NewzIntel.com

Category: Canada

  • MIL-OSI: CIRA and Commissionaires join forces to close cybersecurity gaps for Canadian small businesses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As malicious actors wreak havoc on organizations of all sizes across the country, Canadian businesses are struggling to improve their cybersecurity posture leading to an increased risk of losing customers. Today, CIRA and Commissionaires announce a partnership that will help make cybersecurity training and protection readily available to small businesses regardless of their budget so they can keep their data, networks and customers safe.

    With over 120 years of combined expertise in physical and online security, and a common goal to keep Canadians safe, both not-for-profit organizations have been working together to offer affordable, easy-to-deploy cybersecurity solutions tailored to the Canadian market to a wider range of businesses.

    “It felt like a really good fit; we’re non-profit. We’re all about supporting Canadians and Canadian veterans, and it made a lot of sense for us to work with a company that had shared values,” said Rolland Winters, Director of Cybersecurity at Commissionaires.

    Commissionaires, Canada’s largest private sector employer of veterans and the only national not-for-profit security company, is responding to the increased sophistication and frequency of human engineering attacks by reinforcing businesses’ human cybersecurity layer: employees. This ensures employees receive the regular training they need to stay engaged while teaching them to view digital content critically.

    This partnership with CIRA will kick off with two flagship solutions:

    • CIRA Cybersecurity Awareness Training: designed to reduce human cybersecurity risks, this all-in-one platform leverages end-user gamification to include Canadian stories, privacy laws and institutions while providing risk assessment tools and bilingual courses. Over 200,000 Canadians at more than 400 organizations already trust the platform to affect positive behavioural changes.
    • CIRA DNS Firewall: the cost-effective, low-maintenance layer of protection analyzes the DNS traffic of enterprises while also blocking users’ devices and applications from accessing malicious domains, preventing phishing attacks and stopping malware in its tracks. Located in Canadian data centres and peered to Canadian internet exchange points, CIRA DNS Firewall is powered by world-class threat intelligence. 

    “Helping businesses strengthen their cybersecurity posture requires robust software, streamlined operations and talented people. Partnering with Commissionaires, a fellow Canadian not-for-profit, is an opportunity to drive a synergy between CIRA’s expertise in developing tailored solutions for the Canadian market and Commissionaires’ capabilities to train skilled workers,” said Jon Ferguson, Vice President, Cybersecurity & DNS, CIRA. “Together we will be able to reach and protect more Canadians while developing cybersecurity talent in Canada.”

    By leveraging CIRA’s solutions, Commissionaires plans to train thousands of Canadian workers on good security hygiene starting later this month and hopes to reach many more in the coming years.

    CIRA and Commissionaires will attend the Colloque Cybersécurité et protection des données personnelles in Québec City on October 10 to discuss the partnership with local ministries, public, parapublic and private organizations.

    Additional resources

    About CIRA

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

    About Commissionaires

    Celebrating its centennial in 2025, Commissionaires is a self-funded not-for-profit company with a social mandate to provide employment to veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as contribute to the well-being of their families. Commissionaires is Canada’s premier security provider and the largest private-sector employer of veterans. Founded on core military values of dedication, responsibility and sense of mission, Commissionaires employs 23,000 people across the country. It offers a wide range of security services, including professional guarding, monitoring and surveillance, threat risk assessment, non-core policing, by-law enforcement, digital fingerprinting, criminal and employee background screening, investigations, and security training.

    Media contacts
    Delphine Avomo Evouna
    Communications Manager, CIRA
    613.315.1458
    delphine.avomoevouna@cira.ca

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Independent Review Assesses IAEA’s Internal Safety Regulatory System for First Time, Finds Well-Established Framework

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi (center) at the opening of the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission to the IAEA.  (Yiran Zhang/IAEA)

    The first-ever independent review of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) internal radiation safety regulatory framework has confirmed that the system is well-established, with the IAEA’s regulator showing a strong dedication to ongoing enhancement and improvement. The review provided recommendations for a further strengthening and enhancing of the Agency’s regulatory system for safety.

    The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, held from 30 September to 9 October, was requested by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi last year. In line with his request, the mission covered all core regulatory areas of radiation safety, waste safety, emergency preparedness and response, transport, and the interface with nuclear security.

    The IAEA uses radiation technologies and implements international safety standards in its own operations, overseen by an independent regulator who is also part of IAEA staff.

     This regulator provides safety oversight of activities which involve radiation uses at the Agency’s laboratories in Vienna, Seibersdorf, and Monaco. Additionally, the regulator oversees the IAEA’s involvement in activities conducted, organized, or contracted within its Member States.

    “Radiation safety demands unwavering vigilance and preparedness,” said Director General Grossi. “By initiating this unique IRRS mission, the IAEA is leading by example, applying the best safety practices also to our own work and openly communicating on any gaps. This is especially important today, as the number of new nuclear projects continues to grow worldwide.”

    Using IAEA safety standards and international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national legal and regulatory infrastructures while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety. It is the first time an IRRS was conducted in an organization that does not belong to one Member State, a fact that was recognized by the IRRS team as a good practice.  

    “The Agency has demonstrated a strong commitment to IAEA safety standards by proactively utilizing the peer review system, typically designed for Member States, to evaluate its own internal implementation of these standards,” said Carl-Magnus Larsson, IRRS Team Leader. “This approach goes beyond what is required, is unique, and serves as a replicable model for other organizations”.

    During the ten-day mission, the IRRS team – comprised of 10 senior regulatory experts from Canada, Czech Republic, Brazil, Norway, Qatar, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zimbabwe, two IAEA staff members and one observer from Austria – held discussions with Agency staff and observed regulatory inspections at the Agency’s Insect Pest Control Laboratory in its nuclear applications laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria.

    The IRRS team concluded that the IAEA’s regulatory programme for radiation, transport, and waste safety is well-established, demonstrating its strong commitment to upholding international safety standards. Additionally, the IRRS team welcomed the regulator’s dedication to continuously advancing and improving the IAEA regulatory system.

    The review also included recommendations to help the Agency further strengthen the effectiveness of its regulatory framework and functions. These recommendations will be detailed in the final report, which is expected to be completed within the next three months.

