We’re too quick to dismiss AI’s human side

THE AI chatbots recently revealed by OpenAI and Microsoft have been interesting. Much more interesting have been the reactions, particularly those triggered by Microsoft’s Bing chatbot, sometimes known as “Sydney.”

Auditor general’s comments cross line

I have written around 1,500 columns and op-eds over the past four decades. Many contained advice and suggestions directed toward the provincial government in power at the time each column was written, but only a few of those recommendations were ever implemented by those governments.

Auditor general’s request not part of the bargain

Professors are rarely at a loss for words.

Canada suffering a care-economy crisis

On March 8, we celebrated International Women’s Day, the annual commemoration that invites Canadians to take stock of the progress made toward gender equality in our country and beyond.

Explaining Poilievre’s popularity with unions

According to a recent poll by Abacus Data, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives are now the top choice of union members in Canada.

Registry would prevent election meddling

LAST week, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino announced the commencement of consultations on a proposed new Foreign Influence Transparency Registry. While we do not yet know what this will look like, it will likely include elements of similar registries in other Five Eyes alliance countries, including Australia, which require those advocating for a foreign state to register their activities or face the prospect of fines or jail time.

Require regulation for school psychologists

ON March 7, the Free Press story Legislation seeks to expand health minister’s regulatory powers discussed Bill 17, proposed legislation to extend the minister’s powers related to the colleges and associations not yet governed under the Regulated Health Professions Act.

Canada’s oil and gas industry is its own worst enemy

For as long as I’ve lived in Alberta and covered the oil and gas industry — more than a decade now — I’ve been hearing about its supposedly high ethical standard. This is the heart of Ezra Levant’s “ethical oil” argument that has become an incredibly popular mantra among people working in the oil and gas industry and those outside it who just don’t want to confront the reality of Alberta’s role in climate change.

As I’ve pointed out repeatedly, this is an inherently — and inescapably — flawed argument.

To read more of this story first reported by Canada’s National Observer, click here.

This content is made available to Winnipeg Free Press readers as part of an agreement with Canada’s National Observer that sees our two trusted news brands collaborate to better cover Canada. Questions about Observer content can be directed to dana@nationalobserver.com.

Manitoba fails to address child poverty

FOR more than a decade, Manitoba has persisted as the province with the highest rates of child poverty in Canada. This sad record consigns tens of thousands of children to reduced opportunities in education, employment and social participation. Poorer health outcomes as a result of child poverty last over generations.

Brutality baked into budget

One Sunday, when my five-year-old asked me if we could go to the library, I had to tell her it was closed. It was cold, we needed to get out of the house and the library is a perfect place: a kids area, new books, an engaged librarian, and a place for me to just sit and not spend any money while my kids played.

Palm Springs benefits from Agua Caliente Band’s success

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Strange as it may seem given the (usually) warm weather, at the moment one of the hot topics in the Palm Springs area is the new local hockey team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Government dragging feet on homelessness

THE Manitoba government released its Homelessness Strategy on Feb. 28. The primary questions being asked by social housing advocates are: what took you so long, and what’s the long-term plan?

Stress, burnout part of political life

TODAY I want to write with empathy about the demands, sacrifices, stress, health issues and burnout that can come with a political career, especially for leaders of political parties in charge of leading governments.