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Category: Canada

  • MIL-OSI Security: Millbrook — Millbrook RCMP charge a man with Attempt to Commit Murder

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Millbrook RCMP has charged a man with multiple offences, including Attempt to Commit Murder, following stabbings in the community.

    Yesterday, at approximately 1:45 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report of stabbings that occurred at a residence on Coach Rd. RCMP officers learned that a man stabbed and robbed a man and then stabbed a woman before fleeing the scene in the male victim’s SUV. The three people are known to one another.

    The 64-year-old man and 41-year-old woman, both of Truro, suffered serious injuries. They were transported to hospital by EHS.

    A short time later, RCMP officers received information that the man involved had robbed a nearby gas station and continued to flee.

    Nearby officers quickly located the vehicle, a Kia Sportage, travelling south at Exit 10 on Hwy. 102 where it crashed into the ditch. At the scene, the 40-year-old Truro man was safely arrested. The man was in possession of two knives at the time he was arrested.

    Harry Arthur Cope has been charged with:

    • Attempt to Commit Murder (two counts)
    • Aggravated Assault (two counts)
    • Assault with a Weapon (two counts)
    • Uttering Threats (two counts)
    • Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose (two counts)
    • Robbery (two counts)
    • Failure to Comply with a Probation Order (four counts)

    Cope was held in custody and will appear in Truro Provincial Court today.

    The investigation, led by Millbrook RCMP with assistance from Colchester County District RCMP, is ongoing.

    File# 2025-255350

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oxford — RCMP charge man with impaired operation and firearm offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Nova Scotia RCMP has charged a man with impaired operation and firearms offences after responding to a report of an intoxicated man at a restaurant in Oxford.

    On February 23, at approximately 7:45 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report of an intoxicated man at a restaurant in Oxford. Upon arrival, officers learned that the man, who was showing signs of impairment, had driven to the restaurant. The man provided breath samples into an approved screening device which resulted in a “fail”. He was arrested for impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

    While officers searched the man, they located and seized a loaded handgun*.

    Christopher Lamert Jobe, 42, of Warren, has been charged with:

    • Careless Use of Firearm
    • Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition
    • Carrying Concealed Weapon
    • Unauthorized Possession of Loaded Firearm
    • Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
    • Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited Weapon
    • Unauthorized Possession in a Motor Vehicle
    • Possession of Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
    • Possession of Ammunition Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
    • Operation While Impaired
    • Operation of a Conveyance 80mg% or over

    Jobe was transported to Oxford RCMP detachment and provided breath samples that registered 260 mg% and 250 mg%. He was later released on an undertaking. Jobe is scheduled to appear in Amherst Provincial Court on April 14.

    Due to Jobe being an off-duty municipal police officer, the matter was referred to the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), which oversaw the investigation.

    *The handgun was not a service weapon.

    File #2025-242858

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Shuttered car factories in Australia could be repurposed to make houses faster and cheaper

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ehsan Noroozinejad, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University

    studiovin/Shutterstock

    Australia is in the grip of a severe housing shortage. Many people are finding it extremely difficult to find a place to live in the face of rising rents and property price surges. Homelessness is rising sharply. Tent cities are becoming more common.

    The federal government has pledged to encourage the building of about 1.2 million new dwellings over the five years from mid-2024. The problem is, conventional building techniques are unlikely to be able to respond to the scale of demand quickly. Conventional building is expensive and slow. Faster, cheaper construction methods are needed.

    There might be a way to accelerate the build. In recent years, car manufacturers Ford, General Motors and Toyota have shuttered their Australian factories, due to intense global competition.

    Before these factories fell silent, they were home to trained workers, advanced machinery and efficient production systems. In Australia, companies such as Hickory Group are working to turn car factories into house factories. In Japan, Toyota has been making modular housing for decades, by adapting car production line techniques.

    Scaling this approach up in Australia could simultaneously address industrial decline and housing demand.

    Can mothballed car factories really make houses?

    After years of decline, Australia’s car manufacturing industry came to an end in 2017, when Toyota and General Motors’ factories stopped mass production. Ford’s local factories closed a year earlier. It was the end of 70 years of mass production, though companies such as Premcar are still making local versions of overseas cars.

    Thousands of factory workers lost their jobs. But the effect rippled outward, as about 40,000 workers in the supply chain lost their jobs.

    These automobile factories left behind more than just empty structures.

    Most of them have not been demolished. Some still have advanced manufacturing lines. Their former workers with automation and precise engineering training might be working in different fields, such as caravan manufacturing.

    Building a house in a factory has similarities to car manufacturing. Both use modular production, in which individual parts are manufactured and then assembled into a final product.

    That’s not to say this would be easy – there would be regulatory hurdles to overcome and the factories would need an overhaul.

    One tough part is figuring out how to use modern car-building tools (such as robotics) to make components of houses. While building cars and houses share some ideas, they’re not the same.

    Bringing these factories back into production would boost the economies of states such as Victoria.

    States such as South Australia have already started down this path, turning Mitsubishi’s defunct Tonsley Park factory into an innovation precinct hosting modular construction companies such as Fusco Constructions, which will begin operations next year.

    Meanwhile, much work has been done in Australia and overseas to find ways to mass-produce housing using factories.

    Imagine thousands of individual car parts were delivered to your front yard, where workers painstakingly put the car together. This seems crazy. But it’s essentially what we do with houses, especially freestanding ones. Advocates for modern methods of construction have pointed out the inefficiencies of transporting building materials to a site and assembling them there.

    Some large-scale builders are already working to automate more of the home-building process. Besides making houses more cheaply, the benefits include centralising production around a factory, protection from weather delays, and the ability to use industrial robots.

    Car assembly lines guarantee each component is manufactured to exacting specifications. Automobile manufacturing has been transformed by new technologies, including digital twin simulations, robotics and 3D printing. But the building industry has been slower to take these up. If we can bring these technologies to bear on how we make homes, we can accelerate construction, reduce errors and cut prices.

    In fact, we are seeing some car manufacturers moving into home building. Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti, Bentley, Aston Martin and Porsche are all putting their names on high-end homes in some way, while Honda has explored manufacturing smart, low-energy homes.

    Change is coming – but slowly

    Advanced building techniques are not new to Australia. Prefab buildings are already being built on factory lines by companies such as Fleetwood, ATCO Structures and Logistics and Modscape.

    Here, building components are produced in a controlled factory setting before being delivered to the construction site for prompt assembly. Dozens of companies are working in this space. To date, however, most of these buildings will be used as schools, police stations or temporary housing for mining workers.

    Last year, the federal government set up a A$900 million fund as an incentive for state and territory governments to accelerate building approvals and take up prefab techniques. To date, the sector is struggling to scale up due to a lack of infrastructure and too few manufacturers.

    Other countries are further along the path. In Sweden, up to 84% of detached homes are made with prefabricated components, compared with about 15% in Japan and 5% in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

    One option is to adopt yet more advanced techniques, such as lean manufacturing and automated assembly. Both of these are well established in car-making, and could be used to increase the speed and accuracy of prefab home construction.

    What would it take to make this happen?

    Australia’s housing crisis has been years in the making. To solve it, we may need bold solutions.

    Converting old car factories into affordable home factories could help accelerate our response to the challenge – and reinvigorate industrial precincts.

    It would take work and funding to make this happen. But there are commonalities. Making prefab homes depends on precise, modular production methods that work best when automated. Transitions like these can happen.

    Dr. Ehsan Noroozinejad has received funding from both national and international organisations to support research addressing housing and climate crises. His most recent funding comes from the James Martin Institute for Public Policy. He has received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

    – ref. Shuttered car factories in Australia could be repurposed to make houses faster and cheaper – https://theconversation.com/shuttered-car-factories-in-australia-could-be-repurposed-to-make-houses-faster-and-cheaper-249709

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What are the chances an asteroid will impact Earth in 2032?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Gordon Osinski, Professor in Earth and Planetary Science, Western University

    An artist’s rendition of one of the many thousands of near-Earth objects that could potentially impact Earth in the future. (European Space Agency/P.Carril)

    For a few days in mid-February, headlines around the world buzzed about the potential for an asteroid to hit the Earth in 2032 — specifically, asteroid 2024 YR4. The chance of this impact rose to a high of 3.1 per cent on Feb. 18.

    The number has since dropped to near zero, but this news was a real-life Don’t Look Up moment, and a stark reminder of the threat that asteroid impacts pose to life on Earth.

    As a planetary geologist, my research focuses on meteorite impact craters, the scars of large asteroid and cometary impacts in Earth’s past.

    Impact Earth

    There are countless numbers of asteroids and an unknown number of comets throughout our solar system. Most of these objects date back to the very beginnings of our solar system, around 4.5 billion years ago.

    Research has identified approximately 200 locations where these asteroids or comets have struck the Earth in the past to form meteorite impact craters. It’s very rare that planetary geologists can tell whether it was an asteroid or comet that hit.

    One of the most famous of these 200 or so impact craters is the 200 km diameter Chicxulub impact crater in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This impact wiped out 65 per cent of all species on Earth, including the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago.

    One of the most recent and best-preserved craters on Earth is the 1.2 km in diameter Meteor Crater in Arizona, which formed 50,000 years ago.

    The Meteor Crater in Arizone is one of the most recent and best-preserved craters on Earth.
    (G.Osinski), CC BY

    Millions of craters

    Two hundred craters over 4.5 billion years hardly seems like a big number or cause for concern however, this number is a tiny fraction of the actual record. Most impact craters formed on Earth have been erased due to plate tectonics, volcanic eruptions, and erosion by water, wind and ice.

    To truly appreciate how common impact craters are, we need to look to Earth’s closest neighbour, the moon. Because of its proximity, objects that can hit the moon can also hit the Earth. In fact, because the Earth is bigger, which means our gravitational attraction is higher, more asteroids and comets would have hit the Earth over the past 4.5 billion years than the moon.

    The best estimate is 1.3 million craters over one kilometre in diameter on the moon, with another 700,000 or so smaller ones.

    The dots represent a snapshot of the population of near-earth asteroids that scientists think are likely to exist. The simulated near-Earth asteroids are blue, and Earth’s orbit is green.
    (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

    Updated calculations

    Asteroid 2024 YR4 was discovered on Dec. 27, 2024 by the Chilean station of the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). It was immediately recognized to be a near-Earth object (NEO). Additional telescope observations enabled astronomers to better calculate its orbit.

    In January, the probability of this asteroid hitting Earth surpassed one per cent, which triggered a series of international responses. The International Asteroid Warning Network coordinates telescopes around the world to make further observations and narrow down uncertainties in its orbit.

    An image of asteroid 2024 YR4 captured by one of the ATLAS telesopes.
    (SOURCE)

    On Feb. 18, NASA and the European Space Agency announced that the probability of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2023 was 3.1 per cent, the highest ever recorded for an object of this size. This represents one in 32 odds. For comparison, the chance of dying in a motor vehicle crash in the United States is one per cent, or one in 95; the chances of the asteroid hitting Earth were pretty significant.

    Thankfully, the most recent estimates of the probability of impact have gone down to near zero, based on improved calculations of its orbit.

    We’re off the hook… for now.

    Potential impact

    Bruce Betts, chief planetary scientist at the Planetary Society, was quoted as saying: “If you put it over Paris or London or New York, you basically wipe out the whole city and some of the environs,” leading to asteroid 2024 YR4 being dubbed “a city-killer.”

    The average impact velocity for an asteroid on Earth is a whopping 17 km per second — this is 25 times faster than an F-35 Lightning strike fighter.

    To calculate the mass of an asteroid, we need to know its size. Estimates for 2024 YR4 range from 40 to 90 metres. If we take the upper estimate of 90 m, we can calculate the energy released at approximately nine megatons, the equivalent of the explosive energy of nine million tons of TNT. For comparison, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in Japan in 1945 was only 0.015 megatons.

    The crater formed by this 90 m asteroid would be approximately 2.7 km in diameter. This is just over twice the diameter of the Meteor Crater.

    The destruction doesn’t stop there, however. Research on nuclear weapons suggests that each megaton can destroy roughly 50 square kilometres, so this impact could destroy up to 450 square km around the crater through a fireball, supersonic ejecta and seismic shaking.

    Would this be a city killer as some reports suggested? Absolutely. With an urban area of 232 square kilometres, my hometown of London, Ont., with a population of around 420,000 would be totally destroyed.



    Read more:
    Asteroid has a very small chance of hitting Earth in 2032, but a collision could devastate a city

    Actual risks

    The good news is that we estimate that the impact of a 90 m diameter asteroid will occur once in every 10,000 years. For a 40 m size asteroid, this drops to once every 1,000 years — but the destructive effects are drastically reduced. It’s worth pointing out that these numbers are very approximate, and they don’t really help us figure out when the next one might happen.