    The findings included the need for the IAEA to:

    • Develop a comprehensive policy and strategy for safety, tailored to the IAEA’s specific strategic and operational activities.
    • Initiate a review of resourcing to ensure that the Regulator has sufficient human and financial resources for sustainable discharge of its assigned responsibilities, including the resources needed to continuously improve the regulatory framework and to enhance the competence of the regulatory staff.
    • Consider formalising arrangements to ensure continued regulatory independence.
    • Consider assessing events occurring at the IAEA laboratories involving radiation technologies at the Agency Seat against the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) and report those events at Level 2 and above to Member States.

    The Team provided specific recommendations for the IAEA Regulator, including:

    • Completing the documentation for the regulatory management system.
    • Arranging for independent assessments of the regulator’s leadership for safety and safety culture at planned intervals to improve the overall safety performance.
    • Finalizing and formally adopting procedures for authorization taking into account a graded approach.  
    • Developing an inspection programme and plan in accordance with a graded approach.
    • Formally adopting a process for establishing regulations and regulatory guides, including the frequency for reviewing the regulatory guides and a system to ensure that the development and implementation of regulations and guides is based on a graded approach.

    IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security Lydie Evrard said that at a time when several countries are setting up or strengthening their regulatory frameworks the IRRS mission to the IAEA is indicative of the Agency’s own commitment to the international safety standards. This mission also demonstrates that every regulatory body can benefit enormously from such a review regardless of their size and status.

    “The recommendations from this mission will help us to continuously improve and we are committed to further strengthening and enhancing the Agency’s regulatory framework for radiation safety,” said Deputy Director General Evrard.

    IAEA safety standards

    The IAEA safety standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cole Harbour — RCMP arrests two impaired drivers following a hit and run

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment arrests two impaired drivers following a hit and run in Cole Harbour.

    On September 25, at approximately 11:48 p.m., RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment responded to a hit and run that occurred in a parking lot on Merrimac Dr. While at the scene RCMP officers observed the vehicle of interest return to the scene and collide with a dumpster.

    RCMP officers completed a traffic stop on the Hyundai Elantra. The driver, a 25-year-old Dartmouth woman, exhibited signs of impairment and provided roadside breath samples into an approved screening device (ASD), which resulted in a “fail”. The driver was arrested for impaired driving.

    From the information and evidence gathered at the scene, it was determined that the rear passenger of the vehicle, a 28-year-old Cole Harbour woman, was the driver at the time of the hit and run. She also showed signs of impairment, and provided a breath sample into an ASD resulting in a “fail”. The woman was arrested for impaired driving.

    Both individuals were transported to the Cole Harbour RCMP Detachment and provided breath samples. The 28-year-old woman provided breath samples of 300 mg% and 280 mg%. and the 25-year-old woman, who struck the dumpster, provided breath samples of 200 mg% and 220 mg%.

    They were both later released and will appear in court at a later date.

    File # 24-132068

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada unlocks 14 more federal properties for housing

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 8, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario Public Services and Procurement Canada Everyone deserves a place to call home. However, for many across the country, home ownership and renting is out of reach due to the unprecedented housing crisis Canada is facing. We need to build more homes, faster, to get Canadians into homes that meet their needs, at prices they can afford. That is why in Budget 2024 and Canada’s Housing Plan, the federal government announced the most ambitious housing plan in Canadian history—a plan to build 4 million more homes.

    October 8, 2024              Ottawa, Ontario                            Public Services and Procurement Canada

    Everyone deserves a place to call home. However, for many across the country, home ownership and renting is out of reach due to the unprecedented housing crisis Canada is facing. We need to build more homes, faster, to get Canadians into homes that meet their needs, at prices they can afford. That’s why in Budget 2024 and Canada’s Housing Plan, the federal government announced the most ambitious housing plan in Canadian history: a plan to build 4 million more homes.

    As part of this plan, the Government of Canada is identifying properties within its portfolio that have the potential for housing, and is actively adding them to the Canada Public Land Bank. Wherever possible, the government will turn these properties into housing through a long-term lease, not a one-time sale, to support affordable housing and ensure public land stays public.

    Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, joined by the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services, announced that 14 new properties have been added to the Canada Public Land Bank.

    A total of 70 federal properties have now been identified as being suitable to support housing. This list will continue to grow in the coming months, with further details on listed properties available soon.

    As part of the initial launch of the Canada Public Land Bank in August 2024, the Canada Lands Company, in partnership with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, issued a call for proposals for 5 properties located in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa and Montréal. The call for proposals for the properties in Toronto and Montréal closed on October 1, 2024, and evaluations have begun. The call for proposals for the Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa properties will close on November 1, 2024.

    To provide feedback on the land bank and its properties, the Government of Canada launched a call for housing solutions for communities: a secure online platform.

    To date, the Government of Canada has already received interest and feedback from provinces, territories and municipalities, as well as developers, housing advocates and Indigenous groups. This information will be used to develop and bring more properties to market starting this fall.

    To solve Canada’s housing crisis, the federal government is using every tool at its disposal. The Government of Canada is accelerating its real property disposal process to match the speed of builders and the urgency of getting affordable homes built for Canada. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ship and Rail Compensation Canada becomes new hub for compensation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a forward-thinking move to increase awareness and strengthen access to justice, the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund and the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods have merged into a single federal office.

    Ship and Rail Compensation Canada is now Canada’s central hub for anyone affected by oil spills from ships or boats or major railway accidents involving crude oil.

    For years, a lack of awareness of available compensation has prevented many from accessing the support they need. Recent outreach efforts, however, were made to address this issue resulting in increased diversity among claimants and a broader geographic reach.

    Building on this progress, Ship and Rail Compensation Canada will aim to ensure that Canadians know where to turn to for help. This includes collaborating with our partners on how to integrate cost-recovery measures into emergency protocols. With greater access to compensation, those responsible for damages will bear more of the financial burden, not the victims.

    A cornerstone of this initiative is the launch of the new website, designed to be the central point of contact and information for claimants and key stakeholders: http://www.ship-rail.gc.ca.

    Quotes

    “With millions of litres of oil used or transported across Canada by ship, boat, and rail, it’s crucial that Canadians are financially protected from the risks of spills and accidents. We are here to help victims, responders, and anyone else affected receive the financial compensation they need.

