This is progress!!! Welcome to all the kind USA health professionals coming to BC!

“The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives approved the registration of 1,028 U.S. nurses between last April and January, putting it on track for a tenfold increase compared to recent years. In 2023, the college approved 112 applicants, and in 2024, it was 127.”

I am sure Todd's @tod incredible work has played a big role!

#BCPoli #HealthCare #Migration #USA #Canada
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nurses-united-states-b-c-9.7123225

Thanks for getting the word out about this @Em0nM4stodon ! @Paulatics do you know the timeframe for likely action on the Canadian online harms bill?

We just successfully prevented the Washington state legislature from passing several age verification laws, so it certainly can be done! A couple of key takeaways:

• The letter from a coalition of 90 organizations dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, rights for youth, privacy, and freedom of speech has a great summary of the harms of these technologies:

"For vulnerable communities, a biometric scan or an ID upload can serve as a huge obstacle, especially for low-income, unhoused, and undocumented people who already have to navigate an increasingly digital world, with less access to tech tools."

Online ID Checks Censor Abortion Information Age-Verification Laws Seek to Erase LGBTQ+ Identity from the Internet are also good at highlighting harms to vulnerable users.

• Discord is the poster child for age verification's privacy problems. Discord Breach Sparks Age Verification & Third-Party Privacy Concerns highlights the risks of hackers getting at age verification data. Discord's age verification rollout has ties to Palantir co-founder and panopticon architect Peter Thiel Hackers Expose Age-Verification Software Powering Surveillance Web highlights how broadly age verification vendors share the data. US laws typically have clauses that put some limits on retention and sharing but in practice they're not enough.

• Lobbyists have succeeded in convincing legislators that age estimation software works well ... but actually it doesn't. Error rates are high, and higher for people of color; and people. As a result, even if the vendor claims they're using some fancy-shmancy approach involving biometrics or selfies, in practice a lot of people have to send in their government IDs (with all the aspects of fraud that involves). My [updated written testimony for Appropriations[(https://privacy.thenexus.today/hb-1834-approps/#updated-written-testimony) discusses this, based on the data from the Australian Age Assurance Technology Trial (search for "You've probably heard lobbyists and vendors talk about how accurate today's age systems are, but reality begs to differ") and also talks about the privacy issues.

• @eff's Why Isn’t Online Age Verification Just Like Showing Your ID In Person? counters one of the most common talking points of age verification proponents (although, I'm not sure how effective it is, so it might be worth taking another crack at this).

• It's critical to highlight age verification's impact on 2SLGBTQIA_ communities. But, 2SLGTQIA2S+-focused organizations have so much on their plate that this may not be on their radar. So as well as contacting legislatures, reach out to 2SLGTQIA2S+-focused orgs, try to get them involved, and brief them on the issues.

#ageVerification #canada #privacy

Thanks for getting the word out about this @Em0nM4stodon ! @Paulatics do you know the timeframe for likely action on the Canadian online harms bill?

We just successfully prevented the Washington state legislature from passing several age verification laws, so it certainly can be done! A couple of key takeaways:

• The letter from a coalition of 90 organizations dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, rights for youth, privacy, and freedom of speech has a great summary of the harms of these technologies:

"For vulnerable communities, a biometric scan or an ID upload can serve as a huge obstacle, especially for low-income, unhoused, and undocumented people who already have to navigate an increasingly digital world, with less access to tech tools."

Online ID Checks Censor Abortion Information Age-Verification Laws Seek to Erase LGBTQ+ Identity from the Internet are also good at highlighting harms to vulnerable users.

• Discord is the poster child for age verification's privacy problems. Discord Breach Sparks Age Verification & Third-Party Privacy Concerns highlights the risks of hackers getting at age verification data. Discord's age verification rollout has ties to Palantir co-founder and panopticon architect Peter Thiel Hackers Expose Age-Verification Software Powering Surveillance Web highlights how broadly age verification vendors share the data. US laws typically have clauses that put some limits on retention and sharing but in practice they're not enough.

