Category: Canada

MIL-OSI Global: Overseas US voters get ignored by political campaigns − but could be crucial supporters

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, Honorary Reader in MIgration and Politics, University of Kent

Election workers prepare to mail absentee ballots to Americans, including those living overseas. Allison Joyce/Getty Images

One group of American voters is being largely ignored in the closely watched polling leading up to the Nov. 5 elections: U.S. citizens living abroad, whether as civilians or as members of the military. We know from governmental data that the number of ballots cast by overseas Americans has been greater than the margin of victory in races in the past – and may be again in 2024.

But that one potentially crucial group of American voters – U.S. citizens living abroad – does not get much attention, from pollsters or campaigns.

We are scholars of political science whose research shows that overseas voters can make a difference in elections – and that there is potential for campaigns to mobilize these voters, despite a more complex process of voting than for domestic voters.

Who are overseas Americans?

Though there is not an exact count of American citizens living abroad, we do know they number in the millions. Estimates from the Federal Voter Assistance Program and the Association of Americans Resident Overseas placed this number between 4.4 million and 5.3 million in 2023.

But those are likely undercounts. It’s almost impossible to account fully for dual citizens, naturalized U.S. citizens who have returned to the country of their birth or people who split their time between the U.S. and other countries.

Research that we and others have conducted indicates that Mexico and Canada are home to the largest numbers of Americans outside the U.S., followed by the U.K., France, Israel and Germany. The three most common reasons Americans move abroad are family connections, employment and quality of life, although there are others.

Overseas Americans tend to be highly educated: More than three-quarters have a college degree, double the percentage within the U.S. Most overseas Americans do not move from country to country but rather stay in one country, often for a decade or more. But our surveys have found they remain interested in U.S. politics – not least because they pay U.S. income taxes, whether they work for a U.S. or foreign employer. IRS data shows that the vast majority are not ultra-wealthy.

Voting from abroad

Military members and U.S. citizens living abroad have had the right to vote in federal elections since 1976. This right was further consolidated in the 1986 Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, while the right for Americans living abroad to vote in local and state elections depends on state law.

Some people have recently expressed concern that overseas voting could be used to cast fraudulent ballots, but there is no evidence of illegal voting by noncitizens abroad.

Overseas voters’ absentee ballot requests and their returned ballots are carefully scrutinized by local officials in the state where they last lived in the U.S., making abuse very unlikely. But it is complex for overseas voters to vote: The paperwork is complicated, and there is comparatively little outreach from political parties and candidates.

Barriers to voting from overseas

In 2020, the Federal Voting Assistance Program, which is supposed to help overseas voters exercise their voting rights, estimated that just shy of 8% of eligible American voters overseas cast ballots in that year’s presidential election. Using program numbers to calculate a percentage another way finds that no more than 20% of overseas Americans cast ballots in the 2020 election.

That’s far lower than the 67% national turnout rate that year.

Federal law requires local election officials in the U.S. to mail absentee ballots 45 days before an election to overseas Americans who request them. Poor mail service in the U.S. and elsewhere can mean that voters don’t always get the ballots in time, and the ballots mailed back to election officials face similar delays.

Some states allow voters to receive or return their ballots electronically, which is faster; an overseas voter casting a ballot in Massachusetts can request a ballot, receive a blank ballot and return it all by email, while an overseas voter from Pennsylvania must return it by mail or courier, following exact procedures for enclosing their ballot in multiple envelopes.

In 2023, the Federal Voting Assistance Program estimated that as many as 150,000 U.S. citizens overseas did not cast ballots in the 2022 elections because of administrative hurdles, such as slow or irregular mail service and difficulties in communicating procedural changes to prospective voters abroad.

Interest in US politics

Another possible reason Americans abroad don’t vote is that they have lost interest in U.S. politics. But our own research, and the work of others, finds that not to be true.

Even given the logistical challenges, U.S. citizens living in Canada, as one example, have very similar levels of interest in American politics compared with citizens back home.

During the 2020 and 2022 campaign seasons, two of us surveyed American citizens who had moved north of the border. In 2020, 55% indicated they were very interested in American politics, as did 44% in the midterm year of 2022. This is comparable with levels of attention to politics within the U.S. during those campaigns, as gauged by the Cooperative Election Study.

So although Americans in Canada indicated interest levels as high as those in the U.S. during the past two national election cycles, the vast majority of them did not cast a vote. Administrative barriers play a role, but they’re not enough to explain such low turnout among citizens overseas.

Ignored by campaigns

Another key factor driving low turnout from abroad is a lack of communication from campaigns and parties. Research demonstrates that contacts by campaigns and parties significantly increase a person’s likelihood of voting.

In the U.S., parties and campaign organizations can help streamline the voter registration process, reinforce the stakes of an election and bolster a sense of camaraderie among citizens.

U.S. citizens living abroad are unlikely to hear from campaigns, even in nearby Canada. When asked in 2020 or 2022 whether they had been contacted by American political campaigns, most potential voters in the U.S. had. But our surveys of Americans living in Canada show less than one-third reported contact from parties or candidates.

Because overseas citizens vote in their last state of residence in the U.S. but are not physically resident there, campaigns find it harder to identify them as swing-state residents or members of favorable demographic groups.

Overall, Americans living overseas are as eligible to vote as citizens in the U.S. They are as attentive to politics as Americans living in the U.S. On the other hand, they face major administrative hurdles and are generally not contacted by American parties or campaigns.

James A. McCann has received support for his research on migration from Purdue University, the US Fulbright Program, the Russell Sage Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels and Ronald Rapoport do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Overseas US voters get ignored by political campaigns − but could be crucial supporters – https://theconversation.com/overseas-us-voters-get-ignored-by-political-campaigns-but-could-be-crucial-supporters-240184

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Philly hospitals test new strategy for ‘tranq dope’ withdrawal – and it keeps patients from walking out before their treatment is done

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kory London, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University

Patients suffering withdrawal from fentanyl and xylazine can require intensive care. SDI Productions/E+ Collection via Getty Images

Unimaginable pain and restlessness. Vomiting so frequent and forceful that it can perforate the esophagus. Blood pressure and heart rate so high that they damage the heart. Sweating that drenches clothing and sheets. Nerve sensitivity that makes even the softest touch agonizing. A prolonged panic attack that is provoked and worsened by even mundane activities and conversations.

The withdrawal symptoms from “tranq dope” – the combination of the synthetic opioid fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer xylazine that dominates Philadelphia’s street opioids supply – tend to be far worse than those experienced by even the most severe heroin users of the past.

So it’s no surprise that people will do whatever they can to forestall them. That includes walking out of the hospital before their care is complete.

I’m an associate professor of emergency medicine who has spent a decade as an emergency physician working in Center City and South Philadelphia. I’ve spent most of that time directing projects to improve care for people who use drugs.

Beginning in 2022, our team – a group of emergency and addiction physicians – began experimenting with new approaches to treating tranq dope withdrawal.

We were able to reduce the likelihood of these patients leaving the hospital before treatment was complete by more than half – from 10% to just under 4%.

We also reduced the severity of their suffering, lowering their withdrawal scores – or how they rate their pain and other symptoms – by more than half.

Traditional treatments don’t work

Before tranq dope, treating opioid withdrawal in the emergency department was relatively straightforward, with well-studied, conventional protocols.

For patients without chronic pain, health care providers started buprenorphine, known by its brand name Suboxone, when patients showed signs of withdrawal.

Buprenorphine works by partially, rather than fully, stimulating opioid receptors in the body. This subtle difference relieves symptoms of withdrawal but reduces the risk of overdose if patients continue to use other opioids. It quite literally saves lives.

Tranq dope, however, created a much larger set of challenges.

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are dozens to hundreds of times more powerful than heroin. Xylazine, meanwhile, adds symptoms of sedative withdrawal to the mix: restlessness, adrenaline activation and agitation.

As synthetic opioids became pervasive in Philadelphia’s drug supply over the past decade, overdose deaths in the city tripled. Those numbers are beginning to decline, for reasons that remain unclear.

Fear of withdrawal can even prevent people with serious medical conditions from going to the hospital.
Jeff Fusco/The Conversation US, CC BY-ND

Meanwhile, tranq users started to share buprenorphine horror stories. They refused the medication due to a phenomenon called “precipitated withdrawal.” Precipitated withdrawal is a condition in which taking buprenorphine paradoxically makes withdrawal symptoms worse, rather than improving them. Due to the severity of their symptoms, some patients who precipitate severely even require treatment in the intensive care unit.

Furthermore, when patients did accept buprenorphine, their withdrawal symptoms were no longer being effectively controlled, even with very high doses. We were adrift.

Patients demand discharge

When people with severe substance use disorders are hospitalized, even compassionate staff members sometimes lose patience.

Being confined to a stretcher in a loud, chaotic environment, in withdrawal, with prior traumatic health care experiences, can lead patients to act out. They might repeatedly hit call bells, use inappropriate language, make impulsive decisions or sneak drugs into the hospital.

This creates a lot of stress for nurses and staff, and distracts from the care of others.

So when patients demand to leave before treatments are complete, exhausted care teams often quickly acquiesce. Traditionally, this was termed leaving “against medical advice,” but is now called “patient-directed discharge.”

Patient-directed discharge is associated with higher rates of mortality, permanent disability and rehospitalization.

Rates of patient-directed discharge can be 10 to 50 times higher in people with an opioid use disorder compared with the general public.

A cycle of mistrust can also form, where the expectation that a patient may leave again leads to a less engaged care team, which in turn can make patients more likely to leave.

At staff meetings, some compared the challenges of caring for these individuals to those experienced in the hardest parts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

New approach needed

Many physicians have been reticent to consider other options for treating opioid withdrawal. I believe there are two key reasons for this. One is the lack of Food and Drug Administration approval for alternative treatments. The other is that federal regulations consider addiction a behavioral rather than medical condition, effectively separating most doctors from the addiction care of these individuals.

As fentanyl and xylazine became ubiquitous in Philadelphia’s street dope, local hospitals reported astronomical rates of patient-directed discharge among these patients. This was happening despite the best efforts of hospital staffs that are deeply experienced in conventional opioid withdrawal treatment.

In 2021, an editorial in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal advocated for the use of short-acting opioids for some patients’ opioid withdrawal – which is already common practice in Canada. Short-acting opioids are medications doctors traditionally use to treat acute pain.

Philadelphia hospitals started experimenting with using these previously verboten medications. That included our team at Jefferson Health.

Overdose deaths in Philadelphia spiked as fentanyl and xylazine became more prevalent.
Jeff Fusco/The Conversation US, CC BY-ND

Oxycodone, hydromorphone and ketamine

By using short-acting opioids such as oxycodone or hydromorphone, combined with a low-dose version of buprenorphine, we prevented precipitated withdrawal and treated opioid withdrawal and pain in our patients.

The low-dose bupenorphine can be increased over time to steady doses. This shows patients that the medication is safe and provides them a bridge to long-term treatment.

The short-acting opioids replace the opioids that their bodies are frantically searching for. They reduce their pain and misery, and are decreased when their symptoms are controlled.

Patients with opioid use disorder will often do whatever they can to stay out of the hospital due to fear of withdrawal. Asking how withdrawal symptoms are managed, therefore, is often their first priority when hospitalized. We see this even when they have conditions that require complicated and time-sensitive treatments.

Owing to the vast amounts of opioids many of our patients use, we also give them additional strong medications, or “adjunctive therapies,” to supplement the effects of the short-acting opioids and low-dose buprenorphine. One is ketamine, an anesthetic that affects nerve impulses and is increasingly being used to treat depression, post-traumatic stress discorder and substance use disorders.

Ketamine is also an effective pain medication that can extend the effects of opioids and reduce the number of doses needed.

We additionally add muscle relaxants – which work similarly to xylazine – along with nausea medications and IV fluids, to help give patients a chance at healing.

Side effects and future problems

In patients who received our medications, the risks of serious side effects were minimal. The few patients who suffered serious adverse effects had other acute medical problems that could have contributed to the side effects. Almost all the side effects we saw were mild and resolved on their own.

As powerful synthetic opioids and other contaminants become pervasive in more U.S. cities, more emergency departments will need to figure out how to care for patients in withdrawal so that they don’t leave treatment.

It is our hope that this work will inspire others to do a better job of providing relief to patients suffering from this complicated and severe condition.

Kory London received funding from the City of Philadelphia to support the work related to caring for individuals with substance use disorder. He is on the board of the nonprofit Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, dedicated to helping those in need of behavioral health care and support.

– ref. Philly hospitals test new strategy for ‘tranq dope’ withdrawal – and it keeps patients from walking out before their treatment is done – https://theconversation.com/philly-hospitals-test-new-strategy-for-tranq-dope-withdrawal-and-it-keeps-patients-from-walking-out-before-their-treatment-is-done-239915

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: MCQ Markets Announces Lamborghini Giveaway: Enter to Win a 2015 Lamborghini Huracan
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MIAMI, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MCQ Markets is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for car enthusiasts and thrill seekers alike – the chance to win a Lamborghini valued at over $187,000. This iconic supercar, along with a trip to Miami, could all be yours – and here’s how.

How to Enter:
1. Visit http://www.mcqmarkets.com
2. Fill out the official entry form.
For 1 additional entry, complete the following steps:
1. Include your Instagram handle in the entry form.
2. Follow @mcqmarkets on Instagram.
3. Tag 2 friends in the comments on the giveaway post.
4. Like the post and comment where you’d drive the Lamborghini, using the hashtag #MCQMarketsGiveaway.
Along with the car, the grand prize includes an all-expenses-paid trip to Miami for an exclusive presentation event. The trip includes one-way economy airfare from the major airport nearest the winner’s residence and two nights of hotel accommodations (ARV: up to $2,000). Total ARV of Grand Prize: $189,000. The winner must pick up the car in Miami and attend the presentation between February 26 and March 3, 2025.

The promotion begins at 12:00 a.m. ET on October 7, 2024 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on January 15, 2025.

The giveaway is open to legal residents of the 50 United States (excluding Hawaii) and the District of Columbia, as well as Canada (excluding Quebec), who have reached the age of majority in their state or province. Full eligibility details and official rules can be found on the entry page.

About MCQ Markets

MCQ Markets is redefining luxury asset ownership by making exotic automobiles attainable through its innovative fractional ownership model. The platform serves both passionate enthusiasts and seasoned investors, democratizing luxury ownership and allowing more individuals to invest in assets that were previously out of reach. For more information, please visit: https://www.mcqmarkets.com/

No money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent in response, will not be accepted. No offer to buy the securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received until the offering statement filed by the issuer with the SEC has been qualified by the SEC, any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of acceptance given after the date of qualification. An indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment of any kind. You must read the offering documents filed with the SEC before investing and the additional information available at: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2025795/000149315224023512/partiiandiii.htm

Prize: 2015 White Lamborghini Huracan with 27,000 miles

Contact Information:

MCQ Markets Media Contact
Email: press@mcqmarkets.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/245064eb-c805-4725-bbca-faf6dfc96276

The MIL Network –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Arctic Wolf 2024 Human Risk Behavior Snapshot Reveals Nearly Two-Thirds of Security and IT Leaders Have Fallen for Phishing Attacks
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arctic Wolf^®, a global leader in security operations, today published findings from its 2024 Human Risk Behavior Snapshot based on a global survey the company commissioned with Sapio Research of more than 1,500 senior IT and security decision-makers and end- users from over sixteen different countries.

As modern threat actors gain access to increasingly more sophisticated AI tools, employees play an even more critical role in their organizations cyber defenses. The 2024 Arctic Wolf Human Risk Behavior Snapshot aims to provide business leaders and security practitioners with a better understanding of the people practices and behaviors in their organizations in a post gen-AI world and offer insight into common human risk elements.