    “Our new brand will reach more people than ever before and mitigate the impacts of oil pollution on our cities, towns, oceans, lakes, rivers, and livelihoods. It will significantly boost our outreach and awareness efforts, which are essential to fulfilling our mission of providing compensation and improving emergency preparedness.”

    Mark A.M. Gauthier, Administrator of Ship and Rail Compensation Canada

    About Ship and Rail Compensation Canada

    Ship and Rail Compensation Canada is Canada’s compensation hub for anyone affected by oil spills from ships or boats and by major rail accidents involving crude oil. Its mission is to help victims, responders, and anyone else affected get financial compensation and to hold polluters responsible for damages, losses, and response costs. Ship and Rail Compensation Canada is an independent federal office managing two funds: the Ship Fund and the Rail Fund. It is managed by an Administrator, with each Fund also having a Deputy Administrator.

    For more information or to file a claim, visit ship-rail.gc.ca.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Battleford  — Battlefords RCMP investigating serious assault

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 6, 2024 at approximately 12:15 p.m., Battlefords RCMP were conducting proactive patrols and observed an adult male who was seriously injured, running on the 900th block of 106th street in North Battleford, SK. The man entered the hospital before officers could approach him. Due to the severity of the man’s injuries, officers followed and ultimately assisted medical staff with initial life-saving efforts. The man remains in hospital.

    As a result of continued investigation, 33-year-old Adam Wright is charged with:

    • one count, aggravated assault, Section 268(2), Criminal Code;
    • two counts, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(1), Criminal Code.

    A warrant has been issued for Adam Wright’s arrest. Battlefords RCMP continue work to locate and arrest Adam Wright and ask members of the public to report all sightings and information about his whereabouts.

    Adam Wright is described as 5’11” tall and 192 lbs. He has brown eyes and is believed to have long black and blonde hair. He has a scar on his left elbow. A photo of him is attached (his hair may not be as it appears in the photo).

    Battlefords RCMP continue to investigate.

    If you see Adam Wright, do not approach him. Report all sightings and information about his whereabouts to Battlefords RCMP at 310-RCMP (7267). Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or http://www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Deputy Prime Minister announces new actions to build secondary suites and unlock vacant lands to build more homes

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 8, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

    Across Canada, too many properties are underused or vacant—from unused basements, to empty office towers, to vacant lots—and could be used to build more homes. By making it easier for homeowners to add secondary suites to their existing homes, and unlocking vacant lands and underused federal properties for housing, we can build the supply of homes Canada needs to make housing more affordable for every generation.

    Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, alongside the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and the Honourable Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services, announced significant progress in the federal government’s work to unlock more land in our communities for housing.    

    First, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announced technical guidance for lenders and insurers to offer mortgage refinancing for homeowners looking to add secondary suites to their homes, starting January 15, 2025. These mortgage insurance reforms, as well as the forthcoming Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, will make it easier for homeowners to convert an unused basement into a rental apartment or a garage into a laneway home to increase density in our communities. Secondary suites can help homeowners pay their mortgage with a new rental apartment and bring families closer together. For example, a retired couple may wish to downsize into a new laneway home or in-law suite, so their children could raise their young family in the property’s existing home. More specifically, these changes will:

    • Allow refinancing of insured mortgages for secondary suites, to let homeowners access the equity in their homes to finance the construction of secondary suites. Borrowers will be able to access financing of up to 90 per cent of the home value, including the value added by the secondary suite(s), and amortize the refinanced mortgage over a period of up to 30 years.
    • Increase the mortgage insurance home price limit to $2 million for those refinancing to build a secondary suite, to ensure homeowners can access this refinancing in all housing markets across the country.

    Second, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance launched consultations on the taxation of vacant land. The federal government is seeking feedback from provinces, territories, and municipalities that are interested in implementing their own vacant land taxes. By taxing vacant lands, landowners would be incentivized to maximize the full potential of their land—building homes.

    Third, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement announced that an additional 14 underused federal properties have been identified as suitable for building new homes. With these additional federal properties added to the Canada Public Land Bank, a total of 70 federal properties have now been unlocked and are available to homebuilders as of today. This is part of the federal government’s work—as Canada’s largest landowner—to turn unused and underused federal properties into 250,000 new homes.

    The federal government is delivering on its ambitious plan to build 4 million homes by using all tools at its disposal. The actions announced today are about maximizing the use of available land in our communities—turning unused basements, empty lots, and underused federal offices into homes—to build a country where everyone has access to a home they can afford. 

    Quotes

    “We must use every possible tool to build more homes and make housing affordable for every generation of Canadians. That is why we announced the most ambitious housing plan in Canada’s history—a plan to build 4 million new homes. Today, we are taking bold action to deliver on key parts of that plan which will build new homes by making it easier to add a secondary suite to your existing home and making full use of available land in our communities.”

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

    “Safe, accessible, and affordable housing options are out of reach for far too many Canadians. The launch of the Canada Public Land Bank in August 2024 laid the foundation for our efforts to unlock public lands for housing at a pace and scale not seen in generations. We are delivering on our promise to continue to add more properties to the land bank and meet the deliverables outlined in Budget 2024 to support a new, ambitious Public Lands for Homes Plan. In doing so, we can build strong communities and more affordable housing across the country.”

    – The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement 

    “Our government is unlocking new opportunities for homeownership by building homes on underused public lands, retrofitting federal buildings, and empowering homeowners to construct additional units. Young British Columbians and Canadians across the country face a tougher housing market than the generations before them and our plan will help create more housing options for them and their families.”

    – The Honourable Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services

    “The measures announced today are another step forward in our work to tackle the housing crisis, build more homes, and ensure that everyone has a safe and affordable place to call their own.”

     

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

    Quick facts

    • Today’s mortgage reforms to make it easier for homeowners to add secondary suites, such as basement apartments, in-law suites, and laneway homes, build on the federal government’s recent announcement of the boldest mortgage reforms in decades to unlock homeownership for every generation of Canadians. Starting December 15, 2024, Canadians will be able to apply for reformed mortgages and benefit from lower monthly payments. These reforms include:

      • Increasing the $1 million price cap for insured mortgages to $1.5 million, to reflect current housing market realities and help more Canadians qualify for a mortgage with a downpayment below 20 per cent. Increasing the insured-mortgage cap—which has not been adjusted since 2012—to $1.5 million will help more Canadians buy a home.
      • Expanding eligibility for 30 year mortgage amortizations to all first-time homebuyers and to all buyers of new builds, to reduce the cost of monthly mortgage payments and help more Canadians buy a home. By helping Canadians buy new builds, including condos, the government is announcing yet another measure to incentivize more new housing construction and tackle the housing shortage. This builds on the Budget 2024 commitment, which came into effect on August 1, 2024, permitting 30 year mortgage amortizations for first-time homebuyers purchasing new builds, including condos.

