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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Delivering the Boldest Mortgage Reforms in Decades

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The federal government has the most ambitious housing plan in Canadian history—including building 4 million new homes—to make housing more affordable for Canadians. This plan will build a Canada that is fairer for every generation of Canadians, where they can get ahead, where their hard work pays off, and where they can buy a home.

    September 24, 2024

    The federal government has the most ambitious housing plan in Canadian history—including building 4 million new homes—to make housing more affordable for Canadians. This plan will build a Canada that is fairer for every generation of Canadians, where they can get ahead, where their hard work pays off, and where they can buy a home.

    As announced on September 16, 2024, the federal government is expanding eligibility for 30 year amortizations for insured mortgages to all first-time homebuyers and all purchasers of new builds, and increasing the $1 million price cap for insured mortgages to $1.5 million, effective December 15, 2024. Today, the government is releasing parameters for lenders and insurers to begin offering mortgages under these reforms starting this December.

    Parameters

    Expanding eligibility for 30 year mortgage amortizations for all first-time homebuyers and all buyers of new builds

    • This measure will apply to borrowers requiring high loan to value mortgage insurance in Canada and must satisfy the following requirements:
      • The total loan to value is 80 per cent or more; and,
      • The borrower is either: (i) a first-time homebuyer; or (ii) purchasing a newly constructed home.
    • As the government announced on June 11, 2024, to be considered a first-time homebuyer, a borrower must meet one of the following criteria:
      • The borrower has never purchased a home before;
      • In the last 4 years, the borrower has not occupied a home as a principal place of residence that either they themselves or their current spouse or common-law partner owned; or,
      • The borrower recently experienced the breakdown of a marriage or common-law partnership. On this point, the regulations will follow the approach that the Canada Revenue Agency has taken with respect to the Home Buyers’ Plan.
    • As the government announced on June 11, 2024, to be considered a newly constructed home, the new home must not have been previously occupied for residential purposes. This requirement is not intended to exclude newly constructed condominiums where there has been an interim occupancy period.

    Increasing the $1 million price cap for insured mortgages to $1.5 million

    • This measure would apply to all borrowers requiring high loan to value mortgage insurance in Canada and must satisfy the following requirements:
      • The total loan to value is 80 per cent or more;
      • The value of the eligible residential property against which the loan is secured must be less than $1.5 million; and,
      • The downpayment requirements for the loan are as follows:
        • 5 per cent on the portion of a purchase price up to $500,000.
        • 10 per cent on the portion of a purchase price between $500,000 and $1.5 million.

    Other Parameters

    • Effective date: These measures will be available for mortgage insurance applications that lenders submit to mortgage insurers on or after December 15, 2024.
    • These measures will only apply to high loan to value mortgages on properties occupied by the borrower or a close relative.
    • All other eligibility criteria for government-guaranteed mortgage insurance will continue to apply.

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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Government announces details of mortgage reforms to help Canadians get lower mortgage payments starting December 15

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    September 24, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

    Canadians work hard to afford a home. However, the high cost of mortgage payments is a barrier to home ownership, especially for millennials and Generation Z. To help more people, especially young people, become first-time homebuyers, the federal government announced the boldest mortgage reforms in decades on September 16.

    The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, today announced technical guidance for lenders and insurers to ensure Canadians can benefit from these mortgage reforms starting December 15, 2024:

    Increasing the price cap for insured mortgages from $1 million to $1.5 million to reflect current housing market realities and help more people qualify for a mortgage with a down payment of less than 20 per cent. Increasing the insured mortgage cap, which has not been adjusted since 2012, to $1.5 million will help more people afford their own home. Expanding eligibility for the 30-year mortgage amortization to all first-time and newly constructed home buyers to reduce the cost of monthly mortgage payments and help more Canadians afford their own home. By helping people afford new homes, including condominiums, the government is announcing a new measure that will encourage new housing construction and address the housing shortage. This measure builds on the commitment made in Budget 2024, effective August 1, 2024, to provide 30-year mortgage amortization for first-time buyers of newly constructed properties, including condominiums.

    These measures, which represent the most significant mortgage reforms in decades, are part of the federal government’s plan to build 4 million new homes to help more people become homeowners. It is the most ambitious plan in Canadian history.

    Along with the 4 million additional homes we are building, communities need help building other infrastructure. That is why the federal government is investing $6 billion through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to help communities expand and improve their infrastructure. This includes clean water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste management infrastructure. The government has begun negotiations with provinces and territories on key actions they can take to increase housing supply, in exchange for a share of the $5 billion in federal funding. For urgent municipal infrastructure priorities, applications for the $1 billion municipal component will begin next month.

    Quotes

    “To build on our momentum to help Canadians save for a down payment, last week we announced the boldest mortgage reforms in decades. Today, we are providing the technical guidance banks need to offer first-time home buyers lower mortgage payments. Talk to your financial institution today to get your first mortgage application ready by December 15.”

    – The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

    “Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. By reducing both the down payment and monthly mortgage costs, we are taking the boldest step yet for Canadians looking to buy their first home.”

    – The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    Quick Facts

    ThereCanadian enhanced mortgage charter, presented in Budget 2024, sets out expectations for financial institutions to ensure that people who are having difficulty making their mortgage payments have access to tailored relief and to facilitate the purchase of a first home.

    Mortgage loan insurance allows people to get a mortgage for up to 95% of the purchase price of a property, and ensures they get a reasonable interest rate, even with a smaller down payment.

    The government’s housing plan – the most ambitious in the country’s history – will build nearly 4 million additional homes to make housing more affordable in Canada. To help more people make a down payment, recognizing that the size of a down payment and the time it takes to save are now too large, the federal government has:

    Launching the Tax-Free Savings Account for First-Time Home Buyers, which allows individuals to contribute up to $8,000 per year, up to a cumulative maximum of $40,000 for their first down payment. No taxes on contributions or withdrawals; Increasing the Home Buyers’ Plan limit from $35,000 to $60,000, as announced in Budget 2024. This measure allows first-time home buyers to use the tax benefits of Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contributions to save up to $25,000 more for their down payment. The Home Buyers’ Plan allows Canadians to withdraw money from their RRSPs to buy or build a home. It can be used in conjunction with savings through the Tax-Free Savings Account for the purchase of a first property.

    Last week, the government also released plans for a tenants’ bill of rights and a property buyers’ bill of rightsThese will protect tenants from unfair practices, simplify leases and increase transparency of rental amounts, in addition to helping to make the property buying process fairer, more open and more transparent.

    To end encampments and combat homelessness, The government announced on September 22, 2024, that an amount of $250 million will be provided to provinces and territories that agree to match this funding. This funding will leverage up to $500 million to provide more shelter spaces, transitional housing and services to help people living in encampments find housing.

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    Contact persons

    Media may contact:

    Katherine CuplinskasDeputy Director of CommunicationsOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceKatherine.Cuplinskas@fin.gc.ca

    Media RelationsDepartment of Finance Canadamediare@fin.gc.ca613-369-4000

    General Inquiries

    Phone: 1-833-712-2292Teletypewriter: 613-369-3230Email:financepublic-financepublique@fin.gc.ca

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    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Announcement of new diplomatic appointments

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, today announced the following diplomatic appointments:

    September 19, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, today announced the following diplomatic appointments:

    Ms. Karen Mollica has been appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Slovak Republic. Ms. Mollica succeeds Ms. Cheryl Cruz.

    Mr. Ajit Singh has been appointed High Commissioner to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Mr. Singh succeeds Ms. Lilly Nicholls.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Implementation of the most daring mortgage reforms in decades

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The federal government is proposing the most ambitious housing plan in Canadian history, including building 4 million new homes to make housing more affordable for Canadians. This plan will build a fairer Canada for every generation, where everyone can get ahead, get a fair reward for their hard work, and be able to afford to own a home.