    As the story around asteroid 2024 YR4 shows, there is more good news in that we are getting better at detecting asteroids. Thanks to the coordination of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, many space agencies around the world are collaborating, with the knowledge that this is a problem for our entire planet.

    If the calculations had continued to show that the chance of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2032 was high, with enough time, an attempt to deflect the asteroid could have been attempted. In September 2022, NASA’s DART spacecraft provided the first demonstration that deflecting an asteroid from its path is possible, something that had been imagined in Hollywood movies, but not proven to be possible until then.

    Gordon Osinski receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency.

    – ref. What are the chances an asteroid will impact Earth in 2032? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-the-chances-an-asteroid-will-impact-earth-in-2032-250463

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) and Tulalip Resort Casino Announce Strategic Enterprise Partnership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) and Tulalip Resort Casino have announced a strategic enterprise partnership that will revolutionize the gaming and hospitality industry in the Washington market, setting the stage for a dynamic synergy between technology and hospitality.

    With the software deployment underway, the cutting-edge QCI platform is poised to enhance operations, optimize service, and ensure guests enjoy an unparalleled entertainment experience at Tulalip Resort Casino.

    James Ham Jr., Executive VP of Casino Operation for Tulalip Resort Casino, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating,

    “We at Tulalip Resort Casino are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with QCI. The QCI platform is a game-changer, and we believe it will not only streamline our operations but also elevate the level of service and entertainment we provide to our valued guests. With QCI’s innovative solutions, we are confident in our ability to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience in the Washington market. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence and innovation.”

    Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI, echoed this sentiment, expressing his satisfaction with the newly formed partnership,

    “At QCI, we value partnerships that are built on mutual respect, shared vision, and commitment. Our collaboration with Tulalip Resort Casino is the epitome of such a relationship. We’ve been deeply impressed by the Tulalip Resort Casino team, their passion for excellence, and their unwavering dedication to enhancing guest experiences. I’m proud and excited about the journey ahead and confident that together, we’ll set new standards in the Washington market.”

    This landmark partnership illustrates both companies’ dedication to innovation, operational efficiency, and delivering premier guest experiences. As training commences in the coming weeks, QCI and Tulalip Resort Casino look forward to a future of mutual growth and industry-leading performance.

    ABOUT Tulalip Resort Casino
    Award-winning Tulalip Resort Casino is the most distinctive gaming, dining, meeting, entertainment and shopping destination in Washington state. The AAA Four-Diamond resort’s world-class amenities have ensured its place on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold and Traveler Top 100 Resorts lists. The property includes 192,000 square feet of gaming excitement, sportsbook betting through DraftKings, a luxury hotel featuring 370 guest rooms and suites; 30,000 square feet of premier meeting, convention and wedding space; the full-service T Spa; and multiple dining venues. It also showcases the intimate Canoes Cabaret, Orca Ballroom and a 3,000-seat outdoor Tulalip Amphitheatre. Nearby, find the Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve, Cabela’s and 130 designer names at the Seattle Premium Outlets. The Resort Casino is conveniently located between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. just off Interstate-5 at exit 200. It is an enterprise of the Tulalip Tribes. For reservations, please call 866.716.7162 or visit us at Tulalip Resort Casino. Connect with us on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications.

    Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Raises Concerns Over Trump Administration Energy Policies That Will Raise Prices, Threaten Jobs and Reduce Competitiveness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered remarks on the Senate floor to raise her concerns about President Trump’s harmful actions that will raise energy prices, threaten jobs and hurt our global economic competitiveness. The remarks came during consideration of a resolution Shaheen has cosponsored to terminate President Trump’s misguided national energy emergency, which has been used to bypass Congress to advance policies that benefit Big Oil at the expense of Granite Staters and working Americans. In her remarks, Shaheen shared the stories of Granite Staters and small businesses that will see their energy costs increase as a result of President Trump’s policies. You can view her remarks in full here.

    Key Quotes from Senator Shaheen:

    • “Lowering energy costs, creating good jobs, increasing America’s economic competitiveness in the world—those [should] be things that we can all agree on. But if we give up our leadership on clean energy now, the People’s Republic of China … is going to be more than happy to fill the void for its own economic advantage.”
    • “In the first 37 days, we’ve seen the Trump administration cut off funding for solar, wind and clean manufacturing projects that are cheaper and faster to build than fossil fuel infrastructure. We’ve seen him halt energy efficiency programs, and we know energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest way to deal with our energy needs.”
    • “The tariffs that are set to go into effect … they could mean about $150 to $250 more for the average family in New Hampshire who are using heating oil just to keep warm through the winter.”
    • “President Trump’s efforts to cancel promised funding for electric charging infrastructure in New Hampshire harms our travel and tourism sector, particularly in northern New Hampshire, where ski areas and other outdoor recreation drives our local economies. A recent study found that the state risks losing an estimated 1.4 billion in overall economic impact.”

    Remarks as delivered can be found below:

    I come to the floor today in support of Senate Joint Resolution 10, which would terminate the misguided national energy emergency that President Trump signed on his first day in office.

    It has been 37 days since President Trump declared, for the first time in this nation’s history, a national energy emergency.

    This is an attempt to throw red meat to the base of the Republican party, and to seem like Donald Trump is the oil and gas president.

    But there’s no evidence to support that.

    In fact, the evidence we have points in exactly the opposite direction.

    This emergency was declared despite the fact that the United States is producing more oil than any other country ever in this nation’s history.

    And we’ve been doing that for the past seven years.

    The emergency was declared despite the fact that the United States is in the midst of a clean energy boom and a manufacturing renaissance.

    We generated 17% more electricity in 2023 than the high point of the first Trump Administration.

    Clean energy jobs are growing at twice the rate of the economy overall.

    And this emergency was declared despite the fact that as the Wall Street Journal headline noted after the election, quote, “Trump’s oil and gas donors don’t really want to drill, baby, drill,” End quote.

    They are very happy to lock in demand for the long term. But increase supply and potentially undercut profits? Not so much.

    So we find ourselves within an emergency declaration in search of an emergency.

    But it’s not without consequences.

    President Trump has assumed vast power for the executive branch through this emergency designation.

    He’s encouraging the use of eminent domain that could literally allow the government to take your land away.

    He’s waving away key protections for clean water.

    And he’s suggesting that a timeline of just seven days is sufficient for public commitment—for public comment, excuse me—on projects that could cause irreparable harm to historic and cultural resources.

    President Trump campaigned on, and I’m quoting here, “lowering the cost of everything,” and he promised “your energy bill within 12 months will be cut in half.”

    Now, voters responded to those promises, and Americans do want to see lower energy costs.

    I’m all for that.

    I focused as governor on how we can address the high energy prices in New Hampshire.

    We permitted two gas pipelines through the state, both gas coming from Canada, and we negotiated to deal with our largest utility company that lowered rates 16.5%.

    So I’m all for lowering energy costs.

    We absolutely should be talking about that.

    But let’s take a step back here and let’s talk about what President Trump’s energy policies actually are, and how they affect the American people.

    In the first 37 days, we’ve seen the Trump administration cut off funding for solar, wind and clean manufacturing projects that are cheaper and faster to build than fossil fuel infrastructure.

    We’ve seen him halt energy efficiency programs, and we know energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest way to deal with our energy needs.

    He’s prepared a 10% energy tax in the form of tariffs on heating oil, propane, gasoline and other energy we import from Canada.

    And that hits New Hampshire really hard because of the energy sources we get from Canada—I talked about the two gas pipelines that come down from Canada, and because we have so many households that burn number two fuel oil to heat our homes and because it’s cold in New Hampshire at this time of year.

    So that hits us really hard.

    He’s fired more than a thousand workers at the Department of Energy, including those who are keeping state energy programs and weatherization up and running to respond to emergencies and to help folks like we have in New Hampshire stay warm this winter.

    And tomorrow, what we expect is that Senate Republicans will roll back a commonsense fee on venting or flaring of methane, rather than capturing it for productive use.

    And if that passes, and the president signs it, it will cost the taxpayers $2.3 billion over the next ten years, effectively lighting money on fire to save Big Oil a few bucks.

    Now in New Hampshire, as in other states, President Trump’s actions have sown chaos and uncertainty.

    They’re raising costs for families, for farmers, for small businesses, and for town budgets.

    For example, the tariffs that are set to go into effect, and I understand that the president has now decided he’s going to wait until April, but they could mean about $150 to $250 more for the average family in New Hampshire who are using heating oil just to keep warm through the winter.

    President Trump’s efforts to cancel promised funding for electric charging infrastructure in New Hampshire harms our travel and tourism sector, particularly in northern New Hampshire, where ski areas and other outdoor recreation drives our local economies.

    A recent study found that the state risks losing an estimated 1.4 billion in overall economic impact, if we don’t build up our charging infrastructure.

    One small business owner in Barrington in the seacoast of New Hampshire told me that he has nearly $3 million in projects.

    Those projects are on hold this year, including work with school districts, with the state and with other customers to staff install solar projects that provide long term taxpayer savings.

    And they’re on hold because of what President Trump has ordered.

    Farms and local shops across rural areas of New Hampshire are nervous about receiving promised reimbursements for energy saving work through the Rural Energy for America program, the REAP program.

    At least one business owner at Seacoast Power Equipment has been covering interest with the bank until his grant, which he has a signed commitment for, is actually paid out—And of course, this is affecting his bottom line.

    And then we have Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, in the northern part of our state.

    This is an award-winning small business that provides the best ice cream you’ve ever eaten.

    They were gearing up to install solar panels using $15,000 in federal funds.

    Now that project is on hold.

    Many family-owned businesses, like Super Secret Ice Cream, have very tight margins, and this small investment of $15,000 would help Christina and Dan grow their business and lower the electric costs that they’re paying to store their ice cream.

    And then we have the town of Peterborough in the western part of New Hampshire.

    They plan to use funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law to enhance much needed workforce development, but of course, they’ve had to wait far too long for federal approvals.

    And in rural towns like Berlin, in the northern part of our state, residents eagerly signed up for federally funded projects that will insulate and add solar arrays to their manufactured homes.

    This is a real solution to their high utility bills, but these projects are now on hold because the contractors are uncertain that they’re going to be paid.

    Now, I could go on as I know my colleagues could, but since we have people waiting, I want to close with a point of agreement.

    In his executive order, President Trump stated, and I quote, “we need a reliable, diversified and affordable supply of energy to drive our nation’s manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and defense industries and to sustain the basics of modern life and military preparedness.”

    That makes sense to me.

    I agree with that.

    But unfortunately, that’s about the only thing he said related to energy in the past 37 days that does make sense.

    Lowering energy costs, creating good jobs, increasing America’s economic competitiveness in the world—those ought to be things that we can all agree on.

    But if we give up our leadership on clean energy now, the People’s Republic of China, who President Trump claims is our greatest competitor—and I agree with him on that—

    I just don’t understand how the Trump administration policies are allowing us to be competitive.

    But China is going to be more than happy to fill the void for its own economic advantage.

    I think we should also agree that Americans deserve clean air, clean water, and the chance to have a say in what happens in their communities.

    I want to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on these goals, and that work starts by ending this disastrous, misguided emergency declaration and by stopping the chaos.

    So I hope my colleagues will join me in voting to restore Congress’s appropriate role in setting energy policies that benefit the American people by supporting this resolution.

    Thank you, Mr. President.

    I yield the floor.

    Shaheen has led efforts to oppose President Trump’s harmful and inflation-inducing tariff proposals. Last month, Shaheen led the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the White House urging him not to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China which are expected to cost the average American $1,200 per year.

    Earlier this year, Shaheen introduced new legislation with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) to shield American businesses and consumers from rising prices imposed by tariffs on imported goods into the United States. The Senators’ legislation would keep costs down for imported goods, including energy, by limiting the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—which allows a President to immediately place unlimited tariffs after declaring a national emergency—while preserving IEEPA’s use for sanctions and other tools.

    Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives and to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, Shaheen secured $366 million for weatherization efforts and $66 million for the State Energy Program, which work to bring down energy bills for families and communities. Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that invest in energy efficiency, including funding for residential, municipal, industrial and federal entities to implement efficiency improvements and upgrades.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Improving Accessibility in Workplaces

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Recommendations from the Accessibility Advisory Board for the Province’s accessibility employment standard were released today, October 25.

    The board’s Employment Standard Development Committee, which includes people with disabilities and other experts in the field, developed the recommendations. They address employment barriers faced by people with disabilities in the areas of recruitment, retention, advancement, workplace accommodations and emergency preparedness and will be used to inform an accessibility standard for employment.

    The standard will be shared publicly for comment.

