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Category: Canada

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Hussen announces support for financial stability in developing countries at the 2024 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Financial inclusion gives people a fair chance to succeed. However, with the rising cost of living, regional conflicts, and natural disasters caused by climate change, financial pressures have impacted everyday life, especially for the world’s most vulnerable.

    October 26, 2024 – Washington, D.C. – Global Affairs Canada

    Financial inclusion gives people a fair chance to succeed. However, with the rising cost of living, regional conflicts, and natural disasters caused by climate change, financial pressures have impacted everyday life, especially for the world’s most vulnerable.

    Yesterday, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development concluded his participation at the 2024 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) in Washington. While there, he announced a $20 million contribution to the Toronto Centre over five years.

    Canada’s investment will expand the reach of the Toronto Centre’s tailored training to financial regulators in developing countries, including for women. Women continue to be less likely than men to have access to financial institutions, or even have their own bank account. Gender inclusive training can help break the cycle of gender-based poverty – changing lives and increasing women’s participation in the economy. The project focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indo-Pacific region and special assistance to Ukraine.

    Minister Hussen also engaged with global partners, World Bank management and other key stakeholders, committed to working with Canada to improve accessing to finance for those who need it most, especially women, a priority under Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. The World Bank Group is an important partner in funding development projects that help increase financial stability, making it easier for people to access financial services, and providing support in times of crisis.

    Quotes

    “Canada is proud to continue our partnership with the Toronto Centre. This Canadian powerhouse has a long track record of strengthening financial systems through their training and expertise. What this means is that more women and girls will get access to stable financial resources, unlocking the door to reaching their full potential. Together, Canada and the Toronto Centre will continue to build a more inclusive financial sector around the world.”

    – Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development

    “We are deeply grateful to Global Affairs Canada for their continued support since our inception in 1998. This timely funding renewal strengthens our ability to build capacity in emerging markets and developing economies in line with the sustainable development goals to spur financial resilience and inclusion, mobilize domestic resources, and alleviate poverty. Our foundational institution-building work strengthens financial regulatory environments, fostering sustainable growth and building global confidence.” 

    – Babak Abbaszadeh, President and CEO, Toronto Centre

    Quick facts

    • Canada is a founding member of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund and is represented at their Boards by Canada’s Minister of Finance.

    • The WBG is Canada’s largest development partner institution. Since 1945, we have worked together in every major area of development and in boosting shared prosperity through inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development.

    • The Annual Meetings for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank is an opportunity for the global community to come together and advance a range of issues related to poverty reduction and international economic development, while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

    • In June 2024, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would purchase $274 million (US$200 million) in hybrid capital from the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). This innovative financing mechanism provides additional capacity for the Bank to provide loans to developing countries, with a leverage factor of 6.5 times. This means up to $1.8 billion in additional lending is available to help developing countries meet the SDGs – from improving education and health to reducing food insecurity and carbon footprints.

    • Canada is a founding member of the Toronto Centre and together, they have built a partnership that dates back to 1998.

    • The Toronto Centre has hosted regular side events within the IMF and World Bank Annual and Spring meetings.

    • Since inception in 1998, Toronto Centre has enhanced the capacity of more than 28,000 financial supervisors from 190 countries and territories to build more stable, resilient, and inclusive financial systems.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Olivia Batten
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of International Development
    Olivia.Batten@international.gc.ca

    Media Relations Office
    Global Affairs Canada
    media@international.gc.ca
    Follow us on X (Twitter): @CanadaDev
    Like us on Facebook: Canada’s international development – Global Affairs Canada
    Follow us on Instagram: @canadadev

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Yukon introduces 2023–24 Public Accounts to the Legislative Assembly

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Today the 2023–24 Public Accounts was tabled in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. The Public Accounts present the Government of Yukon’s financial statements and reflect the government’s finances for the previous fiscal year. The 2023–24 Public Accounts show the government’s financial position on March 31, 2024.

    • Read more about Government of Yukon introduces 2023–24 Public Accounts to the Legislative Assembly
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    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada formally apologizes to five Anishinaabeg First Nations

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations, on behalf of the Government of Canada, formally apologized to Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing First Nations for past wrongs relating to the Crown’s mismanagement of their monies in the late 1800s and the negative impacts experienced by the five communities as a result.

    October 26, 2024 — (Manitoulin Island, ON) — Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, M’Chigeeng First Nation, Sheguiandah First Nation, Sheshegwaning First Nation and Zhiibaahaasing First Nation

    Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations, on behalf of the Government of Canada, formally apologized to Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing First Nations for past wrongs relating to the Crown’s mismanagement of their monies in the late 1800s and the negative impacts experienced by the five communities as a result.

    This long-overdue apology was delivered at a ceremony held today with First Nations leadership, Elders, youth and community members at Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation. Approximately 100 people were in attendance.

    At the ceremony, the Government of Canada and the First Nations also commemorated a claim settlement that provides a total of $447.9 million in compensation to be shared among the five First Nations. This financial settlement resolves three historical claims which date back to the late 1800s and are the focus of the apology delivered today.

    The apology relates to the Crown’s mismanagement of the First Nations’ monies from past land sales in the late 1800s following an agreement made with the First Nations in 1862. Instead of enabling these Anishinaabeg communities to thrive and economically benefit from the land sales, the Crown used the profits  – the monies intended for the First Nations – to build roads and open up Manitoulin Island for settlement. In doing so, the Crown failed to act honourably and uphold its relationship with the First Nations, going against the spirit and intent of the Treaties, breaking its promises and creating injustices which continue to be felt by the communities today.

    This formal statement of apology and co-developed settlement are key steps toward healing and reconciliation with Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing First Nations. This is also an opportunity for all people in Canada to learn about our shared history and the harmful legacies of colonialism so we can move toward greater understanding and respect.

    Confronting our history and addressing past wrongs is critical to advancing reconciliation in Canada and rebuilding trust with First Nations communities.

    Quotes

    “Acknowledging and apologizing for past wrongs is the right thing to do. This settlement with Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing pays a longstanding debt that is rightfully owed to the First Nations. Nothing can undo the past or the pain it has caused, but it is crucial that we listen to Indigenous communities on how to best move forward. It is our hope that today’s apology will be a turning point in our Nation-to-Nation relationships with these five First Nations as we continue to co-develop shared solutions and build a better future based on mutual respect and true partnership.”

    The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
    Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations

    “This has been a long time coming. It is good to finally see some compensation coming to the First Nations.”

    Chief Patsy Corbiere,
    Aundeck Omni Kaning

    “This is a long overdue moment. We look forward to a positive result for our First Nation.”

    Chief Morgan Hare,
    M’Chigeeng First Nation

    “Community partnerships have proven that working together on the Manitoulin Project is the best way to strengthen our communities, which creates a positive future for generations to come.”

    Chief Jason Aguonie,
    Sheguiandah First Nation

    “Sheshegwaning is glad that Canada has taken this important step to resolve such long-standing breaches of fiduciary duty.”

    Chief Alana Endanawas,
    Sheshegwaning First Nation

    “Our community suffered the loss of these funds for too many years. We look forward to finally building for our families and in line with our vision.”

    Chief Irene Kells,
    Zhiibaahaasing First Nation

    Quick facts

    • The five First Nations have long sought justice and fair compensation for the three historical claims (which are often called “the Manitoulin Project”).

    • The First Nations and Canada began talks in 2016 to find the common ground for resolving these claims outside of the courts.

    • Negotiators for the parties completed their work on the settlement in December 2023.

    • First Nations members approved the settlement in community votes held in March 2024, with 98 percent of those who voted voting in favour.

    • The settlement was signed by the First Nations and Canada in August 2024.

    • The United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising represented the five Anishinaabeg First Nations in the negotiations: Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information, media may contact:

    Gregory Frame
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
    Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
    gregory.frame@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
    819-934-2302
    RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Chief Patsy Corbiere
    Aundeck Omni Kaning
    (705) 368-2228

    Chief Morgan Hare
    M’Chigeeng First Nation
    (705) 377-5362

    Chief Jason Aguonie
    Sheguiandah First Nation
    (705) 368-2781

    Chief Alana Endanawas
    Sheshegwaning First Nation
    (705) 283-3292

    Chief Irene Sagon Kells
    Zhiibaahaasing First Nation
    (705) 283-3963

    Stay connected

    Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

    X: @GCIndigenous
    Facebook: @GCIndigenous
    Instagram: @gcindigenous

    You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.cirnac.gc.ca/RSS

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Premier Pillai on the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council election

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Premier Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement:

    “On behalf of the Government of Yukon, I offer congratulations to Ruth Massie on her election as Chief and to Michelle Telep on her election as Deputy Chief for the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.

    “Chief Massie previously served as Chief of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council as well as two terms as Grand Chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations and most recently served as Chair of her First Nation’s Elders Council.

    • Read more about Statement from Premier Pillai on the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council election
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    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Dundurn — Saskatoon RCMP: woman charged after fatal collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 19, 2024 at approximately 9:45 p.m., Saskatoon RCMP received a report of a collision on Highway #11, one kilometre north of Dundurn.

    Officers immediately responded. Investigation determined a truck and an SUV collided in the southbound lanes. The truck was driving northbound in the southbound lanes.

    The driver and passenger of the SUV were declared deceased by EMS at the scene. They have been identified as a 50-year-old female and 20-year-old female from Lake Isle, AB. Their families have been notified.

    Two occupants of the truck, both children, were taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening in nature.

    The adult female driver of the truck did not report injuries to police. She was arrested at the scene of the collision.

    As a result of continued investigation, 32-year-old Brittany Barry from the RM of Blucher is charged with:

    • two counts, operate a conveyance while impaired over 80 mg causing death, Section 320.14(3), Criminal Code;
    • two counts, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, Section 320.13(3), Criminal Code;
    • two counts, operate a conveyance while impaired over 80 mg causing bodily harm, Section 320.14(s), Criminal Code;
    • two counts, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, Section 320.13(3), Criminal Code;
    • two counts, criminal negligence causing death, Section 220(b), Criminal Code; and
    • two counts, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, Section 221, Criminal Code.

    Brittany Barry is scheduled to appear in Saskatoon Provincial Court on October 21, 2024.

    The highway was closed for approximately six hours during initial investigation.

    The investigation continues. Saskatoon RCMP believes there are witnesses to this collision who they have not spoken to. If you witnessed the collision or stopped at the scene and have not yet spoken with police, contact Saskatoon RCMP by dialling 310-RCMP.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Mississauga, Region of Peel, Enwave and Lakeview Village break ground on ambitious district energy project, setting the stage for one of the most sustainable new waterfront communities in Canada

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, the City of Mississauga, Lakeview Community Partners Limited (LCPL), Enwave Lakeview Corporation and the Region of Peel celebrated the groundbreaking of a new district energy system at Lakeview Village. Once fully operational, the Lakeview Village district energy system is positioned to be the first of its kind in Ontario and the largest in Canada.

    Unlike traditional heating and cooling systems, which are large contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, district energy systems use a network of pipes to heat and cool an entire community from a centralized location. These systems allow for a combination of generation assets that work seamlessly together to improve efficiency, consume less energy, and reduce GHG emissions. They are also more reliable and resilient than traditional systems.

    To bring this new system to life, the City of Mississauga and Enwave have signed agreements allowing Enwave to build the necessary pipes and infrastructure on city land and construct a new building to operate the system. These agreements mark a major milestone in the Lakeview Village project and follow several years of collaboration.

    Left-right: Stephen Dasko (Ward 1 Councillor), Charles Sousa (MP Mississauga-Lakeshore), Brian Sutherland (Lakeview Community Partners), Gord Buck (Founder of ARGO), Carolyn Parrish (Mississauga Mayor), Carlyle Coutinho (CEO, Enwave Energy Corporation), Ehren Cory (CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank), Alvin Tedjo (Ward 2 Councillor), Rudy Cuzzetto (MPP Mississauga-Lakeshore), and Silvio De Gasperis (Founder, President and CEO of TACC Group).

    Giving treated wastewater a second life

    The Region of Peel and Enwave are working to further decrease GHG emissions from the district energy system through a proposed plan to leverage treated wastewater, or effluent, from the nearby G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility as the main source of low carbon energy for the system. Using effluent to heat and cool Lakeview Village draws on an innovative energy source that would otherwise remain untapped.

    Once this transition happens, Lakeview Village’s residential units, offices and commercial spaces are expected to emit significantly fewer GHGs.

    The district energy system at Lakeview Village, alongside plans to leverage effluent, is instrumental in bringing the City of Mississauga’s Climate Change Action Plan and the Region of Peel’s Climate Change Master Plan to life.

    Building a new centre for operations and education

    The City of Mississauga and LCPL are also moving forward on the Site Development Plan and Building Permit applications to construct a new building that will house:

    • The district energy operations centre, which will be operated by Enwave.
    • A sewage pumping station, which will be operated by the Region of Peel.
    • An educational space to provide learning opportunities for Mississauga residents, visitors and the business community.

    Work is already underway, with the first crane installed onsite to support servicing and construction works for the new centre.

    Sustainable waterfront community

    Lakeview Village is a 177-acre site on Mississauga’s waterfront that was formerly the Lakeview Power Generating Station. Designed to be a mixed-use community, this sustainable and interconnected neighbourhood will feature 16,000 new homes, parks, trails, transit, recreational opportunities, event spaces, and commercial areas for work and shopping.

    Earlier this month, construction kicked off on the community’s first residential building with occupancy expected in early 2029.

    For more information about planning the Lakeview Village development, visit the City of Mississauga’s Lakeview Village webpage. To learn more about the community, visit mylakeviewvillage.com.

    Quotes:

    “Today’s announcement highlights our dedication to building mixed-use communities that are sustainable, and include a variety of housing options, jobs, parks and community spaces. Lakeview Village’s focus on innovative, low carbon solutions make it more than just a development project – it sets a new standard for sustainability. I’m proud to work with our partners on this transformative project that will shape the future of Mississauga for years to come.” Mayor Carolyn Parrish

    “This groundbreaking marks an exciting chapter in the evolution of Lakeview Village. Our vision has always been to make this community the most sustainable, innovative new development in the country, and this is a major step. The Enwave system within Lakeview Village is a leading example of how the joint priorities of sustainability and housing development can co-exist, supporting a better future for Ontario.” – Brian Sutherland, President, Lakeview Community Partners Limited

    “The groundbreaking of the district energy system at Lakeview Village is an exciting step toward the future of sustainable communities in Canada and beyond. This development is a complex undertaking, which will be the largest of its kind in North America with the integration of effluent, and would not be possible without the determination and collaboration demonstrated by all partners. Together, we are implementing big ideas and critical thinking to achieve the ambitious goals set for this project, and Enwave is proud to make this district energy system a reality.” Carlyle Coutinho, CEO of Enwave Energy Corporation

    “Today’s announcement signals Peel Region’s commitment to working with the City of Mississauga, Lakeview Community Partners Limited (LCPL), and Enwave Lakeview Corporation to leverage treated wastewater from the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility as an innovative fuel source for the district energy system at Lakeview Village. Peel Region is a strong advocate for sustainability and committed to researching and implementing state-of-the-art treatment processes and technology at our facilities. We are always working to be a collaborative community partner, and providing this future fuel source for our neighbours at Lakeview Village demonstrates our environmental leadership.” – Chair Nando Iannicca, Peel Region 

    High-res images of the DE piping system and rendering of the centre can be found HERE.

