
This new Canadian says she won't take her first opportunity to vote for granted
After receiving Canadian citizenship in May, Shaiqa Brusha is getting ready to vote for the first time this year. She says having the right and responsibility to make her voice heard is something she'll cherish. The CBC's Jenna Head reports.

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CBC
26 minutes ago
- CBC
As AI tools become more accessible, the N.W.T. gov't works to develop policy on their use
The N.W.T. government is working to develop a policy for its use of artificial intelligence tools, with some initial guidelines expected at the end of this month. The question of how AI should be used is one that governments, businesses and organizations all over are grappling with as the technology becomes more accessible — in particular, generative AI tools like ChatGPT which can create new text, images, and other media. Currently, N.W.T. government workers are directed to follow the federal government's guide on the use of AI when using such tools in the workplace. The territory is now working to develop its own policy. A statement from the N.W.T. department of finance says that the territorial government sees potential for AI applications to be used in "administrative process automation, data analysis, and software development," but also notes that careful human oversight will be required when using AI tools for anything involving sensitive personal information, critical infrastructure, and significant policy decisions. AI use will also be subject to the territory's information management policies, the government says. Whether certain AI applications will be approved for use by the territorial government is unclear. The N.W.T. government says it has not yet established a formal list of approved AI suppliers, and the work to evaluate suppliers that meet security and privacy standards is ongoing. AI and N.W.T. lawyers Meanwhile, the territory's legal society is also looking at how to effectively and responsibly use the technology. In January, the Law Society of the Northwest Territories issued its own guidelines for the use of AI by N.W.T. lawyers. It includes an overview of different AI models that are designed for the legal profession to use for drafting and reviewing documents. The guidelines note that transparency with clients is key, along with research into different applications. The law society also notes that checking generated content for any bias is crucial. "This requires thoroughly reviewing and refining any outputs to remove biased language or inaccuracies, as unchecked use of AI-generated content could inadvertently lead to harmful outcomes," the guidelines read. In a statement, the N.W.T. Department of Justice said that the territory's court services currently "do not have any policies, guidelines or directives, that address the use of AI." Earlier this year the Northwest Territories Law Foundation, which collects the interest from lawyers' trust accounts and then distributes that money back to the public through various law-related initiatives, gave some money to CanLII to incorporate AI-generated summaries of N.W.T. cases and laws. CanLII (Canadian Legal Information Institute) is a public-domain online database of Canadian court decisions, laws, and legislative documents. "The CanLII grant was made on the basis of legal education, to try and make law more accessible to members of the public who might not have a legal education," said Morgan Fane, director of the N.W.T. Law Foundation. Fane, a Crown prosecutor, says he doesn't use AI tools in his own professional practice. He also says that he thinks most lawyers would prefer to do their research without using AI. Creating a 'better public service' Adegboyega Ojo, the Canada Research Chair in Governance and Artificial Intelligence, says right now governments are looking to establish trust with the public when it comes to the ethical use of the technology. He would like to see territorial and provincial governments working alongside research institutes and universities to determine how AI could be used to tackle regional priorities. "They need a partner that could help them understand, navigate that journey… I think it's critical in terms of, if you're going to see any meaningful development here," said Ojo. Ojo said he thinks AI can be used to increase efficiency within the public service, without cutting jobs. "Hopefully that creates a better public service fundamentally rather than just a smaller government." Ojo said that determining which AI applications are best to use can be complicated, but that it boils down to transparency. For example, he pointed to companies that provide model cards, which provide detail about what data an application was trained on, as well as other ethical considerations and key information. Ojo said impartial evaluations by research groups and non-profits is another crucial step to holding AI companies accountable. Businesses and AI Some N.W.T. businesses are also looking for ways to incorporate AI into their work, although they may be relatively few in number for now. A 2025 Statistics Canada business survey found that around 12 N.W.T. businesses out of 146 respondents plan to adopt software using artificial intelligence in the next 12 months. Natsai Musarurwa is a consultant in Yellowknife, and she's already using AI in her daily work. She specializes in creating business plans, bookkeeping and strategic management. "There was a time that I would not have touched research with AI with a 10-foot pole — but now I can," said Musarurwa. Musarurwa said her perspective on AI has changed over the last year as the technology has seen significant advancements. There are AI models for lawyers that can draft up opening statements, others that allow people with little to no experience in coding to build apps, and some that specialize in producing marketing slogans. "It used to take me 40 hours to do a business plan, and I can get a business plan done now in a day," Musarurwa said.


