Category: Canada

  • MIL-OSI: Petrus Resources Declares Monthly Dividend for May 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Petrus Resources Ltd. (“Petrus” or the “Company”) (TSX: PRQ) is pleased to confirm that its Board of Directors has declared a monthly dividend in the amount of $0.01 per share payable May 30, 2025, to shareholders of record on May 15, 2025. The dividend is designated as an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes.

    Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”)
    Petrus’ DRIP enables eligible shareholders to reinvest all or part of their cash dividends into additional common shares of the Company. Participation in the DRIP is optional. Eligible shareholders who elect to reinvest their cash dividends under the DRIP will receive common shares issued from treasury at a discount of 3% from the market price of the common shares.

    To participate in the DRIP, registered shareholders must deliver a properly completed enrollment form to Odyssey Trust Company (“Odyssey”) before 4:00 p.m. (Calgary time) on the 5th business day immediately preceding a dividend record date. Beneficial shareholders who wish to participate in the DRIP should contact their broker or other nominee through which their Common Shares are held to determine their eligibility and provide appropriate enrollment instructions. Participation by shareholders that are not resident in Canada may be restricted.

    A complete copy of the DRIP is available on the Company’s website at www.petrusresources.com and on Odyssey’s website at https://odysseytrust.com/faq/. A copy of the enrollment form for use by registered shareholders is available on Odyssey’s website at https://odysseytrust.com/faq/. For further information regarding the DRIP, please contact Odyssey at 1-888-290-1175 (Toll free in North America) or 1-587-885-0960.

    ABOUT PETRUS
    Petrus is a public Canadian oil and gas company focused on property exploitation, strategic acquisitions and risk-managed exploration in Alberta.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
    Ken Gray
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    T: 403-930-0889
    E: kgray@petrusresources.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Use caution, be fire safe this weekend

    People are asked to use caution over the next several days as a combination of warm, dry conditions and strong winds in much of southern B.C. are adding to elevated wildfire danger.

    The BC Wildfire Service urges people to postpone any open burning until the windy conditions pass and to use extra caution when camping in the backcountry.

    “We are expecting active weather in the coming days that could set the stage for dangerous wildfire conditions across the province,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “This is the time of year when we’re at the most risk for human-caused wildfires in B.C., most of which are entirely preventable. As the days get longer and nicer, with more people camping or working outside, we all have a role to play in reducing wildfire risk by remaining vigilant, cautious and informed.”

    People planning to have campfires should do so safely, following any local prohibitions. Tips include:

    • avoid having a campfire when it’s windy;
    • choose a proper fire pit or make a ring of rocks at least three metres from trees, shrubs, structures and debris; and
    • do not leave a campfire unattended for any amount of time.

    Open-burning prohibitions are expected to be in place in the coming weeks and will be updated as conditions change.

    Throughout the province, people are encouraged to stay up to date on current wildfire activity and check for road closures, evacuation alerts and orders, and weather conditions, and follow instructions from local governments or First Nations. People are also asked to do their part by reporting any wildfires even if they may have already been reported to either *5555 on a cellphone or 1 800 663-5555, toll-free.

    The BC Wildfire Service mobile app allows people to check the current wildfire situation, road conditions, evacuation information and weather forecasts. Users can also report new wildfires and submit photos, which helps inform BC Wildfire Service operational decision-making.

    Learn More:

    For BC Wildfire Service information and updates, visit: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/dashboard

    For more information about how to FireSmart your home, visit: https://firesmartbc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Environment and Climate Change Canada Enforcement lays 200 charges under the Fisheries Act against one company for alleged offences related to unauthorized deposits of deleterious substances

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 1, 2025 – Montréal, Quebec

    The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health, safety, and environment of Canadians. Environment and Climate Change Canada enforces the laws that protect the air, water, and natural environment in Canada, and it takes pollution incidents and threats to the environment very seriously.

    On April 30, 2025, Environment and Climate Change Canada Enforcement laid 200 charges against ArcelorMittal Canada inc. for violation of subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act. Under subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act, it is prohibited to deposit or permit the deposit of a deleterious substance in water frequented by fish or in any place where the deleterious substance may enter any such water.

    The charges stem from several investigations launched by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers. These investigations were conducted into alleged deposits of deleterious substances into several fish-bearing waterways made by the Mont-Wright mining complex and the Fire Lake mine in the Fermont region of Quebec. The incidents reportedly occurred between May 2014 and June 2022.   

    All charges are currently before the Court, and they have not yet been proven. Under Canadian law, those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, Environment and Climate Change Canada will not be commenting further at this time.

    Environment and Climate Change Canada has created a free subscription service to help Canadians stay current with what the Government of Canada is doing to protect the natural environment.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Reinforcing legislation, refocusing health care

    [. Since then, significant changes have been made to both legislation and regulations to establish the refocused health care system. The proposed Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, would address all outstanding policy items and ensure a successfully refocused health care system.

    Under Bill 55, amendments are proposed to the Provincial Health Agencies Act, Hospitals Act, Protection of Persons in Care Act, Health Information Act and the Public Health Act.

    “A year and a half in, and we are in the final stages of refocusing Alberta’s health care system. The proposed changes will help us continue to improve the health care system for all Albertans.”

    Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

    Refocusing public health

    Throughout the public engagement sessions held across the province, Albertans and health care workers have stressed the need for a consistent and strategic approach to public health, which the current organizational structure doesn’t facilitate.

    As part of the health care system refocusing, Alberta’s government will transfer several public health functions that currently reside within Alberta Health Services to Primary Care Alberta later this year. Primary Care Alberta will oversee front-line public health services, such as communicable disease control, immunizations, newborn screening and health promotion.

    Additionally, key functions like policy development, public health inspections and surveillance will be moved to Alberta Health, and the province’s medical officers of health will move into the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Amendments to the Public Health Act will enable these transitions while ensuring these important functions are not interrupted and Albertans can rely on a consistent delivery of services.

    “Promoting and protecting the health of individuals, families and communities is foundational to Primary Care Alberta’s commitment to bringing the right care to patients where they are. I look forward to welcoming our front-line public health providers to the Primary Care Alberta team and working with these dedicated professionals to build a strong, unified health care system that improves health outcomes for all those who call Alberta home.”

    Kim Simmonds, president and CEO, Primary Care Alberta

    There will be no disruption to public health delivery in the province during the transition. Albertans will continue to access public health services as they always have. There will be no front-line job losses, and the collective bargaining process will be respected as this work moves forward.

    Other proposed amendments

    If passed, amendments will strengthen health foundations by streamlining governance functions like bylaw approval and board member appointment processes, bring clarity to public health’s role in the refocused system and ensure legislation accurately reflects how hospitals will be managed and operated.

    The new health shared services entity, which supports all four health services sectors, will provide oversight for health foundations in the refocused system. This is a natural fit for health foundations, as they work across all sectors. Legislation will also establish a clearer connection between health foundations and the communities they serve.

    The Government of Alberta takes all allegations of abuse in publicly funded care facilities seriously. A proposed amendment to the Protection of Persons in Care Act will provide additional capacity to complete investigations into allegations of abuse and is part of Alberta Health’s commitment to provide timely service and protect vulnerable adult Albertans in care.

    The Health Information Act is also being amended to provide the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services with further powers to enable it to fulfil its mandate as the sector ministry for continuing care. This ensures the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services can collect, use and disclose health information necessary to support the minister’s role as the sector minister responsible for continuing care in Alberta, including Assisted Living Alberta, the provincial health agency that became a legal entity on April 1 and will be operational later this year.

    Also proposed in this legislation is that sections of the Hospitals Act be repealed. Certain aspects of the Hospitals Act will be integrated into the Provincial Health Agencies Act and will ensure governance of the health system is under one statute. The Hospitals Act is outdated legislation that does not reflect current acute-care system governance or the introduction of new governance structures and ministerial roles. There will be no effects on the standards of care provided within hospitals by repealing portions of this act.

    Quick facts

    • Amendments to legislation would enable key policy shifts to support refocusing efforts, including:
      • Updating the oversight and governance for health foundations.
      • Ensuring hospital governance aligns with the health system refocusing direction.
      • Reorganizing the governance and planning for public health services.
      • Repealing references to regional health authorities, health regions and Alberta Health Services (AHS) in legislation (to be proclaimed in fall 2025, after AHS’ functions and responsibilities as the regional health authority have transitioned to other entities).
    • In spring 2024, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, passed, along with regulatory amendments to enable the stand up of the provincial health agencies.
    • In fall 2024, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (No.2), amended the Provincial Health Agencies Act and its regulations, establishing AHS’ legal status as it transitions from a regional health authority to an acute-care service provider.
    • The Health Information Act was amended in fall 2024 to designate the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services (SCSS) as a custodian under the act, meaning SCSS can access specific health information for the purpose of fulfilling its mandate.

    Related information

    • Streamlining the health care system for Albertans
    • Bill 55: Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025

    Related news

    • Refocusing emergency services (March 10, 2025)
    • Refocusing continuing care for the future (Jan. 30, 2025)
    • Refocused health care: Continuing the conversation (Jan. 9, 2025)
    • Refocusing acute care leadership for the future (Jan. 8, 2025)
    • Ensuring a successfully refocused health system (Nov. 18, 2024)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference
    • Listen to the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI: Cenovus to hold first-quarter 2025 conference call and webcast and 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 8

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE) (NYSE:CVE) will release its first-quarter 2025 results on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The news release will provide consolidated first-quarter operating and financial information. The company’s financial statements will be available on Cenovus’s website, cenovus.com.

    First-quarter 2025 conference call: 9 a.m. MT (11 a.m. ET)

    For analysts wanting to join the call, please register in advance at Conference Call registration.

    To participate, you must complete the online registration form in advance of the conference call start time. Register ahead of time to receive a unique PIN to access the conference call via telephone. Once registered, participants can dial into the conference call from their telephone via the unique PIN or click on the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly on their telephone.

    To listen to the conference call online, a live audio webcast will also be available and archived for approximately 30 days.

    Annual Meeting of Shareholders

    Cenovus will also host its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 8, 2025, at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET). The webcast link to the Shareholders Meeting is also available under Investors at cenovus.com.

    Cenovus Energy Inc.

    Cenovus Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company with oil and natural gas production operations in Canada and the Asia Pacific region, and upgrading, refining and marketing operations in Canada and the United States. The company is committed to maximizing value by developing its assets in a safe, responsible and cost-efficient manner, integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into its business plans. Cenovus common shares and warrants are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, and the company’s preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information, visit cenovus.com.

    Find Cenovus on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

    Cenovus contacts:

    Investors Media
    Investor Relations general line
    403-766-7711
    Media Relations general line
    403-766-7751

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Altai Announces Initiation of Strategic Review

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altai Resources Inc. (TSXV: ATI) (“Altai” or the “Company”) announced today that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) has initiated a strategic review process to identify, evaluate, and pursue a range of potential strategic alternatives with the goal of maximizing shareholder value and liquidity (the “Strategic Review”). As part of the Strategic Review, the potential strategic alternatives could include, amongst other things, either individually or in combination, the sale of part, or all, of the assets of the Company, the sale of the Company, a merger or other business combination with another party, a special cash distribution, a wind-up, or any other strategic transaction.

    Kursat Kacira, Altai’s Chairman & CEO/President and the Company’s largest shareholder, with a combined direct and indirect ownership of 10,726,157 common shares, representing approximately 19.1% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, will lead the Strategic Review.

    The Company has not established a definitive timeline to complete the Strategic Review, or any transaction, and no decisions have been reached at this time. As such, the process is subject to unknown variables including the costs, structure, terms, timing, and outcome. There can be no assurance that the Strategic Review will result in any transaction or initiative or, if a transaction or initiative is undertaken, as to the terms or timing of such a transaction or initiative and its impact on the financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations of the Company. The Company does not intend to disclose further developments in connection with the Strategic Review until it is determined that disclosure is appropriate or necessary.

    ABOUT ALTAI
    Altai Resources Inc. is a Toronto, Ontario based resource company with a producing oil property in Alberta, an exploration gold property in Quebec, and a Canadian investment portfolio comprised of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Additional information about Altai is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on Altai’s website at www.altairesources.com.

    For further information, please contact:
    Kursat Kacira, Chairman & CEO/President
    T: (647) 282-8324, E: kursatkacira@altairesources.ca

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Draganfly Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Shares & Warrants

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Saskatoon, SK., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8A) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), a drone solutions, and systems developer, today announced it has commenced an underwritten public offering in the United States (the “Offering”). The Offering consists of units of common shares (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) and warrants to purchase common shares and is subject to market conditions.

    Maxim Group LLC is acting as sole book-running manager for the Offering.

    Draganfly currently intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate purposes, including to fund its capabilities to meet demand for its new products including growth initiatives and/or for working capital requirements including the continuing development and marketing of the Company’s core products, potential acquisitions and research and development.

    The Offering is subject to customary closing conditions including the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and notification to The Nasdaq Stock Market. The Offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed, or the actual size or terms of the Offering.

    The Offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form F-10, as amended, (File No. 333-271498) previously filed with and subsequently declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on July 5, 2023 and the Company’s Canadian short form base shelf prospectus dated June 30, 2023 (the “Base Shelf Prospectus”). Draganfly will offer and sell the securities in the United States only. No securities will be offered or sold to Canadian purchasers.

    A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying Base Shelf Prospectus relating to the Offering and describing the terms thereof will be filed with the applicable securities commissions in Canada and with the SEC in the United States and will be available for free by visiting the Company’s profiles on the SEDAR+ website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedarplus.ca or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, as applicable. Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying Base Shelf Prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained, when available, by contacting Maxim Group LLC, at 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Syndicate Department, or by telephone at (212) 895-3745 or by email at syndicate@maximgrp.com. The final terms of the Offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement to be filed with the securities regulatory authorities in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan and the SEC.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    About Draganfly

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8A) is a pioneer in drone solutions, AI-driven software, and robotics. With over 25 years of innovation, Draganfly has been at the forefront of drone technology, providing solutions for public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying. The Company is committed to delivering efficient, reliable, and industry-leading technology that helps organizations save time, money, and lives.

    Media Contact
    media@draganfly.com

    Company Contact
    Email: info@draganfly.com

    Forward Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements, based as they are on the current expectations of management, inherently involve numerous important risks, uncertainties and assumptions, known and unknown. In this news release, such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the timing, size and expected gross proceeds of the Offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the Offering and sale of securities, the intended use of proceeds, and Draganfly’s ability to complete the Offering. Closing of the Offering is subject to numerous factors, many of which are beyond Draganfly’s control, including but not limited to, the failure of the parties to satisfy certain closing conditions, and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in Draganfly’s filings with the securities regulatory authorities in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan and with the SEC. Actual future events may differ from the anticipated events expressed in such forward-looking statements. Draganfly believes that expectations represented by forward-looking statements are reasonable, yet there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The reader should not place undue reliance, if any, on any forward-looking statements included in this news release. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and Draganfly is under no obligation and disavows any intention to update publicly or revise such statements as a result of any new information, future event, circumstances or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.‎ Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to read the Offering documents, as well as Draganfly’s continuous disclosure documents, including its current annual information form, as well as its audited annual consolidated financial statements which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Trupanion Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trupanion, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRUP), a leading provider of medical insurance for cats and dogs, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    “Q1 was a strong start to the year, with performance ahead of plan across key metrics,” said Margi Tooth, Chief Executive Officer and President of Trupanion. “We saw early momentum in both retention and pet acquisition, and with expanded margins in our subscription business, we’re well-positioned to continue to invest in growth.”

    First Quarter 2025 Financial and Business Highlights

    • Total revenue was $342.0 million, an increase of 12% compared to the first quarter of 2024.
    • Total enrolled pets (including pets from our other business segment) was 1,667,637 at March 31, 2025, a decrease of 2% over March 31, 2024.
    • Subscription business revenue was $233.1 million, an increase of 16% compared to the first quarter of 2024.
    • Subscription enrolled pets was 1,052,845 at March 31, 2025, an increase of 5% over March 31, 2024.
    • Net loss was $(1.5) million, or $(0.03) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(6.9) million, or $(0.16) per basic and diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was $12.2 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Operating cash flow was $16.0 million and free cash flow was $14.0 million in the first quarter of 2025. This compared to operating cash flow of $2.4 million and free cash flow of $(0.6) million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • At March 31, 2025, the Company held $321.8 million in cash and short-term investments, including $48.8 million held outside the insurance entities, with an additional $15.0 million available under its credit facility.

