Health

Health


Canada’s privacy czar launches investigation into student information data breach

The federal privacy watchdog says he has launched a formal investigation into a cybersecurity breach involving a student information system used across Canada. Privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne says the probe was launched after his office received a breach report from U.S.-based PowerSchool, which provides the affected software, and a complaint about the incident. PowerSchool has told school boards in Newfoundland and Labrador, […]

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A Conservative MLA Represented Herself as a Medical Doctor. She Isn’t

In late November of last year, the B.C. Conservative caucus voted to appoint Jody Toor, newly elected MLA for Langley-Willowbrook, as caucus chair. As caucus chair Toor will oversee meetings of Conservative MLAs when they meet to discuss their policies and strategies as the official Opposition party in the legislature. In a statement released on […]

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Manitoba government orders health authority to cut its use of private nurses

The Manitoba government has ordered a regional health authority to cut the amount of money its spends on private-agency nurses by 15 per cent by March of next year. Premier Wab Kinew says Prairie Mountain Health, which covers a large portion of western Manitoba, has been using more-costly private nurses and must focus more on […]

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US Justice Department drops case against Texas doctor charged with leaking transgender care data

DALLAS (AP) — Federal prosecutors on Friday dropped the case against a Texas doctor who called himself a whistleblower on transgender care for minors and was accused of illegally obtaining private information on patients who weren’t under his care. The dismissal of the case against Dr. Eithan Haim in U.S. district court in Houston comes […]

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Judge dismisses Vanderhoof woman’s lawsuit against two health authorities

A B.C. Supreme Court judge threw out a lawsuit filed against the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Northern Health Authority (NHA) because it was deemed too long, unclear and unlikely to succeed. In a Tuesday, Jan. 14 written ruling, Justice Kenneth Ball agreed with an application by the two health authorities to strike out […]

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Manitoba’s promised plastic health cards pushed to January: premier

The Manitoba government’s plan to replace paper health cards with more durable and modern plastic ones is running a bit behind schedule. Premier Wab Kinew has said on a few occasions, including in a social media video last month, that people would be able to start applying for the new cards in December. He now […]

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Ontario proposes requiring health staffing agencies to disclose their rates

Ontario is proposing to increase transparency and accountability around health staffing agencies, as hospitals and long-term care homes spend about $1 billion a year to fill shifts with temporary workers at rates far higher than full-time staff are paid. It’s a positive — if small — step toward regulating or lowering the fees of agencies […]

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Arizona governor urges the state to stop collecting abortion data, citing patient privacy

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is calling for legislators to repeal the state law that requires an annual abortion report, saying that it infringes on patients’ privacy, which echoes other Democratic officials’ push to reduce or eliminate such requirements. “The government has no place in surveilling Arizonans’ medical decision-making or tracking their health history,” Hobbs, a […]

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Over 300 COVID outbreaks hit Alberta acute care facilities last year

Thousands of patients and health care workers were infected during COVID-19 outbreaks in acute care facilities in Alberta in the last year, raising questions about why more isn’t being done to prevent in-hospital transmission. Between Sept. 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024, more than 300 COVID-19 outbreaks were declared at Alberta Health Services and Covenant […]

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IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power

WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes since the nation’s tax collector received a massive glut of funding through Democrats’ flagship tax, climate and health law in 2022. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised […]

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The fight to look inside the shrouded folder St. Catharines council makes it hard for you to see

Recognizing the central role of accountability and transparency at City Hall, Ontario’s Municipal Act grants municipalities powers to ensure good governance.  Councils have the responsibility to ensure the operations of the municipality, run by senior management, are conducted openly and subject to public scrutiny. According to the City’s website, St. Catharines is committed to organizational […]

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Father organizes protests outside Bluewater Health after daughter’s death

— Monday through Saturday, a growing number of people have joined ongoing protests outside Bluewater Health, calling for accountability from the Sarnia hospital for allegedly failing to properly treat 24-year-old Kayla Fillion during a mental health crisis. Three days after her death on November 9, her father Matthew Jacklin started organizing the protests.  In an […]

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