    • In addition to reforming mortgage insurance rules to make it easier to add secondary suites, the federal government is:

      • Helping families afford to have a grandparent or a family member with a disability move back in if they want to with a new, refundable Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit of up to $7,500, available as of January 1, 2023; and,
      • Launching a new Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program to enable homeowners to access low-interest loans to help with the cost of renovations. More details will be announced before the end of the year.

    • In Budget 2024 and Canada’s Housing Plan, the federal government announced the most ambitious housing plan—a plan which will build nearly 4 million homes by 2031. This plan takes a whole-of-government approach to addressing the housing crisis by building more homes, making it easier to rent or own a home, and helping Canadians who cannot afford a home.

      • A key component of Canada’s Housing Plan is the Public Lands for Homes Plan, which will build 250,000 new homes by partnering with all order of government, homebuilders, and housing providers to build homes on surplus and underused public lands, such as unused federal offices, across the country.
      • Budget 2024 provided $500 million to launch the new Public Lands Acquisition Fund, which will buy land from other orders of government to allow the federal government to acquire more land to be used for housing to help build middle-class homes. Work on the fund is already underway, and more details will be released in the coming weeks. 

    • The 14 federal properties added today to the Canada Public Land Bank are located in:

      • Vernon, British Columbia;
      • Ottawa, Ontario;
      • Gatineau, Quebec;
      • Québec City, Quebec;
      • Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; and,
      • St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

    • Provinces, territories, and municipalities that choose to implement vacant land taxes would be incentivized to design these taxes around a core tax base of land that is:

      • Vacant;
      • Residentially (or mixed-use) zoned;
      • Serviceable by municipal infrastructure (e.g., roads, water, sewage, and electricity); and,
      • Physically developable (e.g., appropriate lot size, no site contamination).

    • Applying specialized taxes on vacant land would be intended to:

      • Encourage the development of land into housing rather than leaving it idle;
      • Discourage speculative holding of land by making it more costly to keep land undeveloped; and,
      • Provide a source of revenue, which could potentially be used to fund further investments to build more homes.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Media may contact:

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

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

    General enquiries:

    Phone: 1-833-712-2292
    TTY: 613-369-3230
    E-mail: financepublic-financepublique@fin.gc.ca

    Stay Connected

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Mortgage Insurance Rule Changes to Enable Homeowners to Add Secondary Suites 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    October 8, 2024

    Many homeowners have extra space they may want to convert into rental suites, such as an unused basement, or a garage that could be converted into a laneway home. Historically, the cost of renovating, combined with municipal red tape, has made this both difficult and expensive.

    Recent municipal zoning reforms in Canada’s major cities, made possible through Housing Accelerator Fund agreements, are creating new opportunities for homeowners to add additional suites and increase density. New rental suites would provide more homes for Canadians and could provide an important source of income for seniors continuing to age at home.

    In Budget 2024, the federal government announced its intention to make targeted changes to mortgage insurance rules to encourage densification and enable homeowners to add more units to their homes.

    Today, the government is releasing details for lenders and insurers to offer this new insured mortgage refinancing product, effective January 15, 2025.

    Parameters

    • This measure will apply to all borrowers seeking to access mortgage insurance in Canada to add more units (secondary suites). These borrowers must satisfy the following requirements:
      • Already own their properties;
      • The borrower or a close relative are occupying one of the current units;
      • Intend to construct additional units; and,
      • The additional unit(s) must not be used as a short-term rental.
    • Refinancing: Insured refinancing will be allowed for the purpose of building additional unit(s).
    • Legal units: The new units must be fully self-contained units (e.g., basement suites with separate entrances, laneway homes) and meet municipal zoning requirements.
    • Number of units: Maximum of four dwelling units including the existing unit.
    • Maximum Property Value Limit: The “as improved” value of the eligible residential property against which the loan is secured must be less than $2 million.
    • Maximum Loan-to-Value limit: Up to 90 per cent of the property value, including the value added by the secondary suite(s), in combination with any other outstanding loans secured by the property.
    • Maximum amortization: 30 years.
    • Additional financing must not exceed the project costs.

    Other Parameters

    • Effective date: These measures will be available for mortgage insurance applications that lenders submit to mortgage insurers on or after January 15, 2025.
    • All other eligibility criteria for government-guaranteed mortgage insurance will continue to apply.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: $13 million federal investment to improve health services in Driftpile Cree Nation through construction of the Mihtatikaw Sipiy Health and Wellness Facility

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 08, 2024 — Driftpile Cree Nation, Treaty 8 Territory, Alberta — Indigenous Services Canada

    When we invest in healthcare, we invest in the prosperity of our communities. On September 26, 2024, Chief Dwayne Laboucan of Driftpile Cree Nation, along with Council, Elders, community members, and representatives from Indigenous Services Canada, celebrated the start of construction of the Mihtatikaw Sipiy Health and Wellness Facility.

    With a total investment of $13 million from Indigenous Services Canada, the health centre will blend modern architecture, Indigenous cultural values and Cree symbolism, reflecting the Nation’s commitment to community health, healing and Cree heritage.

    The project will bring together mental wellness and community health services under one roof, creating a central hub for holistic health support. The construction of the new health centre will replace an aging facility and double the footprint of health services to the community, from 527 square metres to 1,047 square metres. The centre will increase current health programming and offer enhanced mental wellness and community health services that meet the growing needs of the Driftpile Cree Nation.

    Quotes

    “The $13 million federal investment in Driftpile Cree Nation’s new Mihtatikaw Sipiy Health and Wellness Facility will provide community members with the essential health services that they need, incorporating Indigenous cultural values and traditional knowledge.”

    The Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services

    “We are proud of the new health centre being built for our people as it was needed so that we can take care of our own”

    Chief Dwayne Laboucan
    Driftpile Cree Nation

    Quick facts

    • The project began in 2021 and is expected to be completed in March 2026.

