National

Canada's privacy czar launches investigation into student information data breach

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Feb, 2025 05:10 PM

The federal privacy watchdog says he has launched a formal investigation into a cybersecurity breach involving a student information system used across Canada.

Privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne says the probe was launched after his office received a breach report from U.S.-based PowerSchool, which provides the affected software, and a complaint about the incident.

PowerSchool has told school boards in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and elsewhere across North America that it experienced a data breach between Dec. 22 and 28.

The Toronto District School Board said last month that its students' addresses, health card numbers, emergency contacts and some medical information may have been stolen in the data breach.

Dufresne says his "immediate focus" is to ensure that PowerSchool is taking measures to reduce the risk to those affected by the breach and prevent this from happening again.

He says the company is notifying affected Canadians and offering them credit monitoring and identity protection services.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Parliament remains gridlocked amid Trump trade talk and postal strike

Parliament closes in on its eighth week of gridlock over a privilege motion, as Canada Post employees are on strike and calls emerge to exclude Mexico from upcoming trade talks. While question period has continued, other house business is on hold due to a Conservative privilege motion calling on the government to turn over unredacted documents on a green technology fund.

Parliament remains gridlocked amid Trump trade talk and postal strike

Police say death of young woman found in Halifax Walmart walk-in oven not suspicious

The death of a young Halifax woman whose body was recently found in a Walmart's walk-in oven was not suspicious and did not involve foul play, police said Monday. The death of the 19-year-old employee in the store's bakery was reported on Oct. 19.

Police say death of young woman found in Halifax Walmart walk-in oven not suspicious

Avian flu detected in additional Abbotsford and Chilliwack flocks: CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has detected the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry at additional locations in two British Columbia cities. The agency says the flu has been detected at two more premises in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, both of which have seen multiple cases since October.

Avian flu detected in additional Abbotsford and Chilliwack flocks: CFIA

Stabbing assault in Surrey

Mounties in Surrey say they are looking for the public’s help to identify a suspect who reportedly stabbed two youths last week. Police say they responded to reports of the stabbing in the afternoon of November 14th in the city’s Newton neighbourhood, finding two injured youths.

Stabbing assault in Surrey

Vancouver Island doctors set up overdose prevention sites without government blessing

Doctors on Vancouver Island say they're setting up unsanctioned overdose prevention sites on the grounds of Nanaimo General and Royal Jubilee hospitals this week because the B.C. government hasn't lived up to its promise to set aside space for the sites. Dr. Jess Wilder, an addictions and family medicine practitioner in Nanaimo, says her work has been mired in "controversy and politicization" lately, and setting up overdose prevention sites is "about saving lives."

Vancouver Island doctors set up overdose prevention sites without government blessing

Trial begins for men accused in migrants' deaths near Manitoba border crossing

Jury selection is underway in the trial of two men accused of smuggling migrants across the Canada-U. S. border. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand are accused of being part of operation that brought people from India to Canada, then across the border from Manitoba to Minnesota.