Jim Bronskill

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Jim Bronskill.

Mohamed Harkat, facing deportation, wins round in bid to stay in Canada

Mohamed Harkat, facing deportation, wins round in bid to stay in Canada

OTTAWA -- Algerian-born Mohamed Harkat has won a round in his long-running legal battle to remain in Canada.

Supreme Court of Canada deals blow to poker players who challenged tax ruling

Supreme Court of Canada deals blow to poker players who challenged tax ruling

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada says it will not review a finding that poker earnings are taxable business income.

New federal AI strategy looks to close 'adoption gap,' build public trust

New federal AI strategy looks to close 'adoption gap,' build public trust

Ottawa's new national artificial intelligence strategy says Canada has a major AI adoption gap and looks to build trust through legislation that tackles concerns about surveillance pricing and chatbot safety. The strategy being announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in Toronto today plans to increase use of AI through free training for all Canadians.

PM Carney to announce federal artificial intelligence strategy in Toronto today

PM Carney to announce federal artificial intelligence strategy in Toronto today

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to announce the federal government's strategy on artificial intelligence in Toronto today.

China using professional networking sites to gather information: security agencies

China using professional networking sites to gather information: security agencies

OTTAWA -- Canada's spy agency and close international partners warn that China's military intelligence services are using professional networking sites and online job platforms to target current and former government and military personnel.

Liberals say they won't split off controversial section of 'lawful access' bill

Liberals say they won't split off controversial section of 'lawful access' bill

OTTAWA -- Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is rejecting a Conservative call to split off the most controversial section of a bill to help police and spies into a separate piece of legislation.

MPs get an earful from opponents of 'lawful access' bill over privacy concerns

MPs get an earful from opponents of 'lawful access' bill over privacy concerns

OTTAWA -- A group that works to keep the internet surveillance-free says a federal bill intended to help police and intelligence services is "an enormous own goal" against Canada's economy and security.

MPs get an earful from anti-surveillance group over 'lawful access' bill

MPs get an earful from anti-surveillance group over 'lawful access' bill

OTTAWA -- A group that works to keep the internet surveillance-free says a federal bill intended to help police and intelligence services is "an enormous own goal" against Canada's economy and security.

Connected vehicle data 'can have intelligence value' to adversaries: federal document

Connected vehicle data 'can have intelligence value' to adversaries: federal document

Data from an advanced electric vehicle that falls into the wrong hands could be used to track people or carry out surveillance, an internal government document warns. The Public Safety Canada memo, prepared to address concerns about Chinese vehicles, urges Canadians to be mindful of the security and privacy risks of the digital devices they buy and use. Earlier this...

Connected vehicle data 'can have intelligence value' to adversaries: federal document

Connected vehicle data 'can have intelligence value' to adversaries: federal document

OTTAWA -- Data from an advanced electric vehicle that falls into the wrong hands could be used to track people or carry out surveillance, an internal government document warns.

Anandasangaree rejects shortening metadata retention period in lawful access bill

Anandasangaree rejects shortening metadata retention period in lawful access bill

OTTAWA -- Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is rejecting a call to shorten the time electronic service providers would be required to retain digital metadata under a proposed bill intended to help police and spies.

Watchdog raps intelligence service over lack of reporting on possibly illegal acts

Watchdog raps intelligence service over lack of reporting on possibly illegal acts

OTTAWA -- A new watchdog report says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service may have run afoul of the law when it didn't fully inform the public safety minister about potentially illegal conduct by CSIS employees, including possible Charter violations.

As World Cup nears, intelligence agency warns of increased human trafficking risk

As World Cup nears, intelligence agency warns of increased human trafficking risk

OTTAWA -- As Canada prepares to host World Cup soccer, the federal financial intelligence agency is warning that major sporting events can heighten the risk of vulnerable people being exploited by human traffickers.

Memo warned PM of public anxiety about mental health, firearms after B.C. shootings

Memo warned PM of public anxiety about mental health, firearms after B.C. shootings

Three days after the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., government officials warned Prime Minister Mark Carney that online sentiment was shifting from collective grief toward "emerging accountability narratives" -- including questions about mental health intervention, firearms access and whether warning signs were missed. The memo to Carney from the Privy Council Office said the overall public reaction was...

Memo warned PM of public anxiety about mental health, firearms after B.C. shootings

Memo warned PM of public anxiety about mental health, firearms after B.C. shootings

OTTAWA -- Three days after the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., government officials warned Prime Minister Mark Carney that online sentiment was shifting from collective grief toward "emerging accountability narratives" -- including questions about mental health intervention, firearms access and whether warning signs were missed.

