Jim Bronskill

'Proof and pledge of stability': Supreme Court of Canada marks 150 years OTTAWA — A century and a half ago, it had only six judges, no permanent home and a less than onerous workload. The Supreme Court of Canada is tracing its storied history, and somewhat humble beginning...

A century and a half ago, it had only six judges, no permanent home and a less than onerous workload. The Supreme Court of Canada is tracing its storied history, and somewhat humble beginnings, to mark its 150th anniversary this year. Our story: bit.ly/4q14eI4 #cdnpoli #scc

Spy watchdog flags risk of bias in Canada Revenue Agency audits tied to terrorism OTTAWA — A national spy watchdog has found "a lack of rigour" in the way the Canada Revenue Agency selects charities for audits over terrorism concerns, saying the process introduces risks of bias and...

Spy watchdog flags risk of bias in Canada Revenue Agency charity audits tied to terrorism. "The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the intelligence watchdog's report through the Access to Information Act."
@jimbronskill.bsky.social
timescolonist.com/national-new... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #cra

Carney's office slammed by access-to-info orders Privy Council Office struggling under huge "burden"

New substack from me: PM Carney's office slammed by access-to-info orders
deanbeeby.substack.com/p/carneys-of... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

L’espion Kim Philby était bien renseigné selon la GRC La GRC craignait que l'espion britannique à la solde de l'Union soviétique, Kim Philby, eût répété à Moscou les confidences du transfuge Igor Gouzenko.

L’espion traître Kim Philby était bien renseigné sur le Canada, craignait la GRC

#radiocanada #grandstitres

RCMP feared traitor Kim Philby knew 'most interesting' Canadian secrets: documents OTTAWA - The early-1960s revelation that British spy Kim Philby had worked for Moscow alarmed Canadian intelligence officials who feared that he had betrayed confidences gleaned from Soviet defector I...

The early-1960s revelation that British spy Kim Philby had worked for Moscow alarmed Canadian intelligence officials who feared that he had betrayed confidences gleaned from Soviet defector Igor Gouzenko, once-secret archival records show. Our story: tinyurl.com/3ums4x2r #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Canada's federal voting system is constitutional, Ontario Court of… National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.

Canada's federal voting system is constitutional, Ontario Court of Appeal rules, @jimbronskill.bsky.social reports. nationalnewswatch.com/2025/08/11/c... #nationlnewswatch via @natnewswatch

As anti-sunscreen misinformation spreads online, skin cancer advocates say beware Experts warn against social media posts that claim sunscreen is toxic or give unsafe tutorials on making your own sunscreen

New from me at @theglobeandmail.com:

As anti-sunscreen misinformation spreads online, skin cancer advocates say beware

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Why are so many federal inmates dying shortly before their release date? | CBC News Data released by the Correctional Service of Canada to CBC through a freedom of information request showed the leading cause of death for inmates serving determinate sentences between January 2019 and...

Why are so many federal inmates dying shortly before their release date? A "freedom of information request showed the leading cause of death for inmates serving determinate sentences between January 2019 and February 2025 was suicide." By Lauren Battagello
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Government blocked streaming sites for public servants as a 'people management issue,' documents show | CBC News Although streaming services like Netflix and Prime weren't straining the government's network bandwidth, federal officials decided to block them because they were perceived to be a "people management"...

Government blocked streaming sites for public servants as a 'people management issue': access-to-info documents. By
By Kate McKenna cbc.ca/news/politic... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Workplace assessment of RCMP watchdog found 'clear call for change,'… National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.

Workplace assessment of RCMP watchdog found 'clear call for change': access-to-info documents. By Jim Bronskill
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/07/20/w... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #rcmp

#bluesky needs this! 😊

Letters from Germany And a new front in the ATIP wars?

Historian Tim Sayle on the absurd access-to-info redactions applied to 75-year-old records.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
#cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Spy agency workers complain about open-office workspace Report says noise and other distractions spoil employees' focus

New substack from me: Spy agency workers say open-office environment makes them lose focus.
deanbeeby.substack.com/p/spy-agency... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #CSE

Newly launched Access to Information review is flawed, transparency advocates say OTTAWA – A newly launched federal review of the Access to Information system is being greeted with deep skepticism by transparency advocates. The Treasury Board Secretariat announced the governm...

A newly launched federal review of the Access to Information system is being greeted with deep skepticism by transparency advocates. Our story: tinyurl.com/2ukbm7y8 #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

In #Ottawa it’s so hot that …

Saskatchewan government plans to extend life of coal plants: Minister REGINA - Saskatchewan's government says it's planning to extend the life of the province's coal plants before moving to nuclear power generation.