    September 24, 2024

    The federal government proposesthe most ambitious housing plan in Canadian history, which includes building 4 million new homes to make housing more affordable for Canadians. This plan will build a fairer Canada for every generation, where everyone can get ahead, get a fair reward for their hard work, and be able to afford to own a home.

    As announced on September 16, 2024, the federal government is expanding eligibility for 30-year amortizations on insured mortgages for first-time and newly constructed home buyers. It is also increasing the price cap for insured mortgages from $1 million to $1.5 million, effective December 15, 2024. The government is releasing parameters today that will allow lending parties and insurers to begin offering mortgages under these reforms starting in December.

    Settings

    Expanding eligibility for 30-year mortgage amortization for all first-time home buyers and those purchasing newly constructed properties

    This measure will apply to borrowing parties who require high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage insurance in Canada. In addition, the borrowing party’s application must meet the following requirements: The total LTV is 80% or greater; The borrowing party is either a first-time homebuyer or (ii) a newly constructed property.

    As the government announced on June 11, 2024, to be considered a first-time home buyer, the borrowing party must meet one of the following criteria: They have never purchased a property before; In the last 4 years, the borrowing party has not occupied a dwelling as their principal place of residence that they or their spouse or common-law partner owned. The borrowing party has recently experienced the end of a marriage or common-law partnership. In this regard, the regulations will follow the approach taken by the Canada Revenue Agency with respect to the Home Buyers’ Plan.

    As the government announced on June 11, 2024, to be considered a newly constructed home, the home in question must not have been previously occupied for residential purposes. This requirement is not intended to exclude newly constructed condominium apartments where there has been a period of temporary occupancy.

    Price cap increased from $1 million to $1.5 million for insured mortgages

    This measure will apply to borrowing parties who require high loan-to-value mortgage insurance in Canada. In addition, the borrowing parties’ application must meet the following requirements: The total loan-to-value ratio is 80% or greater; The value of the eligible residential property on which the loan is secured must be less than $1.5 million; The down payment requirements for the loan are as follows: 5% on the portion of the purchase price up to $500,000. 10% on the portion of the purchase price between $500,000 and $1.5 million.

    Other settings

    Effective date: These measures will apply to mortgage insurance applications that lenders submit to mortgage insurers on or after December 15, 2024. These measures will only apply to high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages on properties occupied by the borrowing party or a close relative. All other eligibility criteria for government-backed mortgage insurance will continue to apply.

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    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Joint Working Group to Negotiate Our Boundary in the Beaufort Sea

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The text of the following statement was issued by the governments of Canada and the United States of America on the occasion of the establishment of a joint working group on our Beaufort Sea boundary.

    September 24, 2024 – New York, New York – Global Affairs Canada

    The text of the following statement was issued by the governments of Canada and the United States of America on the occasion of the establishment of a joint working group on our Beaufort Sea boundary.

    “In a rapidly changing Arctic, marked by new challenges and increased strategic competition, the region has become a growing focus for the United States and Canada. Our shared interests in the region have served as the foundation of our bilateral Arctic relations for many decades and will continue to guide our Arctic cooperation into the future.

    “To strengthen their cooperation in the Arctic, Canada and the United States are announcing the establishment of a joint Canada-United States working group to undertake maritime boundary negotiations in the Beaufort Sea, including resolving the overlapping continental shelf issue in the central Arctic Ocean. The area of concern is located north of Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

    “The working group is expected to begin negotiations this fall and this reflects the commitment of the United States and Canada to clarify our shared northern boundary through cooperative bilateral negotiations and meaningful engagement with states, territories and Indigenous partners.

    “Canada and the United States will work collaboratively toward a final agreement that will clarify Arctic maritime boundaries, keeping in mind the responsible conservation and sustainable use of Arctic resources for the mutual benefit of Americans and Canadians, including Indigenous peoples.”

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    US Department of State

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Critical minerals sector key to driving global economic growth

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of the critical minerals sector in driving global economic growth and sustainability. 

    By leveraging key sectors such as mining, energy, and manufacturing, the President said South Africa is set to improve its business environment and attract much-needed investment.

    He was addressing the African Minerals Forum hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and Prosper Africa on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79), in New York, USA, on Monday. 

    He highlighted that four months ago, South Africa held national general elections, which ushered in a Government of National Unity, where 10 political parties have come together to coalesce around a common agenda for economic growth and sustainable development.

    President Ramaphosa underlined South Africa’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change through the country’s Just Energy Transition Plan. This plan aims to guide the shift from coal to renewable energy, while also ensuring equitable economic opportunities for affected communities. 

    “South Africa’s and Africa’s critical minerals sector has a crucial role to play in this regard, and we recognise the importance of collaboration with other countries to develop the potential of our critical minerals sector. 

    “The US in particular has established expertise in advanced mining technologies, automation and sustainability practices. 

    “We want to strengthen our ties with US companies and institutions to foster technological advancements, enhance supply chain efficiencies and attract investment into our mining sector,” the President said. 

    The President also emphasised that South Africa strongly endorses the United Nations Secretary-General’s position paper on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, where he highlights the importance of beneficiation, benefit sharing, local value addition and economic diversification.

    “It would not be an understatement to say that the minerals that lie beneath the soil of Africa are powering the green energy revolution. Thirty percent of the world’s proven critical mineral reserves are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “South Africa has substantial reserves of platinum group metals, manganese, vanadium as well as chromium. 

    “These resources are fundamental to the development of cutting-edge technologies that drive progress in various sectors. What will be critical is to ensure that this progress does not leave Africa behind,” he said.

    The President stressed the need to avoid perpetuating colonial-era exploitation, where African countries primarily export raw minerals. He said that by focusing on beneficiation and domestic processing, African nations could see significant economic growth. 

    President Ramaphosa highlighted that beneficiation and local processing of critical minerals could increase the continent’s GDP by 12% or more by 2050. 

    He cited estimates suggesting that African countries could generate USD 24 billion annually in GDP and create 2.3 million jobs by investing in mining beneficiation and domestic processing.

    President Ramaphosa highlighted the strides made by SASOL, South Africa’s flagship petrochemical company, in leading green hydrogen technologies research and development. 

    “As the global automotive industry moves towards Electric Vehicles and New Energy Vehicles, we are leveraging our rich experience with automotive production to get some of the world’s leading automotive manufactures with a footprint in South Africa to produce more their green vehicles in our country,” he said. 

    Despite improvements in the beneficiation of South Africa’s mineral exports, President Ramaphosa admitted that more needs to be done. 

    He underscored the country’s commitment to creating a supportive policy framework for the critical minerals sector, focused on streamlining regulations, fostering innovation in mining technologies, building workforce skills, improving transport and logistics infrastructure, and incentivising investment.

    South Africa’s five-point policy approach aims to create a supportive environment for the critical minerals sector. This includes simplifying regulations, supporting research and development in mining technologies, investing in workforce skills, improving logistics infrastructure, and incentivising domestic and international investment. 

    “South Africa also has a beneficiation strategy that seeks to translate the benefits of our country’s mineral endowments into a national competitive advantage. 

    “As the UN Secretary-General’s paper has noted, Critical Energy Transition Minerals can transform economies, create green jobs and foster sustainable local, regional and global development,” he said. 

    President Ramaphosa further stressed that for the potential of critical minerals to be fully realised, both mineral-producing nations and their end-user countries must embrace inclusivity. 

    He emphasised the importance of creating decent work opportunities, eradicating exploitative practices such as child and forced labour, and ensuring human rights protections. 

    Local beneficiation and industrialisation were highlighted as priorities, alongside environmental safeguards to ensure sustainable extraction practices. 

    The President urged for a long-term focus on inter-generational equity, recognising that critical minerals are vital for solving global challenges like climate change, energy, and food insecurity. 

    He called on US companies to collaborate in fostering sustainable development.

    “By leveraging our respective strengths, pursuing strategic collaborations, and implementing supportive policies, we stand ready to meet the demands of the global market and drive sustainable development. 