Chief justice pays tribute to retiring Martin, reflects on top court's relocation

Chief justice pays tribute to retiring Martin, reflects on top court's relocation

OTTAWA -- Chief Justice Richard Wagner paid tribute to a departing judge Friday and bid a temporary farewell to the Supreme Court's stately home.

Chief justice says farewell to retiring Martin, reflects on top court's relocation

Chief justice says farewell to retiring Martin, reflects on top court's relocation

OTTAWA -- Chief Justice Richard Wagner paid tribute to a departing judge today and bid a temporary farewell to the Supreme Court's stately home.

Supreme Court cites hearsay evidence in upholding order of new trial in beating death

Supreme Court cites hearsay evidence in upholding order of new trial in beating death

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed the order of a new trial for an Alberta man accused in a beating death.

RCMP has duty to reveal guns used in Tumbler Ridge shooting, advocacy groups say

RCMP has duty to reveal guns used in Tumbler Ridge shooting, advocacy groups say

OTTAWA -- Two gun control advocacy groups are renewing their calls for information about the firearms used in the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in February.

Feds working with City of Ottawa to ease public service transit woes: memo

Feds working with City of Ottawa to ease public service transit woes: memo

Officials managing the federal government's return-to-office plans are concerned about the ability of Ottawa's troubled municipal transit system to actually get public servants to their workplaces, an internal memo shows. Canada's top public servant, Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia, and Isabelle Mondou, the deputy clerk, met with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe on Feb. 19 to discuss the city's readiness to...

Feds working with City of Ottawa to ease public service transit woes: memo

Feds working with City of Ottawa to ease public service transit woes: memo

OTTAWA -- Officials managing the federal government's return-to-office plans are concerned about the ability of Ottawa's troubled municipal transit system to actually get public servants to their workplaces, an internal memo shows.

Supreme Court recognizes intimate partner violence as a legal basis for civil damages

Supreme Court recognizes intimate partner violence as a legal basis for civil damages

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized intimate partner violence as a distinct legal basis for pursuing civil damages.

CP NewsAlert: Court recognizes intimate partner violence as legal basis for damages

CP NewsAlert: Court recognizes intimate partner violence as legal basis for damages

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized intimate partner violence as a distinct legal basis for pursuing civil damages.

Supreme Court recognizes intimate partner violence as a legal basis for civil damages

Supreme Court recognizes intimate partner violence as a legal basis for civil damages

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized intimate partner violence as a distinct legal basis for pursuing civil damages.

Public deserves answers on Canada-China policing agreement, New Democrat MP says

Public deserves answers on Canada-China policing agreement, New Democrat MP says

OTTAWA -- NDP public safety critic Jenny Kwan says Canadians deserve to know what information the RCMP is sharing under an agreement with China's Ministry of Public Security.

Bill to help authorities probe online activities raises widespread privacy fears

Bill to help authorities probe online activities raises widespread privacy fears

OTTAWA -- A Liberal government bill that would make it easier for police and spies to navigate the online world is running into fierce opposition from major digital companies, civil liberties groups and law professors who say it would open the door to serious privacy infringements.

Privacy watchdog finds thousands of tax account breaches, urges stronger protections

Privacy watchdog finds thousands of tax account breaches, urges stronger protections

OTTAWA -- The federal privacy watchdog says there have been more than 42,000 breaches at the Canada Revenue Agency since 2020 as a result of people gaining unauthorized access to, or modifying, taxpayer information.

Federal intelligence commissioner issued record number of decisions last year: report

Federal intelligence commissioner issued record number of decisions last year: report

OTTAWA -- The federal intelligence commissioner, who approves or denies key national security activities, issued 14 decisions last year -- the most in any single year since the position was created.

Supreme Court affirms law that curbs spy watchdog members' parliamentary privilege

Supreme Court affirms law that curbs spy watchdog members' parliamentary privilege

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld the constitutionality of legislation that limits the ability of members of a spy watchdog committee to use their parliamentary privilege to speak out.

Supreme Court of Canada to hear Churchill portrait thief's sentence appeal

Supreme Court of Canada to hear Churchill portrait thief's sentence appeal

OTTAWA -- The man who stole the "Roaring Lion" portrait of Winston Churchill from the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa will have a chance to appeal his sentence in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Bring military, spy agencies under federal whistleblower law, review report urges

Bring military, spy agencies under federal whistleblower law, review report urges

OTTAWA -- A federal review report says members of the military and key spy agencies should be able to expose wrongdoing and file complaints through the government's whistle-blowing regime.

