BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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Ontario plans to open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all outside peak traffic times
Ontario drivers may soon be able to use high-occupancy vehicle lanes at times, even if they are all by themselves. Premier Doug Ford’s government is proposing to amend the Highway Traffic Act to allow single-occupant vehicles to use the HOV lanes during off-peak hours, saying it would reduce travel times and ease gridlock. “It’s pretty…
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Tax scams are on the rise. Here’s what to know
NEW YORK (AP) — Robocalls, texts, and phishing emails from scammers are up this tax season compared to previous years, with artificial intelligence likely increasing fraud attempts, according to the consumer protection bureau of the Federal Trade Commission. Consumer advocates and government officials urge the public to stay wary, to stop and think before engaging…
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Via Rail ‘needs to improve its service’ despite solid management: auditor general
Via Rail needs to improve its service — punctuality, in particular — according to Canada’s auditor general, who nonetheless gave solid marks to the Crown corporation’s management practices. In a report, Karen Hogan said that over the past decade Via has failed to improve its on-time performance, which sank to a dismal 30 per cent…
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How Canadian agencies are embracing AI tools to defend national security
The national spy watchdog is reviewing the use and governance of artificial intelligence by Canada’s security agencies. The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency has written to key federal ministers and organizations to inform them of the study. Here’s a look at how some federal organizations are putting AI tools to work to support national…
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Climate change is multiplying the risks for Canada’s food safety agency
From avian flu to diseases that kill off oysters and invasive pests decimating trees, Canada’s food safety agency is facing an ever-increasing list of challenges to its job performance that are multiplying with climate change. In a detailed statement to Canada’s National Observer, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) broke down exactly how climate change…
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‘Irresponsible’: Disruption of crucial cancer scanner in Saskatchewan angers family
An on-again, off-again machine in Saskatchewan that’s vital for diagnosing cancer has been disrupted again, putting at least one family in a bind. The Saskatchewan Health Authority said Tuesday its PET/CT scanner in Saskatoon — the province’s only such device — was down for two days in December and isn’t running at full capacity. The…
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Suspect in Desjardins data leak involving 9.7 million members arrested in Spain
Quebec provincial police say a suspect in a major data leak at Desjardins was arrested in Spain in November 2025. Juan Pablo Serrano had been sought by police since June 2024 for the theft and resale of personal information belonging to the 9.7 million members of the Quebec financial institution. In a news release, police…
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Caledon residents furious after FOI documents uncover gaps in Town record-keeping around opposition to mega-blasting quarry proposal
Caledon resident Tony Sevelka’s days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and now years since he started digging into the details of a proposed blasting mega-quarry steps away from his home. His quest led him to file a freedom of information request this summer, seeking access to all public objections to the contentious project. …
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Musk’s AI chatbot faces global backlash over sexualized images of women and children
LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is facing a backlash from governments around the world after a recent surge in sexualized images of women and children generated without consent by the artificial intelligence-powered tool. On Tuesday, Britain’s top technology official demanded that Musk’s social media platform X take urgent action while a Polish…
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At CES, auto and tech companies transform cars into proactive companions
LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a vision of the near future shared at CES, a girl slides into the back seat of her parents’ car and the cabin instantly comes alive. The vehicle recognizes her, knows it’s her birthday and cues up her favorite song without a word spoken. “Think of the car as having…
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Ex-BlackBerry employees claim firm has ‘toxic’ and ‘boys’ club’ culture: court docs
New court documents filed in a lawsuit against BlackBerry Ltd. allege at least three women were fired after reporting the tech firm had a “boys’ club” culture. The documents were filed in support of former BlackBerry chief marketing officer Neelam Sandhu, who launched a lawsuit against the Waterloo, Ont.-based cybersecurity firm and CEO John Giamatteo…