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Strong and Steady Saskatchewan: Legislation Introduced to Strengthen Protections for First Responders
Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-29 23:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Justice, Public Safety]The Government of Saskatchewan introduced amendments to the Mandatory Testing and Disclosure (Bodily Substances) Act to provide police officers, first responders, and victims of crime with quicker access to testing orders and results when exposed to another person's bodily substances. Announced by Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod and Community Safety Minister Michael Weger, the legislative changes aim to expedite medical treatment decisions following high-risk exposures while maintaining existing privacy protections, court oversight, and confidentiality rules under the Act. The Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police (SACP), led by President Chief Davies, supported the proposed statutory changes to help front-line personnel address health and safety concerns.
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Smith defends text exchange with separatist lawyer over changing petition rules
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-29 19:41:48.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Justice]Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defended text message exchanges with separatist lawyer Jeffrey Rath regarding upcoming changes to the Citizen Initiative Act, which lowered signature thresholds and extended collection periods by 30 days to a total of 120 days starting July 4, 2025. Opposition New Democrats, led by Naheed Nenshi, questioned the Premier during question period over her communication with the organizers of the Stay Free Alberta petition, which ultimately gathered 223,000 verified signatures. Smith stated that her communications were intended to guide individuals through evolving citizen initiative rules and that she routinely helps anyone seeking clarity on legislative processes.
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Online harms to be added to definition of sexual exploitation: Alberta legislation
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-29 18:05:37.0
Tags: [Alberta, Justice, Public Safety, Social Services]Alberta Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton introduced Bill 36, the Supporting Alberta Families Statutes Amendment Act 2026, to modernize the province's Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act. The legislation updates the definition of 'sexual exploitation' to encompass online grooming, cyber luring, coercion, trading sexual acts, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), human trafficking, and electronic abuse regardless of whether a child appears to consent. Additionally, the bill amends the definition of 'child harm' to include exposure to violence online or via electronic means, moving past older language focused strictly on prostitution and physical or emotional injury.
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Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Report A-2026-036 Released
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-29 17:45:03.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Governance, Justice]The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner released Report A-2026-036, finding that the Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands contravened section 65(1) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. The Department failed to retain interview panel notes involving an employment candidate's personal information for the mandatory one-year retention period, improperly treating them as transitory records and destroying them prematurely. The Commissioner recommended that the Department review its transitory records usage and update its record retention policies to comply fully with section 65.
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Financial intelligence agency slow to provide police with info to curb money laundering: AG
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-29 14:19:17.0
Tags: [National, Finance, Public Safety, Justice, Governance]A federal auditor general report tabled in the House of Commons reveals that the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) takes an average of about four months to provide financial intelligence to law enforcement agencies. Half of the surveyed police and law enforcement respondents reported receiving FINTRAC intelligence too late to be useful for freezing assets, intercepting transactions, or apprehending suspects. The auditor general concluded that inadequate tools and processing delays hinder FINTRAC from effectively carrying out its mandate to detect and deter money laundering and terrorist financing.
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Feds open to supporting elements of Divorce Act amendments, but fate unclear
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-28 22:11:44.0
Tags: [National, Justice, Governance]Justice Minister Sean Fraser announced that the federal government is open to supporting elements of Bill C-223, a private member's bill introduced by Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner to amend the Divorce Act. The proposed legislation seeks to curb parental alienation claims, establish new screening requirements for lawyers regarding family violence, and provide judges with tools to identify coercive control in child custody cases. While women's groups and legal advocates like the National Association of Women and the Law have raised concerns about the bill's potential dilution or stalling in committee, discussions continue to balance child protection with judicial discretion.
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Alberta ethics commissioner suspends investigation into MLAs accepting hockey tickets
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-28 22:03:17.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Public Safety, Justice]Alberta Ethics Commissioner Shawn McLeod suspended his investigation into MLAs accepting hockey tickets under Section 25(6) of the Conflict of Interest Act due to an active law enforcement probe. The suspension follows inquiries by Alberta Legislative Assembly Speaker Ric McIver regarding the status of the ethics probe. Concurrently, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating allegations of corruption, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering in Alberta health care procurement practices, which surfaced in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos. Media reports previously indicated that MHCare Medical CEO Sam Mraiche provided NHL playoff box seats to cabinet ministers and government staff.