    Media Contacts:

    City of Mississauga Media Relations
    media@mississauga.ca
    905-615-3200, ext. 5232
    TTY: 905-896-5151

    Amie Miles, Manager, Strategic Client Communications
    Amie.miles@peelregion.ca
    416-209-4317

    Enwave Energy Corporation
    Katie Good
    GoodPR
    416-540-2195
    katie@goodpr.ca

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc240327-bd37-414e-9670-213ee03188b2

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Trustco Reports Third Quarter 2024 Net Income of $12.9 Million; Skillful Application of Strong Fundamentals Produce Solid Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Executive Snapshot:

    • Average Loan portfolio continues to grow:
      • On average, total loans were up $127.0 million or 2.6% for the third quarter 2024 compared to the third quarter 2023
    • Continued solid financial results:
      • Key metrics for third quarter 2024:
        • Net income of $12.9 million versus $12.6 million for the second quarter 2024
        • Net interest income of $38.7 million, up from $37.8 million compared to the second quarter of 2024
        • Return on average equity (ROAE) of 7.74% versus 7.76% for the second quarter 2024
    • Capital continues to grow:
      • Consolidated equity to assets increased 6.2% to 10.95% as of September 30, 2024 from 10.31% as of September 30, 2023
      • Book value per share as of September 30, 2024 was $35.19, up from $34.46 compared to June 30, 2024

    GLENVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TrustCo, NASDAQ: TRST) today announced third quarter 2024 net income of $12.9 million or $0.68 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $14.7 million or $0.77 diluted earnings per share for the third quarter 2023; and net income of $37.6 million or $1.97 diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to net income of $48.9 million or $2.57 diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Average loans increased $127.0 million or 2.6% for the third quarter 2024 over the same period in 2023.   TrustCo was able to increase the balances of home equity lines of credit (HECLs) outstanding through an aggressive campaign to encourage existing customers to utilize their HECLs in place of the higher rates on other products.  The objective was to meet customer needs and encourage increased utilization through existing HECLs.

    Overview

    Chairman, President, and CEO, Robert J. McCormick said “Hard, consistent work on the fundamentals of banking once again have served the Trustco Bank team well and enabled us to post strong results under challenging circumstances. Our bankers posted one modest success after another – which accumulated into solid performance. We continued to hold the line on demand accounts and capitalized on strong customer relationships which enabled us to direct the flow into competitively-priced CDs, rather than to non-bank investment products. Not having to purchase expensive deposits or pay excessive rates, helped keep interest expense down, contributing to increased net interest income. We have continued to sell home equity products at favorable rates where origination of purchase mortgages lagged due to lack of sales volume. We booked these new loans at higher interest rates, also boosting net interest margin. Once again, loans reached a new all-time high. All of these efforts by our team resulted in net income of $12.9 million for the quarter.”

    Details

    Average loans were up $127.0 million or 2.6% in the third quarter 2024 over the same period in 2023. Average residential loans and home equity lines of credit, our primary lending focus, were up $50.4 million, or 1.2%, and $60.0 million, or 18.7%, respectively, in the third quarter 2024 over the same period in 2023. Average commercial loans also increased $18.1 million, or 6.9%, in the third quarter 2024 over the same period in 2023. Average deposits were up $15.3 million, or 0.3% for the third quarter 2024 over the same period in 2023. We believe the increase in time deposits compared to the prior year continues to reflect the desire of customers to have additional funds in the safety and security offered by TrustCo’s long history of conservative banking, while earning a competitive interest rate. As we move forward, the objective is to encourage customers to retain these additional funds in the expanded product offerings of Trustco Bank (the “Bank”) through aggressive marketing and product differentiation.

    Net interest income was $38.7 million for the third quarter 2024, an increase of $883 thousand, or 2.3%, compared to the prior quarter, driven by loan growth at higher interest rates and lower cost of deposits, partially offset by lower investment earnings and a decrease in interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments. The net interest margin for the third quarter 2024 was 2.61%, up 8 basis points from 2.53% in the second quarter of 2024. The yield on interest earnings assets increased to 4.11%, up 5 basis points from 4.06% in the second quarter of 2024. The cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased to 1.94% in the third quarter 2024 from 1.97% in the second quarter 2024. The Bank has seen success in retaining deposits while lowering the rates on time deposits, and still being competitive in the markets it serves. The Federal Reserve’s decision regarding whether to cut or hold rates in upcoming meetings will have an effect on the Bank’s ability to continue to manage deposit costs. Further reductions should help margin expansion in future quarters. Non-interest expense decreased $259 thousand over the prior quarter as a result of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to control expenses.

    Asset quality remains strong and has been consistent over the past twelve months. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $500 thousand in the third quarter of 2024, which is the result of a provision for credit losses on loans of $400 thousand, and provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments of $100 thousand. The ratio of allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans was 0.99% and 0.95% as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The allowance for credit losses on loans was $50.0 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $47.2 million at September 30, 2023. Nonperforming loans (NPLs) were $19.4 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $17.9 million at September 30, 2023. NPLs were 0.38% and 0.36% of total loans at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The coverage ratio, or allowance for credit losses on loans to NPLs, was 256.9% at September 30, 2024, compared to 264.2% at September 30, 2023. Nonperforming assets (NPAs) were $21.9 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $19.1 million at September 30, 2023.  

    At September 30, 2024, our equity to asset ratio was 10.95%, compared to 10.31% at September 30, 2023. Book value per share at September 30, 2024 was $35.19, up 7.3% compared to $32.80 a year earlier.

    A conference call to discuss third quarter 2024 results will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 22, 2024. Those wishing to participate in the call may dial toll-free for the United States at 1-833-470-1428, and for Canada at 1-833-950-0062, Access code 034120. A replay of the call will be available for thirty days by dialing toll-free for the United States at 1-866-813-9403, Access code 285814.   The call will also be audio webcast at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/854762065, and will be available for one year.

    About TrustCo Bank Corp NY

    TrustCo Bank Corp NY is a $6.1 billion savings and loan holding company and through its subsidiary, Trustco Bank, operated 138 offices in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida at September 30, 2024.

    In addition, the Bank’s Wealth Management Department offers a full range of investment services, retirement planning and trust and estate administration services. The common shares of TrustCo are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TRST.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future development, results or periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our expectations for our future performance, including our expectations regarding the effects of the economic environment on our financial results, our ability to retain customers and the amount of customers’ business, including deposit balances, with us, the impact of the Federal Reserve’s actions regarding interest rates, and the growth of loans and deposits throughout our branch network. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations as well as certain assumptions and estimates made by, and information available to, management at the time the statements are made. Such forward-looking statements are subject to factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for TrustCo from the views, beliefs and projections expressed in such statements, and many of the risks and uncertainties are heightened by or may, in the future, be heightened by volatility in financial markets and macroeconomic or geopolitical concerns related to inflation, continued elevated interest rates and ongoing armed conflicts (including the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas). TrustCo wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect TrustCo’s actual results and could cause TrustCo’s actual financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any forward-looking statement: future changes in interest rates; ongoing inflationary pressures and continued elevated prices; exposure to credit risk in our lending activities; our increasing commercial loan portfolio; the sufficiency of our allowance for credit losses on loans to cover actual loan losses; our ability to meet the cash flow requirements of our depositors or borrowers or meet our operating cash needs to fund corporate expansion and other activities; claims and litigation pertaining to fiduciary responsibility and lender liability; our dependency upon the services of the management team; our disclosure controls and procedures’ ability to prevent or detect errors or acts of fraud; the adequacy of our business continuity and disaster recovery plans; the effectiveness of our risk management framework; the impact of any expansion by us into new lines of business or new products and services; the impact of severe weather events and climate change on us and the communities we serve, including societal responses to climate change; increasing scrutiny and evolving expectations from customers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders with respect to our environmental, social and governance practices; the chance of a prolonged economic downturn, especially one affecting our geographic market area; instability in global economic conditions and geopolitical matters, as well as volatility in financial markets; the soundness of other financial institutions; U.S. government shutdowns, credit rating downgrades, or failure to increase the debt ceiling; fluctuations in the trust wealth management fees we receive as a result of investment performance; the impact of regulatory capital rules on our growth; changes in laws and regulations, including changes in cybersecurity or privacy regulations; restrictions on data collection and use; our compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, Bank Secrecy Act, and other laws and regulations that could result in material fines or sanctions; changes in tax laws; limitations on our ability to pay dividends; TrustCo Realty Corp.’s ability to qualify as a real estate investment trust; changes in accounting standards; competition within our market areas; consumers and businesses’ use of non-banks to complete financial transactions; our reliance on third-party service providers; the impact of data breaches and cyber-attacks; the impact of a failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties; the impact of an unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or customer information; the impact of interruptions in the effective operation of our computer systems; the impact of anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents; the impact of the manner in which we allocate capital; and other risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and, if any, in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or other securities filings. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent TrustCo management’s judgment as of the date of this news release. TrustCo disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements, either as a result of future developments, new information or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

     
    TRUSTCO BANK CORP NY
    GLENVILLE, NY
             
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
             
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
        Three months ended        
        9/30/2024   6/30/2024   9/30/2023        
    Summary of operations                    
    Net interest income   $ 38,671     $ 37,788     $ 42,221              
    Provision for credit losses     500       500       100          
    Net gains on equity securities     23       1,360       –          
    Noninterest income, excluding net gains on equity securities     4,908       4,291       4,574          
    Noninterest expense     26,200       26,459       27,460          
    Net income     12,875       12,551       14,680          
                         
    Per share                    
    Net income per share:                    
    – Basic   $ 0.68     $ 0.66     $ 0.77          
    – Diluted     0.68       0.66       0.77          
    Cash dividends     0.36       0.36       0.36          
    Book value at period end     35.19       34.46       32.80              
    Market price at period end     33.07       28.77       27.29          
                         
    At period end                    
    Full time equivalent employees     735       753       764          
    Full service banking offices     138       138       143          
                         
    Performance ratios                    
    Return on average assets     0.84   %   0.82   %   0.96   %      
    Return on average equity     7.74       7.76       9.32          
    Efficiency ratio (1)     59.65       62.84       58.33          
    Net interest spread     2.17       2.09       2.55          
    Net interest margin     2.61       2.53       2.85          
    Dividend payout ratio     53.16       54.57       46.65              
                             
    Capital ratios at period end                        
    Consolidated equity to assets     10.95   %   10.73   %   10.31   %          
    Consolidated tangible equity to tangible assets (2)     10.94   %   10.72   %   10.30   %      
                         
    Asset quality analysis at period end                    
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     0.38   %   0.38   %   0.36   %      
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.36       0.35       0.31          
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans     0.99       0.99       0.95          
    Coverage ratio (3)   2.6x   2.6x   2.6x        
                         
                         
    (1) Non-GAAP measure; calculated as noninterest expense (excluding ORE expense) divided by taxable equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income (excluding net gains on equity securities).
    See Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation.
    (2) Non-GAAP measure; calculated as total shareholders’ equity less $553 of intangible assets divided by total assets less $553 of intangible assets. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation.
    (3) Calculated as allowance for credit losses on loans divided by total nonperforming loans.
                         
                         
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, Continued
               
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
        Nine Months Ended            
        09/30/24   09/30/23            
    Summary of operations                    
    Net interest income $   113,037       133,238              
    Provision (Credit) for credit losses     1,600       (100 )            
    Net gains on equity securities     1,383       –              
    Noninterest income, excluding net gains on equity securities     14,042       13,841              
    Noninterest expense     77,562       82,466              
    Net income     37,552       48,798              
                         
    Per share                    
    Net income per share:                    
    – Basic $   1.97       2.57              
    – Diluted     1.97       2.57              
    Cash dividends     1.08       1.08              
    Book value at period end     35.19       32.80              
    Market price at period end     33.07       27.29              
                         
    Performance ratios                    
    Return on average assets     0.82   %   1.08              
    Return on average equity     7.68       10.57                  
    Efficiency ratio (1)     60.80       55.70                  
    Net interest spread     2.08       2.78                  
    Net interest margin     2.52       3.01            
    Dividend payout ratio     54.70       42.11                  
                             
    (1) Non-GAAP measure; calculated as noninterest expense (excluding ORE expense) divided by taxable equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income (excluding net gains on equity securities).
    See Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation.
                         
