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Federal privacy watchdog heads to court over Pornhub operator’s consent practices

Privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne is seeking a Federal Court order directing the operator of the Pornhub website to comply with Canadian privacy law. Dufresne’s application comes a year after he concluded Aylo, the Montreal-based firm behind Pornhub and other pornographic sites, broke the law by allowing intimate images to be shared without direct knowledge or […]

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‘Amongst the trusted’: How private police chat groups blur and breach ethical lines

In August 2021, a Toronto drug case took a dramatic turn when a prosecutor made what the judge called a “highly unusual” request, asking the court to throw out evidence by a key police witness. It came after defence lawyers had grilled Toronto Police Service Const. Ryan Kotzer over “disparaging comments about black people” in […]

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Newfoundland man says a public office buried his sister without telling him

A Newfoundland man said he felt as if someone had punched him when he was told last month that an independent office of the Newfoundland and Labrador government had cremated and buried his sister without telling him. Scott Hounsell said he got the news during a phone call with the province’s public trustee’s office, which […]

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Privy Council had diplomats urge Denmark to expedite Carolyn Bennett’s ambassadorship

Bureaucrats working for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had diplomats push Denmark to speed up the appointment of former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett as ambassador to that country — a change most embassy staff learned of through a media leak. The government has not offered a rationale for asking Denmark to expedite its approval of Bennett’s […]

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B.C.-based climate activist deported to Pakistan after protest charges

British Columbia-based environmental activist Zain Haq was aboard a plane in Toronto on Sunday afternoon, awaiting a nearly 14-hour flight to Pakistan, where he said he was looking forward to seeing his family and eating the food. But Haq was not on the plane by choice. He was being deported following the expiry of a […]

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Civil society groups push to ensure effectiveness of coming border agency watchdog

The fight for an independent review body to keep an eye on Canada’s border agency may be over, but there are lingering concerns in civil society circles about how much bite the new watchdog will have. Travellers, immigration detainees and others who feel they have been mistreated by the Canada Border Services Agency will be […]

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String of three murders in Nova Scotia raises alarm about intimate partner violence

Groups working to help victims of domestic violence in Nova Scotia say a recent string of murders of women provides just a glimpse of the extent of intimate partner violence in the province, and they say more action is needed to protect victims. Miia Suokonautio, executive director of the YWCA Halifax, says that while the […]

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Joly says Canada’s immigration plan stands in face of Trump deportation threats

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Thursday Canada will stand firm on its plan to rein in the number of newcomers entering the country, despite concerns that Donald Trump’s re-election could spur an influx of migrants from the United States. Trump’s decisive win this week immediately launched discussions about the border because he has promised […]

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‘Not for now,’ says N.S. Tory leader regarding order-making power for info czar

The leader of Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives made clear last week that if he’s re-elected, a key change that he once supported to increase the power of the province’s information commissioner is on the back burner, if not dead.  “No, not for now,” said Tim Houston, when asked by a reporter on the second day […]

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Work permit changes worrying for child-care staff shortages: colleges, Ontario

New federal rules would prevent international students who graduate from early childhood education programs from applying for a work permit in Canada — a change that the Ontario government, colleges and advocates warn will kneecap the growth of Ottawa’s signature $10-a-day child-care program. Under immigration changes announced last month, the postgraduate work permits, which were […]

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Trudeau announces massive drop in immigration targets as Liberals make major pivot

The federal government slashed immigration targets to levels that will flatten population growth as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted Thursday the government did not get the balance right after the COVID-19 pandemic. The government had targeted bringing in 500,000 new permanent residents in both 2025 and 2026. Next year’s target will instead be 395,000 new […]

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‘Not impossible’: Facebook whistleblower Haugen talks protecting kids on social media

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen feels “extremely hopeful” about society’s ability to push social media platforms into being safer but for change to come, she says these companies need to be motivated in a new way. “We are not powerless,” said Haugen in an interview during a visit to Toronto, where she was due to speak […]

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