BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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Communication regulator considers changes to extend reach of national alerting system
Rural municipalities, Indigenous organizations and civil society groups are calling for changes to ensure people in remote parts of Canada receive emergency alerts during a crisis. The suggestions to the federal communication regulator are aimed at closing gaps in the National Public Alerting System — more commonly known as Alert Ready — which delivers urgent…
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Ontario looks to expand practical component of teacher education: minister
Changes to how new teachers in Ontario are certified are set to be announced next year and will entail a larger practical component, the education minister is signalling. In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Education Minister Paul Calandra said he is looking at shortening the length of teachers’ college and has been looking…
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Carney has sketched the broad strokes of an AI policy, but details remain vague
At the Paris AI Action Summit in February, then-prime minister Justin Trudeau and other world leaders watched as U.S. Vice President JD Vance took the stage to rail against AI regulation. Vance’s speech — delivered with his face projected on a large screen between the intricately-carved pillars lining the stage at the historic Grand Palais…
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Federal judge blocks Trump’s firing of two Democratic members of privacy oversight board
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s firing of two Democratic members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. The ruling Wednesday from U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton ends the lawsuit brought by two of the three fired board members in February. The five-member board is an independent watchdog…
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UK retailer Marks & Spencer puts cyberattack cost at $400 million with disruptions ongoing
LONDON (AP) — British retailer Marks & Spencer estimated Wednesday that a cyberattack that stopped it from processing online orders and left store shelves empty will cost it about 300 million pounds ($400 million). The company said in a business update that disruption from the “highly sophisticated and targeted cyber attack,” which was first reported…
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Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block watchdog access to DOGE documents
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to block court orders requiring Elon Musk ’s Department of Government Efficiency to turn over documents about its operations to a government watchdog group. The Justice Department’s latest emergency appeal to the high court concerns whether DOGE, which has been central to President…
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IRS nominee who sponsored legislation to abolish the agency faces pointed questions
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former congressman who sponsored legislation to abolish the IRS and is now the nominee to lead that agency faced pointed questions from senators Tuesday about his past promotion of questionable tax credits, his lack of background in tax administration and the political contributions he received after being picked to lead the…
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Local councils choose online, phone, paper ballots for next election
The cost of democracy, both figurative and literal, was discussed at local council meetings recently as municipalities look towards the October 2026 elections. Staff reports on voting methods made their way to respective councils in Tay Township and Penetanguishene with councillors weighing the merits and flaws for voting through paper ballots, internet/telephone voting and a…
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North Korean defectors urge the UN to hold the country’s leader accountable for rights abuses
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Eunju Kim, who escaped starvation in North Korea in 1999, was sent back from China and fled a second time, told the United Nations on Tuesday that the country’s leader must be held accountable for gross human rights violations. Gyuri Kang, whose family faced persecution for her grandmother’s religious beliefs, fled…
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Despite data that show they’re safe, residents of Oakville neighbourhood torn between facts and feeling
Late last year, Mario Zelaya never expected his TikTok post would stir such emotion across an upscale east-end Oakville neighbourhood. Nor did he anticipate being targeted by the town’s mayor. It has been seven months since that initial post, when Zelaya detailed what he believes to be a serious public health threat linked to decades…
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Hackers strike UK’s legal aid agency and compromise data of lawyers and clients
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s justice department said Monday that it shut down online services for legal aid recipients and the lawyers paid to help them after a cyberattack compromised personal information including criminal records, national insurance numbers and payment details. The Ministry of Justice said it learned on April 23 that online digital services at…