                         
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                         
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
        Three months ended
        9/30/2024   6/30/2024   3/31/2024   12/31/2023   9/30/2023
    Interest and dividend income:                    
    Interest and fees on loans   $ 52,112     $ 50,660     $ 49,804     $ 49,201     $ 47,921  
    Interest and dividends on securities available for sale:                    
    U. S. government sponsored enterprises     718       909       906       750       672  
    State and political subdivisions     –       1       –       1       –  
    Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage                    
    obligations – residential     1,397       1,451       1,494       1,533       1,485  
    Corporate bonds     361       362       476       477       473  
    Small Business Administration – guaranteed                    
    participation securities     90       94       100       102       107  
    Other securities     2       2       3       3       2  
    Total interest and dividends on securities available for sale     2,568       2,819       2,979       2,866       2,739  
                         
    Interest on held to maturity securities:                    
    Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage                    
    obligations – residential     62       65       68       70       73  
    Total interest on held to maturity securities     62       65       68       70       73  
                         
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock     153       147       152       149       131  
                         
    Interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments     6,174       6,894       6,750       6,354       6,688  
    Total interest income     61,069       60,585       59,753       58,640       57,552  
                         
    Interest expense:                    
    Interest on deposits:                    
    Interest-bearing checking     311       288       240       165       102  
    Savings     770       675       712       707       639  
    Money market deposit accounts     2,154       2,228       2,342       2,500       2,384  
    Time deposits     18,969       19,400       19,677       16,460       11,962  
    Interest on short-term borrowings     194       206       204       201       244  
    Total interest expense     22,398       22,797       23,175       20,033       15,331  
                         
    Net interest income     38,671       37,788       36,578       38,607       42,221  
                         
    Less: Provision for credit losses     500       500       600       1,350       100  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses     38,171       37,288       35,978       37,257       42,121  
                         
    Noninterest income:                    
    Trustco Financial Services income     2,044       1,609       1,816       1,612       1,627  
    Fees for services to customers     2,482       2,399       2,745       2,563       2,590  
    Net gains on equity securities     23       1,360       –       –       –  
    Other     382       283       282       299       357  
    Total noninterest income     4,931       5,651       4,843       4,474       4,574  
                         
    Noninterest expenses:                    
    Salaries and employee benefits     12,134       12,520       11,427       12,444       12,393  
    Net occupancy expense     4,271       4,375       4,611       4,209       4,358  
    Equipment expense     1,757       1,990       1,738       1,852       1,923  
    Professional services     1,863       1,570       1,460       1,561       1,717  
    Outsourced services     2,551       2,755       2,501       2,532       2,720  
    Advertising expense     339       466       408       384       586  
    FDIC and other insurance     1,112       797       1,094       1,085       1,078  
    Other real estate expense (income), net     204       16       74       (12 )     163  
    Other     1,969       1,970       1,590       4,776       2,522  
    Total noninterest expenses     26,200       26,459       24,903       28,831       27,460  
                         
    Income before taxes     16,902       16,480       15,918       12,900       19,235  
    Income taxes     4,027       3,929       3,792       3,052       4,555  
                         
    Net income   $ 12,875     $ 12,551     $ 12,126     $ 9,848     $ 14,680  
                         
    Net income per common share:                    
    – Basic   $ 0.68     $ 0.66     $ 0.64     $ 0.52     $ 0.77  
                         
    – Diluted     0.68       0.66       0.64       0.52       0.77  
                         
    Average basic shares (in thousands)     19,010       19,022       19,024       19,024       19,024  
    Average diluted shares (in thousands)     19,036       19,033       19,032       19,026       19,024  
                         
                         
                         
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, Continued
               
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
        Nine Months Ended            
        09/30/24   09/30/23            
    Interest and dividend income:                        
    Interest and fees on loans $   152,576       138,255                  
    Interest and dividends on securities available for sale:                        
    U. S. government sponsored enterprises     2,533       2,055                  
    State and political subdivisions     1       1                  
    Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage                        
    obligations – residential     4,342       4,613                  
    Corporate bonds     1,199       1,510                  
    Small Business Administration – guaranteed                        
    participation securities     284       335                  
    Other securities     7       7                  
    Total interest and dividends on securities available for sale     8,366       8,521                  
                         
    Interest on held to maturity securities:                    
    Mortgage-backed securities-residential     195       226                  
    Total interest on held to maturity securities     195       226                  
                         
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock     452       351                  
                         
    Interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments     19,818       20,213                  
    Total interest income     181,407       167,566                  
                         
    Interest expense:                    
    Interest on deposits:                    
    Interest-bearing checking     839       217                  
    Savings     2,157       1,824                  
    Money market deposit accounts     6,724       4,954                  
    Time deposits     58,046       26,525                  
    Interest on short-term borrowings     604       808                  
    Total interest expense     68,370       34,328                  
                         
    Net interest income     113,037       133,238                  
                         
    Less: Provision (Credit) for credit losses     1,600       (100 )                
    Net interest income after provision (credit) for credit losses     111,437       133,338                  
                         
    Noninterest income:                    
    Trustco Financial Services income     5,469       4,813                  
    Fees for services to customers     7,626       8,085                  
    Net gains on equity securities     1,383       –                  
    Other     947       943                  
    Total noninterest income     15,425       13,841                  
                         
    Noninterest expenses:                    
    Salaries and employee benefits     36,081       38,798                  
    Net occupancy expense     13,257       13,218                  
    Equipment expense     5,485       5,758                  
    Professional services     4,893       4,684                  
    Outsourced services     7,807       7,507                  
    Advertising expense     1,213       1,494                  
    FDIC and other insurance     3,003       3,215                  
    Other real estate expense, net     294       536                  
    Other     5,529       7,256                  
    Total noninterest expenses     77,562       82,466                  
                         
    Income before taxes     49,300       64,713                  
    Income taxes     11,748       15,915                  
                         
    Net income $   37,552       48,798                      
                             
    Net income per common share:                    
    – Basic $   1.97       2.57              
                         
    – Diluted     1.97       2.57              
                         
    Average basic shares (in thousands)     19,019       19,024              
    Average diluted shares (in thousands)     19,034       19,024              
                         
                         
                         
                         
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
     
    (dollars in thousands)
    (Unaudited)
        9/30/2024   6/30/2024   3/31/2024   12/31/2023   9/30/2023
    ASSETS:                    
                         
    Cash and due from banks   $ 49,659     $ 42,193     $ 44,868     $ 49,274     $ 45,940  
    Federal funds sold and other short term investments     473,306       493,920       564,815       528,730       461,321  
    Total cash and cash equivalents     522,965       536,113       609,683       578,004       507,261  
                       
    Securities available for sale:                  
    U. S. government sponsored enterprises     90,588       106,796       128,854       118,668       121,474  
    States and political subdivisions     26       26       26       26       34  
    Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage                  
    obligations – residential     222,841       218,311       227,078       237,677       233,719  
    Small Business Administration – guaranteed                    
    participation securities     15,171       15,592       16,260       17,186       17,316  
    Corporate bonds     54,327       53,764       53,341       78,052       76,935  
    Other securities     701       688       682       680       657  
    Total securities available for sale     383,654       395,177       426,241       452,289       450,135  
                         
    Held to maturity securities:                    
    Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage                    
    obligations-residential     5,636       5,921       6,206       6,458       6,724  
    Total held to maturity securities     5,636       5,921       6,206       6,458       6,724  
                         
    Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock     6,507       6,507       6,203       6,203       6,203  
                       
    Loans:                  
    Commercial     280,261       282,441       279,092       273,515       268,642  
    Residential mortgage loans     4,382,674       4,370,640       4,354,369       4,365,063       4,343,006  
    Home equity line of credit     393,418       370,063       355,879       347,415       332,028  
    Installment loans     14,503       15,168       16,166       16,886       16,605  
    Loans, net of deferred net costs     5,070,856       5,038,312       5,005,506       5,002,879       4,960,281  
                       
    Less: Allowance for credit losses on loans     49,950       49,772       49,220       48,578       47,226  
    Net loans     5,020,906       4,988,540       4,956,286       4,954,301       4,913,055  
                         
    Bank premises and equipment, net     33,324       33,466       33,423       34,007       32,135  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets     37,958       38,376       39,647       40,542       41,475  
    Other assets     98,730       102,544       101,881       96,387       97,310  
                       
    Total assets   $ 6,109,680     $ 6,106,644     $ 6,179,570     $ 6,168,191     $ 6,054,298  
                       
    LIABILITIES:                  
    Deposits:                  
    Demand   $ 753,878     $ 745,227     $ 742,997     $ 754,532     $ 773,293  
    Interest-bearing checking     988,527       1,029,606       1,020,136       1,015,213       1,033,898  
    Savings accounts     1,092,038       1,144,427       1,155,517       1,179,241       1,235,658  
    Money market deposit accounts     477,113       517,445       532,611       565,767       610,012  
    Time deposits     1,952,635       1,840,262       1,903,908       1,836,024       1,581,504  
    Total deposits     5,264,191       5,276,967       5,355,169       5,350,777       5,234,365  
                       
    Short-term borrowings     91,450       89,720       94,374       88,990       103,110  
    Operating lease liabilities     41,469       42,026       43,438       44,471       45,418  
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities     43,549       42,763       37,399       38,668       47,479  
                       
    Total liabilities     5,440,659       5,451,476       5,530,380       5,522,906       5,430,372  
                       
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                  
    Capital stock     20,058       20,058       20,058       20,058       20,058  
    Surplus     257,644       257,490       257,335       257,181       257,078  
    Undivided profits     442,079       436,048       430,346       425,069       422,082  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (6,600 )     (14,268 )     (14,763 )     (13,237 )     (31,506 )
    Treasury stock at cost     (44,160 )     (44,160 )     (43,786 )     (43,786 )     (43,786 )
                       
    Total shareholders’ equity     669,021       655,168       649,190       645,285       623,926  
                         
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 6,109,680     $ 6,106,644     $ 6,179,570     $ 6,168,191     $ 6,054,298  
                         
    Outstanding shares (in thousands)     19,010       19,010       19,024       19,024       19,024  
                         
     
    NONPERFORMING ASSETS
                 
    (dollars in thousands)
    (Unaudited)
        9/30/2024 6/30/2024 3/31/2024 12/31/2023 9/30/2023
    Nonperforming Assets            
                 
    New York and other states*            
    Loans in nonaccrual status:            
    Commercial   $ 466   $ 741   $ 532   $ 536   $ 540  
    Real estate mortgage – 1 to 4 family     15,320     14,992     14,359     14,375     14,633  
    Installment     163     131     149     151     93  
    Total non-accrual loans     15,949     15,864     15,040     15,062     15,266  
    Other nonperforming real estate mortgages – 1 to 4 family     –     –     –     3     5  
    Total nonperforming loans     15,949     15,864     15,040     15,065     15,271  
    Other real estate owned     2,503     2,334     2,334     194     1,185  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 18,452   $ 18,198   $ 17,374   $ 15,259   $ 16,456  
                 
    Florida            
    Loans in nonaccrual status:            
    Commercial   $ 314   $ 314   $ 314   $ 314   $ 314  
    Real estate mortgage – 1 to 4 family     3,176     2,985     2,921     2,272     2,228  
    Installment     5     22     –     15     65  
    Total non-accrual loans     3,495     3,321     3,235     2,601     2,607  
    Other nonperforming real estate mortgages – 1 to 4 family     –     –     –     –     –  
    Total nonperforming loans     3,495     3,321     3,235     2,601     2,607  
    Other real estate owned     –     –     –     –     –  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 3,495   $ 3,321   $ 3,235   $ 2,601   $ 2,607  
                 
    Total            
    Loans in nonaccrual status:            
    Commercial   $ 780   $ 1,055   $ 846   $ 850   $ 854  
    Real estate mortgage – 1 to 4 family     18,496     17,977     17,280     16,647     16,861  
    Installment     168     153     149     166     158  
    Total non-accrual loans     19,444     19,185     18,275     17,663     17,873  
    Other nonperforming real estate mortgages – 1 to 4 family     –     –     –     3     5  
    Total nonperforming loans     19,444     19,185     18,275     17,666     17,878  
    Other real estate owned     2,503     2,334     2,334     194     1,185  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 21,947   $ 21,519   $ 20,609   $ 17,860   $ 19,063  
                 
                 
    Quarterly Net (Recoveries) Chargeoffs            
                 
    New York and other states*            
    Commercial   $ 65   $ –   $ –   $ –   $ –  
    Real estate mortgage – 1 to 4 family     104     (74 )   (78 )   219     (26 )
    Installment     11     (2 )   36     23     14  
    Total net (recoveries) chargeoffs   $ 180   $ (76 ) $ (42 ) $ 242   $ (12 )
                 
    Florida            
    Commercial   $ –   $ –   $ –   $ –   $ –  
    Real estate mortgage – 1 to 4 family     –     17     –     –     –  
    Installment     42     7     –     6     –  
    Total net (recoveries) chargeoffs   $ 42   $ 24   $ –   $ 6   $ –  
                 
    Total            
    Commercial   $ 65   $ –   $ –   $ –   $ –  
    Real estate mortgage – 1 to 4 family     104     (57 )   (78 )   219     (26 )
    Installment     53     5     36     29     14  
    Total net (recoveries) chargeoffs   $ 222   $ (52 ) $ (42 ) $ 248   $ (12 )
                 
                 
    Asset Quality Ratios            
                 
    Total nonperforming loans (1)   $ 19,444   $ 19,185   $ 18,275   $ 17,666   $ 17,878  
    Total nonperforming assets (1)     21,947     21,519     20,609     17,860     19,063  
    Total net (recoveries) chargeoffs (2)     222     (52 )   (42 )   248     (12 )
                 
    Allowance for credit losses on loans (1)     49,950     49,772     49,220     48,578     47,226  
                 
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     0.38 %   0.38 %   0.37 %   0.35 %   0.36 %
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.36 %   0.35 %   0.33 %   0.29 %   0.31 %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans     0.99 %   0.99 %   0.98 %   0.97 %   0.95 %
    Coverage ratio (1)     256.9 %   259.4 %   269.3 %   275.0 %   264.2 %
    Annualized net (recoveries) chargeoffs to average loans (2)     0.02 %   0.00 %   0.00 %   0.02 %   0.00 %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to annualized net chargeoffs (2)   56.3x N/A N/A 49.0x N/A
     
    * Includes New York, New Jersey, Vermont and Massachusetts.
    (1) At period-end
    (2) For the three-month period ended
                 
     
    DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY –
    INTEREST RATES AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL
     
    (dollars in thousands)                        
    (Unaudited)   Three months ended     Three months ended  
        September 30, 2024     September 30, 2023  
        Average   Interest Average     Average   Interest Average  
        Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate  
    Assets                        
                             
    Securities available for sale:                        
    U. S. government sponsored enterprises   $ 95,073     $ 718 3.02 %   $ 119,406     $ 672 2.25 %
    Mortgage backed securities and collateralized mortgage                        
    obligations – residential     241,792       1,397 2.29       269,535       1,485 2.19  
    State and political subdivisions     26       – 6.75       34       – 6.74  
    Corporate bonds     55,041       361 2.63       80,331       473 2.36  
    Small Business Administration – guaranteed                        
    participation securities     16,663       90 2.15       19,801       107 2.15  
    Other     701       2 1.14       686       2 1.17  
                             
    Total securities available for sale     409,296       2,568 2.51       489,793       2,739 2.24  
                             
    Federal funds sold and other short-term Investments     465,922       6,174 5.27       494,597       6,688 5.37  
                             
    Held to maturity securities:                        
    Mortgage backed securities and collateralized mortgage                        
    obligations – residential     5,779       62 4.29       6,877       73 4.22  
                             
    Total held to maturity securities     5,779       62 4.29       6,877       73 4.22  
                             
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock     6,507       153 9.41       6,203       131 8.45  
                             
    Commercial loans     279,199       3,807 5.45       261,061       3,398 5.21  
    Residential mortgage loans     4,375,641       41,811 3.82       4,325,219       39,321 3.64  
    Home equity lines of credit     380,422       6,245 6.53       320,446       4,946 6.12  
    Installment loans     14,443       249 6.87       15,959       256 6.37  
                             
    Loans, net of unearned income     5,049,705       52,112 4.12       4,922,685       47,921 3.89  
                             
    Total interest earning assets     5,937,209     $ 61,069 4.11       5,920,155     $ 57,552 3.88  
                             
    Allowance for credit losses on loans     (49,973 )             (47,077 )        
    Cash & non-interest earning assets     187,166               172,523          
                             
                             
    Total assets   $ 6,074,402             $ 6,045,601          
                             
                             
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity                        
                             
    Deposits:                        
    Interest bearing checking accounts   $ 1,000,333     $ 311 0.12 %   $ 1,050,313     $ 102 0.04 %
    Money market accounts     499,408       2,154 1.72       625,031       2,384 1.51  
    Savings     1,122,673       770 0.27       1,282,641       639 0.20  
    Time deposits     1,880,021       18,969 4.01       1,494,402       11,962 3.18  
                             
    Total interest bearing deposits     4,502,435       22,204 1.96       4,452,387       15,087 1.34  
    Short-term borrowings     87,677       194 0.88       110,018       244 0.88  
                             
    Total interest bearing liabilities     4,590,112     $ 22,398 1.94       4,562,405     $ 15,331 1.33  
                             
    Demand deposits     742,164               776,885          
    Other liabilities     80,502               81,411          
    Shareholders’ equity     661,624               624,900          
                             
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 6,074,402             $ 6,045,601          
                             
    Net interest income, GAAP and non-GAAP tax equivalent (1)       $ 38,671           $ 42,221    
                             
    Net interest spread, GAAP and non-GAAP tax equivalent (1)         2.17 %         2.55 %
                             
                             
    Net interest margin (net interest income to                        
    total interest earning assets), GAAP and non-GAAP tax equivalent (1)       2.61 %         2.85 %
                             
    Tax equivalent adjustment (1)         –             –    
                             
                             
    Net interest income       $ 38,671           $ 42,221    
                             
    (1) Tax equivalent adjustment to a measure results in a non-GAAP financial measure. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation.
                             
