Inmate who escaped from federal facility in Laval, Que., now back in custody

EDMONTON – The Alberta government is making changes to strengthen privacy rules, including a ban on public bodies such as schools and municipalities selling private information.

Technology Minister Nate Glubish says while the province and other public bodies in Alberta are not believed to be selling such information, the bill would make clear it is prohibited.

“It was important to me to codify that into law so that Albertans knew for sure that no government ever could,” Glubish told reporters Wednesday before introducing one of two bills that, if passed, would replace the existing Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Glubish’s bill is also aimed at strengthening rules and increasing penalties to ensure there are clear procedures for collecting and disseminating private information.

The act increases fines to a maximum of $750,000 for anyone who knowingly breaks rules regarding personal information.

The bill clarifies when and how information is shared with public bodies, which include provincial and municipal governments, schools and police. Albertans would also be notified if personal data is processed through an automated system.

There would also be an online privacy portal so residents can see when, how and for what purpose their records are accessed. It’s to include data like vehicle registrations and medical records.

Albertans would also be able to file a privacy complaint if they believe their info has been leaked.

The second bill, sponsored by Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally, aims to streamline processes to give Albertans access to documents faster and more effectively through freedom of information rules.

Officials said the act would better define cabinet confidentiality and allow public bodies to proactively disclose information.

The bill would not allow the release of records subject to cabinet confidence or legal privilege, such as communications between cabinet members and political staff. The bill does not define who political staff are.

Asked why Albertans can’t request those communications, which are often part of crafting government policy, Nally said freedom of information is about accessing official documents.

“This is about the public’s right to access government records. If it’s a political conversation, then that’s not going to apply,” he said.

“If there’s a department official on the email, then that could fall under (freedom of information rules),” he said. “But if it’s just a political conversation, that does not constitute a government record.”

Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir said Alberta’s government hasn’t always been transparent with information, noting freedom of information requests can take a long time to process and often come back with unnecessary redactions.

The exemption could be used to hide information, he said.

Sabir added that when his party was in government, freedom of information requests could be made for his email and schedule.

“This is a government that is infamous for the leaking government records emails, so to some extent, (this legislation) looks like it’s a bit self-serving,” he told reporters.

Nally said the changes would not make it easier for the government to keep things secret, but modernize current legislation.

Glubish said splitting the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act into two new bills makes revising the legislation easier down the road.

“We can ensure that as technology continues to evolve and if amendments are required to strengthen our privacy protections for Albertans, we can be more nimble and focus exclusively on privacy and vice versa with access to information,” he said.

The bill is expected to come into force this spring.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

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VICTORIA – Premier David Eby’s new cabinet is set to be sworn in Nov. 18, almost one month after British Columbia’s election that saw the New Democrats win a bare, one-seat majority, pending recounts.

The cabinet-building job for Eby involves leaning on a reduced list of steady, veteran hands and taking chances on a fresh batch of exuberant but untested New Democrats, largely from urban ridings, said David Black, an associate professor in communications and culture at Greater Victoria’s Royal Roads University.

“You want people, especially in the more senior ministries who you can trust to have the managerial competence, and have presumably had a time in office previously, cabinet if at all possible,” Black said Wednesday.

He said he estimated Eby could have up to a dozen cabinet positions to fill, including new ministers in finance, transportation, labour, Indigenous relations, education, environment and agriculture.

But Black said the bedrock ministers of housing, health and public safety were all re-elected, giving Eby a strong cabinet foundation.

He said he expected Ravi Kahlon to retain his post at housing, Mike Farnworth to stay on as solicitor general and public safety minister, but Adrian Dix could move from health.

Black also expected the environment, despite pressure from two Green members, could take a lower profile within cabinet now that Eby promised to drop the carbon tax if federal regulations are relaxed.

But a major cabinet issue, and one Eby has spoken about since Oct. 19, is the NDP’s lack of an elected presence in B.C.’s rural and northern communities, he said.

The New Democrats elected five members from outside of Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, but the defeat of former cabinet minister Nathan Cullen in Smithers was a huge blow, said Black.

“Vernon is not the North in the way that Nathan Cullen was the North,” he said. “He’s going to have to find, and it’s hard, somebody who’s going to be his minister for the North.”

A statement from Eby’s office on Wednesday said the swearing-in dates of cabinet and members of the legislature have been set based on the judicial recounts in three ridings and reporting information from Elections BC.

Eby is conducting interviews this week with every member of the NDP caucus ahead of the cabinet swearing in.

The 47 New Democrats, including Eby, give the party a one-seat majority in the legislature, pending the recounts.

Of the NDP’s new caucus, 29 are returning members of the legislature and 18 are newly elected.

Among those new to the provincial government are: Tamara Davidson, of North Coast-Haida Gwaii, a Council of the Haida Nation elected representative; Steve Morissette, of Kootenay-Monashee, a former mayor of Fruitvale; and Randene Neill, of Powell River-Sunshine Coast, a former Global BC broadcaster.

Among the re-elected New Democrats who were not in the government’s cabinet or held parliamentary secretary positions are: Brittny Anderson, Kootenay Central; Harwinder Sandhu, Vernon-Lumby; and Ravi Parmar, Langford-Highlands.

Eby said in the statement that the judicial recounts taking place Thursday and Friday will ensure every vote is counted.

After those recounts, he said B.C. residents want to see “urgent action” on priorities including affordability and housing, health care, and building a strong economy.

The first step will be swearing in the new cabinet at a ceremony in Victoria, where he will present his recommendations to Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, he said.

The statement said a transition team co-chaired by Eby’s special counsel on Indigenous reconciliation, Doug White, and Shannon Salter, the premier’s deputy minister and head of the public service, will make recommendations about selection of ministers and the formation of ministries in the new government.

Newly elected members of the legislature are set to be sworn in and formally invited to take their seats before cabinet’s swearing in, it said.

The Opposition B.C. Conservative caucus and the two B.C. Green Party MLAs are scheduled to be sworn in on Nov. 12, while government caucus MLAs will be sworn in the next day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

TORONTO – Police say one man is dead and two others are injured after a pit collapsed during sewer pipe repairs in Toronto.

Toronto police say the men were fixing a sewage pipe when the pit collapsed on them.

Police say it happened at around 5:25 p.m. Wednesday near Bayview Avenue and Ruddington Avenue in the city’s north end.

Toronto police, paramedics and emergency crew are on the scene.

Police say the two people injured in the pit collapse are recovering in hospital.

Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is investigating.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.