National

National


Privacy breaches at St. Martha’s impact nearly 2,700

ANTIGONISH — Close to 2,700 people can expect to hear from Nova Scotia Health (NSH) after a hospital employee “inappropriately accessed” some or all of their private information – including MSI numbers, home addresses and even triage reports – almost a year ago. “We’re spending a lot of time making sure we know exactly what […]

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Lobster season opens on Eastern Shore

ST. MARY’S — Lobster fishers along the Eastern Shore, including in the District of St. Mary’s, dropped their traps on April 19 and pulled up their first catches on April 20. Even though wharf prices in southwestern Nova Scotia were reported at as high as $18 per pound, especially if the supply was low and […]

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With ‘Caledon under threat’, over 150 residents meet to demand action from Town Council, Mayor Annette Groves

It was standing room only inside a church in Caledon East on Wednesday as over 150 residents gathered to question the decision making of Mayor Annette Groves, and demand change after what was described as a takeover of democracy by the rookie mayor, certain members of council and senior staff. The emergency meeting, hosted by […]

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‘Violation’: CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her

A CSIS officer’s allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman. She is the same officer whose sexual assault allegations in a story published by […]

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‘Thrown under the ferry’: Southern Sunshine Coast FAC chair reacts to BC Ferries security report

After over seven months of meetings being on hold, BC Ferries will be moving back to in-person engagement.  Virtual ferry advisory committee (FAC) meetings will begin in May, and in-person meetings will resume in June, said an April 19 press release. Last summer, BC Ferries experienced several incidents where there were concerns raised about staff […]

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Border agency eyes smartphone facial recognition system amid privacy concerns

Travellers would be able to use facial recognition technology to identify themselves through their smartphones when crossing the border under a planned federal project.  The Canada Border Services Agency says the initiative would allow for a faster and more seamless travel experience. A pilot project is still two to four years away, but an Ottawa-based […]

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Ottawa puts up $50M in federal budget to hedge against job-stealing AI

Worried artificial intelligence is coming for your job? So is the federal government — enough, at least, to set aside $50 million for skills retraining for workers.  One of the centrepiece promises in the federal budget released Tuesday was $2.3 billion in investments aiming to boost adoption of the technology and the artificial intelligence industry […]

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Ottawa mass killing suspect not seeking bail, as emails show college search for intel

The 19-year-old Sri Lankan national charged in the mass killing of a newcomer family in Ottawa has no plan to seek bail, his lawyer says. Febrio De-Zoysa was arrested and charged in early March with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, after police found the family dead in a townhouse […]

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Ontario police say 14 charged after 126 people lose money in ‘grandparent scam’

Fourteen alleged members of an organized gang are facing dozens of charges after 126 people from across Canada lost nearly $1 million in total in a so-called “grandparent scam,” Ontario Provincial Police announced Thursday, saying the fraud caused more than just financial distress.  OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns said several scam victims – many of […]

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‘Is democracy dying in Caledon?’: Residents outraged as Mayor Annette Groves rushes through questionable development, cuts them out of the process

Residents in the Town of Caledon are frustrated and fearful after recent council decisions have ignored their concerns, shut them out of critical public processes and left them wondering who exactly is planning the future of the town and its vast landscape of farmland and sensitive greenspace.  Over the last month residents have watched as […]

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Websites deceive users by deliberately hiding the extent of data collection and sharing

Websites sometimes hide how widely they share our personal information, and can go to great lengths to pull the wool over our eyes. This deception is intended to prevent full disclosure to consumers, thus preventing informed choice and affecting privacy rights. Governments are responding to consumer concerns about privacy with legislation. These include the European […]

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Federal government used AI in hundreds of initiatives, new research database shows

Canada’s federal government has used artificial intelligence in nearly 300 projects and initiatives, new research has found — including to help predict the outcome of tax cases, sort temporary visa applications and promote diversity in hiring.  Joanna Redden, an associate professor at Western University, pieced together the database using news reports, documents tabled in Parliament […]

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