Latest news with #Maynard
Ottawa Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
DND and IRCC slammed by information watchdog over slow progress on access to information
Canada's information commissioner has called out the Department of National Defence and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada over sluggish progress on processing access-to-information requests that seek government records. Article content In 2024, the office of Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard received 381 complaints concerning DND and 925 complaints about IRCC, according to a new report. Article content Article content Article content By the end of fiscal year 2025, DND had 144 active complaints remaining, while IRCC had 216. Article content Article content Those two areas include 'a disregard of some program areas for their responsibilities to provide records to the access to information unit in a timely manner,' and that the department's access to information unit's 'resulting inability to take necessary actions' on determining the length of time needed for extensions. Article content Another report published by DND last year found the department responded to 58 per cent of access requests within timelines required by access-to-information legislation. This was a 4.5 per cent decrease from the previous year. Article content 'The commissioner views this downward trend as unacceptable, raising serious questions about DND's commitment to transparency and accountability,' Maynard wrote. Article content Article content DND has continued to fail to meet legislated standards, the report said. Article content Article content The department has had a long history of incidents involving the destruction and withholding of records. Article content In 2018, a military officer at the civilian trial of Vice Adm. Mark Norman testified that Canadian Armed Forces leadership circumvented the Access to Information Act to hide records even though those had been legally requested. Article content Then in 2023, the Ottawa Citizen revealed that the office of Gen. Wayne Eyre, who was then the chief of defence staff, falsely claimed records requested under the access law didn't exist. The records in question had been leaked to the newspaper by sources concerned that copies were being destroyed or illegally withheld.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Former winner claims racism rife at NZ Gold Guitar Awards
A former New Zealand Gold Guitar Award winner has called out racist overtones at the event, surprising organisers, who have vowed to fix the issues. The 50th anniversary of the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards held in Gore recently had the town packed with country music fans. But last year's winner Amy Maynard was left singing the blues, after what she called the worst festival experience of her life. The Māori musician said she noticed multiple incidents of being treated differently than her partner, who is white, and between her sons who have different complexions, as well as reactions to te reo Māori. "It's the eye rolls you see when people start using Māori on stage, people looking and projecting their anger and frustration just at me, not my partner. "Security would go to my middle kid, who is of a darker complexion, and not my eldest, just the discrepancy between the two," she said. Ms Maynard said she was not alone in these thoughts and said many people shared similar sentiments about their experiences in Southland. "I have had multiple people reaching out to me [various sound engineers, musicians, wonderful people], who have all in some way been affected, either micro or macro, aggressively from people down South," she said. "Being in Gore this year and out of my stage attire, I must have presented a very different picture to the general public. "As a result, they treated me as such," she said. Ms Maynard said she was warned to avoid speaking te reo Māori or face an immediate disqualification, which she disregarded when winning last year. She said although there was positive movement with more te reo spoken and sung in the event, inclusivity had not been wholeheartedly embraced. MLT Gold Guitar Awards convener Phillip Geary said the event had a zero tolerance policy for racism of any kind. "We always aim to create a safe and inclusive space at our event and we were deeply disheartened and disappointed to hear of Amy's experience," he said. Mr Geary denied there were any disqualifications for speaking te reo, as the language has always been encouraged and welcome on their stage. "Māori have always had a home in country music in New Zealand, and te reo has always featured in the Gold Guitar finals, right through the 50 years," he said. Advice would be sought from Soundcheck Aotearoa, a music industry group dedicated to safety and inclusivity, to help address potential issues, he said. Mr Geary said they were taking Ms Maynard's grievances and the issues raised very seriously. "We'll be making sure our committee members, contestants, and volunteers are aware of these claims, and will make sure it doesn't happen again in the future," he said.
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Commissioner Maynard Tables 2024-2025 Annual Report, Reinforces Commitment to Strengthening Access to Information Français
GATINEAU, QC, /CNW/ - The Information Commissioner of Canada, Caroline Maynard, has tabled her 8 th Annual Report to Parliament, highlighting her ongoing efforts to uphold Canadians' right to access government records while emphasizing the need for a legislative reform. The 2024–2025 Annual Report provides an overview of how the Commissioner's first-mandate priorities were achieved, along with a more in-depth look at the work carried out over the past year. It outlines continued progress in improving complaint resolution and reducing the complaint inventory, while also presenting recent court rulings that clarify the interpretation of the law. In addition, the report examines areas of concern, including the ongoing challenges faced by the Department of National Defence and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The issues were first explored as part of systemic investigations conducted by the Commissioner. "As I begin my second mandate, I remain deeply committed to safeguarding Canadians' right of access to information. Building on the progress achieved since 2018, my renewed vision for the OIC is to establish the organization as a model of excellence," stated Commissioner Maynard. "I will maintain my focus on results, even as I continue to push for the changes to the Access to Information Act that are required to forge the access system that best serves Canada."
