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Topic


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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The Supreme Court won’t allow Trump to immediately fire head of whistleblower office

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday temporarily kept on the job the head of the federal agency that protects government whistleblowers, in its first word on the many legal fights over President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda. The justices said in an unsigned order that Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, […]

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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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DOGE notches courtroom wins as Elon Musk crusades to slash federal government

WASHINGTON (AP) — Although some parts of President Donald Trump ’s agenda are getting bogged down by litigation, Elon Musk ’s Department of Government Efficiency is having better luck in the courtroom. Labor unions, Democrats and federal employees have filed several lawsuits arguing that DOGE is running roughshod over privacy protections or usurping power from […]

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Gananoque police reiterate ‘Grandparent Scam’ warning

Fraudsters are preying on seniors in the Thousand Islands region, using fear and urgency to steal thousands in a growing wave of “grandparent scams,” the Gananoque Police Service reiterated this week. “What sparked the media post (last week) was a local resident had reported an estimated financial loss of $6,000,” said Sgt. Lynsay Dickson, as […]

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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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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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Georgia Republicans advance a plan to leave a bipartisan voter data group, despite warnings

ATLANTA (AP) — For years, Republicans echoing President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was ridden with voter fraud have pushed for states to leave a bipartisan group that lets officials share data to keep voter rolls accurate. Nine have, but none since October 2023. A new bill advanced Tuesday by House […]

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