Bring military, spy agencies under federal whistleblower law: federal review report

Bring military, spy agencies under federal whistleblower law: federal review report

OTTAWA -- A federal review report says members of the military and key spy agencies should be able to expose wrongdoing and file complaints through the government's whistle-blowing regime.

Youth pleads not guilty to terrorism charges in alleged plot to attack Jewish people

Youth pleads not guilty to terrorism charges in alleged plot to attack Jewish people

OTTAWA -- A youth has pleaded not guilty to three terrorism-related charges stemming from his alleged involvement in a plot to kill Jewish people in Ottawa.

Criminal networks using young people from India for extortion schemes, Fintrac warns

Criminal networks using young people from India for extortion schemes, Fintrac warns

OTTAWA -- Canada's financial intelligence agency says criminal organizations appear to be using young students from India to help extort people and businesses in South Asian communities across the country.

Youth guilty of terror charges in Islamic State-inspired plot against Jewish people

Youth guilty of terror charges in Islamic State-inspired plot against Jewish people

OTTAWA -- An Ontario Superior Court judge has found an Ottawa youth guilty of terrorism charges involving Islamic State-inspired plans to attack Jewish people -- just hours after the young person invited a finding of guilt.

CP NewsAlert: Youth guilty of terror charges in alleged plot against Jewish people

CP NewsAlert: Youth guilty of terror charges in alleged plot against Jewish people

OTTAWA -- An Ontario Superior Court judge has found an Ottawa youth guilty of terrorism charges stemming from an alleged plan to attack Jewish people -- just hours after the young person invited a finding of guilt.

Youth invites finding of guilt in alleged terrorism plot against Jewish people

Youth invites finding of guilt in alleged terrorism plot against Jewish people

OTTAWA -- An Ottawa youth is inviting a judge to find him guilty of terrorism charges stemming from an alleged plan to attack Jewish people.

CP NewsAlert: Young person invites finding of guilt in Ottawa terror case

CP NewsAlert: Young person invites finding of guilt in Ottawa terror case

OTTAWA -- An Ottawa youth is inviting a judge to find him guilty of terrorism charges stemming from an alleged plan to attack Jewish people.

Crown can seek forfeiture of seized assets in derailed Quebec drug cases: top court

Crown can seek forfeiture of seized assets in derailed Quebec drug cases: top court

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada says the Crown can seek the forfeiture of assets seized in a drug probe even though the criminal cases against most of the accused were set aside.

Brent Cotter, ethics expert and former senator, named interim head of RCMP watchdog

Brent Cotter, ethics expert and former senator, named interim head of RCMP watchdog

OTTAWA -- The Liberal government has named well-known legal ethicist and former senator Brent Cotter to be the interim head of the RCMP watchdog.

Supreme Court upholds reversal of death declaration in case of man found to be alive

Supreme Court upholds reversal of death declaration in case of man found to be alive

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld a judge's decision to annul the declaration of a Quebec man's death when new evidence indicated he was living in Iran.

Internal memo flags the promise and pitfalls of expanding CSIS's foreign spy role

Internal memo flags the promise and pitfalls of expanding CSIS's foreign spy role

OTTAWA -- An internal Canadian Security Intelligence Service memo says allowing the spy agency to collect foreign intelligence overseas would capitalize on its "existing footprint and expertise," but might also invite a host of problems.

Federal privacy law changes would expand sharing of personal data across government

Federal privacy law changes would expand sharing of personal data across government

OTTAWA -- The Liberal government proposes making it easier for federal agencies to share and reuse the personal data of Canadians as part of a major overhaul of the Privacy Act.

Supreme Court won't hear case contesting constitutionality of Canada's voting system

Supreme Court won't hear case contesting constitutionality of Canada's voting system

The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal challenging the constitutionality of Canada's first-past-the-post electoral system. The system, set out in the Canada Elections Act, sees the candidate who receives the most votes in a given riding become the member of Parliament. Fair Voting BC and the Springtide Collective for Democratic Society argued in court that the first-past-the-post...

Supreme Court won't hear case contesting constitutionality of Canada's voting system

Supreme Court won't hear case contesting constitutionality of Canada's voting system

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal challenging the constitutionality of Canada's first-past-the-post electoral system.

Liberals eye next steps in firearm buyback as window for individual owners closes

Liberals eye next steps in firearm buyback as window for individual owners closes

OTTAWA -- The Liberal government's firearm buyback program is entering a new phase with passage of the deadline for individual gun owners to declare interest.

