National

National


Alberta information watchdog concerned as warnings about government bill not heeded

An Alberta government bill proposing changes to freedom of information rules has passed third and final reading in the legislature despite the province’s information and privacy watchdog warning they will “significantly degrade” transparency. The bill, now awaiting royal assent, creates a number of new exemptions for what documents can be provided to members of the […]

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More than 7,200 Saskatchewan residents affected by health-record breach: Report

A report from Saskatchewan’s privacy commissioner says hackers obtained health records of more than 7,200 residents earlier this year.  The report says the breach affected Innomar clinics, which offer lab testing in four locations across the province.  It says hackers gained access to a server in January at one of the organization’s affiliate companies, allowing […]

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Police service fees increase for first time since 2011

Service fees charged by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service are set to increase for the first time since 2011, following the approval of a proposal initially introduced last month. The fee hikes aim to offset rising labor costs. In alignment with an annual inflation rate of approximately 2 per cent, the police board approved […]

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New community watch program boosts safety in Oakville

Crime Stoppers of Halton has launched a new community watch program to collaborate with Oakville residents, volunteers, and law enforcement to foster a safer neighbourhood. Supported by the Halton Police Board and Halton Police Service, the initiative is being implemented in Oakville’s Ward 3. While Crime Stoppers emphasizes anonymous tip lines, the community watch program […]

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Police now have body cams

The RCMP have begun rolling out body-worn cameras to be used by frontline officers when responding to a call. Staff Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer says there was a pilot project for the cameras in the Parkland detachment, and those officers have had their cameras for six months. Now that the RCMP are beginning the deployment, the […]

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RDCK board, November 14: Support for forestry

The RDCK will send a letter to the Ministry of Forests in support of the Forestry Works for BC Campaign, and of value-added and community-focused forestry.   Ken Kalesnikoff, president and CEO of Kalesnikoff Lumber, made a presentation to the board in August regarding the Forestry Works for BC initiative, which seeks to raise awareness about […]

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Manitoba RCMP introducing body cams

In 18 months or less, RCMP staff across the country will have one more tool on their toolbelt to help solve crime: body cameras. Manitoba’s official rollout of the new device began on November 22 with the Steinbach detachment. In that city, 33 officers are already using the cameras. Officers with the St. Pierre-Jolys detachment […]

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Whitehorse RCMP officers to start wearing body-worn cameras

By the end of December, most frontline RCMP officers in Whitehorse will be wearing body cameras, according to Christine Grant, the project manager for the body worn camera program in the Yukon.   Body-worn cameras are being rolled out to RCMP officers across the country, as part of a national deployment. According to the RCMP’s body-worn […]

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Green MLAs emerge as ‘special teams’ as the 43rd BC Parliament kicks off

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Newly elected BC Green Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rob Botterell and Jeremy Valeriote round off the legislature like special teams in the Canadian Football League. Playing neither offence or defence in a parliamentary battlefield consisting of 47 NDP and 44 Conservation MLAs, the BC Greens are […]

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Financial regulators reviewing alleged high-pressure bank sales tactics

Financial regulators say they’re looking into allegations of high-pressure sales practices in Canadian bank branches. The Ontario Securities Commission and the Canadian Investment Regulation Organization say the co-ordinated review will first focus on information gathering over the coming months into early 2025. The regulators say they aim to better understand the sales culture and environment […]

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Parent critical of Atikokan school’s response to weapon incident

ATIKOKAN — The Rainy River District School Board needs to review its campus-safety policies and investigate an Atikokan school’s response to last week’s report of a student with a weapon, a local parent says. The school board says it is looking into how school administration responded last week and how to better respond to reports […]

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LifeLabs data breach report released after firm loses four-year bid to keep it quiet

A long-withheld investigation into a 2019 hacking at LifeLabs Inc. that compromised millions of Canadians’ health data has finally been made public after an Ontario court dismissed the company’s appeal to prevent its release. A statement from the privacy commissioners of both Ontario and British Columbia says their joint report, completed in June 2020, found […]

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