    Conference Call
    Trupanion’s management will host a conference call today to review its first quarter 2025 results. The call is scheduled to begin shortly after 1:30 p.m. PT/ 4:30 p.m. ET. A live webcast will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of Trupanion’s website at https://investors.trupanion.com/ and will be archived online for 3 months upon completion of the conference call. Participants can access the conference call by dialing 1-866-250-8117 (United States) or 1-412-317-6011 (International). A telephonic replay of the call will also be available after the completion of the call, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (United States) or 1-412-317-6671 (International) and entering the replay pin number: 10197710.

    About Trupanion
    Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, and certain countries in Continental Europe with over 1,000,000 pets currently enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “TRUP”. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. Policies are sold and administered in Canada by Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. dba Trupanion 309-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 0A2 and in the United States by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. is a registered damage insurance agency and claims adjuster in Quebec #603927. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to, among other things, expectations, plans, prospects and financial results for Trupanion, including, but not limited to, its expectations regarding its ability to continue to grow its enrollments and revenue, and otherwise execute its business plan. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Trupanion’s management as of the date of this press release, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information available to Trupanion as of the date hereof, and Trupanion has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

    In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: the ability to achieve or maintain profitability and/or appropriate levels of cash flow in future periods; the ability to keep growing our membership base and revenue; the accuracy of assumptions used in determining appropriate member acquisition expenditures; the severity and frequency of claims; the ability to maintain high retention rates; the accuracy of assumptions used in pricing medical plan subscriptions and the ability to accurately estimate the impact of new products or offerings on claims frequency; actual claims expense exceeding estimates; regulatory and other constraints on the ability to institute, or the decision to otherwise delay, pricing modifications in response to changes in actual or estimated claims expense; the effectiveness and statutory or regulatory compliance of our Territory Partner model and of our Territory Partners, veterinarians and other third parties in recommending medical plan subscriptions to potential members; the ability to retain existing Territory Partners and increase the number of Territory Partners and active hospitals; compliance by us and those referring us members with laws and regulations that apply to our business, including the sale of a pet medical plan; the ability to maintain the security of our data; fluctuations in the Canadian currency exchange rate; the ability to protect our proprietary and member information; the ability to maintain our culture and team; the ability to maintain the requisite amount of risk-based capital; our ability to implement and maintain effective controls, including to remediate material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting; the ability to protect and enforce Trupanion’s intellectual property rights; the ability to successfully implement our alliance with Aflac; the ability to continue key contractual relationships with third parties; third-party claims including litigation and regulatory actions; the ability to recognize benefits from investments in new solutions and enhancements to Trupanion’s technology platform and website; our ability to retain key personnel; and deliberations and determinations by the Trupanion board based on the future performance of the company or otherwise.

    For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements, please refer to the risk factors discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including but not limited to, Trupanion’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and any subsequently filed reports on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K. All documents are available through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system at https://www.sec.gov or the Investor Relations section of Trupanion’s website at https://investors.trupanion.com.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Trupanion’s stated results may include certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in its industry as other companies in its industry may calculate or use non-GAAP financial measures differently. In addition, there are limitations in using non-GAAP financial measures because the non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and exclude expenses that may have a material impact on Trupanion’s reported financial results. The presentation and utilization of non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Trupanion urges its investors to review the reconciliation of its non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in its consolidated financial statements, and not to rely on any single financial or operating measure to evaluate its business. These reconciliations are included below and on Trupanion’s Investor Relations website.

    Because of varying available valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of equity instruments that can impact a company’s non-cash expenses, Trupanion believes that providing various non-GAAP financial measures that exclude stock-based compensation expense and depreciation and amortization expense allows for more meaningful comparisons between its operating results from period to period. Trupanion offsets new pet acquisition expense with sign-up fee revenue in the calculation of net acquisition cost because it collects sign-up fee revenue from new members at the time of enrollment and considers it to be an offset to a portion of Trupanion’s new pet acquisition expense. Trupanion believes this allows it to calculate and present financial measures in a consistent manner across periods. Trupanion’s management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures and the related financial measures derived from them are important tools for financial and operational decision-making and for evaluating operating results over different periods of time.

    Trupanion, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (in thousands, except share data)
        Three Months Ended March 31,
          2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Revenue:        
    Subscription business   $ 233,064     $ 201,134  
    Other business     108,911       104,987  
    Total revenue     341,975       306,121  
    Cost of revenue:        
    Subscription business     189,845       172,132  
    Other business     101,027       97,762  
    Total cost of revenue(1),(2)     290,872       269,894  
    Operating expenses:        
    Technology and development(1)     8,072       6,960  
    General and administrative(1)     19,892       14,673  
    New pet acquisition expense(1)     20,516       16,843  
    Depreciation and amortization     3,791       3,785  
    Total operating expenses     52,271       42,261  
    Loss from investment in joint venture     (305 )     (103 )
    Operating loss     (1,473 )     (6,137 )
    Interest expense     3,211       3,596  
    Other (income), net     (3,240 )     (2,843 )
    Loss before income taxes     (1,444 )     (6,890 )
    Income tax (benefit) expense     39       (38 )
    Net loss   $ (1,483 )   $ (6,852 )
             
    Net loss per share:        
    Basic and diluted   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.16 )
    Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:        
    Basic and diluted     42,775,955       41,917,094  
             
    (1)Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:
        Three Months Ended March 31,
          2025       2024  
    Cost of revenue   $ 1,259     $ 1,390  
    Technology and development     1,151       1,254  
    General and administrative     4,528       3,449  
    New pet acquisition expense     2,892       2,059  
    Total stock-based compensation expense   $ 9,830     $ 8,152  
             
    (2)The breakout of cost of revenue between veterinary invoice expense and other cost of revenue is as follows:
        Three Months Ended March 31,
          2025       2024  
    Veterinary invoice expense   $ 247,450     $ 233,569  
    Other cost of revenue     43,422       36,325  
    Total cost of revenue   $ 290,872     $ 269,894  
    Trupanion, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (in thousands, except share data)
      March 31,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
      (unaudited)    
    Assets      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 166,308     $ 160,295  
    Short-term investments   155,508       147,089  
    Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $1,046 at March 31, 2025 and $1,117 at December 31, 2024   290,104       274,031  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets   16,417       15,912  
    Total current assets   628,337       597,327  
    Restricted cash   39,702       39,235  
    Long-term investments   376       373  
    Property, equipment and internal-use software, net   101,938       102,191  
    Intangible assets, net   12,130       13,177  
    Other long-term assets   16,356       17,579  
    Goodwill   38,323       36,971  
    Total assets $ 837,162     $ 806,853  
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity      
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 9,681     $ 11,532  
    Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities   36,907       33,469  
    Reserve for veterinary invoices   54,042       51,635  
    Deferred revenue   267,357       251,640  
    Long-term debt – current portion   1,350       1,350  
    Total current liabilities   369,337       349,626  
    Long-term debt   127,526       127,537  
    Deferred tax liabilities   1,884       1,946  
    Other liabilities   4,742       4,476  
    Total liabilities   503,489       483,585  
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Common stock: $0.00001 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 43,804,141 and 42,775,955 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025; 43,516,631 and 42,488,445 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024          
    Preferred stock: $0.00001 par value per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding          
    Additional paid-in capital   578,293       568,302  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (715 )     (2,612 )
    Accumulated deficit   (227,371 )     (225,888 )
    Treasury stock, at cost: 1,028,186 shares at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024   (16,534 )     (16,534 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   333,673       323,268  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 837,162     $ 806,853  
    Trupanion, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (in thousands)
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Operating activities      
    Net loss $ (1,483 )   $ (6,852 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   3,791       3,785  
    Stock-based compensation expense   9,830       8,152  
    Other, net   349       (202 )
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
    Accounts and other receivables   (15,965 )     (10,718 )
    Prepaid expenses and other assets   (204 )     287  
    Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and other liabilities   1,527       (5,131 )
    Reserve for veterinary invoices   2,407       (885 )
    Deferred revenue   15,712       13,998  
    Net cash provided by operating activities   15,964       2,434  
    Investing activities      
    Purchases of investment securities   (40,875 )     (19,193 )
    Maturities and sales of investment securities   33,242       19,005  
    Purchases of property, equipment, and internal-use software   (1,928 )     (3,065 )
    Other   588       516  
    Net cash used in investing activities   (8,973 )     (2,737 )
    Financing activities      
    Repayment of debt financing   (338 )     (338 )
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options   1,024       372  
    Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding   (915 )     (245 )
    Other   (230 )     (75 )
    Net cash used in financing activities   (459 )     (286 )
    Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, net   (52 )     (313 )
    Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash   6,480       (902 )
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period   199,530       170,464  
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 206,010     $ 169,562  
    The following tables set forth our key operating metrics.
                                   
      Three Months Ended March 31,                        
        2025       2024                          
    Total Business:                              
    Total pets enrolled (at period end)   1,667,637       1,708,017                          
    Subscription Business:                              
    Total subscription pets enrolled (at period end)   1,052,845       1,006,168                          
    Monthly average revenue per pet $ 77.53     $ 69.79                          
    Average pet acquisition cost (PAC) $ 267     $ 207                          
    Average monthly retention   98.28 %     98.41 %                        
                                   
                                   
      Three Months Ended
      Mar. 31, 2025   Dec. 31, 2024   Sep. 30, 2024   Jun. 30, 2024   Mar. 31, 2024   Dec. 31, 2023   Sep. 30, 2023   Jun. 30, 2023
    Total Business:                              
    Total pets enrolled (at period end)   1,667,637       1,677,570       1,688,903       1,699,643       1,708,017       1,714,473       1,712,177       1,679,659  
    Subscription Business:                              
    Total subscription pets enrolled (at period end)   1,052,845       1,041,212       1,032,042       1,020,934       1,006,168       991,426       969,322       943,958  
    Monthly average revenue per pet $ 77.53     $ 76.02     $ 74.27     $ 71.72     $ 69.79     $ 67.07     $ 65.82     $ 64.41  
    Average pet acquisition cost (PAC) $ 267     $ 261     $ 243     $ 231     $ 207     $ 217     $ 212     $ 236  
    Average monthly retention   98.28 %     98.25 %     98.29 %     98.34 %     98.41 %     98.49 %     98.55 %     98.61 %
    The following table reflects the reconciliation of cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow (in thousands):
           
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 15,964     $ 2,434  
    Purchases of property, equipment, and internal-use software   (1,928 )     (3,065 )
    Free cash flow $ 14,036     $ (631 )
    The following tables reflect the reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP measures (in thousands except percentages):
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2024       2023  
    Veterinary invoice expense $ 247,450     $ 233,569  
    Less:      
    Stock-based compensation expense(1)   (763 )     (862 )
    Other business cost of paying veterinary invoices(3)   (79,269 )     (81,213 )
    Subscription cost of paying veterinary invoices (non-GAAP) $ 167,418     $ 151,494  
    % of subscription revenue   71.8 %     75.3 %
           
    Other cost of revenue $ 43,422     $ 36,325  
    Less:      
    Stock-based compensation expense(1)   (482 )     (420 )
    Other business variable expenses(3)   (21,736 )     (16,498 )
    Subscription variable expenses (non-GAAP) $ 21,204     $ 19,407  
    % of subscription revenue   9.1 %     9.6 %
           
    Technology and development expense $ 8,072     $ 6,960  
    General and administrative expense   19,892       14,673  
    Less:      
    Stock-based compensation expense(1)   (5,396 )     (4,258 )
    Development expenses(2)   (1,406 )     (1,178 )
    Fixed expenses (non-GAAP) $ 21,162     $ 16,197  
    % of total revenue   6.2 %     5.3 %
           
    New pet acquisition expense $ 20,516     $ 16,843  
    Less:      
    Stock-based compensation expense(1)   (2,873 )     (1,857 )
    Other business pet acquisition expense(3)   (3 )     (13 )
    Subscription acquisition cost (non-GAAP) $ 17,640     $ 14,973  
    % of subscription revenue   7.6 %     7.4 %
           
    (1) Trupanion employees may elect to take restricted stock units in lieu of cash payment for their bonuses. We account for such expense as stock-based compensation according to GAAP, but we do not include it in any non-GAAP adjustments. Stock-based compensation associated with bonuses was approximately $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
    (2) Consists of costs related to product exploration and development that are pre-revenue and historically have been insignificant.
    (3) Excluding the portion of stock-based compensation expense attributable to the other business segment.
    The following tables reflect the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures (in thousands, except percentages):
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
    Operating Loss $ (1,473 )   $ (6,138 )
    Non-GAAP expense adjustments      
    Acquisition cost   17,643       14,985  
    Stock-based compensation expense(1)   9,514       7,397  
    Development expenses(2)   1,406       1,179  
    Depreciation and amortization   3,791       3,785  
    Gain (loss) from investment in joint venture   (305 )     (103 )
    Total adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) $ 31,186     $ 21,312  
           
    Subscription Business:      
    Subscription operating income (loss) $ 1,065     $ (4,525 )
    Non-GAAP expense adjustments      
    Acquisition cost   17,640       14,973  
    Stock-based compensation expense(1)   7,772       5,882  
    Development expenses(2)   958       774  
    Depreciation and amortization   2,584       2,487  
    Subscription adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) $ 30,019     $ 19,591  
           
    Other Business:      
    Other business operating loss $ (2,233 )   $ (1,510 )
    Non-GAAP expense adjustments      
    Acquisition cost   3       12  
    Stock-based compensation expense(1)   1,742       1,516  
    Development expenses(2)   448       404  
    Depreciation and amortization   1,207       1,298  
    Other business adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) $ 1,167     $ 1,720  
           
    (1) Trupanion employees may elect to take restricted stock units in lieu of cash payment for their bonuses. We account for such expense as stock-based compensation in accordance with GAAP, but we do not include it in any non-GAAP adjustments. Stock-based compensation associated with bonuses was approximately $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
    (2) Consists of costs related to product exploration and development that are pre-revenue and historically have been insignificant.
    The following tables reflect the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures (in thousands, except percentages):
                   
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
    Subscription revenue $ 233,064     $ 201,134  
    Subscription cost of paying veterinary invoices   167,418       151,493  
    Subscription variable expenses   21,204       19,407  
    Subscription fixed expenses*   14,423       10,642  
    Subscription adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) $ 30,019     $ 19,591  
    Other business revenue   108,911       104,987  
    Other business cost of paying veterinary invoices   79,269       81,213  
    Other business variable expenses   21,736       16,498  
    Other business fixed expenses*   6,739       5,555  
    Other business adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) $ 1,167     $ 1,721  
    Revenue   341,975       306,121  
    Cost of paying veterinary invoices   246,687       232,707  
    Variable expenses   42,940       35,905  
    Fixed expenses*   21,162       16,197  
    Total business adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) $ 31,186     $ 21,312  
           
    As a percentage of revenue: Three Months Ended March 31,
        2024       2023  
    Subscription revenue   100.0 %     100.0 %
    Subscription cost of paying veterinary invoices   71.8 %     75.3 %
    Subscription variable expenses   9.1 %     9.6 %
    Subscription fixed expenses*   6.2 %     5.3 %
    Subscription adjusted operating income (non-GAAP)   12.9 %     9.7 %
           
    Other business revenue   100.0 %     100.0 %
    Other business cost of paying veterinary invoices   72.8 %     77.4 %
    Other business variable expenses   20.0 %     15.7 %
    Other business fixed expenses*   6.2 %     5.3 %
    Other business adjusted operating income (non-GAAP)   1.1 %     1.6 %
           
    Revenue   100.0 %     100.0 %
    Cost of paying veterinary invoices   72.1 %     76.0 %
    Variable expenses   12.6 %     11.7 %
    Fixed expenses*   6.2 %     5.3 %
    Total business adjusted operating income (non-GAAP)   9.1 %     7.0 %
           
    *Fixed expenses represent shared services that support both our subscription and other business segments and, as such, are generally allocated to each segment pro-rata based on revenues.

