Some government websites taken down in response to security risk: AI minister
Some government websites have been taken down temporarily as a precaution against a security risk, says Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon.
In a social media post, Solomon says the websites went dark to protect government systems and Canadians' information following guidance from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.
He says this is being done in response to a vulnerability identified in PHP, a widely used programming language.
Solomon says this is a global issue and governments and organizations around the world are also taking protective measures.
The FBI’s cyber division says the vulnerability could allow malicious actors to remotely execute code in the programming language, potentially compromising sensitive data and networks.
The PHP Foundation, which includes developers who work on securing the programming language, says it has released fixes for the vulnerabilities, along with instructions on how to update systems.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
— With files from The Associated Press
By Catherine Morrison | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Plasma collection company Grifols gradually reopening locations
A for-profit company that collects plasma says it has started to accept limited donations again after getting clearance from Health Canada.
Barcelona-based Grifols says its phased reopening, which began Tuesday, includes one site in Winnipeg and another in Edmonton, with both under enhanced Health Canada oversight.
A second Winnipeg location where Health Canada suspended the company's licence last month remains closed, and the agency's conditions are still in place on 16 locations.
Grifols paused plasma collections across the country on Aug. 14, following reports of two people dying after donating at Winnipeg sites.
A Health Canada investigation found no link between the deaths of the plasma donors and the collection process, and Grifols says at no point was the safety of donors and patients compromised.
Grifols says it has since strengthened its operating procedures, documentation practices, employee training and other measures as it works to ensure donor safety and regulatory compliance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Publisher cuts ties with Quebec author after finding evidence of AI use
A Quebec publishing house is cutting ties with author Thélyson Orélien after saying it found evidence he used artificial intelligence to write his debut novel.
Les Éditions du Boréal says analysis of some documents' metadata showed AI was used while writing the book.
The publisher says it will not reprint the book or publish more books by Orélien.
The allegations of AI use in his book, "C’était ça ou mourir" ("It was either that or dying"), emerged on social media in September.
Orélien has denied using AI in to write the book but said he had used it for research.
Before the controversy, the novel won the Prix du Roman Fnac and earned nominations for several major French literary awards.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2025.
By Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.