National

National


Stop asking questions; pay the bill’

An ex-law dean accused of embezzling more than a half-million dollars from the University of Manitoba asked an employee to set up a Swiss bank account as a payee and, on another occasion, told her to “stop asking questions” about his expense claims. The professional disciplinary hearing of Jonathan Black-Branch heard from two witnesses — […]

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Prevention key to cutting cyberattacks in hospitals, protecting patients: researchers

Hospitals must do more to protect patients’ personal data from cyberattacks that can lead to disruptions in care, urges an article published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. About 16 separate cyberattacks have occurred at health organizations across the country since 2015, but more go unreported, said lead author Vinyas Harish, a medical student at the University of […]

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Encrypted email service denies accused RCMP leaker’s claim it has intelligence ties

OTTAWA — A company that provides encrypted email service is disputing a former RCMP official’s claim that it secretly worked on behalf of an intelligence agency. Cameron Jay Ortis testified in Ontario Superior Court that a foreign ally told him of a plan to encourage targets to begin using Tutanota, an online encryption service that […]

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Small businesses still hoping for CEBA loan forgiveness extension as time runs out

OTTAWA — As the deadline to repay pandemic loans and receive partial forgiveness approaches, small businesses are still hoping the federal government will reverse course and extend it for another year. Nearly 900,000 organizations applied for and received a Canada Emergency Business Account loan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal program offered up to $60,000 […]

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Ontario plans to require salary ranges be included in job postings

TORONTO — Ontario employers could soon be required to include salary ranges in job postings under new legislation announced Monday, while the province is also considering curtailing the use of workplace non-disclosure agreements. Mandating salary ranges in job postings as well as requiring businesses to disclose if artificial intelligence is part of their hiring process […]

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Cyber attack continues to cripple CKHA

The investigation into the cyber attack that continues to cripple communications at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has expanded to an international search. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Interpol have joined local police and the Ontario Provincial Police to find the culprits and the depth of the ransomware attack on the CKHA and four other regional hospitals. […]

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Spy service director expressed ‘full confidence’ in employees after ‘troubling’ leak

OTTAWA — The head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service told employees he stood by the spy agency’s handling of sensitive information following a “troubling” leak of classified material, a newly released memo shows. In a Feb. 24 message to staff, CSIS director David Vigneault expressed continuing faith in employees’ dedication and adherence to the […]

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How Canadian companies can use tech to identify forced labour in their supply chains

Levi Strauss Canada is yet another company facing allegations of forced labour in its supply chain. The allegations, which Levi Strauss denies, centre on whether the company is working with suppliers using Uyghur forced labour. With over 27 million people worldwide in forced labour, we can expect to witness similar allegations elsewhere in the coming […]

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Privacy bill fails to address dangers of facial recognition technology: coalition

OTTAWA — A coalition pushing for better regulation of facial recognition and other biometric surveillance technologies says proposed federal privacy legislation is in “dire need of significant amendments.” In an open letter Wednesday to Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, the Right2YourFace Coalition warns the use of facial recognition technology threatens human rights, equity principles and fundamental freedoms, including […]

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Ministers’ responses on Afghan monument contract ‘pathetic’: design team

OTTAWA — An architectural group that lost out on building a monument to Canada’s mission in Afghanistan is accusing two federal cabinet ministers of giving a “pathetic” explanation for how the contract was awarded. The design by Team Daoust was selected by a jury, but the government overruled that decision to award the contract to […]

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White House lays out early framework for regulating AI development, growth

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden enacted sweeping new ground rules and guardrails Monday for the growth and development of artificial intelligence, leaving room for what Canadian experts hope will be a careful but complementary approach from Ottawa. The executive order, billed as the single most comprehensive government action on AI in the technology’s history, […]

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Feds ban WeChat, Kaspersky apps from government issued devices over security concerns

OTTAWA — The federal government is banning WeChat and Kaspersky applications from its phones over security concerns. WeChat is a social network, messaging and payments app from Chinese company Tencent, while Kaspersky was founded by Russian entrepreneur Eugene Kaspersky and offers cybersecurity and antivirus software. The government said both apps would be removed from its […]

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