Key findings from the report include:
- Consequences for Human-Related Security Failures are Steep: 27% of IT leaders have witnessed an employee termination for falling victim to a scam.
- IT Leaders Prove to be Delinquent in Security Practices: More than a third (36%) of IT leaders have disabled security measures on their system.
- Overconfidence Rings True for IT Professionals: 80% of IT leaders are confident their organization won’t fall for a phishing attack, despite the fact that 64% have clicked on phishing links themselves.
- Password Reuse is Still a Significant Challenge: 68% of IT and cybersecurity leaders admit to reusing system passwords.
- AI Policies Still in Early Adoption: 60% of IT leaders say their organization has an AI policy—but less than a third (29%) of end users are aware of it.
“Protecting against the human element is a concern security practitioners have held as a top priority for years – and the data in the 2024 Arctic Wolf Human Risk Behavior Snapshot proves both leaders and end users still have a lot of work to ensure that they as individuals aren’t adversely impacting the overall security of their organizations,” said Adam Marre, chief information security officer, Arctic Wolf. “Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. As threat actors grow more sophisticated, security leaders must move beyond traditional security training methods and adopt a comprehensive human risk management strategy that will not only help them to better identify and mitigate threats, but more importantly foster a more proactive and security-conscious workforce.”

Security awareness training has historically been a core pillar of security operations, but traditional training solutions that operate on an annual cadence and offer a “check the box” approach to compliance are wildly ineffective, leaving employees unengaged and uninformed about the latest attacks targeting them. This snapshot report reveals how important it is for IT and security leaders to embrace the concept of human risk management within their organizations and explores how solutions such as Arctic Wolf Managed Security Awareness can help create a security culture instead of a culture of blame.

For additional insights from Arctic Wolf’s Human Risk Behavior Snapshot, visit arcticwolf.com to download the full report and register for the 2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Summit by region below:

Additional Resources:

About Arctic Wolf:
Arctic Wolf^® is a global leader in security operations, enabling customers to manage their cyber risk in the face of modern cyber-attacks via a premier cloud-native security operations platform. The Arctic Wolf Security Operations Cloud ingests and analyzes more than 5.5 trillion security events a week to help enable cyber defense at an unprecedented capacity and scale, empowering customers of virtually any size across a wide range of industries to feel confident in their security posture, readiness, and long-term resilience. By delivering automated threat protection, response, and remediation capabilities, Arctic Wolf delivers world-class security operations with the push of a button so customers can defend their greatest assets at the speed of data.

Press Contact:
Lauren Back
pr@arcticwolf.com

© 2024 Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Arctic Wolf, Arctic Wolf Platform, Arctic Wolf Security Operations Cloud, Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response, Arctic Wolf Managed Risk, Arctic Wolf Managed Security Awareness, Arctic Wolf Incident Response, and Arctic Wolf Concierge Security Team are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc. or Arctic Wolf Networks Canada, Inc. and any subsidiaries in Canada, the United States, and/or other countries.

The MIL Network –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Suspected Digital Fraud Coming from Canada Up Nearly 11% Since H1 2023, Reveals New TransUnion Analysis
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

In H1 2024, 5.7% of all attempted digital transactions originating from Canada were suspected to be Digital Fraud; more than half (54%) of Canadians said they were recently targeted by fraud attempts.

Canadian business leaders said their companies lost approximately 6% of their equivalent revenue – representing $78 billion – over the past year due to fraud.

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the first half (H1) of 2024, Canada saw a significant increase in suspected Digital Fraud attempts, with nearly 5.74% of all attempted digital transactions where the consumer was located in Canada involving suspected Digital Fraud, revealed a new TransUnion^® (NYSE: TRU) analysis. This is nearly an 11% year-over-year (YoY) rate increase from H1 2023, and TransUnion also documented an 11% increase in the volume of suspected Digital Fraud from Canada during this period, despite a less than a one percent (0.7%) YoY increase in the volume of transactions.

According to a recent TransUnion survey,¹ more than half (54%) of Canadians said they were recently targeted by email, phone call or text message fraud attempts. Phishing was the most common scheme type (45%), followed by smishing (42%) and vishing (39%).

The increasing use of digital transactions, combined with rising suspected Digital Fraud attempts are also impacting businesses as they potentially face revenue losses and increased operational costs due to fraud. According to a TransUnion business survey for the H2 2024 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud report, 200 Canadian business leaders said their companies lost approximately 6% of equivalent revenue – representing $78 billion – over the past year due to fraud. The most prominent causes of fraud loss cited by them were:
- Scam/Authorized fraud (31%): Dishonest scheme intended to trick a person into giving up something of value (e.g., account access, money, information)
- Account takeover (19%): Unauthorized individuals taking over someone’s online account (e.g., bank, social media, email) without their permission
- Synthetic identity fraud (18%): Use of a combination of personal information to fabricate a person or entity to commit a dishonest act for financial or personal gain
TransUnion also found that suspected Digital Fraud attempts – where the consumer was transacting in Canada and targeted businesses globally – increased on average by 10.5% YoY in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023 and impacted all industries.

Top Three Industries Globally with Highest Rate of Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts Coming from Canada in H1 2024
1. Gambling (online sports betting, poker, etc.) – 9.6%
2. Retail – 9.2%
3. Government – 7.7%
Top Three Industries Globally with Highest YoY Increase (H1 2024 vs H1 2023) in the Rate of Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts Coming from Canada
1. Logistics – 172.9%
2. Gambling – 79.3%
3. Video gaming – 67.8%
“Protecting customers and their businesses from fraud is essential to enabling safe and tailored consumer experiences. These findings reveal that despite the good-faith efforts that are being undertaken by companies to identify and prevent fraud to date, fraudsters continue to evolve and it’s vital that fraud prevention methods keep up with the changing times,” said Patrick Boudreau, head of identity management and fraud solutions at TransUnion Canada.

“Businesses that aren’t already doing so should ensure that they are taking advantage of fraud prevention technologies such as identity verification, IP intelligence, device reputation and synthetic identity detection as critical components of their fraud prevention programs,” he added.

For more insights, read the H2 2024 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud report.

About the Analysis
TransUnion came to its conclusions about Digital Fraud based on intelligence from its identity and fraud product suite that helps secure trust across channels and delivers efficient consumer experiences – TransUnion TruValidate^® The rate or percentage of suspected Digital Fraud attempts reflect those that TransUnion customers determined met one of the following conditions: 1) denial in real time due to fraudulent indicators, 2) denial in real time for corporate policy violations, 3) determined to be fraudulent upon customer investigation, or 4) determined to be a corporate policy violation upon customer investigation —compared to all transactions it assessed for fraud.

Specific country and regional data in the report include the United States, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom and Zambia.

Consumers who believe they may be a victim of fraud can find resources and information here.

About TransUnion^®(NYSE: TRU)
TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries, including Canada, where we’re the credit bureau of choice for the financial services ecosystem and most of Canada’s largest banks. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this by providing an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care.

Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.
For more information visit: http://www.transunion.ca

____________________
¹ TransUnion Q3 2024 Consumer Pulse survey of 1,000 consumers – conducted between July 16–23, 2024.

The MIL Network –
January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: YieldMax™ ETFs Announces Distributions on FIAT (105.76%), CONY (101.35%), ULTY (100.99%), YMAX (51.97%), YMAG (62.33%) and Others

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHICAGO and MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax™ today announced distributions for the YieldMax™ ETFs listed in the table below.

ETF Ticker¹	ETF Name	Reference Asset	Distribution per Share	Distribution Frequency	Distribution Rate^2,4,5	30-Day SEC Yield³	Ex-Date & Record Date	Payment Date
YMAX	YieldMax™ Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs	Multiple	$0.1747	*Weekly*	51.97%	62.93%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
YMAG	YieldMax™ Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs	Multiple	$0.2261	*Weekly*	62.33%	50.85%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
CONY	YieldMax™ COIN Option Income Strategy ETF	COIN	$1.1098	Every 4 Weeks	101.35%	3.70%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
FIAT	YieldMax™ Short COIN Option Income Strategy ETF	COIN	$1.4513	Every 4 Weeks	105.76%	3.22%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
MSFO	YieldMax™ MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF	MSFT	$0.5077	Every 4 Weeks	33.76%	3.33%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
AMDY	YieldMax™ AMD Option Income Strategy ETF	AMD	$0.9212	Every 4 Weeks	84.48%	3.24%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
NFLY	YieldMax™ NFLX Option Income Strategy ETF	NFLX	$0.7929	Every 4 Weeks	59.84%	3.45%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
ABNY	YieldMax™ ABNB Option Income Strategy ETF	ABNB	$0.8003	Every 4 Weeks	61.67%	2.84%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
PYPY	YieldMax™ PYPL Option Income Strategy ETF	PYPL	$1.1042	Every 4 Weeks	75.73%	2.94%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
ULTY	YieldMax™ Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF	Multiple	$0.8267	Every 4 Weeks	100.99%	0.00%	10/17/2024	10/18/2024
Scheduled for next week: YMAX YMAG MSTY YQQQ AMZY APLY AIYY DISO SQY SMCY

The performance data quoted above represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above. Performance current to the most recent month-end can be obtained by calling (833) 378-0717.

Note: DIPS, FIAT, CRSH and YQQQ are hereinafter referred to as the “Short ETFs”.

Distributions are not guaranteed. The Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield are not indicative of future distributions, if any, on the ETFs. In particular, future distributions on any ETF may differ significantly from its Distribution Rate or 30-Day SEC Yield. You are not guaranteed a distribution under the ETFs. Distributions for the ETFs (if any) are variable and may vary significantly from period to period and may be zero. Accordingly, the Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield will change over time, and such change may be significant.

Investors in the Funds will not have rights to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the underlying reference asset(s).

¹All YieldMax™ ETFs (except YMAX,YMAG and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX and YMAG have a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.99% for a gross expense ratio of 1.28%. “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies, namely other YieldMax™ ETFs. ULTY has a gross expense ratio of 1.24% but the investment adviser has agreed to a 0.10% fee waiver through at least February 28, 2025.

²The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on October 15, 2024. The Distribution Rate is the annual distribution rate an investor would receive if the most recent distribution, which includes option income, remained the same going forward. The Distribution Rate is calculated by annualizing an ETF’s Distribution per Share and dividing such annualized amount by the ETF’s most recent NAV. The Distribution Rate represents a single distribution from the ETF and does not represent its total return. Distributions may also include a combination of ordinary dividends, capital gain, and return of investor capital, which may decrease an ETF’s NAV and trading price over time. As a result, an investor may suffer significant losses to their investment. These Distribution Rates may be caused by unusually favorable market conditions and may not be sustainable. Such conditions may not continue to exist and there should be no expectation that this performance may be repeated in the future.

³ The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended September 30. 2024, expressed as an annual percentage rate based on such ETF’s share price at the end of the 30-Day period. As of such date, the ULTY subsidized and unsubsidized 30-Day SEC Yields were 0.00% and 0.00%, respectively. The subsidized yield reflects fee waivers in effect while the unsubsidized yield does not adjust for any fee waivers in effect.

⁴ Each ETF’s strategy (except those of the Short ETFs) will cap potential gains if its reference asset’s shares increase in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset’s shares decrease in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF. Each Short ETF’s strategy will cap potential gains if its reference asset decreases in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset increases in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF.

⁵ As of the date hereof, distributions for the following ETFs have included return of investor capital: TSLY, OARK, APLY, AMZY, NVDY, GOOY, JPMO, XOMO, PYPY, CONY, DISO, FBY, MSFO, NFLY, SQY, AMDY, MRNY, AIYY, MSTY, ULTY, YMAX, YMAG, YBIT, SNOY, CRSH,GDXY and FIAT. For additional information, please visit http://www.YieldMaxETFs.com/TaxInfo.

Each Fund has a limited operating history and while each Fund’s objective is to provide current income, there is no guarantee the Fund will make a distribution. Distributions are likely to vary greatly in amount.

Standardized Performance

For YMAX, click here. For YMAG, click here. For TSLY, click here. For OARK, click here. For APLY, click here. For NVDY, click here. For AMZY, click here. For FBY, click here. For GOOY, click here. For NFLY, click here. For CONY, click here. For MSFO, click here. For DISO, click here. For XOMO, click here. For JPMO, click here. For AMDY, click here. For PYPY, click here. For SQY, click here. For MRNY, click here. For AIYY, click here. For MSTY, click here. For ULTY, click here. For YBIT, click here. For CRSH, click here. For GDXY, click here. For SNOY, click here. For ABNY, click here. For FIAT, click here. For DIPS, click here. For BABO, click here. For YQQQ, click here. For TSMY, click here. For SMCY, click here. For PLTY, click here

Prospectuses

Click here.

Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information are in the prospectus. Please read the prospectuses carefully before you invest.

There is no guarantee that any Fund’s investment strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment in any such Fund.

Tidal Financial Group is the adviser for all YieldMax™ ETFs and ZEGA Financial is their sub-adviser.

THE FUND, TRUST, AND SUB-ADVISER ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY UNDERLYING REFERENCE ASSET.

Risk Disclosures (applicable to all YieldMax ETFs referenced above, except the Short ETFs)

YMAX and YMAG generally invest in other YieldMax™ ETFs. As such, these two Funds are subject to the risks listed in this section, which apply to all the YieldMax™ ETFs they may hold from time to time.

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

Call Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s call writing strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in the positive price returns of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold call options and over longer time periods.

Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings.

Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of call option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in increases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Call Period.

Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security (ARKK, TSLA, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, META, GOOGL, NFLX, COIN, MSFT, DIS, XOM, JPM, AMD, PYPL, SQ, MRNA, AI, MSTR, Bitcoin ETP, GDX®, SNOW, ABNB, BABA, TSM, SMCI, PLTY), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to BABO and TSMY)

Currency Risk: Indirect exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

Depositary Receipts Risk: The securities underlying BABO and TSMY are American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Investment in ADRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.

Foreign Market and Trading Risk: The trading markets for many foreign securities are not as active as U.S. markets and may have less governmental regulation and oversight.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in securities of U.S. issuers, such as risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability, as well as varying regulatory requirements applicable to investments in non-U.S. issuers. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to different regulatory, accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GDXY)

Risk of Investing in Foreign Securities. The Fund is exposed indirectly to the securities of foreign issuers selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities.

Risk of Investing in Gold and Silver Mining Companies. The Fund is exposed indirectly to gold and silver mining companies selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies.

The Fund invests in options contracts based on the value of the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX®), which subjects the Fund to some of the same risks as if it owned GDX®, as well as the risks associated with Canadian, Australian and Emerging Market Issuers, and Small-and Medium-Capitalization companies.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YBIT)

YBIT does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than YBIT.

Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in Bitcoin, through holdings in one or more Underlying ETPs, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing Bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends.

Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. As of the date of this Prospectus, there is only a single eligible Underlying ETP, and it is an investment company subject to the 1940 Act.

Bitcoin ETP Risk: The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Bitcoin ETP. This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of the Bitcoin ETP, even though it does not. Bitcoin ETPs are subject, but not limited, to significant risk and heightened volatility. An investor in a Bitcoin ETP may lose their entire investment. Bitcoin ETPs are not suitable for all investors. In addition, not all Bitcoin ETPs are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Those Bitcoin ETPs that are not registered under such statute are therefore not subject to the same regulations as exchange traded products that are so registered.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to the Short ETFs)

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

Price Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the value of the underlying reference asset. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the underlying reference asset, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, the Fund is subject to the risk that the value of the underlying reference asset increases. If the value of the underlying reference asset increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses.

Put Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s put writing (selling) strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in decreases in the value of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold put options and over longer time periods.