    “I call on US companies and investors to join us on our journey,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Death of an inmate from Archambault Institution

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    On September 15, 2024, Guy Bissonnette, an inmate from Archambault Institution, died while in our custody of apparent natural causes.

    September 17, 2024 – Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec – Correctional Service of Canada

    On September 15, 2024, Guy Bissonnette, an inmate from Archambault Institution, died while in our custody of apparent natural causes.

    At the time of death, the person had been serving an indeterminate sentence, which commenced on October 26, 1990, for second-degree murder.

    As in all cases involving the death of an inmate, Correctional Service Canada (CSC) will review the circumstances.

    CSC policy requires that the police and the coroner be notified.

    -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Schweikert Introduces Legislation That Would Save Taxpayers Almost $80 Billion Across a Decade

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman David Schweikert, alongside Congressmen Jared Golden (D-ME), Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Glenn Grothman (R-WI), introduced the Employee Retention Tax Credit Repeal Act, bipartisan legislation that would disallow the processing of Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) claims filed after January 31, 2024; dramatically increase penalties on those defrauding the government; and aid the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in getting out the door honest, low-risk returns from small businesses. The original design of the ERTC was to help Main Street retain employees during the pandemic. However, legitimate returns from small businesses desperately needing support were crowded out by perverse promoters looking to take advantage of an emergency program, landing ERTC on the IRS’s “Dirty Dozen” list in 2023.

    Earlier this summer, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel asked for Congress’ “help with this situation” and assist Treasury to “address fraud and error.” The ERTC Repeal Act would enable the return to fiscal sanity and end a program riddled with fraud that could cost up to seven times more—up to $550 billion—than initially estimated if allowed to continue. By eliminating the ERTC program, this bill would save taxpayers an estimated $79 billion over ten years.  

    “We’ve all heard from the number of small businesses in our district waiting for their claims to be processed,” said Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-01). “A 1.4 million return backlog still exists, and moving the deadline up, rather than waiting until April 2025, will enable the IRS to go after the bad actors seeking to take advantage of taxpayers while approving legitimate claims faster and delivering long-overdue refunds to small businesses. Congress would be perpetuating a moral hazard if this level of fraud were allowed to go unpunished. It’s past time fiscal responsibility prevails, and we act on behalf of future generations who will be shouldered with a more than $35 trillion national debt.”

    “This tax credit was an emergency response to protect workers and small businesses during the pandemic. Today, bad actors are abusing the program to pad their bottom lines at Americans’ expense,” Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) said. “It’s past time we end this program — the conditions that made it necessary are over, and it’s a ripe target for tax cheats. Taking it off the books will protect taxpayers from fraud.”

    Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said, “Although the COVID public health and economic emergency has ended, our national debt and fiscal challenges continue to mount. We thank Representatives Schweikert (R-AZ) and Golden (D-ME) for introducing the House version of legislation to repeal the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), which is rife with fraud and has significantly overshot the original cost estimate, increasing the national debt. Given that the economy has recovered from the pandemic, it’s clear that this tax credit has outlived its purpose. We encourage Congress to pass this bipartisan, bicameral bill without delay and save $80 billion as a first step toward putting our country back on a fiscally sustainable path.”

    Background of the Employee Retention Tax Credit Repeal Act:

    • The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)—created by the CARES Act and furthered expanded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan—is a refundable credit available to qualifying businesses who paid wages to employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2021, the IRS issued a notice warning employers of “third parties promoting improper Employee Retention claims.” These “promoters” often use aggressive and deceptive marketing tactics to convince businesses to allow them to file ERTC claims on their behalf. Fraud within the program became so prevalent that it then earned a place on the “Dirty Dozen” list of schemes and scams that make taxpayers vulnerable to personal and financial risk in March of 2023.

    The ERTC Repeal Act would bring forward the sunset date of the ERTC and disallow the processing of ERTC claims filed after January 31, 2024. Additionally, this bill would:

    • Increase penalties for promoters from $1,000 to $10,000 for individuals and $200,000 for business promoters;
    • Impose a $1,000 penalty for failure to comply with due diligence requirements; and
    • Extend the statute of limitations period on assessments to six years.

    Full bill text can be found here.

    ###

    Congressman David Schweikert serves on the Ways and Means Committee and is the current Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee. He is also the Vice Chairman on the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, chairs the Congressional Valley Fever Task Force, and is the Republican Co-Chair of the Blockchain Caucus, Telehealth Caucus, Singapore Caucus, and the Caucus on Access to Capital and Credit.

    Back to News

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada imposes further sanctions against Iran

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.

    September 18, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.

    Today’s announcement follows the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, who died while in the custody of Iran’s so-called morality police on September 16, 2022. Iranian authorities had detained her for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code.

    The sanctions apply to five Iranian political figures responsible for the design and implementation of repressive policies, including the violent repression of protesters.

    The five individuals are:

    • Mohammad Mokhber
    • Gholam Hossein Esmaili
    • Seyyed Masoud Mirkazemi
    • Siamak Rahpeik
    • Ahmad-Reza Radan

    Canada is imposing these sanctions in coordination with Australia and the United States. The three countries are taking similar action this week in response to the acceleration of Iran’s repressive measures against women and its brutal crackdown on citizen demonstrations, as well as its ongoing grave breach of international peace and security.

    Canada will continue to increase pressure on Iran and implement further measures for as long as Iran continues its abhorrent conduct. Canada’s measures includes designating Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the State Immunity Act, listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code and implementing sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act and the United Nations Act to impose dealing restrictions and freeze assets held in Canada.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Statement on First Known Post-Dobbs Death

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) issued the following statement based on ProPublica’s recent reporting on the tragic death of Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old mother who lost her life due to Georgia’s extreme abortion ban shortly after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision:

    “American women woke to learn their worst fears have been realized—a 28-year-old mother in Georgia was left to die because of the Trump abortion bans. A son lost his mother, a family lost their loved one.

    “Two years after her death, she is the first confirmed casualty in the MAGA war on women. It begs the question, how many more women have died, their stories hidden away?

    “What we know for certain is this will happen again. It will happen in Texas, and across the country, until we end these cruel bans.

    “We must defeat these Trump abortion bans and ensure every woman has access to comprehensive reproductive health care without fear of losing her life.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Joins Letter Calling on President Biden to Expedite Review of LNG Projects for Ukraine and Eastern European Allies 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) joined her colleagues in a letter to President Biden requesting that the Department of Energy (DOE) prioritize and expedite the review of projects that will supply liquified natural gas (LNG) to Ukrainian and Eastern European allies as it recommences the processing of applications for authorization to export LNG to countries where the U.S. does not have existing free trade agreements (non-FTA nations). This request was made with a focus on maintaining both U.S. national security and energy security for European allies. 

    “We must ensure that new exports do not impact energy prices for American consumers and businesses. However, the public interest also requires consideration of the extent to which LNG exports promote geopolitical stability and serve our national security interests. Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions towards Ukrainian infrastructure, including electricity and gas storage facilities, highlight the urgent need to assist Ukraine in recovering and rebuilding and for Ukraine to diversify and secure its energy supply,” said the Members.

    The letter was led by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. Other signers include Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Don Davis (NC-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Mary Peltola (AK-AL), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Marc Veasey (TX-33), and Susan Wild (PA-07).

    A full copy of the letter can be found by clicking here, or reading below:
     
    Dear President Biden: 

     As members of Congress, we write to request that the Department of Energy (DOE) prioritize and expedite review of projects that will supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Ukrainian and Eastern European allies as it recommences the processing of applications for authorization to export LNG to countries where the US does not have existing free trade agreements (non-FTA nations). This request is made with a focus on maintaining both US national security and energy security for our European allies. 