    Adjusted operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure that adjusts operating income (loss) to remove the effect of acquisition cost, development expenses, non-recurring transaction or restructuring expenses, and gain (loss) from investment in joint venture. Non-cash items, such as stock-based compensation expense and depreciation and amortization, are also excluded. Acquisition cost, development expenses, gain (loss) from investment in joint venture, stock-based compensation expense, and depreciation and amortization are expected to remain recurring expenses for the foreseeable future, but are excluded from this metric to measure scale in other areas of the business. Management believes acquisition costs primarily represent the cost to acquire new subscribers and are driven by the amount of growth we choose to pursue based primarily on the amount of our adjusted operating income period over period. Accordingly, this measure is not indicative of our core operating income performance. We also exclude development expenses, gain (loss) from investment in joint venture, stock-based compensation expense, and depreciation and amortization because some investors may not view those items as reflective of our core operating income performance.

    Management uses adjusted operating income and the margin on adjusted operating income to understand the effects of scale in its non-acquisition cost and development expenses and to plan future advertising expenditures, which are designed to acquire new pets. Management uses this measure as a principal way of understanding the operating performance of its business exclusive of acquisition cost and new product exploration and development initiatives. Management believes disclosure of this metric provides investors with the same data that the Company employs in assessing its overall operations and that disclosure of this measure may provide useful information regarding the efficiency of our utilization of revenues, return on advertising dollars in the form of new subscribers and future use of available cash to support the continued growth of our business.

    The following tables reflect the reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net loss (in thousands):
                                   
      Three Months Ended March 31,                        
        2025       2024                          
    Net loss $ (1,483 )   $ (6,852 )                        
    Excluding:                              
    Stock-based compensation expense   9,514       7,398                          
    Depreciation and amortization expense   3,791       3,785                          
    Interest income   (2,835 )     (3,045 )                        
    Interest expense   3,211       3,596                          
    Income tax expense (benefit)   39       (38 )                        
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 12,237     $ 4,844                          
                                   
      Three Months Ended
      Mar. 31, 2025   Dec. 31, 2024   Sep. 30, 2024   Jun. 30, 2024   Mar. 31, 2024   Dec. 31, 2023   Sep. 30, 2023   Jun. 30, 2023
    Net (loss) income $ (1,483 )   $ 1,656     $ 1,425     $ (5,862 )   $ (6,852 )   $ (2,163 )   $ (4,036 )   $ (13,714 )
    Excluding:                              
    Stock-based compensation expense   9,514       8,036       8,127       8,381       7,398       6,636       6,585       6,503  
    Depreciation and amortization expense   3,791       3,924       4,381       4,376       3,785       3,029       2,990       3,253  
    Interest income   (2,835 )     (2,999 )     (3,232 )     (3,135 )     (3,045 )     (2,842 )     (2,389 )     (2,051 )
    Interest expense   3,211       3,427       3,820       3,655       3,596       3,697       3,053       2,940  
    Income tax expense (benefit)   39       38       39       (44 )     (38 )     130       (43 )     (238 )
    Goodwill impairment charges         5,299                                      
    Non-recurring transaction or restructuring expenses                                       8       65  
    (Gain) loss from equity method investment               (33 )                       (110 )      
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 12,237     $ 19,381     $ 14,527     $ 7,371     $ 4,844     $ 8,487     $ 6,058     $ (3,242 )
     

    Contacts:

    Investors:
    Laura Bainbridge, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
    Gil Melchior, Director, Investor Relations
    Investor.Relations@trupanion.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af9a2ab5-2802-4ca8-8a90-199e1c54b91a

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Trisura Group Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trisura Group Ltd. (“Trisura” or “Trisura Group”) (TSX: TSU), a leading specialty insurance provider, today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

    David Clare, President and CEO of Trisura, stated,

    “In Q1 Trisura reported a strong Operating ROE of 18.4% driven by Operating net income of $34.2 million or $0.70 per share. Growth, profitable underwriting, and higher Net investment income demonstrates consistent execution of our strategy.

    Profitable underwriting resulted in a quarterly Combined ratio of 82.7%, alongside strong growth of 28.1% in our Primary lines. We continued expanding US Surety, reaching 33 state licenses in our Treasury-listed entity while broadening rate filings and building relationships with key distribution partners.

    Growth and strong earnings lifted book value to a new record of $820 million, with a conservative 10.7% debt-to-capital underscoring flexibility and capacity for growth.

    Highlights

    • Operating ROE(1) of 18.4% was strong, reflecting profitability from core operations, while ROE(1) was 15.0% in the quarter.
    • BVPS(2) of $17.16 increased 23.5% over Q1 2024 demonstrating consistent expansion in book value.
    • Operating net income(3) was $34.2 million in the quarter, which increased over the prior year as a result of growth in the business. Net income of $29.0 million was lower than Q1 2024 primarily as a result of higher Net gains on the investment portfolio in Q1 2024 and the impact of movements in the yield curve in the quarter.
    • Operating EPS(1) of $0.70 in the quarter increased by 2.9% demonstrating the strength of core operations(4) through continued growth and profitability. EPS of $0.60 in the quarter decreased from Q1 2024 primarily as a result of higher Net gains on the investment portfolio in Q1 2024 and the impact of movements in the yield curve in the quarter.
    • Combined ratio(1) for the quarter was 82.7%, reflecting a strong underwriting performance across the portfolio.
    • GPW(2) of $711.7 million, decreased by 1.6% compared to Q1 2024, primarily as a result of non-renewed programs in US Programs during 2024, offset by growth in our Primary lines(5). Trisura’s Primary lines grew by 28.1% in the quarter, which are the lines of business that contribute most meaningfully to Underwriting income(3).
    • Net investment income growth of 8.6% in the quarter was driven by a larger investment portfolio.
      Q1 2025 Q1 2024 $ variance % variance
    GPW 711,671   723,130   (11,458 ) (1.6% )
    Net insurance revenue(3) 172,711   153,054   19,657   12.8%  
             
    Underwriting income 29,862   29,359   503   1.7%  
    Net investment income 18,197   16,753   1,444   8.6%  
             
    Operating net income 34,170   33,188   982   3.0%  
    Net income 28,990   36,433   (7,443 ) (20.4% )
             
    Loss ratio(1) 31.5%   31.6%   n/a (0.1pts)
    Expense ratio(1) 51.2%   49.2%   n/a 2.0pts
    Combined ratio 82.7%   80.8%   n/a 1.9pts
             
    OEPS – diluted – in dollars 0.70   0.68   0.02   2.9%  
    EPS – diluted – in dollars 0.60   0.75   (0.15 ) (20.0% )
    BVPS – in dollars 17.16   13.89   3.27   23.5%  
    Debt-to-capital ratio(2) 10.7%   10.2%   n/a 0.5pts
    Operating ROE 18.4%   20.0%   n/a (1.6pts)
    ROE 15.0%   15.3%   n/a (0.3pts)

    Insurance Operations

    • Net insurance revenue of $172.7 million, increased by 12.8% compared to Q1 2024, reflecting growth in the business, driven by growth in our Primary Lines.
    • Underwriting income of $29.9 million, increased by 1.7% compared to Q1 2024 due to growth in the business and foreign exchange movement, offset by a higher Combined ratio.
    • The consolidated Combined ratio was 82.7% for the quarter reflecting a higher Loss ratio at Trisura Specialty offset by a shift in the business mix to Trisura Specialty which typically has a higher Expense ratio but a lower Loss ratio.

    Investments

    • Net investment income rose 8.6% in the quarter compared to Q1 2024. The portfolio benefited from growth in the business.

    Capital

    • The Minimum Capital Test ratio(6) of our regulated Canadian subsidiary was 273% as at March 31, 2025 (276% as at December 31, 2024), which comfortably exceeded regulatory requirements(7) of 150%.
    • As at December 31, 2024, the Risk-Based Capital(8) of the regulated US insurance companies were in excess of the various company action levels of the states in which they are licensed.
    • Consolidated debt-to-capital ratio of 10.7% as at March 31, 2025 is below our long-term target of 20.0%.

    Earnings Conference Call

    Trisura will host its First Quarter Earnings Conference Call to review financial results at 9:00a.m. ET on Friday, May 2nd, 2025.

    To listen to the call via live audio webcast, please follow the link below:

    https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/tzhsg4ir

    A replay of the call will be available through the link above.

    About Trisura Group

    Trisura Group Ltd. is a specialty insurance provider operating in the Surety, Warranty, Corporate Insurance, Program and Fronting business lines of the market. Trisura has investments in wholly owned subsidiaries through which it conducts insurance operations. Those operations are primarily in Canada and the United States. Trisura Group Ltd. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “TSU”.

    Further information is available at http://www.trisura.com. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website. Investors should consult the site to access this information. Details regarding the operations of Trisura Group Ltd. are also set forth in regulatory filings. A copy of the filings may be obtained on Trisura Group’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    For more information, please contact:

    Name: Bryan Sinclair

    Tel: 416 607 2135

    Email: bryan.sinclair@trisura.com

    Non-IFRS Financial Measures and other Financial Measures

    We report certain financial information using non-IFRS financial measures, non-IFRS ratios and supplementary financial measures that we use to measure and evaluate the performance of our business. Non-IFRS financial measures do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies in our industry. They are used by management and financial analysts to assess our performance.

    Further, they provide users with an enhanced understanding of our results and related trends and increase transparency and clarity into the core results of the business.

    These metrics are operating performance measures that highlight trends in our core business or are required ratios used to measure compliance with OSFI and other regulatory standards. Our Company also believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties use these operating metrics to compare our Company’s performance against others in the specialty insurance industry. Our Company’s management also uses these operating metrics and other financial measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period. Such operating metrics and other financial measures should not be considered as the sole indicators of our performance and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, analysis of our financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. For more information about these supplementary financial measures, Non-IFRS financial measures, and Non-IFRS ratios, including definitions and explanations of how these measures provide useful information, refer to Section 8 – Accounting and Disclosure matters in our Q1 2025 MD&A , which is available on our website at http://www.trisura.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Table 1 – Reconciliation of Operating net income to reported Net income and OEPS: reflect Net income, adjusted for certain items to normalize earnings to core operations in order to reflect our North American specialty operations.

      Q1 2025 Q1 2024
    Operating net income 34,170   33,188  
    Impact of Exited lines 111    
    Loss from run-off program   (3,714 )
    Impact of movement in yield curve in Net insurance finance income (expenses) (3,569 ) 437  
    Impact of SBC 1,199   (2,923 )
    Net (gains) losses (4,547 ) 10,446  
    Tax impact of above items 1,626   (1,001 )
    Non-operating results, net of tax (5,180 ) 3,245  
    Net income 28,990   36,433  
         
    Operating net income 34,170   33,188  
    Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding – diluted
    (in thousands of shares)
    48,472   48,456  
    Operating EPS – diluted (in dollars) 0.70   0.68  


    Table 2 – Reconciliation of Insurance service result to Underwriting income – Consolidated

    Financial statements line item 1   2 3   4   5   6   7 MD&A line item
    For the three months ended March 31, 2025
    Insurance revenue 779,606   (601,048 )     (5,847 )   172,711   Net insurance revenue
    Insurance service expenses (585,213 ) 444,725   5,461 (10,649 ) (6,478 ) 5,736   3,569   (142,849 ) Sum of Net claims ($54,345) and Net expenses ($88,504)
    Net income (expenses) from reinsurance contracts assets (156,323 ) 156,323             n/a
    Insurance service result 38,070     5,461 (10,649 ) (6,478 ) (111 ) 3,569   29,862   Underwriting income
    For the three months ended March 31, 2024
    Insurance revenue 744,266   (594,773 )         3,561 153,054   Net insurance revenue
    Insurance service expenses (580,940 ) 466,895   5,345 (10,853 ) (3,858 )   (437 ) 153 (123,695 ) Sum of Net claims ($48,406) and Net expenses ($75,289)
    Net income (expenses) from reinsurance contracts assets (127,878 ) 127,878             n/a
    Insurance service result 35,448     5,345 (10,853 ) (3,858 )   (437 ) 3,714 29,359   Underwriting income
    Reconciling items in the table above:
    1 Net of reinsurance impact
    2 Other income
    3 Other operating expenses related to Trisura Specialty and Trisura US Programs
    4 Net insurance finance income (expenses)
    5 Impact of Exited lines
    6 Movement in yield curve in Net insurance finance income (expenses)
    7 Loss from run-off program


    Table 3 – ROE and Operating LTM ROE
    : a measure of the Company’s use of equity.

      Q1 2025 Q1 2024
    LTM net income 111,472   89,398  
    LTM average equity 742,056   583,798  
    ROE 15.0%   15.3%  
    Operating LTM net income 136,831   116,819  
    Operating LTM ROE 18.4%   20.0%  


    Table 4 – Reconciliation of Average equity
    (9)to LTM average equity: LTM average equity is used in calculating Operating ROE.

      Q1 2025
    Q1 2024
    Average equity 741,016   587,336  
    Adjustments: days in quarter proration 1,040   (3,538 )
    LTM average equity 742,056   583,798  


    Table 5 – Combined ratio – Consolidated:
    Combined ratio is used to evaluate underlying profitability relative to Net insurance revenue in a given period.

       Q1 2025 Q1 2024
    Net insurance revenue, as presented in Table 2 172,711   153,054  
    Net claims, as presented in Table 2 (54,345 ) (48,406 )
    Net expenses, as presented in Table 2 (88,504 ) (75,289 )
    Underwriting income 29,862   29,359  
         
    Loss ratio 31.5%   31.6%  
    Expense ratio 51.2%   49.2%  
    Combined ratio 82.7%   80.8%  


    Footnotes

    (1) These are non-IFRS ratios. Non-IFRS ratios are not standardized under the financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements of the Company to which the ratio relates and might not be comparable to similar ratios disclosed by other companies. See Section 8, Accounting and Disclosure matters in our Q1 2025 MD&A for details on composition, as well as each non-IFRS financial measure used as a component of the ratio, and an explanation of how it provides useful information to an investor.

    (2) This is a supplementary financial measure. See Section 8, Accounting and Disclosure matters in our Q1 2025 MD&A for details on composition and an explanation of how it provides useful information to an investor.

    (3) These are non-IFRS financial measures. Non-IFRS financial measures are not standardized financial measures under the financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements of the Company to which the measure relates and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other companies. See Section 8, Accounting and Disclosure matters in our Q1 2025 MD&A for details on composition and an explanation of how it provides useful information to an investor.

    (4) See Section 8, Accounting and Disclosure matters in our Q1 2025 MD&A for the definition of Operating Net Income, and for further explanation of “core operations”.

    (5) Primary lines are lines of insurance business such as Surety, Corporate Insurance, and Warranty.

    (6) This measure is calculated in accordance with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada’s (OSFI’s) Guideline A, Minimum Capital Test.

    (7) This target is in accordance with OSFI’s Guideline A-4, Regulatory Capital and Internal Capital Targets.

    (8) This measure is calculated in accordance with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Risk Based Capital for Insurers Model Act.

    (9) Average equity is calculated as the sum of opening equity and closing equity over the last twelve months, divided by two.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information

    Note: This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements regarding operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of our Company and its subsidiaries, as well as the outlook for North American and international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods, and include words such as “expects,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “forecasts”, “potential” or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could”.

    Although we believe that our anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of our Company to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information.

    Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors in the countries in which we do business; the behaviour of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; insurance risks including pricing risk, concentration risk and exposure to large losses, and risks associated with estimates of loss reserves; strategic actions including dispositions; the ability to complete and effectively integrate acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the ability to appropriately manage human capital; the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation within the countries in which we operate; governmental investigations; litigation; changes in tax laws; changes in capital requirements; changes in reinsurance arrangements and availability and cost of reinsurance; ability to collect amounts owed; catastrophic events, such as earthquakes, hurricanes or pandemics; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts and cyberterrorism; risks associated with reliance on distribution partners, capacity providers and program administrators; third party risks; risk that models used to manage the business do not function as expected; climate change risk; risk of economic downturn; risk of inflation; risks relating to cyber-security; risks relating to credit ratings; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in our documents filed with securities regulators in Canada.