    • Driftpile Cree Nation is located in Treaty 8 Territory, nestled on the southern shore of Lesser Slave Lake in Northern Alberta. It has an on-reserve population of 1,041 and a total population of 3,223.

    • Through the Government of Canada’s Health Facilities Program, Indigenous Services Canada works with First Nations and Inuit communities to provide funding for infrastructure that supports the delivery of health-related programs and services.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information, media may contact:

    Jennifer Kozelj
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
    Jennifer.Kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Indigenous Services Canada
    819-953-1160
    media@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Trina Okimaw
    Driftpile Cree Nation, Executive Manager
    exec.mgr@dpcn.ca

    Stay connected

    Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

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

    Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealth

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

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Bank of Canada releases the third quarter issues of the Business Outlook Survey and the Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations

    Source: Bank of Canada


















  • MIL-OSI Global: Swing state voters along the Great Lakes love cleaner water and beaches − and candidates from both parties have long fished for support there

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mike Shriberg, Professor of Practice & Engagement, School for Environment & Sustainability, University of Michigan

    The Great Lakes account for 20% of the world’s freshwater supply.
     Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

    If history holds true to form, I expect the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris to begin touting their support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as Election Day approaches.

    The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, or GLRI, is a federal program that funds water and habitat protection and restoration for the Great Lakes, which contain over 20% of the world’s surface freshwater. While voters in some parts of the country may have never heard of it, it is a big deal in the eight states that border these inland seas.

    A 2021 poll by the Great Lakes Water Quality Board found that 90% of U.S. and Canadian residents in the region support the lakes’ protection.

    But the popularity of the Great Lakes would not have blossomed into such an ambitious and bipartisan conservation effort without another critical fact. Three of those eight surrounding states – Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – are critical swing states in 2024. And Ohio, although no longer considered a swing state, had been one until 2016.

    As a scholar of water policy and politics at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment & Sustainability, and a former leader in the Great Lakes advocacy community, I have championed Great Lakes protection and studied the impact of advocacy on policy and funding.

    I have seen how politicians and conservationists deftly use the region’s political battleground status to draw support for Great Lakes restoration from presidential candidates from both major parties. And I believe this is unlikely to change in 2024 and beyond.

    Fighting ‘Everglades envy’

    The Great Lakes are considered a uniting force among residents of the region, thanks to their iconic nature, recreational value and the drinking water they provide to over 40 million people.

    This broad and deep regard, however, was not enough to protect the Great Lakes from extreme degradation throughout the 20th century.

    Time magazine declared Lake Erie “dead” in a 1970 article that included an iconic cover photo of a fire burning on the surface of Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River. This media coverage, following decades of pollution of the Great Lakes, helped to both kick-start the U.S. environmental movement and pave the way for passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972.

    But in 2000, when the Florida Everglades ecosystem – which sits in what was a key swing state at the time – received over US$4 billion in federal funding for a massive cleanup, the Great Lakes still didn’t have the resources for even basic remediation of toxic sites.

    This led many in the region to suffer from what I heard many lawmakers and others describe as “Everglades envy.” They shared maps of how the entire Everglades ecosystem could fit into one corner of the Great Lakes. More importantly, they plotted how to get funding to clean up toxic hot spots, restore degraded habitats, expand recreational access and educate the next generation of Great Lakes leaders.

    George W. Bush’s executive order

    When President George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection team wanted to secure the electoral college votes of Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, regional lawmakers and advocates helped them craft an executive order. It declared the lakes a “national treasure” and required federal agencies to work together on a “regional collaboration of national significance for the Great Lakes.”

    That same year, philanthropist Peter Wege gave $2.5 million to launch the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition. The coalition brought together nonprofits in the region to collectively advocate for cleaning up the lakes.

    After Bush’s reelection, his executive order was used to organize over 1,500 diverse stakeholders into eight strategy teams. These teams created a $20 billion plan for restoring the Great Lakes.

    However, the plan existed only on paper – until the presidential campaigns of 2008, when advocates and political leaders leveraged the swing state status of Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin to garner support for funding the cleanup plan.

    As a result, Sen. Barack Obama’s and Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaigns declared their commitment to Great Lakes restoration.

    Obama launches GLRI

    After winning all eight Great Lakes states in 2008, Obama used stimulus funds to launch the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in 2010.

    With an initial congressional appropriation of $475 million in 2010, and nearly $300 million in each of the following two years, it was one of the rare times Obama’s proposed budget aligned with Republican priorities in Congress.

    In the run-up to the 2012 presidential election, both Obama and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee whose father was a former governor of Michigan, declared their support for Great Lakes restoration. This came after the Healing Our Waters coalition pressed both campaigns to pledge to fund GLRI and to stop invasive species from reaching the Great Lakes via the Chicago River.

    When President Obama proposed cutting Great Lakes funding from $300 million to $250 million per year, Congress rebuffed him.
    Mark Wilson via Getty Images

    After the 2012 election, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative continued to receive approximately $300 million per year and strong support in Congress. When Obama proposed modest cuts to the program during his second term, Republicans and Democrats united to restore the funding. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative inspired “rare bipartisanship,” as The Associated Press reported at the time.

    Trump moves to eliminate funding

    In the 2016 election, representatives for both Trump and his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, pledged support for Great Lakes restoration during the annual meeting of the Healing Our Waters coalition in Sandusky, Ohio. The Trump team, however, was ambiguous about the funding level it supported.

    Once in office, Trump reversed course and proposed eliminating all funding for the initiative.

    Congress, led by bipartisan members of the Great Lakes Congressional Task Force – including U.S. Rep. David Joyce and U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio Republicans who held powerful appropriations positions – fought back fiercely and restored the funding.

    In 2018 and 2019, Trump’s budgets proposed cutting funding for the initiative by 90%. But again, with strong bipartisan support, it was restored to levels nearing $300 million per year.

    By 2020, concerns tied to his reelection prospects changed Trump’s approach.

    Trump supporters join a boat parade in 2020 on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio.
    Dustin Franz for The Washington Post via Getty Images

    Trump’s turning point

    The famous turning point allegedly came during a car ride to a West Michigan campaign rally in 2019 when Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga emphasized the importance of the Great Lakes to Michigan politics.

    At the rally, Trump reversed his previous position and announced that he would fully fund the GLRI at $300 million per year.