                             
                             
    DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY –
    INTEREST RATES AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL, Continued
                             
    (dollars in thousands)                        
    (Unaudited)   Nine Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
        September 30, 2024     September 30, 2023  
        Average   Interest Average     Average   Interest Average  
        Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate  
    Assets                        
                             
    Securities available for sale:                        
    U. S. government sponsored enterprises $   111,570       2,533 3.03 % $   120,243       2,055 2.28 %
    Mortgage backed securities and collateralized mortgage                        
    obligations – residential     250,343       4,342 2.31       278,252       4,613 2.21  
    State and political subdivisions     26       1 6.80       34       1 6.74  
    Corporate bonds     61,221       1,199 2.61       83,732       1,510 2.41  
    Small Business Administration – guaranteed                        
    participation securities     17,438       284 2.17       20,876       335 2.14  
    Other     697       7 1.34       686       7 1.02  
                             
    Total securities available for sale     441,295       8,366 2.53       503,823       8,521 1.69  
                             
    Federal funds sold and other short-term Investments     489,934       19,818 5.40       540,570       20,213 5.00  
                             
    Held to maturity securities:                        
    Mortgage backed securities and collateralized mortgage                        
    obligations – residential     6,053       195 4.29       7,205       226 4.18  
                             
    Total held to maturity securities     6,053       195 4.29       7,205       226 4.18  
                             
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock     6,350       452 9.49       5,957       351 5.89  
                             
    Commercial loans     278,981       11,232 5.37       249,738       9,716 5.19  
    Residential mortgage loans     4,364,821       123,046 3.76       4,269,494       114,227 3.57  
    Home equity lines of credit     365,932       17,522 6.40       305,075       13,598 5.96  
    Installment loans     15,319       776 6.76       15,015       714 6.35  
                             
    Loans, net of unearned income     5,025,053       152,576 4.05       4,839,322       138,255 3.81  
                             
    Total interest earning assets     5,968,685       181,407 4.05       5,896,877       167,566 3.79  
                             
    Allowance for credit losses on loans     (49,419 )             (46,812 )        
    Cash & non-interest earning assets     187,963               173,521          
                             
                             
    Total assets $   6,107,229           $   6,023,586          
                             
                             
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity                        
                             
    Deposits:                        
    Interest bearing checking accounts $   999,839       839 0.11 % $   1,088,859       217 0.03 %
    Money market accounts     522,636       6,724 1.72       613,119       4,954 1.08  
    Savings     1,142,313       2,157 0.25       1,363,052       1,824 0.18  
    Time deposits     1,881,027       58,046 4.12       1,343,762       26,525 2.64  
                             
    Total interest bearing deposits     4,545,815       67,766 1.99       4,408,792       33,520 1.02  
    Short-term borrowings     91,551       604 0.88       121,911       808 0.89  
                             
    Total interest bearing liabilities     4,637,366       68,370 1.97       4,530,703       34,328 1.01  
                             
    Demand deposits     734,604               793,890          
    Other liabilities     82,233               81,771          
    Shareholders’ equity     653,026               617,224          
                             
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $   6,107,229           $   6,023,588          
                             
    Net interest income, GAAP and non-GAAP tax equivalent (1)         113,037             133,238    
                             
    Net interest spread, GAAP and non-GAAP tax equivalent (1)         2.08 %         2.78 %
                             
                             
    Net interest margin (net interest income to                        
    total interest earning assets), GAAP and non-GAAP tax equivalent (1)       2.52 %         3.01 %
                             
    Tax equivalent adjustment (1)         –             –    
                             
                             
    Net interest income         113,037             133,238    
                             
    (1) Tax equivalent adjustment to a measure results in a non-GAAP financial measure. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation.
                             

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation

    Tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate tangible book value by excluding the balance of intangible assets from total shareholders’ equity divided by shares outstanding. We believe that this is consistent with the treatment by bank regulatory agencies, which exclude intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios. Additionally, we believe that this measure is important to many investors in the marketplace who are interested in relative changes from period to period in equity exclusive of changes in intangible assets.

    Tangible equity as a percentage of tangible assets at period end is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate tangible equity and tangible assets by excluding the balance of intangible assets from total shareholders’ equity and total assets, respectively. We calculate tangible equity as a percentage of tangible assets at period end by dividing tangible equity by tangible assets at period end. We believe that this is consistent with the treatment by bank regulatory agencies, which exclude intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios. Additionally, we believe that this measure is important to many investors in the marketplace who are interested in relative changes from period to period in equity and total assets, each exclusive of changes in intangible assets.

    Net interest income is commonly presented on a taxable equivalent basis. That is, to the extent that some component of the institution’s net interest income will be exempt from taxation (e.g., was received by the institution as a result of its holdings of state or municipal obligations), an amount equal to the tax benefit derived from that component is added back to the net interest income total. Management considers this adjustment helpful to investors in comparing one financial institution’s net interest income (pre- tax) to that of another institution, as each will have a different proportion of tax-exempt items in their portfolios. Moreover, net interest income is itself a component of another financial measure commonly used by financial institutions, net interest margin, which is the ratio of net interest income to average interest earning assets. Additionally, management and many financial institutions also present net interest spread, which is the average yield on interest earning assets minus the average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities. For purposes of these measures as well, taxable equivalent net interest income is generally used by financial institutions, again to provide investors with a better basis of comparison from institution to institution. We calculate taxable equivalent net interest margin by dividing net interest income, adjusted to include the benefit of non-taxable interest income, by average interest earning assets. We calculate taxable equivalent net interest spread as the difference between average yield on interest earning assets, adjusted to include the benefit of non-taxable interest income, and the average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities.

    The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure of expense control relative to revenue from net interest income and non-interest fee income. We calculate the efficiency ratio by dividing total noninterest expenses as determined under GAAP, excluding other real estate expense, net, by net interest income (fully taxable equivalent) and total noninterest income as determined under GAAP, excluding net gains on equity securities. We believe that this provides a reasonable measure of primary banking expenses relative to primary banking revenue. Additionally, we believe this measure is important to investors looking for a measure of efficiency in our productivity measured by the amount of revenue generated for each dollar spent.

    We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide information that is important to investors and that is useful in understanding our financial results. Our management internally assesses our performance based, in part, on these measures. However, these non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and not a substitute for an analysis based on GAAP measures. As other companies may use different calculations for these measures, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures of tangible equity as a percentage of tangible assets, and efficiency ratio to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is set forth below. We have not presented a reconciliation of taxable equivalent net interest income, taxable equivalent net interest margin or taxable equivalent net interest spread to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, as there was no difference between the taxable equivalent measure and comparable GAAP measure for any period presented in this release.

     
    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES RECONCILIATION
                   
    (dollars in thousands)              
    (Unaudited)              
        9/30/2024 6/30/2024 9/30/2023      
    Tangible Book Value Per Share              
                   
    Equity (GAAP)   $ 669,021   $ 655,168   $ 623,926        
    Less: Intangible assets     553     553     553        
    Tangible equity (Non-GAAP)   $ 668,468   $ 654,615   $ 623,373        
                   
    Shares outstanding     19,010     19,010     19,024        
    Tangible book value per share     35.16     34.44     32.77        
    Book value per share     35.19     34.46     32.80        
                   
    Tangible Equity to Tangible Assets              
    Total Assets (GAAP)   $ 6,109,680   $ 6,106,644   $ 6,054,298        
    Less: Intangible assets     553     553     553        
    Tangible assets (Non-GAAP)   $ 6,109,127   $ 6,106,091   $ 6,053,745        
                   
    Tangible Equity to Tangible Assets (Non-GAAP)     10.94 %   10.72 %   10.30 %      
    Equity to Assets (GAAP)     10.95 %   10.73 %   10.31 %      
                   
        Three months ended   Nine Months Ended
    Efficiency Ratio   9/30/2024 6/30/2024 9/30/2023   9/30/2024 9/30/2023
                   
    Net interest income (GAAP)   $ 38,671   $ 37,788   $ 42,221     $ 113,037   $ 133,238  
    Taxable equivalent adjustment     –     –     –       –     –  
    Net interest income (fully taxable equivalent) (Non-GAAP)     38,671     37,788     42,221       113,037     133,238  
    Non-interest income (GAAP)     4,931     5,651     4,574       15,425     13,841  
    Less: Net gains on equity securities     23     1,360     –       1,383     –  
    Revenue used for efficiency ratio (Non-GAAP)   $ 43,579   $ 42,079   $ 46,795     $ 127,079   $ 147,079  
                   
    Total noninterest expense (GAAP)   $ 26,200   $ 26,459   $ 27,460     $ 77,562   $ 82,466  
    Less: Other real estate expense, net     204     16     163       294     536  
    Expense used for efficiency ratio (Non-GAAP)   $ 25,996   $ 26,443   $ 27,297     $ 77,268   $ 81,930  
                   
    Efficiency Ratio     59.65 %   62.84 %   58.33 %     60.80 %   55.70 %
                   
       
    Subsidiary: Trustco Bank
       
    Contact: Robert Leonard
    Executive Vice President
    (518) 381-3693

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: TAG Oil Announces $10 Million Overnight Marketed Public Offering of Units to Strategically Advance Unconventional and Conventional Opportunities in Egypt

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TAG Oil Ltd. (TSXV:TAO, OTCQX:TAOIF, and FSE:TOP) (“TAG Oil” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has filed a preliminary short form prospectus (“Preliminary Prospectus”) with the securities commissions in all provinces of Canada, except Québec, in connection with an overnight marketed public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company (the “Units”) at a price of $0.21 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of C$10,000,000.

    Certain members of management and directors of the Company intend to participate alongside investors in the Offering.

    The Offering is being led by Research Capital Corporation, as lead underwriter and sole-bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”).

    Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (“Common Share”) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share (a “Warrant Share”) at an exercise price equal to $0.30 per Warrant Share at any time up to 24 months following the closing of the Offering.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to advance appraisal and development activities in the Western Desert, Egypt, at both the Badr Oil Field and strategic new 512,000-acre concession and for working capital and general corporate purposes. Activities to be advanced with the proceeds include executing re-entry work on multiple existing wells to recomplete and/or drill a sidetrack into existing conventional oil reservoirs, the drilling of new vertical delineation wells in the unconventional Abu Roash “F” (ARF) resource play targeting high intensity natural fractured areas, and the planning of the next horizontal well with multi-stage frac.

    In addition, the Company plans to also complete a third-party resource report on the new strategic 512,000-acre concession that is in the process of being acquired and conduct a potential strategic joint venture partnership process.

    The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable in whole or in part, at the sole discretion of the Underwriters, at any time, from time to time, for a period of 30 days from and including the closing of the Offering, to purchase from the Company up to an additional 15% of the Units sold under the Offering, and/or the components thereof, on the same terms and conditions of the Offering to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes.

    The Offering is expected to be priced in context of the market, with the final price of the Units and final exercise price of the Warrants to be determined at the time of pricing.

    The Offering is expected to close on or about the week of November 11, 2024, or such other date as the Company and the Underwriters may agree. Closing of the Offering is subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the securities regulatory authorities and the TSX Venture Exchange.

    The Units are being offered in each of the provinces of Canada (except Québec) and may be offered in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to an appropriate exemption from the registration requirements under applicable U.S. law, and outside of Canada and the United States on a private placement or equivalent basis. The Preliminary Prospectus is available on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.ca and may be obtained from Research Capital Corporation at ecm@researchcapital.com. The Preliminary Prospectus contains important information about the Company and the Offering. Prospective investors should read the Preliminary Prospectus and other documents the Company has filed before making an investment decision.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

    About TAG Oil Ltd.

    TAG Oil (http://www.tagoil.com/) is a Canadian based international oil and gas exploration company with a focus on operations and opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa.

    For further information:

    Toby Pierce, Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: 1 604 609 3355

    Email: info@tagoil.com
    Website: http://www.tagoil.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tag-oil-ltd
    X: https://twitter.com/tagoilltd

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

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release includes certain statements and information that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the completion of the Offering and the timing in respect thereof, the use of proceeds of the Offering, timely receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the proposed completion of a third party resource report.

    Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of TAG Oil. Such statements can generally, but not always, be identified by words such as “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “schedules”, “prepares”, “potential” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur. All statements that describe the Company’s plans relating to operations and potential strategic opportunities are forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and are reliant on assumptions made by the Company’s management, and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking information, actual results could materially differ from those currently projected, and there is no representation by TAG Oil that the actual results realized in the future will be the same in whole or in part as those presented herein. TAG Oil disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. Readers are referred to the additional information regarding TAG Oil’s business contained in TAG Oil’s reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on TAG Oil and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review TAG Oil’s filings that are available at http://www.sedarplus.ca.