    We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements and information, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, our Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Cautionary Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures

    Reported results conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), in accordance with IFRS. In addition to reported results, our Company also presents certain financial measures, including non-IFRS financial measures that are historical, non-IFRS ratios, and supplementary financial measures, to assess results. Non-IFRS financial measures, such as operating net income, are utilized to assess the Company’s overall performance. To arrive at operating results, our Company adjusts for certain items to normalize earnings to core operations, in order to reflect our North American specialty operations. Non-IFRS ratios include a non-IFRS financial measure as one or more of its components. Examples of non-IFRS ratios include operating diluted earnings per share and operating ROE. The Company believes that non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios provide the reader with an enhanced understanding of our results and related trends and increase transparency and clarity into the core results of the business. Non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios are not standardized terms under IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar terms used by other companies. Supplementary financial measures depict the Company’s financial performance and position, and are explained in this document where they first appear, and incorporates information by reference to our Company’s current MD&A, for the three months ended March 31, 2025. To access MD&A, see Trisura’s website or SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These measures are pursuant to National Instrument 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Asure Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Reports First Quarter 2025 Total Revenues of $34.9 million

    Recurring Revenues Grew 10% from Prior Year

    AUSTIN, Texas, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Asure Software, Inc. (“we”, “us”, “our”, “Asure” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ASUR), a leading provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management (“HCM”) software solutions, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights

    • Revenue of $34.9 million, up 10% year over year, excluding ERTC revenue up 13% from the prior year first quarter
    • Recurring revenue of $33.2 million versus $30.3 million during the prior year first quarter
    • Net loss of $2.4 million versus a net loss of $0.3 million during the prior year first quarter
    • EBITDA(1) of $4.1 million versus $4.4 million during the prior year first quarter
    • Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $7.3 million versus $6.8 million during the prior year first quarter
    • Gross profit of $24.6 million versus $22.6 million during the prior year first quarter
    • Non-GAAP gross profit(1) of $26.3 million (Non-GAAP gross margin(1) of 75%) versus $23.8 million (and 75% in prior year first quarter)

    Recent Business Highlights

    • New Payroll Tax Management solution launched which is designed specifically for large Canadian companies and global enterprises with employees in Canada. Our ability to serve enterprise clients with international workforces with this innovative solution creates further opportunities to grow our business and the seamless integration of payroll tax services into major platforms such as Workday, Oracle, and SAP is a key benefit. The Canadian payroll tax solution addresses critical compliance needs for organizations managing cross-border payroll processes, reducing complexity and ensuring accurate, timely filing.
    • In April 2025 we entered into a credit agreement primarily with MidCap Financial Trust, whereby the Company may borrow up to $60 million. At closing, which occurred on April 10, we received $20 million of gross proceeds.

    (1)This financial measure is not calculated in accordance with GAAP and is defined on page 3 of this press release. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the most applicable GAAP measure begins on page 11 of this release.

    Management Commentary

    “We are excited to be off to a great start to 2025 with healthy results for our first quarter of 2025 with our revenues increasing 10% from the prior year first quarter. Our results were driven by strong performance coming from our Payroll Tax Management and initial contribution from our recently acquired product offerings,” said Asure Chairman and CEO Pat Goepel.

    “Our team is focused on continuing to execute our growth strategy. Our revenues are now more than 95% recurring, our contracted revenue backlog sits at an all-time high, and we believe that the investments we have made in the business will continue to drive greater adoption of our broadened product suite for the remainder of 2025.”

    Second Quarter 2025 and Full Year 2025 Revenue Guidance Ranges

    The Company is providing the following guidance for the second quarter of 2025 and the full year 2025 based on the Company’s year-to-date results and recent business trends. The guidance for our second quarter of 2025 and the full year 2025 excludes any contribution from future potential acquisitions.

    Guidance for 2025

    Guidance Range   Q2-2025   FY-2025
    Revenue $ 30.0 M – 32.0 M $ 134.0 M -138.0 M
    Adjusted EBITDA(1) $ 5.0 M -6.0 M   23% -24%
             

    Management uses GAAP, non-GAAP and adjusted measures when planning, monitoring, and evaluating the Company’s performance. The primary purpose of using non-GAAP and adjusted measures is to provide supplemental information that may prove useful to investors and to enable investors to evaluate the Company’s results in the same way management does.

    Management believes that supplementing GAAP disclosures with non-GAAP and adjusted disclosures provides investors with a more complete view of the Company’s operational performance and allows for meaningful period-to-period comparisons and analysis of trends in the Company’s business. Further, to the extent that other companies use similar methods in calculating adjusted financial measures, the provision of supplemental non-GAAP and adjusted information can allow for a comparison of the Company’s relative performance against other companies that also report non-GAAP and adjusted operating results.

    Management has not provided a reconciliation of guidance of GAAP to non-GAAP or adjusted disclosures because management is unable to predict the nature and materiality of non-recurring expenses without unreasonable effort.

    Management’s projections are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions about the Company’s business, and the industry and the markets in which it operates; there are known and unknown risks and uncertainties associated with these projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ from the guidance set forth above. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, including its 2025 earnings guidance, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please refer to the “Use of Forward-Looking Statements” disclosures on page 5 of this press release as well as the risk factors in our quarterly and annual reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for more information about risk that affect our business and industry.

    Conference Call Details

    Asure management will host a conference call on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 3:30 pm Central (4:30 pm Eastern). Asure Chairman and CEO Pat Goepel and CFO John Pence will participate in the conference call followed by a question-and-answer session. The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay via the investor relations section of the Company’s website. Analysts may participate on the conference call by dialing 877-407-9219 or 201-689-8852.

    About Asure Software, Inc.

    Asure (Nasdaq: ASUR) provides cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) software solutions that assist organizations of all sizes in streamlining their HCM processes. Asure’s suite of HCM solutions includes HR, payroll, time and attendance, benefits administration, payroll tax management, and talent management. The company’s approach to HR compliance services incorporates AI technology to enhance scalability and efficiency while prioritizing client interactions. For more information, please visit www.asuresoftware.com

    Non-GAAP and Adjusted Financial Measures

    This press release includes information about non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP sales and marketing expense, non-GAAP general and administrative expense, non-GAAP research and development expense, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin. These non-GAAP and adjusted financial measures are measurements of financial performance that are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and computational methods may differ from those used by other companies. Non-GAAP and adjusted financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures and should be read only in conjunction with the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP and adjusted financial measures are reconciled to GAAP in the tables set forth in this release and are subject to reclassifications to conform to current period presentations.

    Non-GAAP gross profit differs from gross profit in that it excludes amortization, share-based compensation, and one-time items.

    Non-GAAP sales and marketing expense differs from sales and marketing expense in that it excludes share-based compensation and one-time items.

    Non-GAAP general and administrative expense differs from general and administrative expense in that it excludes share-based compensation and one-time items.

    Non-GAAP research and development expense differs from research and development expense in that it excludes share-based compensation and one-time items.

    EBITDA differs from net income (loss) in that it excludes items such as interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Asure is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of these exclusions without unreasonable effort.

    Adjusted EBITDA differs from EBITDA in that it excludes share-based compensation, other income (expense), net and one-time expenses. Asure is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of these exclusions without unreasonable effort.

    All adjusted and non-GAAP measures presented as “margin” are computed by dividing the applicable adjusted financial measure by total revenue.

    Specifically, as applicable to the respective financial measure, management is adjusting for the following items when calculating non-GAAP and adjusted financial measures as applicable for the periods presented. No additional adjustments have been made for potential income tax effects of the adjustments based on the Company’s current and anticipated de minimis effective federal tax rate, resulting from the Company’s continued losses for federal tax purposes and its tax net operating loss balances.

    Share-Based Compensation Expenses. The Company’s compensation strategy includes the use of share-based compensation to attract and retain employees and executives. It is principally aimed at aligning their interests with those of our stockholders and at long-term employee retention, rather than to motivate or reward operational performance for any particular period. Thus, share-based compensation expense varies for reasons that are generally unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any particular period.

    Depreciation. The Company excludes depreciation of fixed assets. Also included in the expense is the depreciation of capitalized software costs.

    Amortization of Purchased Intangibles. The Company views amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, such as the amortization of the cost associated with an acquired company’s research and development efforts, trade names, customer lists and customer relationships, and acquired lease intangibles, as items arising from pre-acquisition activities determined at the time of an acquisition. While these intangible assets are continually evaluated for impairment, amortization of the cost of purchased intangibles is a static expense, one that is not typically affected by operations during any particular period.

    Interest Expense, Net. The Company excludes accrued interest expense, the amortization of debt discounts and deferred financing costs.

    Income Taxes. The Company excludes income taxes, both at the federal and state levels.

    One-Time Expenses. The Company’s adjusted financial measures exclude the following costs to normalize comparable reporting periods, as these are generally non-recurring expenses that do not reflect the ongoing operational results. These items are typically not budgeted and are infrequent and unusual in nature.

    Settlements, Penalties and Interest. The Company excludes legal settlements, including separation agreements, penalties and interest that are generally one-time in nature and not reflective of the operational results of the business.

    Acquisition and Transaction Related Costs. The Company excludes these expenses as they are transaction costs and expenses that are generally one-time in nature and not reflective of the underlying operational results of our business. Examples of these types of expenses include legal, accounting, regulatory, other consulting services, severance and other employee costs.

    Other non-recurring Expenses. The Company excludes these as they are generally non-recurring items that are not reflective of the underlying operational results of the business and are generally not anticipated to recur. Some examples of these types of expenses, historically, have included write-offs or impairments of assets, demolition of office space and cybersecurity consultants.

    Other (Expense) Income, Net. The Company’s adjusted financial measures exclude Other (Expense) Income, Net because it includes items that are not reflective of the underlying operational results of the business, such as loan forgiveness, adjustments to contingent liabilities and credits earned as part of the CARES Act, passed by Congress in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Use of Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain statements made by management that may constitute “forward- looking” statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements about our financial results may include expected or projected U.S GAAP and other operating and non-operating results. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “projects,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of “forward-looking statements” include statements we make regarding our operating performance, future results of operations and financial position, revenue growth, earnings or other projections. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking statements involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions, over many of which we have no control. If any such risks or uncertainties materialize or if any of the assumptions prove incorrect, our results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements we make.

    The risks and uncertainties referred to above include—but are not limited to—risks associated with breaches of the Company’s security measures; risks related to material weaknesses; possible fluctuations in the Company’s financial and operating results; privacy concerns and laws and other regulations may limit the effectiveness of our applications; the financial and other impact of any previous and future acquisitions; domestic and international regulatory developments, including changes to or applicability to our business of privacy and data securities laws, money transmitter laws and anti-money laundering laws; regulatory pressures on economic relief enacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that change or cause different interpretations with respect to eligibility for such programs; risk of our software and solutions not functioning adequately; interruptions, delays or changes in the Company’s services or the Company’s Web hosting; may incur debt to meet future capital requirements; volatility and weakness in bank and capital markets; access to additional capital; significant costs as a result of operating as a public company; the expiration of Employee Retention Tax Credits (“ERTC”) and the impact of the Internal Revenue Service recent measures regarding ERTC claims and the corresponding cash collections of existing receivables; the inability to continue to release timely updates for changes in laws; the inability to develop new and improved versions of the Company’s services and technological developments; customer’s nonrenewal of their agreements and other similar changes could negatively impact revenue, operating results and financial conditions; the exposure of market, interest, credit and liquidity risk on client funds held int rust; the Company’s operation in highlight competitive markets; risk that our clients could have insufficient funds that could result in limitations in the ability to transmit ACH transactions; impairment of intangible assets; litigation and any related claims, negotiations and settlements, including with respect to intellectual property matters or industry-specific regulations; various financial aspects of the Company’s Software-as-a-Service model; adverse effects to our business a result of claims, lawsuits, and other proceedings; issues in the use of artificial intelligence in our HCM products and services; adverse changes to financial accounting standards to the Company; inability to maintain third-party licensed software; evolving regulation of the Internet, changes in the infrastructure underlying the Internet or interruptions in Internet; factors affecting the Company’s deferred tax assets and ability to value and utilize them; the nature of the Company’s business model; inability to adopt new or correctly interpret existing money service and money transmitter business status; the Company’s ability to hire, retain and motivate employees and manage the Company’s growth; interruptions to supply chains and extended shut down of businesses; potential enactment of adverse tax laws, regulation, political, economic and social factors; potential sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock along with its volatility; risks associate with potential equity-related transactions including dividends, rights under the stockholder plan to discourage certain actions and other impacts as a result of actions of our stockholders.

    Please review the Company’s risk factors in its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 6, 2025.

    The forward-looking statements, including the financial guidance and 2025 outlook, contained in this press release represent the judgment of the Company as of the date of this press release, and the Company expressly disclaims any intent, obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard to these forward looking statements or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. © 2025 Asure Software, Inc. All rights reserved

     
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
           
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
           
    ASSETS      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,076     $ 21,425  
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $6,545 and $6,328 at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively   15,800       18,154  
    Inventory   220       195  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   5,970       4,888  
    Total current assets before funds held for clients   36,066       44,662  
    Funds held for clients   257,019       192,615  
    Total current assets   293,085       237,277  
    Property and equipment, net   20,999       19,669  
    Goodwill   94,724       94,724  
    Intangible assets, net   73,003       69,114  
    Operating lease assets, net   4,403       4,041  
    Other assets, net   12,727       11,813  
    Total assets $ 498,941     $ 436,638  
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERSEQUITY      
    Current liabilities:      
    Current portion of notes payable $ 7,948     $ 7,008  
    Accounts payable   2,475       1,364  
    Accrued compensation and benefits   2,911       4,485  
    Operating lease liabilities, current   1,432       1,438  
    Other accrued liabilities   6,071       6,600  
    Deferred revenue   4,662       8,363  
    Total current liabilities before client fund obligations   25,499       29,258  
    Client fund obligations   258,586       194,378  
    Total current liabilities   284,085       223,636  
    Long-term liabilities:      
    Deferred revenue   3,321       3,430  
    Deferred tax liability   2,903       2,612  
    Notes payable, net of current portion   6,172       5,709  
    Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent   3,892       3,578  
    Other liabilities   905       358  
    Total long-term liabilities   17,193       15,687  
    Total liabilities   301,278       239,323  
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding          
    Common stock, $0.01 par value; 44,000 shares authorized; 27,122 and 26,671 shares issued, 27,122 and 26,671 shares outstanding at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively   271       267  
    Treasury stock at cost, zero(1)at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024          
    Additional paid-in capital   507,149       504,849  
    Accumulated deficit   (309,624 )     (307,226 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (133 )     (575 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   197,663       197,315  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 498,941     $ 436,638  
    (1) The aggregate Treasury stock of prior repurchases of the Company’s own common stock was retired and subsequently issued effective January 1, 2024. See the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the impact of this transaction.
     