The Province
3 hours ago
- The Province
Is JD Vance about to deport a Canadian-born fashion writer who is an undocumented U.S. immigrant?
Vice-president shared a gif when it was hinted Derek Guy might be a candidate for deportation After American-based, Canadian-born men's fashion writer Derek Guy said on X that he is an undocumented immigrant to the U.S., Vice-President JD Vance responded with a gif to people questioning Guy's legal status. Photo by Win McNamee / Getty Images An American-based Canadian men's fashion writer who shared his story of being an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. put himself in the crosshairs of conservative critics questioning his legal status to remain in the country, including perhaps U.S. Vice-President JD Vance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors In response to the heated L.A. protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in the city, Derek Guy, who works out of San Francisco, made a candid post on X detailing his experiences. I debated whether to share my story on here, but I guess I will. I think there's an idea out there that millions of violent criminals are pouring across the border, carrying machetes and drugs, looking to harm Americans. Certainly, while some people fall into that category, the… — derek guy (@dieworkwear) June 8, 2025 Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. After the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam and following an 'arduous journey,' his father and mother landed in Canada, where they found work as a janitor and secretary, respectively, and where Guy was born. Work eventually dried up, so his father went across the border to work with a sister in the U.S. 'He ended up staying in the US longer than he was supposed to — not knowing immigration laws — and asked my mom to come be with him. Of course, she went and carried me over the border while I was still a baby,' Guy wrote, noting he remains unclear about whether laws were broken when the trio crossed a border he considers to be still mostly 'porous.' 'But either way, since I came here without legal documentation, I eventually fell into the category of being an undocumented immigrant. Yet, I've been in the United States since I was a baby. My identity and roots are very much based in this country, no different from anyone else.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Many people commenting on his post felt differently, with several calling for his deportation. Eventually, X user @growing_daniel suggested Vance had 'the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever,' to which the VP reacted with a gif of actor Jack Nicholson nodding in a scene from The Departed. — JD Vance (@JDVance) June 9, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think I can outrun you in these clothes,' Guy wrote, resharing Vance's post, accompanied by two photos of the vice-president. Guy, a freelancer who contributes to the likes of the New York Times and Esquire, has previously critiqued Vance's wardrobe choices on his X account, which has 1.3 million followers. Shortly after the former Ohio senator joined Trump's team last July, Guy opined that 'Vance's jackets don't hug him very well.' In summarizing a thread on tie choices during the vice-presidential debate with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz last fall, he wrote that Vance's 'was a distraction' and likened it to 'something you'd wear to summer garden parties.' At tonight's debate though, Vance's tie was a distraction, while Walz's tie helped viewers focus on his message. At something as serious as a national debate, Vance would have been better served by a conservative business tie, not something you'd wear to summer garden parties. — derek guy (@dieworkwear) October 2, 2024 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In March, he responded to a user wondering why Vance's pants were so short, saying a bespoke tailor he spoke to suggested the pants 'are too slim, hence why they ride up on him like this.' i spoke to a bespoke tailor about this and he confirm: jd vance's pants are too slim, hence why they ride up on him like this — derek guy (@dieworkwear) March 12, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the remainder of his post about L.A., Guy said the best solution is 'systemic' and emphasized a necessity for citizenship paths for non-violent people such as himself and others, who 'are good, honest people.' 'Ultimately, I hope me sharing this story helps push back against the idea that all undocumented immigrants are MS-13 members. I know many people in my position and they are all like your neighbors.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps Crime Local News News


Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Why turning Canada's new defence spending into economic growth may be ‘easier said than done'
The Liberal government announced a shift towards a Canadian defence industrial strategy on Monday, which has the potential to add jobs and grow the Canadian economy — but only if executed correctly, economists say. Article content 'We will ensure every dollar is invested wisely, including by prioritizing made-in-Canada manufacturing and supply chains,' said Prime Minister Mark Carney during a speech in Toronto on Monday, where he announced Canada would be meeting its NATO two per-cent spending target. 'We should no longer send three quarters of our defence capital spending to America.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Goldy Hyder, president and chief executive of the Business Council of Canada, said he is hopeful this marks the beginning of a process that will both strengthen Canada's defence and grow the Canadian economy. Article content 'It's going to require a lot of work,' he said. 'I think the government has been given a licence to put more emphasis on things like this, which have been neglected for too long.' Article content Article content The plan included more investments in new submarines, ships, aircraft, artillery, and armed vehicles. Article content Carney said the investment in military capabilities could 'transform our economy' but acknowledged none of the goals set out in his plan will come easily or quickly, including reforming the department of national defence's procurement process. Article content The Royal Bank of Canada said the economic multiplier effects of the announcement in the short-run could be 'favourable' as the Canadian growth outlook is weak over the next couple of years and defence spending could help stimulate growth. Article content 'Multipliers vary with intellectual property being the highest, while machinery and equipment is the lowest, given its high import content,' said RBC economists Cynthia Leach and Salim Zanzana, in a note.