Purchased OTM Call Options Risk. The Fund’s strategy is subject to potential losses if the underlying reference asset increases in value, which may not be offset by the purchase of out-of-the-money (OTM) call options. The Fund purchases OTM calls to seek to manage (cap) the Fund’s potential losses from the Fund’s short exposure to the underlying reference asset if it appreciates significantly in value. However, the OTM call options will cap the Fund’s losses only to the extent that the value of the underlying reference asset increases to a level that is at or above the strike level of the purchased OTM call options. Any increase in the value of the underlying reference asset to a level that is below the strike level of the purchased OTM call options will result in a corresponding loss for the Fund. For example, if the OTM call options have a strike level that is approximately 100% above the then-current value of the underlying reference asset at the time of the call option purchase, and the value of the underlying reference asset increases by at least 100% during the term of the purchased OTM call options, the Fund will lose all its value. Since the Fund bears the costs of purchasing the OTM calls, such costs will decrease the Fund’s value and/or any income otherwise generated by the Fund’s investment strategy.

Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings.

Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in decreases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Put Period.

Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, for any Fund that focuses on an individual security (e.g., TSLA, COIN, NVDA), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YQQQ)

Index Overview. The Nasdaq 100 Index is a benchmark index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, based on market capitalization.

Index Level Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the Index level. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the Index, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the Index level, the Fund is subject to the risk that the Index level increases. If the Index level increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses. The Fund may also be subject to the following risks: innovation and technological advancement; strong market presence of Index constituent companies; adaptability to global market trends; and resilience and recovery potential.

Index Level Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will benefit from decreases in the Index level experienced over the Put Period. This means that if the Index level experiences a decrease in value below the strike level of the sold put options during a Put Period, the Fund will likely not experience that increase to the same extent and any Fund gains may significantly differ from the level of the Index losses over the Put Period. Additionally, because the Fund is limited in the degree to which it will participate in decreases in value experienced by the Index level over each Put Period, but has significant negative exposure to any increases in value experienced by the Index level over the Put Period, the NAV of the Fund may decrease over any given time period. The Fund’s NAV is dependent on the value of each options portfolio, which is based principally upon the inverse of the performance of the Index level. The Fund’s ability to benefit from the Index level decreases will depend on prevailing market conditions, especially market volatility, at the time the Fund enters into the sold put option contracts and will vary from Put Period to Put Period. The value of the options contracts is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of component companies that comprise the Index, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the Index and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. As the Index level changes and time moves towards the expiration of each Put Period, the value of the options contracts, and therefore the Fund’s NAV, will change. However, it is not expected for the Fund’s NAV to directly inversely correlate on a day-to-day basis with the returns of the Index level. The amount of time remaining until the options contract’s expiration date affects the impact that the value of the options contracts has on the Fund’s NAV, which may not be in full effect until the expiration date of the Fund’s options contracts. Therefore, while changes in the Index level will result in changes to the Fund’s NAV, the Fund generally anticipates that the rate of change in the Fund’s NAV will be different than the inverse of the changes experienced by the Index level.

YieldMax™ ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not affiliated with Tidal Financial Group, YieldMax™ ETFs or ZEGA Financial.

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: Cathay Cargo Leveraged Descartes Air Cargo Tracking Solution to Help Support Safe Journey of Giant Pandas

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MELBOURNE, Australia and ATLANTA, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that Cathay Cargo, a global provider of air freight services, leveraged Descartes’ Bluetooth^® Low Energy air cargo tracking solution for real-time condition and location monitoring of Giant Pandas An An and Ke Ke as they were safely transported from Chengdu, China to Hong Kong. The pandas arrived at Hong Kong’s international airport on September 26, 2024.

“We’re excited that our technology played a role in the safe arrival of such a special shipment from Chengdu to Hong Kong,” said Frank Hung, VP Sales and Marketing at Descartes. “With our advanced IoT-based tracking capabilities, our customers are not only able to monitor the location of their shipments in real-time, but also shipment conditions such as temperature, light, vibration and humidity—which takes on an even more important dimension for Cathay Cargo in this unique situation.”

Cathay Cargo has used the Descartes solution as part of its Ultra Track cargo tracking service since 2021. The solution helps the air cargo carrier provide customers with real-time shipment location and condition status for airport-to-airport moves of high value goods such as electronics, perishables and pharmaceuticals. The Ultra Track service is available in 29 airports across Cathay Cargo’s network.

The Descartes air cargo tracking solution is designed to help airlines and ground handling agents (GHA) provide forwarding and shipper customers with end-to-end shipment visibility. Descartes Bluetooth^® Low Energy powered tags placed on Unit Load Devices (ULD) or pallets provide location and condition status data that is captured by Descartes Bluetooth^® Low Energy readers. Readers are part of the Descartes global Internet of Things (IoT) network and a Descartes Global Logistics Network™ service. Shipment status can be tracked whether goods are in the air or on the ground to help the air cargo community automate the end-to-end tracking of freight location and shipment status information such as precise temperature, movement, shock, light and humidity.

“We’re pleased to have supported Cathay Cargo in this extraordinary endeavor,” said Scott Sangster, General Manager, Logistics Service Providers at Descartes. “Customers with temperature-controlled, time-sensitive and other specialized cargo expect to be kept informed of the location, condition, and chain of custody of their air shipment throughout its journey. By building out our IoT network in more geographies, deploying active readers across more locations and expanding the reach of the network, we’re helping the air cargo industry meet requirements for real-time, multi-dimensional cargo visibility and facilitate more secure, efficient, and responsive logistics operations.”

About Cathay Cargo

Cathay Cargo is the air-freight business division of the Cathay Group and one of the leading air-cargo operators in the world, operating from its hub in Hong Kong. Cathay Cargo provides services to more than 90+ cargo destinations around the world, operating a dedicated freighter fleet of 14 Boeing 747-8F and six 747-400ERFs (Extended Range Freighter) aircraft, in addition to cargo space on Cathay Pacific’s large fleet of passenger aircraft. The Cargo division also includes Air Hong Kong, an express cargo carrier operating in partnership with DHL, and manages Cathay Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport. It is also the cargo general sales agent for the Cathay Group’s low-cost carrier HK Express. Cathay is a member of the Swire Group and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE). For more information, please visit http://www.cathaycargo.com.

About Descartes

Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, track and help improve the safety, performance and compliance of delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world’s largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at http://www.descartes.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Global Media Contact
Cara Strohack
Tel: +1(800) 419-8495 ext. 202025
cstrohack@descartes.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”) that relate to Descartes’ air cargo solution offerings and potential benefits derived therefrom; and other matters. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, “Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results” in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada including Descartes’ most recently filed management’s discussion and analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Skunk Captured Last Night at Honolulu Harbor

Source: US State of Hawaii

Skunk Captured Last Night at Honolulu Harbor

Posted on Oct 15, 2024 in Main

October 15, 2024
NR24-30

HONOLULU – A live skunk was captured at Honolulu Harbor last night by agriculture inspectors from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) after several days of tracking the animal.

Last Thursday, inspectors from HDOA’s Plant Quarantine Branch received a report at about 3:00 a.m. that stevedores spotted a skunk running around the parking lot at Pier 1. Inspectors set traps in the area that day.

At midnight Friday, security personnel from the U.S. Immigration Office (USIO) at Pier 1 contacted inspectors and reported that the skunk was seen on a security camera entering and exiting the property through a fence. Inspectors responded to the area and attempted to capture the skunk but were not successful.

Last night at 8:30 p.m., USIO security personnel reported the skunk was seen taking shelter under a cargo container used for storage. Three inspectors responded and were able to capture the skunk using a net, pole and wooden boards to scare it out its hiding place, while braving the animal’s odoriferous natural defense system. The skunk is being tested for rabies.

It is not known how long the skunk had been in the area or what vessel it may have hitchhiked on.

Live skunks have been captured at Pier 1 in February 2018 January 2021, July 2021 and June 2022. On Maui, a live skunk was captured at Kahului Harbor in December 2020 and one was captured at a trucking company in August 2018. All previously captured skunks have tested negative for rabies.

Skunks are prohibited in Hawai‘i and are only allowed by permit for research and exhibition in a municipal zoo. Skunks inhabit the U.S., Canada, South America, Mexico and other parts of the world. In the U.S., they are recognized as one of the four primary wild carriers of rabies, a fatal viral disease of mammals that is often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Hawai‘i is the only state in the U.S. and one of the few places in the world that is free of rabies.

Sightings or captures of illegal and invasive species should be immediately reported to the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).

###

Skunk found at Honolulu Harbor

Skunk captured at Honolulu Harbor

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: POET Wins “Best in Artificial Intelligence” Honors at 2024 Global Tech Awards

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), the designer and developer of the POET Optical Interposer™, Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and light sources for the data center, tele-communication and artificial intelligence markets, has been named the winner of the “Best in Artificial Intelligence” category at the prestigious 2024 Global Tech Awards, announced on October 14. The honor is the third top prize the Company has received in 2024, following recognition by the AI Breakthrough Awards for “Best Optical AI Solution” and the Gold Prize for “AI Innovator of the Year” from the Merit Awards.

POET Technologies was chosen as the Best in the Artificial Intelligence category due to “its innovative approach to powering AI networks and hyperscale data centers.” “POET’s commitment to improving the performance and scalability of AI infrastructure sets it apart as a leader in the industry,” commented Sirisha Lanka, Managing Director of the Global Tech Awards. Founded in 2022, the awards’ mandate is to “recognize and celebrate excellence in technology.” Among the judges were executives from enterprises such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized by industry experts who acknowledge the groundbreaking nature and positive commercial impacts of the POET Optical Interposer™ platform technology and the growing suite of products we are building from it,” said Dr. Suresh Venkatesan, POET Chairman & CEO. “Winning the Best in Artificial Intelligence honor from the Global Tech Awards is another stellar indication of why an increasing number of the leading companies in our industry are turning to POET for solutions that will help them grow their market share and assist them in developing new products that address the demand for AI networking and data center connectivity.”

About POET Technologies Inc.
POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical modules, optical engines and light source products to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers. POET’s photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET’s Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems. POET’s Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges in 5G networks, machine-to-machine communication, self-contained “Edge” computing applications and sensing applications, such as LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles. POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Allentown, PA, Shenzhen, China, and Singapore. More information about POET is available on our website at http://www.poet-technologies.com.

About Global Tech Awards
The Global Tech Awards is a prestigious platform that recognizes and celebrates the very best in technology. With a focus on innovation creativity and excellence, the Global Tech Awards aims to identify and reward the most exceptional technology solutions and services from around the world. The awards are open to businesses, organizations and individuals who are creating and delivering innovative technologies that are driving progress and shaping the future. If you are developing cutting-edge technology and want to showcase your achievements to the world, consider entering the Global Tech Awards today. http://www.globaltechaward.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include the Company’s expectations with respect to the success of the Company’s product development efforts, the performance of its products, the expected results of its operations, meeting revenue targets, and the expectation of continued success in the financing efforts, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company’s technology as well as the market acceptance, inclusion and timing of the Company’s technology in current and future products and expectations regarding its successful penetration of the Artificial Intelligence hardware markets.

Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the size, future growth and needs of Artificial Intelligence network suppliers, management’s expectations regarding the success and timing for completion of its development efforts, the introduction of new products, financing activities, future growth, recruitment of personnel, reorganization efforts, plans for and completion of projects by the Company’s consultants, contractors and partners, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the failure of Artificial Intelligence networks to continue to grow as expected, the failure of the Company’s products to meet performance requirements for AI and datacom networks, lack of sales in its products, lack of sales by its customers to end-users, operational risks in the completion of the Company’s projects, risks affecting the Company’s ability to complete its products, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, the ability of its customers to generate sales for products that incorporate the Company’s products, the ability to attract key personnel, the failure of its reorganization efforts and the ability to raise additional capital when needed. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 – Fax: 416-322-5075

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96c01282-3fb8-4e31-b9b1-b8c12e73564d

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Duclos to make announcement concerning cultural organization in Québec

Source: Government of Canada News

Government of Canada supports Quebec music scene.

QUÉBEC – The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Quebec Lieutenant and Member of Parliament (Québec), will announce financial support on Thursday, which will help a cultural organization in Québec acquire and renovate creative spaces as well as produce and distribute its work. He will make the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities.

Journalists looking to attend the announcement in person must confirm their attendance by sending their full name and the name of the media organization they represent to media@pch.gc.ca by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

The details are as follows:

DATE:
Thursday October 17, 2024

TIME:
9:30 a.m.

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Agricultural Research Service Develops Long-Term Roadmap for PFAS in U.S. Agriculture

Source: US Agriculture Research Service

Agricultural Research Service Develops Long-Term Roadmap for PFAS in U.S. Agriculture

Multi-Agency Workshop Forms Solutions to Chemical’s Most Complex Challenges

Contact: Autumn Canaday
Email: Autumn Canaday

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2024 —The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today announced several key outcomes from a workshop to develop a research roadmap that would lead to short and long-term science-based solutions to meet the emerging challenges posed by the discovery of Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural soils and waters. PFAS have become increasingly found in the environment, posing significant challenges for producers, and farming communities, highlighting the need for agricultural researchers to develop innovative and practical solutions.

ARS, its Center of Excellence for Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation, and the University Maine, collaborated recently during a three-day workshop to bring together more than 150 interagency researchers, state partners, university partners and other subject matter experts to engage in discussion and identify key research and innovative solutions that address the top challenges PFAS poses to agriculture, agroecosystems, food systems, and farming communities.

Many within the agricultural community are facing new challenges when PFAS chemicals are detected within their farms, resulting in this being a new challenge to farmers’ continued capacity to sustain healthy soil and water on their farms, as well as continued capacity to provide safe and dependable food and fiber supplies to our nation and the world. The suggested long-term roadmap solutions for improving these circumstances include finding new means of detecting when PFAS contamination is a problem, better understanding of how it moves through the agricultural system, and innovating new ways to interrupt that movement or remove the chemicals before they can do harm.

Other topics of discussion at the workshop included a strategy for data standardization and integration, how to develop scientific solutions to management of municipal biosolids, and ways of effectively removing existing PFAS chemicals from the production environment.

“The meeting’s focus on the gap between PFAS challenges and solutions has empowered and offered hope to ARS, its partners and sister agencies – to address and resolve agriculture-centric problems arising from the use of PFAS in our communities and everyday consumer products,” said ARS Senior Management Advisor, Dr. David Knaebel. “The workshop’s overarching impact will assist the U.S. agricultural research community and stakeholders to find creative and innovative ways to mitigate and remediate a rapidly growing PFAS challenge in U.S. agriculture and food systems.”

PFAS is a class of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States, since the 1940s. The chemical has been placed in the category of “forever chemicals’ because they bioaccumulate in animals and plants and do not breakdown naturally in the animals or plants or in the environment. These chemicals in agricultural landscapes can cause food producers numerous challenges that require innovative scientific solutions from agriculture research, research and developments, and strategic partnerships.

“Currently, our data shows that PFAS is an environmental hazard that does not come from agriculture,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Marlen Eve. “But, producers need efficient, cost-effective ways to deal with the challenges when it is detected in our agricultural soils and waters.”

Federal and stakeholder workshop attendees plan to move forward with next steps by crafting documents that will communicate solutions to the ag research community – especially in locations where PFAS has critical impacts on agriculture – and to engage in partnerships to realize those research solutions into impactful tools and practices for producers and the agricultural community.

“The University of Maine is pleased to expand our partnership with USDA ARS to find solutions to this national environmental crisis. With our collective expertise — supported by the ingenuity and resolve of our researchers and students — we can accelerate breakthroughs in basic and applied science that will result in new tools and strategies for protecting food systems in Maine and beyond.” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for the University of Maine System and President of the University of Maine. “Together, we will also expand each other’s research capacities, grant funding efforts and infrastructure, all of which will be essential for mitigating the spread of PFAS and other toxic compounds like it. Thank you to U.S. Senator Susan Collins for securing funding for the Center and for her ongoing support of research informing practical solutions for rural farmers and communities.”