     
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
     
      Three Months Ended
    March 31,
      2025   2024
           
    Revenue:      
    Recurring $ 33,187     $ 30,273  
    Professional services, hardware and other   1,667       1,379  
    Total revenue   34,854       31,652  
    Cost of sales   10,246       9,045  
    Gross profit   24,608       22,607  
    Operating expenses:      
    Sales and marketing   8,386       7,767  
    General and administrative   11,900       10,063  
    Research and development   2,029       1,769  
    Amortization of intangible assets   4,308       3,449  
    Total operating expenses   26,623       23,048  
    Loss from operations   (2,015 )     (441 )
    Interest income   171       336  
    Interest expense   (451 )     (180 )
    Other income, net   188       10  
    Loss from operations before income taxes   (2,107 )     (275 )
    Income tax expense   291       33  
    Net loss   (2,398 )     (308 )
    Other comprehensive income (loss):      
    Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities   442       (244 )
    Comprehensive loss $ (1,956 )   $ (552 )
           
    Basic and diluted loss per share      
    Basic $ (0.09 )   $ (0.01 )
    Diluted $ (0.09 )   $ (0.01 )
           
    Weighted average basic and diluted shares      
    Basic   26,961       25,334  
    Diluted   26,961       25,334  
                   
     
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (in thousands)
       
      Three Months Ended March 31,
      2025   2024
           
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net loss $ (2,398 )   $ (308 )
    Adjustments to reconcile loss to net cash provided by (used in) operations:      
    Depreciation and amortization   5,972       4,860  
    Amortization of operating lease assets   374       335  
    Amortization of debt financing costs and discount   253       142  
    Non-cash interest expense   197        
    Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums on available-for-sale securities   (110 )     (78 )
    Provision for expected losses   93       46  
    Provision for deferred income taxes   291       24  
    Net realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities   (656 )     (652 )
    Share-based compensation   1,863       1,902  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
    Accounts receivable   2,261       (919 )
    Inventory   (24 )     (50 )
    Prepaid expenses and other assets   (1,049 )     (473 )
    Operating lease right-of-use assets         30  
    Accounts payable   903       (960 )
    Accrued expenses and other long-term obligations   (1,737 )     (2,665 )
    Operating lease liabilities   (427 )     (141 )
    Deferred revenue   (3,810 )     (5,040 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   1,996       (3,947 )
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Acquisition of intangible assets   (6,346 )     (710 )
    Purchases of property and equipment   (192 )     (240 )
    Software capitalization costs   (2,769 )     (2,435 )
    Purchases of available-for-sale securities   (6,589 )     (3,516 )
    Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities   3,266       2,406  
    Net cash used in investing activities   (12,630 )     (4,495 )
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Payments made on amounts due for the acquisition of intangibles   (723 )     (236 )
    Net proceeds from issuance of common stock   441       176  
    Net change in client fund obligations   64,207       21,122  
    Net cash provided by financing activities   63,925       21,062  
    Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents   53,291       12,620  
    Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of period   145,712       177,622  
    Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, end of period $ 199,003     $ 190,242  
                   
     
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
    (in thousands)
       
      Three Months Ended March 31,
      2025
      2024
           
    Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,076     $ 23,166  
    Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents included in funds held for clients   184,927       167,076  
    Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents $ 199,003     $ 190,242  
           
    Supplemental information:      
    Cash paid for interest $ 125     $  
           
    Non-cash investing and financing activities:      
    Acquisition of intangible assets $ 750     $ 6,345  
    Notes payable issued for acquisitions $ 1,150     $ 827  
    Shares issued for acquisitions $     $ 4,494  
                   
     
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP AND ADJUSTED FINANCIAL MEASURES
    (unaudited)
                     
    (in thousands) Q1-25 Q4-24 Q3-24 Q2-24 Q1-24 Q4-23 Q3-23 Q2-23
    Revenue(1) $ 34,854   $ 30,792   $ 29,304   $ 28,044   $ 31,652   $ 26,264   $ 29,334   $ 30,420  
                     
    Gross Profit to non-GAAP Gross Profit                
    Gross Profit $ 24,608   $ 20,928   $ 19,704   $ 18,868   $ 22,607   $ 17,839   $ 21,280   $ 22,018  
    Gross Margin   70.6 %   68.0 %   67.2 %   67.3 %   71.4 %   67.9 %   72.5 %   72.4 %
                     
    Share-based Compensation   44     44     44     43     40     32     28     46  
    Depreciation   1,369     1,190     1,232     1,145     1,110     921     984     1,309  
    Amortization – intangibles   50     50     50     50     50     50     50     50  
    One-time expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   29     25     2     3         (6 )   8      
    Acquisition and transaction costs   167     221     367     264     39              
    Other non-recurring expenses       84                          
    Non-GAAP Gross Profit $ 26,267   $ 22,542   $ 21,399   $ 20,373   $ 23,846   $ 18,836   $ 22,350   $ 23,423  
    Non-GAAP Gross Margin   75.4 %   73.2 %   73.0 %   72.6 %   75.3 %   71.7 %   76.2 %   77.0 %
                     
    Sales and Marketing Expense to non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expense
    Sales and Marketing Expense $ 8,386   $ 6,945   $ 6,680   $ 6,924   $ 7,767   $ 6,422   $ 6,597   $ 8,515  
                     
    Share-based Compensation   322     251     269     237     243     180     210     149  
    Depreciation   1         1         1     1          
    One-time expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   51     78     (5 )   5     18     6     30     4  
    Acquisition and transaction costs   30     9     68     37     11              
    Other non-recurring expenses       52                         180  
    Non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expense $ 7,982   $ 6,555   $ 6,347   $ 6,645   $ 7,494   $ 6,235   $ 6,357   $ 8,182  
                     
    General and Administrative Expense to non-GAAP General and Administrative Expense
    General and Administrative Expense $ 11,900   $ 9,940   $ 10,378   $ 10,118   $ 10,063   $ 9,747   $ 9,294   $ 10,336  
                     
    Share-based Compensation   1,407     1,081     1,187     1,122     1,535     980     936     1,298  
    Depreciation   244     269     264     256     251     225     200     234  
    One-time expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   492     142     377     304     98     284     101     432  
    Acquisition and transaction costs   491     282     371     245     57     51          
    Other non-recurring expenses   136     220     253         86     53         453  
    Non-GAAP General and Administrative Expense $ 9,130   $ 7,946   $ 7,926   $ 8,191   $ 8,036   $ 8,154   $ 8,057   $ 7,919  
                     
    Research and Development Expense to non-GAAP Research and Development Expense
    Research and Development Expense $ 2,029   $ 2,103   $ 1,973   $ 1,962   $ 1,769   $ 1,739   $ 1,803   $ 1,325  
                     
    Share-based Compensation   90     87     90     86     85     69     76     89  
    Depreciation   1       $   $   $   $   $   $  
    One-time expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   9     21         27     31              
    Acquisition and transaction costs   91     153     195     369     147              
    Other non-recurring expenses       29                          
    Non-GAAP Research and Development Expense $ 1,838   $ 1,813   $ 1,688   $ 1,480   $ 1,506   $ 1,670   $ 1,727   $ 1,236  
                     

    (1)Note that first quarters are seasonally strong as recurring year-end W2/ACA revenue is recognized in this period.

     
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP AND ADJUSTED FINANCIAL MEASURES (cont.)
    (unaudited)
                     
    (in thousands) Q1-25 Q4-24 Q3-24 Q2-24 Q1-24 Q4-23 Q3-23 Q2-23
    Revenue(1) $ 34,854   $ 30,792   $ 29,304   $ 28,044   $ 31,652   $ 26,264   $ 29,334   $ 30,420  
                     
    GAAP Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA
    GAAP Net Loss $ (2,398 ) $ (3,204 ) $ (3,901 ) $ (4,360 ) $ (308 ) $ (3,582 ) $ (2,206 ) $ (3,765 )
                     
    Interest expense, net   280     211     109     (53 )   (156 )   (24 )   782     1,593  
    Income taxes   291     499     170     231     33     (158 )   (123 )   627  
    Depreciation   1,614     1,460     1,497     1,402     1,361     1,148     1,185     1,542  
    Amortization – intangibles   4,358     4,482     4,345     4,096     3,499     3,743     3,384     3,343  
    EBITDA $ 4,145   $ 3,448   $ 2,220   $ 1,316   $ 4,429   $ 1,127   $ 3,022   $ 3,340  
    EBITDA Margin   11.9 %   11.2 %   7.6 %   4.7 %   14.0 %   4.3 %   10.3 %   11.0 %
                     
    Share-based Compensation   1,863     1,463     1,591     1,488     1,902     1,260     1,251     1,582  
    One Time Expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   581     266     375     339     147     283     140     436  
    Acquisition and transaction costs   779     665     1,001     914     254     51          
    Other non-recurring expenses   136     385     253         86     53         633  
    Other expense (income), net   (188 )   2             (10 )   1     1,800     93  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 7,316   $ 6,229   $ 5,440   $ 4,057   $ 6,808   $ 2,775   $ 6,213   $ 6,084  
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin   21.0 %   20.2 %   18.6 %   14.5 %   21.5 %   10.6 %   21.2 %   20.0 %
                                                     

    (1)Note that first quarters are seasonally strong as recurring year-end W2/ACA revenue is recognized in this period.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Patrick McKillop
    Vice President, Investor Relations
    617-335-5058
    patrick.mckillop@asuresoftware.com 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney speaks with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres.

    The Secretary-General congratulated the Prime Minister on his election. Prime Minister Carney emphasized Canada’s relationship and shared history with the UN, and Canada’s continued support of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The leaders also discussed a wide range of issues, including UN reform, climate finance, the security and humanitarian crises in Haiti, and the war in Ukraine.

    The leaders agreed to strengthen this relationship and to stay in close contact.

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Bringing communities and stories to life

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lower Sackville — RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment seizes drugs, unstamped tobacco and cash

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment (HRD) Street Crime Enforcement Unit (SCEU) has charged two people after executing a warrant.

    On April 29, in relation to an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, RCMP HRD SCEU officers, with the assistance of RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment, conducted a targeted traffic stop on Hwy. 101 and safely arrested the lone occupant of the vehicle, a 30-year-old man from Lower Sackville. A search of the man resulted in the seizure of cocaine, methamphetamines and cash.

    That evening, at approximately 9:30 p.m., officers safely arrested another person, a 26-year-old Lower Sackville woman, at a property on Quinella Crt. and executed a search warrant.

    During a search of the home and a vehicle at the property, officers seized a quantity of cocaine, 200 methamphetamine pills, MDMA, drug paraphernalia, more than $15,000 and unstamped tobacco.

    Brandon Scott Sanford and Kaitlyn Kristina Starratt have been charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (two counts) and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime. They were held in custody and released on conditions by the court yesterday.

    Both Sanford and Starratt will return in Dartmouth Provincial Court on July 9, at 9:30 a.m.

    The investigation is ongoing.

    Anyone with information about illicit drugs or other criminal activity in the Halifax Regional Municipality is encouraged to contact police at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    File: 25-46166

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: Freedom in an age of climate crisis and trade wars: Lessons from philosopher Immanuel Kant

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rafael Ziegler, Professor, Department of Managment, HEC Montréal

    A decade ago, the majority of nations committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, pledging to “leave no one behind” by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions globally by 2050.

    Ten years on, the sentiment regarding such aspirations is skeptical and the mood gloomy. With the rise of autocracies and the influence of libertarian tech-billionaires on politics, goals such as development for all and climate neutrality seem to be relics of the past.

    The United States, the most powerful country in the world, is at the heart of this shift. In 1776, the U.S. declared independence and was founded on the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Today, however, it is increasingly known for its disregard of life, legislative attacks on civil liberties and creating global insecurity through tariffs.

    In the midst of all this, it’s important to remember ours is not the first generation to face dark times. As my recent research argues, Immanuel Kant’s philosophy can offer us valuable tools for navigating today’s challenges.

    Kant’s vision of possible progress

    A painted portrait of German philosopher and Enlightenment thinker Immanuel Kant circa 1790.
    (Wikimedia Commons)

    In 1776, the same year the U.S. was founded, Kant was preparing his breakthrough critical philosophy and lecturing on freedom and pragmatic anthropology, all while living in the absolutist monarchy of Prussia.

    At the time, Prussia was using its military to expand its territory and enforce internal colonization over land and peoples.

    Amid this, Kant observed the contradictions of human nature — people who acted both good and bad, cruel and respectful of others — and described humanity as “crooked timber.” Yet Kant insisted on viewing this “crooked timber” through the lens of freedom.

    At the centre of Kant’s universalist, freedom-focused vision for the future was the idea of a world where all people lived in dignity. It is focused on autonomy as the capacity to self-legislate. Freedom served as his North Star for what is today called “backcasting,” or thinking backward from a desired future to identify possible paths toward achieving it.




    Read more:
    Explainer: the ideas of Kant


    In this spirit, Kant observed the rise of competitive markets that rewarded selfishness and greed, and argued that law and international co-operation — what he called a federation of republics — could turn antagonism into springs of progress. In other words, he analyzed the discord and conflict of his present for signs of possible progress.

    Crucial for the identification of such possibilities was the freedom of public reason: people thinking for themselves and contributing to public debate.

    Thinking long-term about freedom

    What can we learn from Kant about navigating today’s multiple crises?

    First, focus on freedom from a long-term perspective. The current trade war will likely reduce economic growth, but they may also advance the re-regionalization of economies — an idea long supported by post-growth economists seeking sustainable prosperity.

    However, regional production is not inherently good. Rather, we need a public discussion about which essential goods — food, for example — are best mostly supplied regionally, by whom and where international co-operation is called for.

    The climate crisis requires plans not fixes

    Second, Kant’s insights remind us that freedom must be pursued within the reality of a shared, finite planet. Climate change is not a problem that can be solved overnight. Emissions don’t care about the threats and angry fits of autocrats. It’s a global, complex challenge that requires long-term planning processes.

    There are signs of progress in this regard: in 2024, the United Kingdom reported greenhouse gas emissions to be at their lowest levels since 1872 thanks to long-term planning. Canada, after opting out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2011, finally saw emissions start to fall in 2025 following a renewed commitment to international climate goals and planning.

    But this progress is fragile. The chaos of Trump’s tariff wars must not lead our politicians and policymakers to prioritize short-term economic and political gains over long-term climate strategies.

    Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s support for pipelines, for instance, is at odds with evidence that fossil fuel expansion will lock in emissions.

    It also diverts public money away from cheaper sources of renewable energy and supporting citizens through a just energy transition. With trade wars and economic insecurity, inflation will likely increase costs of living. This will hit poorer households harder, making this a matter of both environmental and social justice.

    Rebuilding the public sphere

    Third, for Kant, current lifestyle expectations are no guide for the core of future freedom. So if the American treasury secretary asserts that “cheap goods are not part of the American dream,” can we, paradoxically, detect an unexpected sign of possible progress?

    The answer is yes — if we take that example as evidence that worthwhile aspirations cannot be captured by consumerism but call for a more sustained effort.

    While modern consumers are willing to make big efforts — such as for daily gym and running routines — can similar energy be released to collective dreams of progress and saving the planet? For Kant, future freedom requires seeing beyond individual to collective aspirations. This relies on shared goals that can be articulated through foresight and supported by a vibrant, critical public sphere.

    In Kant’s time, the public sphere mainly consisted of the Republic of Letters, a network made of intellectuals and writers in the late 17th and 18th centuries engaging in open debate.

    Today, by contrast, much of our communication takes place on social media platforms that prioritize short-form formats, reward anger over analysis and are owned by a few global corporations structured to maximize profits rather than the quality of public deliberation. To counter this trend, regionally diverse, independent news providers are needed along with decentralized, open source social media.

    But above all, in an era of climate crisis, political polarization and economic instability, Kant reminds us of what he called a “Denkungsart:” an “art of thinking” or mindset based on freedom and possibility in a long-term perspective.

    Rafael Ziegler does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Freedom in an age of climate crisis and trade wars: Lessons from philosopher Immanuel Kant – https://theconversation.com/freedom-in-an-age-of-climate-crisis-and-trade-wars-lessons-from-philosopher-immanuel-kant-254442

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI: The Search Is on for 2025’s Most Investible Canadian Cleantech Ventures

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Foresight Canada is now accepting applications for its fifth annual Foresight 50, a comprehensive spotlight on the 50 most investible cleantech companies across Canada to investors around the world. The initiative highlights companies with solutions to tackle the world’s biggest environmental and economic challenges.

    Since 2021, the Foresight 50 program has been instrumental in connecting promising Canadian cleantech ventures with a global network of investors, ensuring crucial injections of capital to multiply the impact of their solutions. Collectively, past honourees have raised over $2.25B in capital, fueling the growth of innovative solutions that enhance productivity in key global industries and accelerate Canada’s transition to a prosperous future economy.

    Companies selected for the Foresight 50 will benefit from:

    • Investor networking: Opportunities to connect with relevant investment firms.
    • International public relations: Increased visibility through Foresight-led media campaign.
    • Participation in the Foresight 50 Showcase: An in-person celebration for networking and investor connections.
    • Invite-only Investor Forum: Exclusive access to networking and panel sessions on the future of cleantech capital.

    Foresight 50’s panel of judges is composed of leading cleantech investors, including: Olivia Hornby (Spring Impact Capital), Moien Giashi (GreenSky Ventures), Cheri Corbett (BDC), Nikhil Nayer (Rogue Insight Capital), and Dania Moazzam (RBCx). These investors will select this year’s 50 ventures based on their investability, potential economic and job growth impact, leadership team, environmental impact, and probability of success. Winners will be announced at the ceremony in Calgary, November 2025.

    Who Should Apply?

    Canadian cleantech ventures with strong leadership, a clear growth trajectory, and a bold vision for environmental and economic impact. Foresight is looking for:

    • Companies across all cleantech sectors—from clean energy and sustainable agriculture to carbon capture and beyond.
    • Ventures at any funding stage, from seed to post-Series B.
    • Teams seeking strategic connections with international investors.
    • Innovators looking for visibility, credibility, and accelerated growth on the global stage.