• Lobbyists have succeeded in convincing legislators that age estimation software works well ... but actually it doesn't. Error rates are high, and higher for people of color; and people. As a result, even if the vendor claims they're using some fancy-shmancy approach involving biometrics or selfies, in practice a lot of people have to send in their government IDs (with all the aspects of fraud that involves). My [updated written testimony for Appropriations[(https://privacy.thenexus.today/hb-1834-approps/#updated-written-testimony) discusses this, based on the data from the Australian Age Assurance Technology Trial (search for "You've probably heard lobbyists and vendors talk about how accurate today's age systems are, but reality begs to differ") and also talks about the privacy issues.

• @eff's Why Isn’t Online Age Verification Just Like Showing Your ID In Person? counters one of the most common talking points of age verification proponents (although, I'm not sure how effective it is, so it might be worth taking another crack at this).

• It's critical to highlight age verification's impact on 2SLGBTQIA_ communities. But, 2SLGTQIA2S+-focused organizations have so much on their plate that this may not be on their radar. So as well as contacting legislatures, reach out to 2SLGTQIA2S+-focused orgs, try to get them involved, and brief them on the issues.

#ageVerification #canada #privacy

If enough Canadians contact
their local representatives, as well Mark Carney's office this week, we might be spared from this authoritarian mass-surveillance measure called "Age Verification" in Canada.

The time to fight back is NOW: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/social-media-ban-for-kids-under-consideration-in-online-harms-bill-carney/

Privacy is a human right essential to safety and democracy. If we do not fight to protect it, we will lose it.

#AgeVerification #MassSurveillance #Privacy #Democracy #HumanRights #Canada #CanPoli

Privacy watchdog ‘monitoring’ U.S. auto insurance phone tracking lawsuit
The office of Canada's privacy commissioner says it is 'monitoring' a proposed U.S. class-action lawsuit in which some auto insurers are facing allegations of misusing driver data.
#Canada #Consumer #Tech #USNews
https://globalnews.ca/news/11719462/auto-insurance-lawsuit-data-collection/

Privacy watchdog ‘monitoring’ U.S. auto insurance phone tracking lawsuit
The office of Canada's privacy commissioner says it is 'monitoring' a proposed U.S. class-action lawsuit in which some auto insurers are facing allegations of misusing driver data.
#Canada #Consumer #Tech #USNews
https://globalnews.ca/news/11719462/auto-insurance-lawsuit-data-collection/

RE: https://mstdn.ca/@actuquebec/116205473604852773

Check out this new online storefront for Canadian independent booksellers!

booksellers.ca

The Quebec Cooperative of Independent Bookstores, who have been selling (mostly French-language, but also English) books online for 15 years through leslibraires.ca, have launched a new initiative for independent bookstores across Canada.

There are currently 150 booksellers participating, with 25 English-language stores having now added themselves to the ranks.

I'm tickled pink by this expansion. I always check Les Libraires first when I'm looking to buy a book, in English or French. I even check if I'm looking for something in Spanish, just on the off chance they might have it in stock.

Since the coop's members have historically been mostly French-language sellers, Les Libraires is hit or miss for English titles. So, I'm really looking forward to seeing how this new site develops.

Give them a visit and buy a book to support small, local businesses across the country!

If there's an independent bookshop in your area who might benefit from participating, let them know about the project, too!

#books #canada #quebec #reading #elbowsup #coop #cooperatives #buylocal

RE: https://mstdn.ca/@actuquebec/116205473604852773

Check out this new online storefront for Canadian independent booksellers!

booksellers.ca

The Quebec Cooperative of Independent Bookstores, who have been selling (mostly French-language, but also English) books online for 15 years through leslibraires.ca, have launched a new initiative for independent bookstores across Canada.

There are currently 150 booksellers participating, with 25 English-language stores having now added themselves to the ranks.

I'm tickled pink by this expansion. I always check Les Libraires first when I'm looking to buy a book, in English or French. I even check if I'm looking for something in Spanish, just on the off chance they might have it in stock.

Since the coop's members have historically been mostly French-language sellers, Les Libraires is hit or miss for English titles. So, I'm really looking forward to seeing how this new site develops.

Give them a visit and buy a book to support small, local businesses across the country!

If there's an independent bookshop in your area who might benefit from participating, let them know about the project, too!

#books #canada #quebec #reading #elbowsup #coop #cooperatives #buylocal

The dataset keeps talking.