ARS will continue to expand its PFAS research to address its impact on U.S. agriculture. Future research will ensure that the nation maintains a safe and abundant high quality food supply that is undergirded by sustainable natural resources.

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Applied Systems, Ivans and EZLynx Recognized in the 2024 PropertyCasualty360 Insurance Luminaries Awards
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Chicago, IL., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Systems today announced that the company and two of its subsidiaries, Ivans and EZLynx, have been named to PropertyCasualty360’s Insurance Luminaries Class of 2024 in the categories of Technology Innovation and Innovation in Workplace Culture. The Technology Innovation category recognizes those advancing the insurance industry through digitalization and customer experience improvements. The Innovation in Workplace Culture category honors those enhancing the industry’s reputation as a career choice and promoting employee satisfaction through diversity, wellness, ESG initiatives, and community service.
- Applied Systems – Innovation in Workplace Culture
- Ivans – Technology Innovation – Company Category
- Applied Pay – Technology Innovation – Product Category
- EZLynx Management System – Technology Innovation – Product Category
“My colleagues and I are thrilled to be able to recognize pace-setting insurance organizations, programs, practices, teams, and individuals as part of the annual PropertyCasualty360 Insurance Luminaries recognition program,” says Elana Ashanti Jefferson, executive editor, NU Property & Casualty. “This year’s honorees pay homage to the industry’s mission to make insureds whole after a major loss while adapting to challenging business conditions created by historic storms, inflation, and litigation trends.”

This recognition celebrates innovation in the property and casualty insurance industry. The program spotlights top professionals, teams, organizations, programs, practices and products within the sector that strive to modernize and humanize the business. The 2024 honorees were selected by a panel of industry experts based on how well they stated and achieved goals with regards to the nomination category; how impactful their work has been; how dedicated the nominee has been to furthering modernization and humanization in the P&C insurance business; and how committed and dedicated the nominee has been to high ethical standards, service and excellence.

“We are honored to be recognized in the 2024 PropertyCasualty360 Insurance Luminaries Awards,” said Taylor Rhodes, chief executive officer, Applied Systems. “This recognition is a testament to the people across our organization and our commitment to being Indispensable Partners to one another, our customers and our industry.”

# # #

The Applied products and logos are trademarks of Applied Systems, Inc., registered in the U.S.

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

The MIL Network –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: In despair about Earth’s future? Look for green shoots

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Heather Alberro, Lecturer in Sustainability, University of Manchester

A white stork nesting in the city. Dr.MYM/Shutterstock

As species go extinct and a habitable climate teeters, it’s understandable to feel despair.

Some of the world’s top climate scientists have expressed their mounting hopelessness at the prospect of reaching 3°C by 2100. This hellish scenario, well in excess of the 1.5°C countries agreed to aim for when they signed the 2015 Paris agreement, would indeed spell disaster for much of life on Earth.

As a lecturer in sustainability, I often hear my anxious students bemoan the impossibility of building a way out of ecological collapse. However, the greatest danger is fatalism, and assuming, as Margaret Thatcher claimed, that “there is no alternative”.

There is a vast ocean of possibility for transforming the planet. Increasingly, cities are in the vanguard of forging more sustainable worlds.

Car-free futures

Since the early 1900s, the car has afforded a sense of freedom for some while infringing on the freedoms of others.

Cars, particularly SUVs, are a major source of air pollution and CO₂ emissions globally. Motorways and car parking spaces have transformed Earth’s terrain and monopolised public space. For those of us in industrialised societies, it is difficult to imagine life without cars.

Global sales of electric vehicles are projected to continue rising. Yet even these supposed solutions to an unsustainable transport sector require a lot of space and materials to make and maintain.

With cities set to host nearly 70% of all people by 2050, space and livability are key concerns. As such, cities across Europe and beyond are beginning to reclaim their streets.

Between 2019 and 2022, the number of low-emissions zones, areas that regulate the most polluting vehicles in order to improve air quality and help to protect public health, expanded by 40% in European cities. Research suggests that policies to restrict car use such as congestion charges and raised parking fees can further discourage their use. However, providing viable and accessible alternatives is also crucial: as such, many cities are also widening walkways, building bike lanes and making public transport cheaper and easier to access.

An estimated 80,000 cars used to pass daily through the centre of Pontevedra, a city in north-west Spain. Mayor Miguel Anxo Fernandez Lores instituted a ban on cars in 1999 and removed on-street parking spaces. The city has since drastically reduced air pollution and hasn’t had a vehicular death in over a decade.

Civic life in Pontevedra has benefited from the absence of cars.
Trabantos/Shutterstock

Living cities

Cement and concrete are widely used to make major infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings and dams. The cement industry accounts for up to 9% of global emissions. Moreover, the open-pit quarrying of limestone, a key ingredient in cement, involves removing topsoil and vegetation which rips up ecosystems and biodiversity and increases flooding risks.

A burgeoning “depaving” movement originated in Portland, Oregon in 2008 and has removed concrete and asphalt from cities including Chicago, London and several cities across Canada, replacing it with plants and soil.

Depaving is an example of the wider urban rewilding movement which aims to restore natural habitats and expand green spaces in cities for social and ecological wellbeing.

Multispecies coexistence

A new report by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has documented an average 73% decline in the abundance of monitored wildlife populations globally since 1970. Despite such unfathomable losses, many cities are being transformed into oases of multispecies life.

Prized for their fur, beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK by the 16th century. Their water damming activities create homes for other species such as birds and invertebrates and help prevent flooding. Eurasian beavers have been thriving in Sweden, Norway and Germany since their reintroduction in the 1920s and 1960s, respectively.

In 2022, beavers were designated a protected species in England. In October 2023, London saw its first baby beaver in over 400 years.

Melbourne has launched a project to create a 18,000 square-metre garden in the city by 2028, with at least 20 local plant species for each square metre. An 8-kilometre long pollinator corridor is also being created to allow wildlife to travel between 200 interconnected gardens and further help local pollinators flourish.

Living alongside larger predators brings unique challenges. However, as with any functional relationship, respect is key for coexistence. Los Angeles and Mumbai are two major cities that are learning to live alongside mountain lions and leopards. Local officials have launched public education initiatives urging people to, for instance, maintain a safe distance from the animals and not walk alone outside at night. In cases where wildlife conflicts occur, such as between wolves and farmers who have lost livestock, non-lethal methods such as wolf-proof fences and guard dogs have been found to be more effective solutions than culls.

India’s leopard population appears to be rising.
Nedla/Shutterstock

Environmental justice now

Cities, particularly in wealthy countries, are only a small part of the story.

At just over 500 years old, the modern capitalist system, imposed globally through European colonialism, is a relatively recent development. Despite its influence, the visionary author Ursula K. Le Guin reminded us that “any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings”.

Indigenous peoples numbering 476 million across 90 countries represent thousands of distinct cultures that persist as living proof of the enduring possibilities of radically different ways of living.

An online database tracks 4,189 environmental justice movements worldwide. From multi-tribe Indigenous Amazonian alliances keeping illegal miners at bay, to countless local communities and activist groups resisting the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure. Over the last few years, these place-based struggles have either stopped, stalled or forced the suspension of at least one-quarter of planned extractive projects.

These examples demonstrate hope in action, and suggest that the radical changes required to avert climate and ecological breakdown are often a simple question of will and collective resolve.

Reality, like the future, is never fixed. Whether the world is 2, 3 or 4-degrees warmer by 2100 depends on actions taken today. The terrain ahead will be full of challenges. But, glimmers of a better world are already here.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

– ref. In despair about Earth’s future? Look for green shoots – https://theconversation.com/in-despair-about-earths-future-look-for-green-shoots-232114

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Khera on the celebration of Sukkot

Source: Government of Canada News

The Government of Canada celebrates Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles.

OTTAWA, October 16, 2024

Tonight at sunset is the beginning of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Celebrated by Jewish communities in Canada and around the world, this holiday traditionally marked the time of harvest in their ancestral homeland. Today, it is also considered a celebration of hospitality.

For seven days, Jewish families will build a small temporary booth called a “sukkah” on their balcony or in their yard. They gather there to sing, celebrate and share a meal, while reflecting on the blessings of abundance, family and community. According to Jewish tradition, the fact that the doors and windows of the sukkah are always open symbolizes sharing with others. Sukkah are carefully decorated by children, ushering in a new cheerfulness after the solemnity of the major Jewish holidays.

To all those who celebrate, we wish you a warm and joyful Sukkot filled with gratitude and memorable moments.

Chag Sukkot Sameach!

Waleed Saleem
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
waleed.saleem@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada supports tourism development in Rocher-Percé
Source: Government of Canada News (2)

MRC du Rocher-Percé receives over $1.5M in financial assistance from CED to expand and modernize its air terminal.
MRC du Rocher-Percé receives over $1.5M in financial assistance from CED to expand and modernize its air terminal.

Grande-Rivière, Quebec, October 16, 2024 – Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

Since the start of the pandemic, tourism organizations have demonstrated resilience, creativity and adaptability. They are vectors for diversification and major economic development, and the Government of Canada recognizes their contribution to economic development in Quebec’s regions.

That is why the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Member of Parliament for Gaspésie‒Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, is today announcing, on behalf of the Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED, a non‑repayable contribution of $1,541,750 for the MRC du Rocher-Percé to help initiate improvements to its air terminal, a tourism product in Rocher-Percé.

This CED support has enabled the regional county municipality (RCM) to proceed with work to expand, fit out and complete outdoor renovations and indoor leasehold improvements to offer a safe environment adapted to users and staff. By supporting this project, CED is not only contributing to local economic development, but also helping to strengthen the tourism sector in Rocher-Percé, to the benefit of the region’s businesses and organizations.

Founded in 1986, the Aéroport du Rocher-Percé, owned by the RCM, specializes in the transportation of people and goods by air. It serves the MRC du Rocher-Percé region, providing mainly medical transportation and business and tourism flights. This essential service plays a key role in regional economic development. The proposed improvements under this project will now enable the RCM to meet its tourism development targets aimed at attracting tourists to the region, including through the travel packages it offers.

The Government of Canada recognizes and supports businesses and organizations that are a source of pride in their communities. Quebec’s economic recovery relies, among other things, on a strong tourism industry with organizations that have deep roots in the regional economy. The players in this sector are major contributors to growth, as well as key assets in rebuilding a stronger, more resilient, greener and more just economy for all.

Quotes

“The CED support announced today clearly illustrates our willingness to boost players in the tourism industry. The financial contribution provided for the project to expand and modernize the Aérogare de Grande-Rivière is very good news for the MRC du Rocher-Percé and its appeal. Thanks to the Government of Canada’s investments in the tourism industry, we are ensuring we are ready to welcome travellers and tourists from home and abroad!”

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Member of Parliament for Gaspésie‒Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

“Our government is committed to supporting tourism businesses and organizations. Thanks to the funding announced today, we are helping to strengthen economic growth in the MRC du Rocher-Percé. Our assistance represents an important step in the efforts being made to attract tourists from Quebec, Canada and around the world so they can all discover the best tourism experiences our country has to offer.”

The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED

“A functional airport is essential to ensure efficient service for air ambulance flights, thereby enabling our residents to quickly receive emergency medical care in major centres. The airport and its facilities also represent a major development tool for our economy and for the tourism sector.”

Samuel Parisé, Warden of the MRC du Rocher-Percé

Quick facts
- The funds have been granted under CED’s Quebec Economic Development Program. This program aims to help communities seize economic development and diversification opportunities that are promising for the future.
- In Quebec, SMEs account for 99.7% of the province’s businesses and 50% of its GDP.
- CED is the key federal partner in Quebec’s regional economic development. With its 12 regional business offices, CED accompanies businesses, supporting organizations and all regions across Quebec into tomorrow’s economy.
Associated links

Information

Media Relations
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
media@dec-ced.gc.ca

Marie-Justine Torres
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Cell: 613-327-5918
marie-justine.torresames@ised-isde.gc.ca

Stay connected

Follow CED on social media
Consult CED’s news
MIL OSI Canada News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada supports manufacturers across southern Ontario
Source: Government of Canada News (2)

News release

Canada is positioned as a global leader in innovation thanks to its thriving manufacturing sector, characterized by cutting-edge technology. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting our local manufacturing firms as they adopt new processes and develop made-in-Canada products to strengthen their position in global supply chains and create good jobs for Canadians.

FedDev Ontario invests $6.5 million to help SMEs scale up, grow and bring new products to market

October 16, 2024 – Welland, Ontario

Canada is positioned as a global leader in innovation thanks to its thriving manufacturing sector, characterized by cutting-edge technology. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting our local manufacturing firms as they adopt new processes and develop made-in-Canada products to strengthen their position in global supply chains and create good jobs for Canadians.

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, along with Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, visited Niagara College to announce over $6.5 million for three projects supporting southern Ontario’s manufacturing sector.

During the visit, PS Badawey announced a Government of Canada investment of $4 million for the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI). This Niagara College-led network is made up of 11 post-secondary institution (PSIs) partners across southern Ontario that pool together resources and expertise to match PSIs with the needs of manufacturers to find innovative solutions to their manufacturing challenges. This investment will support SONAMI as it continues to bring technical and industry leadership, equipment, expertise and solutions to participating manufacturers across southern Ontario with a focus on clean growth. SONAMI will also continue to foster future talent by involving students in projects with participating companies. The program is expected to support up to 90 businesses, create 45 new products, services or processes, and create or license 100 new intellectual properties.

While at Niagara College, PS Badawey also announced support for two manufacturers in the Niagara region: CMI Heavy Industries and Black Creek Metal Inc. With an investment of $1.5 million, CMI Heavy Industries will increase production capacity and automate operations through the purchase and installation of advanced manufacturing equipment.

Black Creek Metal, is receiving $1 million as they expand their second facility in Thorold. This project will support the company as it enhances production capacity by purchasing new equipment and adopting new technologies that will increase efficiencies.

The Government of Canada is supporting businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs to ensure they have the support they need to innovate and grow, creating good jobs for Canadians.

Quotes

“The important work being done by manufacturers like Black Creek Metal and CMI Heavy Industries, as well as the SONAMI network of post-secondary institutions in collaboration with businesses, will have impacts throughout Ontario. The Government of Canada is pleased to support these significant investments in the manufacturing sector. These contributions not only reflect our dedication to promoting innovation and sustainable economic growth but also emphasize the tremendous potential of our region’s manufacturers.”
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“I’m incredibly proud to see these substantial investments in the manufacturing sector across southern Ontario. By supporting our region’s innovative spirit and expanding production facilities, we are ensuring that the region remains a key player in Canada’s manufacturing landscape, particularly with the vital contributions of SONAMI and our local manufacturers Black Creek Metal and CMI Heavy Industries.”
– Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre

“This support for the manufacturing sector in southern Ontario will be transformative for local businesses. As we continue to champion growth and innovation throughout the region, these investments will help position our region as a hub of manufacturing excellence, bolstered by the important work of SONAMI and local manufacturers like CMI Heavy Industries and Black Creek Metal.”
– Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines

“On behalf of Niagara College, we’re grateful to FedDev Ontario for their continued investment in SONAMI. We are proud to have become a key resource for advanced manufacturing applied research in southern Ontario. With this new investment, we will further leverage the regional ecosystem to bring robust technical and industry leadership, equipment, expertise and solutions to manufacturers across southern Ontario, and give students valuable real-world job experience to help them succeed in their future careers. This investment will enhance our focus on clean growth outcomes, ensuring sustainable and innovative advancements in the manufacturing sector.”
– Sean Kennedy, President, Niagara College

“This investment from FedDev Ontario has accelerated CMI Heavy Industries’ investments and advancements allowing our company to be more competitive globally. This investment ensures that high-paying manufacturing jobs stay in Niagara.”
– Shawn Rapone, Controller, CMI Heavy Industries

“The generous support from FedDev Ontario highlights the government’s commitment to driving business growth and enhancing productivity across southern Ontario. This funding will be transformative, significantly improving the capacity and precision of our operations. It will strengthen our position as an industry leader and ensure we remain competitive in our field.”
– Merle Beam, President, Black Creek Metal Inc.