    Submit your application by June 30, 2025.

    Quotes

    “Marking our fifth year of celebrating cleantech through our Foresight 50 underscores a vital reality: shining a bold spotlight on groundbreaking Canadian innovation is crucial now more than ever. Their ingenuity is beyond inspiring; they are the engine driving clean productivity across our nation, building a stronger and more sustainable future economy for Canada and the world.” —Jeanette Jackson, CEO, Foresight Canada

    About Foresight Canada:

    Foresight Canada helps the world do more with less, sustainably. As Canada’s largest cleantech innovation and adoption accelerator, they connect public and private sectors to the world’s best clean technologies, de-risking and simplifying the adoption of innovative solutions that improve productivity, profitability, and economic competitiveness, all while addressing today’s most urgent climate challenges.

    The 2025 Foresight 50 Showcase is presented by Foresight Canada and Export Development Canada (EDC). Media sponsor: Carbon Life Media.

    Image: 2024 Foresight 50 Honourees, Carbon Life Media.

    Heather Kingdon
    Communications Manager
    Foresight Canada
    hkingdon@foresightcac.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03d7b8db-fd67-4010-b7f9-793e643e7fc3

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Members Wrap Up 2025 Legislative Conference with Renewed Focus on Defending Workers’ Rights

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    More than 400 IAM members from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., this week for the 2025 IAM Legislative Conference – marking one of the strongest turnouts in recent history.

    Over three days, IAM delegates came together to strategize, share stories from their communities, and meet face-to-face with the elected officials who make decisions that impact IAM Union members, their families, and communities every day. Through a packed schedule of speakers, congressional meetings, and issue-focused discussions, the message was clear: IAM  Union members are united and ready to take on the growing wave of attacks on workers’ rights.

    Delegates heard directly from IAM International President Brian Bryant and members of the IAM Executive Council, who spoke about the IAM Union’s legislative priorities and the urgent need to hold elected officials accountable. Congressional allies and labor champions addressed the conference’s participants, offering their support and pledging to continue the fight for stronger labor protections, fair wages, and the right to organize.

    WATCH: IAM International President Brian Bryant and First Day Remarks.

    Throughout the week, IAM members met with dozens of Senators and Representatives, carrying with them the voices of their fellow union members. From opposing anti-worker legislation and safeguarding federal workers to pushing for strong Buy American policies, fair trade, and retirement security, IAM delegates made it clear that workers are watching.

    As part of this year’s Legislative Conference, delegates rallied at Columbus Circle outside Union Station, Washington, D.C., to celebrate federal workers.

    PHOTOS: Federal Workers Support Day

    The event served as an opportunity to show solidarity with federal workers affected by the Trump Administration’s attacks. It included remarks by the IAM Executive Council, NFFE-IAM leaders, congressional allies, and members who have been impacted by these actions.

    WATCH: Federal Workers Support Day

    As the conference concluded, IAM delegates returned home with renewed energy and a clear message for their members: the fight continues – not just in Washington, but in every shop floor, every local, and every community where workers stand together.

    WATCH: Legislative Conference is in Full Swing on Capitol Hill.

    This year’s Legislative Conference included the following speakers:

    • IAM International President Brian Bryant
    • IAM Canadian Territory General Vice President David Chartrand
    • U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders
    • U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine)
    • U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.)
    • U.S. Rep. Shomari Figues (D-Ala.)
    • U.S. Rep. Chris DeLuzio (D-Pa.)
    • U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.)
    • U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinki (D-Ill.)
    • U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.)
    • U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.)
    • U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Cal.)
    • U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.)
    • U.S. Rep. Parmila Jayapal (D-Was.)
    • IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon
    • IAM International Affairs Director Peter Greenberg
    • IAM General Counsel Carla Siegel
    • NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin
    • TCU/IAM National Legislative Director David Arouca
    • AFL-CIO Director of Advocacy Jody Calemine

    WATCH: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Remarks

    PHOTOS: 

    Legislative Conference Day 1

    Legislative Conference Day 2

    See X coverage below:

    Embed tweet 

    https://x.com/IAM_Union/status/1917567445335785587

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Meet our new Director for BC!

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Meet our new Director for BC!

    As British Columbia Director, Patricia Lightburn will represent CanREA members and help advance policy outcomes in the province.

    Ottawa, May 1, 2025—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association CanREA) is excited to welcome Patricia Lightburn as our new Director, British Columbia. She will represent CanREA members in BC, lead the BC Network, engage with stakeholders and work with members to advance CanREA’s strategic policy priorities in the BC market.  

    “We are thrilled to welcome Patricia to CanREA, especially at this critical time for renewable energy and energy storage industry in BC,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s President and CEO. 

    Prior to joining CanREA, Lightburn was a managing consultant at Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors. She has also held roles at Innergex Renewable Energy, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Ontario Power Authority (now the IESO).  

    “BC has embarked on a once-in-a-generation energy transition and I couldn’t be more excited to join the CanREA team, to support a thriving and sustainable renewable energy and storage industry in this province,” she said.   

    Lightburn holds a master’s degree from Sciences Politiques in Paris, France. She is based in Squamish, British Columbia.   

    To see CanREA’s growing roster of professionals serving Canada’s renewable energy industry, visit the “Our team” webpage.
    The post Meet our new Director for BC! appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New legislation will deliver key infrastructure faster, strengthen economy

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Candy Ashdown, board chair, Langley School District –

    “Langley has experienced rapid growth in recent years, and we are working hard to build the schools that families need. Legislation that offers new tools to accelerate the construction of classrooms and schools is a positive step for our community. We look forward to working closely with government on continuing to ensure students have the high-quality learning environments they need to thrive.”

    Everett Baker, mayor, City of Grand Forks –

    “After the City of Grand Forks experienced catastrophic flooding in 2018, our main focus was on taking care of our community. In the years following, we completed over 40 different permitting processes to build back stronger. I hope this legislation could be used to help more communities rebuild what they’ve lost in a faster, more streamlined way, so municipalities can stay focused on supporting people and not lengthy or overlapping approval processes.”

    Vivian Eliopoulos, president and chief executive officer, Vancouver Coastal Health –

    “This new legislation is an important step forward in helping hospitals and health-care sites get built more efficiently and effectively. It will provide the tools to improve services, modernize infrastructure and better support the health and wellness of the communities we serve.”

    Neil Fassina, president, Okanagan College –

    “Post-secondary institutions across B.C. and throughout Canada are facing increased cost pressures as we work to meet the needs of our students, employees and communities. This legislation will support colleges, like Okanagan College, to move more quickly to build required facilities for students to get the training and education they require to be job ready.”

    Colleen Giroux-Schmidt, vice-president, Innergex –

    “This new legislation shows us that advancing critical infrastructure and upholding strong environmental standards are not mutually exclusive. It provides a clear path to get vital projects built and deliver the clean energy, modern grid systems and resilient communities the B.C. needs to anchor our prosperity without compromising our commitment to environmental stewardship.”

    Patrick Johnstone, mayor, City of New Westminster –

    “The infrastructure projects act is a good step toward accelerating the infrastructure our communities need to support growth. It will allow for greater collaboration between the Province and municipalities so we can work together delivering the schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructure our residents demand. This legislation provides a framework for prioritizing the needs of people in our growing communities and streamlining to deliver projects more efficiently.”

    Geoffrey W. Payne, president and vice-chancellor, University of Northern British Columbia –

    “Colleges and universities in B.C need the facilities to equip students for the future and the changing needs of the workforce, but we’re facing growing financial pressures as we try to do that. This legislation will allow us to work closer with government on projects that our students need so we can deliver faster and help strengthen our communities.”   

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province Moving Windsor Court Matters to Kentville

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province is closing the Windsor satellite court and transferring all matters to the nearby Kentville Justice Centre to ensure people have access to justice in safe, secure, modern surroundings.

    All Windsor court matters will transition to Kentville by July 1.

    “Nova Scotians deserve to attend court in facilities that are safe, secure and accessible,” said Becky Druhan, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “This change reflects our commitment to improving the justice experience for everyone – whether you are participating in a case, supporting a loved one or working in the system.”

    The Kentville Justice Centre, which serves the Annapolis Valley, operates full time. It opened a fourth modern courtroom, which is fully accessible and equipped with modern technology, in January.

    The condition of the Windsor satellite court building was an important factor in the decision. An inspection in January deemed the holding cells unsafe, and at that time, criminal matters involving people in custody went virtual.

    The Windsor satellite court operates part time, with no permanent employees. The Department leases the space from West Hants Regional Municipality.


    Quick Facts:

    • the Department of Justice manages operations at 23 courthouses across Nova Scotia, including 14 justice centres and nine satellite courts
    • the Province’s accessibility strategy, Access by Design 2030, outlines how the government will achieve its goal of an accessible province by providing people with disabilities equitable access to programs, services, information and infrastructure

    Additional Resources:

    Information about court services in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/just/Court_Services/

    Access by Design 2030: https://novascotia.ca/accessibility/access-by-design


    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Full closure of Chaudière Crossing to motorists

    Source: Government of Canada News

    For immediate release

    Gatineau, Quebec, May 1, 2025 – Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise motorists that there will be a full closure of the Chaudière Crossing to accommodate the CN Cycle for CHEO during the following period:

    • Sunday, May 4, from 8 am to 2 pm

    The crossing will be closed in both directions, and only local traffic will have access, from Alexandre-Taché Boulevard to Wellington Street.

    During this period, access for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as public transit (STO and OC Transpo), will be permitted in both directions.

    Cyclists are encouraged to dismount their bicycles when crossing the bridge.

    PSPC encourages users to exercise caution when travelling on the crossing and thanks them for their patience.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ukrainian National Extradited from Spain to Face Conspiracy to Use Ransomware Charge

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Allegedly Took Part in Global Ransomware Scheme Using “Nefilim” Ransomware Strain

    Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a superseding indictment was unsealed charging Artem Stryzhak with conspiracy to commit fraud and related activity, including extortion, in connection with computers, for his role in a series of international attacks using the Nefilim ransomware.  Stryzhak, a Ukrainian citizen, was arrested in Spain in June 2024 and extradited to the United States on April 30, 2025.  The arraignment will be held later today before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher J.S. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield, Illinois Field Office (FBI), announced the charges.

    “As alleged, the defendant was part of an international ransomware scheme in which he conspired to target high-revenue companies in the United States, steal data, and hold data hostage in exchange for payment.  If victims did not pay, the criminals then leaked the data online,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “The criminals who carry out these malicious cyber-attacks often do so from abroad in the belief that American justice cannot reach them.  The extradition of the defendant and today’s charges prove that they are wrong.”

    Mr. Durham also thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the FBI’s New York Field Office and the Government of Spain for their crucial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from Spain of Stryzhak.

    “The FBI has long recognized that combating international ransomware schemes requires strong partnerships,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnson.  “The successful extradition of the defendant is a significant achievement in that ongoing collaboration and it sends a clear message: those who attempt to hide behind international borders to target American citizens will face justice.”

    As alleged in the superseding indictment, Nefilim ransomware was deployed to encrypt computer networks in countries around the world, including in the Eastern District of New York.  These ransomware attacks caused millions of dollars in losses, both from ransomware payments and damage to victim computer systems.  The perpetrators of Nefilim typically customized the ransomware executable file for each victim, creating a unique decryption key and customized ransom notes.  If the victims paid the ransom demand, the perpetrators sent the decryption key, enabling the victims to decrypt the computer files locked by the ransomware program.

    In June 2021, Nefilim administrators gave Stryzhak access to the Nefilim ransomware code in exchange for 20 percent of his ransom proceeds.  He operated the ransomware through his account on the online Nefilim platform, known as the “panel.”  When he first obtained access to the panel, Stryzhak asked a co‑conspirator whether he should choose a different username from the one he used in other criminal activities in case the panel “gets hacked into by the feds.”

    Nefilim’s preferred ransomware targets were companies located in the United States, Canada, or Australia with more than $100 million in annual revenue. Stryzhak and others researched the companies to which they gained unauthorized access, including by using online databases to gather information about the victim companies’ net worth, size, and contact information.  In one exchange with Stryzhak in or about July 2021, a Nefilim administrator encouraged him to target companies in these countries with more than $200 million in annual revenue.

    After gaining sufficient access to the victims’ networks, Stryzhak and his co‑conspirators stole data in furtherance of their scheme to extort ransom payments from them.  Nefilim ransom notes typically threatened the victims that unless they came to an agreement with the ransomware actors, the stolen data would be published on publicly accessible “Corporate Leaks” websites, which were maintained by Nefilim administrators.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted of the charge, Stryzhak faces up to five years’ imprisonment.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander F. Mindlin and Ellen H. Sise of the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Rebecca Roth.

    The Defendant:

    ARTEM ALEKSANDROVYCH STRYZHAK
    Age: 35
    Barcelona, Spain 

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-324 (PKC)

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s Ukraine mineral deal finally lands as US economy shivers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachael Jolley, International Affairs Editor

    Donald Trump promised he could sort out a peace deal for the Ukraine war in 24 hours. It still hasn’t happened. Instead the US administration has taken 100 days just to sign a mineral deal with Ukraine.

    This agreement will give the US access to revenue from Ukrainian natural resources, including 100 major deposits of critical minerals. It also has huge symbolism. Ukrainians see it as a sign that the US is committed to staying involved in their country, and also as a warming of the relationship between Ukraine’s president and Trump. It will also be a signal to Russia that what hurts Ukraine could also hurt the US economy.

    Of course, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt calls the deal “historic” and puts its brilliance down to Trump’s amazing negotiation skills.

    However, in the week that Trump celebrated 100 days in office, others would argue that Trump’s deal-making skills are nowhere near as astute as he thinks they are. That he gave Russia way too much room to manoeuvre in the early months of 2025 by leaning so clearly in Putin’s direction, allowing the Russian leader to think he could pretty much do anything he fancied and win as much of Ukraine as he desired.

    US and Ukraine sign a mineral deal.

    But US national security advisor Michael Waltz, who has announced he is standing down, has signalled that the balance may now be shifting, when he said the minerals deal was “a momentous step” and: “Russia needs to come to the table.”

    As Bridget Storrie from UCL’s Institute for Global Prosperity has pointed out, this deal was all about what the global super power was going to get as justification for its support in the war, rather than about how it could increase prosperity in a war-torn country.




    Read more:
    Ukraine minerals deal: the idea that natural resource extraction can build peace has been around for decades


    Andrew Gawthorpe, a lecturer in history and international studies at Leiden University, has looked at the details and believes Kyiv is getting more than many expected, and more than was on offer earlier in the year, when Trump fell out so publicly with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, at a White House press conference. As part of the deal Ukraine will retain ownership of its natural resources. All profits are to be invested in Ukraine for ten years after the agreement comes into force. It also looks like Washington will contribute new military aid.




    Read more:
    US-Ukraine minerals deal looks better for Kyiv than expected – but Trump is an unpredictable partner


    Presidential power

    Trump’s first 100 days have been tumultuous, not just for the US, but for most of the world. His “liberation day” tariffs on international goods have turned existing economic balances and expectations upside down.

    Countries that have long seen themselves as confident allies of the US – Canada, Denmark and Germany, for instance – now see the landscape somewhat differently, given the high US tariffs that have landed on their doorsteps. No longer convinced of the strength of their relationship with the world’s superpower, many are rethinking both their economic plans and their alliances.

    Meanwhile, China, the main focus of Trump’s tariffs, can see opportunities opening up to forge stronger relationships with, and sales to, other countries also looking for new markets. China has not crumbled yet under the weight of 145% US tariffs. And China’s president, Xi Jinping, is showing no sign of blinking first and heading to Washington to negotiate as Trump was clearly expecting.

    Trump now swings daily from claiming he is negotiating with China and that their tariffs can come down, to stating that Beijing will cave. All that sound and fury sounds a good deal like wavering. And with US supermarket bosses warning of empty shelves around the corner, and US ports expecting traffic from China to significantly slow this month, as Nottingham University’s Chee Meng Tan sets out, there is every reason to expect Trump will cave and open negotiations before Xi Jinping does.