    He went further: “I support the Great Lakes. Always have. They’re beautiful. They’re big. Very deep. Record deepness, right? … We’re going to make the Great Lakes great again.”

    In response, Michigan Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee quipped, “The President claiming to support the Great Lakes is like an arsonist congratulating themselves for putting out a fire they started.”

    Regardless, Trump’s shift helped the restoration initiative reach $320 million in funding in the 2021 budget – the first time it topped $300 million since its first year.

    On the campaign trail in 2020, both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden highlighted their support for GLRI during swing state stops in the upper Midwest. Biden ultimately won all three of the current Great Lakes swing states and strongly supported the GLRI while in office too.

    In 2021, he signed into law the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included $1 billion in additional GLRI funding over five years. With this boost, funding for the initiative reached nearly $550 million in 2022, its highest ever.

    Bipartisan litmus test

    Since its launch in 2010, the GLRI has funded over 7,500 projects to clean up polluted waterways, restore habitats, control invasive species, reduce polluted runoff, improve recreational access and educate the public.

    Great Lakes pollution remains a complex problem, however, and climate change further complicates cleanup efforts.

    The Biden administration has repeatedly emphasized and implemented its commitment to the Great Lakes specifically and water infrastructure generally.

    And in the current race, both vice presidential candidates are from the region. In 2023, U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio became the Republican co-chair of the Great Lakes Congressional Task Force. He has supported legislation to increase funding for the GLRI.

    Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate on the Democratic ticket, briefly referenced the Great Lakes’ freshwater supply during the Oct. 1, 2024, vice presidential debate. He too has strongly supported efforts to restore them during his time in office.

    Although Great Lakes restoration has not yet played a major public role in either Trump’s or Harris’ 2024 campaign, history tells us that the issue plays well politically in key swing states in the upper Midwest. In fact, it has become a rare bipartisan litmus test of allegiance to this politically divided and critically important region.

    Mike Shriberg was previously the Great Lakes Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation, which entailed being a co-chair (and, for part of the time, Director) of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition that is referenced in the article.

    – ref. Swing state voters along the Great Lakes love cleaner water and beaches − and candidates from both parties have long fished for support there – https://theconversation.com/swing-state-voters-along-the-great-lakes-love-cleaner-water-and-beaches-and-candidates-from-both-parties-have-long-fished-for-support-there-237946

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why it’s so hard to kick fossil fuels out of sport

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Theo Lorenzo Frixou, PhD Candidate, Social Sciences, Loughborough University

    A 52 Super Series sailing race off Palma de Mallorca. Villegas Photo/Shutterstock

    Governments and public relations firms are under pressure to, in UN secretary-general António Guterres’s words, stop “fuelling the madness” and ban fossil fuel advertising or cut ties with the industry.

    France, Amsterdam, Sheffield and Edinburgh have all restricted fossil fuel advertising to differing degrees in recognition of the industry’s responsibility for climate breakdown.

    People working in the advertising industry are among those calling for an end to working with fossil fuel companies. There is a reputational risk with continuing to represent these businesses. Four advertising agencies recently lost a sustainability certification for taking an oil company as a client.

    Oil and gas advertising is perhaps most prolific in sport. A recent report estimated that fossil fuel companies have invested more than £4 billion across 200 sponsorship deals.

    Fellow researchers have appealed for sport to be included in any further advertising bans. There is a precedent: a tobacco advertising ban came into force in the UK in 2002. Bear in mind, that ban took nearly 40 years of campaigning and tobacco executives have shown they’re capable of navigating its loopholes.

    Even so, the fossil fuel industry will prove significantly harder to purge than tobacco. Here’s why.

    ‘No fossil fuels, no sport’

    Human development is largely a story of increasing energy use. Oil in particular has transformed everyday life beyond comprehension.

    Whether it be in the form of high-profile sponsorship deals, sporting equipment made from petrol-based products like carbon fibre or flying to meet the demand for ever more fixtures, modern sport reflects society’s oil dependency.

    Sport is entwined with high-carbon industries.
    Parkdolly/Shutterstock

    The fossil fuel industry knows this. Despite the longstanding scientific consensus that fossil fuels must be phased out, the industry seeks to convince the public that oil and gas will still be needed for a very long time.

    Analysis of one oil company’s sustainability reports identified how its communications strategy shifted from denying the results of climate science to more subtle efforts to delay an energy transition. These included the argument that fossil fuels are an irreplaceable precondition for “the good life”.

    Sport is a vehicle for perpetuating this argument. In 2021, an oil and gas trade association in the US launched a campaign showcasing sports products made from petroleum, the implication being that people cannot enjoy sport without fossil fuels.

    Sport is poised for corporate piggybacking because it evokes connection, pride and security in fans and spectators – feelings the fossil fuel industry is keen to capitalise on. An analysis of the Canadian oil industry’s advertising between 2006 and 2015 documented a shift from images of the natural environment to those depicting family life and domesticity.

    This kind of pernicious messaging, which entrenches fossil fuels within the things people hold dear, will be hard for legislators to reverse.

    Oil change

    Imre Szeman, a professor of human geography who specialises in the energy transition, urges us to comprehend just how deep our relationship with oil runs.

    Addressing climate change is not simply a technical matter, but a cultural one as well. An issue of how we grasp what is so often taken for granted in everyday life.

    Change will not only require acknowledging the severity of the environmental crisis, but to recognise how its primary causes have shaped society, including in elite sport. It’s crucial to understand modern societies as oil societies if we are ever to envisage one no longer dependent on it.

    Sport sponsorships reflect the infiltration of fossil fuels in modern society.
    Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock

    So, considering sport, the first step is to remove the cognitive dissonance that surrounds modern elite sporting culture, the nature of its oil dependency and the consequences of climate change.

    Sporting organisations can start by saying no to fossil fuel sponsorship. There are examples of this happening already in tennis, rugby and the Olympics, with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo indicating an oil company was not welcome as a sponsor of the 2024 Games.

    Change happens by disaster or by design. It’s time to recognise the decades long influence wielded by the fossil fuel industry.


    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.

    Theo Lorenzo Frixou 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. Why it’s so hard to kick fossil fuels out of sport – https://theconversation.com/why-its-so-hard-to-kick-fossil-fuels-out-of-sport-239620

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report shows deliberate conservation efforts are having a positive impact  

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 8, 2024 – Gatineau, Quebec

    Birds are the most accessible and effective indicators of the health of the air, water, and land. When bird populations and their habitats are thriving, we know that people also benefit.

