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Reality of AI policy proves challenging
The topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to be a confusing and delicate topic to navigate, and the Town of Oliver experienced that reality anew in recent Council discussions. A draft AI Usage policy was presented at the April 7 Committee of the Whole (CoW) meeting, to regulate how the Town approaches AI when dealing…
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Ford government to bypass public hearings on freedom-of-information clampdown
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is planning to skip public hearings to pass its omnibus budget bill that contains a retroactive clampdown on access to his cellphone records. The usual legislative process sees bills go to committee, where affected groups and members of the public have a chance to weigh in, and committee members from…
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Iran-linked hackers take aim at US and other targets, raising risk of cyberattacks during war
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pro-Iranian hackers are targeting sites in the Middle East and starting to stretch into the United States during the war, raising the risk of American defense contractors, power stations and water plants being swept into a wave of digital chaos that could expand if Tehran’s allies join the fray. Hackers supporting Iran…
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Town confirms CAO’s departure
It’s official. A statement from the Town of Drayton Valley March 4 says that Jocelyn Whaley’s employment as CAO was ended by mutual agreement. Last week, Whaley was put on paid leave after a special meeting held by Council at 7 p.m. on March 2. During a closed session at the March 4 meeting, Whaley…
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Manitoba government proposes new grocery rules, rent control, some hydro hikes
The Manitoba government announced plans Thursday to expand rent control, raise electricity rates for some large users and keep grocery prices from fluctuating for different consumers. The proposals were among more than 15 bills and potential regulations introduced at the legislature before politicians broke for the weekend. The NDP government launched public feedback on a…
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15,000-plus students regularly skip school across Manitoba, leaked documents show
More than 15,000 students — including six in 10 children and youth in one Manitoba school division — were chronically absent from class in 2023-24. Leaked government documents expose the troubling state of truancy in elementary and high schools across the province. “Unbelievable” and “mind-blowing” were among the descriptors that came to mind for Kent…
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The RCMP vs. the media: Bracken trial approaches its endgame
The lawyers are standing around, casually talking to one another. A dozen or so people in the four rows of public seating quietly chatter to each other. Then, a hefty, clean-shaven middle-aged man with short dark brown hair and a suit enters the courtroom. The room goes quiet. The man, whose tie is fastened to…
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Here’s what the Liberals’ new bill on ‘lawful access’ for police and spies would do
The federal government has tabled legislation in the House of Commons it says would help law enforcement and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service investigate threats. Here’s what the new bill proposes: Confirmation of service demand: The bill would require internet and phone companies to tell authorities whether they provide a service to a particular person…
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States sue the Trump administration to challenge policy requiring colleges to collect race data
BOSTON (AP) — A coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging a Trump administration policy that requires higher education institutions to collect data showing they aren’t considering race in admissions. President Donald Trump ordered the new policy in August after he raised concerns that colleges and universities were using personal…
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Social Security watchdog opens probe into alleged misuse of data by ex-DOGE employee
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Social Security Administration’s internal watchdog is investigating a whistleblower complaint into what it describes as a former Department of Government Efficiency worker’s potential misuse of data obtained from the Social Security Administration. According to a document the Associated Press obtained Wednesday, the SSA’s inspector general informed the leadership of four congressional…