A new investigation by CBC News identifies 500+ Canadian accounts in the WhiteDate data — including members of the Canadian Armed Forces and extremist organizers.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/whitedate-canada-military-9.7117307

#WhiteDate #Antifascism #Extremism #OSINT #InvestigativeJournalism #Canada #okstupid

Very proud and excited to vote in the NDP leadership race today!!

This is not the first time I've voted in a Federal leadership race... more on that later but first, my choices! I considered only voting for two people, but I ended up filling in all 5 choices.

#1: Tanille Johnston @votetanille
#2: Avi Lewis @avilewis
#3: Heather McPherson
#4: Tony McQuail
#5: Rob Ashton

Why?
You might ask why I would publicize my choices. I don’t expect others to of course. It is a privilege and a right in Canada to exercise your democratic choice freely and privately, but I also think there is value in knowing how others voted.

#1 why Tanille? https://www.tanille.ca

Easy decision. She is First Nation. She is a woman. Two things that are long overdue not just as party leader in Canada, but as a potential Prime Minister.

She also ticks all the boxes for progressive, social(ist) policies that will actually make a difference. Tanille is a normal human being who works in normal small town Canada and has dedicated herself to public service. That's the kind of person I would love to see as Prime Minister.

There are forces that are trying to discourage women, First Nations, and minorities from being involved in politics.

Also, in terms of bringing the country together, I think Tanille is best positioned to speak and present well in both official languages in time, plus represent her own First Nation and speak for other Indigenous people in Canada with lived experience.

Tanille could be a person the entire country could truly see themselves in as a leader and rally around.

#2 why Avi? https://lewisforleader.ca

Were it not for Tanille, Avi would have been my first pick without question. He closely represents my political and social beliefs. He gets it. I believe we need to disabuse ourselves of the shackles of neo-liberal ”incrementalism” and do big things to make a real difference in all of the issues that face Canada.

Avi is walking in the footsteps of his grandfather and he's doing it truthfully, sincerely, and forcefully. He's not afraid to call out corporations and understands that we are in a class struggle above all else. Climate Change, Work, Social Well Being, there is a global movement that is picking up pace that is the polar opposite of the hate fueld far-right authoritarian insanity. Avi could be the leader of that movement in Canada.

Avi could very well be the spark in Canada that people can rally around and revitalize what is supposed to be this progressive and optimistic country. I believe Avi is going to win this leadership race because I believe he is the best chance the NDP has to differentiate itself from the Liberals and Conservatives.

Avi can bring hope and huge change for the better to the NDP and to all of Canada if the party gives him that chance.

#3 Why Heather?

I had honestly considered stopping my ranking at #2. I would have been happy with just Tanille and Avi on my ballot.

However, after some reflection, I thought that as an advocate for #electoralReform and proportional representation myself, I didn't just want to pick my top two. I wanted to make a statement on each of these candidates an influence each one.

To be blunt, Heather is #3 because she is the middle-of-the-road candidate. She is an excellent representative as MP and has gathered the support of other MPs including my own, but while I would be OK with her leadership, I would see her as a continuation of the status quo, and that is not what the NDP needs as a party, nor is it what Canada needs as a country.

We desperately need a vigorous and clear alternative to the Centre-but-mostly-Right Liberals, and the MAGA-wannabe Conservatives. The only way to do that is to catch the attention of Canadians and inspire them. I am not sure that Heather has the ability to do that, and if we continue with the same leadership crew in the NDP, I am not confident that the policy choices will be strong enough to inspire and attract Canadians.

That is why Tanille and Avi are far better options.

#4 Why Tony:

Tony is the real deal. Honestly, I would have loved to rank him higher. He represents the true life blood of rural, socially progressive, environmentally aware, Canadians. You should go check out his platform. I am so glad that he was able to participate fully in the race and we need his voice in the NDP.

#5 Why not Rob?

I have been an active member in my Union for more than 10 years. Unionism is The Way. Rob is representing a division within the union movement that claims that working people can't have jobs if the environment is put first. This is a lie.

We need union leaders that look to the future and speak honestly to people. We need union leaders who are genuinely progressive, not ready to do the bidding of corporate masters to the benefit of a few.

