Access to Information

Topic: Access to Information


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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Union raises privatization concerns

The PEI Union Of Public Sector Employees, UPSE, which represents 5,000 members across various public and private sectors, is sounding the alarm about privatization creeping into the public service, especially health services. Karen Jackson, who is the president of UPSE and represents approximately 1,200 LPNs, said Health PEI hiring private RNs and LPNs is not […]

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City taking hands off approach to clear dangers at former GM site in St. Catharines

Many of the toxic risks posed by the former GM site on Ontario Street in St. Catharines are clear.  As previously reported by The Pointer, Environmental Site Assessments obtained after a two-year fight with the City and GM officials who fought to keep the documents hidden from public view, revealed contamination of a number of […]

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Internal report urged Canada to counter rhetoric about a ‘crisis’ at border

An internal government report warned a year ago that allowing “the trend of negative rhetoric” about the security of the Canada-U.S. border could lead to a thickening of the 49th parallel, adversely affecting trade and travel. The report, written by a diplomat at Canada’s embassy in Washington, said that failing to refute U.S. claims about […]

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Rural transit ideas floated behind the scenes, UCP says

Improved transit could be on its way to rural Alberta, a UCP cabinet minister teased in a recent interview on passenger rail transportation. “I would just say, stay tuned,” Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen told The Macleod Gazette. “I don’t want to show my cards yet, but we’re actually working on some really interesting policy ideas […]

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‘Amongst the trusted’: How private police chat groups blur and breach ethical lines

In August 2021, a Toronto drug case took a dramatic turn when a prosecutor made what the judge called a “highly unusual” request, asking the court to throw out evidence by a key police witness. It came after defence lawyers had grilled Toronto Police Service Const. Ryan Kotzer over “disparaging comments about black people” in […]

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Mississauga town hall hears concerns over missing Black boys in the GTA

On a frigid Saturday afternoon at the beginning of February, community members gathered at Malton Youth Hub to voice concerns about the number of missing Black boys in the Greater Toronto Area. The town hall aimed to raise awareness and provide resources for those seeking to support affected families. It was part of a series […]

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B.C. police cite privacy as investigators probe chat groups

The details of a private chat group among current and former members of the police department in Nelson, B.C., haven’t been made public. But the fate of an investigation by the province’s Police Complaint Commissioner into the WhatsApp chats could have implications for police across the country, as the Nelson officers mount a court challenge […]

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Details of Danielle Smith’s spending cut committee revealed

With volatile oil prices, the looming threat of tariffs, and Alberta facing “headwinds from every direction,” as Finance Minister Nate Horner described the current economic forecast, it appears unlikely the promised personal income tax cut will be a part of budget announcements later this month. But the Productivity Review Cabinet Committee (PRCC) tasked with “finding […]

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Murray Harbour settlement amount remains confidential

A second request for information regarding a payment made by Murray Harbour to a former CAO has been denied. “This matter was a confidential legal matter, and I have been instructed by the municipality’s legal counsel not to comment or provide any documents,” said current CAO Anne Harnesk. Back in May 2017 Sylvain De Lafontaine, […]

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Trudeau says Ukraine decides how war with Russia ends, praises buy-Canadian movement

It’s up to Ukraine to decide how the war with Russia ends, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday. “It is only Ukrainians that get to decide what is acceptable to them as an outcome of any peace negotiations,” he told reporters Wednesday in Brussels as he wrapped up a visit to Europe aimed at deepening […]

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Newfoundland man says a public office buried his sister without telling him

A Newfoundland man said he felt as if someone had punched him when he was told last month that an independent office of the Newfoundland and Labrador government had cremated and buried his sister without telling him. Scott Hounsell said he got the news during a phone call with the province’s public trustee’s office, which […]

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