Expert's report criticizes CRA over audit of Muslim charity, calls for improvements

Expert's report criticizes CRA over audit of Muslim charity, calls for improvements

OTTAWA -- A report by an expert in extremist financing and money laundering says the Canada Revenue Agency's approach to policing terrorist abuse "proved seriously deficient" in the case of a long-running audit of the Muslim Association of Canada.

Carney begins process of finding judge to fill coming Supreme Court of Canada opening

Carney begins process of finding judge to fill coming Supreme Court of Canada opening

Prime Minister Mark Carney has started the process to fill the Supreme Court of Canada vacancy that will open up when Justice Sheilah Martin retires on May 30. The Montreal-born Martin trained in civil and common law before moving to Alberta to pursue work as an educator, lawyer and judge. She was named to the Supreme Court in 2017, and...

Carney begins process of finding judge to fill coming Supreme Court of Canada opening

Carney begins process of finding judge to fill coming Supreme Court of Canada opening

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney has started the process to fill the Supreme Court of Canada vacancy that will open up when Justice Sheilah Martin retires on May 30.

Liberals dismiss call for law to ensure political fibs and flubs don't eclipse facts

Liberals dismiss call for law to ensure political fibs and flubs don't eclipse facts

The Liberal government has dismissed a Toronto man's proposal to keep politicians honest in an age of misinformation, saying there are already several ways to fight falsehoods. Federico Sanchez initiated an electronic petition to the House of Commons to propose legislation that would help correct the record when members of Parliament stray from the truth intentionally or simply because they...

Liberals dismiss call for law to ensure political fibs and flubs don't eclipse facts

Liberals dismiss call for law to ensure political fibs and flubs don't eclipse facts

OTTAWA -- The Liberal government has dismissed a Toronto man's proposal to keep politicians honest in an age of misinformation, saying there are already several ways to fight falsehoods.

Election bill takes aim at deepfakes, long ballots, threats to nomination contests

Election bill takes aim at deepfakes, long ballots, threats to nomination contests

The Liberal government is proposing new legislation to strengthen electoral integrity by banning digital deepfakes of candidates, cracking down on unduly long ballots and protecting nomination and leadership contests. The government says the Strong and Free Elections Act responds to recommendations from an inquiry into foreign interference and from others, including the chief electoral officer. The new bill would also...

Gun control group criticizes Ottawa over 'poor participation' in firearm buyback

Gun control group criticizes Ottawa over 'poor participation' in firearm buyback

OTTAWA -- Gun control group PolySeSouvient blames "weak political leadership" for what it calls "poor participation" in the federal compensation program for banned firearms.

Feds say more than 51,000 firearms reported as compensation program nears close

Feds say more than 51,000 firearms reported as compensation program nears close

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says gun owners have reported more than 51,000 firearms to the federal government with one week left to go in a program to provide compensation for banned guns. The figure is well short of the 136,000 firearms for which the government set aside money when the buyback program for individual owners opened in January. Anandasanagree...

Feds say more than 51,000 firearms reported as compensation program nears close

Feds say more than 51,000 firearms reported as compensation program nears close

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says gun owners have reported more than 51,000 firearms to the federal government with one week left to go in a program to provide compensation for banned guns.

Supreme Court of Canada to hear challenge of federal firearms ban

Supreme Court of Canada to hear challenge of federal firearms ban

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada will hear a challenge of a Liberal government ban on more than 1,500 different firearms models and variants.

Questions linger about duties of incoming national security and intelligence adviser

Questions linger about duties of incoming national security and intelligence adviser

OTTAWA -- As Canada's national security and intelligence adviser prepares to leave her post, there are questions about the exact role her successor will play.

New government bill would help police, spy service probe online activities

New government bill would help police, spy service probe online activities

OTTAWA -- Proposed new legislation would give police and Canada's spy service new powers to investigate online activities -- powers they say they need to keep pace with criminals in the digital age.

CP NewsAlert: Bill would ease police, spy service access to online subscriber info

CP NewsAlert: Bill would ease police, spy service access to online subscriber info

OTTAWA -- Newly proposed legislation would make it easier for police and Canada's spy service to investigate online activities.

Ottawa earmarks $10 million to help protect Jewish institutions after gunfire attacks

Ottawa earmarks $10 million to help protect Jewish institutions after gunfire attacks

The federal government is earmarking $10 million to help Jewish communities bolster security at their gathering places after two Toronto-area synagogues were struck with gunfire. The money dispensed through the federal Canada Community Security Program is meant to help protect Jewish places of worship, schools, child care centres, overnight camps and other institutions. The program offers organizations at risk of...