BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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Colorado doesn’t plan to transfer imprisoned former county clerk to federal custody
DENVER (AP) — Colorado doesn’t plan to transfer from state prison to federal custody a former county clerk who has become a hero to election conspiracy theorists following a request from the Trump administration, state officials said Wednesday. The Colorado Department of Corrections said it is not seeking a transfer of Tina Peters, who was…
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Government push to unseal court records offers clues about what could be in the Epstein files
NEW YORK (AP) — As the Justice Department gets ready to release its files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, a court battle over sealed documents in Maxwell’s criminal case is offering clues about what could be in those files. Government lawyers asked a judge on Wednesday to allow the…
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One year since Bill 212 paved the way for environmentally destructive Highway 413
“I can’t see why we have to destroy the Greenbelt when there are thousands of acres within [the] metropolitan area of Toronto, which are empty or brownfields,” Assunta Marcolongo, a long-time member of the grassroots group STOP the 413 NOW, says. On a freezing, rainy morning last week, November 21, 79-year-old Marcolongo travelled an hour-and-a-half…
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Pledge to ‘build, build, build’ includes 11 new schools
The Kinew government plans to break ground on 11 new public schools before the end of its first term by using a template that designers will copy and paste. Budget 2025 sets aside an initial $20 million to carry out the commitment that’s estimated to cost $700 million overall. An excerpt from the 146-page budget…
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In response to critics, Nova Scotia amends bills on interprovincial trade, info law
The Nova Scotia government is responding to critics by amending key parts of its legislative agenda, including its bill to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. Changes to the trade bill, shared with journalists on Thursday, are in response to concerns the proposed legislation would override the ability of regulatory bodies to provide oversight that protects the…
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UBC bans Chinese AI DeepSeek from its devices and networks, citing privacy, security
The University of British Columbia has banned Chinese AI tool DeepSeek from being used or installed on university-owned devices and networks, citing “a high degree of privacy and security risk.” The university says it reached the decision after a review of public information and third-party assessments of DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence applications. It says there are…
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Alberta proposes oil-site trespass bill to keep federal workers from grabbing data
Alberta’s government is proposing a law it says would ban federal employees from going on any oil-related sites — from wellheads to corporate head offices – but the NDP says it’s an illegal and performative distraction. Premier Danielle Smith says the goal is to keep federal staffers away from any place where oil and gas…
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Trump administration threatens to pull New York transit funds as it questions anti-crime efforts
The Trump administration is threatening to pull federal funding from New York City’s transit system if it doesn’t provide a plan to address crime. While New York transit officials point to publicly available statistics showing major crime on the subway system is trending down this year, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted “a number of…
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University of Winnipeg’s finances in dire straits
The University of Winnipeg is warning about a “dire financial situation” and hefty deficit — $4 million in the red is its low-end estimate for next year — due to chronic underfunding and a drop in international enrolment. Internal documents obtained by the Free Press via a freedom of information request shed light on the…
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Lack of consent stalls plans for North America’s first whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia
An ambitious plan in Nova Scotia to build North America’s first coastal refuge for captive whales may have hit a dead end. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press reveal the non-profit Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) has yet to secure approval from all five owners of property adjacent to where the group plans to build a…
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Technician says Florida thrill ride operator ignored his safety concerns before teen’s fatal fall
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A maintenance technician alleged on Wednesday that he raised safety issues with the operators of a central Florida amusement ride before a 14-year-old boy fell to his death, but his concerns were never addressed. Austin Campbell-Alexander said in the state whistleblower lawsuit that the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park…