This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, August 16th.   We start with our privacy scan — from a major airline cyberattack exposing sensitive travel documents, to new scam alerts, and an urgent warning about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.  There is an exercise in contrasts with access to information stories including commitments for greater […]

A new $40 million grant request from the City of Welland is putting Niagara Region’s taxpayer-funded incentive programs back in the spotlight, and under renewed scrutiny. Welland Mayor Frank Campion is championing a controversial proposal that would see the Region contribute $40 million for a 52-hectare residential development along the banks of the Welland Recreational […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Tuesday released human rights reports for countries worldwide, which eliminate mentions of discrimination faced by LGBTQ people, reduce a previous focus on reproductive rights and criticize restrictions on political speech by U.S. allies in Europe that American officials believe target right-wing politicians. The reports, which cover 2024 before […]

Bilateral meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterparts were a regular occurrence early in his 25-year tenure. But as tensions mounted between Moscow and the West following the illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and allegations of meddling with the 2016 U.S. elections, those meetings became increasingly less frequent, and […]

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Tuesday that a “famine is unfolding” in Gaza and new Israeli restrictions will only make it worse. Her comment followed a statement from her department on Monday condemning Israel’s killing of several journalists in Gaza. “The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels,” Anand wrote Tuesday on social […]

The Town of Halton Hills is alerting residents about fraudulent text messages circulating in the community that falsely claim to be linked to fines from the town’s Automated Speed Enforcement program. The town, in a post on X, emphasized these messages are not connected to the municipality in any way. For one, the town does […]

Paul John Murdoch was declared the new Grand Chief of the Cree Nation July 17, after receiving 51.5% of the 4,447 votes cast across Eeyou Istchee in Grand Council elections. It was a decisive victory over incumbent Norman A. Wapachee (39%) and John Kitchen (9%).  With none of the four candidates for Deputy Grand Chief […]

During the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, James Frank Palmater faced relentless, crushing pain. A massive heart attack had reduced his heart function to only 15 per cent. The isolation of social distancing in his palliative care ward deepened his suffering. Two and a half weeks after the infarction, he sought Medical Assistance in […]

A national advocacy group for Jewish educators and families has, after a 21-month-long investigation, concluded that antisemitism is being “tolerated by our schools and even seeded by our schools” and is urging the Ontario government to overhaul the education system. Released Aug. 11, the End the Crisis in Education: A Plan for Equal Rights and […]

WestJet says some personal data including information about travel documents such as passports was stolen in a cyberattack earlier this year, but credit and debit card numbers as well as user passwords were not compromised. In a note to customers, WestJet says the personal information taken varies from person to person but may include name, […]

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is zeroing in on New York Attorney General Letitia James with a subpoena for records related to the $454 million civil judgement she won against Trump for lying about his wealth, a person familiar with the matter has told The Associated Press. The subpoena is part […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is escalating efforts to scrutinize perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump with investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff. The Justice Department has subpoenaed James for records related to a lawsuit the Democrat filed against Trump over alleged fraud in his personal business […]