Nobel winner Geoffrey Hinton has donated half of winnings to Indigenous water charity

WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s chief electoral officer is calling for a legal crackdown on disinformation about provincial elections, including the spread of false information about election officials and electronic vote-counting machines.

In an annual report from Elections Manitoba, Shipra Verma says deliberate attempts to mislead voters must be dealt with.

“The deliberate spread of false information … intended to mislead voters is a threat to democracy, eroding trust in elections and interfering with voters’ ability to understand and participate in political processes,” the report reads.

“As false information spreads rapidly through digital media, it often becomes misinformation, shared by individuals unaware of its accuracy, further complicating efforts to maintain a fair electoral environment.”

The provincial Elections Act already bans people from disseminating false information about candidates, impersonating election officials and more. Penalties range up to a $10,000 fine and a year in jail.

The law should be expanded to also ban, during the period leading up to an election, objectively false information about election officials, the electoral process, the equipment used in elections and more, Verma’s report said.

“Example: During the pre-campaign or election period, individuals and organizations could not transmit false information such as elections officials have committed an offence; statements relating membership in a group or association of election officials; or anything related to the tools and equipment (Elections Manitoba) uses to administer the election.”

False information about voter eligibility and voter registration processes should also be banned, as well as any forged material that falsely claims to be from a candidate, an election official or a political party, Verma suggests.

In an interview, Verma said legislators would have to work out details that would balance freedom of expression with protections against deliberate misinformation.

“There is a judgment which does come into the picture. And we need to have a law which can be implemented, which can be defended but also doesn’t become cumbersome and has an impact on freedom of speech,” she said.

She pointed to the possible use of artificial intelligence to generate so-called “deep fake” videos that impersonate politicians.

The report was tabled in the legislature Monday afternoon and there was no immediate response from the government.

Claims of electoral wrongdoing in the United States have led to many court battles. Rudy Giuliani, a former lawyer for Donald Trump, has been disbarred in Washington, D.C. and New York for pursuing false claims about Trump’s 2020 election loss.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2024

— with files from The Associated Press

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

EDMONTON – Alberta’s government proposed legislative changes Monday to the provincial Bill of Rights aimed at giving residents the right to refuse medical treatments, including vaccines, but is leaving the final word to the courts.

If passed, the new bill would protect Albertans from being “coerced” into receiving any kind of medical treatment, so long as an individual has the “capacity” to consent and is not likely to cause “substantial harm to themselves and others.”

However, the bill doesn’t specifically define those terms and Justice Minister Mickey Amery told reporters the government would rely on case law and the courts to decide how they’d be interpreted.

Before introducing the bill, Amery said the United Conservative government wants to make clear it won’t be able to force any Albertan to receive a treatment they do not want.

“We’re focusing a whole lot on vaccinations, but the intention is to cover a wide variety of potential medical procedures and treatments that government may impose on Albertans,” he said.

Premier Danielle Smith said the Bill of Rights amendments have also been worded so as not to conflict with the UCP’s plan to introduce legislation giving police and family the authority to force drug users into treatment.

Smith said she believes the courts would agree that a person who overdoses 186 times in a year “lacks capacity to make decisions.”

“If a person is able to assess their own their own ability to make (a) choice in whether to accept or reject a medical treatment, that’s what we’re intending to protect. Where a person lacks capacity and is causing harm to themselves or others, that’s where the compassionate intervention legislation will come in,” she said.

The right to refuse a vaccine does not come with an exception for cases where someone is likely to substantially harm themselves or others, said Chinenye Anokwuru, Amery’s press secretary.

The Alberta Bill of Rights, first introduced in 1972, only applies to the provincial government. It doesn’t bind the federal government, the private sector or individuals.

Also among the proposed amendments is a protection from any provincial law that interferes with an individual’s right to legally buy, keep and use firearms.

Smith said that clause is meant to send a message to Ottawa.

“I would argue that the federal government does have the right to govern the criminal use of firearms, but that we also have the right to protect the law-abiding firearms (owners),” she said.

If passed, the bill would also reinforce property rights, so if the government takes an individual or entity’s property, it would need to be authorized by law and provide fair compensation.

Smith noted that she has been advocating for expanded property rights for decades, and many of Monday’s proposed legislative changes were prompted by the government’s COVID-19 review panel, led by Reform Party founder Preston Manning.

The bill comes just days before Smith faces a party leadership review on the weekend.

UCP members have been pushing Smith for the recognition of rights that go well beyond the Constitution and the Charter, including around guns, “parental rights” and taxes.

Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir told reporters Monday the proposed amendments, for the most part, restate rights that already exist in Alberta.

“The purpose of all of this is not to protect Albertan’s rights, but to protect Danielle Smith’s premiership,” he said.

He said the bill fails to protect vulnerable young people, and that the UCP’s plan to restrict access to gender-affirming care in separate legislation would deny them the right to seek medical care through health professionals with the help of their parents.

NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi spoke to reporters before the bill was introduced, noting the amendments don’t protect women’s reproductive rights, nor the ability of Albertans to put renewable energy projects on their own property.

“Albertans deserve way more than the premier trying to get 50 per cent of 6,000 delegates in Red Deer this Saturday,” he said, referring to the leadership review.

Because Nenshi does not have a legislative seat, however, he watched proceedings from the public gallery on the first day of the fall sitting.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2024.