USA Today
5 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
The Daily Money: Will the Fed cut interest rates?
The Daily Money: Will the Fed cut interest rates? Good morning! It's Daniel de Visé with your Daily Money. Will the Federal Reserve cut interest rates at its meeting this week? President Trump has called on the Fed to sharply lower rates, a strategy that typically juices the economy and stock market, citing the European Central Bank's aggressive rate-cutting campaign over the past year. But will the Fed follow his counsel? Medical aid in dying: where it's legal, how it works Dan Diaz and his wife, Brittany Maynard, took their dogs Charley and Bella for a walk the morning of Nov. 1, 2014, with their friends and family. Later that day, Maynard died. Doctors found Maynard's brain tumor exactly 10 months prior, on New Year's Day. Within days of her cancer diagnosis, Maynard decided she wanted to move from California to Oregon to gain access to the state's medical aid in dying program. Here's how the program works, and where it is offered. The road to a perfect credit score Perfect credit, or even really good credit, opens doors for American consumers: Better interest rates on loans. Better odds of renting an apartment or landing a job. Lower insurance premiums. But how do you get there? All sorts of things can ding your credit score, from missed utility payments to maxed-out credit cards to errors on a credit report. Here are five expert tips. 📰 More stories you shouldn't miss 📰 About The Daily Money Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you. Daniel de Visé covers personal finance for USA Today.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Health
- USA Today
'Just support her': Brittany Maynard's husband says medical aid in dying helped him grieve
'Just support her': Brittany Maynard's husband says medical aid in dying helped him grieve Show Caption Hide Caption Handle with care: a caregiver's story Former caregiver David Cook reflects on the experience of caring for his dying wife and highlights the need for better help for other caregivers. Brittany Maynard chose medical aid in dying after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Maynard's husband, Dan Diaz, became her caregiver and supported her decision to move to Oregon for access to the state's Death with Dignity Act. Medical aid in dying, legal in 11 states and Washington, DC, allows terminally ill patients to take medication to end their lives peacefully. Experts emphasize the importance of open communication about death and end-of-life care. Dan Diaz and his wife, Brittany Maynard, took their dogs Charley and Bella for a walk the morning of Nov. 1, 2014, with their friends and family. Later that day, Maynard died. Doctors found Maynard's brain tumor exactly 10 months prior, on New Year's Day. The couple had been married a little over a year at the time. 'We were just a regular married couple," Diaz, 53, said. 'We'd go out for sushi on Friday nights.' His sick wife asked him to kill her. He could never, but he can't shake the haunting memories. Within days of her cancer diagnosis, Maynard decided she wanted to move from California to Oregon to gain access to the state's medical aid in dying program. Diaz followed her without question, knowing it was important to Maynard to die gracefully. That fall, she started to suffer with pain that not even morphine could alleviate, Diaz said. She couldn't sleep. Her symptoms included nausea, vomiting and seizures. He remembers Maynard telling him: "Dan, I can feel it. I know that this cancer is killing me. I can feel that this is ending my life." Maynard died at the age of 29. More: A caregiver dad, Bradley Cooper and how a national crisis inspired an unexpected film Death comes for everyone, yet talking about death is still taboo for many families. The topic can be particularly emotional for family caregivers who devote much of their lives to helping their loved one stay comfortable. However, not talking about the inevitable can make the logistics of dying more stressful than it needs to be, experts say, especially if there's little time left. Some patients find comfort in medical aid in dying, which allows individuals with six months or less to live the option to obtain a medicine that can help them die peacefully at a time of their choosing. It's not considered euthanasia – which is when someone administers a lethal drug – because the patient takes the medicine themselves. Medical aid in dying is legal in 11 states and in Washington, DC. 'A lot of patients really express this desire to shield family members from the agony of watching them die, and potentially having them witness a really traumatic or a really burdensome death," said Anita Hannig, an anthropologist and author of the book "The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America." Some caregivers say medical aid in dying helped in their grieving process, too. Wrapped in Diaz's arms and surrounded by her loved ones, Maynard took the medicine. Within five minutes, Diaz said, she fell into a peaceful sleep. Within 30 minutes, her breathing slowed and she died. The caregiving crisis is real. USA TODAY wants to hear from you about how to solve it. In the weeks leading up to her death, Maynard had captured the attention of millions as she shared her story and advocated for medical aid in dying to expand to more states. Her determination, Diaz said, also felt like a gift to him, by making his role plain and simple. "All I had to do was just support her," Diaz said. How caregivers can support terminally ill patients who ask to die Candace Dellacona, a family lawyer in New York who specializes in estates and trusts, knows how crucial it is to plan for a loved one's death. But she said the concept has become "a lot more real" as she's gotten older and seen her friends and family struggle to have those important conversations. She was a caregiver for her uncle in New York and helped with her father's care, too, across state lines. 