Quick facts
- Led by Niagara College, SONAMI is a network of 11 post-secondary institutions, including: Centennial College, Conestoga College, Fanshawe College, Fleming College, George Brown College, Lambton College, McMaster University, Mohawk College, Sheridan College, and Queen’s University.
- FedDev Ontario previously provided Niagara College with $21.3 million in investments to first establish and then expand SONAMI.
- Established in 1922, CMI Heavy Industries is a leading provider of heavy fabricated, forged and cast machined components and assemblies. The company specializes in the design, manufacturing and maintenance of heavy industrial equipment and provides a comprehensive range of services to various industries including steel and iron, oil and gas, power generation, mining, construction and transportation.
- Founded in 1975 and incorporated in 1979, Black Creek Metal Inc. specializes in designing and manufacturing custom metal and structural steel for building frameworks.
- Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $885 million in 415 manufacturing projects, supporting over 26,000 jobs.
Associated links

Contacts

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Edward.Hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

FedDev Ontario
Media Relations
media@feddevontario.gc.ca

Stay Connected

FedDev-Ontario.Canada.ca

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Subscribe to FedDev Ontario’s Southern Ontario Spotlight newsletter, featuring economic development news and updates from across the region.

MIL OSI Canada News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting culture and tourism growth in western Newfoundland
Source: Government of Canada News

News release

Western Newfoundland’s renowned vibrant autumn colours during this time of the year, combined with spectacular ocean and mountain scenery, numerous hiking and biking trails, and unique cultural and immersive experiences continue to draw visitors from around the world. The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador are making significant investments to support projects that will further enhance the visitor experience in the region.

Community organizations receive federal and provincial support for local attractions

October 16, 2024 · Benoit’s Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Western Newfoundland’s renowned vibrant autumn colours during this time of the year, combined with spectacular ocean and mountain scenery, numerous hiking and biking trails, and unique cultural and immersive experiences continue to draw visitors from around the world. The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador are making significant investments to support projects that will further enhance the visitor experience in the region.

Federal and provincial investments boost region’s tourism potential

Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, announced total federal investments of $1,075,973 for 10 tourism-related projects in western Newfoundland. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador also announced a total contribution of $376,145 for these projects.

These investments will improve infrastructure and accessibility at tourism attractions in the region; assist with the cost of trail construction; support local cultural and art programs, including Indigenous traditions, music, and festivals; and enhance marketing strategies to attract more tourists to the region.

For the full list of projects, please see the Backgrounder.

Tourism and culture play a vital role in the economy and identity of Newfoundland and Labrador. Initiatives like these support local businesses, create jobs, and promote sustainable development in rural and urban areas alike. By celebrating and preserving the province’s cultural heritage, Newfoundland and Labrador fosters a deep sense of pride among its people, while showcasing its distinct history and traditions to a global audience.

Quotes

“Investing in our tourism and cultural sectors is not just about boosting our economy today, it is creating opportunities for future generations too. Your federal government’s support ensures that our vibrant communities continue to thrive and that the stories and traditions that define us are celebrated and shared with the world.”

– The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

“Western Newfoundland has already developed a well-earned reputation for its outdoor attractions and unique cultural offerings. Our support for these projects will help preserve the region’s natural and cultural heritage while also encouraging visitors to stay and explore our communities, advancing tourism offerings and stimulating economic growth in the region.”

– The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology

Quick facts
- The Newfoundland and Labrador tourism industry contributes $1.14 billion annually to the local economy. Tourism is helping many people earn a living, and creating a great place to live, visit, and invest in the province’s future.
- The Government of Canada contributions announced today are delivered through several programs and initiatives with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), including the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) and Tourism Growth Program (TGP).
- The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador’s investments are delivered through the departments of Industry, Energy and Technology and Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation.
Associated links

Contacts

Connor Burton

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and of the

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Paul McGrath

Director of Communications

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

709-689-5731

Paul.Mcgrath@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Lesley Clarke

Media Relations Manager

Industry, Energy and Technology

709-729-5777, 709-699-2910

lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca

MIL OSI Canada News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Western Newfoundland region receives support for tourism-related projects

Source: Government of Canada News

Western Newfoundland’s renowned vibrant autumn colours during this time of the year, combined with spectacular ocean and mountain scenery, numerous hiking and biking trails, and unique cultural and immersive experiences continue to draw visitors from around the world. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is investing a total of $1,075,973 to support projects that will bolster the visitor experience in the region. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing a total of $376,145.

October 16, 2024 · Benoit’s Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Western Newfoundland’s renowned vibrant autumn colours during this time of the year, combined with spectacular ocean and mountain scenery, numerous hiking and biking trails, and unique cultural and immersive experiences continue to draw visitors from around the world. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is investing a total of $1,075,973 to support projects that will bolster the visitor experience in the region. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing a total of $376,145.

The City of Corner Brook is receiving non-repayable contributions totalling $400,350 for three projects through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program:

– Hire a consultant to develop an invigorated and consistent branding and marketing strategy for Corner Brook, Lower Humber and Bay of Islands that aligns with the Strategic Areas and Regions (STAR) integrated tourism plan that was developed in 2019 with area stakeholders. (ACOA: $245,475, Province: $82,875).

– Undertake Phase I of trail assessment and design from the STAR report to anchor regional offerings around destination trails and trail-based tourism. Specifically, to develop a design package for Cape Blow Me Down (a 3.8-km trail that ascends 650 metres) and the Man in the Mountain (a 5.5-km trail that covers 358 metres of elevation change) that will establish long-term sustainable and safe trails. (ACOA: $32,500, Province: $12,500)

– Conduct a feasibility study for establishing a farmer’s market in Corner Brook. If the study results in favourable outcomes, the entrepreneurial environment in the city will be further enhanced to allow spaces for those selling their products and grow their businesses. The market would serve as a hub on weekends for residents and visitors to gather, socialize, find healthy, affordable food options and shop locally. (ACOA: $19,500, Province: $7,500)

The City of Corner Brook is an incorporated municipality in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Incorporated in 1955, the City of Corner Brook is located on the western shores of Newfoundland, at the mouth of the Bay of Islands. Corner Brook is known as a popular tourist attraction, with its combination of ocean and mountain scenery, as well as for its outdoor facilities, such as Marble Mountain Ski Resort.

The Town of Humber Arm South is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $258,425 (ACOA: $190,883, Province: $67,542) through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to develop a localized area to support and enhance the tourism experience in the Bay of Islands region. These activities include a small building to provide amenities, such as showers, washrooms and visitor information for the surrounding region; landscaping and signage; and the construction of BBQ and firepit areas. A strengthened infrastructure in the community will encourage tourists and those in the surrounding areas to explore the hiking, geology and natural landscapes thus creating a positive economic impact for local businesses.

The Town of Humber Arm South is a relatively small community on the south shore of the Bay of Islands, bordering the Blow Me Down Mountains, with a population of approximately 1,800 people. The town is comprised of four communities that spans 18 kms and is about a 20-minute drive to Corner Brook, which increases the visitor potential in the area. The major economic drivers in the community are the in-shore fishery, fish processing, and tourism, with an increasing number of visitors from the cruise ship market segment.

Corner Brook Stream is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $269,148 (ACOA: $183,432, Province: $85,716) through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to implement Phase II of accessibility improvements to a community trail system. These upgrades will include the installation of lighting to increase daily usage of the trails, a redesigned interpretive welcome area, and accessibility upgrades to the west side of the trail. This initiative increases the inclusivity of community infrastructure offerings and will positively impact the linkage between main attractions within the Corner Brook business ecosystem.

The Corner Brook Stream Development Corporation is a not-for-profit organization. In the early 1990s, a group of likeminded individuals from a variety of backgrounds decided to explore the possibility of creating a series of walking trails throughout the city. The Corner Brook Stream Development Corporation was established as a volunteer organization to further refine and implement this strategy.

The West Coast Cycling Association is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $217,792 (ACOA: $162,567, Province: $55,225) through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to build a 5.8-km long, multi-use trail in the Rocky Harbour municipal planning area. The trail will be designed for intermediate-level cyclists, including those using e-bikes, while also offering high-value opportunities for hikers, trail runners, and snowshoers. Key activities for the project include contracting, marking and clearing the route, trail building, and installation of signage. Given that the Gros Morne region does not currently have any trails suitable for cycling, this project will address this gap thus providing economic development capacity through a new marketable attraction.

West Coast Cycling Association is an incorporated not-for-profit organization that has been developing mountain bike trails and hosting cycling events on the West Coast of Newfoundland since 2010. The organization strives to bring people together through the shared passion for mountain biking, by building a legacy of inclusive, sustainable trails, and by promoting a healthy and active lifestyle that embraces the outstanding terrain and natural beauty of western Newfoundland. Its plan focuses on building world-class, community-based mountain bike trail networks that highlight the region’s vibrant towns and inspire new and experiences riders to enjoy the region.

Cabox Geopark is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $110,000 (ACOA: $77,550, Province: $32,450) through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to construct a four-kilometre trail at the east end of the Blow Me Down Mountains above Benoit’s Cove. This initiative will include clearing and grading the trail path and graveling for accessibility, installation of directional signage, rest areas, picnic spots and educational features. The trail will allow tourists a convenient experience of the spectacular views and geological history of the Bay of Islands and surrounding mountains.

Cabox Geopark Inc., incorporated in 2018, is a non-profit organization led by a dedicated volunteer board of directors who represent municipalities, businesses, and the Outer Bay of Islands Enhancement Committee. Cabox Aspiring Global Geopark is in the Bay of Islands region of Western Newfoundland and has been working its way towards UNESCO global geopark status. Its mandate is to develop a world-class tourism product, promoting the region’s natural and cultural heritage while increasing local knowledge, innovative technology and rural economic development. Cabox is the name of the highest peak on the island of Newfoundland.

Western NL DMO is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $91,300 (ACOA: $76,300, Province $15,000) through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program to develop and promote the winter tourism anchor experiences in the western region of Newfoundland and Labrador. New experiences will also be encouraged and integrated with existing products. By bringing skiing, snowmobiling and other outdoor experiences together with cultural and culinary experiences, innovation and inclusion within the ecosystem, the local tourism sector will see a significant boost.

Western NL DMO, also known as Go Western, is an incorporated not-for-profit organization and is the key marketing, market readiness and product development organization in western Newfoundland and Labrador. As the Destination Management Organization for the western region, the organization had excellent relationships with business operators, not-for-profit experience providers and municipalities. Western NL DMO was integral to the development of a Winter Stakeholder Committee consisting of representatives from all sub-sectors of the winter tourism sector.

The Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $60,689 (ACOA: $55,689, Province: $5,000) through the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) to support its 2024 Elmastukwek Mawio’mi in Corner Brook. The Mawio’mi, in its third year, consists of two full days of teachings, celebrations, activities, art displays and ceremonies as part of an Indigenous cultural and heritage experience. The Mi’kmaq name for the Bay of Islands is “Elmastukwek” and “Mawio’mi” refers to a gathering of people. The event provides a platform to allow for intergeneration cultural sharing, while also showcasing and sharing Mi’kmaw culture to the community at large.

The Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation is a not-for-profit organization. The foundation was incorporated in 2014 and exists to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of the Mi’kmaq of Newfoundland and Labrador. Like other First Nations, the Mi’kmaq have a long and rich history that includes unique cultural, social, political and spiritual traditions. The foundation is making every effort to reach out to individuals with limited knowledge of their heritage and provide them with information and experiences that will assist them in the discovery process. They also seek to unite the people who have the experience and knowledge of Mi’kmaw traditions.

CB Nuit Incorporated is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $44,414 (ACOA: $32,077, Province: $12,337) through the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) to increase the accessibility capacity and inclusivity for the three-day art at night festival in Corner Brook. Activities will include engaging an accessibility expert to understand how to support guests in terms of mobility needs, sensory sensitivities, as well as vision and hearing impairment. The project will involve implementing points of contact for digital and in person artist sites, creation of a low sensory guided walk, and a low sensory space.

CB Nuit was established in 2017 and aims to engage artists in the creation and installation of site specific and participatory contemporary work. By bringing art of all mediums to streets, businesses, and vacant spaces, CB Nuit has the goal to invigorate, beautify, inspire, and economically stimulate the community. Its long-term goal is to become an international destination for artists participating in the festival as well attracting an international audience.

Related products

News release: Supporting culture and tourism growth in western Newfoundland

CB Nuit Inc.

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Marci Ien to Announce 2023 and 2024 Recipients of the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case

Source: Government of Canada News

The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, will announce the recipients of the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

October 16, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta— The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, will announce the recipients of the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

Date: October 18, 2024

Time: 9:30am – 11:00 am AM ET

Location: Crystal Ballroom, Fairmont Palliser Hotel
133 9 Ave SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 2M3

Members of the media who wish to attend this event in-person or virtually must register by 8:30 AM ET on October 18, 2024, by emailing FEGC.Media.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca.

Angie Rutera
Communications Assistant
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
Angie.Rutera@fegc-wage.gc.ca

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flight PS752: International Coordination and Response Group memorial statement
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

The International Coordination and Response Group have filed a memorial with the International Court of Justice instituting the next phase in proceedings against Iran.
Statement from the International Coordination and Response Group on filing memorial of Flight PS752:

“Today the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden and Ukraine have jointly filed a memorial with the International Court of Justice, instituting the next phase of proceedings against Iran in relation to its breaches of the 1971 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation.

“Iran has, among other violations, failed to take all practicable measures to prevent the destruction of Flight PS752 by members of its armed forces. Iran has equally failed to advance a full, transparent and impartial investigation and prosecution in accordance with international standards.

“Today’s legal action underscores our commitment to achieving transparency, justice and accountability for the victims and their families.”

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

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Updates to this page

Published 16 October 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Discovery 2024 Short Duration LP Second Closing November 14, 2024 – Maximum $25,000,000

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Middlefield is pleased to announce the closing of its 70^th resource fund, Discovery 2024 Short Duration LP (the “Partnership”), which raised total proceeds of $15.2 million.

The objectives of the Partnership are to provide investors with capital appreciation and significant tax benefits to enhance after-tax returns to limited partners, including the deductibility of 100% of their original investment. The Partnership intends to achieve these objectives by investing in an actively managed, diversified portfolio comprised primarily of equity securities of Canadian gold mining companies.

Middlefield is a leading provider of flow-through share funds in Canada and has a strong track record of delivering positive after-tax returns. Since 1983, Middlefield has sponsored 69 public and private flow-through funds and has acted as agent or manager for over $2.5 billion of resource investments.

The syndicate of agents for the offering is being co-led by RBC Capital Markets and CIBC Capital Markets and includes BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc., Richardson Wealth Limited, Manulife Wealth Inc., iA Private Wealth Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., Ventum Financial Corp. and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.

For further information, please visit our website at http://www.middlefield.com or contact Nancy Tham in our Sales and Marketing Department at 1.888.890.1868.

This offering is only made by prospectus. The prospectus contains important detailed information about the securities being offered. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from your CIRO registered financial advisor using the contact information for such advisor. Investors should read the prospectus before making an investment decision

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Beaver Dam — Missing 15-year-old boy

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Oromocto RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing 15-year-old boy from Beaver Dam, N.B.

Autumn (Jasper) Blaney was last seen on October 15, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., near Whittaker Road in Beaver Dam. He was reported missing to police the same day. Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate him, but have so far been unsuccessful. Police and his family are concerned for his wellbeing.

