Transparency

Transparency


Massive Edmonton care home battling mice infestation, droppings

Alberta’s Opposition is calling for action and more transparency in the wake of a prolonged mouse infestation at one of Edmonton’s biggest long-term care homes. Covenant Health, along with Assisted Living Minister Jason Nixon, declined requests from The Canadian Press to provide the most recent health inspection report for the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre, […]

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REDACTED: City of Brampton’s $4-billion electric bus deal leaves taxpayers completely in the dark

$245 for 1,799 pages: 1,622 completely redacted—words covered by large blocks of black to hide them from the public. The Pointer is trying to uncover the details behind a $4-billion deal, the largest of its kind in the municipality’s history, between the City of Brampton and a foreign company that not many in Ontario have […]

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Caledon residents furious after FOI documents uncover gaps in Town record-keeping around opposition to mega-blasting quarry proposal

Caledon resident Tony Sevelka’s days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and now years since he started digging into the details of a proposed blasting mega-quarry steps away from his home.  His quest led him to file a freedom of information request this summer, seeking access to all public objections to the contentious project.  […]

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Carney has sketched the broad strokes of an AI policy, but details remain vague

At the Paris AI Action Summit in February, then-prime minister Justin Trudeau and other world leaders watched as U.S. Vice President JD Vance took the stage to rail against AI regulation. Vance’s speech — delivered with his face projected on a large screen between the intricately-carved pillars lining the stage at the historic Grand Palais […]

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Unreadable receipts, missing itineraries: Why did Brampton taxpayers pay more than $20K to send Councillor Rowena Santos and staff to Tokyo & Manila?

Travel documents, including receipts and itineraries, obtained by The Pointer under freedom of information requests have exposed a troubling pattern at the City of Brampton under Mayor Patrick Brown. Expensive flights and hotels, questionable spending on food, drinks and transportation, all in the name of so-called economic development, have become the norm in Brampton.  The […]

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CBC launches court fight to keep Gem subscriber numbers confidential

CBC/Radio-Canada has filed an application in Federal Court to fight an order directing it to disclose subscriber numbers for its Gem streaming service. The information commissioner ordered CBC to make available the number of paid subscribers to Gem following an access-to-information request for the data. CBC/Radio-Canada president Marie-Philippe Bouchard told The Canadian Press the subscriber […]

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Documents reveal new witness statements to RCMP about missing N.S. children

The RCMP has agreed to release new information about the disappearance of two children from their home in rural Nova Scotia, including accounts from witnesses who said they heard a vehicle going back and forth nearby, a few hours before the kids were reported missing. Malehya Brooks-Murray reported her children, six-year-old Lilly and four-year-old Jack […]

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B.C. tables new law on closed meetings between First Nations and municipalities

The president of the group representing local governments in British Columbia says she welcomes proposed changes that would make it easier for First Nations and municipalities to meet behind closed doors. Cori Ramsay, president of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, said her group and First Nations requested the changes, saying they give nations “the […]

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Watchdog says N.S. government bill would remove key sections of transparency law

The Nova Scotia government has tabled legislation that could weaken a key section of the province’s transparency law. If adopted, the bill would remove what a provincial watchdog described as a crucial portion of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The bill would also extend deadlines for the release of government records […]

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All Revved Up – Newly elected Grand Chief Paul John Murdoch hits the ground running

Paul John Murdoch was declared the new Grand Chief of the Cree Nation July 17, after receiving 51.5% of the 4,447 votes cast across Eeyou Istchee in Grand Council elections. It was a decisive victory over incumbent Norman A. Wapachee (39%) and John Kitchen (9%).  With none of the four candidates for Deputy Grand Chief […]

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Trumps drop ‘Made in the USA’ label for new phone and a debate ensues: How to define ‘made’?

NEW YORK (AP) — When the Trump family unveiled a new phone before a giant American flag at its headquarters earlier this month, the pitch was simple and succinct, packed with pure patriotism: “Made in the U.S.A.” The Trumps are apparently having second thoughts. How about “proudly American”? Those are the two words that have replaced the […]

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Louisiana files lawsuits alleging pharmaceutical giant CVS deceived customers in text messages

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana filed several lawsuits accusing pharmaceutical giant CVS of abusing customer information and using its dominant market position to drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies, the state’s attorney general said Tuesday. Attorney General Liz Murrill began investigating CVS after the company sent out mass text messages to thousands […]

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