    TAG Oil provides no assurance that forward-looking statements and information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

    Exploration for hydrocarbons is a speculative venture necessarily involving substantial risk. The Company’s future success in exploiting and increasing its current reserve base will depend on its ability to develop its current properties and on its ability to discover and acquire properties or prospects that are capable of commercial production. However, there is no assurance that the Company’s future exploration and development efforts will result in the discovery or development of additional commercial accumulations of oil and natural gas.

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Monroe Capital Corporation Schedules Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monroe Capital Corporation (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: MRCC) announced today that it will report its third quarter ended September 30, 2024 financial results on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, after the close of the financial markets.

    The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss these operating and financial results on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The webcast will be hosted on a webcast link located in the Investor Relations section of our website at http://ir.monroebdc.com/events.cfm. To participate in the conference call, please dial (800) 715-9871 approximately 10 minutes prior to the call. Please reference conference ID # 5769748. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, the webcast will be available for replay on the Company’s website approximately two hours after the event.

    About Monroe Capital Corporation

    Monroe Capital Corporation is a publicly-traded specialty finance company that principally invests in senior, unitranche and junior secured debt and, to a lesser extent, unsecured debt and equity investments in middle-market companies. The Company’s investment objective is to maximize the total return to its stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation. The Company’s investment activities are managed by its investment adviser, Monroe Capital BDC Advisors, LLC, which is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and an affiliate of Monroe Capital LLC. To learn more about Monroe Capital Corporation, visit http://www.monroebdc.com.

    About Monroe Capital LLC

    Monroe Capital LLC (including its subsidiaries and affiliates, together “Monroe”) is a premier asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, alternative credit, structured credit, real estate and equity. Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Monroe prides itself on being a value-added and user-friendly partner to business owners, management, and both private equity and independent sponsors. Monroe’s platform offers a wide variety of investment products for both institutional and high net worth investors with a focus on generating high quality “alpha” returns irrespective of business or economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and maintains 10 offices throughout the United States and Asia.

    Monroe has been recognized by both its peers and investors with various awards including Private Debt Investor as the 2023 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Decade, 2023 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Year, 2023 CLO Manager of the Year, Americas; Inc.’s 2023 Founder-Friendly Investors List; Global M&A Network as the 2023 Lower Mid-Markets Lender of the Year, U.S.A.; DealCatalyst as the 2022 Best CLO Manager of the Year; Korean Economic Daily as the 2022 Best Performance in Private Debt – Mid Cap; Creditflux as the 2021 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund; and Pension Bridge as the 2020 Private Credit Strategy of the Year. For more information and important disclaimers, please visit http://www.monroecap.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are likely to be affected by other unknowable future events and conditions, including elements of the future that are or are not under the Company’s control, and that the Company may or may not have considered; accordingly, such statements cannot be guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Actual developments and results are highly likely to vary materially from these estimates and projections of the future. Such statements speak only as of the time when made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any such statement now or in the future.

    SOURCE:          Monroe Capital Corporation

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Element Welcomes New Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Evelyne Roy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Element Fleet Management Corp. (TSX:EFN) (“Element” or the “Company”), the largest publicly traded, pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, is excited to announce the appointment of Evelyne Roy as its new Chief Data and Analytics Officer. In this role, Ms. Roy will be accountable for designing and building scalable data and analytics systems that enable insights and responsible AI to optimize business operations, drive growth, improve safety, and ensure an exceptional client experience. 

    “We are delighted to welcome Evelyne to the Element team,” said Laura Dottori-Attanasio, CEO, Element. “She is an adept data technology leader, whose extensive experience and passion for leveraging data to drive business success make her the ideal candidate for this role and delivering our Purpose to Move the world through intelligent mobility.”

    Ms. Roy, whose appointment is effective immediately, brings with her over 25 years of experience leading the data strategy, architecture, and distribution for data and analytics platforms, having previously held leadership roles at Thompson Reuters Corporation, as well as increasingly senior roles in the financial industry in both Australia and Canada. With a proven track record of utilizing data to drive business strategies and improve client experiences, Ms. Roy is a valuable addition to the Element team. This appointment reflects Element’s continued commitment to investing in the modernization of its digital capabilities to deliver increased value to its clients.

    “As a leader in fleet management, we recognize the importance of data and analytics in delivering efficient and effective solutions for our clients,” said Kobi Eisenberg, President Element Mobility and Autofleet. “We are confident that Evelyne will play a pivotal role in our ongoing commitment to providing best-in-class mobility solutions and ensuring we stay ahead of the evolving needs of our industry.”

    “I’m thrilled to join the Element team, and be a part of this Purpose-driven, client-centric organization,” said Ms. Roy. “Together, we are going to deliver data and digital-first solutions that meet and exceed our clients’ expectations.”

    About Element Fleet Management

    Element Fleet Management (TSX: EFN) is the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, providing the full range of fleet services and solutions to a growing base of loyal, world-class clients – corporations, governments, and not-for-profits – across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Element’s services address every aspect of clients’ fleet requirements, from vehicle acquisition, maintenance, accidents and remarketing, to integrating EVs and managing the complexity of gradual fleet electrification. Clients benefit from Element’s expertise as one of the largest fleet solutions providers in its markets, offering economies of scale and insight used to reduce fleet operating costs and improve productivity and performance. For more information, visit elementfleet.com/investor-relations.

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: North American Construction Group Ltd. Third Quarter Results Conference Call and Webcast Notification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ACHESON, Alberta, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — North American Construction Group Ltd. (“NACG” or “the Company”) (TSX:NOA.TO/NYSE:NOA) announced today that it will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 after markets close. Following the release of its financial results, NACG will hold a conference call and webcast on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. Mountain Time (9:00 a.m. Eastern Time).

    The call can be accessed by dialing:
    Toll free: 1-800-717-1738
    Conference ID: 86919

    A replay will be available through November 29, 2024, by dialing:
    Toll Free: 1-888-660-6264
    Conference ID: 86919
    Playback Passcode: 86919

    A slide deck for the webcast will be available for download the evening prior to the call and will be found on the company’s website at http://www.nacg.ca/presentations/

    The live presentation and webcast can be accessed at: North American Construction Group Ltd. Third Quarter Results Conference Call Registration (onlinexperiences.com)

    A replay will be available until November 29, 2024, using the link provided.

    About the Company

    North American Construction Group Ltd. is a premier provider of heavy civil construction and mining services in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. For over 70 years, NACG has provided services to the mining, resource and infrastructure construction markets.

    For further information, please contact:

    Jason Veenstra, CPA, CA
    Chief Financial Officer
    North American Construction Group Ltd.
    Phone: (780) 960-7171
    Email: ir@nacg.ca

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: To truly understand the health of a lake, you must look well beyond its shoreline

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Beatrix Beisner, Professor, Aquatic ecology, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

    On the surface, most of Canada’s lakes and rivers look pristine. But below the surface, many are facing essential challenges to their health. Why? To better understand the health of Canadian lakes and rivers, we must look beyond the site itself to the whole watershed.

    Canada’s freshwater streams, rivers and lakes are inherently connected ecosystems. Driven by precipitation and gravity, the flow of water changes across seasons and location. Connected waterflows form watersheds. A watershed is the combined area drained by a body of water, including groundwater aquifers.

    All human activity within a watershed that affects the quality of flowing water — including rain, snow, irrigation or groundwater — will have an impact upon all the water bodies in the system. Because of this, it is essential to monitor and regulate human activities in a lake’s watershed if its health and biodiversity are to be preserved.

    Disturbances can influence aquatic ecosystems even if they occur far away from the water’s edge, especially where large quantities of water flow rapidly. Simply put, what happens upstream, and on land, is as important to what is happening in the lake itself. What’s more, poor freshwater health can affect the health of the land within the watershed as well.


    Our lakes: their secrets and challenges, is a series produced by La Conversation/The Conversation.

    This article is part of our series Our lakes: their secrets and challenges. The Conversation and La Conversation invite you to take a fascinating dip in our lakes. With magnifying glasses, microscopes and diving goggles, our scientists scrutinize the biodiversity of our lakes and the processes that unfold in them, and tell us about the challenges they face. Don’t miss our articles on these incredibly rich bodies of water!


    In my research, I work to better understand lake, stream and river ecosystem functioning, biodiversity and health. This is of increasing importance as aquatic environments are affected by climate change. What is clear, is that to fully understand what is going on in a lake ecosystem, you need to look beyond its shoreline.

    Truly understanding how water flows within a watershed can empower us to act more responsibly and design more just and effective policies.

    Inconsistent boundaries

    Watershed boundaries, which are defined by landscape topography, often do not overlap nicely with political boundaries — with the Nile Basin being perhaps the most obvious example.

    Moreover, humans have long been manipulating water flows through dams and irrigation. Where we place our cities, agriculture, mines and forestry also often overlaps with more than one watershed or can overwhelm another.

    Recent work, as part of the Lake Pulse Network, has sampled over 650 lakes across Canada. This research demonstrated that only a four per cent to 12 per cent urbanization level within a watershed is enough to harm biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

    Urbanization is one of the most impactful ways in which humans affect watersheds. The reasons for this are likely down to hard infrastructure blocking the flow of water along with forestry and agriculture land conversions changing how water flows.

    The inescapable truth is that the health and function of a specific aquatic ecosystem is shaped by what happens on the land within that watershed as a whole. These system-wide influences are known as as “allochthonous” — as opposed to “autochthonous” (internal) interactions solely within a single waterbody.

    External influences (runoff) from the land can overwhelm a water body’s internal processes and, in some case, can even have negative impacts upon both fish health and the wider local food web.

    Climate change is also playing an increasingly outsized role in the lives of Canadian lakes. The most noticeable impacts of a warming world in Canada are forest fires of increasing severity and duration and ever more intense storms.

    These extreme events will cause more runoff into our lakes, potentially overwhelming them through nutrient overloading, salinization and other chemical shifts in the water quality.




    Read more:
    Sediment runoff from the land is killing NZ’s seas – it’s time to take action


    Managing water flows

    The connectivity between waterbodies within a watershed is also critical to consider in biodiversity conservation.

    First, these aquatic connections serve as migratory corridors for mammals and birds, but also aquatic species of fish and invertebrates like insects and crayfish. With climate change and warming waters across Canada, aquatic organisms will increasingly need such corridors within watersheds to move northwards to cooler waters.

    Just as migratory pathways enable the dispersal of native species, they can also aid the spread of invasive species. Invasive species management must also take a watershed perspective, and not focus on a single invaded lake or river.

    If an exotic species has arrived in your watershed then you are likely to soon see that species in a lake or river near you.

    Contaminants — such as pesticides, other toxins, microplastics and nutrients — also require a watershed-wide approach to effectively manage. Like an invasive species, contaminants can flow downstream across a watershed. Though, the presence of healthy wetlands within a watershed can help filter these out and improve water quality.

    Dams, bridges and culverts provide a clear physical barrier to connectivity within a watershed. Though not without utility, these human constructs greatly affect the watershed ecosystem.

    For example, many fish species will not pass through a culvert or under a low bridge. These human structures can greatly disrupt fish population dynamics, movement pathways and abilities to adapt to changing conditions.

    Unfortunately, the challenges facing fish populations can have significant impacts for biodiversity health, and ecosystem services, across the watershed.

    Endlessly interconnected

    The interconnected nature of watershed ecosystems necessitates collaborative forms of governance.

    Integrated watershed management is an approach to water governance that involves many different agencies, communities and levels of government. Several provinces use this approach, including the most populated provinces of Ontario and Québec. This model must become the norm across Canada.




    Read more:
    How the invasive spiny water flea spread across Canada, and what we can do about it


    More fundamentally, biodiversity protection in a watershed must be handled in an integrated manner. Ideally this would be done using natural watershed boundaries, and not political ones, especially with respect to managing issues related to connectivity. However, this may not always be possible, in which case water governance systems must transcend political boundaries as needed.

    Enabling watershed governance across political boundaries is an area where the new federal Canada Water Agency could play a leading role.

    Regardless of specific arrangement, it is imperative that all who care about the health of Canada’s freshwater consider its lakes and rivers within their larger watersheds. Only by focusing on watershed health can we preserve Canada’s freshwater.

    Beatrix Beisner currently receives research funding from NSERC, FRQNT, Hydro-Québec and the Québec Ministry of Environment (MELCCFP) . She is Co-director of the Interuniversity Research Group in Limnology / Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL).

    – ref. To truly understand the health of a lake, you must look well beyond its shoreline – https://theconversation.com/to-truly-understand-the-health-of-a-lake-you-must-look-well-beyond-its-shoreline-228352

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Guilbeault delivers statement on opening day of COP16 in Cali, Colombia

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Our recent 2030 Nature Strategy, released ahead of COP16, charts our path to achieving our objectives. To hold this and any future government accountable to fulfill those goals, we introduced the Nature Accountability Bill that requires the Government to transparently report on their progress.

    October 21, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario

    “COP16 is here, and Canada is ready. Our livelihoods, our communities, and our economies rely on being responsible with the natural world, which is telling us it is in trouble.

    “Canada is immensely proud of the role we played in hosting COP15 in Montréal. Seeing the gavel come down in the late hours of the conference to pass the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework was an unforgettable moment for me. Together, we landed an agreement many said was not possible and planted the seed for a strong global action.

    “COP16 is the first chance for countries to show their plans. The natural world simply won’t wait for us to get our act together. Our citizens and communities around the world expect us to deliver.

    “For our part, Canada has moved fast and early. We are steadily making progress on the largest conservation campaign in our country’s history, backed by over $12 billion in investments and aiming toward protecting 30 percent of Canadian land and water by 2030. Our recent 2030 Nature Strategy, released ahead of COP16, charts our path to achieving our objectives.

    “To hold this and any future government accountable to fulfill those goals, we introduced the Nature Accountability Bill that requires the Government to transparently report on their progress. To date, we have gone from one percent to 15 percent protected oceans. We have conserved almost half a million hectares of land, with many large-scale conservation projects in the works. We are upholding the Species at Risk Act to protect threatened species. We moved forward quickly with the hope that it would encourage other countries to announce ambitious biodiversity plans.

    “Canada is coming to COP16 ready to galvanize leadership and action. Since COP15, we launched the Nature Champions Network, a ministerial-level group that focuses on fostering international awareness and understanding of the global biodiversity framework. We are leading members of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People who played an instrumental role in landing the deal at COP15. Canada became the first contributor country to pledge $200 million for the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund launched in record time in 2023 to support developing countries in the implementation of their biodiversity plans to restore nature and grow resilient economies.