Working people need honesty, and when an industry is on decline, a clear path to new, excellent, union, jobs!

#CanPoli #CdnPoli #Liberal #CPC #Canada #Democracy #NDP

Very proud and excited to vote in the NDP leadership race today!!

This is not the first time I've voted in a Federal leadership race... more on that later but first, my choices! I considered only voting for two people, but I ended up filling in all 5 choices.

#1: Tanille Johnston @votetanille
#2: Avi Lewis @avilewis
#3: Heather McPherson
#4: Tony McQuail
#5: Rob Ashton

Why?
You might ask why I would publicize my choices. I don’t expect others to of course. It is a privilege and a right in Canada to exercise your democratic choice freely and privately, but I also think there is value in knowing how others voted.

#1 why Tanille? https://www.tanille.ca

Easy decision. She is First Nation. She is a woman. Two things that are long overdue not just as party leader in Canada, but as a potential Prime Minister.

She also ticks all the boxes for progressive, social(ist) policies that will actually make a difference. Tanille is a normal human being who works in normal small town Canada and has dedicated herself to public service. That's the kind of person I would love to see as Prime Minister.

There are forces that are trying to discourage women, First Nations, and minorities from being involved in politics.

Also, in terms of bringing the country together, I think Tanille is best positioned to speak and present well in both official languages in time, plus represent her own First Nation and speak for other Indigenous people in Canada with lived experience.

Tanille could be a person the entire country could truly see themselves in as a leader and rally around.

#2 why Avi? https://lewisforleader.ca

Were it not for Tanille, Avi would have been my first pick without question. He closely represents my political and social beliefs. He gets it. I believe we need to disabuse ourselves of the shackles of neo-liberal ”incrementalism” and do big things to make a real difference in all of the issues that face Canada.

Avi is walking in the footsteps of his grandfather and he's doing it truthfully, sincerely, and forcefully. He's not afraid to call out corporations and understands that we are in a class struggle above all else. Climate Change, Work, Social Well Being, there is a global movement that is picking up pace that is the polar opposite of the hate fueld far-right authoritarian insanity. Avi could be the leader of that movement in Canada.

Avi could very well be the spark in Canada that people can rally around and revitalize what is supposed to be this progressive and optimistic country. I believe Avi is going to win this leadership race because I believe he is the best chance the NDP has to differentiate itself from the Liberals and Conservatives.

Avi can bring hope and huge change for the better to the NDP and to all of Canada if the party gives him that chance.

#3 Why Heather?

I had honestly considered stopping my ranking at #2. I would have been happy with just Tanille and Avi on my ballot.

However, after some reflection, I thought that as an advocate for #electoralReform and proportional representation myself, I didn't just want to pick my top two. I wanted to make a statement on each of these candidates an influence each one.

To be blunt, Heather is #3 because she is the middle-of-the-road candidate. She is an excellent representative as MP and has gathered the support of other MPs including my own, but while I would be OK with her leadership, I would see her as a continuation of the status quo, and that is not what the NDP needs as a party, nor is it what Canada needs as a country.

We desperately need a vigorous and clear alternative to the Centre-but-mostly-Right Liberals, and the MAGA-wannabe Conservatives. The only way to do that is to catch the attention of Canadians and inspire them. I am not sure that Heather has the ability to do that, and if we continue with the same leadership crew in the NDP, I am not confident that the policy choices will be strong enough to inspire and attract Canadians.

That is why Tanille and Avi are far better options.

#4 Why Tony:

Tony is the real deal. Honestly, I would have loved to rank him higher. He represents the true life blood of rural, socially progressive, environmentally aware, Canadians. You should go check out his platform. I am so glad that he was able to participate fully in the race and we need his voice in the NDP.

#5 Why not Rob?

I have been an active member in my Union for more than 10 years. Unionism is The Way. Rob is representing a division within the union movement that claims that working people can't have jobs if the environment is put first. This is a lie.

We need union leaders that look to the future and speak honestly to people. We need union leaders who are genuinely progressive, not ready to do the bidding of corporate masters to the benefit of a few.

Working people need honesty, and when an industry is on decline, a clear path to new, excellent, union, jobs!

#CanPoli #CdnPoli #Liberal #CPC #Canada #Democracy #NDP