Autumn (Jasper) Blaney is described as being approximately five feet five inches (167 centimetres) tall, and weighing approximately 150 pounds (68 kilograms). He has hazel eyes, blond hair, a tattoo of a rose on his forearm and a nose ring. He was last seen wearing an off-white sweater, jogger pants and black sneakers.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Oromocto RCMP at 506-357-4300.

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Bonavista — Bonavista RCMP arrests suspect in multiple break and enters, charges laid
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Following recent investigations into property crimes in Bonavista, 43-year-old Christopher Delaney of Bonavista was arrested on October 9, 2024, by Bonavista RCMP.

On October 2, 2024, Bonavista RCMP received a report of a break, enter and theft at an Ultramar gas station on Confederation Drive. The suspect forced entry into the store and allegedly stole a quantity of cigarettes from inside.

On the evening of September 29, 2024, Bonavista RCMP received a report of an attempted residential break and enter on Sweeney’s Lane that occurred while the home owner was away from the property. The suspect tried to gain access to the residence but was startled by a neighbour.

A short time later that same evening, Bonavista RCMP received a report of a possible break and enter at the Irving gas station on Confederation Drive. The suspect forced entry into the business and stole a quantity of cigarettes, beer and lottery tickets.

Evidence obtained during each of these investigations identified the suspect involved as Delaney.

Delaney was remanded in custody over the weekend and is charged with the following criminal offences:
- Break enter and committing – two counts
- Possess break in instrument – two counts
- Mischief Under $5000.00 (damage to property) – three counts
- Breach of a Probation Order – three counts
He will appear in court today.

RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

MIL Security OSI –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: U.S. Achievements in the Global Fight Against Corruption

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
Corruption poses a grave and enduring threat to U.S. national interests and those of our partners. When officials abuse their entrusted power for personal or political gain, the interests of authoritarians and corrupt actors win – at the expense of citizens, honest businesses, and healthy societies. As the Biden-Harris Administration took office, this longstanding challenge had metastasized. In some countries, oligarchs were teaming up with foreign kleptocrats to warp policy and procurement decisions in exchange for kickbacks – with no accountability. Corrupt officials were laundering stolen assets through the U.S. and global financial systems, while local investigators were ill-equipped to follow the money. Reformers in countries saddled with corruption had scarce public resources to actually address development needs. The Biden-Harris Administration tacked these challenges starting Day One, to ensure democracy delivers and corrupt actors are held to account.
The first National Security Study Memorandum of the Biden-Harris Administration established countering corruption as a “core U.S. national security interest,” leading to the issuance in December 2021 of the first United States Strategy on Countering Corruption. Since then, the United States has taken action at home and around the world to curb illicit finance, hold corrupt actors accountable, forge multilateral partnerships, and equip frontline leaders to take on transnational corruption. The result has been historic progress in protecting the U.S. financial system from money-laundering, including in the residential real estate sector, while enhancing corporate transparency. This Administration has mobilized record levels of foreign assistance dedicated to anti-corruption, including $339 million in Fiscal Year 2023 alone – almost double the yearly average during the previous four years. This new assistance has unlocked support for anti-corruption institutions, leveled the playing field for law-abiding businesses, enabled journalists to team up across borders, and more. Expanded law enforcement cooperation and capacity-building have generated convictions of corrupt actors as well as the seizure, forfeiture, and return of criminal proceeds, while new anti-corruption offices at the Department of State (State) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) energized diplomatic and stakeholder engagement. The United States imposed sanctions on more than 500 individuals and entities for corruption and related activities, and established – for the first time in any jurisdiction globally – a new visa restriction for those who enable corrupt activity.
U.S. progress on anti-corruption has produced concrete benefits for the American people and stakeholders around the world – enhancing prosperity, economic security, safety, and democracy, as outlined below. To bolster and sustain this work, the U.S. government has also modernized its approach to addressing corruption as a cross-cutting priority. Today, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Daleep Singh will highlight the benefits of this work to American businesses and workers at a White House anti-corruption roundtable with leaders from 15 major U.S. companies.
Advancing economic opportunity abroad
Improving the business enabling environment: U.S. assistance advanced governments’ capacity to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute corruption, while encouraging anti-bribery compliance. State expanded its Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund – to help willing partners improve budget transparency – while holding countries to account for progress in its Fiscal Transparency Report. In the past two years alone, a newly expanded State-Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) program facilitated U.S. collaboration with foreign counterparts on more than 50 transnational corruption and money laundering cases with a U.S. nexus. In coordination with State, experienced legal advisors from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) assisted foreign justice partners around the world in investigating and prosecuting corruption and money laundering cases, and recovering assets. And DOJ’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, in partnership with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, has recovered more than $1.7 billion and returned or assisted in returning more than $1.6 billion for the benefit of the people harmed by the corruption.
Enforcing our bans on foreign bribery and money-laundering – and pressing other countries to do the same: To enable honest companies to compete overseas, the United States upheld its commitments under the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention by enforcing its foreign bribery and related laws and working with partners to monitor other countries’ progress in implementing the Convention, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024. Since the start of the Administration, DOJ has imposed more than $3.5 billion in total monetary sanctions under the Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA) in 16 corporate resolutions, and announced charges against more than 70 individuals. For instance, this April the former Comptroller General of Ecuador was convicted of money laundering relating to his receipt of over $10 million in bribes from, among others, the Brazil-based construction conglomerate Odebrecht S.A. The Securities and Exchange Commission continued civil enforcement of the FCPA, with approximately $1 billion in total monetary sanctions in 22 corporate resolutions, spanning conduct in 24 countries, since the start of the Administration. DOJ is also enforcing the recently enacted Foreign Extortion Prevention Act, which criminalizes demands for bribes by foreign officials from U.S. companies and others. In addition, this August DOJ announced a new Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program to uncover and prosecute corporate crime – with a particular focus on foreign and domestic corruption, as well as violations by financial institutions of their obligations to take steps to detect and deter money laundering.
Seizing windows of opportunity: U.S. assistance has become more agile via the establishment of USAID’s Anti-Corruption Response Fund (providing flexible support to countries experiencing new opportunities or backsliding), the State-DOJ Global Anti-Corruption Rapid Response Fund (providing assistance and case mentoring to foreign partners on short notice), and USAID’s Democracy Delivers initiative (which has marshalled $500 million in funding from the United States and others to help reformers deliver, including on their anti-corruption commitments). These innovations, informed by USAID’s Dekleptification Guide, are enabling the U.S. government to more nimbly pivot toward environments where local momentum can be bolstered by outside assistance.
Bolstering integrity in high-risk sectors: In April 2024, the United States and its partners launched the Blue Dot Network – a mechanism to certify infrastructure projects that have met global standards for quality and sustainability, including transparency in procurement and provisions to limit opportunities for corruption. The United States also supported the launch of PROTECT, a collective action project to address corruption risk in the supply chain for critical minerals.
Strengthening corruption safeguards in the Indo-Pacific: In June, the United States and thirteen other partners held a signing ceremony, after concluding eight rounds of negotiations in record time, for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Fair Economy Agreement. The Agreement aims to create a more transparent, predictable trade and investment environment across IPEF partners’ markets, including through binding obligations to prevent and combat corruption. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) and State are accelerating implementation by offering new anti-corruption technical assistance to IPEF partners, including workshops on procurement corruption.
Dialoguing with the private sector: In 2021, State launched the Galvanizing the Private Sector as Partners in Combatting Corruption initiative, which connects companies and governments to strengthen business integrity and encourage governance reform. Commerce’s International Trade Administration organized the 2024 forum of the Business Ethics for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Small and Medium Enterprises Initiative – the world’s largest public-private partnership on ethical business conduct – at which stakeholders formalized policy recommendations on business integrity in public procurement.
Protecting the U.S. financial system from abuse
Expanding corporate transparency: To deter kleptocrats and criminals from laundering money through anonymous shell companies, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) operationalized a new filing system for certain companies operating in the United States to report their beneficial owners – the real people who own or control them – pursuant to the bipartisan Corporate Transparency Act. Treasury held hundreds of outreach events across all states and territories, reaching thousands of stakeholders, to enable companies to quickly and easily comply with this reporting requirement.
Closing loopholes for money-laundering: Treasury finalized rules to close two major loopholes in the U.S. financial system: (1) to increase transparency in the U.S. residential real estate sector, to ensure that law-abiding homebuyers are not disadvantaged by individuals laundering their ill-gotten gains, and (2) to safeguard the investment adviser industry from illicit finance. Treasury also proposed a rule to modernize financial institutions’ anti-money-laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs, to make them more effective and risk-based. Together, these rulemakings represent historic advances for the U.S. AML/CFT regime, in line with international standards, that will help the United States urge other countries to undertake similar reforms to curb illicit finance. The Biden-Harris Administration has also called on Congress to close even more loopholes that facilitate money-laundering by passing the ENABLERS Act.
Blocking assets and denying entry to corrupt actors: Since the start of the Administration, Treasury has designated more than 500 individuals and entities for corruption and related activities, across six continents. That includes blocking the assets of 20 individuals and 48 companies in Fiscal Year 2024 for corruption in Afghanistan, Guatemala, Guyana, Paraguay, Western Balkans, and Zimbabwe. In tandem, State publicly issued corruption-related visa restrictions for 76 foreign officials and family members in Fiscal Year 2024, and 292 over the course of the Administration. These actions have protected the U.S. financial system from corrupt actors and promoted accountability in domestic jurisdictions. For example, just one week after the U.S. issuance of a public visa restriction on former Director of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) Intelligence Services Osman Mehmedagic for significant corruption, he was arrested by BiH authorities for abuse of office.
Taking aim at enablers of corruption: In December 2023, President Biden issued an historic Presidential Proclamation establishing a visa restriction for those who facilitate and enable significant corruption and their immediate family members. This new visa restriction complements existing commitments to use sanction and law enforcement capabilities to target private enablers of public corruption. Earlier this year, the FBI and DOJ secured a guilty plea and a criminal penalty of $661 million from Gunvor – one of the largest commodities trading firms in the world – for facilitating bribery of Ecuadorian officials and laundering those bribes through U.S. banks. In addition, USAID launched new activities to incentivize integrity within professions that serve as gatekeepers to the international financial system.
Upholding international standards: The United States has helped lead efforts to expand anti-corruption work at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), including improving assessment tools, mitigating risks associated with “golden passport” programs, and highlighting how non-financial sectors can be abused by corrupt actors.
Keeping America and our partners safe
Addressing corruption risk in the security sector: Security sector corruption can divert essential supplies, empower malign actors, threaten the safety of U.S. service members, and undermine U.S. military missions writ large. In the past year, the Department of Defense (DOD) incorporated corruption risk into its security cooperation planning – subjecting certain proposals to further scrutiny and identifying risk mitigation measures as needed. State also created new resources to weigh corruption risk as part of security sector assistance decision-making. In addition, State’s Global Defense Reform Program and DOD’s institutional capacity building programs advanced more transparent, accountable, and professional defense institutions. DOD continued running a training course on combatting corruption for partner military commanders and civilian leaders.
Tackling organized crime and corruption: Transnational criminal organizations often rely on corruption to enable their criminal activities and evade accountability – which fuels narcotrafficking into the United States, human smuggling, cybercrimes, and more. The U.S. government is deploying anti-corruption tools to target criminal networks and their financial enablers, in line with the 2023 White House Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime.
Standing up to Russia’s aggression: The United States has adapted to address the wartime needs of Ukraine’s anti-corruption stakeholders, as they close off a key vector for Russian dominance and advance Ukraine’s democratic future. In 2023, Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors achieved an 80 percent increase in prosecutions and a 50 percent increase in convictions, plus opened cases against high-ranking officials including the former head of the Ukrainian Supreme Court. With U.S. support, Ukraine has advanced significant reforms on asset disclosure, launched a whistleblower portal, strengthened the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, and enhanced transparency and integrity in reconstruction.
Securing a greener future: The United States has integrated an anti-corruption lens across sectors, with particular emphasis on addressing corruption vulnerabilities that threaten a secure, just energy transition for all. This includes USAID support to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), increased mining transparency in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, and innovations that address transnational corruption in green energy mineral supply chains across 15 countries.
Protecting global health: Corruption curtails the ability of states to respond to pandemics and undercuts access to basic healthcare. USAID is tackling this challenge by releasing cutting-edge guidance on anti-corruption in the health sector and launching integrated programming. For example, in Liberia the United States is working with the government to curb theft of pharmaceuticals through civil society monitoring, law enforcement trainings, and public awareness campaigns.
Addressing the root causes of migration: Combating corruption is a core component of improving conditions in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – so people do not feel compelled to leave their homes, in line with the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America. Recent U.S. actions have included training up to 27,000 justice sector stakeholders in those countries to more effectively address corruption.
Defending democracy by rooting out corruption
Tackling electoral corruption: When candidates can be bankrolled by foreign adversaries and institutions captured by kleptocrats, citizens lose faith in their governments—or even in democracy itself. In response, USAID has launched new programs to bolster electoral integrity, strengthen independent media, and increase the transparency of political finance in high-risk locations.
Lifting up civil society and independent media: The U.S. government has substantially expanded support to frontline activists and journalists, including through the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium. In addition, a new State Department initiative is training hundreds of journalists in transnational corruption investigations, while USAID’s new investigative journalist networks in Asia and Southern Africa are building capacity to track corruption across sectors and across borders. The Secretary of State established a new award for Anti-Corruption Champions, which has honored dozens of courageous civil society leaders and embattled reformers. In 2022, the United States also hosted the largest regular gathering of civil society activists fighting corruption – the International Anti-Corruption Conference – in Washington, DC, with keynote remarks from APNSA Jake Sullivan.
Protecting sovereignty: Authoritarian actors like Russia and the PRC use bribery to interfere in the policy, procurement, debt, and electoral processes of other countries – undermining both sovereignty and democracy. The United States is standing up to this tactic by building the resilience of frontline actors to detect and deflect foreign-backed strategic corruption, educating partners about the kleptocrats’ playbook, harnessing sanction tools to deter threats, and increasing collaboration between practitioners working on anti-corruption and those addressing foreign malign influence – both within the USG and with likeminded partners. For example, in June the United States joined with Canada and the UK to expose Russia’s use of corruption and covert financing, among other tactics, to undermine democratic processes in Moldova.
Restoring trust in American democracy: The Biden-Harris Administration has established the strongest ethics standards of any U.S. presidency. On his first day in office, the President signed an Executive Order requiring administration officials to take a stringent ethics pledge, which extends lobbying bans, limits shadow lobbying, and makes ethics waivers more transparent. The Administration also restored longstanding democratic norms by protecting DOJ cases from political interference, releasing the President’s and Vice-President’s taxes, and voluntarily disclosing White House visitor logs. And in the last year, the Office of Government Ethics finalized rules updating the standards for ethical conduct and legal expense funds for executive branch employees.
Protecting American democracy from malign finance: Just as we defend democracy around the world, the U.S. government is working to keep American democracy safe from foreign adversaries. Actions to curb money laundering in the United States can help reduce the ability of foreign and domestic actors to make illegal campaign contributions and evade U.S. election laws. President Biden has called on Congress to go even further by passing the DISCLOSE Act, which would curb the ability of foreign entities and special interests to use dark money loopholes to influence our elections.
Revitalizing participation in the Open Government Partnership (OGP): The United States rejoined the Steering Committee of OGP – a platform for civil society and governments to forge joint commitments and learn from each other– and provided assistance for OGP’s work on anti-corruption. Domestically, the United States has turbocharged OGP implementation by creating the U.S. Open Government Secretariat at the General Services Administration, an Open Government Federal Advisory Committee, an Interagency Community of Practice – spanning federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and engaged with hundreds of stakeholders to exchange lessons and expand transparency, accountability, and public participation. The United States also launched the first-ever Request for Information to feed into the 6th U.S. OGP National Action Plan and announced development of a toolkit to help federal agencies more meaningfully engage with the public.
Modernizing and coordinating U.S. government efforts to fight corruption
Institutionalizing anti-corruption as an enduring priority: Over the past four years, Departments and Agencies have made substantial organizational improvements to elevate corruption concerns. For example:
The State Department’s new Office of the Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption leads the integration of anti-corruption priorities into bilateral and other policy processes, conducts targeted diplomatic engagements, and drives strategic planning, including through the Department’s senior-level Anti-Corruption Policy Board. In the past year, the Office jumpstarted implementation of the Combating Global Corruption Act and completed an analysis of anti-corruption assistance to inform future State Department decision-making.
USAID’s new Anti-Corruption Center, within the newly established Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, serves as a hub of technical expertise and thought leadership – driving the integration of corruption considerations across USAID’s portfolio, supporting USAID Missions in developing localized approaches, managing a suite of programming focused on transnational corruption, and using its convening power and policy insights to forge strategic partnerships. Since 2022, USAID has released its first-ever Anti-Corruption Policy, which outlines a cross-sectoral approach to constraining opportunities for corruption, raising the costs of corruption, and incentivizing integrity – plus a host of tools to drive uptake across USAID.
FBI’s International Corruption Unit expanded an agreement with the State Department to deploy six regional anti-corruption advisors to strategic locations around the world, where they organize regional working groups with local law enforcement officials, provide case-base mentorship, and facilitate coordination with the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre.