     DOE performs a critical function when it reviews applications for new LNG exports to non-FTA nations for consistency with the public interest. We must ensure that new exports do not impact energy prices for American consumers and businesses. However, the public interest also requires consideration of the extent to which LNG exports promote geopolitical stability and serve our national security interests. Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions towards Ukrainian infrastructure, including electricity and gas storage facilities, highlight the urgent need to assist Ukraine in recovering and rebuilding and for Ukraine to diversify and secure its energy supply. The Administration’s recent announcement of over $800 Million towards emergency energy needs in Ukraine to help “repair energy infrastructure damaged in the war, expand power generation, encourage private sector investment and protect energy infrastructure” will be vital to helping Ukraine recover and rebuild. 

    Equally important will be allowing Ukraine the ability to replace its natural gas supply when its contract with Gazprom expires at the end of this year. We believe that reducing Ukraine’s dependence on Russian energy will strengthen Ukraine’s energy security and align with the broader strategic goals of diminishing Russia’s influence in the region and reducing the leverage that hostile actors like Russia have over our allies. 

    Any delays to providing additional supplies of LNG to Ukraine and our Eastern European allies could jeopardize European energy security and market stability in the long-term. Typical gas offtake contracts are measured in years, not months, and are underpinned by certainty. We should not send mixed signals to our allies who want to eliminate their reliance on Vladimir Putin for good. We believe that the United States must demonstrate its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and resilience amidst ongoing threats by prioritizing and expediting review of projects that will supply LNG to Ukraine and Eastern Europe. 

    Additionally, American LNG is produced with some of the strongest environmental protections globally.1 Rigorous regulations and oversight ensure that our LNG exports are reliable and adhere to high environmental standards. We believe that these environmental standards, in combination with assistance made available through Inflation Reduction Act programs, such as the GHG Reporting and the Methane Emissions Reduction Programs, will ensure industry and this Administration work to continue reducing emissions from natural gas. By prioritizing and expediting review of LNG projects that will supply LNG to vulnerable nations, we believe DOE would enable our allies to benefit from cleaner LNG sources that have been shown to reduce emissions compared to foreign supplies and coal,2 thus supporting their transition to more sustainable energy systems. 

    The United States has already shown a strong commitment to supporting Ukraine. Extending and expanding support to the energy sector is a natural and necessary step. We must continue to lead by example, showing that we can balance our environmental commitments with the need to provide reliable energy to our European allies. We believe that, if US LNG producers adhere to increasingly stringent environmental standards, then this balance is maintained, promoting both energy security and environmental stewardship. 

    In conclusion, we believe that prioritizing and expediting review of LNG projects that will supply Ukraine and Eastern Europe will support geopolitical stability and advance the national security interests of the United States. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. House of Representatives Unanimously Passes Trahan’s Bipartisan Legislation to Advance Rare Disease Treatments for Kids

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, celebrated the unanimous passage of her bipartisan Creating Hope Reauthorization Act of 2024 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation will reauthorize a key program that incentivizes the development of new drugs and treatments for children battling rare pediatric diseases. Trahan introduced the legislation earlier this year alongside Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX-10), Anna Eshoo (D-CA-16), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Michael Burgess (R-TX-26), and Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44).

    “When a child is battling a rare disease like cancer, currently one of the leading causes of death for kids, they deserve access to the best treatments possible,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act is a critical bipartisan effort to make sure those treatments are available while newer and more effective treatments are being advanced to save children’s lives. The unanimous support for this legislation in the House is a testament to the necessity and effectiveness of this initiative, and I look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to send it to the President’s desk to become law.”

    Approximately 30 million Americans are affected by rare diseases, two out of every three of whom are children. However, treatments intended for adults are often too harsh for children, limiting their treatment options or even leaving them with life-altering complications after their disease is cured. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act seeks to solve this problem by reauthorizing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) cost-neutral priority review voucher (PRV) program, which incentivizes the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases. Since 2012, the PRV program has spurred the development of therapies for nearly 40 different diseases, 36 of which previously had no safe or effective FDA-approved treatments for children.

    The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act was included in the Give Kids a Chance Act, a bipartisan legislative package created to advance pediatric disease treatment. During a markup last week, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the Give Kids a Chance Act. In addition to Trahan’s legislation to advance pediatric rare disease treatments, the package also authorizes the FDA to direct companies to research combinations of therapies and cancer drugs in pediatric patients. The FDA is currently only authorized to direct pediatric cancer trials of single drugs, and the majority of these trials are conducted on children with relapsed cancer. However, kids with relapsed cancer are very rarely cured by one-drug treatments because their diagnoses are so advanced.

    Since her appointment to the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2021, Trahan has spearheaded multiple bipartisan initiatives to expand and improve pediatric health care. Last week, she secured passage by the full House of Representatives of her bipartisan Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, legislation that will break down barriers for children with complex medical conditions to make it easier for families to access out-of-state care. In July, she introduced the Bolstering Research and Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen research and treatment development for brain tumors, the leading cause of cancer-related death among children and young adults. In May, the House passed her bicameral and bipartisan Youth Poisoning Protection Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would ban the consumer sale of products containing high concentrations of sodium nitrite, a meat-curing chemical that has been popularized in online suicide forums because of its lethality when ingested.

    The legislative package containing Trahan’s Creating Hope Reauthorization Act now moves to the Senate where companion legislation has been introduced by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Named Chief Deputy Whip as Part of the House Democratic Leadership Team

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) was named Chief Deputy Whip by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05).  

    “I’m honored to join the Chief Deputy Whip team, supporting my dear friend Katherine Clark and the House Democratic Caucus. I’m humbled by the trust she’s placed in me, given her fearless leadership for women, children, and working families. Our mission is clear: put people over politics, stop MAGA extremism and Project 2025, and show that Congress delivers results when we unite. While Republicans push fear and division, we’ll defend our freedoms and work to reduce costs for all Americans. I look forward to being a voice for Latinos and Texans on the Whip team and keeping our caucus focused on the issues that matter most,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.

    “Since arriving in the halls of Congress, Rep. Sylvia Garcia has quickly proven a staunch advocate for Houston and a defender of democracy,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “I’m thrilled that she will serve the House Democratic Caucus as a Chief Deputy Whip, helping to defend reproductive freedom, reduce costs for families, and stop Republicans from enacting their extreme Project 2025 agenda.”

    Chief Deputy Whips play a key role in assisting the Whip by ensuring an accurate count of where the Democratic Caucus stands on upcoming bills in the U.S. House. They collaborate with colleagues to address questions about pending legislation, making sure members are well-informed on legislation before they reach the House floor for a vote.

    In this role, Congresswoman Garcia will also continue her service on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which is responsible for recommending committee assignments for members of Congress and influencing House policy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Statement on the Federal Reserve’s Decision to Cut Interest Rates

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) issued the following statement following the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by 50 basis points (0.5 percent):

    “Today’s rate cut is the first step of many to making everyday expenses more affordable to all Americans. For everyday consumers, it will be easier to obtain a mortgage or to borrow money for necessary expenses. For our businesses, it is now easier and less risky to invest in projects, like housing developments. It is also easier to borrow funds to hire more workers and grow our economy. As the Federal Reserve moves forward with these adjustments, they need to remain vigilant to ensure inflation continues to go down. Given how housing and gas prices continue to drive the current rate, they should continue to pursue avenues to help relieve pressures in these sectors.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Orders Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce to Pay $30 Million for Recordkeeping and Supervision Failures for Firm-Wide Use of Unapproved Communication Methods

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today issued an order simultaneously filing and settling charges with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), a swap dealer, for failing to maintain and preserve records that were required to be kept under CFTC recordkeeping requirements and failing to diligently supervise matters related to its business as a CFTC registrant.

    The order imposes a $30 million civil monetary penalty; orders CIBC to cease and desist from further violations of recordkeeping and supervision requirements; and orders CIBC to engage in specific remedial undertakings. CIBC also admits the facts detailed in the order.

    Case Background

    The order finds that from at least Sept. 2018 to the present, CIBC failed to stop employees, including those at senior levels, from communicating using unapproved communication methods, including messages sent via personal text. CIBC was required to keep certain of these written communications because they related to the firm’s CFTC-registered business. These written communications generally were not maintained and preserved by CIBC, and CIBC generally would not have been able to provide them promptly to the CFTC if and when requested.

