Brishti Basu

OpenAI agrees to strengthen safeguards following B.C. mass shooting: minister Federal Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon says the CEO of OpenAI has agreed to take several actions to bolster safety, including providing a report outlining the new systems the firm is developing to identify high-risk offenders and policy violators.

Federal Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon says the CEO of OpenAI has agreed to take several actions to bolster safety, including providing a report outlining the new systems the firm is developing to identify high-risk offenders and policy violators.

Why Mark Carney Is Being Accused of ‘Gaslighting’ Canadian Sikhs In the face of mounting reports alleging Indian government ties to transnational violence, Carney affirms we're all 'family'

Why Mark Carney is accused of "gaslighting" Canadian Sikhs:

pressprogress.ca/mark-carney-...

How Big Tech Is Powering Trump’s Immigration Crackdown A WIRED analysis shows that ICE and CBP have collectively spent at least $515 million on products from Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Palantir in the last few years alone.

NEW: Since Jan 2023, ICE + CBP together have spent at least $515 million on products from Palantir, Microsoft, Amazon, & Google.

But where is the money actually going, & what specifically is it powering? Here, I break down everything we know about both of these things:
www.wired.com/story/how-bi...

The Health Minister said much last week Health policy signals from the Carney government this month.

The Health Minister said much last week canadahealthwatch.ca/newsletter/2... @nicktsergas.ca

This is something Mulroney retweeted, so I doubt a news/production team was involved.

But Corus/Global has in the past fired an employee — Zahraa Al-Akhrass is mentioned in this article — for "perceptions of bias" based on her social media.

No consequences for Ben Mulroney, though.

The brainrot is expected from Mulroney at this point. What’s disturbing to me is how Global/Corus is handling it.

David Eby speaking in a room of kids

BREAKING - B.C. is switching to permanent daylight saving time, making this week's time change the last one in the province. Announcement is live here: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

One data centre or one million homes? Mapping Ontario's proposed hyperscaler boom Canada’s National Observer found and drew from multiple sources to put together a map of planned data centres in Ontario, and found at least 15 projects with a combined capacity of 2,202 MW currently ...

The government wouldn't give us a list of data centres seeking power in Ontario.

So, we built one ourselves.

What @rorywh.bsky.social and I found: at least 15 projects drawing a combined 2,202 MW: more electricity than 2 million homes.

#OnPoli for @nationalobserver.com 🧵

India and Canada reset ties with 'landmark' nuclear energy deal A host of deals, including one to supply India with uranium, is unveiled as Mark Carney meets Narendra Modi in Delhi.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Global News’ Ben Mulroney Shared a Video of Airstrikes. The Footage is Actually from a Video Game. The host of Global News’ West Block gets lost in a misinformation-driven fog of war as American and Israeli forces strike Iran

NEW FROM ME:

While US and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran this weekend, Global News' The West Block host Ben Mulroney reposted video of fighter jets that had been miscaptioned as American F-15s attacking Iran

I double-checked. Ben was actually sharing footage from a video game

Wherein Smith claims that "newcomers" are costing the province $9 Billion in social programs.

In order for that to be true, every single newcomer would have to be accessing social programs that many don't even have access to.

These are evil misrepresentations.

#abpoli #ableg

玉險 Office of the Prime Minister Cabinet du Premier Ministre Statement by Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anand on the situation in the Middle East "The Canadian government is closely following Iran-related hostilities throughout the Middle East and urges all Canadians in Iran to shelter in place. Canadians in the wider region should follow local advice and take all necessary precautions. Canada's position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world's worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons. Canada and our international partners have consistently called upon the Iranian regime to end its nuclear program, including at the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis and with the United Nations' reimposition of sanctions in September. Despite diplomatic efforts, Iran has neither fully dismantled its nuclear program, halted all enrichment activities, nor ended its support for regional terrorist proxy groups. Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against Iran's oppressive regime. Canada has listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, and has sanctioned 256 Iranian entities and 222 individuals in response to the regime's repression and its violence both against its own people, and persistently, beyond its borders. Canada reaffirms Israel's right to defend itself and to ensure the security of its people. Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security. The Canadian government urges the protection of all civilians in this conflict. We will take all possible measures to protect our nationals and Canadian diplomatic missions throughout the region." February 28, 2026

“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”

Well. For those of us wondering if he’d walk the walk of the Davos speech, this is a pretty big answer.