    “Increasing global biodiversity momentum requires partnerships, especially with Indigenous peoples. That’s why Canada looks forward to working with Indigenous peoples toward historic COP16 outcomes with the creation of a United Nations permanent body under the Convention on Biological Diversity that further recognizes the role and contribution of Indigenous peoples in the implementation of global biodiversity goals.   

    “Now is our chance. Let’s make COP16 a breakthrough for many countries ready to deliver on the global biodiversity framework.”

    Canada on-the-ground at COP16

    • Canada will call for rapid global action to protect biodiversity, including through strengthened engagement with Indigenous peoples.
    • Canada will host multiple side-events at COP, including two in partnership with Indigenous leadership innovation, to show the world the importance of collaboration with Indigenous peoples and successful Indigenous-led conservation in Canada.
    • Canada has delivered its ambitious 2030 Nature Strategy as promised at COP15 and is pioneering the Nature Accountability Bill, setting a new standard as one of the first countries in the world to propose legislation to meet biodiversity commitments at the federal level.
    • In 2023, Canada established the Nature Champions Network, a ministerial-level network that focuses on fostering international awareness and understanding of the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and retaining momentum to ensure that all countries deliver updated national biodiversity strategies and action plans by COP16. The Champions will be at COP16 to discuss progress and advocate for rapid global biodiversity action.

    Quick facts

    • Both the 2030 Nature Strategy and the Nature Accountability Bill provide a roadmap for collaboration across all levels of government and with Indigenous peoples in the development and implementation of measures aimed at meeting Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and related Convention on Biological Diversity commitments.
    • At COP15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $350 million in funding to support developing countries in advancing biodiversity efforts and to support the implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
    • Indigenous-led conservation is proven to help land, water, and communities thrive, and it is central to Canada’s plan to protect 30 percent of our land and water by 2030.
    • In recent years, the Government of Canada has made historic investments in Indigenous-led conservation projects, including through initiatives like the Indigenous Guardians Program.
    • Project Finance for Permanence provides 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 2022, during COP15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to deliver up to $800 million in support of up to four Indigenous-led Project Finance for Permanence initiatives, including the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence.

    Hermine Landry
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
    873-455-3714
    Hermine.Landry@ec.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Environment and Climate Change Canada
    819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
    media@ec.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Saskatoon — Saskatoon RCMP seek public assistance locating missing 15-year-old male

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 18, 2024, Saskatoon RCMP received a report of a missing 15-year-old male, Landon Daniels.

    Landon was last seen on October 18, 2024 at approximately 3:15 p.m. in Allan, SK. Since he was reported missing, Saskatoon RCMP have been checking places Landon is known to visit and following up on information received. They are now asking members of the public to report information on Landon’s whereabouts.

    Landon is described as 5’8″ tall and 190 pounds. He has brown eyes and short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a light grey zip up hoodie with a Nike logo, light brown pants and brown shoes.

    If you have seen Landon or know where he is, contact Saskatoon RCMP at 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or http://www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Churchill Announces Shares for Debt Transaction

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Further to its news release dated March 6, 2023 announcing the exercise of an existing option to acquire a 100% interest in certain mineral properties with prospective diamond targets plus potential nickel and lithium targets located immediately west of the town of White River, Ontario (the “Properties”), Churchill Resources Inc. (“Churchill” or the “Company”) (TSXV: CRI) announces that it has agreed to settle an outstanding debt in the amount of $50,000 (the “Debt”), representing an annual advance royalty owing to the vendors of the Properties under the terms of an existing option and purchase agreement, by issuing an aggregate of 555,555 common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”) at a price of $0.09 per Common Share to the vendors (the “Shares for Debt Transaction”). The Board of Directors has determined it is in the best interests of the Company to settle the outstanding Debt by the issuance of the Common Shares in order to preserve the Company’s cash for ongoing operations.

    Closing of the Shares for Debt Transaction is subject customary closing conditions, including the prior approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”). The Company intends to close the Shares for Debt Transaction as soon as practicable following receipt of the approval from the TSXV. The Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the Shares for Debt Transaction will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

    About Churchill Resources Inc.

    Churchill Resources Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on high grade, magmatic nickel sulphides in Canada, principally at its prospective Taylor Brook and Florence Lake properties in Newfoundland & Labrador. The Churchill management team, board and its advisors have decades of combined management experience in mineral exploration and in the establishment of successful publicly listed mining companies, both in Canada and around the world. Churchill’s Taylor Brook and Florence Lake projects have the potential to benefit from the province’s large and diversified minerals industry, which includes world class nickel mines and processing facilities, and a well-developed mineral exploration sector with locally based drilling and geological expertise.

    Further Information

    For further information regarding Churchill, please contact:

    Churchill Resources Inc.
    Paul Sobie, Chief Executive Officer
    Tel. +1 416.365.0930 (o)
      +1 647.988.0930 (m)
    Email psobie@churchillresources.com
       
    Alec Rowlands, Corporate Consultant
    Tel. +1 416.721.4732 (m)
    Email arowlands@churchillresources.com
     

    FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning the Company’s business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ‘‘plans’’, ‘‘expects’’ or ‘‘does not expect’’, “intends” ‘‘budget’’, ‘‘scheduled’’, ‘‘estimates’’, “forecasts’’, ‘‘intends’’, ‘‘anticipates’’ or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results ‘‘may’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘would’’, ‘‘might’’ or ‘‘will be taken’’, ‘‘occur’’ or ‘‘be achieved’’. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. Although the Company believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements include statements with respect to: (i) the receipt of the approval for the Shares for Debt Transaction from the TSXV; and (ii) the intended timing of the closing of the Shares for Debt Transaction. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

    All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation.

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

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Frozen Waffles Recalled

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is advising consumers that TreeHouse Foods is recalling certain frozen waffle products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. These products were sold under the following brand names:

    � Always Save � Best Choice � Bettergoods � Breakfast Best � Clover Valley � Compliments � Essentials � Food Lion � Foodhold � Giant Eagle � Good & Gather � Great Value � Hannaford � Harris Teeter � H-E-B Higher Harvest � Kodiak Cakes � Price Chopper � Publix � Schnucks � Selection � SE Grocer � Simple Truth � Tops � Western Family

    For more information about these products, see the link below.

    Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

    The recalled products were distributed throughout the United States and Canada. There have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the recalled products to date. This issue was discovered through routine testing at the manufacturing facility. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare professional.

    Consumers should check their freezers for any of the products listed above and dispose of them or return the recalled product to the place of purchase for credit. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 800-596-2903.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Placentia — Human remains recovered from ocean outside of Placentia Bay, investigation continuing

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Human remains were recovered from the ocean outside of Placentia Bay on October 19, 2024.

    The remains, which were found on Saturday morning by a commercial vessel that was working in the area, were recovered and transported to the Port of Argentia, where they were turned over to Placentia RCMP.

    The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is engaged and the investigation is continuing to determine the identity of the deceased.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Lewisporte — Man deceased following crash on TCH near Norris Arm, Lewisporte RCMP investigates

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 22-year-old man is deceased following a single-vehicle crash that occurred on the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) on October 18, 2024.

    Shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Lewisporte RCMP received the report of the crash. Upon arrival, officers determined that the vehicle departed the TCH and the driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and died at the scene. An occupant of the vehicle was transported to hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

    A Collision Reconstructionist with RCMP Traffic Services attended the scene and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was engaged. The investigation is continuing.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Placentia — Placentia RCMP investigates fatal collision in Dunville

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 61-year-old man is deceased following a collision that occurred on October 18, 2024, in Dunville.

    Shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Placentia RCMP received a report of a collision that occurred at the intersection of Main Road and Greenhouse Road in Dunville between a backhoe and a moped motorcycle. The operator of the moped was transported to Placentia Health Centre with injuries and died a few hours later. The operator of the backhoe was uninjured.

    The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is engaged and the investigation is continuing.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: La Ronge — La Ronge RCMP seek public assistance locating missing 17-year-old female

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 20, 2024, La Ronge RCMP received a report of a missing 17-year-old female, Karina Charles.

    Karina was last seen on October 20, 2024 at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Backlund Street in La Ronge.

    Karina has brown eyes and long blonde and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a pink sweater with green pajama pants. We are working to obtain a photo of her.

    If you have seen Karina or know where she is, contact La Ronge RCMP at 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or http://www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Gerald  — Update #2: Esterhazy RCMP responding to train-related incident near Gerald, Saskatchewan

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    October 16, 2024
    Gerald , Saskatchewan

    News release

    Esterhazy RCMP continue to investigate the collision and resulting train derailment. No investigational updates are available at this time.

    It is anticipated that Range Road 1322 will remain closed until at least the evening of October 18 to facilitate the ongoing investigation and site clean-up.

    –30–

    Backgrounder

    Update: Esterhazy RCMP responding to train-related incident near Gerald, Saskatchewan

    2024-10-16
    5:41 p.m.

    The collision involved a tractor and a train; the driver of the tractor, an adult male from the Esterhazy area, died as a result. Several train cars derailed (we don’t have specific numbers available); however, no spills have been reported to RCMP except for dried/material goods.

    Range Road 1322 will remain closed until the morning of October 17 for an RCMP Collision Reconstructionist to investigate. The public is asked to please avoid the area to ensure the safety of investigators on scene.

    Esterhazy RCMP responding to train-related incident near Gerald, Saskatchewan

    2024-10-16
    3:00p.m.

    Esterhazy RCMP are on the scene of a collision that resulted in a train derailment north of Gerald, Saskatchewan. People are asked to avoid Range Road 1322 at this time.

    This is an unfolding investigation and further details and updates will be provided as they become available.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Another Atmospheric River Hits British Columbia

    Source: NASA

    About a month after a powerful atmospheric river brought abundant rain to coastal British Columbia, another storm drenched southern parts of the Canadian province and western Washington in the U.S.
    The atmospheric river made landfall over British Columbia on October 18, 2024, and moved down the coast on October 19-20. Portions of southern Vancouver Island recorded up to 300 millimeters (12 inches) of rain between October 18 and 20, while the Vancouver metropolitan area on the mainland received up to 150 millimeters (6 inches). According to the Vancouver Sun, the rain overwhelmed the city’s storm drain system, leading to widespread flooding.
    Toward the south, the storm also brought rain and wind to portions of western Washington. Up to 150 millimeters of rain was also measured on the Olympic Peninsula. Gusty winds toppled trees and contributed to 14,500 households in the Puget Sound region briefly losing power on October 19. NASA-led research has shown that atmospheric rivers are associated with the most damaging storms in the middle latitudes, especially with regard to the hazardous wind they produce.
    A second pulse of water vapor moved over southwest British Columbia and northern Washington on October 20, when the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-21 satellite acquired this image. In the image, an elongated stream of water vapor—the hallmark of atmospheric rivers—had reached the western coast of North America after crossing the Pacific Ocean. When atmospheric rivers encounter land, they often release that water vapor in the form of rain or snow.
    According to the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the University of California, San Diego, forecasters expected the atmospheric river to hit western Canada as a Category 3 or 4 event, the second- and third-highest tiers on the scale. The storm follows an unusually strong Category 5 atmospheric river that hit British Columbia in September 2024. Experts suspect that the September atmospheric river was among the most intense events to transit the northeast Pacific in a satellite-based record going back to 2000.
    NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Story by Emily Cassidy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Purpose Investments Inc. Announces October 2024 Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purpose Investments Inc. (“Purpose”) is pleased to announce distributions for the month of October 2024 for its open-end exchange traded funds and closed-end funds (“the Funds”).        

    The ex-distribution date for all Open-End Funds is October 29, 2024. The ex-distribution date for all closed-end funds is October 31, 2024.  

    Open-End Funds Ticker Symbol Distribution per share/unit Record Date Payable Date Distribution Frequency
    Apple (AAPL) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units APLY $0.1667 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Canadian Financial Income Fund – ETF Series BNC $0.1225¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Global Bond Fund – ETF Units BND $0.0840 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units BRKY $0.1000 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF Units BTCY $0.05250 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF Non-Currency Hedged Units BTCY.B $0.0605 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF USD Units BTCY.U US $0.0510 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Credit Opportunities Fund – ETF Units CROP $0.0875 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Credit Opportunities Fund – ETF USD Units CROP.U US $0.0975 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield ETF – ETF Units ETHY $0.0380 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield ETF – ETF Non-Currency Hedged Units ETHY.B $0.0470 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield ETF – ETF Non-Currency Hedged USD Units ETHY.U US $0.0370 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – ETF Units FLX $0.0461 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – ETF Non-Currency Hedged Units FLX.B $0.0551 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – ETF Non-Currency Hedged USD Units FLX.U US $0.0385 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Global Bond Class – ETF Units IGB $0.0860¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Microsoft (MSFT) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units MSFY $0.1000 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Enhanced Premium Yield Fund – ETF Series PAYF $0.1375¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Total Return Bond Fund – ETF Series PBD $0.0590¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Core Dividend Fund – ETF Series PDF $0.1050¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Enhanced Dividend Fund – ETF Series PDIV $0.0950¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Real Estate Income Fund – ETF Series PHR $0.0720¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose International Dividend Fund – ETF Series PID $0.0780 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Monthly Income Fund – ETF Series PIN $0.0830¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Multi-Asset Income Fund – ETF Units PINC $0.0840 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Conservative Income Fund – ETF Series PRP $0.0600¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund – ETF Series PYF $0.1100¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund – ETF Non-Currency Hedged Series PYF.B $0.1230¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund – ETF Non-Currency Hedged USD Series PYF.U US $0.1200¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Core Equity Income Fund – ETF Series RDE $0.0875¹ 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Emerging Markets Dividend Fund – ETF Units REM $0.0950 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Canadian Preferred Share Fund – ETF Units RPS $0.0950 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose US Preferred Share Fund – ETF Series RPU $0.0940 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose US Preferred Share Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Units² RPU.B / RPU.U $0.0940 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Strategic Yield Fund – ETF Units SYLD $0.0970 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Amazon (AMZN) Yield Shares Purpose ETF- ETF Units YAMZ $0.3500 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Alphabet (GOOGL) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YGOG $0.2000 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    NVIDIA (NVDA) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YNVD $0.7500 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Tesla (TSLA) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YTSL $0.3000 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
               
    Closed-End Funds Ticker Symbol Distribution
    per share/unit
    Record Date Payable Date Distribution Frequency
    Big Banc Split Corp – Class A BNK $ 0.1200¹ 10/31/2024 11/15/2024 Monthly
    Big Banc Split Corp – Preferred Shares BNK.PR.A $ 0.0700¹ 10/31/2024 11/15/2024 Monthly

    Estimated October 2024 Distributions for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund

    The October 2024 distribution rates for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund are estimated to be as follows:

    Fund Name Ticker Symbol Estimated Distribution per unit Record Date Payable Date Distribution Frequency
    Purpose USD Cash Management Fund – ETF Units MNU.U US $0.4479 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose Cash Management Fund – ETF Units MNY $0.3910 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose High Interest Savings Fund – ETF Units PSA $0.1852 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly
    Purpose US Cash Fund – ETF Units PSU.U US $0.4275 10/29/2024 11/04/2024 Monthly

    Purpose expects to issue a press release on or about October 28, 2024, which will provide the final distribution rate for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund. The ex-distribution date will be October 29, 2024.

