Zak Vescera
@zakvescera.bsky.social
Reporter covering financial crime in Vancouver for @theijf.org. Ink-stained wretch, cautiously optimistic EN/FR. [email protected]
The federal government is exploring using AI to fight a tidal wave of fraud cases that are costing Canadians billions and usually go unsolved
Proposed uses would include flagging police fraud reports for risk of victims self-harming and case management
theijf.org/article/fede...
Proposed uses would include flagging police fraud reports for risk of victims self-harming and case management
theijf.org/article/fede...
Federal government eyes AI to fight ‘tsunami’ of fraud cases
Public service journalism
theijf.org
February 2, 2026 at 6:04 PM
The federal government is exploring using AI to fight a tidal wave of fraud cases that are costing Canadians billions and usually go unsolved
Proposed uses would include flagging police fraud reports for risk of victims self-harming and case management
theijf.org/article/fede...
Proposed uses would include flagging police fraud reports for risk of victims self-harming and case management
theijf.org/article/fede...
A lil taste of the labour beat: DoorDash has hired a former Horgan staffer to lobby B.C. to lower its regulated work standards for gig workers. Province became first in Canada to introduce those standards in 2024 and regulations are now under review theijf.org/brief/doorda...
DoorDash taps former Horgan communications chief to lobby against B.C. gig worker rules
Public service journalism
theijf.org
January 30, 2026 at 4:46 PM
A lil taste of the labour beat: DoorDash has hired a former Horgan staffer to lobby B.C. to lower its regulated work standards for gig workers. Province became first in Canada to introduce those standards in 2024 and regulations are now under review theijf.org/brief/doorda...
Story from this week: a Canadian security body has internally warned the federal gov's gun buyback is being used as rhetorical ammunition by extremist groups. It also posits the buyback won't be effective in actually preventing extremist attacks
theijf.org/article/gun-...
theijf.org/article/gun-...
Report warns federal gun buyback gives ammunition to extremists
Public service journalism
theijf.org
January 30, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Story from this week: a Canadian security body has internally warned the federal gov's gun buyback is being used as rhetorical ammunition by extremist groups. It also posits the buyback won't be effective in actually preventing extremist attacks
theijf.org/article/gun-...
theijf.org/article/gun-...
I hate vancouver what do you mean a city councillor soft-launched his mayoral campaign with a video of him recycling a bagel wrapper
January 30, 2026 at 4:42 PM
I hate vancouver what do you mean a city councillor soft-launched his mayoral campaign with a video of him recycling a bagel wrapper
B.C.'s investment regulator has found a Vancouver venture capital company committed two pump and dump stock fraud schemes. I've been following the story for almost two years. Respondent the panel described as a "conductor" for the schemes says he will appeal
theijf.org/article/bcsc...
theijf.org/article/bcsc...
B.C. securities panel finds executives committed ‘pump-and-dump’ stock scheme
Public service journalism
theijf.org
January 22, 2026 at 9:00 PM
B.C.'s investment regulator has found a Vancouver venture capital company committed two pump and dump stock fraud schemes. I've been following the story for almost two years. Respondent the panel described as a "conductor" for the schemes says he will appeal
theijf.org/article/bcsc...
theijf.org/article/bcsc...
Canada has spent years soliciting investment from Qatari's sovereign wealth fund, including for a small modular nuclear reactor project that is now a national infrastructure priority
theijf.org/brief/canada...
theijf.org/brief/canada...
Canada sought Qatari money for years before recent investment deal, records reveal
Public service journalism
theijf.org
January 22, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Canada has spent years soliciting investment from Qatari's sovereign wealth fund, including for a small modular nuclear reactor project that is now a national infrastructure priority
theijf.org/brief/canada...
theijf.org/brief/canada...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
The federal government lacks a cohesive national disaster response plan, although we've witnessed fires, floods and other emergencies – according to Public Safety Canada. Our Open by Default database has the details.
zurl.co/cZGIO
zurl.co/cZGIO
January 9, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The federal government lacks a cohesive national disaster response plan, although we've witnessed fires, floods and other emergencies – according to Public Safety Canada. Our Open by Default database has the details.
zurl.co/cZGIO
zurl.co/cZGIO
The IJF has obtained a list of federal departments and Crown corporations that were allegedly overbilled millions of dollars for work that was never performed.
theijf.org/article/mill...
theijf.org/article/mill...
Millions lost as federal agencies allegedly billed for phantom work
Public service journalism
theijf.org
December 16, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The IJF has obtained a list of federal departments and Crown corporations that were allegedly overbilled millions of dollars for work that was never performed.
theijf.org/article/mill...
theijf.org/article/mill...
if a headline starts with "what we know about" it triggers my fight or flight
December 15, 2025 at 11:47 PM
if a headline starts with "what we know about" it triggers my fight or flight
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Simon Fraser University wants only non-union faculty at its new medical school.
