BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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DOJ vows to press charges after activists disrupt church where Minnesota ICE official is a pastor
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice said Sunday it is investigating a group of protesters in Minnesota who disrupted services at a church where a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apparently serves as a pastor. A livestreamed video posted on the Facebook page of Black Lives Matter Minnesota, one of…
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FACT FOCUS: Former Proud Boys leader falsely identified as an ICE officer
As protests continue in Minneapolis after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, social media users are falsely claiming that Enrique Tarrio, a former Proud Boys leader, is working for the federal agency. President Donald Trump pardoned Tarrio in a sweeping grant of clemency to all 1,500-plus people…
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State lawsuit claims New Jersey town’s former mayor directed police to keep minorities out
CLARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey town whose former mayor was once heard denigrating Black people on secret recordings made by a whistleblower is now facing a state lawsuit that claims he and local police officials directed officers to keep minorities out of the community. The complaint, filed by state Attorney General Matthew Platkin…
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Privacy commissioner to investigate WestJet cybersecurity breach
The office of Canada’s privacy commissioner says it has opened an investigation into a cyberattack on WestJet which saw a “malicious actor” gain access to the airline’s systems. The airline said in a statement last month that a “sophisticated, criminal” third party was able to gain access to some personal and travel-related data during the…
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Three facing smuggling-related charges after 44 migrants intercepted in Quebec: CBSA
The Canada Border Services Agency says it has arrested and charged three alleged smugglers after police in southern Quebec intercepted a truck carrying 44 foreign nationals in conditions an RCMP officer described as “horrific.” The agency said RCMP and Quebec provincial police intercepted the vehicle with dozens of people aboard near Stanstead, Que. overnight between…
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Rat complaints on the rise in Montreal as critics demand city take action
The rats took over James Klein’s backyard this spring. He’d never had a rat problem in the more than two decades he’s lived in Montreal’s Snowdon neighbourhood. But now, when he watches TV in his family room, he sees them out of the corner of his eye, scurrying around outside the glass door leading onto…
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The Justice Department seeks voter and election information from at least 19 states, AP finds
NEW YORK (AP) — The requests have come in letters, emails and phone calls. The specifics vary, but the target is consistent: The U.S. Department of Justice is ramping up an effort to get voter data and other election information from the states. Over the past three months, the department’s voting section has requested copies…
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Saskatchewan Ranks Highest on National Crime Severity Index
Each year, Statistics Canada publishes data on the number and types of criminal incidents occurring across the country. They also calculate and release a Crime Severity Index, which is a summary measure of the volume and severity of crimes reported to police in various areas, provinces, and at the national level. In this index, all…
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‘It’s about avoiding scrutiny’: Niagara residents deterred from filing complaints against Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Mike Strange
In April last year, Niagara Falls elected officials refused to consider a request from Councillor Lori Lococo to review the process for residents to file complaints against their municipal representatives, including the possibility of removing the $500 fee that has been widely criticized as shielding councillors from accountability. It was admitted by elected officials at…
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Watch out for social media con artists, mayor warns
Social media often plays a positive role in today’s society, but one has to exercise caution to avoid getting taken in by the growing number of scammers online, says Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. Savikataaq said there’s more and more scammers who are becoming increasingly creative when it comes to conning people out of their…
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Fact Check: ‘I’m very much alive,’ says byelection candidate alleged to have died
An online conspiracy theory recently claimed that a candidate on the ballot in the federal byelection in Alberta’s Battle River-Crowfoot riding had died in February. The source for the claim was an obituary for an unrelated woman with the same name. The real candidate told The Canadian Press that Elections Canada verified her identity before…