    “Every Nova Scotian deserves the chance to fully engage in the workforce. These recommendations will shape the standard regulations needed to make that a reality. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Employment Standard Development Committee and the Accessibility Advisory Board for their unwavering commitment to this vital mission,” said Justice Minister Barbara Adams, Minister responsible for the Accessibility Act.

    The board is recommending that employers have:

    • a workplace accessibility policy that ensures recruitment practices are accessible
    • evacuation and shelter-in-place plans to ensure employees with disabilities are safe during an emergency
    • reasonable workplace accommodations so that everyone has what they need to do their job.

    It recommends a phased approach, which may include exemptions depending on employer size.

    The recommendations are another step toward the creation of a more equitable and accessible province for all Nova Scotians, ensuring that everyone has equal access to programs, services, information and infrastructure.

    The accessibility standard for employment is one of six accessibility standards being developed as part of the Access by Design 2030 strategy. People with disabilities, representatives of disability-focused organizations, and employers from private, public and non-profit sectors were consulted on this work.

    Quotes:

    “Accessible employment is important because it ensures that all Nova Scotians can fully participate in our workforce, and employers across Nova Scotia are supported to prevent and remove barriers to employment faced by persons with disabilities. The Accessibility Advisory Board is pleased to see another milestone accomplished that advances accessibility in Nova Scotia.”
    — Max Chauvin, Chair, Accessibility Advisory Board

    Quick Facts:

    • October is Disability Employment Awareness Month
    • 55.5 per cent of adults aged 25-64 with disabilities are employed, compared with 76 per cent of working-age adults without disabilities
    • Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act sets a goal of an accessible Nova Scotia by 2030; employment is the third standard area to be developed under the Accessibility Act, following built environment and education

    Additional Resources:

    Recommendations for an accessible employment standard: https://novascotia.ca/accessibility/employment-committee/

    More information about work to develop accessibility standards in other areas: https://novascotia.ca/accessibility/

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

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Workplace aggression causes real harm — leaders must take action against it

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Zhanna Lyubykh, Assistant Professor, Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University

    When leaders ignore workplace aggression, employees can experience post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder and depression. (Shutterstock)

    Workplace aggression is a pervasive and highly damaging issue that costs organizations billions of dollars annually in lost productivity. Beyond financial losses, it fosters toxic workplace cultures, exposes companies to legal and reputational risks, and causes substantial distress for those who experience or witness it.

    For years, scholars and practitioners have sought ways to prevent workplace aggression and mitigate its negative consequences. One proposed solution is bystander intervention, where employees who witness or hear about aggression step in to stop or address it.

    However, results from our recent meta-analysis cast doubt on the effectiveness of bystander intervention as a reliable solution. We integrated research findings from 149 articles, which included data from 111,466 participants. Alarmingly, we found that bystanders intervened only in the artificial safety of experiments, but not in real work settings.

    Not all employees feel equipped to address workplace aggression, and organizations should not over-rely on employees to take action. Instead, we highlighted the crucial role leaders can play. Leaders can effectively interrupt incidents of workplace aggression, act as influential role models for others and ultimately foster inclusive climates.

    Leaders must step up

    Leaders can become aware of workplace aggression in various ways, including overhearing rude comments in a meeting, receiving written complaints or being approached for advice on handling inappropriate jokes. When this happens, leaders must decide whether to act and how.

    Several barriers may prevent leaders from responding constructively. Like anyone else, leaders are prone to cognitive distortions. They may downplay an incident as a joke, hesitate to confront a high-performing employee who is the instigator, or even blame the target for provoking the behaviour.

    Some leaders may also feel it’s not their responsibility to intervene. If they have demanding jobs, they might not have time or energy to get involved in interpersonal issues that are not central to their jobs.

    Too often, employees remain silent when it comes to dealing with aggressive behaviours due to their perceived lack of power or ability to make a difference.
    (Shutterstock)

    However, the cost of leader inaction is high. In 2022, Nike faced a harassment and discrimination lawsuit with female employees raising concerns that “Nike’s management were unlikely to address their concerns” about unwanted sexual advances, sexist attitudes, and discrimination.

    In another case, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police faced a $1.1 billion lawsuit alleging systematic negligence and failure of “the chain of command” to address workplace aggression.

    When leaders ignore workplace aggression, organizations can suffer reputational and financial damage. But most importantly, employees can experience serious distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression.

    Responding to aggressive incidents

    One survey found that only 44 per cent of employees at U.S. companies strongly agree that their companies have a culture where employees are encouraged to speak up. Too often, employees remain silent when it comes to dealing with aggressive behaviours due to their perceived lack of power or ability to make a difference.

    Leaders, however, have the power to resist pushback, hold instigators accountable and create a supportive workplace environment. Leaders must take an active role in both preventing and responding to aggressive workplace incidents.

    First, leaders should acknowledge that addressing aggression is a part of their job. Aside from legal obligations to address aggression, leaders’ actions set the tone for what is considered acceptable. Demonstrating a commitment to civility can signal their ethical leadership, a highly valued leadership style.



    Read more:
    Workplace tensions: How and when bystanders can make a difference

    Second, leaders need to also address what might seem like minor incidents. A common misconception among bystanders is that minor incidents of aggression aren’t serious or harmful enough to act on.

    Minor incidents of aggression include low-intensity behaviors, such as sarcastic remarks, offensive jokes, eye-rolling, or dismissive gestures. More severe aggression includes such behaviors as yelling, intimidation, throwing objects in anger, or even inflicting physical harm.

    Aggression often starts with relatively minor acts that may escalate to more severe ones when left unchecked, so these smaller acts need to be addressed. Once aggression escalates in intensity or frequency, it becomes part of the organizational culture, making it much harder to change.

    It might seem surprising, but minor and severe aggression can be equally harmful to victims. Minor incidents are often subtle, which can lead to excessive rumination (e.g., was it intentional?), self-doubt (e.g., am I misinterpreting it?) and lowered self-esteem. This is particularly problematic because minor incidents are significantly more prevalent at work.

    How leaders can intervene effectively

    Leaders also need to learn how to appropriately intervene in incidents of aggression. For minor incidents, leaders can take immediate actions by redirecting attention from the target and stopping the incident by shifting the conversation or suggesting a quick break.

    Leaders should also privately address the aggressive behaviour with the instigator. Aggressive behaviours, especially in minor forms, are sometimes unintentional, so it’s best to approach the conversation in a non-confrontational manner that prompts the instigator to reflect on their behaviour and recognize the harmful nature of their actions.

    Leaders should privately address any aggressive behaviour with instigators.
    (Shutterstock)

    Since employees commonly become defensive or deny wrongdoing during such conversations, leaders should focus on discussing behaviours rather than personality, and provide actionable suggestions for positive behavioural change.

    It is also important to provide support to the target. Sometimes, employees react negatively toward victims of workplace aggression, such as blaming them for provoking the aggression rather than supporting them, which can damage their social standing within the team. When leaders support victims, it signals to others how they should respond, which can help victims retain their social status.

    Leaders can also create opportunities for the target to showcase their skills, reaffirming the importance of their role within the team and the organization, or engaging in acts of leader allyship toward victims.

    Innovating bystander training

    While our findings cast doubt on the effectiveness of bystander intervention among regular employees, they underscore the critical role of those in positions of authority and power to take action to address workplace aggression.

    Leaders should adopt innovative training programs, including bystander intervention training. While many organizations already provide such training, it often only involves educational videos or lectures. Research shows the best way to learn is by practicing, not passively listening. Training should take this into account.

    But how can employees practice interventions in a safe environment? One way organizations can do this is by taking advantage of recent technological developments, such as generative artificial intelligence, to create realistic training simulations.

    Trainees can engage in simulated conversations with a virtual instigator or victim and practice their intervention skills. Such conversations can be done in real-time with an avatar through video or voice, allowing employees build confidence and refine their approach in a controlled setting.

    Leaders have both the power and responsibility to create safer workplaces. By taking action to interrupt aggression and support victims, leaders can be role models for employees and ultimately foster a more productive work environment. Needless to say, leaders should address the problem, not contribute to it.

    Zhanna Lyubykh receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Sandra L. Robinson receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Sandy Hershcovis receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Rui Zhong and The Ton Vuong 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. Workplace aggression causes real harm — leaders must take action against it – https://theconversation.com/workplace-aggression-causes-real-harm-leaders-must-take-action-against-it-249938

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Inuit children in Nunavut face a preventable food security crisis

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vandna Sinha, Adjunct Professor of Social Work, McGIll University & Associate Research Professor of Education, University of Colorado, Boulder, McGill University

    Nunavut has the highest rate of child poverty and the highest rate of food insecurity of any Canadian province or territory. In 2022, around 80 per cent of Indigenous children aged between one and 14 in Nunavut lived in households experiencing food insecurity. In 2018, the rate of childhood food insecurity in Nunavut was almost six times higher than in Canada as a whole.

    The Hamlet Food Voucher Program, funded through the Inuit Child First Initiative (ICFI), has recently offered some relief. This program gives families funds for groceries to meet the nutritional needs of Inuit children.

    However, ICFI funding only runs until March 31, 2025. With Parliament prorogued, plans for further funding remain uncertain. That means starting April 1, many Inuit children in Nunavut may again go hungry. The Canadian government can make sure that does not happen by extending funding for ICFI and the food voucher program.

    Long-term effects of food insecurity

    Food insecurity can have harmful, and sometimes lasting, impacts on a young person’s physical health, mental health, academic performance and cognitive development. Infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable because they are completely dependent on adult caregivers whose physical and mental health can also be impacted by food insecurity.

    Recently, food security initiatives in Nunavut have been funded through the ICFI, which was launched in 2018. ICFI was meant to be a temporary measure to help families access essential services while an Inuit-specific framework is being developed.

    Nutrition support for children has been one of the most requested services under ICFI. Initially, each family had to submit extensive documentation, and often faced months-long delays before receiving services and supports.

    In 2023, municipal governments in Nunavut began to request, and receive, ICFI funding for nutrition supports for all Inuit children in their community. By December 2024, all but one community received funding for Hamlet Food Voucher Programs. These programs provide $500 per child for groceries and an additional $250 for children under four.

    High grocery costs

    The support provided through the Hamlet Food Voucher Program is significant, but $500 covers far less in Nunavut than in southern Canada. Groceries must be brought to Nunavut by plane or ship, and most communities have only one or two grocery stores. Accordingly, despite efforts to reduce prices through programs like Nutrition North Canada (NNC), the cost of groceries in Nunavut is much higher than in the rest of Canada.

    Grocery prices in Nunavut are also rising much faster than in the rest of Canada. Our research shows that, between 2022 and 2024, the cost of a basket of goods in Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut’s largest region, rose by 26 per cent (compared to 13 per cent across Canada) and is now more than double the average cost in Canada.

    Even food subsidized through NNC is far more expensive: four litres of milk cost $9.95 in Qikiqtaaluk compared to a Canada average of $5.10. Prices for other items can be even higher: a February 2025 video from the hamlet of Grise Fiord shows a jar of jam selling for $35, pickles for $66 and a six-pack of apple sauce for $58.

    The high rate of food insecurity in Nunavut reflects a vast gap between household incomes and the money required to support a basic standard of living. Nunavut saw sustained income growth between 2005 and 2019, and a declining percentage of people receiving social assistance. Still, employment rates remain lower than in other territories.

    In 2023, the median income for households with two adults and two children was just under $36,000.

    This was around 40 per cent of the $89,420 needed for a two-adult, three-child family living in social housing in Iqaluit to afford the “modest, basic standard of living” represented by the official poverty threshold.

    The social assistance available to low-income Nunavut families is comparable to that in provinces with a lower cost of living. Even with $1,000 a month in food vouchers, a family of four making the median income remains far below the “deep poverty” threshold of 75 per cent of the official poverty line.

    An Inuit-led solution

    We have been interviewing service providers, grocery store employees and people co-ordinating Hamlet Food Voucher Programs. The interviews are part of an ongoing research project we are working on in collaboration with Sindu Govindapillai and Dheeksha Reddy from Qupanuaq, a service co-ordination program operated by the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation, and research team members Kelly Mitchell, Mohammad N. Khan, Josee G. Lavoie and Tracey Galloway.

    Interviewees tell us that, because of the program, fewer people go without food and more families can cover rent, utilities and other necessities. People also told us that families are eating healthier, children are going to school more often and are more engaged when there, and families are less stressed. Other programs and services that were previously busy addressing food-related crises can now focus on providing medical care, fostering learning and keeping children safe.

    The people we interviewed also make it clear the Hamlet Food Voucher Program is not enough to solve the problem of food insecurity in Nunavut. They stressed that food security initiatives must be paired with supports for healing, well-being and life-long learning.

    Inuit plans for addressing poverty include such supports. They also include measures to increase community decision-making, reform income assistance, increase access to housing and strengthen local economies.

