Public Commenting Period Now Open

The Digital Governance Standards Institute (DGSI) is pleased to announce the opening of a 60-day public review period for CAN/DGSI 128: Machine Learning and AI Implementation in Research Institutions. This draft National Standard of Canada establishes minimum requirements for the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies across Canada’s universities, research centers, libraries, and archives.

As AI-driven tools increasingly shape the way research institutions store, analyze, and distribute information, this standard provides essential guidance on ethical AI use, data governance, research security, and long-term sustainability. It outlines best practices to help institutions integrate AI and ML while ensuring that research integrity, transparency, and accessibility are protected.

The draft standard addresses key concerns such as:

• Preserving information and data integrity to prevent AI-driven distortions, misclassification, or deletion of vital research data.
• Ensuring metadata and context preservation to maintain the integrity of research materials and historical archives.
• Promoting informed and principled access to AI-enhanced research tools while respecting intellectual property, cultural data sovereignty, and ethical guidelines.
• Defining sustainability requirements to mitigate environmental impacts of AI technologies within research institutions.
• Ensuring transparency in AI decision-making processes, including bias mitigation and proper human oversight.

How to Participate

The draft standard is now available for public review, and DGSI welcomes comments and insights until May 19th, 2025. Stakeholders can submit feedback via the DGSI website or click on the interactive tab and provide your comments right in the draft standard.

Get involved

The DGSI’s development process is collaborative and open to all, and anyone interested in contributing to the development of digital governance standards is encouraged to get involved. For more information on how to participate, contact:

Darryl Kingston

Executive Director

Digital Governance Standards Institute

For every person that subscribes to c/fairvote, I'll donate $1 to proportional representation advocacy!

See details in link.

Privacy Badger on Bluesky

Using an older version of Firefox?

ALL add-ons will stop working on Firefox versions older than 128 (or older than ESR 115.13+) on March 14, in just a few days from now.

To keep using your add-ons including Privacy Badger, you will need to update Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/root-certificate-expiration

The Narwhal on Bluesky

For a half-century, a pulp mill in northern Ontario has used a tributary of Lake Superior to dispose of its wastewater. With the mill shuttered, the creek is bouncing back, but it’s been through boom and bust before: https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-pulp-mill-blackbird-creek/

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/40374512

Electoral Renewal Canada on Bluesky

Did strategic voting matter in the Ontario Election?

My verdict is that a large number of people DID vote strategically in this election. However, I don't believe it was a determining factor.

It did deliver a massive advantage to sitting MPPs. Let's look at the numbers. (1/6)

🟧 NDP incumbents performed remarkably well.

Avg. NDP candidate: -5.5% (compared to '22) Ridings NDP won in '22: -0.7% Ridings w/ NDP inc. running for re-election: +3.0% (‼️)

This difference is unusual, but it's quite clear that the NDP benefitted >when they had a strong name to rally around. (2/6)

🟥 Liberal incumbents also overperformed.

Avg. OLP candidate: +6.1 Ridings w/ Liberal incumbent running for re-election: +13.4

In all elections, incumbents do have a name recognition advantage, but beating the median by more than 7% is notable. (3/6)

Here's why I think strategic voting was at play. Here is he swing for:

🟧 NDP candidates in OLP ridings: -10.0% (4.5% below avg.)

🟥 OLP candidates in NDP ridings: +0.8% (5.3% below avg.)

I think this shows, when there was a clear name to rally around, a noticeable % of NDP and OLP voters did (4/6)

Here is where I dispel some enthusiasm.

In 2018, if you bundled Liberal and NDP votes into one party, they would have won 82 seats.

In 2022, that number was down to 71.

In 2025, it was 61. Which means that even with "perfect" strategic voting, there would be no majority for the coalition. (5/6)

The fact is that, even as it seems that many Ontarians did attempt to vote strategically, it did not impact the outcome of the election.

If voters are frustrated that a third consecutive Ford government is being upheld by a 40% majority, perhaps we should consider proportional representation. (6/6)

FFRF on Bluesky

Bragging about low vaccination rates during a measles outbreak isn’t a flex—it’s reckless endangerment. Protecting children should come before politics or ideology. Public health isn’t a debate.

Measles 🦠

• highly contagious! One person catching could spread it up to R~0~: ~17 other people, while COVID-19 has R~0~: ~3. That means measles is ~5.67× more contagious than COVID-19.
• is unique in that measles wipes out existing immunity for other diseases. Measles can cause you to become infected to pathogens you were once immune to.
• is caused by a virus, therefore antibiotics are wholly ineffective
• can be vaccinated against 💉

Recognizing and Responding to Measles Symptoms

If you are travelling this spring, remain vigilant for measles symptoms. Measles typically starts with fever; red, watery eyes; runny nose; and, cough; followed by a red rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body.

If you suspect you have measles while travelling in or returning to Canada:

• Wear a well-fitting medical mask and minimize contact with others.
• Inform a flight attendant, cruise staff, or border services officer upon arrival.

Stay Protected: Get Vaccinated

With measles cases rising worldwide and in Canada, keeping up with routine vaccinations is more critical than ever. Measles vaccination is highly effective in limiting transmission and preventing severe outcomes. If you are unsure of your vaccination status, check with your healthcare provider or local public health unit.

By staying vigilant and working together to increase measles vaccine coverage, we can prevent outbreaks and keep our communities safe against this preventable disease. The measles vaccine is the best way to protect you and your family.

If you think you or a family member has the measles, or you think you’ve been exposed to measles, call your health care provider immediately – do not go to a health care facility or office without calling ahead first

Please go get vaccinated, folks. Vaccines are demonstrated to be safe and effective time and time again.

Unimmunized 159 (89.8%) (from Public Health Ontario)

External links 🖇️

• Digital and Virtual Care Services | Ontario Health