    Today, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada released The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report. Findings indicate that while many of Canada’s bird populations continue to decline, others have increased due to deliberate and informed conservation efforts. Specifically, the report shows how 463 bird species that regularly occur in Canada have changed since 1970. For each species, the report includes population status, distribution, trends, goals, threats, and conservation actions to protect them.

    For the first time, the report includes long-term population goals for all native bird species found in Canada that have sufficient data. These goals will help measure progress in maintaining and restoring bird species across the country, and in halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

    The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report is a key tool for Canada to report on Target 21 of the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to ensure that the best available biodiversity data, information, and knowledge are accessible to decision-makers, practitioners, and the public. In a few weeks, Canada and thousands of delegates from around the world will be gathered to take action on protecting nature during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) at the 2024 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which will be held in Columbia from October 21 to November 1, 2024.

    Quotes

    “Birds are at the heart of Canada’s biodiversity. Open-access data supports scientific decision-making and leads to a deeper understanding of our environment. Where deliberate conservation action has been taken, birds have recovered. Together with communities, citizen scientists, and organizations such as Birds Canada, we are working to build a nature-positive future. Canada is committed to halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 and achieving full recovery for nature by 2050.”
    – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

    “Through birds, we find beauty and solace in the natural world. Birds are also an important indicator of the health of our planet. And what they are telling us is that humans are having an impact on bird populations. Both positively, through the conservation of wetlands and the resulting impact on wetland birds, but also negatively, through the drastic decline of grassland birds from habitat loss. For our imperiled grassland birds, the time to act is now.”
    – Patrick Nadeau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Birds Canada

    Quick facts

    • The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report is hosted on the NatureCounts website by Birds Canada. This user-friendly, authoritative, and dynamic platform is frequently updated to incorporate the best available data, offering detailed overviews of each bird species regularly occurring in Canada. NatureCounts is one of the world’s largest biodiversity databases and helps inform many conservation efforts in Canada.

    • The report focuses on 10 groups of birds: waterfowl, birds of prey, wetland birds, marine birds, forest birds, Arctic birds, long-distance migrants, shorebirds, aerial insectivores, and grassland birds.

    • The main threats to birds include habitat loss, climate change, outdoor cats, window collisions, and pollution.

    • Overall results of the report indicate that 36 percent of species has decreased in population, while 31 percent of Canada’s bird species has increased since 1970, with some of strongest recoveries seen in waterfowl, birds of prey, and wetland birds. The data shows us that when deliberate and informed action for conservation is taken, declines in bird populations can be halted and reversed.

    • This is the third comprehensive assessment of the population status of all bird species that occur in Canada. Previous reports were published in 2019 and 2012, and since then, data has been added and the methods for analysis and assessment have improved. Two new groups have also been analyzed for the first time: long-distance migrants and Arctic birds.

    Related products

    Associated links

    Contacts

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

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

    Jody Allair
    Director of Communications
    Birds Canada
    519-586-3531 ext. 197
    jallair@birdscanada.org

    Environment and Climate Change Canada’s X (Twitter) page

    Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Facebook page

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Casar Leads 46 Members of Congress to Demand EPA Bans Use of Paraquat to Protect Public Health

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas) and 46 other Members of Congress are calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban the use of an herbicide, Paraquat, in the U.S. to protect public health. Paraquat is already banned in over 70 countries.

    The Members of Congress released a letter today urging EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan to protect farm workers, rural Americans, and the environment from the harmful effects of Paraquat and ban the use of the herbicide in the U.S. Exposure to the herbicide is linked to life threatening diseases like Parkinson’s disease and thyroid cancer, and linked to an increase in soil and water pollution.

    “Paraquat is a toxic substance linked to life threatening diseases and grave impacts on the environment — it has been banned in dozens of countries and should be banned in the United States,” the members wrote. “We urge the EPA to change course and deliver critical protections for farmworkers, agricultural communities, and the environment by banning Paraquat.” 

    The EPA has already banned Paraquat for areas such as golf courses and recreational areas. If Paraquat is too dangerous for golfers, it is too dangerous for farm workers and rural Americans. Nearly 70 countries have banned or discontinued the use of Paraquat, including China, Brazil, the European Union, and Canada.

    The letter is led by U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), and signed by U.S. RepresentativesAlma Adams (NC-12), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Cori Bush (MO-01), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Al Green (TX-09), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Barbara Lee (CA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Katie Porter (CA-47), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

    It is endorsed by the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, American Sustainable Business Network, Beyond Pesticides, the Brian Grant Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety, the Davis Phinney Foundation, Earthjustice, Ecological Landscape Alliance, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Green New Deal Network, HEAL (Health, Environment, Agriculture, Labor) Food Alliance, GreenLatinos, Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund of North America, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA!), League of Conservation Voters, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Parkinson Association of Alabama, Parkinson Association of Northern California, PD Avengers (Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease Assn.), Pesticide Action and Agroecology Network (PAN), Pesticide Action Network, Power for Parkinson’s, Power Over Parkinson’s, the Rachel Carson Council, Re:wild Your Campus, Rural Coalition, United Farm Workers (UFW), and the United Farm Workers Foundation (UFWF).

    “The people who feed us should not face twice the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease,” said Geoff Horsfield, policy director for the Environmental Working Group (EWG). “President Biden’s EPA should put the people who feed us ahead of the profits of a pesticide company that hid the risks of paraquat for decades. Seventy countries have banned paraquat, so we know that farmers have plenty of safer options. We are grateful to Rep. Casar for his leadership in protecting farmers and farmworkers.” 

    “More than 1 million people in the U.S. live with Parkinson’s disease, the second most common and fastest growing neurodegenerative disease in the world,” said Ted Thompson, senior vice president of public policy at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. “With only about 30 percent of Parkinson’s risk explained by genetics, we know that other factors — including environmental risks like exposure to toxic chemicals — can play a role in the development of the disease. We appreciate Representative Casar’s efforts to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency is doing all it can to protect Americans from the harms associated with exposure to these toxins.”