    Read more:
    China has identified how to fight back against Trump’s tariffs, and is not ready to back down


    Many nations now see the US as a far less trustworthy partner now than in the past. The most obvious of these is Canada, which just elected the leader of a party that was 20 percentage points behind in the polls in January and expected to be beaten badly not long ago. But when Trump decided that he wanted Canada as the 51st state, normality went out the window over its northern border.

    This week, newly elected Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said he would seek meetings with Trump with the “full knowledge that we have many, many other options than the United States”, promising to strengthen relations with “reliable partners” in Europe, Asia and elsewhere.

    “We are over the shock of America’s betrayal,” he said. He is ready to write a new foreign policy. He’s not the only one.


    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.


    Two of the US’s firm friends for decades, South Korea and Taiwan, are now not so sure that they see Washington as a dependable ally, according to a report from research organisation the Brookings Institution. It saw a significant jump in the numbers of people who saw the US as untrustworthy from July 2024, to March 2025.

    This matters, as Steve Dunne, a political scientist at the University of Warwick points out, because without trust people and nations are likely not to honour their commitments. After the second world war, the western allies decided to create a series of international bodies to avert such a disaster happening again, and to encourage nations to follow a set of rules that would encourage democracy and trust in each other.

    In his first 100 days, says Dunne, Trump broke the compact of trust with countries that had a long alliance with the US, and that could have a deep impact on the trust that has existed for decades between western nations.




    Read more:
    Donald Trump’s first 100 days have badly damaged trust in America both economically and as an ally


    Global power reducing?

    Declining trust in the US could well reduce other forms of its global power. As well as financially and politically, in the post-war decades the US has influenced the world, by exporting its culture, its films, its television programmes and its ideas, as well as importing tourists to visit its national treasures, from Yosemite national park to New York City.

    In the past 100 days, international tourists are reported to be cancelling their bookings, partly worried about the welcome, or the lack of it, they may encounter at the border. Summer airline bookings from Canada (21%), Germany (17%) and the Netherlands (12%) to the US have fallen significantly for this year, although other countries such as UK show only a minor fall.

    Admittedly, Trump told voters that he wanted to put “America first”. However, at his inauguration, the president declared he wanted to make America the “most respected nation on earth”. That achievement is looking quite far off at the moment. In fact, in many countries it is going the other way.

    That international respect took a significant hit at one of the most remarkable moments of the past 100 days, when Trump proceeded to take Zelensky to task publicly for a range of offences including not being grateful enough for US support and not wearing a suit.

    So what has Trump achieved domestically in his first 100 days and how does that match up against the promises he made? Let’s look at some of the plans he set out in his inauguration speech.

    Trump said he wanted to increase US wealth. But current economic indicators are more than a bit shaky, with US stock markets falling and rising on a regular basis as they follow Trump’s on-and-off-again announcements on tariff negotiations with various countries. On April 30, the day after Trump’s big 100 days rally, stocks fell after data was released showing a contraction in the GDP of the US in the first quarter.

    But Trump has told his supporters that, in the long term, tariffs will work and manufacturing jobs will benefit. So far, Republican voters still believe in Trump’s policies on jobs and the economy, with 82% approving, according to a recent Economist/YouGov poll. Only 8% of Democrats and 32% of independent voters do though.

    Many of the big decisions we have seen playing out in the first 100 days – including the Elon Musk-led dismantling of some parts of government and Trump’s swing at driving down immigration – were detailed in the Project 2025 document, published the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation before the election, says Dafydd Townley of the University of Portsmouth. But it also hints at what may come next, including more legislation restricting American women’s access to abortion further.




    Read more:
    How Project 2025 became the blueprint for Donald Trump’s second term


    On January 20 Trump thought that Americans stood “on the verge of the four greatest years in American history”. For many Americans worried about their pensions, savings and the cost of groceries, the future is not looking so great right now. But for those who were sharp focused on cutting immigration, Trump may have made the great start they were hoping for.

    ref. Trump’s Ukraine mineral deal finally lands as US economy shivers – https://theconversation.com/trumps-ukraine-mineral-deal-finally-lands-as-us-economy-shivers-255747

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Sexual Violence Prevention Month Proclaimed in Saskatchewan

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 1, 2025

    Government is proclaiming May 2025 as Sexual Violence Prevention Month in Saskatchewan in partnership with Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan. 

    Sexual Violence Prevention Month is a collaborative approach that unites communities, government agencies and advocacy groups in a shared mission to end sexual violence in Saskatchewan.

    “We are proud to continue partnering with Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan on this important initiative,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said. “As a government we are committed to addressing and raising awareness about sexual violence as part of our ongoing work to build a healthy, vibrant Saskatchewan where everyone can live safely and free from violence.”

    In 2025-26, government will invest $31.7 million for interpersonal violence programs and services through the justice system. This includes $328,000 for second-stage housing and an additional $720,000 for community-based organizations, including those that deliver supports and services to individuals and families impacted by interpersonal violence, including sexual and physical violence. 

    “Sexual Violence Prevention Week is a time to reaffirm our commitment to preventing and ending sexual violence in all forms,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Alana Ross said. “Everyone deserves to feel safe physically, in their relationships and in their communities. During Sexual Violence Prevention Week, we stand with survivors and work towards a future free from harm.”

    Government supports a variety of programs and initiatives that work to address and reduce sexual violence across the province, including:

    “Sexual Violence Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness, inspire action and strengthen our efforts to end sexual violence in Saskatchewan,” Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan Executive Director Kerrie Isaac said. “With our province facing one of the highest rates in Canada, it’s critical to address root causes like addiction, which is closely linked to sexual violence. We call on communities, government and advocacy groups to work together for real prevention and support.”  

    If someone you know may be at risk of  sexual violence, or is looking for support and information about human trafficking and sexual exploitation, please find a complete directory of resources at sk.211.ca/abuse. 

    More information on events being held this month please visit: https://sassk.ca/initiatives/shining-a-light/svpm/.

    For more information on programs and services provided by the Government of Saskatchewan, visit: 

    Major Investments Made to End Gender Based Violence | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    Human Trafficking Posters Featured at Country Thunder for First Time | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    Government of Saskatchewan Invests $42.6 Million In Community-Based Funding to Address Interpersonal Violence | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    You can also find the videos and more information about the ‘Face the Issue’ campaign on Saskatchewan.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Challenging unconstitutional net-zero legislation

    [. According to the Alberta Electric System Operator’s analysis, the regulations in question would make Alberta’s electricity system more than 100 times less reliable than the province’s supply adequacy standard. Albertans expect their electricity to remain affordable and reliable, but implementation of these regulations could increase costs by a staggering 35 per cent.

    Canada’s constitution is clear. Provinces have exclusive jurisdiction over the development, conservation and management of sites and facilities in the province for the generation and production of electrical energy. That is why Alberta’s government is referring the constitutionality of the federal government’s recent net-zero electricity regulations to the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

    “The federal government refused to work collaboratively or listen to Canadians while developing these regulations. The results are ineffective, unachievable and irresponsible, and place Albertans’ livelihoods – and more importantly, lives – at significant risk. Our government will not accept unconstitutional net-zero regulations that leave Albertans vulnerable to blackouts in the middle of summer and winter when they need electricity the most.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier

    “The introduction of the Clean Electricity Regulations in Alberta by the federal government is another example of dangerous federal overreach. These regulations will create unpredictable power outages in the months when Albertans need reliable energy the most. They will also cause power prices to soar in Alberta, which will hit our vulnerable the hardest.”

    Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

    Finalized in December 2024, the federal electricity regulations impose strict carbon limits on fossil fuel power, in an attempt to force a net-zero grid, an unachievable target given current technology and infrastructure. The reliance on unproven technologies makes it almost impossible to operate natural gas plants without costly upgrades, threatening investment, grid reliability, and Alberta’s energy security.

    “Ottawa’s electricity regulations will leave Albertans in the dark. They aren’t about reducing emissions – they are unconstitutional, ideological activist policies based on standards that can’t be met and technology that doesn’t exist. It will drive away investment and punish businesses, provinces and families for using natural gas for reliable, dispatchable power. We will not put families at risk from safety and affordability impacts – rationing power during the coldest days of the year – and we will continue to stand up for Albertans.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    “Albertans depend on electricity to provide for their families, power their businesses and pursue their dreams. The federal government’s Clean Electricity Regulations threaten both the affordability and reliability of our power grid, and we will not stand by as these regulations put the well-being of Albertans at risk.”

    Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities

    Related information

    • Conference Board of Canada socio-economic Impacts of Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan – (April 2025)
    • Alberta Electric System Operator’s position on Canadian Energy Regulations

    Related news

    • Federal rules add electricity costs and increase unreliability (March 2025)
    • Responding to Ottawa’s electricity regulations: Joint Statement (Dec. 2024)
    • Impact Assessment Act lands Ottawa in court again (Nov. 2024)
    • Proposed clean electricity regulations: Premier Smith (Aug. 2023)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI: Mizuho Americas Announces Five-Year Renewal Agreement With the LPGA Tour as Title Sponsor of the Mizuho Americas Open, Reinforcing Its Commitment to Women’s Sports

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mizuho to Raise Purse to $3.25 Million in 2026

    Michelle Wie West to Continue as Mizuho Brand Ambassador and Tournament Host

    Liberty National Golf Club to Host Event in 2028-2030; Mountain Ridge Country Club Added for 2026-2027

    NEW YORK, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mizuho Americas, the New York-headquartered arm of Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE: MFG), announced today that it has renewed its title sponsor agreement for the Mizuho Americas Open through 2030 and will raise the 2026 purse to $3.25 million, one of the largest outside of the Major championships. The tournament will maintain its successful format where the American Junior Golf Association’s future stars compete alongside the best women golfers in the world.

    The new five-year agreement will allow the marquee tournament to remain in the New York City Metro area, providing unmatched benefits to the LPGA players, AJGA junior golfers, and the local community. After three years at the prestigious Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, NJ, the Mizuho Americas Open will travel just a few miles west to Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, NJ, for 2026 and 2027, and then back to its long-term home at Liberty National for the remaining years through 2030. Additionally, LPGA Tour Icon and Mizuho Americas Brand Ambassador Michelle Wie West will continue to serve as Tournament Host.

    “We first partnered with the LPGA, AJGA, and Liberty National in 2023 to create a one-of-a-kind tournament that stands apart from the others,” said Jerry Rizzieri, President & CEO of Mizuho Securities USA and Head of Americas Corporate and Investment Bank. “We share this tournament – not only with the players – but also with our employees and clients. We remain deeply committed to our investment in women’s sports as we aim to help advance the next generation of talent and level the playing field for women, both on and off the golf course.”

    During the five-year partnership, the prize purse will continue to escalate, ensuring that the Mizuho Americas Open remains one of the largest non-Major championship purses on the LPGA Tour. Mizuho raised the bar for player experience and will continue to provide complimentary first-class accommodations and transportation for all LPGA players participating in the event through 2030.

    Mizuho’s continued support of the LPGA and its players speaks volumes about the company’s culture and its commitment to empowering women and fueling their aspirations,” said Liz Moore, Interim LPGA Commissioner. “Through our partnership with Mizuho, we’re able to showcase the world’s best golfers on a global stage, right outside one of the world’s most iconic cities, while uniquely providing rising AJGA stars the opportunity to compete alongside them — creating an unparalleled platform to inspire the next generation and furthering our core mission of using the game of golf to transform and enrich the lives of girls and women

    In a few short years, the Mizuho Americas Open has cemented itself as a premier LPGA Tour stop. Played on one of the best golf courses in the country, its groundbreaking format offers an opportunity for top-ranked AJGA junior golfers to compete side-by-side with the best LPGA players in the world, creating an unprecedented week of education and access to help ignite the passion of young women to become the next generation of LPGA Tour superstars.

    “We’re thrilled to strengthen this tremendous partnership with Mizuho, LPGA Tour and AJGA to host the world’s best professional and junior players through the end of the decade,” said Dan Fireman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Liberty National Golf Club. “This event is truly unique and embodies our ethos and deep commitment to growing the game through the Liberty National Foundation’s Torch Lighters Club, which supports a number of charitable organizations, including the AJGA and others that benefit youth and our broader community.”

    Philanthropy will remain at the heart of the Mizuho Americas Open. Mizuho will continue to host its DrivHER Summit, a leadership forum developed in conjunction with Girls Inc., to help young women explore, aspire, and achieve. The comprehensive program features a golf clinic and workshops on self-confidence, career planning, and networking, reflecting the values championed by Girls Inc. of access, inclusivity, and opportunity.

    “Thanks in large part to the unwavering support of Mizuho, this tournament has grown into a crown jewel on the LPGA Tour,” said Michelle Wie West. “Mizuho is different than most sponsors in that they’re involved every step of the way, ensuring a premium is placed on the player experience and community impact. As tournament host, I feel inspired by how they’ve supercharged this event through innovative philanthropic and marketing efforts that put women’s golf front and center in the world’s largest media market.”

    The Mizuho Americas Open is operated by Excel Sports Management, a leading sports agency representing marquee brands, properties, and premier professional athletes – including many of the players and stars of today’s LPGA Tour.

    “We couldn’t be more excited to extend our partnership with Mizuho for another five years. What began as an ambitious vision has quickly become a cornerstone event on the LPGA Tour,” said Kevin Hopkins, Senior Vice President at Excel Sports Management. “As we look ahead, we’re energized by the opportunity to further elevate this championship experience for the players, our partners, and the dedicated golf fans across the New York metropolitan area who have embraced this event from day one”

    Information on ticket sales, corporate hospitality and volunteer opportunities are available at www.mizuhoamericasopen.com. Follow @MizuhoLPGA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news on the event.

    About Mizuho
    Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. is one of the largest financial institutions in the world as measured by total assets of ~$2 trillion, according to S&P Global 2024. Mizuho’s 65,000 employees worldwide offer comprehensive financial services to clients in 36 countries and 850 offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.

    Mizuho Americas is a leading Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) that provides a full spectrum of client-driven solutions across strategic advisory, capital markets, corporate banking, and fixed income and equities sales & trading to corporate, government, and institutional clients in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Through its acquisition of Greenhill, Mizuho enhanced its M&A, restructuring, and private capital advisory capabilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Mizuho Americas employs approximately 4,000 professionals. For more information, visit www.mizuhoamericas.com.

    About the Mizuho Americas Open
    The Mizuho Americas Open is a purpose-driven tournament on the LPGA Tour. As title sponsor, Mizuho Americas created and drove the vision for a distinctive and premium event that celebrates women and advances the next generation, with a charitable focus on providing leadership and life skills to young girls from underserved communities. Played at the prestigious Liberty National Golf Club, with LPGA icon Michelle Wie West as celebrity host, the tournament features an elevated purse and a unique junior component where the AJGA’s stars of tomorrow compete alongside the best women golfers in the world. The tournament is also home to the Mizuho Americas DrivHER Summit, an inspirational day of learning and activities for Girls Inc., the official charitable partner of the Mizuho Americas Open. The Summit leverages the game of golf and the LPGA to inspire the members of Girls Inc. to discover the confidence they need to become leaders in their communities.

    About the LPGA 
    The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose Members now represent nearly 40 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, the LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which provides best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming, and its LPGA Amateurs division, which offers its members playing and learning opportunities around the world. The LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course. 

    Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and download its mobile apps on Apple or Google Play. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube

    About the LPGA Tour 
    The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 32 annual events across 12 countries for over 200 athletes, awarding total prize funds exceeding $129 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel. 

    About the AJGA
    The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-19) of more than 9,000 members from 50 states and 51 foreign countries. Through initiatives like the Liberty National ACE Grant, a financial assistance program, and Leadership Links, a service-oriented platform that teaches juniors charitable-giving skills, the AJGA fosters the growth of golf’s next generation.

    TaylorMade and adidas are the AJGA’s Global Sponsors, supporting the AJGA for more than 25 years. TaylorMade has served as the Official Ball of the AJGA since 2016. adidas has been the Official Apparel and Footwear of the AJGA since 2017. Rolex, in its fourth decade of AJGA sponsorship, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

    AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 1,000 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang.

    About Liberty National Golf Club
    One of the world’s most iconic golf locales, Liberty National Golf Club is located along the Hudson River in Jersey City, NJ, with striking views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Manhattan skyline. Liberty National fittingly opened on July 4, 2006, and is guided by the vision and leadership of former Reebok Founder, Chairman & CEO Paul Fireman and his son Dan Fireman, managing partner of Fireman Capital Partners. Designed by US Open Champion Tom Kite and esteemed golf course mastermind Bob Cupp, Liberty National is kept in tournament ready playing condition. Liberty National hosted The Presidents Cup in 2017 as well as multiple PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoff events, and is currently the home of the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open. For more information about Liberty National Golf Club, visit www.libertynationalgc.com.