SFU contends that it's so new and different that the existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply.
pressprogress.ca/sfu-medical-...
SFU contends that it's so new and different that the existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply.
pressprogress.ca/sfu-medical-...
SFU Wants Only Non-Union Faculty at New Medical School
Simon Fraser contends that the med school is so new and different that its existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply
pressprogress.ca
December 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Simon Fraser University wants only non-union faculty at its new medical school.
SFU contends that it's so new and different that the existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply.
pressprogress.ca/sfu-medical-...
SFU contends that it's so new and different that the existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply.
pressprogress.ca/sfu-medical-...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
IT IS ME. ON THE CBC. As a reporter my articles get republished across Canada but somehow being the guest expert on a full podcast just feels really special. What a nod from fellow badass team of journalists that I look up to and admire.
This morning, @thetyee.ca ‘s health reporter @michellegamage.bsky.social is on Front Burner talking about the DULF constitutional trial - which could change Canada’s drug laws. Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
The 'compassion club' fighting Canada's drug laws
Podcast Episode · Front Burner · 2025-12-09 · 28m
podcasts.apple.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:18 PM
IT IS ME. ON THE CBC. As a reporter my articles get republished across Canada but somehow being the guest expert on a full podcast just feels really special. What a nod from fellow badass team of journalists that I look up to and admire.
The federal government increased the annual value of grants to students at private post-secondary insitutions by 8x between 2017 and 2022. Critics say that's an indirect subsidy for for-profit schools with mixed academic records
theijf.org/article/fede...
theijf.org/article/fede...
Federal government issued billions to students at private schools, data reveal
Public service journalism
theijf.org
December 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
The federal government increased the annual value of grants to students at private post-secondary insitutions by 8x between 2017 and 2022. Critics say that's an indirect subsidy for for-profit schools with mixed academic records
theijf.org/article/fede...
theijf.org/article/fede...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
The stats in @carlypenrose.bsky.social's latest story are pretty shocking. Gambling-related bankruptcies are up 331% since Ontario introduced iGaming.
It's way, way out of proportion with the stats for other provinces that don't allow private online betting sites.
theijf.org/article/onli...
It's way, way out of proportion with the stats for other provinces that don't allow private online betting sites.
theijf.org/article/onli...
Gambling-related bankruptcies have quadrupled in Ontario since iGaming's introduction
Public service journalism
theijf.org
December 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The stats in @carlypenrose.bsky.social's latest story are pretty shocking. Gambling-related bankruptcies are up 331% since Ontario introduced iGaming.
It's way, way out of proportion with the stats for other provinces that don't allow private online betting sites.
theijf.org/article/onli...
It's way, way out of proportion with the stats for other provinces that don't allow private online betting sites.
theijf.org/article/onli...
was trying to get info from a government body in Quebec and then I realized the English version of the site had none of the links but the French one did, this rules actually
December 8, 2025 at 6:27 PM
was trying to get info from a government body in Quebec and then I realized the English version of the site had none of the links but the French one did, this rules actually
Last month the feds gave a record $1 million penalty to a NB fish plant accused of mistreating its workers
Now, through interviews and court filings, here's a deeper look at what allegedly led to the biggest fine in the history of the temporary foreign worker program
theijf.org/article/bole...
Now, through interviews and court filings, here's a deeper look at what allegedly led to the biggest fine in the history of the temporary foreign worker program
theijf.org/article/bole...
N.B. fish plant trapped workers in debt, government alleges
Public service journalism
theijf.org
December 2, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Last month the feds gave a record $1 million penalty to a NB fish plant accused of mistreating its workers
Now, through interviews and court filings, here's a deeper look at what allegedly led to the biggest fine in the history of the temporary foreign worker program
theijf.org/article/bole...
Now, through interviews and court filings, here's a deeper look at what allegedly led to the biggest fine in the history of the temporary foreign worker program
theijf.org/article/bole...
MS-13 is trying to launder money in Canada. Intelligence agencies have evidence the gang's members have opened accounts at Canadian banks. Stopping it is a whole other question.
theijf.org/ms-13-money-...
theijf.org/ms-13-money-...
MS-13 seeking to launder money through Canada, report says
Briefing hints Canadian banks have dropped clients with links to cartel
theijf.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
MS-13 is trying to launder money in Canada. Intelligence agencies have evidence the gang's members have opened accounts at Canadian banks. Stopping it is a whole other question.
theijf.org/ms-13-money-...
theijf.org/ms-13-money-...
B.C. asked the federal government two years ago to start tracking potential money laundering in the province's fishing industry. They didn't. Now internal intelligence briefings warn the sector could be awash in dirty cash.
theijf.org/bc-fintrac-f...
theijf.org/bc-fintrac-f...