Expanded interagency capacity has been complemented by the National Security Council’s establishment of a dedicated Director for Anti-Corruption position, for the first time, to ensure whole-of-government coordination and advance anti-corruption within key policy processes.
Leading in multilateral fora: The United States has regained its leadership role in the international bodies that shape anti-corruption norms globally and can sustain momentum across time. In particular, the United States stepped into the presidency of the UN Convention against Corruption Conference of States Parties (UNCAC COSP), proudly hosting in December 2023 thousands of stakeholders in Atlanta, Georgia, led by the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield. As part of its commitment to championing the role of non-governmental actors in the fight against corruption, the United States facilitated record civil society participation in UNCAC working group meetings, hosted the first UNCAC Private Sector Forum, and supported inclusive implementation of UNCAC commitments in Latin America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. The United States also participated in several peer reviews of our own anti-corruption practices over the last three years, and proudly made these results public. Alongside these multilateral fora, we convened the Global Forum on Asset Recovery action series to accelerate practitioner cooperation across the United States, Algeria, Honduras, Iraq, Moldova, Nigeria, Seychelles, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Zambia.
Understanding corruption dynamics: The Intelligence Community developed and disseminated new resources to bolster intelligence prioritization, collection and analysis on corrupt actors and their networks. USAID commissioned research on topics like countering corruption through social and behavioral change and State initiated an interagency anti-corruption learning agenda and a small grants program to support it.
Deepening external partnerships: The United States convened a series of coordination meetings with other bilateral donors and philanthropies in order to harmonize our anti-corruption approaches and galvanized anti-corruption resources across the donor community through the Integrity for Development campaign. USAID’s Countering Transnational Corruption Grand Challenge for Development brought together technologists, businesses, activists, and others to collaboratively address concrete corruption challenges.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Birdton — Have you seen this stolen trailer?

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Keswick RCMP Detachment is asking for the public’s help locating a stolen trailer from Birdton, N.B.

The theft is believed to have occurred on September 30, at an open field on Crow Hill Road, in Birdton.

The trailer is described as a white 2010 K-Z Cayote, with New Brunswick licence plate TPX 030, and vehicle identification number 4EZTC222XA8041333.

Anyone with information about the theft, or who has seen the trailer since September 30, is asked to contact the Keswick RCMP at 506-357-4300. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at http://www.crimenb.ca.

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: Iranian Cyber Actors’ Brute Force and Credential Access Activity Compromises Critical Infrastructure Organizations

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

Summary

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA), the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) are releasing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory to warn network defenders of Iranian cyber actors’ use of brute force and other techniques to compromise organizations across multiple critical infrastructure sectors, including the healthcare and public health (HPH), government, information technology, engineering, and energy sectors. The actors likely aim to obtain credentials and information describing the victim’s network that can then be sold to enable access to cybercriminals.

Since October 2023, Iranian actors have used brute force, such as password spraying, and multifactor authentication (MFA) ‘push bombing’ to compromise user accounts and obtain access to organizations. The actors frequently modified MFA registrations, enabling persistent access. The actors performed discovery on the compromised networks to obtain additional credentials and identify other information that could be used to gain additional points of access. The authoring agencies assess the Iranian actors sell this information on cybercriminal forums to actors who may use the information to conduct additional malicious activity.

This advisory provides the actors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and indicators of compromise (IOCs). The information is derived from FBI engagements with entities impacted by this malicious activity.

The authoring agencies recommend critical infrastructure organizations follow the guidance provided in the Mitigations section. At a minimum, organizations should ensure all accounts use strong passwords and register a second form of authentication.

Download the PDF version of this report:

For a downloadable list of IOCs, see:

Technical Details

Note: This advisory uses the MITRE ATT&CK^® for Enterprise framework, version 15. See the MITRE ATT&CK Tactics and Techniques section in Appendix A for a table of the actors’ activity mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics and techniques.

Overview of Activity

The actors likely conduct reconnaissance operations to gather victim identity [T1589] information. Once obtained, the actors gain persistent access to victim networks frequently via brute force [T1110]. After gaining access, the actors use a variety of techniques to further gather credentials, escalate privileges, and gain information about the entity’s systems and network. The actors also move laterally and download information that could assist other actors with access and exploitation.

Initial Access and Persistence

The actors use valid user and group email accounts [T1078], frequently obtained via brute force such as password spraying [T1110.003] although other times via unknown methods, to obtain initial access to Microsoft 365, Azure [T1078.004], and Citrix systems [T1133]. In some cases where push notification-based MFA was enabled, the actors send MFA requests to legitimate users seeking acceptance of the request. This technique—bombarding users with mobile phone push notifications until the user either approves the request by accident or stops the notifications— is known as “MFA fatigue” or “push bombing” [T1621].

Once the threat actors gain access to an account, they frequently register their devices with MFA to protect their access to the environment via the valid account:

In two confirmed compromises, the actors leveraged a compromised user’s open registration for MFA [T1556.006] to register the actor’s own device [T1098.005] to access the environment.
In another confirmed compromise, the actors used a self-service password reset (SSPR) tool associated with a public facing Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS) to reset the accounts with expired passwords [T1484.002] and then registered MFA through Okta for compromised accounts without MFA already enabled [T1556] [T1556.006].

The actors frequently conduct their activity using a virtual private network (VPN) service [T1572]. Several of the IP addresses in the actors’ malicious activity originate from exit nodes tied to the Private Internet Access VPN service.

Lateral Movement

The actors use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for lateral movement [T1021.001]. In one instance, the actors used Microsoft Word to open PowerShell to launch the RDP binary mstsc.exe [T1202].

Credential Access

The actors likely use open-source tools and methodologies to gather more credentials. The actors performed Kerberos Service Principal Name (SPN) enumeration of several service accounts and received Kerberos tickets [T1558.003]. In one instance, the actors used the Active Directory (AD) Microsoft Graph Application Program Interface (API) PowerShell application likely to perform a directory dump of all AD accounts. Also, the actors imported the tool [T1105] DomainPasswordSpray.ps1, which is openly available on GitHub [T1588.002], likely to conduct password spraying. The actors also used the command Cmdkey /list, likely to display usernames and credentials [T1555].

Privilege Escalation

In one instance, the actors attempted impersonation of the domain controller, likely by exploiting Microsoft’s Netlogon (also known as ”Zerologon”) privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2020-1472) [T1068].

Discovery

The actors leverage living off the land (LOTL) to gain knowledge about the target systems and internal networks. The actors used the following Windows command-line tools to gather information about domain controllers [T1018], trusted domains [T1482], lists of domain administrators, and enterprise administrators [T1087.002] [T1069.002] [T1069.003]:

Nltest /dclist
Nltest /domain_trusts
Nltest /domain_trusts/all_trusts
Net group “Enterprise admins” /domain
Net group “Domain admins” /domain

Next, the actors used the following Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) query in PowerShell [T1059.001]to search the AD for computer display names, operating systems, descriptions, and distinguished names [T1082].

                                           $i=0
                                           $D= [System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory.Domain]::GetCurrentDomain()
                                           $L='LDAP://' . $D
                                           $D = [ADSI]$L
                                           $Date = $((Get-Date).AddDays(-90).ToFileTime())
                                           $str = '(&(objectcategory=computer)(operatingSystem=*serv*)(|(lastlogon>='+$Date+')(lastlogontimestamp>='+$Date+')))'
                                           $s = [adsisearcher]$str
                                           $s.searchRoot = $L.$D.distinguishedName
                                           $s.PropertiesToLoad.Add('cn') > $Null
                                           $s.PropertiesToLoad.Add('operatingsystem') > $Null
                                           $s.PropertiesToLoad.Add('description') > $Null
                                           $s.PropertiesToLoad.Add('distinguishedName') > $Null
                                           Foreach ($CA in $s.FindAll()) {
                                                         Write-Host $CA.Properties.Item('cn')
                                                         $CA.Properties.Item('operatingsystem')
                                                         $CA. Properties.Item('description')
                                                         $CA.Properties.Item('distinguishedName')
                                                         $i++
                                           }
                                           Write-host Total servers: $i

Command and Control

On one occasion, using msedge.exe, the actors likely made outbound connections to Cobalt Strike Beacon command and control (C2) infrastructure [T1071.001].

Exfiltration and Collection

In a couple instances, while logged in to victim accounts, the actors downloaded files related to gaining remote access to the organization and to the organization’s inventory [T1005], likely exfiltrating the files to further persist in the victim network or to sell the information online.

Detection

To detect brute force activity, the authoring agencies recommend reviewing authentication logs for system and application login failures of valid accounts and looking for multiple, failed authentication attempts across all accounts.

To detect the use of compromised credentials in combination with virtual infrastructure, the authoring agencies recommend the following steps:

Look for “impossible logins,” such as suspicious logins with changing usernames, user agent strings, and IP address combinations or logins where IP addresses do not align to the user’s expected geographic location.
Look for one IP used for multiple accounts, excluding expected logins.
Look for “impossible travel.” Impossible travel occurs when a user logs in from multiple IP addresses with significant geographic distance (i.e., a person could not realistically travel between the geographic locations of the two IP addresses during the period between the logins). Note: Implementing this detection opportunity can result in false positives if legitimate users apply VPN solutions before connecting into networks.
Look for MFA registrations with MFA in unexpected locales or from unfamiliar devices.
Look for processes and program execution command-line arguments that may indicate credential dumping, especially attempts to access or copy the ntds.dit file from a domain controller.
Look for suspicious privileged account use after resetting passwords or applying user account mitigations.
Look for unusual activity in typically dormant accounts.
Look for unusual user agent strings, such as strings not typically associated with normal user activity, which may indicate bot activity.

Mitigations

The authoring agencies recommend organizations implement the mitigations below to improve organizations’ cybersecurity posture based on the actors’ TTPs described in this advisory. These mitigations align with the Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs) developed by CISA. The CPGs, which are organized to align to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, are a subset of cybersecurity practices, aimed at meaningfully reducing risks to both critical infrastructure operations and the American people. These voluntary CPGs strive to help small- and medium-sized organizations kick-start their cybersecurity efforts by prioritizing investment in a limited number of essential actions with high-impact security outcomes. Visit CISA’s Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals for more information on the CPGs, including additional recommended baseline protections.

Review IT helpdesk password management related to initial passwords, password resets for user lockouts, and shared accounts. IT helpdesk password procedures may not align to company policy for user verification or password strength, creating a security gap. Avoid common passwords (e.g. “Spring2024” or “Password123!”).
Disable user accounts and access to organizational resources for departing staff [CPG 2.D]. Disabling accounts can minimize system exposure, removing options actors can leverage for entry into the system. Similarly, create new user accounts as close as possible to an employee’s start date.
Implement phishing-resistant MFA [CPG 2.H]. See CISA’s resources Phishing-Resistant Multifactor Authentication and More than a Password for additional information on strengthening user credentials.
Continuously review MFA settings to ensure coverage over all active, internet-facing protocols to ensure no exploitable services are exposed [CPG 2.W].
Provide basic cybersecurity training to users [CPG 2.I] covering concepts such as:
- Detecting unsuccessful login attempts [CPG 2.G].
- Having users deny MFA requests they have not generated.
- Ensuring users with MFA-enabled accounts have MFA set up appropriately.
Ensure password policies align with the latest NIST Digital Identity Guidelines.
- Meeting the minimum password strength [CPG 2.B] by creating a password using 8-64 nonstandard characters and long passphrases, when possible.
Disable the use of RC4 for Kerberos authentication.

These mitigations apply to critical infrastructure entities across sectors.

The authoring agencies also recommend software manufacturers incorporate secure by design principles and tactics into their software development practices to protect their customers against actors using compromised credentials, thereby strengthening the security posture of their customers. For more information on secure by design, see CISA’s Secure by Design webpage and joint guide.

Validate Security Controls

In addition to applying mitigations, the authoring agencies recommend exercising, testing, and validating organization security programs against the threat behaviors mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK for Enterprise framework in this advisory. The authoring agencies recommend testing your existing security controls inventory to assess how they perform against the ATT&CK techniques described in this advisory.

To get started:

Select an ATT&CK technique described in this advisory (see Table 1 to Table 12).
Align your security technologies against the technique.
Test your technologies against the technique.
Analyze your detection and prevention technologies’ performance.
Repeat the process for all security technologies to obtain a set of comprehensive performance data.
Tune your security program, including people, processes, and technologies, based on the data generated by this process.

The authoring agencies recommend continually testing your security program, at scale, in a production environment to ensure optimal performance against the MITRE ATT&CK techniques identified in this advisory.

Contact Information

Organizations are encouraged to report suspicious or criminal activity related to information in this advisory to:

CISA via CISA’s 24/7 Operations Center [report@cisa.gov or 1-844-Say-CISA (1-844-729-2472)] or your local FBI field office. When available, please include the following information regarding the incident: date, time, and location of the incident; type of activity; number of people affected; type of equipment used for the activity; the name of the submitting company or organization; and a designated point of contact.
For NSA cybersecurity guidance inquiries, contact CybersecurityReports@nsa.gov.

Disclaimer

The information in this report is being provided “as is” for informational purposes only. The authoring agencies do not endorse any commercial entity, product, company, or service, including any entities, products, or services linked within this document. Any reference to specific commercial entities, products, processes, or services by service mark, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the authoring agencies.

Intrusion events connected to this Iranian group may also include a different set of cyber actors–likely the third-party actors who purchased access from the Iranian group via cybercriminal forums or other channels. As a result, some TTPs and IOCs noted in this advisory may be tied to these third-party actors, not the Iranian actors. The TTPs and IOCs are in the advisory to provide recipients the most complete picture of malicious activity that may be observed on compromised networks. However, exercise caution if formulating attribution assessments based solely on matching TTPs and IOCs.

Version History

October 2, 2024: Initial version.

Appendix A: MITRE ATT&CK Tactics and Techniques

See Tables 1–12 for all referenced actors’ tactics and techniques in this advisory. For assistance with mapping malicious cyber activity to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, see CISA and MITRE ATT&CK’s Best Practices for MITRE ATT&CK Mapping and CISA’s Decider Tool.

*Table 1: Reconnaissance*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Gather Victim Identity Information	T1589	The actors likely gathered victim information.

*Table 2: Resource Development*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Obtain Capabilities: Tool	T1588.002	The actors obtained a password spray tool through an open-source repository.

*Table 3: Initial Access*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Valid Accounts	T1078	The actors used password spraying to obtain valid user and group email account credentials, allowing them access to the network.
Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts	T1078.004	The actors used accounts hosted on Microsoft 365, Azure, and Okta cloud environments as additional methods for initial access.
External Remote Services	T1133	The actors exploited Citrix systems’ external-facing remote services as another method for gaining initial access to the system.