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Fraud, breach of trust and money laundering subject of RCMP Alberta health care procurement probe: court filing
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-28 17:11:45.0
Tags: [Alberta, Healthcare, Justice, Public Safety, Governance]An Ontario Crown prosecutor's letter filed in Athana Mentzelopoulos's $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the Alberta government revealed that the RCMP are investigating Alberta Health Services procurement practices for potential fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering. Mentzelopoulos, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services, claims she was fired after investigating inflated contracts for private clinic surgeries and conflicts of interest involving Sam Mraiche's medical supply company, MHCare. While opposition NDP leader Naheed Nenshi renewed calls for a public inquiry, Premier Danielle Smith rejected the demand, citing an earlier report by retired judge Raymond Wyant.
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New Brunswick introduces legislation to crack down on copper wire theft
Source: New Brunswick - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-28 15:32:10.0
Tags: [New Brunswick, Public Safety, Justice, Infrastructure, Governance]Premier Susan Holt’s Liberal government in New Brunswick has introduced legislation to amend the Salvage Dealers Licensing Act aimed at cracking down on copper wire theft. The proposed changes restrict the sale of copper wire exclusively to licensed salvage dealers and individuals lawfully entitled to possess and dispose of it. Sellers are now required to provide photo identification, and a mandatory 48-hour buffer on payments has been established. The provincial government acted in response to rising incidents reported by telecommunications and electricity companies regarding infrastructure thefts causing service outages.
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Privacy commissioner investigating provider behind Crime Stoppers data breach
Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-10-28 14:44:48.0
Tags: [National, Public Safety, Justice, Technology]Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne has launched an investigation into Navigate360, the U.S.-based commercial provider managing the P3 tip platform used by Crime Stoppers programs across Canada, following a cybersecurity breach. The breach, which occurred between November 21, 2025, and March 5, 2026, compromised 176,859 tips submitted to the software, exposing sensitive personal details including names, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers, phone numbers, and email addresses. In response, several Canadian police forces, including Toronto Crime Stoppers—where 12,392 of the affected submissions potentially contained personal information—have temporarily suspended their use of the platform pending security assessments and regulatory compliance checks under federal private-sector privacy law.
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Le gouvernement du Québec souhaite mettre fin au changement d'heure
Source: Quebec - Fil de presse gouvernemental
Date: 2026-10-28 14:22:30.0
Tags: [Quebec, Justice, Healthcare, Governance]Quebec Minister of Justice Marie-Claude Sarrazin announced the government's intention to make the upcoming time change the last one in the province. The decision follows public consultations and studies highlighting the negative impacts of time changes on mental and physical health. The initiative represents a significant regulatory and governance shift for the province regarding standard time observation.
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2026 Speech From the Throne will Keep Saskatchewan Strong and Steady
Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-28 02:09:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Economy, Healthcare, Justice, Infrastructure, Governance]The Government of Saskatchewan delivered its 2026 Speech from the Throne, outlining a legislative agenda centered on maintaining economic stability amid global market uncertainties and highlighting over $100 billion in major projects currently underway. Premier Scott Moe's administration announced plans to introduce several new pieces of legislation, including the Safer Homes for Seniors Act, the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Additional Safeguards Act prohibiting MAID for minors and sole mental illness conditions, and the Protection of Economic Infrastructure Act to prevent disruptions to critical supply chains. Additional proposed laws include the Opioids Damages Act to recover health care costs from manufacturers, the Prevention of Deceptive AI Act, and amendments to The Traffic Safety Act and The Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Act. Furthermore, the government committed to raising the provincial income tax-free threshold for a family of four above the current $65,000 level in the upcoming spring budget.
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Yukon, Canada ask court to toss First Nation's lawsuit over mining
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-27 21:18:35.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Mining, Resources, Justice]The Attorney General of Canada and the Yukon government filed statements of defence in Yukon Supreme Court asking the court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun. Filed in December 2025 following the Eagle Gold mine cyanide heap leach pile disaster, the lawsuit alleges breaches of treaty obligations, failures to manage placer mining impacts, and inadequate land-use planning. Both federal and territorial governments denied all wrongdoing, claiming they fulfilled consultation duties and adhered to final agreements, while the First Nation is seeking undefined monetary damages, $150 million in aggravated damages from the Yukon, and permanent injunctions halting unsustainable developments and staking activities.