Nope.

Nova Scotia budget targeting Mi'kmaw communities: chiefs First Nation chiefs say the Nova Scotia budget is directly targeting their programs and will have an impact on their citizens.

Facing a $1.2-billion deficit, Nova Scotia's budget is reducing funding for 21 programs for communities.

According to First Nation leaders, the cuts will affect treaty education, the Mi’kmaw Health Authority and food security initiatives.

Wall Street Journal: Israel Strikes Lebanon Amid Iran Attack By Jared Malsin The Israeli military said it struck targets belonging to the militant group Hezbollah in several areas of southern Lebanon on Saturday. Hezbollah is an important ally of Iran, one of several militia groups throughout the region that Tehran has supported in its long-running shadow war with the U.S. and Israel. Any conflict with Iran risks a wider conflict that could involve those allied militias. Hezbollah was significantly weakened by an Israeli military offensive in 2024 that killed many of the organization's top leaders.

Israel is bombing Lebanon too, according to the Wall Street Journal

21 minutes ago Farnaz Fassihi The attacks have come on a Saturday morning, the first day of the week in Iran, with millions of people at work and children in school. Residents in Tehran described scenes of panic and chaos.

Tehran is a city of nine million people, with 17 million in the larger metropolitan area.

Saturday is the first day of the week for Iranians.

Millions of people are at work, and children are in school.

No wonder he ran from reporters.

I'm working on a story related to Carney's trip to India/government officials recent claim that "India is no longer linked to violent crimes," and one thing that really frustrates me is the repeated erasure of Sikh Canadians lived experiences.

The Union That Doesn’t Like Confrontation The Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) prefers to work with, not against, employers. So what happens when workers want something different?

The CLAC prides itself on being a "different kind of union," in that it doesn't believe in confrontation.

Sooo… what happens when workers want something else?

pressprogress.ca/clac-christi...

totally makes sense
thanks for answering!

ugh that's such a long time to be sick, especially for someone with a chronic condition like long covid. glad it wasn't another covid infection... hope you're both recovering well?

JournalistS* (ugh of course...)

do you mind if I ask what made you not wanna test?
so glad you're feeling better now Tim!

Journalist across three provinces (BC, Alberta, Ontario) in my small newsroom @pressprogress.ca alone are sick/have friends and relatives who are sick this week.

Is this you folks as well?

If yes, do you have a COVID rapid test/are you testing anymore?

Canada will slash millions in spending meant to help immigrants. Here’s how hard Ontario is being hit Across-the-board funding cuts are expected to affect all services, including employment counselling and other supports to assist newcomer integration.

The $98.1M cut will affect each province differently. BC, PEI and NS are hardest hit ⬇️ 20%+. Starting April, new eligibility criteria to access settlement services will phase in for economic immigrants, spouses and children from date they receive CoPR.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

My latest for PressProgress. Grocery prices have gone up this past year, and some Canadians are having to make some tough choices.

Juno News scraps plan to run residential school denial film after investigation by CNO The decision comes after Canada's National Observer determined a producer listed on the film's trailer credits — Simon Hergott — has published several videos and comments on his public YouTube channel...

The filmmaker who was supposed to make this residential school denial film had a YouTube account full of Nazi propaganda, Holocaust denial, caustic racism and antisemitism and conspiracy theories.

Too much even for Juno News.

the Cincy enquirer has def taken up a front page cause, the Feb 20 print edition top headline is: “Haitians sparked a revival in Springfield”

That is the Cincinnati enquirer’s idea of a matter of fact, straight news front page print headline now in the current climate

Government of Canada appoints Dr. Joss Reimer as Chief Public Health Officer Newswire.ca Press Release.

Canada finally has a new Chief Public Health Officer: Dr. Joss Reimer. www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/ma...
www.cma.ca/about-us/wha... via @cmadocs.bsky.social

while the BCNDP was caving to the diversion moral panic and severely limiting its safe supply program, the public safety ministry was acknowledging in budget preparation documents that hydromorphone only accounted for 0.3% of VPD drug seizures by weight