    Until such a framework is fully implemented, the Hamlet Food Voucher Program must remain in place. Nunavut families currently face record levels of child poverty, rising food prices and a potential North American trade war that would further drive-up costs.

    Losing food voucher support would be catastrophic for many households, particularly those with young children. The Canadian government must support Inuit leaders working toward a long-term solution to food insecurity in Nunavut. By funding the Hamlet Food Voucher program in the interim, it can help ensure that the children of Nunavut do not go hungry.

    The ongoing research described in this article is funded by the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

    Financial support for this research was provided by CN and Mr. Dan Einwechter through the Einwechter Centre for Supply Chain
    Management, Wilfrid Laurier University

    Nicholas Li receives funding from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Development Grant that helped support this research.

    Jessica Penney 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. Inuit children in Nunavut face a preventable food security crisis – https://theconversation.com/inuit-children-in-nunavut-face-a-preventable-food-security-crisis-250004

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Recruiting Starts for Province’s First Internal Travel Nurse Program

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Registered nurses can now apply to participate in the province’s first internal travel nurse program.

    The pilot program will create a Nova Scotia Health travel nurse team to be deployed to emergency departments.

    “We committed to establishing an internal travel nurse team so we can limit the hiring of nurses from external companies,” said Premier Tim Houston. “This program is the first of its kind in the Maritimes and is intended to help retain and provide a different opportunity to those already working in our system and bring those currently working for external travel nurse agencies into our public healthcare system.”

    The new program will hire 20 to 30 full-time registered nurses and offer internal and external candidates an opportunity to grow their skills and experience, travel and work in different areas.

    Expected to launch by the end of March, it is a joint effort of the Province, Nova Scotia Health and the Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions.

    Quotes:

    “We’re very excited to be accepting applications for this pilot program. This is the result of a tremendous amount of work in close partnership with the council of unions, which will ultimately provide safer, more timely access to care for Nova Scotians and help Nova Scotia Health continue to attract and keep registered nurses.”
    — Annette Elliott Rose, Chief Nurse Executive and Vice-President, Clinical Performance and Professional Practice, Nova Scotia Health

    “Since before the pandemic, nurses’ unions have been calling on the Province to reduce its reliance on agency nurses. This announcement is a step in the right direction, one that provides structure, support and stability for those interested in working in this area of nursing and for Nova Scotians who require care.”
    — Janet Hazelton, Chair, Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions, and President, Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union

    Quick Facts:

    • Nova Scotia Health and the council of nursing unions will share details soon about information sessions for interested candidates
    • nurses on the team will have $6 per hour, or 15 per cent – whichever amount is higher – added to their registered nurse base hourly rate for all shifts worked as a travel nurse
    • internal candidates will continue to accrue pension and seniority and maintain their benefits with Nova Scotia Health
    • the Province announced changes to limit hiring of external travel nurses in December 2023

    Additional Resources:

    Provincial internal travel nurse program job posting: https://jobs.nshealth.ca/nsha/job/All-Locations-Internal-Travel-Nurse-Emergency-Department-NS/589878117/

    News release – New Approach to Hiring Travel Nurses: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/12/04/new-approach-hiring-travel-nurses

    Action for Health, the Province’s strategic plan to improve healthcare: https://actionforhealth.novascotia.ca/

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

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing in the Inuit economy and protecting Canada’s Northern ecosystems

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    There is no relationship more important to Canada than the one it has with Indigenous Peoples, the original inhabitants and stewards of lands and waters in Canada since time immemorial. We remain committed to working with Indigenous partners to advance reconciliation, recognizing the role of Indigenous leadership in environmental stewardship, and helping ensure the world we leave to future generations is safe and healthy.

    Today, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was joined by the President of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), Olayuk Akesuk, to announce the signing of the SINAA Project Finance for Permanence Agreement between the Government of Canada, the QIA, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Aajuraq Conservation Fund Society.

    Contributions to the SINAA Agreement include a planned $200 million from the Government of Canada, along with $70 million pledged from philanthropic donors in Canada and around the world. Over the next 15 years, these investments are projected to attract $318 million to the Qikiqtani region, with more jobs, opportunities, and Inuit-led stewardship of lands and waters. The agreement will also make meaningful progress in advancing the goal to conserve 30 per cent of oceans in Canada by 2030, adding an additional 3.68 per cent contribution to Canada’s water-based ecosystems.

    This milestone agreement in advancing Inuit-led conservation and reconciliation includes a new conservation plan to establish a robust and lasting network of proposed Inuit-led and protected water and land conservation areas in Canada’s Arctic. Protecting these areas will ensure the long-term health and sustainability of ecosystems, while safeguarding the well-being and ways of life of Inuit communities in the region. In Inuktitut, SINAA means “the floe edge”, where the open sea meets the frozen sea, becoming a vibrant ecosystem of marine life. With the SINAA Agreement, we will strengthen existing protected and conserved ecosystems through enhanced partnership with Inuit governance.

    To further support economic opportunities for the Qikiqtani Inuit, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the QIA have signed the Qikiqtani Fisheries Agreement. The agreement provides funding over the next 10 years to support both acquiring access to offshore commercial fisheries, vessels and gear, and training to participate in offshore commercial fishing in adjacent waters.

    With these investments, we are building an economy based on conservation, investing in community infrastructure like the Arctic Bay Small Craft Harbour, and creating jobs where Inuit knowledge will be leveraged and valorized to protect Northern ecosystems.

    As one of the most biodiverse areas of the Arctic, the Qikiqtani region is home to some of the world’s most iconic species, including narwhals, whales, and polar bears. With today’s landmark agreement, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside Inuit and Northern partners to protect these precious ecosystems that are so deeply intertwined with Inuit culture, economy, and well-being. Together, we are ensuring biodiversity and livelihoods are sustained for generations to come.

    Quotes

    “The Canadian Arctic has been home to vibrant ecosystems and Indigenous communities for generations. With today’s announcement, we are strengthening our commitment to protecting lands, waters, and wildlife, honouring Inuit-led conservation efforts, and walking forward on the shared path of reconciliation. Working together with provinces, territories, Inuit communities, and other partners, we can build a future where traditions, stories, and ways of life are preserved and celebrated.”

    “Today, we are reaching a historic milestone in Canadian history. The agreement signed today sets the foundations for Inuit-led and governed conservation efforts to protect our culture, lands, waters, and wildlife. Today is a proud day, and I thank the Government of Canada, donors, and the philanthropic community for seeing our vision and working with us to make it a reality.”

    “Canada is proud to be part of the SINAA Agreement advancing Inuit-led conservation in the Arctic. This agreement marks an important milestone in partnership and honours the vital role of Inuit stewardship in safeguarding the environment. Through this important partnership, we are supporting the well-being of Inuit in the Qikiqtani region today, while conserving ecosystems for our children and grandchildren.”

    “Nature and oceans are defining elements of Canada’s identity. Protecting them is crucial not only in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change, but also in preserving our deep connection to nature and building a sustainable future – one where Indigenous traditions and knowledge are at the heart of our conservation efforts. We are proud to work with Inuit partners and territorial governments through the SINAA Agreement to advance new and enhanced Inuit-led marine conservation areas in the Arctic, ensuring that the region’s diverse and unique marine ecosystems can thrive.”

    Quick Facts

    • The Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model provides for multi-partner investments and sustainable financing for large-scale conservation and sustainable development projects. These initiatives bring together Indigenous organizations, governments, and the philanthropic community to identify shared goals for protecting nature and ultimately halting biodiversity loss while advancing community well-being and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
    • In recent years, the Government of Canada has made historic investments in Indigenous-led conservation projects, including through initiatives like the Indigenous Guardians program.
    • In December 2022, during the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal, Quebec, the federal government pledged to deliver up to $800 million in support of up to four Indigenous-led PFP initiatives. Today’s SINAA announcement is the third of these initiatives, following the launch of the Great Bear Sea PFP and the NWT Our Land for the Future PFP initiatives last year.
    • The SINAA Agreement (formerly the Qikiqtani PFP) is led by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) and aims to conserve up to 3.68 per cent of the marine environment in Canada in addition to strengthening long-term existing protected areas that already contribute 8.60 per cent toward marine conservation targets.
    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada has collaborated with Parks Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada to advance this innovative funding model where a minimum of one dollar will be contributed by philanthropic organizations for every four dollars contributed by the federal government. This includes a planned $200 million of federal funds plus $70 million pledged from philanthropic organizations to support Inuit-led conservation in Nunavut.
      • Together, these contributions will be managed and invested by the Aajuraq Conservation Fund Society, a Canadian-led society governed by members appointed by QIA and The Pew Charitable Trusts to generate durable, long-term financing for ongoing conservation and stewardship activities led by QIA.
    • The SINAA Agreement represents an important step in Inuit-led conservation in the Qikiqtani region. Key components of the SINAA Agreement include: 
      • A conservation plan that proposes several new protected and conserved areas and enhanced protections for existing areas.
      • Support for the Inuit stewardship (Nauttiqsuqtiit) program enabling Inuit partners to have eyes and ears on the water, land, and ice.
      • Support for Nauttiqsuqtiit Conservation Centres so that Inuit stewards have the proper equipment and work spaces to be stewards of the water, land, and ice.
      • Support for Inuit-led regional governance so that Inuit partners can implement an integrated and regional vision for conservation that takes into consideration local and regional perspectives along with Inuit knowledge.
    • The Government of Canada, QIA, and The Pew Charitable Trusts have engaged with the Government of Nunavut throughout the planning of the initiative and will continue to engage through the implementation, specifically through advancing the conservation plan.
    • Grounded in science, Indigenous knowledge, and local perspectives, Canada is committed to working with partners across the country to conserve 30 per cent of lands and waters by 2030.

    Related Product

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Le gouvernement provincial annonce la modernisation de la Commission des droits de la personne de la Nouvelle-Écosse

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Le gouvernement prévoit moderniser la façon dont la Commission des droits de la personne de la Nouvelle-Écosse s’y prend pour protéger les droits des gens de la province et pour gérer le processus de résolution des différends relatifs aux droits de la personne. Les gens de la Nouvelle-Écosse ont réclamé des améliorations. C’est la première fois en plus d’une décennie que la Province effectue des changements d’envergure à la Commission.

    « Les gens de la Nouvelle-Écosse nous ont dit qu’il faut améliorer la façon dont les questions et les plaintes relatives aux droits de la personne sont traitées, affirme Becky Druhan, procureure générale et ministre de la Justice. Notre objectif est de créer un système plus accessible, plus inclusif et plus adapté, qui tient davantage compte du vécu et des besoins variés de chaque personne dans la province. »

    Le travail, qui commencera au printemps, sera mené en partenariat avec le personnel de la Commission des droits de la personne de la Nouvelle-Écosse, les commissaires et la collectivité.

    La Commission des droits de la personne de la Nouvelle-Écosse a vu le jour grâce à une loi provinciale en 1967. Son mandat comprend le recours à un processus de résolution des différends en matière de droits de la personne pour répondre aux allégations de discrimination, que ce soit sur le plan individuel ou systémique, de même que l’élimination des obstacles et la prévention de la discrimination par l’éducation, la formation, la mobilisation du public et l’élaboration de politiques.

    Faits en bref

    • La dernière modification à la loi sur les droits de la personne (Human Rights Act) a été effectuée en 2016 et se rapportait à l’article 21, déclarant que la loi prévaut sur la Couronne.

    Citations

    « Nous accueillons favorablement l’annonce du gouvernement quant aux réformes visant à renforcer la Commission des droits de la personne de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Mon équipe et moi sommes impatients de travailler en étroite collaboration avec le gouvernement pour créer une Commission plus forte, plus adaptée, nous permettant de respecter les principes de justice, d’équité et d’inclusion pour tous les gens de la province. »
    — Joseph Fraser Directeur général de la Commission des droits de la personne de la Nouvelle-Écosse

    Ressources supplémentaires

    Site Internet de la Commission des droits de la personne de la Nouvelle-Écosse : https://humanrights.novascotia.ca/fr

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province Announces Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission to be Modernized

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The government plans to modernize the way the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission protects the rights of Nova Scotians and administers the province’s human rights dispute resolution process.

    Nova Scotians have called for improvements, and this marks the first time the Province has undertaken any significant updates related to the commission in more than a decade.

    “Nova Scotians have told us that the way human rights issues and complaints are handled needs to improve,” said Becky Druhan, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “Our goal is to create a more accessible, inclusive and responsive system that better reflects the diverse needs and experiences of all individuals in the province.”

    The work will start this spring in partnership with Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission staff, commissioners and the community.

