Access to Information

Topic: Access to Information


Nova Scotia premier says changes likely to controversial freedom of information bill

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says there will likely be changes to legislation that the province’s freedom of information commissioner says weakens the public’s right to access government records and documents. Houston made the comments during question period on Wednesday, but did not provide specifics. Days earlier, the government withdrew amendments from the same omnibus […]

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N.S. information commissioner says government bill threatens right to access records

Nova Scotia’s freedom of information commissioner is calling on the governing party to withdraw legislation that she says weakens the public’s right to access government records and documents. Tricia Ralph, who ends her term of office this week, says measures in an omnibus bill tabled by the Progressive Conservatives threaten the rights of citizens to […]

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OIPC NS Commissioner Statement Bill 1

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston introduced Bill 1 An Act Respecting Government Organization and Administration on February 18. Strong opposition followed from the Auditor General given amendments infringed on auditor independence. Swift public backlash saw Houston withdraw some proposed changes by February 24 while leaving many others. Some of the changes that remain impact Nova Scotia’s […]

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Land For Homes discusses importance of knowledge and community context

Nunavut is taking another small step in addressing the housing crisis.  Land for Homes (L4H) brought together representatives from several  groups including Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), Nunavut Housing  Corporation (NHC), Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM), regional  Inuit associations, development corporations, and all levels of  government to talk about challenges and collaborations to remove  barriers to […]

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Fisheries and Oceans Canada expects to flounder under mounting climate costs

Hurricane Fiona left a trail of destruction across the Atlantic Coast in September 2022 wreaking havoc on wharves, fisheries, vessels, and gear and the federal government’s pocketbook. In response to the climate disaster, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has had to earmark more than $563 million to deal with Fiona’s aftermath, including damage to 142 […]

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Highway 413 & Doug Ford’s developer-driven transportation planning

Ahead of the 2022 Ontario election, opposition party leaders keyed in on one of Doug Ford’s main re-election planks.  “Doug Ford’s developer buddies are the ones that are going to gain the most from the 413,” Andrea Horwath, the NDP leader at the time, said.  “Doug Ford is not interested in building this highway, the […]

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‘Control-mania’: Nova Scotia premier accused of executive overreach with new bill

The Nova Scotia government has taken a giant step backward in accountability and transparency with the introduction this week of a contentious omnibus bill, political observers and access to information experts say. Among other things, the bill will make it possible for Premier Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives to fire the province’s auditor general without cause, […]

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Care home company got $8.8M in subsidies, paid shareholders millions

One of the largest for-profit continuing care home operators in Alberta received more than $8.85 million in wage subsidies from the provincial government while the company also paid out tens of millions to shareholders. Between 2020 and 2023, Alberta Health transferred over $8.85 million in subsidies to Extendicare as part of a $2 per hour […]

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Looking for help? Call 211

During the announcements at the beginning of Monday’s council meeting, regional councillor Bruce Garrod pointed out that Feb. 11 was National 211 Day.   Garrod said most residents know about such numbers as 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergency services in Durham Region, but said few people know about 211. He then explained that 211 […]

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Liberals pledge mental health coverage, PCs take on trade barriers

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles cast her ballot in the advance polls that opened Thursday, as her party lost a second election candidate, while the other party leaders talked mental health, interprovincial trade and rental housing policies. The Progressive Conservative, Liberal and NDP leaders have all said their full platforms will come “soon,” with the […]

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Trump seeks greater control of independent regulators with his new executive order

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is moving to give the White House direct control of independent federal regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. The executive order that Trump signed Tuesday gives the president more power to shape the oversight of the financial system […]

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Senators ask Trump’s Labor Department nominee where her allegiance would lie

NEW YORK (AP) — Members of a Senate committee grilled Labor Secretary-designate Lori Chavez-DeRemer on Wednesday about her past support of pro-union legislation, her position on raising the federal minimum wage and her willingness to disagree with President Donald Trump. Democrats sought assurances during the nominee’s confirmation hearing that Chavez-DeRemer would protect private data held […]

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