Euan Thomson - Drug Data Decoded

A man and a woman, both in suits, clap and smile in a cinder block room inside a jail.

ROSC Solutions Group

Alberta government refuses to say why it gave millions to ROSC Solutions Group

ROSC Solutions Group incorporated in late 2022. By March 2023, it had $70 million in Alberta provincial funding. Now, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction is deflecting requests for information on how that money got spent.

A courtroom setting is shown in pen and pencil drawing, where a woman and man appear with resolved and apprehensive expressions.

Safe supply

Anatomy of a hush-up: How Health Canada buried the safe supply expert reviews

After a nearly two-year access to information process, Drug Data Decoded has obtained the correspondence detailing steps taken inside Health Canada to ensure the Expert Advisory Group reports on medicalized safe supply and compassion club models never saw the light of day.

People holding signs and wearing black and yellow t-shirts supporting the SEIU union and shelter workers' rights.

Labour Rights

Out in the Cold, Part 4: Union busting

Final part of a twelve-month investigation: records reveal additional organizations party to the takeover of Out of the Cold shelters as the Nova Scotia government played favourites with service providers. Meanwhile, worker paranoia about surveillance by security guards proves true.

Out in the Cold, Part 3: Atlantic Community Shelters Society handed $12.9 million by Province in its first year

Upon taking control of the former Out of the Cold shelters, Atlantic Community Shelters Society got a 72% bump in provincial funding to the facilities. The agency had so much surplus cash in its first year, it transferred more than $1 million to its sister agency, Quest Society.

Nine police officers in police caps and uniforms smiling in front of an old staircase.

Halifax Police

Out in the Cold, Part 2: Shelter staff "treated like criminals" by politically motivated police

Out of the Cold staff were criminalized while running low-barrier shelters in Halifax, until they were terminated. This hit a crescendo as Halifax police were 'alerted' to union organizing – by the agency getting their contracts. Why and how did police help dismantle Out of the Cold?

About fifteen people gather in front of a polished marble building, three of them forming the letters OTC. Others hold protest signs about housing for all.

Nova Scotia

Out in the Cold, Part 1: Surveillance, smearing and shutdown of a harm-reduction shelter

Part 1 of an 11-month investigation: The dismantling of Halifax-based Out of the Cold Community Association followed the Nova Scotia government's coordinated criminalization of the organization and its staff – including the country's earliest documented use of the SCAN Act to surveil a nonprofit.

A police officer in a militarized uniform with heltet and body armor holds a camera to his face, to photograph protesters at a night-time protest in a field.

Surveillance

Palantir's access to Canadian military data may include facial recognition of civilian social media

The Toronto Star is reporting on a $3.7 million contract providing Palantir access to Canadian military data – "a big piece of Canadian sovereignty data-exposure,” as one expert said. This may enable Palantir to leverage ongoing social media monitoring, including facial recognition.

A train exits Lethbridge heading west across the bridge spanning the Oldman River that splits the town in two. The bridge is a few hundred feet high. The sky above is cloudy.

supervised consumption

Alberta's only expert witness against consumption sites was an American economist in Italy. Here's how that went.

As provinces like Manitoba resume harm reduction as usual, the Alberta government's coup against supervised consumption appears to be crumbling underfoot with no medical or public health experts coming to bat. Can an American economist in Italy save the government's case against consumption sites?

Calgary Police

The Sarlacc

Sixteen years ago, Raheleh Tarani’s brother was killed by Iranian authorities during a protest. Her May 9, 2024 assaults and arrest at UofC by Calgary police brought back flashbacks – this time, frenzied concern for the safety of her sons attending that protest on Canadian soil.

A tent encampment on a grassy area with around ten tents visible, and a sign saying Treaty 7 to Palestine, occupation is a crime.

Police

For Immediate Release: Calgary Police, City of Calgary and University of Calgary sued by demonstrators for excessive force, breach of rights in 2024

Drug Data Decoded writer/editor joins eight other plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking damages and vindication that Charter rights were violated during the brutal police operation to remove a peaceful demonstration at the University of Calgary on May 9, 2024.

A man in a suit leans on a podium that says "Alberta Recovery Model" while speaking toward someone at the side.

Surveillance

Alberta government may be surveilling nonprofits province-wide using SCAN Act

The Ministry of Public Safety, working to prevent the release of files related to surveillance of nonprofit organizations by government police, has admitted that it holds 300 pages of records related to investigations of nonprofits across the province.

A woman in a green and white striped t-shirt and long lightly purple-coloured hair smiles standing at a table with harm reduction supplies.

Surveillance

Unprecedented, "coordinated hit" by Alberta government used snitch law to spy on Turning Point Society

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act allows any citizen to trigger an investigation of a neighbour for drugs on the property. Since its adoption across Canada two decades ago, the snitch legislation has never been used to attack a nonprofit agency – until now.