    The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission was created by provincial statute in 1967. Its mandate includes providing a human rights dispute resolution process to resolve allegations of discrimination both on an individual and systemic level and eliminating barriers and preventing discrimination through education, training, public engagement and policy development.

    Quick Facts:

    • the last change to the Human Rights Act was made in 2016 related to Section 21, affirming the act as binding the Crown

    Quotes:

    “We welcome government’s announcement of reforms to strengthen the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. My team and I look forward to working closely with government to build a stronger, more responsive commission, ensuring we uphold the principles of justice, equity and inclusion for everyone in our province.”
    — Joseph Fraser, CEO, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

    Additional Resources:

    Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission website: https://humanrights.novascotia.ca/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mountville — Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit charges three people involved in drug trafficking

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (PCISCEU) has charged three people as part of a drug trafficking investigation in Mountville.

    On February 25, in relation to an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, the PCISCEU, assisted by RCMP Police Dog Services, the Stellarton Police Department, Pictou County District RCMP and the Antigonish/Guysborough County District RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit, executed a search warrant at a residence on Mountville Rd.

    At the home, two women and a man were safely arrested. During a search of the property, officers located seized license plates and cell phones.

    As part of the investigation, officers then conducted a targeted traffic stop of a Honda Civic travelling nearby on Mountville Rd. Officers arrested the four occupants, a man and three women, and seized cocaine, methamphetamine, diazepam, drug paraphernalia, and cash during a search of the vehicle.

    Justin Kenneth Coady, 42, John Gregory Gerrior, 34, and Katelyn Rose Kirk, 33, have been charged with:

    • Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
    • Possession of Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking
    • Possession of Diazepam for the Purpose of Trafficking
    • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

    The two women arrested at the home and two of the female occupants in the Honda were later released without charges.

    Coady and Gerrior were released on conditions. They are scheduled to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on May 26, at 9:30 a.m.

    Kirk was held in custody and released by the courts on conditions. She will also return in Pictou Provincial Court on May 26, at 9:30 a.m.

    Note: The PCISCEU is made up of police officers from Pictou County District RCMP, Westville Police Service, and Stellarton Police Service.

    File #: 2025-139314

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Water-based batteries could be key in helping Canada achieve its net zero goals by 2050 — here’s how

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Meysam Maleki, Ph.D. Candidate of Chemical Engineering, Concordia University

    Canada has set an ambitious target to be net zero by 2050.

    Key to achieving this target will be decarbonizing the country’s energy grid.

    Renewable energy sources will be an important aspect of these plans. But while these energy sources are both cheap and increasingly accessible, a problem they continue to face is variability. After all, the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow when power is needed.

    Canada’s dominant renewable energy source — hydropower, which made up almost 62 per cent of Canada’s total renewable electricity generation in 2022 — is also highly vulnerable to climate change. Low precipitation in 2023 reduced reservoir levels in Canada below average. This led to a 25 per cent drop in electricity exports to the United States. The situation was even worse in British Columbia, where BC Hydro had to import electricity to meet provincial demand.

    Given these challenges, critical questions arise about whether renewable energy sources will be able to cope with energy demands now and in the future.

    One way of addressing these issue is by building large-scale energy storage systems. These would be capable of storing excess renewable energy when it’s abundant and deploying it when needed.

    Storing energy

    Around 90 per cent of global energy capacity is stored using pumped hydro energy storage systems.

    This system stores energy by pumping water from a lower level reservoir to a higher one using electric pumps powered by a renewable energy source. To release this stored energy, the reverse process occurs — so the water in the high levels flows down through turbines, generating electricity.

    Pumped hydro energy storage is currently the most desirable energy storage method. This is because it can have a lifespan of up to 100 years, is highly efficient and very cost-effective.

    However, a major pitfall of these storage systems is the geographic conditions required for them to work. These systems rely on large amounts of water flowing through different elevations. This incurs a significant cost. There are also environmental concerns, since it needs a large infrastructure to be built.

    But a type of water-based battery may, in some cases, offer a better way of storing renewable energy for large-scale use — all without requiring as much space and infrastructure as pumped hydro systems.

    Aqueous redox flow batteries are a type of battery that store energy in external tanks filled with water-based solutions. These solutions are then pumped and cycled through the battery’s electrochemical cell, causing reactions which allow the battery to release and store energy until needed.

    Aqueous redox flow batteris could help store renewable energy for decades.
    (Shutterstock)

    These batteries are able to store and release energy for years. Some companies claim they can last up to 25 years.

    Alongside their long life, aqueous redox flow batteries are potentially more cost-effective to scale-up compared to other batteries — such as the conventional lithium-ion batteries found in our phones and cars. They’re also a lot safer than conventional batteries, as the water-based electrolytes means there’s no risk of flammability.

    Aqueous redox flow batteries are highly scalable due to their modular design. Increasing storage capacity can be done by building larger tanks without needing to change the entire system. This makes them useful for both small and large-scale projects — whether that’s powering a single home or an entire community.

    These batteries have the potential to benefit the energy industry by providing a reliable way of managing fluctuating energy supply. They could also be well-suited for supplying reliable, renewable energy in rural communities and during disaster recovery.

    The world’s largest aqueous redox flow battery was recently built in China. Assuming an average consumption of one kilowatt-hour per hour per household, this one battery alone would be able to supply electricity to approximately 58,000 homes for 12 hours.

    Aqueous redox flow batteries can also be used in many other applications. For example, as electric vehicles become more prevalent, this technology could be suitable for supporting EV charging stations. South Korea even announced in 2021 that these batteries would be trialled to enhance EV charging infrastructure.

    This is particularly relevant in Canada, given plans to have 12.4 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2035.

    Battery limitations

    While commercial aqueous redox flow batteries have many advantages, their main limitation is cost.

    Currently, commercial aqueous redox flow batteries rely on expensive and rare materials, such as vanadium. This makes them too costly for widespread adoption.

    Cheaper, more abundant organic materials (such as anthraquinones) could replace the vanadium in these batteries. But organic materials come with their own challenges. Currently, some cost-effective organic redox flow batteries degrade much faster than versions made with vanadium, which can last for decades.

    However, current research is making significant progress in improving the stability of organic materials- helping to extend the lifespan of cheap organic redox flow batteries, making them an increasingly viable alternative.

    Given the current costs of the materials needed to make commercial aqueous redox flow batteries and the short lifespan of cost-effective organic compounds, this technology is not yet fully ready for widespread use. Continued investment in research and development will be crucial. If we can overcome these current challenges and unlock the full potential of aqueous organic redox flow batteries, they could become a key component of the global transition to renewable energy.

    Nothing to disclose.

    – ref. Water-based batteries could be key in helping Canada achieve its net zero goals by 2050 — here’s how – https://theconversation.com/water-based-batteries-could-be-key-in-helping-canada-achieve-its-net-zero-goals-by-2050-heres-how-221083

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: BexBack: No KYC for New Users, Double Deposit Bonus & 100x Leverage Crypto Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin’s price fluctuating below $100,000, many analysts predict a prolonged period of high volatility in the crypto market. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages. The platform now features a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing exceptional opportunities for investors.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $100,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and 50 other major cryptocurrencies for futures contracts.. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.

    Why recommend BexBack?

    No KYC Required: Start trading immediately without complex identity verification.

    100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds, double your profits.

    High-Leverage Trading: Offers up to 100x leverage, maximizing investors’ capital efficiency.

    Demo Account: Comes with 10 BTC in virtual funds, ideal for beginners to practice risk-free trading.

    Comprehensive Trading Options: Feature-rich trading available via Web and mobile applications.

    Convenient Operation: No slippage, no spread, and fast, precise trade execution.

    Global User Support: Enjoy 24/7 customer service, no matter where you are.

    Lucrative Affiliate Rewards: Earn up to 50% commission, perfect for promoters.

    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this could be your chance. With BexBack’s 100x leverage and 100% deposit bonus and $50 bonus for new users (complete one trade within one week of registration), you can be a winner in the new bull run.

    Sign up on BexBack now, claim your exclusive bonus and start accumulating more BTC today!

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack.The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    Photo accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ddb1a66-1ec1-4636-b4f5-f40d903ddf8b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/517f2c2a-7f4c-46fc-8934-641773b8be44

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c8e31b58-96c3-4f4c-be5a-453578cabc6f

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5adafee9-e7c7-4651-a732-2e9becab267d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ASUS Expands 2025 Zenbook Lineup in Canada with the New Zenbook DUO and Zenbook 14

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ASUS today announced that the new Zenbook DUO (UX8406CA) and Zenbook 14 (UX3405CA), are now available in Canada. These new additions join the recently launched Zenbook A14, the lightest 14-inch Copilot+ PC on the market, further expanding ASUS’s lineup of AI-powered Zenbook laptops.

    The ASUS Zenbook DUO is now available at the ASUS Store, Best Buy, Amazon, and Canada Computers, with Costco joining later this year. The ASUS Zenbook 14 is available at the ASUS Store, Amazon and Shi, with Canada Computers, Costco, and Staples set to carry it later this year.

    Designed for power, portability, and next-level AI capabilities, the latest Zenbook models feature extended battery life, premium designs, and a customizable Copilot key, delivering an effortless blend of speed, creativity, and productivity. With cutting-edge AI tools at their core, these laptops streamline tasks, enhance security, and supercharge performance for work and play.

    Next-Gen AI Power with Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) Processors

    At the heart of these two new 2025 ASUS Zenbook laptops are the new Intel® Core™ Ultra processor (Series 2), featuring integrated AI acceleration, next-gen Intel Arc™ graphics, and an upgraded core architecture. Built for the AI era, this powerhouse processor boosts gaming, content creation, and multitasking to new heights, delivering exceptional speed and efficiency in a slim and stylish package.

    ASUS Zenbook DUO (UX8406​CA)

    The revolutionary dual-screen Zenbook DUO (2025) features twin 14-inch 16:10 OLED HDR NanoEdge touchscreens with up to 3K 120Hz resolution, seamlessly blending AI-powered performance with versatile multi-mode functionality — Dual Screen, Desktop, Laptop, and Screen Sharing — and superb mobility. Measuring just 14.6mm (0.57″) at its thinnest and weighing only 1.35 kg (2.98 lbs)1, it’s powered by up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285H with integrated NPU, unlocking enhanced AI capabilities. It also features a large-capacity 75Wh battery and includes a comprehensive array of I/O ports. The easy-to-use Zenbook DUO maximizes productivity, with zero fuss.

    ASUS Zenbook 14 (UX3405​CA)

    Zenbook 14 (UX3405CA) takes sophistication to a whole new level, with an environmentally-conscious thin-and-light design. It amplifies AI efficiency with its Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285H and Intel Arc graphics, and offers an immersive experience with its vivid 14-inch 16:10 ASUS Lumina OLED touchscreen and powerful super-linear speakers.

    Later this year, an AMD-powered variant, the Zenbook 14 (UM3406KA), will join the lineup, featuring the new AI-enabled AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with a 50 TOPS NPU for accelerated AI performance.

    AVAILABILITY & PRICING

    The Zenbook DUO and Zenbook 14 are now available in Canada. The Zenbook DUO is available at the ASUS Store, Best Buy, Amazon, and Canada Computers, with Costco joining later this year. The Zenbook 14 is available at the ASUS Store, Amazon and Shi, with Canada Computers, Costco, and Staples set to carry it later this year. The Zenbook 14 (UM3406KA) will also be available later this year.

    For detailed specifications, availability, pricing, and where to buy links, please see below.

    Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

    SPECIFICATIONS2

    ASUS Zenbook DUO (UX8406CA) 

    Model  UX8406CA-BS91T-CB UX8406CA-DS91T-CA UX8406CA-CS71-CB
    Marketing Name  ASUS Zenbook DUO (2025)
    Operating System  Windows 11 Home 
    Color  Inkwell Gray
    Weight  1.65 kg (3.64 lbs)

    Weight without keyboard: 1.35 kg (2.98 lbs)

    Weight of keyboard: 0.30 kg (0.66 lbs)
    Dimensions  31.35 x 21.79 x 1.46 ~ 1.99 cm (12.34″ x 8.58″ x 0.57″ ~ 0.78″)
    Keyboard Dimensions 31.28 x 20.90 x 0.51 ~ 0.53 cm (12.31″ x 8.23″ x 0.20″ ~ 0.21″)
    Display  Dual 14” touchscreens, 2880×1800, OLED, 16:10, 120 Hz, 0.2ms, 500 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3, VESA Certified Display HDR True Black 500, Pantone validated Dual 14” touchscreens, 1920×1200, OLED, 16:10, 120 Hz, 0.2ms, 500 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3, VESA Certified Display HDR True Black 500, Pantone validated Dual 14” touchscreens, 1920×1200, OLED, 16:10, 120 Hz, 0.2ms, 500 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3, VESA Certified Display HDR True Black 500, Pantone validated
    Processor  Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285H

    2.9 GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.4 GHz, 16 cores, 16 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13TOPS

    		 Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 255H

    2.0 GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz, 16 cores, 16 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13
    Graphics  Intel Arc Graphics
    Memory  32GB LPDDR5X (on board)  16GB LPDDR5X (on board) 
    Storage  1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD (1 x M.2 2280 slot) 
    Keyboard Bilingual French English Bilingual French
    Webcam  1080p FHD IR Camera 
    Wi-Fi  Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4
    IO Ports  1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
    2 x Thunderbolt 4 (PD, DP)
    1 x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS) 
    1 x 3.5 Audio Combo Jack 
    Battery  75Whr 
    AC Adapter  Type-C, 65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3.25A, 65W, Input: 100-240V AC 50/60GHz universal 
    Availability ASUS Store

    Best Buy

    		 ASUS Store

    Best Buy

    Amazon

    Canada Computers

    		 Costco (available later this year)
    MSRP  C$2,699 C$2,499 C$2,399

    ASUS Zenbook 14 (UX3405CA) 

    Model  UX3405CA-CS91T-CB UX3405CA-RS71T-CA UX3405CA-SS71T-CB UX3405CA-DS51T-CA
    Marketing Name  ASUS Zenbook 14
    Operating System  Windows 11 Home 
    Color  Ponder Blue
    Weight  1.28 kg (2.82 lbs)
    Dimensions  31.24 x 22.01 x 1.49 ~ 1.49 cm (12.30″ x 8.67″ x 0.59″ ~ 0.59″)
    Display  14” touchscreen, WUXGA, 1920×1200, OLED, 16:10, 60 Hz, 0.2ms, 500 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3, VESA Certified Display HDR True Black 500
    Processor  Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285H

    2.9 GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.4 GHz, 16 cores, 16 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13TOPS

    		 Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 255H

    2.0 GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz, 16 cores, 16 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13

    		 Intel Core Ultra 5 Processor 225H

    1.7 GHz (18MB Cache, up to 4.9 GHz, 14 cores, 16 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13TOPS
    Graphics  Intel Arc Graphics
    Memory  16GB LPDDR5X (on board) 32GB LPDDR5X (on board) 16GB LPDDR5X (on board) 16GB LPDDR5X (on board)
    Storage  1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD (1 x M.2 2280 slot)  512 GB PCIe 4.0 SSD (1 x M.2 2280 slot) 
    Keyboard Bilingual French English Bilingual French English
    Webcam  1080p FHD IR Camera 
    Wi-Fi  Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4
    IO Ports  1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
    2 x Thunderbolt 4 (PD, DP)
    1 x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS) 
    1 x 3.5 Audio Combo Jack 
    Battery  75Whr 
    AC Adapter  Type-C, 65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3.25A, 65W, Input: 100-240V AC 50/60GHz universal 
    Availability Costco (available later this year) Canada Computers (available later this year) Staples (available later this year) ASUS Store

    Amazon

    Shi
    MSRP  C$1,899 C$1,899 C$1,699 C$1,499

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    Product pages:

    Where to buy links:

    ASUS Zenbook Page: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/site/zenbook/

    ASUS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asus/posts/

    ASUS Pressroom: http://press.asus.com

    ASUS Canada Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asuscanada/

    ASUS Canada Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asus_ca

    ASUS Canada YouTube: https://ca.asus.click/youtube

    ASUS Global X (Twitter): https://www.x.com/asus

    About ASUS

    ASUS is a global technology leader that provides the world’s most innovative and intuitive devices, components, and solutions to deliver incredible experiences that enhance the lives of people everywhere. With its team of 5,000 in-house R&D experts, the company is world-renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies. Consistently ranked as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, ASUS is also committed to sustaining an incredible future. The goal is to create a net zero enterprise that helps drive the shift towards a circular economy, with a responsible supply chain creating shared value for every one of us.

    1 Without keyboard
    2 Price and specifications and subject to change without notice. For the latest information please visit https://www.asus.com/ca-en/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64840812-c385-471d-8435-9e9dc833ca33

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Leads the Nation in Private Capital Investment Growth

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 27, 2025

    Province Ranks First for Growth in Private Capital Investment in 2024 

    Saskatchewan led all provinces in private capital investment growth in 2024, with an increase of 17.3 per cent over 2023. The province is also expected to lead the nation in overall capital investment growth in 2025.  

    “Attracting new investment and growing our existing businesses continues to be a key priority for our government and these numbers demonstrate our province is the best place to invest in Canada,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “Our investment attraction strategy is our roadmap to achieving our Growth Plan target by building a competitive business environment, low tax and utility rates, a transparent and predictable regulatory environment, a strong suite of incentives and a network of nine international offices that connect Saskatchewan to the world.”

    Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 17.3 per cent to $14.7 billion, ranking first among provinces. In 2025, private capital investment is expected to increase 10.1 per cent to $16.2 billion, ranking second among provinces. 

    Total capital investment in Saskatchewan last year increased by 16.9 per cent to $19.9 billion, ranking second among provinces. In 2025, total capital investment is expected to increase 10.8 per cent to $22.1 billion, ranking first among provinces.

    Today’s numbers build on additional key economic indicators for Saskatchewan. Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2023 real GDP reached an all-time high of $77.9 billion, increasing by $1.77 billion, or 2.3 per cent from 2022. This places the province second in the nation for real GDP growth, and above the national average of 1.6 per cent.

    Capital investment refers to the expenditures on fixed assets intended to produce goods and services. Fixed assets include structures, machinery and equipment. This is an important economic indicator as it showcases businesses’ optimism about the current and future state of the economy, as well as the ability to earn a return on their investment.

    Last year, the Government of Saskatchewan unveiled its new Securing the Next Decade of Growth – Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy. This strategy, combined with Saskatchewan’s trade and investment website, InvestSK.ca, contains helpful information for potential markets and solidifies the province as the best place to do business in Canada.  

    For more information visit: InvestSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Merchants Insurance Group Connects to Tarmika and Ask Kodiak

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, IL., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Systems today announced that Merchants Insurance Group has gone live on Tarmika, the single-entry commercial lines quoting application powered by the Ivans Distribution Platform. Agents using Tarmika can now quote Merchants’ commercial lines BOP and Contractor products via the platform.  

    Merchants went live on Ask Kodiak in 2024, enabling agents utilizing Ask Kodiak to access the carrier’s most up-to-date appetite within their typical workflows. Because Ask Kodiak supports Ivans Distribution Platform quotes, Merchants was able to smoothly merge its appetite on Ask Kodiak with the Tarmika application.

    Merchants Insurance Group is a leading regional property and casualty insurance carrier specializing in commercial lines. Merchants sells exclusively through independent insurance agents. Concentrated in the northeast United States, Merchants does business in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

    Tarmika seamlessly integrates with Applied Epic and EZLynx and offers agents a streamlined quoting process where they can easily pass key risk data points between applications, ensuring a smooth and efficient quoting experience. This integration also allows agents to track activities and important quoting details directly in the management system, providing a comprehensive and convenient quoting solution.

    Through a free online search tool, and APIs into many leading agency systems, Ask Kodiak enables producers to instantly identify carrier appetite when searching for markets to submit new and renewal business. The application enables producers to reduce dependency on traditional, more time-consuming methods of identifying appetite. Agencies can build new business opportunities with appointed carriers.

    “As agents’ operations continue to modernize, they are demanding connected experiences from their carrier partners to make their day-to-day workflows more efficient,” said Graham Blackwell, president, Applied Systems. “We are thrilled to partner with Merchants on the Tarmika integration.”

    # # #

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI: Ataccama Data Trust Report 2025: One in five businesses lack a data governance framework, leaving AI advantages untapped

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ataccama, the data trust company, today released the Ataccama Data Trust Report 2025: Turning Compliance and Risk Mitigation into a Foundation for Strategic AI Advantage, which highlights a disconnect between businesses’ ambitions for AI and their investment into compliance and risk mitigation. The second report in the series explores how many businesses are running before they can walk by building AI on unstable foundations made of data that isn’t governed correctly.

    The report found that 42% of organizations prioritize regulatory compliance, but only 26% focus on it within their data teams. This highlights blind spots with real-world consequences like regulatory fines and data breaches that can erode customer trust, financial stability, and competitiveness. The Data Trust Report suggests that organizations must reframe their thinking to see compliance as the foundation for long-term business value and trust.

    Automation is the engine of sustainable risk mitigation

    Generative and traditional AI tools are only as reliable as the data they depend on. To ensure this data isn’t compromised, businesses must adopt automation for more than just improving efficiencies. Considering 47% of organizations recognize data quality as critical to compliance and 39% highlight data accuracy as essential for risk mitigation, automation within this process is vastly undervalued.

    To gain access to AI-ready data, innovative companies should be embedding automation into their workflows for data validation and accuracy, scalable risk mitigation, and auditing. Without automation as the foundation for scalability, businesses risk their AI investment failing.

    Leadership misalignment is the silent killer of AI success

    33% of organizations cite leadership misalignment as a significant blocker for responsible AI adoption. The evolution of AI far outpaces historical transformations such as cloud adoption, creating an unprecedented urgency for strategic leadership alignment, which many businesses are lacking.

    Leadership teams must act decisively and responsibly to enable their organizations to set the pace for AI adoption. This includes ensuring complete alignment to a robust governance framework across the business, which 21% of organizations lack entirely. Driving this compliance from the top down will create a cultural reset that sees governance move from a reactive checkbox to a strategic driver of innovation and trust.

    The growing strain of regulatory tension

    Just 2% of organizations believe regulations stifle innovation, while 55% feel that current frameworks are too restrictive, showing clear tension between the optimism businesses feel towards compliance and the reality of fast-moving AI sectors. Currently, only 24% of organizations have implemented AI at scale, highlighting a significant gap in readiness.

    Fortunately, automation has the potential to improve regulatory adherence by 40% this year, which businesses can augment by establishing cross-functional teams to adapt to regulatory changes in real-time, and by shifting the mindset of their teams to see compliance as an opportunity rather than a hurdle.

    Mike McKee, CEO of Ataccama, said, “Ataccama is in a unique position to help companies tackle data quality as the foundation for successful AI business initiatives with our unified data trust platform that combines data quality, lineage, observability and master data management. Compliance built on high-quality, trusted data is the foundation for transparency, and it should be regarded as more than a tick-box exercise. Tackling this with a scalable solution embedded with AI-enabled automation will unlock a competitive advantage for initiatives such as customer expansion and personalized experiences. The business leaders that understand this and instill the same mindset throughout their companies will be the ones setting the pace in the future.”

    Read the full report here.

    Visit Ataccama on Booth 918 at the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit 2025 on March 3-5 in Orlando, Florida. More information here.

    Editor’s Notes

    Methodology: An online quantitative research survey was undertaken by Hanover Research in September and October 2024 with 300 qualified participants (U.S. n=150; Canada n=50; U.K. n=100). Respondents were aged 35+ and employed full-time within organizations generating revenue over $500 million in the banking/finance, business services, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, retail, software, and telecommunications industries. Participants were senior leaders or heads of department with a data-led function and had some or full responsibility for technology decision-making and data strategy.

    About Ataccama

    Ataccama is the data trust company. Organizations worldwide rely on Ataccama ONE, the unified data trust platform, to ensure data is accurate, accessible, and actionable. By integrating data quality, lineage, observability, governance, and master data management into a single solution, Ataccama enables businesses to unlock value from their data for AI, analytics, and operations. Trusted by hundreds of global enterprises, Ataccama helps organizations drive innovation, reduce costs, and mitigate risk. Recognized as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Augmented Data Quality and the 2025 Magic Quadrant for Data and Analytics Governance, Ataccama continues to set the standard for trusted data at scale. Learn more at www.ataccama.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: So-called Presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on 15 February: joint statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    So-called Presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on 15 February: joint statement to the OSCE

    The UK, Canada, Iceland and Norway underline non-recognition of the illegal so-called Presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on 15 February 2025.

    2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government“>

    This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

    Thank you, Mr Chair. I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Norway, and my own country the United Kingdom.

    We were concerned to hear of the illegal so-called Presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on 15 February 2025.  We do not recognise the legitimacy of these elections.

    We reaffirm our full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We continue to call on the Russian Federation to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.

    We call upon the Russian Federation to immediately fulfil its obligation under the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008 to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions, fulfil its commitments to allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and cease all borderisation tactics.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Prairie Provident Announces Spud of Basal Quartz Horizontal Well

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prairie Provident Resources Inc. (“Prairie Provident” or the “Company”) (TSX:PPR) is pleased to announce the spud of the Basal Quartz horizontal well 100/14-32-29-18W4. Drilling operations are expected to take eight days to complete, after which the well will be fracture stimulated and brought on-stream. This is the Company’s third Basal Quartz well following the successful drilling and completion of 102/03-19-030-18W4 and 100/15-32-029-18W4 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    ABOUT PRAIRIE PROVIDENT

    Prairie Provident is a Calgary-based company engaged in the exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties in Alberta, including a position in the emerging Basal Quartz trend in the Michichi area of Central Alberta.

