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CBC
26 minutes ago
- CBC
Federal government taps Cohere to work on use of AI in public service
The federal government has signed an agreement with a Canadian artificial intelligence company to identify areas where AI can enhance public service operations. Cohere will look at how its products can improve federal public services, said Sofia Ouslis, a spokesperson for Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon. The agreement sets up "early-stage collaboration" between the federal government and the Toronto-based tech company, she said. Cohere develops large language models, a type of generative AI focused on language, and the company specializes in AI services for businesses. "The focus is on identifying where Cohere's Canadian-built AI tools can improve public services, making them faster, smarter and more secure. While there are no formal deadlines attached, the government sees this as a priority and is moving quickly to explore real-world applications," Ouslis said. Ouslis said the agreement does not include a "financial component." Cohere said in a blog post Tuesday it signed the agreement "to transform the public sector with our secure, sovereign AI technology." "Accelerating AI adoption will deliver massive productivity and efficiency gains to enhance public services and modernize operations," it said. A government news release also said the agreement with Cohere involves looking at building Canada's commercial capabilities to use and export AI, but did not provide details about what that effort will involve. Using artificial intelligence to increase efficiency in the public service was one of Prime Minister Mark Carney's election promises. Carney also promised to cap the size of the public service, and most departments and agencies have since been asked to find program spending cuts of up to 15 per cent. The government news release said AI "has the potential to significantly improve government operations and services for Canadians," and that Ottawa is "seeking to harness the power of this transformative technology while building a vibrant made-in-Canada technology sector."
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Canada Post heads back into bargaining with union after delay
A Canada Post truck is seen at a distribution centre in Montreal on Friday, Dec.13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi OTTAWA — Canada Post and the union representing postal workers are set to return to the bargaining table today. Plans to rekindle talks late last week were delayed due to a lack of federal government mediators. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers claimed labour unrest at Air Canada was pulling attention from the postal service's dispute, which has stretched on for more than a year and a half. A few weeks ago, unionized postal workers rejected the Crown corporation's latest offer that would have included wage hikes of around 13 per cent over four years and added part-timers to the workforce. Canada Post is seeking a formal response from the union on those proposals and has warned the postal service is bleeding millions of dollars in business daily tied to uncertainty around collective bargaining. The union says it has prepared offers that meet members' demands and is upholding a ban on overtime work in the meantime. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2025.
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
'We need spaces like this': Local Palestinians finding peace by creating community quilt
Social Sharing If you spent some time in Waterloo Park this summer, you may have seen a group of people sitting together and embroidering a quilt. They are part of Tatreez Studio, a local Palestinian community arts organization. They spent five nights throughout the summer meeting in the park to work on The Tatreez Quilt Project, which entailed creating a community quilt using a special embroidery technique called tatreez. Tatreez is an important part of Palestinian identity. The symbols used in the patterns can instantly signal where the textile is from or where the artist who has done the embroidery is from. The theme for this year's quilt translates to: Killing the flowers does not delay spring. Part of gathering together for these workshops is to mourn the lives lost during the Israel-Hamas war. Since the war started in October 2023, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza, according to local health officials there. Tatreez techniques are usually passed down from mother to daughter says Ala' Al-Thibeh, an artist and founder of Tatreez Studio. "[Tatreez] does get passed down within families so it has been an amazing experience," she said. Using natural materials is a way to connect to the land and to her ancestors, Al-Thibeh said. She said the theme reminded her of the poppy flower. "The poppy blooms every spring, it is a symbol of resistance because no matter what is going to happen, Palestinians will continue to thrive," Al-Thibeh told CBC News during one of the workshops in Waterloo Park. Nimra Bandukwala, a community artist and co-facilitator, dyed the patches with different materials found in the Middle East. The ingredients include: cochineals, rust, sumac berries, onion skins, pomegranate, coffee and more. Bandukwala said now more than ever people mostly receive the news of the war alone on their phones and it is a challenge to be a person with compassion, empathy and openness given the updates. "So to come to a space like this … moving between laughter and heaviness, nothing really compares. We need spaces like this." The group planned to finish the tatreez quilt by late summer but the timeline is flexible. Bandukwala said the quilt will be finished when it is finished. "It will take the time it takes." Al-Thibeh looks at the collaborative exercise not just as a community-building practice or act of resistance but also a form of cultural preservation. Being a tatreez artist, she said, "has connected me in a way I never thought I'd be connected to others, especially through social media." Al-Thibeh said she has taught and learned from people around the world. The group hopes the quilt will be part of a traveling exhibit.