    (1)  Dividend is designated as an “eligible” Canadian dividend for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any similar provincial and territorial legislation.
    (2) Purpose US Preferred Share Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Units have both a CAD and USD purchase option. Distribution per unit is declared in CAD, however, the USD purchase option (RPU.U) distribution will be made in the USD equivalent. Conversion into USD will use the end-of-day foreign exchange rate prevailing on the ex-distribution date.
       

    About Purpose Investments Inc.

    Purpose Investments is an asset management company with more than $21 billion in assets under management. Purpose Investments has an unrelenting focus on client-centric innovation and offers a range of managed and quantitative investment products. Purpose Investments is led by well-known entrepreneur Som Seif and is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent technology-driven financial services company.

    For further information please contact:
    Keera Hart
    Keera.Hart@kaiserpartners.com
    905-580-1257

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. Investment funds are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government deposit insurer. There can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden statement on successful effort to delay lobster gauge increase

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement today after the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC) voted to delay for at least six months an increase to the minimum catchable size of lobster in the Gulf of Maine:

    “This new regulation was based on outdated data and would have benefitted Canadian lobstermen at Mainers’ expense,” Golden wrote. “I’ve worked hard with lobstermen to block it, and today’s decision to delay implementation is an important step forward. I’ll always stand with Maine lobstermen against unfair, unnecessary regulations that threaten their livelihoods and industry.”

    Lobstermen gauge the size of a lobster by measuring its carapace from eye socket to tail. Lobsters that are smaller than the minimum gauge size must be put back in the water so they can grow, protecting the lobster population for the future. The ASMFC claims lobster stock decline in Lobster Management Area 1 has surpassed 35 percent — the trigger point for an automatic increase in allowable catch size from 3 1/4 inches to 3 5/16 inches. 

    However, Maine fishermen have questioned the data used to justify these changes, including concerns that ASMFC stock data is out of date. Since the proposal was introduced, Golden has written to the commission in April, August, and earlier this month.

    Golden’s most recent letter noted that moving forward with the gauge increase is estimated to cause theloss of more than 680 jobs and $59.6 million to Maine’s economy. Any such change in the Gulf of Maine would not apply to Canadian lobstermen.

    In July, Golden introduced a bipartisan amendment to the federal budget that would block any proposed gauge increase for one year. 

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: LNG Energy Group Provides an Operational Update and Change of Transfer Agent

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Highlights:

    • LNG Energy Group expects to issue a reserves update by month-end in respect of the reserves to be acquired in Venezuela.
    • Debt Repayments – Approximately U.S.$14.7 million amortization of term-loan debt principal.
    • ESG Initiatives – Lewis Energy Colombia obtains ISO certification and dedicates property to reforestation in advance of its carbon reduction initiatives in Colombia.
    • Natural Gas Compressor – New compressor will be used to optimize production and improve reserves life.
    • Commencement of new Oilfield Services Division.
    • Gas Sales Agreements – Amendments with off-takers allow for temporary lower nominations to facilitate maintenance and workover program.
    • Capital Expenditures – Expecting to drill a development and a re-entry at an existing development well in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LNG Energy Group Corp. (TSXV: LNGE) (TSXV: LNGE.WT) (OTCQB: LNGNF) (FWB: E26) (the “Company” or “LNG Energy Group”) is pleased to an operational update on its projects in Venezuela and Colombia.

    Corporate

    Since August 2023, the Company has been able to repay approximately U.S.$14.7 million in amortization on its long-term bank debt.

    Colombia

    Environmental, Health and Safety and sustainability Practices

    The Company is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Lewis Energy Colombia, Inc. (“LEC”), has successfully completed the following ISO recertifications, after an audit performed by Bureau Veritas:

    • 9001:2015 – Quality Management System (QMS): this certification recognizes LEC for its successful implementation and continual improvement of its QMS.
    • 14001:2015 – Environmental Management Systems (EMS): this certification recognizes LEC’s commitment to take proactive measures to minimize its environmental footprint, comply with relevant legal requirements and achieve their environmental objectives.
    • 45001:2018 – Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management System: this certification recognizes LEC’s commitment to systematically assess hazards and implement risk control measures, leading to reduced workplace injuries, illnesses and incidents.

    LEC is also in the process of assigning 25 hectares (62 acres) to the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Atlántico (“CRA”), the environmental agency for the Atlántico state in northern Colombia. This land will be used for reforestation projects and for the purpose of protecting the local watershed. Currently, LEC has approximately 360 hectares (900 acres) in the area and this is land that will be used for environmental compensation purposes, contributing to a reduction in LEC’s carbon footprint.

    Compressor at the Bullerengue Field

    The Company is pleased to announce the completion of its new compressor project at the Bullerengue field. The compressor recently began operation and will be instrumental in increasing the reserves life of the field while facilitating access to an additional 1.67 Bcf of natural gas at the north side of the field. The compressor will also serve to increase LEC’s ability to respond to regulatory requirements and improve general operational efficiencies.

    Source: Company images of the new compressor and facilities at the Bullerengue field.

    Oilfield Services Division

    LEC is continuing studies to offer drilling rig services to third parties in Colombia, as a way of optimizing resource use to increase company income, while allowing us to maintain a strong core rig crew, which helps improve our operational efficiency.

    LEC has three rigs on the ground in its Sinú-San Jacinto Norte-1 Block (the “SSJN-1 block”) near Barranquilla, Colombia. They include one 1,600 HP top-drive drilling rig, one 1,000 HP top-drive drilling rig and one 550 HP workover rig. These rigs come complete with generators, pumps, BOPs, mud systems, tanks and other equipment needed to fully execute drilling and workovers operations. Together, the rigs and associated equipment have an estimated value of approximately U.S.$10 million.

    The Company looks to mobilize its equipment and personnel in the fourth quarter of 2024 to pursue workover and drilling activities.

    Gas Sales Agreements

    As a result of unexpected production restrictions at certain wells in the Bullerengue natural gas field, the Company has had to limit natural gas deliveries under certain gas sales agreements dedicated to supplying natural gas demand. As a result of careful review of the legal, social and security circumstances, the natural gas supply needs of the Colombian gas market, and the Company’s commitment to meet its commercial obligations with its off-takers and strategic partner contracts, the Company considers it prudent to pursue short term volume delivery amendments reducing volumes by 5.0 MMbtu/d for a period of four months with no significant changes to LEC’s average natural gas sales price.

    The Company is presently working on remediating this disruption and expects to have production back to normal levels upon execution of well maintenance and drilling activity. The Company is working on workover and drilling initiatives to make up for these sales volumes in the future and meet its average production and long-term valuation creation objectives and therefore does not expect this situation to have a long-term material impact on its operations and results.

    Capital Expenditures

    For the remainder of 2024, the Company expects to drill at least one additional development well and conduct a re-entry at an existing well at the SSJN-1 block onshore in Colombia in addition to its remaining workover campaign. The workover campaign is designed to address maintenance declines in production as well as increase production from the Company’s existing wells.

    Venezuela

    On April 17, 2024, LNG Energy Group’s wholly own subsidiary, LNGEG Growth I Corp. (“LNG Venezuela”) was conditionally entered into a binding agreement with PDVSA Petroleo S.A. (“PPSA”), a subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., the Venezuelan national oil company, for the operation of the Nipa-Nardo-Niebla and the Budare-Elotes CPPs in onshore Venezuela (collectively, the “Venezuela Blocks”). The Venezuela Blocks are currently producing 3,000 bbl/d of light and medium oil.

    The Company is preparing a baseline to understand the work program and activities required to take over operations of these fields and optimize production and is in the process of certifying the reserves at certain of the Venezuela Blocks in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities. The disclosure of these reserves is subject to review and approval of PPSA.

    The CPPs were executed within the term of General License 44 issued by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). License 44 has been replaced by License 44A, and the Corporation is following the applicable regulatory procedures to operate in full compliance with the applicable sanction regimes. LNG Venezuela and PPSA have mutually agreed to extend the outside date of the CPPs to November 30, 2024.

    Transfer Agent

    LNG Energy Group announces that Odyssey Trust Company (“Odyssey”) has replaced Computershare Investor Services Inc. (“Computershare”) as the registrar and transfer agent of the Company effective September 11, 2024. Shareholders need not take any action in respect of the change in transfer agent.

    All inquiries and correspondence relating to shareholders’ records, transfer of shares, lost certificates, or change of address should now be directed to Odyssey as follows:

    Odyssey Trust Company
    Trader’s Bank Building
    702 – 67 Yonge Street
    Toronto ON M5E 1J8

    Phone: 1-587-885-0960
    Fax:1-800-517-4553
    Email: clients@odysseytrust.com
    Website: http://www.odysseytrust.com/contact

    As of the date hereof, Computershare remains the trustee of any applicable warrants and escrow arrangements.

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

    About LNG Energy Group

    The Company is focused on the acquisition and development of oil and gas exploration and production assets in Latin America.

    For more information, please see below:

    Website:
    http://www.lngenergygroup.com

    Investor Relations:
    James Morris, Vice-President, Business Development and Investor Relations
    Email: investor.relations@lngenergygroup.com
    Telephone: 205-835-0676

    Find us on social media:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lng-energy-group-inc/
    Instagram: @lngenergygroup

    X: @LNGEnergyCorp

    CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often using phrases such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends”, or variations of such words and phrases, or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved, are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive any necessary board, shareholder or regulatory approvals, factors may occur which impede or prevent LNG Energy Group’s future business plans; and other factors beyond the control of LNG Energy Group. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, LNG Energy Group assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether they change as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    CPPs

    Please see the Company’s news release dated April 24, 2024 for additional information with respect to the CCPs. There can be no guarantee that the Company or LNG Venezuela shall be able to complete the acquisition terms required by PPSA.

    The CPPs were executed within the term of General License 44 issued by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). License 44 has been replaced by License 44A requiring US persons to wind down oil operations in Venezuela before May 31, 2024. License 44 has been replaced by License 44A, and the Corporation is following the applicable regulatory procedures to operate in full compliance with the applicable sanction regimes.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2891cdb5-62b8-4666-80a7-49014f2eb929

    The MIL Network –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Prime Minister on the results of the provincial election in New Brunswick

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the results of the provincial election in New Brunswick:

    “On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate Susan Holt and the Liberal Party of New Brunswick on their election.

    “I look forward to working with Premier-designate Holt to deliver on the priorities of Canadians. Our shared work will include improving access to health care, making life more affordable, building more homes, investing in infrastructure, and cutting emissions.

    “New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in the country, and the Government of Canada is committed to promoting the French language and supporting the vitality of Acadian communities.

    “Together, we will build a more prosperous province and a better future for people in New Brunswick, the Atlantic, and across Canada.

    “I thank outgoing Premier Higgs for his service to New Brunswick and to Canada over the last six years. I wish him the best in his future endeavours.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall for the Eradicate Hate Global Summit | Pittsburgh,  PA