    For further information, please contact:

    Dale Miller, Executive Chairman
    Phone: (403) 292-8150
    Email:  info@ppr.ca

    Forward-Looking Information

    This news release contains certain statements (“forward-looking statements”) that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future performance, events or circumstances, are based upon internal assumptions, plans, intentions, expectations and beliefs, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated or suggested therein. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified by words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “budget”, “forecast”, “target”, “estimate”, “propose”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “continue”, “may”, “will”, “should” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or events or statements regarding an outlook.

    Without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to: the anticipated drilling time of the Company’s Basal Quartz well and the well being successfully fractured and brought on-stream.

    Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors, expectations or assumptions of Prairie Provident which have been used to develop such statements, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which are inherently uncertain and depend upon the accuracy of such expectations and assumptions. Prairie Provident can give no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained herein will prove to be correct or that the expectations and assumptions upon which they are based will occur or be realized. Actual results or events will differ, and the differences may be material and adverse to the Company. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: results from drilling and development activities; consistency with past operations; the quality of the reservoirs in which Prairie Provident operates and continued performance from existing wells (including with respect to production profile, decline rate and product type mix); the continued and timely development of infrastructure in areas of new production; the accuracy of the estimates of Prairie Provident’s reserves volumes; future commodity prices; future operating and other costs; future USD/CAD exchange rates; future interest rates; continued availability of external financing and internally generated cash flow to fund Prairie Provident’s current and future plans and expenditures, with external financing on acceptable terms; the impact of competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which Prairie Provident operates; the general continuance of current industry conditions; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of Prairie Provident to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; drilling results; the ability of the operator of the projects in which Prairie Provident has an interest in to operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manner; field production rates and decline rates; the ability to replace and expand oil and natural gas reserves through acquisition, development and exploration; the timing and cost of pipeline, storage and facility construction and expansion and the ability of Prairie Provident to secure adequate product transportation; the regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which Prairie Provident operates; and the ability of Prairie Provident to successfully market its oil and natural gas production.

    The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance or promises of future outcomes and should not be relied upon. Such statements, including the assumptions made in respect thereof, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward- looking statements including, without limitation: reduced access to external debt financing; higher interest costs or other restrictive terms of debt financing; changes in realized commodity prices; changes in the demand for or supply of Prairie Provident’s products; the early stage of development of some of the evaluated areas and zones; the potential for variation in the quality of the geologic formations targeted by Prairie Provident’s operations; unanticipated operating results or production declines; changes in tax or environmental laws, royalty rates or other regulatory matters; the imposition of any tariffs or other restrictive trade measures or countermeasures affecting trade between Canada and the United States; changes in development plans of Prairie Provident or by third party operators; increased debt levels or debt service requirements; inaccurate estimation of Prairie Provident’s oil and reserves volumes; limited, unfavourable or a lack of access to capital markets; increased costs; a lack of adequate insurance coverage; the impact of competitors; and such other risks as may be detailed from time-to-time in Prairie Provident’s public disclosure documents (including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release and Prairie Provident’s current Annual Information Form dated April 1, 2024 as filed with Canadian securities regulators and available from the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) under Prairie Provident’s issuer profile).

    The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and Prairie Provident assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, or otherwise, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Lingokids Introduces “Theater” Mode: A Safe, Ad-Free Video Experience for Kids

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lingokids, the #1 learning app for kids, has introduced a new feature, Theater, in selected markets. This dedicated space within the app offers a curated, ad-free video experience designed to provide children with high-quality educational and entertaining content.

    Previously known as Video Mode, this new Mode of Use “Theater” is now completely available for all users in Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Colombia, where families can explore a library of engaging videos tailored to support early learning and development.

    A Safe and Educational Alternative to Streaming Platforms

    Lingokids Theater is designed as a safe and controlled environment where young learners can access age-appropriate content created by educators. The feature includes:

    • Animated stories, songs, and puppetry that introduce key early learning concepts in a fun and engaging way.
    • Activity-based videos such as drawing, dance, yoga, and interactive storytelling that encourage creativity and self-expression.
    • Educational video series developed to reinforce cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

    Unlike traditional streaming platforms, Lingokids Theater ensures a 100% ad-free experience, prioritizing a safe and educational space that aligns with parents’ expectations for quality screen time.

    “Our goal is to offer families a dedicated space where children can enjoy enriching, educational content in a safe and engaging way,” said Rhona Anne Dick, Education & Child Development Lead at Lingokids. “Theater is designed to complement our Playlearning™ approach, giving young learners access to a variety of carefully selected videos that entertain while reinforcing important skills.”

    Currently, Theater is available only in these selected test markets within the Lingokids app. Further updates regarding its availability in other regions will be announced in the future.

    About Lingokids

    Lingokids is an innovative educational platform committed to reimagining early learning. By integrating traditional education with essential life skills, Lingokids’ Playlearning™ approach places children at the heart of an expansive educational ecosystem. Through +2,000 interactive activities across various media formats, the app empowers children to navigate topics such as engineering, empathy, literacy, and resilience. Lingokids is dedicated to preparing children for a well-rounded future that balances academic excellence with personal growth.

    For more information about Lingokids and its educational offerings, visit www.lingokids.com and follow us on social media @Lingokids.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d336fb6b-8c74-4e04-a691-31e7b2c5019a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sezzle Reaches Significant Milestones as Canada’s Favourite Buy Now, Pay Later App

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL) (Sezzle or Company) // – Sezzle, the leading “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) solution in Canada, is proud to announce a series of significant milestones that highlight its continued growth and success. With 1.5 million Canadian users, Sezzle continues to cement its position as the highest-rated and most-reviewed BNPL app on the Canadian App Store. The platform is approaching 5 million total orders and has surpassed 50,000 Sezzle Up users—individuals working to improve their financial wellness through opt-in credit reporting.

    New partnerships with retailers such as Manitobah, Allbirds Canada, Tristan, Clément, and Atlas Tools & Machinery have further fueled Sezzle’s rapid expansion. By offering flexible payment options at these popular retailers, Sezzle is helping Canadian shoppers enjoy a more seamless and rewarding experience.

    “Finding new shoppers with Sezzle has been a significant win for us,” said Mike Wodtke, Chief Marketing Officer at Manitobah. “From an easy implementation process to marketing partnerships that have broadened our brand reach, Sezzle has been with us every step of the way. Since adding Sezzle, 65% of Sezzle transactions were brand new customers to Manitobah, and we’ve seen a 20% increase in Average Order Value (AOV).”

    These recent partnership launches underscore Sezzle’s continued growth in the Canadian market and its dedication to providing flexible and innovative financial solutions. Key achievements include:

    • 1.5 million all-time user sign-ups in Canada
    • Becoming the highest-rated and most-reviewed BNPL app on the Canadian App Store
    • Approaching 5 million total orders
    • Surpassing 50,000 Sezzle Up users, a program giving users the opportunity to build credit history through credit reporting

    This momentum represents a significant milestone in Sezzle’s growth and reinforces its role as a leader in flexible payment solutions for Canadian consumers. “Collaborating with well-known, trusted brands has been central to our strategy as we continue expanding our reach and delivering innovative financial tools,” said Patrick Chan, Sezzle Canada GM. “As we surpass 1.5 million user sign-ups and approach 5 million total orders, we’re more committed than ever to driving growth, empowering consumers, and providing Canadians with the best BNPL experience.”

    As Sezzle Canada continues to expand, it remains dedicated to empowering consumers and delivering outstanding shopping experiences for both consumers and retailers alike.

    Download the Sezzle App on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and explore Sezzle’s wide selection of Canadian merchants here.

    About Sezzle Inc.

    Sezzle is a forward-thinking fintech company committed to financially empowering the next generation. Through its purpose-driven payment platform, Sezzle enhances consumers’ purchasing power by offering interest-free installment plans, both online and in-store. With a focus on transparency, inclusivity, and ease of use, Sezzle provides consumers with the tools to manage their spending responsibly, take control of their finances, and achieve lasting financial independence.

    For additional assets and news on Sezzle please visit https://my.sezzle.com/news/  

    Follow Sezzle on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook| Twitter

    Sezzle Media Contact:

    Erin Foran

    Tel: (651) 403-2184

    Email: erin.foran@sezzle.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CIRA’s Net Good Grants champion community-led initiatives to strengthen Canada’s internet

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OTTAWA, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The time has never been better to help build a resilient internet in Canada, something that CIRA has been championing for years and has taken on a whole new level of urgency. A strong internet empowers Canada’s economy and provides opportunity for people across the country to build digital skills, start new businesses and advocate for their communities. This year, CIRA is launching the 12th edition of its Net Good Grants program offering over $1,000,000 in grant funding to boost community-led responses to Canada’s digital divide and strengthen our economy.

    CIRA’s Net Good Grants provide financial support to organizations looking to research and develop solutions that get communities online safely, affordably and resiliently. CIRA empowers community-led initiatives to take the lead on addressing access and affordability challenges head on, with a focus on ensuring rural, Northern and Indigenous communities are heard and served. Communities and projects like these have benefitted from CIRA funding:

    • Fort Smith Metis Council in Northwest Territories now have connectivity that offers emergency communications, safety, data mapping and enhanced recreational activities in the campsite area well outside the Fort Smith townsite, used year-round by youth camps, elders and tourists
    • Malahat Nation in British Columbia is now running their own sovereign fibre internet service to community buildings and households that plugs into the single main line coming from the external ISP
    • The first-ever Canadian Youth Internet Governance Forum, a platform for young Canadians, convened to discuss and advocate around internet policy, access to connectivity and youth leadership

    CIRA Net Good Grants 

    For its 12th edition, CIRA’s Net Good Grants will award each project up to $100,000 with a total investment of over $1,000,000. This investment is a key part of Net Good by CIRA’s commitment to build a more sustainable online future for Canadians everywhere. The funding will power essential projects in three core areas: 

    • Infrastructure: connectivity research, network planning and solutions to improve internet access, speed and affordability. 
    • Policy engagement: events, research and policy ecosystem work that broadens public awareness in domestic internet policy and governance. 
    • Online safety: research, educational frameworks, tools, consultations and training programs that increase Canadians’ safety against cybersecurity threats. 

    Applications will be accepted from every province and territory with a focus on projects that benefit rural, Northern or Indigenous communities or K-12 and post-secondary students. CIRA especially encourages applications for eligible projects in the Prairies, Quebec, the North and the Maritimes to help ensure funding reaches traditionally underserved communities. 

    Executive quote 

    “Many Canadians, particularly those in rural and remote areas, do not have adequate access to high-quality internet. That drives CIRA to partner with organizations that are determined to strengthen local communities by delivering internet programs tailored to their residents through our Net Good Grants program. This year, we are keen to invite applications for community-led solutions that address digital challenges in rural, Northern and Indigenous communities across Canada.” 

    — Charles Noir, Vice-president of Community Investment, Policy & Advocacy 

     Who is eligible to apply? 

    • Organizations recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as registered charities; 
    • Not-for-profit organizations; 
    • Indigenous communities; and 
    • Academics and researchers affiliated with a Canadian university or college. 

    Last year, CIRA awarded a total of $1.25 million in grant funding to 15 community-led internet initiatives that improve the lives of Canadians online. For the 2025 edition, a distinguished cross-Canada panel will review, select funding applications and notify all applicants of the grant decisions by July. Organizations are encouraged to submit their application before the deadline on April 9, at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. A webinar in English on March 4 at 1 p.m. ET and in French on March 5 at 1 p.m. ET will be hosted for all interested applicants.

    Additional information 

    About CIRA  

    CIRA is the national not-for-profit best known for managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. As a leader in Canada’s internet ecosystem, CIRA offers a wide range of products, programs and services designed to make the internet a secure and accessible space for all. CIRA advocates for Canada on both national and international stages to support its goal of building a trusted internet for Canadians by helping shape the future of the internet. 

    About Net Good by CIRA and CIRA Grants  

    Net Good by CIRA supports communities, projects and policies that make the internet better for all Canadians. CIRA proudly funds Net Good by CIRA from the revenue CIRA generates through .CA domains and cybersecurity services. CIRA Grants is one of CIRA’s most valuable contributions to Net Good, with nearly $12 million invested in hundreds of community-led internet projects across Canada that address infrastructure, online safety and policy engagement needs. 

