National

National


Most Canadians want to ban or regulate algorithmic pricing, poll shows

Most Canadians want the government to ban or regulate the use of algorithms to set prices, a new poll suggests — with half of respondents saying the practice is unfair because it can result in people paying different prices for the same product. The Abacus Data poll, which was conducted online and can’t be assigned […]

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Manitoba bill targets technology that could alter grocery prices for some shoppers

The Manitoba government says it’s moving to ban what it calls “predatory pricing” on groceries, even though the issue hasn’t been seen locally. Finance Minister Adrien Sala says a bill introduced in the legislature last week is aimed at ensuring shoppers won’t be charged different prices for the same product from the same store. Sala […]

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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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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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More details emerge on pay of Manitoba trade representative in Washington D.C.

The Manitoba government defended its trade representative in Washington, D.C., on Monday as more details emerged about how much taxpayers are providing the consultant. Former television reporter Richard Madan was hired in June to help promote Manitoba’s interests in the U.S. and fight tariffs and other trade measures imposed by the U.S. administration. The Manitoba […]

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Why Canada is helping Canadians flee the Middle East — and what it costs

Ever since the U.S. launched its war against Iran on Feb. 28, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has said her top priority is helping Canadians who want to leave the Middle East. As of Friday, nearly 8,500 Canadians and permanent residents have made it home to Canada from the region, while more than a thousand […]

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Ontario to make premier, cabinet ministers’ records secret as it tightens FOI laws

Ontario is set to make Premier Doug Ford and cabinet members’ records secret as it “modernizes” freedom-of-information laws, a change the province’s privacy watchdog warns will eviscerate public accountability. Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford, however, said his government is still “one of the most transparent governments in the history of […]

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Environment committee engaging in ‘junior high behaviour’: former climate advisers

Two former advisers on Ottawa’s climate policies say recent antics by parliamentarians at the House of Commons environment committee demonstrate why they resigned from Canada’s independent net-zero advisory body last year. Simon Donner and Catherine Abreu were at the centre of some committee fireworks on Thursday, when Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs tried to move […]

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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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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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Spy agency won’t release its TikTok advice to Ottawa, urges caution online

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service isn’t disclosing the advice it gave the federal government before Ottawa decided to allow TikTok to keep its Canadian operations. “CSIS encourages all Canadians to proceed cautiously regarding their online presence and to conduct their own research on the type of data being collected and who controls it before joining new social […]

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Politicians and environmentalists call for transparency on N.B. highway toxin spill

Environmentalists and New Brunswick’s Green Party are calling for more transparency after it took nearly two days for the provincial government to issue a warning about a chemical spill that left drivers south of Fredericton commuting through toxins.  “From stem to stern, their spill response and public transparency and reporting need to be overhauled,” Green […]

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