    The order further finds the use of unapproved communication methods violated CIBC’s internal policies and procedures, which generally prohibited such communications. Further, some of the same supervisory personnel responsible for ensuring compliance with CIBC’s policies and procedures also used non-approved methods of communication to engage in business-related communications, in violation of firm policy

    The order recognizes CIBC’s cooperation with the Division of Enforcement’s investigation. 

    Since Dec. 2021, the CFTC has imposed $1.237 billion in civil monetary penalties on 27 financial institutions for their use of unapproved methods of communication, in violation of CFTC recordkeeping and supervision requirements.  [See CFTC Press Release Nos. 8470-21; 8599-22; 8699-23; 8701-23; 8762-23; 8763-23; 8794-23; 8880-24; 8943-24; 89-4524.]

    Related Civil Actions

    The Securities and Exchange Commission also announced today its filing and settling of charges against affiliates of CIBC, and imposed civil monetary penalties for recordkeeping and supervision violations related to the use of unapproved methods of communication.

    The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this matter are Katie Rasor, Alejandra de Urioste, David MacGregor, Lenel Hickson, Jr. and Manal M. Sultan.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canada imposes new sanctions on Iran

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, announced today that Canada is imposing additional sanctions against Iran under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.

    September 18, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, announced today that Canada is imposing additional sanctions against Iran under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.

    Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died while in the custody of Iran’s so-called morality police on September 16, 2022. Iranian authorities had arrested her for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code.

    The sanctions apply to five Iranian politicians responsible for designing and implementing repressive policies, including the violent repression of protesters.

    These five people are:

    Mohammad Mokhber Gholam Hossein Esmaili Seyyed Masoud Mirkazemi Siamak Rahpeik Ahmad-Reza Radan

    Canada is imposing these sanctions in coordination with Australia and the United States. All three countries are taking similar measures this week in response to Iran’s accelerating crackdown on women and brutal repression of citizen protests, as well as Iran’s continued serious violation of international peace and security.

    Canada will continue to increase pressure on Iran and implement new measures as long as Iran maintains its abhorrent behaviour. These measures include designating Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the State Immunity Act, listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, and implementing sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act and the United Nations Act to impose transaction restrictions and freeze assets held in Canada.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bird Union-CWA Wins First Union Contract at Audubon

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    With a unanimous vote, Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 members ratify first union contract with the National Audubon Society

    NATIONWIDE — Today, members of the Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 unanimously voted to ratify the first union contract at the National Audubon Society. The contract covers 260 union members represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1180 and was reached after more than two years of negotiations, supported by mobilization of union members across the country.

    The contract builds a foundation of union rights at Audubon, giving union workers just cause job protections, the organization’s first grievance procedure, and arbitration rights. The union members will receive up to 7% annual raises, including the first guaranteed across-the-board annual raise of 3% to all members. Across-the-board raises have been shown to improve pay equity, an important goal for Bird Union members. The contract also improves important employee benefits, such as paid parental leave, which will increase sixfold, from the previous two weeks to 12 weeks of paid leave.

    “After four hard-fought years, workers have secured a union contract for the first time in Audubon’s 119-year history,” said Shyamlee Patel, a member of the Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 and Audubon employee. “We’ve won better wages, better benefits, and better working conditions for ourselves—and secured a better future for Audubon. This contract supports and empowers workers who are dedicated to protecting the birds and the planet.”

    “This union contract marks a new beginning for Audubon—one where union members and management are able to collaborate instead of being at odds,” said Erin Hamilton, a member of the Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 and Audubon employee. “Reaching this agreement means so much for so many dedicated working members across the organization. And I am so glad to have been part of this historic moment in Audubon’s growth and a future where we can all focus on what’s really important, the BIRDS!”

    “Members have been waiting a long time for the benefits and protections that a contract provides,” said Soncey Kondrotis, a member of the Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 and Audubon employee. “We will finally see raises and bonuses and wage leveling that has been promised for years—monies that people have needed in these years we have been bargaining. Through the process of forming our union and negotiating our contract, I have had the opportunity to meet some of the great people we have at Audubon, and I only see this organization changing for the better for everyone going forward.”

    “This agreement is the result of membership solidarity, patience, strength, and action,” said Robin Blair-Batte, Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 1180, which represents Audubon workers. “Our Bird Union members have shown that when we stand together, we win. Together, Local 1180 members fought for a contract that will raise standards at Audubon and includes significant gains for every part of our membership—and for those who come after.”

    The contract was ratified unanimously through a vote that gave every union member a voice in their union contract.

    ###

    About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance

    Source: Global Wind Energy Council – GWEC

    Headline: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance

    24 September 2024, New York, USA | The State of New York announced its membership of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) – joining a network of governments, international organizations, and private sector actors committed to expanding offshore wind capacity globally and driving the transition to a clean energy future.

    GOWA is a multi-stakeholder alliance that aims to speed up the global deployment of offshore wind power. The alliance was launched at COP27 by Denmark, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Twenty governments have already joined GOWA. The addition of the State of New York further strengthens the global collaboration between regional and national governments and creates a more unified and coordinated approach to offshore wind development across the globe.

     

    Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said: “New York is honored to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance as we work with other government partners to grow and build-out the offshore wind industry, which is a critical component of the renewable energy infrastructure in New York and worldwide. This collaboration, which spans from sharing lessons and best practices to helping scale up offshore wind projects, will help further advance and sustain this powerhouse industry as we harness its full potential to secure a clean energy future.”

     

    “New York’s decision to join GOWA is a very timely step in uniting global efforts to expand the deployment of offshore wind energy. The commitment of New York not only enhances the alliance but also strengthens the collaboration between regional and national actors, improves energy security and pushes forward toward our shared global climate goals,” said Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard.

     

    Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, welcomed New York State joining GOWA: “Through GOWA, we work closely with governments, industry, and investors to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind projects worldwide. Offshore wind offers a pathway to decarbonize our power systems, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. Our World Energy Transitions Outlook projects that offshore wind capacity must increase sevenfold by 2030 and more than thirtyfold by 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. We need policies that incentivize investment, streamlined permitting processes, and innovative financing solutions.”

     

    As a pioneer in renewable energy, New York has already set ambitious targets under its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including the deployment of at least 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, a goal of at least 70 percent of New York’s electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2030 and a commitment to 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040. By joining GOWA, New York contributes to the global effort to accelerate renewable energy development, including the push for tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, a key global goal decided at COP28.

    The GOWA membership fosters collaboration between regional and national governments, a partnership important for advancing the offshore wind industry. This cooperation enables more efficient offshore wind deployment by combining the innovation and localized expertise of regional governments with the broader policy frameworks and resources provided by national authorities.

     

    “The continuous growth of GOWA’s membership reflects a steadfast commitment to offshore wind as a vital force in achieving net zero, supported by multi-national, national, and sub-national governments. I’m encouraged by the eagerness of key players to join our community, united in addressing the challenges of accelerating offshore wind development. New York’s decision to join GOWA at this critical juncture will bring invaluable expertise from a market that has weathered challenging conditions. I look forward to collaborating with New York and all GOWA members as we chart the global offshore wind pathway toward 2050.” – Amisha Patel, Head of Secretariat (Interim), Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA).

    Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC, said: “The growth of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance demonstrates the vital role offshore wind plays in the energy transition and the importance of collaboration to delivering on the world’s renewable energy ambitions. The addition of the State of New York to the Alliance brings another strong voice and invaluable expertise to the group. The US offshore wind industry is a key part of the energy transition’s acceleration this decade, and we look forward to supporting the State of New York’s efforts in making their offshore wind sector an example for the rest of the world to follow”

     

    He also highlighted GWEC’s research findings:

     

    “GWEC’s research suggests the world could deliver GOWA’s target of 380 GW of offshore wind by 2030, but only with the right frameworks in place. The collaborative work of the Alliance is fundamental to establishing and expanding this framework around the world and ensuring offshore wind delivers on its potential as a key tool of the energy transition.”