'I do this for a living, and I couldn't say it to my uncle, like, 'what do you want?'' Dellacona, 50, said. 'What do you want your death to look like? What does that mean to you?' Many people say they want to stay at home at the end of their lives. When Dellacona hears this, she asks her clients: 'How? Do you want 24-hour care? Like, let's get into the nitty-gritty. Those are the things that people are not talking about.' When a patient asks to die or wants more information on medical aid in dying, Hannig said, it can be jarring for their families. 'It's not necessarily about the request itself, but what the request symbolizes," she said. Some family members come on board immediately, especially if they're intimately aware of the patient's suffering. Patients who want to access medical aid in dying need the support of their family caregivers, Hannig said, in order to get to appointments, fill out paperwork and get the prescription, not to mention moral support. When families don't offer that support, she said, it's often because they are in denial about their loved one's condition. Caregivers might be angry because they aren't ready for their loved one to die. 'What I want is a peaceful death': Kevin Roster has only weeks to live – and that's why he moved to California Catie Kelley, policy counsel for Americans United for Life, an anti-abortion advocacy group that opposes medical aid in dying, said she feels compassion for these families. Everyone has the right to withdraw life-sustaining care, Kelley said. However, she takes issue with patients speeding up the process. As a previous prosecutor of health care fraud, Kelley said she's worried about patient safety and ensuring patients aren't manipulated by their caregivers. She's concerned that laws allowing medical aid in dying don't provide enough safeguards for patients, such as comprehensive mental health evaluations. People who opt for medical aid in dying are not suicidal, Hannig, the anthropologist, said. Terms like "physician-assisted suicide" and "euthanasia" are often used by opponents to medical aid in dying, though the terms aren't totally accurate. Jessica Empeño, national director for clinical engagement at Compassion & Choices, a nonprofit advocacy group that supports medical aid in dying, said the biggest difference between medical aid in dying and a phrase like "physician-assisted suicide" is that in medical aid in dying, the patient is in control. A physician doesn't even have to be in the room when a patient takes the medicine. Most importantly, Empeño said, these patients don't want to die, "but they are dying." It's a long and involved process to apply for and get the medication, and only patients with a prognosis of six months or less to live qualify. One thing Empeño, Kelley and Hannig agree on: When a patient asks to die, it's crucial to ask questions about their pain levels, comfort and mental health. Caregiving is 'the best way I can say I love you.' Death isn't a taboo subject in all families. Jacob Shannon, 47, said death and medical aid in dying were normal topics of conversation in his family, where his mom worked in public health and his stepfather was a doctor turned health care executive. His mother, Lynda Shannon Bluestein, was a long-time medical aid in dying advocate and sued Vermont to remove its residency restriction on the program because Connecticut, where she lived, didn't allow medical aid in dying. She won, and died in Vermont in 2024 after her cancer came back. Oregon is the only other jurisdiction without a residency requirement. On his way home from his first visit to his mother after her remission ended, Shannon said he remembers thinking: 'I shouldn't be here. Why am I in the car? I need to be with my mom. I need to take care of her.' He left his home and family in Colorado and spent the rest of his mother's life caring for her. 'I really believe that caring for the people that I love when they need the most help is the best way I can say I love you," he said. Open communication is key to caregiving and preparing for a loved one's death, Shannon said. "Have the hard conversations," he said, and be ready to help in every way: cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands and more. "Taking care of a loved one at the end isn't just, you know, by their bedside," Shannon added. "It's taking care of life. And don't be scared, jump into it. Just help.' 'Have the conversation.' Not every patient can or wants to move to one of the 12 jurisdictions that allow medical aid in dying. Moving can be expensive, and some patients don't have the physical ability or time to move. The best thing caregivers can do, Empeño said, is to advocate for their loved one and plan for their death. Ask questions about what the patient wants when they are dying, like if they want visitors in those final moments and who should make final decisions if the patient can't themselves. In the end, Dellacona said, her clients who talk about death feel more empowered and at peace. 'It's just really helpful to have the conversation and talk openly to plan for end of life," Empeño said. "That is something we can't underestimate the value of enough." As Maynard's caregiver, Diaz said he was constantly researching, asking questions and reaching out to clinical trials that rejected his dying wife. He took a leave of absence from work. He helped her with her more than a dozen medications, went through medical bills while she was asleep and tried to take things one day at a time. Caregiving, he said, is "doing everything you can just so that they can have a good day." Because they'd talked about her death and Maynard was the one "calling the shots," he said, Diaz doesn't have any regrets or feel guilt with his grief. Now, Diaz advocates for medical aid in dying full time, keeping a promise he made to his late wife. 'She died in the same way that she lived her life, with grace, compassion and love.' Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach Madeline at memitchell@ and @maddiemitch_ on X.