B.C. asked feds to crack down on potential money laundering in fishing sector
Federal fishing licenses allegedly being sold to wash dirty cash
theijf.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
B.C. asked the federal government two years ago to start tracking potential money laundering in the province's fishing industry. They didn't. Now internal intelligence briefings warn the sector could be awash in dirty cash.
theijf.org/bc-fintrac-f...
theijf.org/bc-fintrac-f...
Today: Canada compensated 4,000 people who claim they developed illnesses after being exposed to Agent Orange during U.S. military testing — and rejected claims from nearly 3,000 others
theijf.org/agent-orange...
theijf.org/agent-orange...
Canada compensated thousands of people for Agent Orange exposure, rejected thousands more
The Canadian government may have paid $80 million to people exposed to the herbicide and chemical weapon during testing in the 1960s
theijf.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Today: Canada compensated 4,000 people who claim they developed illnesses after being exposed to Agent Orange during U.S. military testing — and rejected claims from nearly 3,000 others
theijf.org/agent-orange...
theijf.org/agent-orange...
Canada issued a record $177m penalty to a Vancouver cryptocurrency exchange
But it probably won't be able to collect it. The company's addresses in Canada appear to be false. And it continues to operate from Lithuania, where I tracked it down
theijf.org/canada-crypt...
But it probably won't be able to collect it. The company's addresses in Canada appear to be false. And it continues to operate from Lithuania, where I tracked it down
theijf.org/canada-crypt...
Canada unlikely to collect $177M penalty against Vancouver crypto company, experts say
Cryptomus has no staff in Canada, continues to operate from Lithuania
theijf.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Canada issued a record $177m penalty to a Vancouver cryptocurrency exchange
But it probably won't be able to collect it. The company's addresses in Canada appear to be false. And it continues to operate from Lithuania, where I tracked it down
theijf.org/canada-crypt...
But it probably won't be able to collect it. The company's addresses in Canada appear to be false. And it continues to operate from Lithuania, where I tracked it down
theijf.org/canada-crypt...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
This Saturday, the IJF took home the RTDNA Canada award for overall digital excellence. It’s our third award win for Open By Default, the IJF’s database of internal government records.
zurl.co/J9mxt
#RTDNACanada #independentjournalism
zurl.co/J9mxt
#RTDNACanada #independentjournalism
November 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This Saturday, the IJF took home the RTDNA Canada award for overall digital excellence. It’s our third award win for Open By Default, the IJF’s database of internal government records.
zurl.co/J9mxt
#RTDNACanada #independentjournalism
zurl.co/J9mxt
#RTDNACanada #independentjournalism
doing a background check on a possible financial criminal and inhaling sharply when I find out they're a virgo
October 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
doing a background check on a possible financial criminal and inhaling sharply when I find out they're a virgo
Reposted by Zak Vescera
TC Energy pushed CSIS to create an intel-sharing group including the spy agency, RCMP and corporations worth more than $500 million. Former CSIS director David Vigneault, a "dear friend" of Business Council of Canada president, appeared to support the idea. New from me and @zakvescera.bsky.social
Documents reveal TC Energy pressured Canada for ‘private, high-level’ access to spy agency intelligence, a move critics worry could chill legitimate protest. via @writermjs.bsky.social and @zakvescera.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/tc-energy-cs...
TC Energy lobbied Canada’s spy agency to share intelligence | The Narwhal
Pipeline giant TC Energy urged CSIS to brief Canada’s biggest companies on security threats — raising concerns about surveillance
thenarwhal.ca
October 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
TC Energy pushed CSIS to create an intel-sharing group including the spy agency, RCMP and corporations worth more than $500 million. Former CSIS director David Vigneault, a "dear friend" of Business Council of Canada president, appeared to support the idea. New from me and @zakvescera.bsky.social
Canada's spy agency now shares intelligence with corporations thanks to a behind-the-scenes push from a major pipeline company
Done with @writermjs.bsky.social and the amazing folks at @thenarwhal.ca
theijf.org/tce-csis-lob...
Done with @writermjs.bsky.social and the amazing folks at @thenarwhal.ca
theijf.org/tce-csis-lob...
Canada’s spy agency now shares intel with corporations — thanks to a push from TC Energy
Canada’s biggest corporations successfully lobbied the federal government to enable access to sensitive intelligence information
theijf.org
October 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Canada's spy agency now shares intelligence with corporations thanks to a behind-the-scenes push from a major pipeline company
Done with @writermjs.bsky.social and the amazing folks at @thenarwhal.ca
theijf.org/tce-csis-lob...
Done with @writermjs.bsky.social and the amazing folks at @thenarwhal.ca
theijf.org/tce-csis-lob...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Watch the video with our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
October 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Watch the video with our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Find out more from our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
October 23, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Find out more from our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.