Access to Information

Topic: Access to Information


US energy department invites AI data center development at Los Alamos and other federal lands

The U.S. Department of Energy said it has identified 16 federal sites, including storied nuclear research laboratories such as Los Alamos, where tech companies could build data centers in a push to accelerate commercial development of artificial intelligence technology. The sites are “uniquely positioned for rapid data center construction, including in-place energy infrastructure with the […]

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How Transport Canada’s Education on Residential Schools Went So Wrong

Less than an hour into Transport Canada’s online presentation for employees on the legacy of residential schools, things went wrong. The October event was the first in a series to provide the department’s staff across the country with information on the history and impact of residential schools. But it was quickly derailed as attendees made […]

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford to visit areas without electricity since ice storm

Premier Doug Ford said Thursday that he plans to visit some areas affected by prolonged power outages since a powerful ice storm hit central and northern Ontario over the weekend.  Hydro One said that of the approximately 175,000 customers without power as of late Thursday afternoon, nearly 45,000 lost power in the previous 24 hours […]

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Town, MD of Pincher Creek offer financing program for energy-efficient home upgrades

Homeowners in Pincher Creek and area now have a cost-effective way to upgrade their homes for energy efficiency through the Clean Energy Improvement Program. Offered jointly by the town and MD, the program provides low-interest financing to make energy-saving renovations more accessible and affordable. The program, available to legal owners of existing low-rise residential properties, […]

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B.C. quietly allowed an oil and gas giant to sidestep rules for more than 4,300 pipelines

This investigation is a collaboration between The Narwhal and the Investigative Journalism Foundation. The British Columbia government quietly granted one of Canada’s biggest oil and gas companies an exemption for thousands of pipelines that should have been deactivated before a legal deadline, according to documents obtained under freedom of information legislation. In 2020, the BC […]

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Cybersecurity provider offering access to free services after breach affecting HSD

After a January “cybersecurity incident” involving unauthorized access to information, the Horizon School Division notified families that PowerSchool – a cloud-based software vendor used by HSD – had been compromised but then reacted quickly to the problem.  By Feb. 10, the Division told families that PowerSchool had “initiated the process of notifying involved individuals of the incident about […]

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Photos show inside of Connecticut house where man says he was held captive for 20 years

Connecticut police have released more than 100 photos showing the inside of a home where a 32-year-old man said he started a fire in a desperate attempt to free himself from more than 20 years of captivity. The man, whose name has not been disclosed, was emaciated and weighed only 69 pounds (31 kilograms) when […]

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Mass layoffs are underway at the nation’s public health agencies

Employees across the massive U.S. Health and Human Services Department received notices Tuesday that their jobs were being eliminated, part of a sweeping overhaul designed to vastly shrink the agencies responsible for protecting and promoting Americans’ health. The cuts include researchers, scientists, doctors, support staff and senior leaders, leaving the federal government without many of […]

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School division building climate action plan

The Seven Oaks School Division is doing a comprehensive audit of its carbon footprint to create a plan to help staff and students do their part under the 2016 Paris Agreement and signal-boost eco-friendly projects. “It can’t be a select few people caring for the Earth. It’s at the point where we need everybody on […]

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FOI documents reveal St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe used municipal tax dollars for Ford campaign event which is prohibited

St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe used municipal assets and senior staff to coordinate his attendance in a staged campaign event for Doug Ford during last month’s provincial election campaign. The apparent violation of rules that govern Siscoe’s conduct was revealed in documents obtained by The Pointer through a Freedom of Information investigation. The documents show […]

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‘Fascinating’ look at Kingston Police records and systems

A small city with big city problems provides much work for its police service, some of which goes largely unseen by the public. John Bougie, Manager of Records and Systems with Kingston Police, gave an overview of his unit to the Kingston Police Service Board at its latest meeting on Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025. His […]

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MMA supports glyphosate use

MINDEMOYA—A proposal to ban the use of glyphosate-based herbicides on municipal lands across Manitoulin Island has been voted down by the Manitoulin Municipal Association (MMA) following a discussion marked by hesitation and concern. When the motion was introduced, the room fell silent before one mover and seconder initiated the debate, reflecting the cautious approach of […]

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