Articles by Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

Oct 22 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The federal privacy watchdog is investigating "a number of complaints" about the government's COVID-19 vaccination requirement for public servants.  Privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien said in a statement Friday his office was looking into the concerns, but provided no details given they are now the subject of "ongoing investigations." The Liberal government announced earlier […]

Oct 22 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Researchers say recent service cuts at Canada's national archives are making their work — already hampered by COVID-19 — even more challenging. In a letter to Library and Archives Canada, the Canadian Historical Association urges the institution to reconsider reductions that have left its archival reading room open just three days a week. […]

Oct 21 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Canada's extradition laws need a thorough overhaul to ensure fairness, transparency, and a balance between a desire for administrative efficiency and crucial constitutional protections, say legal and human rights experts. In a report released Thursday, the voices calling for reform say the Canadian process for sending people to face prosecution and incarceration abroad […]

Oct 21 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — A woman will get another chance to sue for damages over a leg injury she suffered while climbing through snow piled by a city's plow, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled. Taryn Joy Marchi alleged the City of Nelson, B.C., created a hazard when it cleared snow from downtown streets after a […]

Oct 8 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The union representing RCMP officers says it will support decisions by members "to be vaccinated or not" against COVID-19 following a federal order that Mounties be immunized. The Liberal government announced this week that core public servants, including members and reservists of the RCMP, must be vaccinated or face suspension without pay as […]

Oct 7 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is publicly touting vaccination against COVID-19 following the Liberal government's announcement that Mounties must be immunized. In a tweet Thursday, Lucki urged getting vaccinated without delay, saying it could "save your life or the life of someone you love." Under a federal policy announced Wednesday, core public servants, including […]

Sep 29 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — An influential voice on gun control says it is time for a new cabinet minister to usher in the re-elected Liberal government's promised firearm measures.  In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the group PolySeSouvient calls for the appointment of a minister who "truly supports gun control."  PolySeSouvient has frequently expressed frustration […]

Sep 18 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic coloured some heated political debate Saturday in the final stretch of the federal election campaign. Justin Trudeau touted the importance of getting vaccinated as key to a safer future, while the NDP's Jagmeet Singh criticized the Liberal leader for failing to push harder for paid sick […]

Sep 17 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Federal lawyers argue Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin's lawsuit over his removal as head of Canada's vaccine distribution campaign is now moot because the job no longer exists. In a newly filed Federal Court submission, government lawyers say that since it is no longer possible for Fortin to be returned to the vaccine post, there's […]

Sep 15 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Refugee claimants and their advocates are asking the Supreme Court of Canada to review a decision that affirmed the constitutionality of a key pact between Ottawa and Washington on asylum seekers. In a submission to the high court, they say the case raises "foundational questions of constitutional law" concerning access to remedies for […]

Sep 14 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — More than 100 legal professionals are asking Canada to suspend its extradition treaty with France over concerns "an innocent man" could face trial there in a terrorism case. In a new letter to Justice Minister David Lametti, many prominent lawyers say there is no evidence to support sending Ottawa sociology professor Hassan Diab […]

Sep 11 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The Liberal government has directed a state-owned Chinese telecommunications firm to divest its stake in a Canadian subsidiary over national security concerns, prompting a court challenge of the order. China Mobile International Canada is asking the Federal Court to set aside the recent decision, saying the government has no grounds to believe the […]

Sep 1 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau aimed Wednesday to distinguish the Liberals from Erin O'Toole's Conservatives with promises to enshrine abortion services in the Canada Health Act and toughen measures to ban an array of firearms. The pledges came in a Liberal re-election platform with $78 billion in new spending, more than three times the direct new […]

Aug 31 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — A federal judge blames "institutional and systemic negligence" for the latest instance of Canada's spy service failing to be sufficiently forthcoming about applications for judicial warrants to conduct investigations. In a decision made public Tuesday in redacted form, Federal Court Justice Henry Brown said the Canadian Security Intelligence Service breached the duty of […]

Aug 26 2021 — Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The national spy watchdog says the RCMP is investigating a cybersecurity breach that resulted in the theft of files and the compromise of personal information.  The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency says that between March 9 and 19, a hacker gained access to an agency network that included a database with names, […]