Your valentines this week are Wojtek Gwiazda, Lynn Desjardins, and Marc Montgomery
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There was a bit of political kerfuffle in federal politics this week. Eve Adams had been a long-time Conservative, but that party apparently decided that some of her campaign activities and spending of public monies in the past were questionable and advised her she could not run for the party in the expected federal election.
Suddenly the Member of Parliament who had long voted with her party and long criticised the Liberals was now sitting at a news conference beside federal Liberal Party leader, Justin Trudeau announcing that she was now joining that party.
Wojtek prepared a report looking at what transpired at that surprising news conference.
The world seemed to take another step towards the Orwellian “Big Brother” scenario this week.
That’s when we learned that some of our “smart ” devices, mobile phones, tablets, and TVs could record everything we say and send it to some unknown third party.
In fact all your smart devices from fridges to devices that programme lights and heat, and even, yes, smart mattresses collect information about your habits. While that information is sent to companies who sell it to marketers, once the data on your activities is digitized, it can be stored, transferred, and who knows where it could eventually end up.
Lynn spoke with Prof. Avner Levin. He’s the director of the Privacy and Cyber Crime Institute at Ryerson University in Toronto.
The Supreme Court of Canada has made a landmark ruling this month on the practice of doctor-assisted suicides.
In a somewhat uncommon move, the court revisted a ruling it had made just over 20 years ago. In this case, the new ruling overturned their own judgement which was against the practice, and will now permit the practice under strict conditions.
The court said that not allowing the practice contravenes aspects of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
For insight into the court ruling and its implications Marc spoke to Lorne Sossin, (PhD, JSD) Professor and Dean of Osgoode Law School at York University in Toronto.
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