Access to Information

Topic: Access to Information


Canadian officials eyed ‘new opportunities’ no matter who won U.S. election: memos

As the U.S. presidential election loomed, Canadian officials envisioned new opportunities for co-operation with their southern neighbour on nuclear energy, supply chain security and carbon capture technologies — no matter who won the contest, newly released government memos show. Several months before Americans headed to the polls, one internal Global Affairs Canada memo flagged the […]

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County Council Approves Comprehensive AI Policy

MIDDLESEX COUNTY – On November 26, county council approved a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy aimed at guiding the ethical and effective use of AI technologies across its operations. The policy sets a framework to maximize the potential of AI tools while ensuring compliance with privacy and data security regulations such as Ontario’s Municipal Freedom […]

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Brant Catholic school board elects new chair

After a tumultuous couple of months, the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) has elected a new chair. A small group of public observers applauded as Carol Luciani was named new chair at a board meeting on Tuesday night. “I deeply appreciate the trust you have placed in me and I am committed […]

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Trump says he’ll name Andrew Ferguson head of FTC; Kimberly Guilfoyle as Ambassador to Greece

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission. He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. It […]

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The fight to look inside the shrouded folder St. Catharines council makes it hard for you to see

Recognizing the central role of accountability and transparency at City Hall, Ontario’s Municipal Act grants municipalities powers to ensure good governance.  Councils have the responsibility to ensure the operations of the municipality, run by senior management, are conducted openly and subject to public scrutiny. According to the City’s website, St. Catharines is committed to organizational […]

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Mexican soldiers will get a pay raise after elimination of oversight agencies, president says

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Monday that much of the money gained by eliminating independent oversight and regulatory agencies will go to the army to fund a rise in soldiers’ pay. The announcement by President Claudia Sheinbaum is the latest in a a series of new and unusual funding sources to pay for […]

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Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US

A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied […]

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The Latest: Police search for man who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO, new photos of suspect released

The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The gunman is still at large and a manhunt is underway. Here’s the latest: Water bottle and protein bar wrapper may hold clues to […]

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Privacy watchdog concerned as Alberta passes bill to end fall legislature sitting

Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner says she is worried — but not surprised — the province voted this week to pass legislation she says will reduce public access to government information. “I am concerned,” commissioner Diane McLeod said in an interview. “All of those things I think are going to impact the right of access […]

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Alberta information watchdog concerned as warnings about government bill not heeded

An Alberta government bill proposing changes to freedom of information rules has passed third and final reading in the legislature despite the province’s information and privacy watchdog warning they will “significantly degrade” transparency. The bill, now awaiting royal assent, creates a number of new exemptions for what documents can be provided to members of the […]

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Iowa sues Biden administration for citizenship status of over 2,000 registered voters

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials on Tuesday sued the Biden administration for access to information on the citizenship status of more than 2,000 registered voters they had questioned in the weeks leading up to the 2024 election. The complaint details a back and forth with the federal government after state election officials checked […]

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Police service fees increase for first time since 2011

Service fees charged by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service are set to increase for the first time since 2011, following the approval of a proposal initially introduced last month. The fee hikes aim to offset rising labor costs. In alignment with an annual inflation rate of approximately 2 per cent, the police board approved […]

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