    Media contact 
    Delphine Avomo Evouna 
    CIRA 
    delphine.avomoevouna@cira.ca  
    613-315-1458 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The secret lives of polar bear families

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Louise Archer, Postdoctoral Fellow, Biological Sciences, University of Toronto

    Newborn polar bear cubs spend weeks in the den with their mother until they’re old and strong enough to be outdoors. (Dmytro Cherkasov/Polar Bears International), CC BY

    Despite being the largest land carnivore and a top Arctic predator that can weigh over 600 kg, polar bears start off surprisingly small. Blind, almost hairless, and weighing just 600g at birth, cubs are born in maternity dens under the snow. These snow caves keep newborns warm and safe for the first few months of their life, when they grow rapidly by nursing on their mother’s rich milk.

    After three to four months in the den, cubs will have grown to about 20 times their birth weight and will be large enough and furry enough to follow their mothers out into the frigid Arctic spring.

    In a study published in The Journal of Wildlife Management, we used remote cameras to study polar bear families as they emerged from their dens in Svalbard, Norway, gaining insight into the behaviour of mothers and cubs as they experience the world outside the den for the first time.

    Drifting snow helps polar bear dens remain hidden.
    (B.J. Kirschhoffer/Polar Bears International), CC BY

    An elusive phenomenon

    While they provide ideal conditions for developing cubs, maternal dens are difficult for researchers to study and monitor. Challenging weather, limited daylight and the remoteness of many den sites means opportunities for direct observation are few. Often, denning polar bears are identified using tracking devices worn by a bear — usually collars, but also ear or fur tags. These transmit location data via satellite, allowing researchers to track individuals and to study movement patterns.

    As technology has developed, additional data can also be collected from these devices, including data on activity and temperature. An extended stationary period and low activity readings are the telltale signs of denning. Above-ambient temperatures also indicate a bear in a den; insulated by snow and warmed by the mother’s body heat, the interior of the den can be more than 20 °C warmer than the outside.

    In Svalbard, polar bears build their dens on slopes of fjords and mountainous areas, where drifting snow means dens are often impossible to distinguish from the snow-covered surroundings.

    Locating dens

    We relied on GPS locations transmitted from satellite collars worn by females to locate 13 den sites. With the return of daylight to Svalbard in the spring, our team installed time-lapse cameras facing the entrance of each suspected den, capturing footage of polar bear families as they exited. To minimize any disturbance, the final approach was made on foot or by ski, and cameras were collected several months later — long after the polar bear families had departed for the sea ice.

    After processing thousands of images, the camera gave us a detailed look at this cryptic component of polar bears’ life cycle. By linking images back to data from the collars, we were also able to develop a model of the various behaviours caught on camera, providing a new tool to remotely monitor denning bears more accurately.

    A feat of endurance

    Although critical to cubs, denning can be tough on a mother. Pregnant female polar bears usually enter a den in the fall, give birth in mid-winter, and remain in the den nursing their cubs until the family is ready to emerge in the spring. Although their offspring guzzle down high-energy milk, mother polar bears don’t feed at all during this time and rely on their fat reserves, losing up to 43 per cent of their body mass while in the den.

    Despite this clear motivation to get back to hunting seals on the sea ice, polar bear families will often hang out at the den for days or weeks after emerging. On average, the families we monitored in Svalbard stayed at the den site for a further 12 days after first emerging.

    During this time, mother and cubs frequently left the den to explore, sometimes staying outside for less than a minute, and in other cases emerging for hours at a time. Cubs rarely ventured outside without their mother and were seen alone in only five per cent of camera observations. In general, bears spent longer outside when temperatures were warmer and the more days had passed since they first emerged outside.

    This post-emergence period may allow cubs time to acclimatize to the external environment, and to develop the skills and strength they’ll need to follow their mother across the sea ice for the next two-and-a-half years.

    We also saw incredible variation in behaviour post-den emergence, with one family abandoning the den after only a couple of days, and another family remaining at the den for a full month after first appearing outside. Two females even decided to move their cubs to new dens after emerging.

    Consequences of Arctic change

    These kinds of insights lead to new questions: what drives decisions to stay or leave the den, what cues do families respond to? While we continue to build out our data set to better understand these behaviours, on average, we noted that polar bears abandoned their dens about a week earlier than previously recorded in the region. The Barents Sea is one of the fastest warming regions on the planet, and continued monitoring will make clear if this is an emerging trend in response to sea ice loss.

    To get even more detailed information, we have also been testing custom designed camera systems that can capture behaviour continuously.

    Climate warming has already resulted in declining polar bear health in parts of the Arctic that are experiencing rapid loss of sea ice. With continued warming jeopardizing the persistence of polar bears across much of their range, successful denning and reproduction is essential to give the next generation of polar bears a chance.



    Read more:
    Polar bears may struggle to produce milk for their cubs as climate change melts sea ice

    Time spent denning, the date of den exit and the amount of time bears remain at the den after emerging all contribute positively to the subsequent survival of cubs. Yet climate warming means the human footprint in the Arctic is expanding, risking encroachment on denning habitat and disturbing polar bear families.

    Improved monitoring and a deeper understanding of denning behaviour will help to protect polar bears during this critical time.

    Louise Archer receives funding from Polar Bears International. She is affiliated with University of Toronto Scarborough and Polar Bears International. This study was performed in collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

    – ref. The secret lives of polar bear families – https://theconversation.com/the-secret-lives-of-polar-bear-families-248764

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Human Rights in Russia and the deaths of Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov: Joint Statement to the OSCE, February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Human Rights in Russia and the deaths of Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov: Joint Statement to the OSCE, February 2025

    UK and others commemorate Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov and call on Russia to release political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

    Thank you  Mr Chair.  I am making this statement on behalf of Albania, Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine and my own country the United Kingdom.   

    Following the anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s death, which followed years of arbitrary detention in poor conditions, we extend our condolences to his family and reiterate that the ultimate responsibility for his death lies with the Russian authorities. Today we also commemorate Boris Nemtsov, ten years after his brutal murder.   

    We regret that Russia’s dire human rights record continues to deteriorate. The Russian government crushes peaceful dissent, maintains a climate of fear and undermines the rule of law. This stands in direct contradiction to shared OSCE principles and commitments on inter alia the right to a fair trial, freedom from arbitrary detention, the right to freedom of assembly and association and the prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.  

    As we reflect on Navalny and Nemtsov’s enduring legacy, our countries continue to stand with civil society and human rights defenders working tirelessly to build a better future for Russia in the face of immense personal risk. 

    In July 2022, 38 participating States invoked the Moscow Mechanism on threats to the fulfilment of the provisions of the Human Dimension posed by human rights violations and abuses in the Russian Federation.  That Moscow Mechanism report determined that:  “a decade of reform legislation in Russia has completely changed the scope of action of Russian civil society, cutting it off from foreign and international partners, suppressing independent initiatives, stifling critical attitudes towards the authorities, silencing the media and suppressing political opposition”.  

    Such internal clampdowns on human rights and fundamental freedoms helped the Russian Federation prepare the ground for its war of aggression against Ukraine. Since February 2022 the Russian authorities have further tightened internal repression in an apparent attempt to silence all opposition voices.  There are now over 800 political prisoners in Russia, including many imprisoned for speaking out against Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the brutality shown towards the Ukrainian people.  

    In this context we regret Russia’s lack of response to the Vienna Mechanism of March 2024 on treatment of prisoners.   We also recall the 11 October 2024 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation which inter alia examined the widespread and systematic use of torture and ill treatment in the Russian Federation.  

    We reiterate our call to the Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political opposition activists, human rights defenders, journalists and other media actors.   

    We will continue to hold Russia to account against its international obligations and commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including OSCE principles and commitments to which it signed up willingly. 

    For as we all agreed in Moscow in 1990, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law constitutes one of the foundations of the international order.  And as we also agreed in Moscow, commitments undertaken in the field of the human dimension are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned.  

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 February 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister McLean on Pink Shirt Day

    Statement from Minister McLean on Pink Shirt Day
    jlutz

    Minister of Education Jeanie McLean has issued the following statement:

    “Today, Yukoners across the territory join together to observe Pink Shirt Day, a day dedicated to standing up against bullying in all its forms. This annual event serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of kindness, empathy and inclusion in our schools, workplaces and communities.

    “Pink Shirt Day, which originated in Canada in 2007, has grown into a global movement with individuals and groups from all corners of the world taking a stand against bullying. Here in the Yukon, we proudly participate in this day of action to reaffirm our commitment to creating environments where everyone – regardless of their background or identity – feels respected and valued.

    “This year, the official Pink Shirt Day design highlights “cultivating a community of kindness”. As Yukoners, we recognize that bullying is not just an individual issue but a collective responsibility. It is through our shared efforts – whether it’s educators, parents, community leaders or peers – that we can create spaces where young people feel safe and supported. Whether it’s through school activities, community events or simply wearing pink, each act of solidarity sends a clear message: bullying has no place in our society.

    “While we come together to combat bullying, we must also acknowledge the unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, who experience bullying at higher rates than their straight and cisgender peers. The Department of Education is committed to continuous learning and the ongoing development of its Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Policy, reflecting our dedication and commitment to inclusivity and respect for every individual.

    “The Safe and Caring Schools Policy demonstrates our dedication to fostering compassionate, respectful and secure environments. It establishes clear standards and procedures to prevent violence, bullying and discrimination, ensuring a strong and effective response to any such incidents. Safety, respect and inclusion are fundamental rights, guaranteed to all students and staff in our schools. These rights are upheld for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, place of origin, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, age or ability.

    “In the Yukon, we know that kindness is powerful. By taking action today – and every day – we can help nurture a future where every person feels safe, valued and empowered to be their true self.

    “We encourage everyone across the Yukon to join us in wearing pink today as a symbol of our shared commitment to kindness, respect and inclusion.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New agreement enhances policing for Kluane First Nation through collaborative tripartite partnership

    New agreement enhances policing for Kluane First Nation through collaborative tripartite partnership
    zaburke

    This is a joint news release between the Government of Canada, Kluane First Nation and the Government of Yukon.

    The Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon and the Kluane First Nation have entered into a First Nations and Inuit Policing Program Community Tripartite Agreement, marking a significant milestone in community safety for Kluane First Nation. This agreement will assign two dedicated, community-focused RCMP positions to support Kluane First Nation. It underscores the shared commitment of all parties to fostering safer, healthier communities through collaborative partnerships and culturally informed policing solutions.

    These positions will provide community-based enhanced policing services to Kluane First Nation, in addition to the RCMP’s core policing duties under the Territorial Police Service Agreement. The agreement is intended to provide policing services which are professional, dedicated and responsive to the needs and cultures of individual communities. These services are cost-shared by the Government of Canada paying 52 per cent and the Government of Yukon paying 48 per cent. 

    The day-to-day duties of the new officers will align with the community safety priorities identified in the Letter of Expectations and will be co-developed between the RCMP and the Kluane First Nation community members who are in the Community Consultative Group. This cooperative approach helps ensure that policing efforts align closely with the unique needs and priorities of the Kluane First Nation community.

    Today, a community event was held in Burwash Landing to celebrate this important community safety milestone and to acknowledge the beginning of the agreement.  
     

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Premier Pillai on the Yukon Sustainability Award winners

    Statement from Premier Pillai on the Yukon Sustainability Award winners
    jlutz

    Premier and Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement:

    “Last week, three Yukon businesses were recognized for their commitment to sustainability at ECO Impact 2025, an annual event hosted by Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada. This annual event celebrates the work of environmental professionals across the country, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and innovators to discuss best practices in sustainability and environmental management.

    “As part of this event, the Yukon Sustainability Awards were presented to businesses demonstrating outstanding environmental stewardship in the territory. I invite Yukoners to join me in congratulating this year’s recipients.

    • Small Business Award – Future Proof My Building Consulting Ltd.
    • Medium-Large Business Award – Snowline Gold Corp.
    • The Regional Business Award – Tincup Wilderness Lodges Ltd.

    “Our government partnered with ECO Canada to establish the Yukon Sustainability Awards to recognize environmentally conscious business practices and draw attention to leaders in sustainability across all sectors of the territory’s economy. Yukoners take pride in environmental responsibility and it is essential to highlight and celebrate those who integrate sustainable practices into their operations.

    “The award recipients were selected by a jury made up of industry, academic and government professionals from across Canada and beyond. Businesses were assessed based on corporate sustainability practices and environmental management systems and how they support the Yukon’s Our Clean Future strategy, our roadmap for climate action and a green economy.

    “This marks the second year that Yukon businesses were recognized for their sustainability efforts. Last year’s winners included Parsons Inc., High Latitude Energy Consulting and Environmental Dynamics Inc.

    “Thank you to ECO Canada for making these awards possible and congratulations once again to this year’s winners.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –