hold since March 2020 […]

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Inside the investigation, seizure and death of Peanut the social media star squirrel

New York environmental workers who came with a warrant looking for Peanut the squirrel found the scampering social media star on a bathtub. His housemate, Fred the raccoon, was in a suitcase in a bedroom closet. Soon after the Oct. 30 seizure, both animals were euthanized and Peanut became a martyr – held up as […]

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Alberta’s request to question fired health executive over confidential emails granted

A judge has granted Alberta’s government its request to question the former head of the provincial health authority about confidential emails she is accused of keeping and sharing without permission, including to media. The government’s request was made last month when it filed for an injunction in the high-profile lawsuit launched by Athana Mentzelopoulos, the […]

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Data breach hacks hole in UCDSB budget

Phillip BlancherLocal Journalism Initiative Reporter BROCKVILLE – A cyber attack which compromised the data of tens of thousands of current and former students, staff, and donors of the Upper Canada District School Board now has a price tag – approximately $3 million.  Trustees learned of the financial impact of the January 2025 hack on the […]

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