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Alberta to remove DEI hiring practices, strengthens protections against deepfake distribution
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-27 21:06:05.0
Tags: [Alberta, Justice, Public Safety, Education, Governance]Justice Minister Mickey Amery tabled Bill 33, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, which prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices and mandatory training across provincial bodies including public agencies, Crown-controlled organizations, public post-secondary institutions, school boards, and municipalities under Section 10.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act. Additionally, the legislation amends the 2017 Protecting Victims of Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Images Act—renamed the Intimate Content Protection Act—to penalize the distribution of artificially generated or modified non-consensual deepfake images with fines up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both. The bill also reverses provisions from former Bill 14 regarding the Legal Profession Act by altering governance and appeal processes concerning the Law Society of Alberta.
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Privacy commissioner to investigate Canadian Crime Stoppers breach
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-27 20:18:31.0
Tags: [National, Public Safety, Justice, Technology]Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne has opened an investigation into Navigate360, a U.S. third-party vendor hired by Crime Stoppers chapters worldwide, following a data breach that compromised over 1.5 million Canadian tips spanning 25 years. Approximately 850,000 of the leaked tips included personally identifiable information. The probe will examine the security safeguards Navigate360 had in place to determine compliance with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), while highlighting a legal gap regarding the law's applicability to not-for-profit organizations like the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association.
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UCP to vote on bathroom laws, land acknowledgements, but not separatism
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-27 18:10:54.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Energy, Indigenous, Justice]Members of Alberta's governing United Conservative Party will debate and vote on 22 policy resolutions at their annual general meeting in Calgary from November 27 to 29, 2026. The proposed resolutions include measures regarding public washroom policies and updates to the Alberta Human Rights Act, the discontinuation of First Nations land acknowledgements and blocking of indigenous land claims, mandatory byelections for floor-crossing MLAs, and opposition to federal net zero and carbon capture mandates. While the party's governing caucus is not bound by the member-approved resolutions, past meetings have resulted in implemented policy and legislative changes under Premier Danielle Smith's administration.
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Province gives Grande Prairie's 911 service $2 million to support policing, fire response
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-27 16:03:53.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Public Safety, Infrastructure, Justice]The Government of Alberta announced a $2 million provincial grant for the City of Grande Prairie's 911 service and Public Safety Communication Centre (PSCC), bringing the province's total contribution to public safety and policing projects to $19 million against a total project cost of $23 million. Distributed by Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis on October 21, the funding supports the establishment of a local dispatch center capable of covering a large regional landmass and servicing 47 per cent of the province. The announcement coincided with the official ceremonial handover of local policing responsibilities from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to the newly created municipal Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS), led by Police Chief Dwayne Lakusta.
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Ottawa tables new MAID legislation, excluding people suffering solely from mental illness
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-27 14:54:38.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Justice]Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser and Health Minister Marjorie Michel tabled new legislation in Parliament amending the Criminal Code to indefinitely exclude individuals suffering solely from mental illness from accessing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). The legislation also establishes statutory criteria for advance requests for MAID, requiring patients to be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability and experiencing enduring and intolerable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be relieved through reasonable means before losing the capacity to consent.
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Federal government to introduce bill restricting MAID for mental illness
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-27 12:14:26.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Justice]Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser and Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced the introduction of a new bill to amend Canada's medical assistance in dying (MAID) legislation. The proposed legislation permanently bars individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness from accessing MAID, following recommendations from a special parliamentary committee that reported in June. Additionally, the bill decriminalizes advance requests under the Criminal Code, allowing individuals diagnosed with degenerative conditions such as dementia or ALS to request an assisted death prior to losing the capacity to consent, subject to rigorous safeguards.
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C-41 (45-1) - Medical Assistance in Dying Safeguards Act
Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-27 10:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Justice, Governance]The Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-41, titled the Medical Assistance in Dying Safeguards Act, in the House of Commons during the 1st session of the 45th Parliament on October 27, 2026. The legislation proposes amendments to the Criminal Code and related statutes concerning medical assistance in dying (MAID). The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the House of Commons following its first reading and introduction.
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