Saskatchewan's government is planning to extend the life of the province's coal plants before moving to nuclear power generation, says a letter from the Crown Investments Corporation Minister. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/... #skpoli

Pay inequality persists for women, minorities in federal public service: report While the federal government has made gains on diversity and equity in the public service, inequities persist when it comes to pay, a new Treasury Board report says.

While the federal government has made gains on diversity and equity in the public service, inequities persist when it comes to pay, a new Treasury Board report says. toronto.citynews.ca/2025/06/18/p...

Business groups push for pause on Canada’s digital services tax targeting tech giants OTTAWA - Ottawa is under pressure to pause digital services tax legislation that directs large tech companies to make a big retroactive payment by June 30.

Ottawa is under pressure to pause digital services tax legislation that directs large tech companies to make a big retroactive payment by June 30

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Info commissioner's annual report to Parliament, released this week, warns that planned workforce reductions could damage access-to-info rights. This has been happening in the U.S. because of the DOGE cuts. #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Canada’s worst terrorist attack: Air India families still feel anguish and frustration 40 years later On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182 was ripped out of the sky by a Canadian-made bomb. It remains our worst terrorist attack. Read more.

Please take some time to read the story of the Air India bombing victims' families. Still in anguish and feeling forgotten 40 years after Canada's worst terrorism attack. vancouversun.com/feature/air-...

Rule of law, judges 'under attack' in many countries, Canada's chief justice says Chief Justice Richard Wagner says the rule of law and judicial independence are "under attack" in many countries around the world.

Rule of law, judges ‘under attack’ in many countries, Supreme Court Canada chief justice Richard Wagner says. @jimbronskill.bsky.social #scc #cdnpoli #justice toronto.citynews.ca/2025/06/10/r...

Opinion: Canada’s national archives need more than just a facelift Library and Archives Canada will soon have a shiny new home, but historians say what it really needs is better – and faster – access to the documents that make up this country’s history

Historians denied ready access to Canada's archival records at Library and Archives Canada. "The problem is ... Canada’s access to information (ATIP) legislation, which came into effect in 1983" By Charlotte Gray
theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Transparency advocates call for independent review of Access to Information Act Transparency advocates say a coming federal review of the Access to Information Act should be overseen by an independent panel, not the government, to avoid the pitfalls of the last such exercise.

Transparency advocates say a coming federal review of the Access to Information Act should be overseen by an independent panel — not the government — to avoid the pitfalls of the last such exercise. Our story: tinyurl.com/ybxnxwey #cdnpoli #cdnfoi

"Some of our members can no longer afford to live in the communities where they work and report." @cdnpress.bsky.social @lapresse.ca @thestar.com @theglobeandmail.com @laftq.bsky.social #cdnpoli #canlab #polqc #canmedia

Journalism matters

bsky.app/profile/cmgl...

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to keep DOGE records secret The appeal to the high court comes in a FOIA lawsuit filed by a watchdog group.

www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

Eco-friendly transportation a condition of planned Ottawa Senators arena: agreement OTTAWA - Public transit, cycling and walking will be the "primary and preferred modes" of getting fans to and from the Ottawa Senators' planned downtown arena, says a newly disclosed

Public transit, cycling and walking will be the "primary and preferred modes" of getting fans to and from the Ottawa Senators' planned downtown arena, says a newly disclosed agreement on the project. Our story: tinyurl.com/2p8yfvdv #cdnpoli #sens #cdnfoi

Ottawa looks to off-load costly, seldom-used mobile hospitals bought for the pandemic | Globalnews.ca Ottawa is looking to off-load costly, seldom-used mobile hospitals bought by the federal government during the pandemic for over 200 million dollars.

Ottawa expects to spend about $7 million this year to store and maintain four custom-made, portable hospitals that cost taxpayers more than $200 million to buy — facilities that were barely used during the COVID-19 pandemic @kduggan.bsky.social reports tinyurl.com/3fru6kbk #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Ottawa looking for ways to mend tears in Canada's social fabric,… National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.

Ottawa looking for ways to mend tears in Canada's social fabric, access-to-info document shows. By @jimbronskill.bsky.social
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/05/07/o... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Happy Independent Booksellers Day!
There are a lot of fun events happening across the country today—Go buy some books and meet some authors!

Photo of my mom and dad (at Hurtig Books in Edmonton, circa 1957).