News blog

Federal government acknowledges privacy failures

May 022013
 
 News blog

Thousands of security breaches have affected virtually every department.

from The Tyee

"As Canadians focused last week on the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing and the RCMP arrests of two men accused of plotting to attack Via Rail, the largest sustained series of privacy breaches in Canadian history was uncovered but attracted only limited attention.

"Canadians have faced high-profile data breaches in the past — Winners/HomeSense and the CIBC were both at the centre of serious breaches several years ago — but last week, the federal government revealed that it may represent the biggest risk to the privacy of millions of Canadians as some government departments have suffered breaches virtually every 48 hours.

"The revelations came as a result of questions from NDP MP Charlie Angus, who sought information on data, information or privacy breaches in all government departments from 2002 to 2012. The resulting documentation is stunning in its breadth. …"

Full story

Foreign temp workers changes insufficient: labour leaders

May 012013
 
 News blog

FOI documents reveal need for investigation into skill levels, say union chiefs.

from The Tyee

"Two federal ministers yesterday jointly announced changes in the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including a "temporary suspension" of the Accelerated Labour Market Opinion program criticized by labour leaders.

"But one high profile labour leader described the announced changes as 'simply public relations.'

"Gil McGowan, head of the Alberta Federation of Labour told CBC news after the Ottawa announcements that 'the Harper government has blinked, but it hasn't backed down.

"McGowan and his federation hold a thick file of Accelerated Labour Market Opinions they gained by filing Freedom of Information requests to the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. They say it demonstrates deep flaws in the process that allows companies to hire foreign workers ahead of Canadians who might expect to be paid more or have more flexibility to resist poor working conditions. …"

Full story

Idle No More opts for grassroots action over court challenges

May 012013
 
 News blog

Nationwide campaign urges grassroots organizations to engage in direct action in their communities.

from the Vancouver Observer

"After years of attempting to fight for their rights through the Canadian legal system, First Nations across the country are denouncing the courts in favour of a season of direct action.

"Idle No More and Defenders of the Land have partnered to spearhead the Summer of Sovereignty, a campaign designed to encourage direct action and civil disobedience at the grassroots level

"The kick-off comes on the heels of another failed court challenge, this time a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada not to hear the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation’s constitutional challenge of Shell Oil’s Jackpine Mine expansion. …"

Full story

South Africa bill has parallels to Zimbabwe law

May 012013
 
 News blog

Bill is to protect state information but some fear it may be used like neighbouring Zimbabwe's privacy act to gag media.

"Last week South Africa's parliament voted in favour of a fiercely contested secrecy bill. 

"The protection of state information bill, which will replace apartheid-era legislation on classified information and espionage, passed with 189 votes in favour to 74 against, with one abstention.

"President Jacob Zuma now has to sign and make it law.  That could be as early as this week.

"The minister of state security, Siyabonga Cwele, told Parliament the bill would 'strengthen democracy while balancing transparency and protecting our national security and national interests'.

"Under the bill, espionage-related cases carry a punishment of up to 25 years in jail, and holding or disclosing classified material carries a maximum of five years' imprisonment. …"

Full story

Research finds austerity has had negative health effects

Apr 302013
 
 News blog

Oxford economists argue focus on deficit reduction at the expense of growth has had devastating effects.

from ThinkProgress

"Austerity in the United States and Europe isn’t just placing an unnecessary drag on economic growth that has harmed the global economic recovery from the Great Recession. The rapid deficit reduction efforts are also making people less healthy, causing higher rates of suicide, depression, and infectious disease, according to research from Oxford University economist David Stuckler and Stanford University medical professor Sanjay Basu.

