Access to Information

Topic: Access to Information


Ottawa looking for ways to mend tears in Canada’s social fabric, document shows

Senior federal officials have been looking quietly for ways to bring together Canadians who don’t see eye to eye on the economy, immigration and social issues. With a general election looming, officials prepared to meet last November to brainstorm solutions to the problem of social fragmentation, according to an internal presentation drafted by the Department […]

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Alberta ramps up measles vaccination push as 3 children in intensive care

Alberta’s government says three children are in intensive care in hospital after contracting measles. A health ministry spokesperson declined to disclose their ages, citing privacy concerns. At a news conference Monday, Dr. Sunil Sookram, Alberta’s interim chief medical officer of health, said there have been no deaths. Sookram said the risk of getting the highly […]

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Number of St. Catharines properties in tax arrears soars under current council

The number of property tax accounts in arrears has risen sharply in St. Catharines since 2022, according to documents obtained by The Pointer through a Freedom of Information request. The disturbing increase aligns with the controversial hikes in municipal tax rates introduced by the current City Council. Residents of Niagara’s largest city were shocked in […]

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TSB investigating helicopter on training flight crashes in Whitehorse

A team with Canada’s Transportation Safety Board is in Whitehorse to investigate a helicopter crash. Spokesman Liam MacDonald says the Airbus AS350B was on a training flight with two people onboard when it crashed around 3 p.m. on Friday. MacDonald says the helicopter, operated by Horizon Helicopters, flew out of the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International […]

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N.L. premier leaves office on waves of praise, worry about legacy Quebec energy deal

If all goes to plan, many in Newfoundland and Labrador will likely remember outgoing premier Andrew Furey for ending a decades-old lopsided energy deal with Quebec, according to his inbox. More than 80 people sent Furey emails about a new tentative arrangement with Hydro-Québec in the seven weeks after he announced the deal on Dec. […]

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Rules that govern rulers – updates to procedural bylaw for Southgate Township

The procedural bylaw lays out rules for how council conducts its business, but also  generally allows council to suspend those rules when two-thirds of council agrees. Presenting on a new draft of those procedural rules was the team that did the updates, Michelle Smibert and Michelle Casavecchia Somers. They presented an updated procedural bylaw, and […]

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OPP detachment board’s ‘Traveling Wilburys’ seek meeting location

As the Southern Georgian Bay OPP detachment board continues to hit the ground running, members hope to find a permanent meeting locale. Board administrator Phil DeBruyne presided over this week’s meeting in Tiny Township with nearly-official community representative Judy Contin who was awaiting finalization on CSPA requirements before her full participation next meeting. A verbal […]

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Xatśūll asks judge for ‘urgent’ injunction to stop raising of mine tailings dam that failed in 2014

The Xatśūll First Nation is asking a judge to urgently stop the controversial Mount Polley mine from raising its nearly 20-storey tailings dam even higher on its territories. On Friday, leaders from the Secwépemc community filed for an injunction “on an urgent basis” against ongoing construction to increase the height of the dam — which […]

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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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