Ontario is boosting its funding for autism services by $60 million over last year, and while advocates say new money in the recent provincial budget is welcome, thousands of children will still be unable to access therapy. The budget announced $120 million for the autism program, but the government later clarified that includes a $60-million […]

Fraudsters, known for their persistence and adaptability, have evolved their solicitation methods over the years, expanding their reach through various channels. While door-to-door visits were once typical, today’s landscape sees fraudsters utilizing text messages, internet platforms, phones, emails, and social media to target unsuspecting individuals. Understanding these tactics is crucial for protecting oneself against potential […]

A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives. Canada has ordered its own national security review of TikTok, something the Liberal government revealed following passage of the U.S. bill earlier this month.  […]

With the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre noting there were 41,111 victims to fraud in 2023, fraudsters and scammers can get creative in fashioning a scenario that can manipulate unsuspecting individuals into forwarding over their hard-earned cash. Often, those instances create a sense of urgency or panic, or may pull on the heartstrings of their victims. In […]

Residents of Thessalon First Nation (TFN) are looking for answers after a community nurse allegedly accessed their private records without a “legitimate reason” to do so, according to a local health agency. The TFN members were informed of the alleged mass privacy breach last week via a series of letters from Maamwesying North Shore Community […]

A town in Ontario’s Muskoka region has shared more details about a cybersecurity incident earlier this month. The Town of Huntsville says it was hit on March 10 by a ransomware attack, in which vital digital information is held hostage for payment. Denise Corry, the town’s chief administrative officer, says an “unauthorized user” infiltrated the […]

Small drug seizures in Vancouver dropped at a “dramatic” rate after decriminalization came into effect in British Columbia, the city’s police department says.  Insp. Phil Heard, who oversees the department’s drug unit, told a news conference Tuesday that reports that claimed otherwise are “patently false.” Researchers Tyson Singh and Liam Michaud wrote an article about […]

The Ontario government tabled a budget Tuesday that forecast a ballooning deficit, investments in the home and community care sector, and support for a first-of-its-kind medical school. Here are the highlights:  BALLOONING DEFICIT Ontario is projecting a deficit of $9.8 billion in the coming fiscal year, almost double what was projected in its fall economic […]

Two more beluga whales have died at Marineland, bringing the total number of whale deaths since 2019 to 17.  Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services has been investigating the Niagara Falls tourist attraction since 2020. “The ministry has been made aware that two beluga whales at Marineland have passed away this March,” said Brent Ross, a spokesman […]

Lives could be put at risk if the Nova Scotia government doesn’t maintain limits on who can access sensitive medical information about patients, a sexual assault survivor told a legislature committee on Monday. Carrie Smith, of Digby, N.S., spoke out against a change in legislation she believes is too broad in giving the province access […]

The British Columbia government is warning people about a scam involving its PayBC website, where an “identical fake website” is collecting personal and credit card information.  The PayBC site gives residents a secure place to pay their bills or for services from the provincial government, but it says it has become aware of phishing attempts […]

This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. ___ After deepfake pornography of Taylor Swift went viral on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Swifties sprung into action. They organized to report violations […]