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Thank you to each of the speakers, including the survivors, who preceded me. You are each both humbling and inspiring, and I am deeply grateful to have listened to what you have shared with us.
    It is an honor to be here with you at the fourth convening of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit.
    Thank you, Brette for your generous words — and thank you for taking on this vital leadership role. 
    The Summit has convened thousands of experts and developed multiple innovative approaches – including the “Up End Hate” campaign that empowers young people to prevent violence.  And that is just the most recent example of the impact this solutions-oriented Summit has delivered.    
    Sunday, October 27th, will mark the sixth anniversary of the horrific day when a white supremacist who hated Jews and immigrants went to the Tree of Life synagogue here in Pittsburgh and attacked the innocent human beings who were worshipping during morning Shabbat services.
    He murdered eleven people that day, robbing the world of their futures. 
    For each of them, their loved ones still grieve, and in solidarity we each can say:  May their memories be a blessing.
    The phrase is a resonant and powerful one. It invites us all not just to remember those we have lost, but to honor them by continuing to pursue justice and heal our broken world in their names.
    Looking at this week’s agenda and each of you in this room, remembering them is indeed proving to be a blessing, by motivating this hard work to translate ideas into action.
    In the aftermath of that terrible and tragic day, this community and this city have shown that an act of terror should and can unite us rather than divide us. In the Summit, you have shown the world how you have taken the emotions and prayers that arose and the actions you are undertaking and channeled them into meaningful deeds.
    It is in that spirit of moving from hope to action that I come to you today.
    I will speak to you about three topics: the threat we face now, the responses we are pursuing to address that threat, and the actions we are taking to reduce that threat in the future.
    First, we unfortunately have to acknowledge that current forms of domestic terrorism and hate have fueled a dynamic threat landscape that is even more daunting following the savage Hamas attack on Israel one year ago and its ongoing aftermath.
    These threats present a new set of challenges that we must do everything we can to prevent, to disrupt, and to prepare for if they cannot be stopped.  
    Indeed, the Biden-Harris Administration’s response to hate and domestic terrorism is outlined in a series of innovative strategies and implementation plans that harness the full force of the Federal government of the United States. 
    But critically, they depend on intensive, enduring cooperation with civic, religious, private sector and international partners like you to generate a comprehensive response.
    And although it may not feel that way every day, this model is delivering results. I am the first to admit that the challenges are immense, and even growing.  But I also fervently believe that combining our full strengths, we can come together to make a difference. 
    The Normalization of Hate and Violence
    Let me begin with the threat landscape: As the White House Homeland Security Advisor over the past four years, I have seen firsthand that a fundamental threat to our democracy is the normalization of hate-fueled violence.
    Domestic terrorist movements, including racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists, continue to advocate for widespread violence on the premise that it would lead to outcomes they seek, including chaos and societal collapse among other dystopian ends.
    These dark minds celebrate attacks in El Paso, Buffalo, Poway, Colorado Springs, Charleston, and yes, just east of here, in Squirrel Hill — as well as numerous attacks abroad that they ascribe to their twisted worldview.
    The proliferation of these ideologies online reflects this trend, and its purveyors are reaching a growing number of people, including teenagers and even younger children.
    And as this threat has evolved both in the United States and especially online, we have seen its “domestic” dimensions become increasingly global.
    Let me give you one example of what I mean.  On September 9th of this year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice arrested and charged two leaders of the Terrorgram Collective in the United States.
    These two individuals created a global community of white supremacists to communicate online with like-minded people, disseminate violent propaganda, and encourage physical attacks on minority communities and government officials.
    The amplification of hate online has corresponded with a growth in antisemitism and other forms of hate, particularly in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks. 
    By just one measure, between October 7th, 2023, and January 30th of this year, the FBI opened over three times more anti-Jewish hate crimes investigations than in the four months prior to the October 7th attacks. I will return to the meaningful outcomes from these investigations in a moment. 
    And October 7th has had ramifications beyond the rise in hate. We have observed terrorist groups from across the ideological spectrum seeking to exploit the attack for their own goals. Images and messaging emerging from the conflict are expanding the pool of individuals susceptible to mobilization to violent acts, and causing terrorist groups that previously disdained each other to form common cause.
    And these effects are likely to persist long after hostilities cease— and will interact with future flashpoints and activating events, which could drive terrorist attacks against the United States and Israel, as well as against Jewish, Muslim, Arab, and other communities.  
    And it is not just terrorist organizations that are of high concern. The behavior of lone actors can have significant ramifications, even when they do not commit mass violence.
    For example, in February 2024, a joint investigation between the FBI and Florida authorities led to the arrest of a 17-year-old for swatting—which is the practice of making false reports to 9-1-1 to induce a law enforcement response at a residence or workplace.
    Over a two-year span, this particular young person targeted a Florida mosque and hundreds of high schools, historically black colleges and universities, and even the homes of FBI agents.
    Swatting distracts and drains valuable law enforcement resources, exposes police to a potentially life-threatening response, and traumatizes citizens, including students and worshippers, who experience these events.
    And as if this wasn’t bad enough, it emerged that the young suspect was selling swatting as a service on Telegram— which is another way in which that platform is being exploited for dangerous purposes.
    Now, some look at today’s threat landscape and assume the worst, and conclude that there is little if anything that can be done to stop the growth of these threats. 
    But I am here today to tell you that, like all of you, we do not see it that way.    
    The Biden-Harris Administration’s Strategic Approach
    Clearly what I have described is not how we wish our world had evolved. But we have come together here to affirm that we are not powerless in the face of hate and violence.
    From day one, President Biden and Vice President Harris have pursued a rigorously calibrated, integrated approach to countering hate and domestic terrorism that is aligned with our values and complements our broader national security interests.
    This is built on their core belief that domestic terrorism and hate strike at the very foundation of our democracy.
    Indeed, President Biden decided to run for the White House back in 2017 after men with tiki torches emerged from the shadows in Charlottesville spewing the same Antisemitic bile we heard in Germany in the 1930s. 
    That’s why, on his first day in office, President Biden directed me to lead a 100-day comprehensive review of U.S. Government efforts to address domestic terrorism.  This resulted in the development and release of the first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism in June of 2021.
    We went to work immediately on implementing that strategy.  And to complement it, recognizing how critical our partners beyond the Federal government would be to our success, in September of 2022, President Biden hosted the United We Stand Summit to mobilize communities to work with us in advancing an inclusive and bipartisan vision for a more united America and to push back against the growing normalization of hate in our society.
    In December of that year, Susan Rice – then the President’s Domestic Policy Advisor – and I launched an initiative to specifically tackle Antisemitism, Islamophobia and related forms of bias and discrimination.
    This led to our releasing, in May 2023, the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. And we have been working to develop a complementary strategy to address Islamophobia. 
    Importantly, our approach not only tackles the threats of today but prepares for emerging and future threats. 
    So I want to focus here on three key elements of the strategy: first, our efforts to hold accountable those who engage in hate-fueled violence and hate crimes; second, our efforts to protect vulnerable communities; and third, our efforts to prevent such acts from occurring in the first place.
    Accountability Measures
    Our Administration has prioritized the use of our legal authorities and tools to expand investigations and prosecutions. 
    As a result, from 2020 to 2022, the number of FBI domestic violent extremism and domestic terrorism investigations more than doubled to over 2,700. 
    In 2022, the Department of Justice also created a specific domestic terrorism unit within its National Security Division to handle these investigations and prosecutions.
    And a similar dynamic is occurring in our efforts to address hate crimes. The FBI has published and widely disseminated information about what constitutes a hate crime and how to report them, and reinforced this by conducting over 70 meetings with faith-based organizations since October 7th.
    These efforts, combined with the FBI’s tireless work to investigate every lead they receive, have delivered results.  Let me describe a few.  
    In November of 2023, a Tampa, Florida, resident was arrested by the FBI for allegedly leaving threatening voicemails at two Jewish organizations in New York.
    In January 2024, a Massachusetts man was arrested for threatening to kill members of the Jewish community and bomb places of worship.
    And just last month, the Department of Justice announced criminal charges against a Pakistani national arrested in Canada who was planning to travel to New York City to attack a Jewish Community Center on the anniversary of October 7th.
    Protection Measures
    We have also driven efforts to enhance the safety and security of Jewish and other communities targeted for hate and violence. For example, President Biden worked with Congress to secure an additional $400 million for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Nonprofit Security Grant Program in February of this year.
    This grant program funds security improvements and training for nonprofits and houses of worship, including campus organizations and community centers.
    For example, the same program paid to install cameras and boost other security measures in Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas—actions that the congregation’s Rabbi credited with avoiding loss of life when a terrorist took hostages in the synagogue in January 2022. 
    We have also worked in partnership with a wide range of state and local leaders and non-governmental partners to help communities and institutions protect themselves against and prevent hate.
    As just one example, this past summer we provided 5,000 campus leaders all across the country with a detailed list of the federal resources available to help them establish safer and more secure learning environments for their students, faculty, and staff.  
    We sent Federal experts to campuses, hosted a variety of convenings to discuss challenges and identify solutions, and released updated toolkits to enhance their preparations for the new academic year that began in August.
    This effort is ongoing, and the fear and anxiety of those who feel threatened on campuses persists. But it is clear that the resources and toolkits we have shared align with the changes that many campuses have successfully implemented this Fall.  
    Prevention
    And this brings me to the third element of our response—the actions we are taking now to prevent hate-fueled violence and domestic terrorism in the future, before they occur. 
    We know that a complex process brings an individual to pursue targeted violence or terrorism. But we also know that there are behaviors and other signs that people see that are clues that an individual might be trending toward or contemplating an act of targeted violence or terrorism.   
    We have elevated the prevention of targeted violence and terrorism as a strategic priority for countering terrorism, antisemitism, and related forms of hate. 
    Our goal has been to build a prevention architecture that supports nation-wide state and local efforts to intervene and “offramp” individuals who appear to be moving toward committing acts of targeted violence and terrorism.
    At the Federal level, we have surged support to state and local behavioral Threat Assessment and Management, or “TAM” teams as we refer to them.
    For example, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit has embedded specifically trained agents who are called “threat management coordinators” in their field offices and is working to ensure that each of their field offices are participating in the local Threat Assessment and Management teams. Some of these coordinators are here with us today.   
    Likewise, the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center recently released a six-step guide for state and local law enforcement about how they can most efficiently establish a TAM team that can assess and intervene with individuals identified as posing a risk of violence.
    And there is the DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, which I know is well represented here in the room.  Among their many accomplishments, I want to highlight their work creating and curating the online Prevention Resource Finder, which you can Google at that name—literally a one-stop shop that lists all Federal resources available to help state and local governments prevent acts of targeted violence and terrorism. We recently expanded the website, and it now offers nearly 150 resources.
    It’s important to say again here that the Federal government cannot effectively tackle this metastatic challenge alone.
    Indeed, all of the evidence shows that prevention is most effective when led by our state and local partners, who are on the ground, embedded in our communities. This is especially true for TAM teams, which often operate at the county or municipal level.
    The good news is that we know state and local partners can do this quickly and successfully in partnership with Federal expertise and assistance. Let me give you an example.
    In the days and weeks following the appalling May 14th, 2022, domestic terrorist attack at the Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, the state of New York quickly reached out to the Federal Department of Homeland Security and other Federal agencies to explore how to expand existing partnerships and build a statewide prevention effort.
    To be clear, this was led by and implemented by the State of New York, but the Federal government offered substantial assistance to the State of New York.
    And by 2023, New York had launched a statewide targeted violence prevention strategy that included placing at least one TAM team in every county.
    Just two years after the Buffalo attack, New York had established TAM teams in forty-three counties and the City of New York.
    In May, New York noted that their TAM teams were collectively intervening in more than one thousand two hundred cases.
    And, more important, these TAM teams are saving lives, taking action with respect to certain individuals who were clearly planning acts of targeted violence.  
    This is critical, painstaking, lifesaving work, and I am encouraged to see that many more states are responding to our calls to move in this direction.
    This is progress, and if we persist, these efforts will reduce violence in our Homeland.  
    Closing
    In closing, I want to thank each of you for the work you do every day to prevent, to prepare, and to respond to this phenomenon that is tragically impacting so many of our communities and leaving families and neighborhoods devastated. 
    Your partnership with us is vital to stopping the normalization of hate-fueled violence that threatens our democracy. 
    Again, I want commend the work of this Summit. You are the embodiment of what I have spoken about today.  And there is a real feeling of solidarity in a group like this, and we can and must draw strength from one another.
    For a moment, I will take you back to another very dark time in our Nation’s history — the days and weeks after 9/11. Then I had very young children — and to focus them on the positive in a time of terror I would say to them, “look at all the helpers — there are so many people who are helping other people.”
    You are the helpers today, the doers, the healers in these times, and your work to scale up prevention efforts – and to mobilize the youth of our country to be a part of the solution to hate – are two of the numerous examples of how the agenda for the coming three days will build a stronger and safer America for all of us, and set an example for the world. 
    I salute you for all your commitment, your dedication, and everything you are doing — 
    And I will end where I began. While the threats are real and pernicious, we take inspiration from each other and from those we have lost.  
    May each of their memories be a blessing – and may our work together light the way to a brighter and more secure future.     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: G7 countries agree new plan to dismantle migrant smuggling gangs

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Home Secretary has today (4 October 2024) agreed a major international plan to smash criminal gangs responsible for smuggling illegal migrants into G7 nations.

    The G7 Anti-Smuggling Action Plan will deliver a boost to UK law enforcement by fostering closer cooperation with G7 partners to bolster border security, combat transnational organised crime, and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation by migrant smugglers.

    New joint investigative actions will be carried out by law enforcement teams to target criminal smuggling routes, while intelligence sharing between G7 nations will ensure faster identification and disruption of these dangerous networks.

    This approach will enhance the capabilities of the Border Security Command and its new Commander Martin Hewitt CBE QPM in coordinating investigations with international partners to reduce illegal migration to the UK.

    Other measures announced in the plan include: 

    • sharing best practice, including disrupting supply chains that facilitate people-smuggling, such as small boat parts, seizing the illegal financial assets of criminals, and improving cooperation across global transport routes
    • working with social media platforms and internet providers to remove harmful content that promotes illegal migration services or advertises fake job opportunities
    • strengthening capabilities to monitor and anticipate irregular migration flows at both global and regional levels

    The agreement comes after discussions by the Home Secretary at the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in Avellino, Italy, this week. It marks another step in the UK’s reset of relations with key allies and affirms a shared commitment to working together to tackle complex cross-border issues. 

    Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    Criminal smuggling gangs who organise small boat crossings undermine our border security and put lives at risk. Our new government is rapidly accelerating cooperation with other countries to crack down on these dangerous gangs.

    Today’s newly agreed G7 action plan provides an important focus on international law enforcement and reflects our determination to work with global partners on these shared challenges. New international joint investigative teams will help coordinate cross-border action and supplement the measures we have already taken to set up the UK Border Security Command and back it with new funding.

    The plan will help to increase both voluntary and enforced returns of migrants to countries of origin. It aims to offer migrants more choices and improve the overall management of migration flows.

    Instrumental to delivery of this plan in the UK is the new Border Security Command, under the leadership of Martin Hewitt CBE QPM, which will be armed with enhanced powers and coordinate the work of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. It will coordinate investigations with European counterparts and will benefit from a £75 million investment in cutting-edge technology, additional officers, and new covert capabilities.

    In July, the government committed a further £84 million to addressing the root causes of irregular migration. This funding will go towards programmes aimed at tackling the drivers of migration at their source, reducing the need for dangerous and irregular journeys.

    Since taking office, the Home Secretary has increased efforts to work with international partners to tackle the challenges posed by irregular migration. This has included engagement with the United States Attorney General, Merrick Garland, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and Executive Director of Europol, Catherine De Bolle.

    The UK will continue to drive focus on tackling migrant smuggling with the G7 under Canada’s presidency next year, and at next month’s INTERPOL General Assembly in Glasgow.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: US, Canadian warships disrupt stability of Taiwan Strait

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The actions of the United States and Canada disrupted the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, a military spokesperson said Monday in response to U.S. and Canadian warships’ sailing through the strait on Sunday.
    The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army remains on high alert at all times, and resolutely safeguards national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability, said Li Xi, a spokesperson with the command.
    On Sunday, the U.S. destroyer Higgins and the Canadian frigate Vancouver made a transit through the strait, the spokesperson said.
    Naval and air forces organized by the command closely followed and monitored the vessels’ passage through the strait during the entire process, and addressed the situation in accordance with laws and regulations, Li said.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Procurement Ombud’s 2023-24 annual report stresses the need for immediate action

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Federal Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic releases his Annual Report for 2023-24, which was tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos on October 7, 2024.

    Ottawa, Ontario – October 21, 2024 – Federal Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic released his Annual Report for 2023-24, which was tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos on October 7, 2024.

    The report, which summarizes the Office of the Procurement Ombud’s activities from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, highlighted long-standing procurement issues including favouritism towards specific bidders, the complexity of federal procurement, overly restrictive evaluation criteria, the lack of documentation and gaping holes in the quality of contract information made public by departments.

    Furthermore, the report details two suggestions intended to address these issues directly. The first is the creation of a Government Wide Vendor Performance Management Program to track and share information on supplier performance across federal departments and regions, and take past performance into account in the award of future contracts. The second is the creation of a Federal Chief Procurement Officer position to lead the creation, interpretation and implementation of procurement policies, and to lead a capacity building and professionalization initiative.

    The Procurement Ombud has requested three key regulatory changes to enhance his ability to perform his duties more effectively. These proposed changes include the authority to recommend compensation to suppliers exceeding 10% of a contract’s value, the ability to review complaints related to contracts awarded under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Businesses (PSIB) set-asides program, and the power to compel (rather than request) federal departments to provide the documentation necessary to conduct reviews and investigations. The latter request was supported in the Standing Committee on National Defence’s recent report on defence procurement.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 24, 2025
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