     

    GOWA’s goal is to significantly increase the global offshore wind capacity, aiming for a total of at least 380 GW by 2030 and at least 70 GW each year from 2030 onwards. This expansion is essential for reaching global climate neutrality by 2050 and limiting global warming to below 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

     

    With New York State as its newest member, GOWA now includes 21 member governments, including the European Commission and three subnational governments, and ten other key stakeholders, including the offshore wind sector, inter-governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance

    Source: Global Wind Energy Council – GWEC

    Headline: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance

    24 September 2024, New York, USA | The State of New York announced its membership of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) – joining a network of governments, international organizations, and private sector actors committed to expanding offshore wind capacity globally and driving the transition to a clean energy future.

    GOWA is a multi-stakeholder alliance that aims to speed up the global deployment of offshore wind power. The alliance was launched at COP27 by Denmark, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Twenty governments have already joined GOWA. The addition of the State of New York further strengthens the global collaboration between regional and national governments and creates a more unified and coordinated approach to offshore wind development across the globe.

     

    Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said: “New York is honored to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance as we work with other government partners to grow and build-out the offshore wind industry, which is a critical component of the renewable energy infrastructure in New York and worldwide. This collaboration, which spans from sharing lessons and best practices to helping scale up offshore wind projects, will help further advance and sustain this powerhouse industry as we harness its full potential to secure a clean energy future.”

     

    “New York’s decision to join GOWA is a very timely step in uniting global efforts to expand the deployment of offshore wind energy. The commitment of New York not only enhances the alliance but also strengthens the collaboration between regional and national actors, improves energy security and pushes forward toward our shared global climate goals,” said Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard.

     

    Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, welcomed New York State joining GOWA: “Through GOWA, we work closely with governments, industry, and investors to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind projects worldwide. Offshore wind offers a pathway to decarbonize our power systems, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. Our World Energy Transitions Outlook projects that offshore wind capacity must increase sevenfold by 2030 and more than thirtyfold by 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. We need policies that incentivize investment, streamlined permitting processes, and innovative financing solutions.”

     

    As a pioneer in renewable energy, New York has already set ambitious targets under its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including the deployment of at least 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, a goal of at least 70 percent of New York’s electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2030 and a commitment to 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040. By joining GOWA, New York contributes to the global effort to accelerate renewable energy development, including the push for tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, a key global goal decided at COP28.

    The GOWA membership fosters collaboration between regional and national governments, a partnership important for advancing the offshore wind industry. This cooperation enables more efficient offshore wind deployment by combining the innovation and localized expertise of regional governments with the broader policy frameworks and resources provided by national authorities.

     

    “The continuous growth of GOWA’s membership reflects a steadfast commitment to offshore wind as a vital force in achieving net zero, supported by multi-national, national, and sub-national governments. I’m encouraged by the eagerness of key players to join our community, united in addressing the challenges of accelerating offshore wind development. New York’s decision to join GOWA at this critical juncture will bring invaluable expertise from a market that has weathered challenging conditions. I look forward to collaborating with New York and all GOWA members as we chart the global offshore wind pathway toward 2050.” – Amisha Patel, Head of Secretariat (Interim), Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA).

    Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC, said: “The growth of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance demonstrates the vital role offshore wind plays in the energy transition and the importance of collaboration to delivering on the world’s renewable energy ambitions. The addition of the State of New York to the Alliance brings another strong voice and invaluable expertise to the group. The US offshore wind industry is a key part of the energy transition’s acceleration this decade, and we look forward to supporting the State of New York’s efforts in making their offshore wind sector an example for the rest of the world to follow”

     

    He also highlighted GWEC’s research findings:

     

    “GWEC’s research suggests the world could deliver GOWA’s target of 380 GW of offshore wind by 2030, but only with the right frameworks in place. The collaborative work of the Alliance is fundamental to establishing and expanding this framework around the world and ensuring offshore wind delivers on its potential as a key tool of the energy transition.”

     

    GOWA’s goal is to significantly increase the global offshore wind capacity, aiming for a total of at least 380 GW by 2030 and at least 70 GW each year from 2030 onwards. This expansion is essential for reaching global climate neutrality by 2050 and limiting global warming to below 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

     

    With New York State as its newest member, GOWA now includes 21 member governments, including the European Commission and three subnational governments, and ten other key stakeholders, including the offshore wind sector, inter-governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken at a Summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats – 1:30 PM

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivers remarks at a Summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats in New York City, New York, on September 24, 2024.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L8Xog8FlyI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Seizure of contraband and unauthorized items at Saskatchewan Penitentiary

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On September 17, 2024, as a result of the vigilance of staff members, contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

    September 18, 2024 – Prince Albert, Saskatchewan – Correctional Service Canada

    On September 17, 2024, as a result of the vigilance of staff members, contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

    The items seized included methamphetamine, fentanyl, a cannabis vape pen and cartridge, THC concentrate, tobacco, cell phones and a charger. The total estimated institutional value of these seizures is $148,431.

    The police have been notified and the institution is investigating.

    The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) uses a number of tools to prevent drugs from entering its institutions. These tools include ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates, and visitors.

    CSC is heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone. CSC also works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions.

    CSC has also set up a telephone tip line for all federal institutions so that it may receive additional information about activities relating to security at CSC institutions. These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates, and staff members working at CSC institutions.

    The toll-free number, 1‑866‑780‑3784, helps ensure that the information shared is protected and that callers remain anonymous.

    -30-

    Roxane Braun
    Media Relations and Outreach Advisor – Prairies
    Regional Headquarters
    306-512-2203

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening of the General Debate of the Seventy-ninth Session of the General Assembly [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Mr. President of the General Assembly,

    Excellencies,

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Our world is in a whirlwind.

    We are in an era of epic transformation – facing challenges unlike any we have ever seen – challenges that demand global solutions.

    Yet geo-political divisions keep deepening. The planet keeps heating.

    Wars rage with no clue how they will end.

    And nuclear posturing and new weapons cast a dark shadow.

    We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.

    Meanwhile, 2024 is the year that half of humanity goes to the polls – and all of humanity will be affected.

    I stand before you in this whirlwind convinced of two overriding truths.

    First, the state of our world is unsustainable.

    We can’t go on like this.

    And second, the challenges we face are solvable.

    But that requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems.

    The Summit of the Future was a first step, but we have a long way to go.

    Getting there requires confronting three major drivers of unsustainability.

    A world of impunity – where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and the UN Charter.

    A world of inequality – where injustices and grievances threaten to undermine countries or even push them over the edge.

    And a world of uncertainty – where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways.

    These worlds of impunity, inequality and uncertainty are connected and colliding.

    Excellencies,

    The level of impunity in the world is politically indefensible and morally intolerable.

    Today, a growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a “get out of jail free” card.

    They can trample international law.

    They can violate the United Nations Charter.

    They can turn a blind eye to international human rights conventions or the decisions of international courts.

    They can thumb their nose at international humanitarian law.

    They can invade another country, lay waste to whole societies, or utterly disregard the welfare of their own people.

    And nothing will happen.

    We see this age of impunity everywhere — in the Middle East, in the heart of Europe, in the Horn of Africa, and beyond.

    The war in Ukraine is spreading with no signs of letting up.

    Civilians are paying the price – in rising death tolls and shattered lives and communities.

    It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, on international law and on UN resolutions.

    Meanwhile, Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it.

    Look no further than Lebanon.

    We should all be alarmed by the escalation. 

    Lebanon is at the brink. 

    The people of Lebanon – the people of Israel – and the people of the world — cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.

    Let’s be clear.

    Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7th, or the taking of hostages – both of which I have repeatedly condemned.

    And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

    The speed and scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza are unlike anything in my years as Secretary-General.

    More than 200 of our own staff have been killed, many with their families.

    And yet the women and men of the United Nations continue to deliver humanitarian aid.

    I know you join me in paying a special tribute to UNRWA and to all humanitarians in Gaza.

    The international community must mobilize for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution.

    For those who go on undermining that goal with more settlements, more landgrabs, more incitement — I ask:

    What is the alternative?

    How could the world accept a one-state future in which a large a large number of Palestinians would be included without any freedom, rights or dignity?

    In Sudan, a brutal power struggle has unleashed horrific violence — including widespread rape and sexual assaults.

    A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads.  Yet outside powers continue to interfere with no unified approach to finding peace.

    In the Sahel, the dramatic and rapid expansion of the terrorist threat requires a joint approach rooted in solidarity – but regional and international cooperation have broken down.

    From Myanmar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Haiti to Yemen and beyond – we continue to see appalling levels of violence and human suffering in the face of a chronic failure to find solutions.

    Meanwhile our peacekeeping missions are too often operating in areas where simply there is no peace to keep.

    Instability in many places around the world is a by-product of instability in power relations and geo-political divides.

    For all its perils, the Cold War had rules.

    There were hot lines, red lines and guard rails.

    It can feel as though we don’t have that today.

    Nor do we have a unipolar world.

    We are moving to a multipolar world, but we are not there yet.

    We are in a purgatory of polarity.

    And in this purgatory, more and more countries are filling the spaces of geopolitical divides, doing whatever they want with no accountability.

    That is why it is more important than ever to reaffirm the Charter, to respect international law, to support and implement decisions of international courts, and to reinforce human rights in the world.

    Anywhere and everywhere.

    Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,
     
    L’augmentation des inégalités est un deuxième facteur de l’insoutenabilité et une tache sur notre conscience collective.
     
    L’inégalité n’est pas une question technique ou bureaucratique.
     
    Au fond, l’inégalité est une question de pouvoir, aux racines historiques.
     
    Les conflits, les bouleversements climatiques et la crise du coût de la vie étendent ces racines historiques plus profondément encore.
     
    Dans le même temps, le monde peine encore à se relever de la flambée des inégalités engendrée par la pandémie.
     
    Si l’on regarde les 75 pays les plus pauvres du monde, un tiers d’entre eux se trouve aujourd’hui dans une situation pire qu’il y a cinq ans.
     
    Au cours de la même période, les cinq hommes les plus riches de la planète ont plus que doublé leurs fortunes.
     
    Et un pour cent des habitants de la planète détient 43 % de l’ensemble des avoirs financiers mondiaux.
     
    Au niveau national, certains gouvernements décuplent les inégalités en accordant des cadeaux fiscaux massifs aux entreprises et aux ultra-riches — au détriment des investissements dans la santé, l’éducation et la protection sociale.
     
    Et personne n’est plus lésé que les femmes et les filles du monde entier.
     
    Excellences,
     
    La discrimination et les abus généralisés fondés sur le genre constituent l’inégalité la plus répandue dans toutes les sociétés.
     
    Chaque jour, il semble que nous soyons confrontés à de nouveaux cas révoltants de féminicides, de violences fondées sur le genre et de viols collectifs – en temps de paix comme en tant qu’arme de guerre.
     
    Dans certains pays, les lois sont utilisées pour menacer la santé et les droits reproductifs.
     
    Et en Afghanistan, les lois sont utilisées pour entériner l’oppression systématique des femmes et des filles.
     
    Et je suis désolé de constater que, malgré des années de beaux discours, l’inégalité de genre se manifesteet je vous demande pardon de le dire, elle se manifeste aujourd’hui encore, pleinement dans cette enceinte.
     
    Moins de 10 pour cent des intervenants au Débat général de cette semaine sont des femmes.
     
    C’est inacceptable, surtout quand on sait que l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes contribue à la paix, au développement durable, à l’action climatique et bien plus encore.
     
    C’est précisément pour cela nous avons pris des mesures spécifiques pour atteindre la parité hommes-femmes parmi les hauts responsables de l’Organisation des Nations Unies,objectif qui est déjà complété.
     
    C’est faisable.
     
    J’exhorte les institutions politiques et économiques du monde dominées par les hommes à le faire aussi.
     
    Excellences,
     
    Les inégalités mondiales se reflètent et se renforcent jusque dans nos propres organisations internationales.
     
    Le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies a été conçu par les vainqueurs de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
     
    À l’époque, la majeure partie du continent africain était encore sous domination coloniale.
     
    À ce jour, l’Afrique n’a toujours aucun siège permanent au sein de la principale instance de paix du monde.
     
    Un changement s’impose.
     
    Il en va de même pour l’architecture financière mondiale, mise en place il y a 80 ans.
     
    Je félicite les dirigeants de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international pour les mesures importantes qu’ils ont entreprises.
     
    Mais comme le souligne le Pacte pour l’avenir, la lutte contre les inégalités exige une accélération de la réforme de l’architecture financière internationale.
     
    Au cours des huit dernières décennies, l’économie mondiale s’est développée et transformée.
     
    Les institutions de Bretton Woods n’ont pas suivi le rythme.
     
    Elles ne sont plus en mesure de fournir un filet de sécurité mondial, ni d’offrir aux pays en développement le niveau de soutien dont ils ont tant besoin.
     
    Dans les pays les plus pauvres du monde, le coût des intérêts de la dette dépasse, en moyenne, le coût des investissements dans l’éducation, la santé et les infrastructures publiques réunis.
     
    Et à l’échelle du monde, plus de 80 % des cibles des Objectifs de développement durable ne sont pas en bonne voie.
    Excelencias,

    Volver al camino correcto requiere un aumento de financiamiento para la Agenda 2030 y el Acuerdo de París.

    Esto implica que los países del G20 lideren un Estímulo para los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de 500.000 millones de dólares al año.

    Implica reformas para aumentar sustancialmente la capacidad de préstamo de los Bancos Multilaterales de Desarrollo – y permitirles ampliar masivamente la financiación asequible a largo plazo para el clima y el desarrollo.

    Implica ampliar la financiación de contingencia mediante el reciclaje de los Derechos Especiales de Giro.

    E implica promover una reestructuración de la deuda a largo plazo.

    Excelencias,

    No me hago ilusiones sobre las barreras a la reforma del sistema multilateral.

    Los que tienen poder político y económico, o y los que creen tenerlo, son siempre reacios al cambio.

    Pero el status quo ya está agotando su poder.

    Sin reformas, la fragmentación es inevitable, y las instituciones globales perderán legitimidad, credibilidad y eficacia.

    Excellencies,

    The third driver of our unsustainable world is uncertainty.

    The ground is shifting under our feet.

    Anxiety levels are off the charts.

    And young people, in particular, are counting on us and seeking solutions.

    Uncertainty is compounded by two existential threats – the climate crisis and the rapid advance of technology — in particular, Artificial Intelligence.

    Excellencies,

    We are in a climate meltdown.

    Extreme temperatures, raging fires, droughts, and epic floods are not natural disasters.

    They are human disasters — increasingly fueled by fossil fuels.

    No country is spared. But the poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit.

    Climate hazards are blowing a hole through the budgets of many African countries, costing up to five per cent of GDP – every year.

    And this is just the start.

    We are on course to careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degree temperature rise.

    But as the problem gets worse, solutions are getting better.

    Renewable prices are plummeting, roll-out is accelerating, and lives are being transformed by affordable, accessible clean energy.

    Renewables don’t just generate power. They generate jobs, wealth, energy security and a path out of poverty for millions.

    But developing countries cannot be plundered in that journey.

    Our Panel on Critical Minerals has recommended fair and sustainable ways to meet global demand for these resources, which are essential to the renewables revolution.

    Excellencies,

    A future without fossil fuels is certain.  A fair and fast transition is not.