Some Apple AirPods wireless headphones can be used as hearing aids with a new software update available Monday. It’s a high-profile move that experts applaud, even if they only reach a small portion of the millions of Americans with hearing loss.

An estimated 30 million people — 1 in 8 Americans over the age of 12 — have hearing loss in both ears. Millions would benefit from hearing aids but most have never tried them, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Countless others have tried them, but don’t use them because of cost, poor quality, poor fit, how they look or for other reasons.

Over the past few years, there’s been a push to change that. Two years ago, federal rules changed to allow hearing aids to be sold over-the-counter, a move that many hoped would bring better and cheaper options to patients. And last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved software from Apple that would turn AirPods Pro 2 into hearing aids.

It’s unclear yet whether the rule changed has helped, experts say. But turning AirPods into hearing aids is the kind of creative move advocates had hoped for. Here’s what to know about hearing loss, hearing aids, and Apple’s new option.

Hearing loss can contribute to isolation, dementia, even fall risk

About 15% of Americans report some difficulty hearing. Most people with hearing loss are over 60, but hearing problems don’t only affect older people. One study found men and people living in rural areas are more likely to have hearing loss.

And it has been linked to many health effects beyond the ear. It contributes to isolation, depression and cognitive decline, experts say. It raises dementia risk and rewires the brain. It’s also been linked to an increased risk of falls — a major health concern among older adults.

“Everything we do, all our relationships, whether it’s personal or in our work life, involve hearing conversation,” said Barbara Kelley, executive director of Hearing Loss Association of America. “We’re finding now that the sooner that people can pay attention to their hearing health, the better.”

You don’t need to see a doctor to get a hearing aid

Before the 2022 rule change by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, everyone had to see a doctor and get a prescription for a hearing aid to get one. Now, they’re available without one.

“As more of them are sold, then hopefully the price will go down,” said Elizabeth Stangl, an audiologist at the University of Iowa. “But we haven’t seen a big rush to get them.”

Even buying over-the-counter, a decent hearing aid can easily run you $400 to $500, said Stangl, who researches how well people adjust to using hearing aids. And some of the less expensive options are really just “cheap amplifiers,” lacking the personalized level settings and noise canceling features that really make hearing aids helpful.

How does the Apple AirPods hearing aid feature work?

The hearing aid feature is available with AirPods Pro 2 models, and requires an iPhone or iPad to set it up. It starts with built-in tests that will help users determine if they have hearing loss, set up the feature if they do, and set personalized amplification levels.

The headphones sell for $249 on Apple’s website, and sometimes less from other retailers.

While there are many other earbud-type devices that can function the same way, experts agreed that the AirPods addition is a good one, simply because of the way it could help normalize hearing aids.

“It’s just mainstream,” Kelley said. The ubiquity of AirPods could make people worried about the look of a hearing aid more open to using them.

There may be some drawbacks, though. Fit and comfort during long use might be an issue. And while other hearing aids are built to last through a whole day or more, Stangl said the battery life of the AirPods won’t allow for that. She also noted that wearing earbuds can send a message to others that the person doesn’t want to be disturbed or spoken to.

“But we’re hoping that more people will try it and realize, ‘Yeah, these do help,’” she said.

Tips for buying OTC hearing aids

Stangl suggests people do plenty of research before buying. She said Facebook and Reddit forums can be especially helpful in vetting devices. The websites Hearing Tracker and Soundly also have reliable reviews and resources for selecting a hearing aid, she said.

The Hearing Loss Association of America and American Academy of Audiology have guides to buying a hearing aid at their websites. If you are stuck, consult an audiologist.

Look for devices that allow you to adjust different pitches. Most people with hearing loss have the hardest time hearing higher pitches, so find a device that can adjust amplification across frequencies.

To avoid the piercing whistle of feedback, buy a device that has a “feedback manager.” Fit is critical, but beware: it might not necessarily be the one that’s initially the most comfortable, so take your time.

Can you use your FSA or HSA money to buy OTC hearing aids — or even AirPods?

Pre-tax money stashed away in flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts can be used to buy hearing aids, including ones sold over the counter.

Does this mean you can score a new set of AirPods Pro2 with pre-tax money? Experts say it’s a gray area that hasn’t been tested yet, so be wary. You may even need a letter of medical necessity. It’s best to check with an accountant before you try it.

Your smartphone can help you even without hearing aids

Even if you can’t afford the latest and greatest tech, your smartphone can be a tool to protect and improve your hearing.

Most phones can now turn speech into text, which can help facilitate conversations. iPhone’s “Live Listen” feature turns your phone into an amplifying microphone that can beam your dinner date’s voice right to your ear even if you’re in a noisy restaurant.

There are also many apps and websites that can help beyond hearing aids. Some apps can vibrate your phone if an alarm is going off or the dog is barking. The University of Iowa gathers training resources through its Resource Center for Auditory Training. Free apps like the World Health Organization’s “hearWHO” offer hearing tests and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Sound Level Meter App lets you measure if noise levels are dangerous.

“The majority of people own smart phones and don’t realize all that their phone can do, including functioning as a good amplifier for people with mild to moderate hearing loss,” said Catherine Palmer, director of audiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and former president of the American Academy of Audiology. “This has made hearing care accessible to many.”

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.