*Table 4: Execution*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell	T1059.001	The actors used PowerShell commands to maintain and expand access.

*Table 5: Persistence*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Account Manipulation: Device Registration	T1098.005	The actors used PowerShell commands to maintain and expand access.
Modify Authentication Process	T1556	The actors used a public facing Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS) domain to reset the passwords of expired accounts.
Modify Authentication Process: Multi-Factor Authentication	T1556.006	The actors used an MFA bypass method, such as Multi-Factor Authentication Request Generation, providing the ability to modify or completely disable MFA defenses.

*Table 6: Privilege Escalation*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Exploitation for Privilege Escalation	T1068	The actors attempted impersonation of the domain controller likely by exploiting CVE-2020-1472, Microsoft’s Netlogon Privilege Escalation vulnerability.
Domain or Tenant Policy Modification: Trust Modification	T1484.002	The actors leveraged a public-facing ADFS password reset tool to reactivate inactive accounts, allowing the actor to authenticate and enroll their devices as any user in the AD managed by the victim tenant.

*Table 7: Defense Evasion*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Indirect Command Execution	T1202	The actors attempted impersonation of the Domain Controller likely by exploiting CVE-2020-1472, Microsoft’s Netlogon Privilege Escalation vulnerability.

*Table 8: Credential Access*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Brute Force: Password Spraying	T1110.003	The actors targeted applications, including Single Sign-on (SSO) Microsoft Office 365, using brute force password sprays and imported the tool `DomainPasswordSpray.ps1`.
Credentials from Password Stores	T1555	The actors used the command `Cmdkey /list` likely to display usernames and credentials.
Steal or Forge Kerberos Tickets: Kerberoasting	T1558.003	The actors performed Kerberos Service Principal Name (SPN) enumeration of several service accounts and received Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) tickets.
Multi-Factor Authentication Request Generation	T1621	The actors sent MFA requests to legitimate users.

*Table 9: Discovery*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Remote System Discovery	T1018	The actors used LOTL to return information about domain controllers.
Permission Groups Discovery: Domain Groups	T1069.002	The actors used LOTL to return lists of domain administrators and enterprise administrators.
Permission Groups Discovery: Cloud Groups	T1069.003	The actors used LOTL to return lists of domain administrators and enterprise administrators.
System Information Discovery	T1082	The actors were able to query the AD to discover display names, operating systems, descriptions, and distinguished names from the computer.
Account Discovery: Domain Account	T1087.002	The actors used LOTL to return lists of domain administrators and enterprise administrators.
Domain Trust Discovery	T1482	The actors used LOTL to return information about trusted domains.

*Table 10: Lateral Movement*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Remote Services: Remote Desktop Protocol	T1021.001	The actors used Microsoft Word to open PowerShell to launch RDP binary mstsc.exe.

*Table 11: Collection*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Data from Local System	T1005	The actors downloaded files related to remote access methods and the organization’s inventory.

*Table 12: Command and Control*
Technique Title	ID	Use
Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols	T1071.001	The actors used `msedge.exe` to make outbound connections likely to Cobalt Strike Beacon C2 infrastructure.
Ingress Tool Transfer	T1105	The actors imported a tool from GitHub and used it to conduct password spraying.
Protocol Tunneling	T1572	The actors frequently conduct targeting using a virtual private network (VPN).

Appendix B: Indicators of Compromise

See Tables 13 to 15 for IOCs obtained from FBI investigations.

*Table 13: Malicious Files Associated with Iranian Cyber Actors*
Hash	Description
1F96D15B26416B2C7043EE7172357AF3AFBB002A	Associated with malicious activity.
3D3CDF7CFC881678FEBCAFB26AE423FE5AA4EFEC	Associated with malicious activity.

Disclaimer: The authoring organizations recommend network defenders investigate or vet IP addresses prior to taking action, such as blocking, as many cyber actors are known to change IP addresses, sometimes daily, and some IP addresses may host valid domains. Many of the IP addresses provided below are assessed VPN nodes and as such are not exclusive to the Iranian actors’ use. The authoring organizations do not recommend blocking these IP addresses based solely on their inclusion in this JCSA. The authoring organizations recommend using the below IP addresses to search for previous activity the actors may have conducted against networks. If positive hits for these IP addresses are identified, the authoring organizations recommend making an independent determination if the observed activity aligns with the TTPs outlined in the JCSA. The timeframes included in the table reflect the timeframe the actors likely used the IPs.

*Table 14: Network Indicators*
IP Address	Date Range
95.181.234.12	01/30/2024 to 02/07/2024
95.181.234.25	01/30/2024 to 02/07/2024
173.239.232.20	10/06/2023 to 12/19/2023
172.98.71.191	10/15/2023 to 11/27/2023
102.129.235.127	10/21/2023 to 10/22/2023
188.126.94.60	10/22/2023 to 01/12/2024
149.40.50.45	10/26/2023
181.214.166.59	10/26/2023
212.102.39.212	10/26/2023
149.57.16.134	10/26/2023 to 10/27/2023
149.57.16.137	10/26/2023 to 10/27/2023
102.129.235.186	10/29/2023 to 11/08/2023
46.246.8.138	10/31/2023 to 01/26/2024
149.57.16.160	11/08/2023
149.57.16.37	11/08/2023
46.246.8.137	11/17/2023 to 01/25/2024
212.102.57.29	11/19/2023 to 01/17/2024
46.246.8.82	11/22/2023 to 01/28/2024
95.181.234.15	11/26/2023 to 02/07/2024
45.88.97.225	11/27/2023 to 02/11/2024
84.239.45.17	12/04/2023 to 12/07/2023
46.246.8.104	12/07/2023 to 02/07/2024
37.46.113.206	12/07/2023
46.246.3.186	12/07/2023 to 12/09/2023
46.246.8.141	12/07/2023 to 02/10/2024
46.246.8.17	12/09/2023 to 01/09/2024
37.19.197.182	12/15/2023
154.16.192.38	12/25/2023 to 01/24/2024
102.165.16.127	12/27/2023 to 01/28/2024
46.246.8.47	12/29/2023 to 01/29/2024
46.246.3.225	12/30/2023 to 02/06/2024
46.246.3.226	12/31/2023 to 02/03/2024
46.246.3.240	12/31/2023 to 02/06/2024
191.101.217.10	01/05/2024
102.129.153.182	01/08/2024
46.246.3.196	01/08/2024
102.129.152.60	01/09/2024
156.146.60.74	01/10/2024
191.96.227.113	01/10/2024
191.96.227.122	01/10/2024
181.214.166.132	01/11/2024
188.126.94.57	01/11/2024 to 01/13/2024
154.6.13.144	01/13/2024 to 01/24/2024
154.6.13.151	01/13/2024 to 01/28/2024
188.126.94.166	01/15/2024
89.149.38.204	01/18/2024
46.246.8.67	01/20/2024
46.246.8.53	01/22/2024
154.16.192.37	01/24/2024
191.96.150.14	01/24/2024
191.96.150.96	01/24/2024
46.246.8.10	01/24/2024
84.239.25.13	01/24/2024
154.6.13.139	01/26/2024
191.96.106.33	01/26/2024
191.96.227.159	01/26/2024
149.57.16.150	01/27/2024
191.96.150.21	01/27/2024
46.246.8.84	01/27/2024
95.181.235.8	01/27/2024
191.96.227.102	01/27/2024 to 01/28/2024
46.246.122.185	01/28/2024
146.70.102.3	01/29/2024 to 01/30/2024
46.246.3.233	01/30/2024 to 02/15/2024
46.246.3.239	01/30/2024 to 02/15/2024
188.126.89.35	02/03/2024
46.246.3.223	02/03/2024
46.246.3.245	02/05/2024 to 02/06/2024
191.96.150.50	02/09/2024

*Table 15: Devices*
Device Type	Description
Samsung Galaxy A71 (SM-A715F)	Registered with MFA
Samsung SM-G998B	Registered with MFA
Samsung SM-M205F	Registered with MFA

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to announce support for Cape Breton University

Source: Government of Canada News

Sydney, Nova Scotia · October 16, 2024 · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, will make an announcement regarding a significant federal contribution for the Canada Games Complex.

This announcement will be made on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA.

Date: October 17, 2024

Time: 11:00 a.m. AST

Location:
Cape Breton University
Yvonne LeVert Hospitality Suite
1250 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1M 1A2

Connor Burton
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Lori Selig
Acting Communications Director
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-266-7477
lori.selig@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Co-Hosts Business and Housing Summit
Source: Government of Canada regional news

October 8, 2024

Manitoba Government Co-Hosts Business and Housing Summit

Summit will Create Solutions for Homelessness Through Strategic Partnerships and Investments: Premier

The Manitoba government is co-hosting a business and housing summit to build relationships between sectors to create affordable housing options and reduce chronic homelessness in the province, Premier Wab Kinew announced today.

“To end chronic homelessness in Manitoba, we need to work together as governments, as community and as business leaders,” said Kinew. “This summit is one part of our plan to instill hope and improve the lives of thousands of Manitobans through the safety and dignity of housing. These are important conversations where we come together and build solutions.”

“To end homelessness, we need to move beyond isolated efforts and build one unified strategy,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham, City of Winnipeg. “This summit is about breaking down silos and driving collaboration – across government, business and community – so we can create lasting, co-ordinated solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Today, the business and housing summit will bring together community leaders from across Manitoba to discuss the resources and tools available for the business sector to create affordable housing solutions. Summit participants include representatives from Indigenous leadership and organizations, business sectors, governments, community organizations and other agencies.

“The Business Council of Manitoba believes our community is strongest when we work together,” said Mike Pyle, board chair, Business Council of Manitoba. “By collaborating across industries, we can share knowledge and lead in our areas of expertise. We all have a role to play in providing safe, affordable housing for Manitobans and the business community is no exception. Collaborative initiatives like the business and housing summit allow us to ensure all voices are heard and all needs are met in our collective effort to make Manitoba a preferred place to live, work and invest.”

The summit takes place today, Oct. 8 at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. It is co-hosted by the Manitoba government, the City of Winnipeg and the Business Council of Manitoba and supported by End Homelessness Winnipeg. Other sessions include:
- an overview of federal, provincial and municipal programs related to housing and homelessness;
- a panel presenting case studies describing recent partnerships between non-profit housing providers and private sector developers; and
- an interactive session with business leaders to inform the response to housing and homelessness issues from all levels of government.
To learn more about the Manitoba government’s work related to housing and ending homelessness, visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/housing/index.html.

– 30 –

MIL OSI Canada News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Canadian Grain Commission to use surplus to avoid new fee increases
Source: Government of Canada News (2)

News release

Since the Canadian Grain Commission reduced its official inspection and weighing fees in 2021, the organization has inspected and weighed lower-than-expected grain volumes, leading to a gap between revenue and costs.

October 16, 2024 Winnipeg Canadian Grain Commission

Since the Canadian Grain Commission reduced its official inspection and weighing fees in 2021, the organization has inspected and weighed lower-than-expected grain volumes, leading to a gap between revenue and costs. Instead of changing its fee formula to increase fees, the Canadian Grain Commission will use its accumulated surplus to cover anticipated shortfalls this year and for the next two fiscal years.

After completing its 2024 fee review, the Canadian Grain Commission found that current fee levels will not cover operating costs going forward. Fees are automatically adjusted on April 1 each year by the 12-month percentage change to the Consumer Price Index. Over the past few years, these adjustments have not kept pace with lower-than-expected grain volumes and increased operating costs.

The Canadian Grain Commission has used accumulated surplus funds to manage the growing gap between lower-than-projected revenue and increasing costs since 2021. The organization will continue to use surplus to cover expected operating shortfalls until its next planned fee review in 2027. Together, these successive years of surplus draw are projected to reduce the available balance to approximately $57 million by March 31, 2027. This includes $40 million previously set aside as an operating contingency.

The Canadian Grain Commission will consult with grain sector stakeholders before implementing any changes to fees in the future.

Quotes

“The Canadian Grain Commission is committed to being part of the success and sustainability of Canadian agriculture. Drawing on the accumulated surplus will avoid new fee increases for the next 3 years, while ensuring our programs and services continue to deliver results for the grain sector.”

David Hunt, Chief Commissioner
Canadian Grain Commission

Quick facts
- The Canadian Grain Commission has been drawing on the accumulated surplus to cover budgetary shortfalls since 2021, drawing down the balance from $156 million to $112 million.
- Using the surplus to cover budget shortfalls due to lower-than-anticipated grain volumes for the 2025-26 and 2026-2027 fiscal years is expected to draw a further $50 to $60 million.
- The Canadian Grain Commission will consult with stakeholders before making any future fee updates.
- The Canadian Grain Commission is committed to making targeted investments in its services in accordance with its strategic plan and surplus investment framework to ensure that the organization continues to meet the needs of producers and industry.
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Contacts

Eve Froehlich
Acting Executive Director, Innovation & Strategy
Canadian Grain Commission
204-297-8541
eve.froehlich@grainscanada.gc.ca

Canadian Grain Commission

The Canadian Grain Commission is the federal agency responsible for establishing and maintaining Canada’s grain quality standards. Its programs result in shipments of grain that consistently meet contract specifications for quality, safety and quantity. The Canadian Grain Commission regulates the grain industry to protect producers’ rights and ensure the integrity of grain transactions.

MIL OSI Canada News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government is Prepared for Respiratory Virus Season
Source: Government of Canada regional news

October 16, 2024

Manitoba Government is Prepared for Respiratory Virus Season

The Manitoba Government is prepared for the respiratory virus season with a comprehensive strategy designed to reduce the strain on the health-care system and keep Manitobans healthy, safe and informed, Health Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“I encourage every Manitoban to get vaccinated and keep yourself, your loved ones and your broader community safe,” said Asagwara. “The previous government failed to prepare for respiratory virus season, they made cuts to health care and refused to listen to front-line workers. We’ve made significant progress in one year and the system is prepared to meet an increased need for care during this difficult season.”

Preparation includes:
- building up intensive care unit (ICU) and acute care beds so that everyone gets the care they need:
- the Manitoba government has newly funded 18 ICU beds, for a total of 110 adult ICU beds, and eight pediatric ICU (PICU) beds, plus four step-down beds, for a total of 21 PICU beds; and
- the Manitoba government has opened 112 acute care beds with a plan to open 70 more, 43 transitional care unit beds and 27 more opening in the coming months.
- vaccines to protect Manitobans and their loved ones:
- influenza (flu) and COVID-19 vaccines are available at medical clinics, ACCESS centres, vaccine clinics, pharmacies, nursing stations and through public health;
- the Manitoba government is providing the RSV vaccine free of charge to seniors over the age of 60, living in a long-term care home, and encouraging residents to get vaccinated through their long-term care facility; and
- the Manitoba government launched a provincewide ad campaign to inform Manitobans about respiratory virus season and encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are able.
The minister noted the government knows staffing is critical when it comes to beds and the Manitoba government hired 873 net new health-care workers to the system in six months, marking over halfway to its goal of hiring 1,000 healthcare workers this year.

“Considerable planning has occurred within the health system in an effort to mitigate or minimize service disruptions during respiratory virus season,” said Dr. Jose Francois, chief medical officer, Shared Health. “This planning has been strongly supported by our partners in government, who have worked in collaboration with clinical leaders to ensure Manitoba’s health system is as fully prepared as it possibly can be for the coming respiratory virus season.”

Information and resources regarding the vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases, including resources for prevention, treatment and care of affected individuals in Manitoba, is provided at http://www.manitoba.ca/vaccine.

– 30 –

MIL OSI Canada News –
January 23, 2025

Category: Canada

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Appendix B: Indicators of Compromise

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