BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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Police in Kelowna, Abbotsford, B.C., warn of fake speeding tickets issued by text
Police in two B.C. cities are warning area residents after a number of cases where fraudsters are texting potential victims telling them they need to pay their fines for speeding tickets. RCMP say a number of people in Kelowna have reported receiving the texts, where they are asked to provide personal information such as date…
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Trump administration threatens to withhold SNAP management funds from states that don’t share data
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration warned on Tuesday that it will withhold money for administering SNAP food aid in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless those states provide information about people receiving the assistance. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the action is looming because those states…
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Federal gaps leave Indigenous Elders without adequate long-term care
Gaps in federal funding and authority expose many First Nations and Inuit Elders in Canada to inadequate long-term care, forcing them to leave their home communities, language and culture, documents show. The document obtained by Canada’s National Observer through an Access to Information and Privacy request shows that limited funding, unclear responsibilities and gaps between…
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Canadian police partner with AI in arms race against criminals. But at what cost?
In one corner of the battle are criminals using artificial intelligence to generate child sexual abuse material — and in the other, AI is being used to help hunt down the offenders. The rise of artificial intelligence has kicked off an arms race between perpetrators and police in Canada. The RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination…
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King Charles III’s brief hospital stay reminds UK that monarch is still a cancer patient
LONDON (AP) — King Charles III waved to well-wishers in central London on Friday as he headed for his country estate in western England a day after he was briefly hospitalized because of side effects from a scheduled cancer treatment. Charles canceled planned engagements on Thursday afternoon and Friday on the advice of his doctors,…
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Private groups work to identify and report student protesters for possible deportation
NEW YORK (AP) — When a protester was caught on video in January at a New York rally against Israel, only her eyes were visible between a mask and headscarf. But days later, photos of her entire face, along with her name and employer, were circulated online. “Months of them hiding their faces went down…
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Takeaways about groups working to identify and report foreign student protesters
When President Donald Trump signed an order calling for the deportation of foreign students who participated in “pro-jihadist” protests of the war in Gaza, some supporters of the crackdown were already working to identify targets for expulsion. Here are some key takeaways about the efforts by pro-Israel private groups to expose protesters using facial recognition…
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B.C. Premier David Eby walking back tariff bill after ‘anxiety’ from stakeholders
British Columbia Premier David Eby’s government is walking back a key portion of its controversial tariff response law, admitting the proposed legislation “didn’t get the balance right.” Eby said Friday that the legislation known as Bill 7 needs appropriate “safeguards” after a wave of criticism about potential overreach. “My interest in being able to move…
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‘Fascinating’ look at Kingston Police records and systems
A small city with big city problems provides much work for its police service, some of which goes largely unseen by the public. John Bougie, Manager of Records and Systems with Kingston Police, gave an overview of his unit to the Kingston Police Service Board at its latest meeting on Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025. His…
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MMA supports glyphosate use
MINDEMOYA—A proposal to ban the use of glyphosate-based herbicides on municipal lands across Manitoulin Island has been voted down by the Manitoulin Municipal Association (MMA) following a discussion marked by hesitation and concern. When the motion was introduced, the room fell silent before one mover and seconder initiated the debate, reflecting the cautious approach of…
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Valemount 2025 budget to include columbarium, economic recovery costs
Valemount Council approved including a 5.5 per cent tax increase in the 2025 budget during a special meeting on March 19th. The increase is in line with the Village’s Improving Asset Management plan which consulting company Urban Systems produced in 2020. Director of Finance Lori McNee presented the budget to Council and outlined new items…