    About Mountain Ridge Country Club
    Founded in 1912, Mountain Ridge Country Club has long been considered a historic venue. Originally established in West Orange, NJ, the Club moved to its current site in West Caldwell, located just 20 miles from New York City, in 1929 when it commissioned famed golf course architect Donald Ross to design a championship 18-hole course across 282 rolling acres. Often described as one of the NY City Metropolitan Area’s “hidden gems”, the course has always been viewed as a classic Donald Ross design. The course was considered a difficult test when it opened in 1931, and little has changed in the 90+ years since. The course is known for its distinctly Ross features, especially its challenging greens. Ross designed each nine-hole loop to wind down to the lower part of the property and conclude with a long assent back to the iconic fieldstone clubhouse, designed by renowned architect Clifford C. Wendehack. The venue has hosted many championships including the 2012 USGA Senior Amateur Championship and the 2021 LPGA Cognizant Founder’s Cup. Over its century-long history, Mountain Ridge has been home to many prominent members and continues its commitment to excellence, community, philanthropy, and the game of golf.

    Media Contacts

    For Mizuho:
    Jon Schwartz, Prosek Partners
    (347) 794-9633
    jschwartz@prosek.com

    or

    Laura London
    Director, Media Relations, Mizuho
    (917) 446-5226
    laura.london@mizuhogroup.com

    For LPGA:
    Emily Carman
    emily.carman@lpga.com
    (714) 742-8301

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: How can Mark Carney reduce violent crime in Canada? Through prevention and youth outreach

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jeffrey Bradley, Ph.D. Candidate, Legal Studies, Carleton University

    Newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney and the governing federal Liberals must work to reverse the trends in rising violent crime. Canada needs a federal minister with clear responsibility for the prevention of violent crime, supported by a deputy minister with no other responsibilities than stopping violence before it happens.

    The evidence and successes in other countries suggest this approach could reduce violent and serious crime by 50 per cent in the next five years.

    Canadian homicide rates have increased by 50 per cent in the past 10 years, returning to levels from the early 2000s. Black and Indigenous Canadians are victimized at rates several times higher than the national rate. Intimate partner and sexual violence are at epidemic levels, with one in three women experiencing some form in their lifetime.

    Recent federal and provincial election campaigns left the impression that spending more on prisons and policing is enough to stop violent and serious crime.

    But if long prison sentences reduced violent crime, then American cities would be the safest in the world — they are not. If higher police salaries resulted in less violence in Canada, then Edmonton and Winnipeg would be Canada’s safest cities — they are not.




    Read more:
    Two years after the defund the police movement, police budgets increase across Canada


    How to truly reduce violent crime

    Current crime-fighting proposals lack concrete, evidence-based actions and proven public health strategies that are known to significantly and cost-effectively reduce violent crime.

    Over the last 50 years, research in Canada and internationally has identified a short list of programs proven to reduce violent crime by as much as 50 per cent within three years.

    These initiatives are promoted by prestigious organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Kingdom’s Youth Endowment Fund. The non-partisan Washington State Institute for Public Policy has also demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of many of these programs compared to the dominant systems of policing and incarceration. These initiatives include:

    Community violence interveners who build trust with the young men most involved in violence and help them go back to school, get job training and gain control over the emotions that lead to senseless violence.

    Stop Now and Plan, developed in Toronto, reaches young men as they enter adolescence to problem-solve instead of resorting to violence.

    • The Black-led Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education puts this science to work to tackle the high rates of deaths and injuries involving young Black men.

    Participation in courses that prevent sexual violence by shifting societal norms about consent and encouraging students to take action as bystanders.

    The scene in the U.K. and the U.S.

    Public health strategies that diagnose the risk factors that contribute to crime and implement effective solutions have cut crime in half in other countries.

    In the 2000s, the Scottish city of Glasgow established a small violence reduction unit and organized community outreach to young men most involved in a violent lifestyle. The results were a 50 per cent reduction within three years.

    By 2020, the U.K. replicated the violence reduction unit model across more than half the country, where independent evaluations have demonstrated a 25 per cent reduction in violent crime in areas with a unit. While some areas are still facing problems with youth violence, experts point to multi-agency work as most effective when partners prioritized youth violence.

    Not satisfied with this rate of progress, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised in 2024 to halve knife crime in 10 years in addition to dramatically reducing the rates of violence against women in the same time period.

    In 2023 in the United States, Joe Biden’s administration established the White House Office on Gun Violence Prevention and provided funding for cities to implement proven solutions, including community violence interveners.

    Stakeholders said these efforts were helping to reduce homicides. After Donald Trump’s administration shuttered the office earlier this year, a Democratic senator tabled a bill to establish it permanently.

    The mayor of Boston based her public health strategy on convening citywide departments, community organizations and experts in violence prevention. By increasing outreach workers and teaching problem-solving skills, Mayor Michelle Wu promised to reduce violence by 20 per cent within three years — only to overachieve by cutting it by 50 per cent in two years

    What Canadian officials should do

    The Ontario Police Act calls for public health strategies called community safety and well-being plans to tackle the risk factors that contribute to crime and monitor results.

    When she was elected in 2023, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called for strategies to combat gun violence and violence against women. She called for “a scientific public health approach, like the one exemplified by Glasgow’s efforts to address violence as a public health issue (that) has proven effective in reducing violence.”

    Chow emphasized targeted interventions and monitoring results. But her funding has not yet followed the vision. In 2025, only $5 million was earmarked for prevention efforts, while $48 million was needed for more police and emergency services to respond to the increase in violence in Toronto.

    No Canadian officials are doing the smart planning or making the affordable and smart investments to reduce violent and serious crime significantly.

    Carney can and should lead by example. The federal government can invest in stopping violence before it happens by:

    • Developing the human capacity nationally for smart community safety planning;

    • Establishing a knowledge centre on violence prevention;

    • Shifting from its current funding model of short-term projects to partnering with the provinces via sustained and adequate funding of effective violence prevention programs.

    Prevention saves money

    Parliamentary committees have recommended an annual investment equivalent to five per cent of spending on police and corrections, or about $400 million federally, and $900 million from other orders of government.

    Research, results and best practices make clear that a 25 per cent reduction in violent and serious crime could be achieved within five years, and a 50 per cent reduction in a decade.

    That would mean 200 fewer lives lost and more than 500,000 fewer victims of violence in the next five years, and significantly less money — as much as $1.5 billion — spent annually on police and prisons.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. How can Mark Carney reduce violent crime in Canada? Through prevention and youth outreach – https://theconversation.com/how-can-mark-carney-reduce-violent-crime-in-canada-through-prevention-and-youth-outreach-254978

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New funding supports fight against invasive plants

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    May is Invasive Species Action Month and 33 organizations throughout B.C. will be able to continue their work fighting invasive plants, due in part to a funding boost from the Province.

    “B.C. has some of the most amazing ecosystems in the world, with many that are unique, fragile and in danger from invasive plants,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “No one person, group, agency or government can effectively control invasive plant species alone, and collaboration is critical to everyone’s success. The work these groups do is crucial in our fight together to ensure B.C.’s unique environments remain healthy and vibrant.”

    Invasive plants can disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, increase soil erosion, alter soil chemistry and adversely affect agriculture production and water quality, causing substantial economic and environmental damage. They may also pose a health risk to people and animals. 

    Nearly $3 million will go toward groups, such as regional invasive species committees, local governments, environmental groups, researchers and the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia, to continue collaboration and support of invasive plant programs and management actions.

    “In Canada and B.C., invasive plants are spreading and taking over critical lands, especially sensitive ecosystems such as grasslands and riparian areas,” said Gail Wallin, executive director, Invasive Species Council of British Columbia. “They are estimated to cost us over $2 billion in losses annually. As many invasive species are intentionally introduced through activities, such as gardening or moved by tires, it is critical to stop the spread of invasive plants through increased awareness and adopting responsible practices, including PlantWise and Play Clean Go.”

    The work of these groups supports B.C.’s Invasive Plant Program in identifying and reporting where invasive plant species have been found, encouraging landowners and managers to control invasive plants and managing high-risk infestations to limit further spread throughout the province. 

    Some of the targeted invasive plant species in B.C. are: Japanese, Bohemian and giant knotweed; marsh plume thistle; common tansy; wild chervil; garlic mustard; poison hemlock; spotted knapweed; common bugloss; orange and yellow (non-native) hawkweeds; giant hogweed; blueweed; tansy ragwort; spartina species; hoary alyssum; purple loosestrife; field scabious; leafy spurge; yellow flag iris; and Scotch broom.

    People can report invasive plant species sightings from anywhere in B.C. by using the Report Invasives BC smartphone app or through the online reporting tool:  
    https://www.gov.bc.ca/invasive-specieshttp://www.gov.bc.ca/invasive-species

    Quotes:

    Philip Weyl, head of weed biocontrol, Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI)

    “Invasive plant (weed) biological control is a long-term sustainable tool for managing invasive plants that is safe and effective, but it does take time in terms research to ensure safety. The partnership between the B.C. Ministry of Forests and CABI provides support that forms an integral part in developing biological control options for invasive plant species of concern for B.C. and Canada as a whole.” 

    Kathy Ma Green, executive director, Fraser Valley Invasive Species Society –

    “Invasive plants cause long-lasting harm by altering our ecosystems, damaging our infrastructure and impacting our crops, livestock and natural resources. Due to landscape-level flooding, the Fraser Valley faces an ongoing challenge in managing the resulting increased spread of invasive plants like knotweed and wild chervil. The Province’s continued support and invasive plant funding are critical in order to protect our region’s important industries, natural areas and the quality of life of residents.”

    Quick Facts:

    • The Invasive Species Council of B.C. assists with invasive species program communications and co-ordination.
    • The council develops best-management practices in collaboration with regional organizations and invasive plant specialists that help increase public awareness and reporting of invasive species throughout the province.
    • Regional invasive species committees are non-profit societies that provide a forum for land managers and other stakeholders to co-ordinate invasive plant treatments and participate in outreach and educational opportunities.
    • Some regional groups also deliver invasive plant control actions.

    Learn More:

    Invasive Plant Management:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/invasive-species/management/plants

    Invasives BC Database:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/invasive-species/invasivesbc

    Invasive Species Council of British Columbia:
    https://www.bcinvasives.ca

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province Increases Monthly Benefits for Income Assistance Clients

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 1, 2025

    Starting this month, income assistance clients are receiving higher monthly benefits. As announced in the 2025-26 Provincial Budget, the Government of Saskatchewan is investing $11 million to increase monthly income assistance basic benefits by two per cent for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) clients. 

    “This year’s budget is investing in income assistance programs to help make life more affordable for individuals, families, and seniors,” Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said. “Saskatchewan Income assistance benefits are among the highest in Canada, and this year’s increases will provide even more support to help people meet their basic needs as they work to become more self-sufficient to the best of their abilities.” 

    In May 2025, SIS clients will receive higher monthly benefits for the fourth year in a row. A $6 million investment is increasing the monthly Adult Basic Benefit and Shelter Benefit by a combined total of up to $40 per month.

    Also, in May 2025, SAID benefits will increase for the third year in a row. A $5 million investment will increase SAID living income benefits by up to $40 per month. SAID clients are also benefiting from a $500,000 investment announced in the 2025-26 Provincial Budget to increase SAID annual earned income exemptions by $1,000, enabling clients to earn more from employment before their benefits are impacted. 

    Saskatchewan people and families with low incomes will also benefit from other affordability measures introduced in the 2025-26 Provincial Budget. This includes doubling the Active Families Benefit, enhancements to basic tax credits, and a five per cent increase to the Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit annually for the next four years.

    Since 2007, the province has increased its investment in income assistance programs by $356.5 million, or 116 per cent.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Romanian nationals charged with immigration offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – Seven Romanian nationals accused of crossing illegally from Canada into Montana appeared yesterday for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Two defendants, Ionut Gheorghe, 27, and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe, 32, pleaded not guilty to transporting illegal aliens, which, if convicted, carries a maximum punishment of five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.  Adi Marinescu Gheorghe was also charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien, which is punishable by two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

    The other five defendants, Mihai Mahaela, 40, Sorin Sandu, 45, Conte Nicolae, 19, Alin Amadeus Musuroi, 23, and Lacrimoara Nicolae, 51, each pleaded not guilty to illegal entry of an alien. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to six months in prison, fined $100,000, and placed on supervised release for one year.

    Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. All seven defendants were detailed pending further proceedings.

    The government alleged in court documents that Ionut Gheorghe and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe were each driving a van on April 25, 2025. The other defendants were passengers in the vans, which the U.S. Border Patrol detected illegally crossing into the United States at approximately 2:30 a.m. Law enforcement located the vans traveling south on I-15, stopped the vehicles, took the occupants into custody, and transported them to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for further investigation and processing. In total, the two vans contained 21 men, women, and children.

    The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, and the United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    PACER case references: 25-50, 25-51, 25-52, 25-53, 25-54, 25-55, 25-56.

    The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Applied Rating Index Q1 2025 Results Released

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Toronto, ON, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Systems® today announced the first quarter of 2025 results of the Applied Rating Index™, the Canadian insurance industry’s premium rate index. In Q1 2025, average premiums for both Personal Auto lines and Personal Property lines increased year over year. Quarter over quarter, premium rate change increased for Personal Auto and increased for Personal Property compared to Q4 2024.

    For Personal Auto, all provinces experienced an increase year over year, with Ontario seeing the highest at 14.7% and Alberta the lowest at 12.1%. For Personal Property lines, all provinces except British Columbia experienced an increase in premium rate change year over year. Quebec saw the highest premium rate change at 9.6% and British Columbia was the only province to experience a decline in rates at an average of -5.9%.

    Key findings for Q1 2025 include:

    • Personal Auto: In Q1 2025, Personal Auto premium rate change increased 13.2% versus Q1 2024. Personal Auto premium rate change increased 2.2% versus Q4 2024.
    • Personal Property: In Q1 2025, Personal Property premium rate change increased 5.0% versus Q1 2024. Personal Property premium rate change increased 1.7% versus Q4 2024. 
    • Provinces: Across Personal Auto, all provinces experienced increased premium rate change year over year with Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces seeing 12.1%, 14.7%, 14.0% and 14.2% respectively. Relative to Q4 2024, all provinces, except Alberta, saw increases in quarter over quarter premium rate change with Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces experiencing –1.7%, 4.5%, 2.0%, and 3.3% respectively.
    • Personal Property lines experienced increased year over year premium rate change across all provinces except British Columbia. Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic provinces, and Saskatchewan & Manitoba saw increases in premium rate change year over year with 3.4%, 5.7%, 9.6%, 4.1% and 4.0% respectively. British Columbia recorded a year over year decline in premium rate change of −5.9%. Relative to Q4 2024, all provinces, except British Columbia and Quebec saw increases quarter over quarter with Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic provinces, Saskatchewan & Manitoba, and British Columbia experiencing 2.9%, 1.0%, -1.0%, 1.4%, 0.8%, -0.5% and respectively.

    “Following a year of inflation, higher vehicle repair costs, rising auto theft, and severe weather driving up property claims, these macro trends are being reflected in the Q1 2025 Index results,” said Steve Whitelaw, SVP and general manager, Applied Systems Canada. “The Applied Rating Index remains a vital tool for tracking rate changes and guiding pricing decisions as these and other cost pressures impact loss costs and in-turn rate movement within the Personal Lines market.”

    The Applied Rating Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for Personal Auto and Personal Property (Homeowners) insurance premium rates. Analyzing quotes completed, the Applied Rating Index measures the increase or decrease in average premium rate trends across Canada. The Applied Rating Index is the most complete depiction of the premium rate trends being experienced by consumers, brokerages, and their insurers across the Canadian market.

    Access the complete quarterly report here.

    # # #

    Applied Rating Index is a trademark of Applied Systems, Inc. All data is fully anonymized when aggregating and analyzing the Applied Rating Index.

    About Applied Systems

    Applied Systems is the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and the innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.

    The MIL Network