"HIV rates have risen 200 percent in Greece as it has cut its HIV prevention budget, and the country also suffered its first malaria outbreak in decades after budget cuts to mosquito-related programs. Increased unemployment has led to higher rates of suicide and depression across the continent, and the United States is seeing the effects as well, Reuters reports:

"And more than five million Americans have lost access to healthcare during the latest recession, they argue, while in Britain, some 10,000 families have been pushed into homelessness by the government’s austerity budget. …"

Full story

 

Adapt faster to changing climate, Europe warned

Apr 302013
 
 News blog

Cities around Europe may have to erect flood defences similar to the Thames Barrier as tidal surges become more likely.

from The Guardian

"Cities around Europe may have to erect flood barriers similar to the Thames Barrier that protects London from sea surges, as climate change takes hold and leads to the danger of much more destructive storms, floods, heavy rainfall and higher sea levels, Europe's environmental watchdog has warned.

"The effects of climate change will be so far-reaching across the continent that vineyards may have to plant new grape varieties, farmers may have to cultivate new crops and water suppliers look to technology such as desalination in order to cope with the probable effects of more extreme weather. Buildings and infrastructure such as transport, energy and communication networks will also have to be changed.

"The warnings come in a report from the European Environment Agency, called Adaptation in Europe. …"

Full story

College students push for fossil fuels divestment

Apr 302013
 
 News blog

Students demand Rhode Island School of Design stop investing in fossil fuel companies, sell off current holdings over next five years.

from The Nation

"Eleven students from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) held a sit-in Monday in college President John Maeda’s office. The activists are demanding that President Maeda and Board of Trustees Chair Michael Spalter endorse divestment from the coal, gas, and oil industries and commit to presenting the case for divestment to the Board of Trustees at the board’s May 17 meeting.

"This sit-in is the first of its kind in the nationwide divestment movement, through which students at more than 300 colleges and universities are demanding that their schools stand against climate change and divest their endowments from fossil fuel companies.

“'I want to have kids. I want to show them this planet,' said Phoebe Wahl, a RISD senior. 'As artists and designers, we are innovators with the ability to shape our own future. The way that our generation deals with this issue will define the future of civilization.' …"

Full story

Tory MP Michael Chong joins climate change caucus

Apr 292013
 
 News blog

Non-partisan caucus created by LIberal MP will seek to engage other MPs on the issue.

from Postmedia News

"Former Conservative Minister Michael Chong has teamed up with the other four parties in the House of Commons on a new “climate change” caucus.

"The initiative was championed by Liberal MP Kirsty Duncan, a Canadian scientist who contributed to the last international review of climate change science that was conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and released in 2007. …"

Full story

 

BC public health officers maintains province’s fish are safe from radiation

Apr 292013
 
 News blog

Dr Perry Kendall dismisses fears of contamination from Fukushima plant.

from The Tyee

"Would you eat fish from Japan? Nearly two years after a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan killed more than 15,000 people and damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, some people still believe dangerously contaminated fish could reach Canadians' dinner tables.

"The debate should be well over in the view of the person entrusted with overseeing public health in British Columbia: public health officer Dr. Perry Kendall. Time and again Kendall has tried to explain that there is, to quote the headline on one of his press releases, 'Nothing to fear from radiation in B.C.'

"Yet The Tyee has learned that Kendall became so concerned about calming the public fears that he considered unfounded that he urged the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to carry out a special round of testing as a 'vital communications initiative.' …"

Full story

BC chief attacks Liberals over land and revenue agreements

Apr 262013
 
 News blog

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip likens party's approach to First Nations to strategy revealed in ethnic memo.

from The Tyee

"Since January, the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation has announced the signing of 18 non-treaty agreements, surpassing their BC Jobs Plan goal of 10 non-treaty agreements by Jan. 2015.

"They also announced votes in favour for Kitsumkalum and Kitselas agreements in principle, the second step of a six-step treaty process.

"But instead of celebrating the achievement, Grand Chief Stewart Philip, chair of the Okanagan Nations Alliance (ONA), likens the uptick in agreement signing to the ethnic memo scandal earlier this year.

"'The Province did a tour throughout the province [this spring] and were handing out agreements like gum sticks for that very reason, attempting to enhance their relationship and positions with First Nations people, hoping somehow that would translate into votes,' he told The Tyee."

Full story

 Older Entries  Newer Entries