    That is in your hands.

    By next year, every country must produce an ambitious new national climate action plan – or Nationally Determined Contributions.

    These must bring national energy strategies, sustainable development priorities, and climate ambitions together.

    They must align with the 1.5 degree limit, cover the whole economy, and contribute to every one of the COP28 energy transition targets.

    An International Energy Agency report released today breaks this down.

    By 2035, on average, advanced economies must slash energy emissions 80 per cent, and emerging markets 65 per cent.

    The G20 is responsible for 80 per cent of total emissions.

    They must lead the charge – keeping with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances.

    But this must be a joint effort — pooling resources, scientific capacities and proven and affordable technologies for all to be able to reach those targets.

    I’m honoured to be working closely with President Lula of Brazil – who is both G20 Chair and COP30 host – to secure maximum ambition, acceleration and cooperation. We just met for that purpose.

    Finance is essential.

    COP29 is around the corner.

    It must deliver a significant new finance goal.

    We also need a Loss and Damage Fund that meets the scale of the challenge – and developed countries meeting their adaptation finance promises.

    And we must finally flip the script on a crazy situation:

    We continue to reward polluters to wreck our planet.

    The fossil fuel industry continues to pocket massive profits and subsidies, while everyday people bear the costs of climate catastrophe – from rising insurance premiums to lost livelihoods.

    I call on G20 countries to shift money from fossil fuel subsidies and investments to a just energy transition;

    To put an effective price on carbon;

    And to implement new and innovative sources of financing – including solidarity levies on fossil fuel extraction – through legally-binding, transparent mechanisms.

    All by next year and this taking into account that those who shoulder the blame must foot the bill.

    Polluters must pay.

    Excellencies,

    The rapid rise of new technologies poses another unpredictable existential risk.

    Artificial Intelligence will change virtually everything we know — from work, education and communication, to culture and politics.

    We know AI is rapidly advancing, but where is it taking us:

    To more freedom – or more conflict?

    To a more sustainable world – or greater inequality?

    To being better informed – or easier to manipulate?

    A handful of companies and even individuals have already amassed enormous power over the development of AI – with little accountability or oversight for the moment.

    Without a global approach to its management, artificial intelligence could lead to artificial divisions across the board – a Great Fracture with two internets, two markets, two economies – with every country forced to pick a side, and enormous consequences for all.

    The United Nations is the universal platform for dialogue and consensus.

    It is uniquely placed to promote cooperation on AI – based on the values of the Charter and international law.

    The global debate happens here, or it does not happen.

    I welcome important first steps.

    Two resolutions in the General Assembly, the Global Digital Compact, and the recommendations of the High-Level Body on AI can lay the foundations for inclusive governance of AI.

    Let’s move forward together to make AI a force for good.

    Excellencies,

    Nothing lasts forever.

    But a feature of human life is that it appears otherwise.

    The current order always feels fixed.

    Until it is not.
     
    Across human history, we see empires rising and falling; old certainties crumbling; tectonic shifts in global affairs.
     
    Today our course is unsustainable.

    It is in all our interests to manage the epic transformations underway; to choose the future we want and to guide our world towards it.

    Many have said that the differences and divisions today are just too great.

    That it is impossible for us to come together for the common good.

    You proved that is not true.

    The Summit of the Future showed that with a spirit of dialogue and compromise, we can join forces to steer our world to a more sustainable path.

    It is not the end.

    It is a start of a journey, a compass in the whirlwind.

    Let’s keep going.

    Let’s move our world towards less impunity and more accountability …. less inequality and more justice … less uncertainty and more opportunity.

    The people of the world are looking to us – and succeeding generations will look back on us.

    Let them find us on the side of the United Nations Charter … on the side of our shared values and principles … and on the right side of history.

    I thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: More outstanding Yukoners recognized with Yukon 125 medals

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Government of Yukon presents 25 more commemorative medals to exceptional Yukoners in celebration of the Yukon’s 125th anniversary.

    Today, the Government of Yukon celebrates another 25 Yukoners who embody the values of leadership and reconciliation and contributed significantly to the wellbeing of the territory. Over the course of September, another 25 recipients will be announced each week.

    This week’s Yukon 125 medal recipients are:

    • Read more about More outstanding Yukoners recognized with Yukon 125 medals
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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister McLean and Minister McPhee on supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Yukoners

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate Jeanie McLean and Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee have issued the following statement:

    “Today, we saw many Yukoners join together and show their support for our youngest 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.

    “To Yukon’s transgender community, allies and advocates, we say ‘thank you”. Your dedication and unwavering care in protecting our communities’ rights to freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the right to security and safety, is respected and deeply valued.

    • Read more about Statement from Minister McLean and Minister McPhee on supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Yukoners
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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Work on Kêts’ádań Kų̀ in Burwash Landing moves forward as construction contract is awarded

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    In the Southern Tutchone language of Kluane First Nation, Kêts’ádań Kų̀ [Kay-et-zah Dun-COO] means “house of learning”. In the coming years, it will be the name of the new school in Burwash Landing, a project that has been long anticipated by the community. The Government of Yukon recently awarded the construction contract to build the school, which will replace the aging Kluane Lake School in Destruction Bay.

    • Read more about Work on Kêts’ádań Kų̀ in Burwash Landing moves forward as construction contract is awarded
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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Weekly Update on the Government’s Economic Plan

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance will provide an update on the government’s economic plan. She will be joined by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Jean-Yves Duclos, and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Sean Fraser.

    Ottawa, Ontario – The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance will provide an update on the government’s economic plan. She will be joined by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Jean-Yves Duclos, and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Sean Fraser.

    Notes for media:

    • Open coverage.
    • Media wishing to cover the event must be accredited with the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
    • Media wishing to cover the event are asked to contact mediare@fin.gc.ca.

    Date

    September 24, 2024

    Time

    9:00 a.m.

    Contacts

    Katherine Cuplinskas
    Deputy Director of Communications
    Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
    katherine.cuplinskas@fin.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Department of Finance Canada
    mediare@fin.gc.ca
    613-369-4000 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Premier Pillai and Deputy Premier McLean on CanArctic trade mission

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Premier Ranj Pillai and Deputy Premier Jeanie McLean have issued the following statement:

    “This week the Yukon welcomed the CanArctic trade delegation led by United States Ambassador to Canada, David L. Cohen. This visit included seven businesses from the U.S. meeting with Yukon government officials, Yukon First Nations development corporations and local business owners to explore commercial and investment opportunities.

    • Read more about Statement from Premier Pillai and Deputy Premier McLean on CanArctic trade mission
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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee on the Supreme Court decision regarding the SCAN Act

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee has issued the following statement:

    “On September 5, 2024, the Yukon Supreme Court found that Section 3(2) of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act was unconstitutional making it no longer in force. That section allowed a landlord of a property that is subject to a substantiated complaint to terminate a tenancy or lease agreement with five days notice with the support of the SCAN unit.

    • Read more about Statement from Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee on the Supreme Court decision regarding the SCAN Act
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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Streicker on work to connect the Yukon and British Columbia’s electricity grids

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker has issued the following statement:

    “Our government is committed to ensuring the territory does its part to address climate change by reducing our carbon emissions. For this to happen, we need to substantially increase our supply of clean energy. One of the options we’re considering is connecting our electricity grid to British Columbia’s with a 750-kilometre transmission line.

    • Read more about Statement from Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Streicker on work to connect the Yukon and British Columbia’s electricity grids
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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New Health and Wellness Centre opens in Old Crow

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Government of Yukon and the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation announce the opening of Old Crow’s new Health and Wellness Centre, named Natr’idizhii Srii Tr’agwandaii Hah Zheh, meaning “place for healing and wellness”. The new Health and Wellness Centre is based on a collaborative care model and provides a range of health care and social services for the residents of Old Crow.

    • Read more about New Health and Wellness Centre opens in Old Crow
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    MIL OSI Canada News –