    “Every day across America, farm workers, as well as their families and communities, are exposed to Paraquat – a dangerous chemical known to cause severe health impacts,” said Teresa Romero, president of UFW. “We commend Congressman Casar for fighting to ensure that every worker is safe on the job and we call on the EPA to listen to the concerns of the people who put food on all of our tables.”

    “The UFW Foundation supports the banning of Paraquat, a chemical whose exposure puts the lives of hundreds of thousands of farm workers at risk,” said Erica Lomeli, interim chief executive officer of the UFW Foundation. “Farm workers deserve a safe environment free from harmful substances that can impact not only their health but also the well-being of their families. Not only is Paraquat dangerous for farm workers, but it also poses significant risks to consumers who may ingest produce treated with this pesticide.” 

    “We thank Rep. Casar and his colleagues for their leadership in urging the EPA to finally remove this dangerous chemical from the market,” said Lorette Picciano, executive director of the Rural Coalition. “We have heard from far too many farmers, ranchers and workers in communities we serve who have developed Parkinsons and other diseases. The devastating cost to their lives and health, families and communities far outweigh any possible benefit of Paraquat’s continued use.” 

    The full letter can be viewed here. 

    Learn more at banparaquat.org 

    ###

    Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio.  A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Springdale — Impaired driver arrested by Springdale RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 23-year-old man was arrested by Springdale RCMP for impaired driving on October 5th, 2024.

    At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, police observed a vehicle on Little Bay Road with a burnt-out headlight and conducted a traffic stop. The driver showed signs of alcohol impairment, failed a roadside breath test, and was arrested. Back at the detachment, the man provided breath samples that were above the legal limit.

    He was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to charges of impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

    The vehicle was seized and impounded and the man’s driver’s licence was suspended.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese high-speed trains roll with innovation progress

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Oct. 8 — During the week-long National Day holiday ending on Monday, China’s high-speed railway stations were often bustling with crowds. Some passengers could be seen lined up in an orderly fashion as they prepared to board, while others could be spotted browsing their smartphones or using laptops when waiting for their boarding calls.

    The country’s railway sector experienced a surge in passenger traffic on Monday as travelers returned home from their holiday destinations.

    A total of 13,103 trains were in operation on Monday, including 1,705 additional trains scheduled to meet the significant demand. This marked a historic high for a single day’s operational capacity, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

    China has built the world’s largest high-speed railway network to address the people’s growing demand for convenient and comfortable travel.

    The total operational length of China’s high-speed railway network has exceeded 45,000 kilometers, with Fuxing high-speed trains operating across 31 provincial-level regions nationwide.

    This growing volume of railway transportation is supported by innovations and high-quality development concerning China’s rail transit equipment. Notably, the Fuxing high-speed train project received the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award in June 2024.

    CHINESE RAILWAY INNOVATION

    Once upon a time, the slow train with its signature green color dominated the travel memories of many Chinese people.

    Since the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway, with a design speed of 350 km per hour, entered operation in 2008, a fast-expanding modern high-speed railway network has been operating efficiently in the world’s second-largest economy.

    Now it takes just over eight hours to travel from Hong Kong in south China to Beijing in the north by high-speed rail, a Canadian passenger with the Xiaohongshu username Lao Han, shared on his social media platform this April, while adding that he enjoyed the different views from south to north during the journey.

    Previously, a train connecting the two cities took more than 24 hours to complete a one-way trip.

    Such a rail experience is not confined to the Hong Kong-Beijing trip, with many bullet trains running across the country, reaching a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour. CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, one of China’s major rail transit equipment enterprises, has long been contributing to the speeding up of the country’s railway travel options.

    Since the 1990s, China’s railway running speed has been repeatedly and significantly increased, with CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles introducing a number of upgraded and innovative products to provide equipment support for these accelerations.

    Notably, this company produced China’s first subway train and first group of high-speed trains. The country’s first aluminum alloy subway train, stainless steel subway train, monorail train, low-floor light rail vehicle, linear electric locomotive and automatic subway train were also manufactured in the factories of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.

    In July 2024, the company introduced a high-speed built-in bogie that can meet the needs of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains at a speed of 400 km per hour.

    The high-speed built-in bogie serves as the running system and one of the core components of rail vehicles. “It acts as the legs of an EMU train,” explained Zhou Dianmai, a senior engineer of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Equipped with such a bogie, a train can run faster and more steadily, while also generating less noise.

    Compared with traditional external bogies, the built-in bogie reduces the weight of the train by 20 percent — which can cut energy consumption by 15 percent during the vehicle’s operation, lower wheel-rail wear by about 30 percent, and reduce wheel-rail noise by around two decibels. In addition, maintenance cost during the whole life cycle is slashed by approximately 15 percent. This product is expected to facilitate the green and energy-saving transformation of EMU trains.

    At the EMU bogie production line of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, a big data analysis platform features key information, such as management costs and resource consumption. Through the processing of real-time data, this platform can generate product design and management suggestions.

    “The big data analysis platform improved the equipment utilization rate by 10 percent and decreased operation and management costs by 10 percent,” said Zhu Yan, deputy chief designer of the Fuxing bullet train at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Total average annual costs were reduced by more than 5 million yuan (about 700,830 U.S. dollars).

    Through learning from overseas advanced experience and customizing according to China’s unique conditions, the company has achieved both key technologies concerning rail transit equipment and capability in terms of R&D and manufacturing of full-range EMU trains.

    On March 21, 2024, the world’s first city train powered by hydrogen, independently developed by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, conducted its maiden speed test run. Previously, such a combination of hydrogen energy and rail transit equipment had not been achieved.

    Running at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour at full load, the train consumed only five KWh energy per kilometer, while the data measuring each system confirmed stability during the test.

    So far, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles has managed to build nine product platforms with advanced EMU, subway trains and maglev trains, covering R&D capabilities in terms of full-type and full-variety rail transit products.

    WELCOME ABOARD CHINESE TRAINS

    China’s high-speed trains, a successful example of independent innovation, are now regarded as a Chinese “calling card” and are welcomed globally.

    Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) noted in July 2024 that it had carried 4 million passengers since it began commercial operations on Oct. 17, 2023. Indonesian drivers have successfully operated the trains serving the HSR at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour.

    This is the first overseas high-speed railway project fully utilizing Chinese railway systems, technology and industrial components.

    The China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS) has undertaken supervision and consultation concerning this high-speed railway, and has provided support in fields such as on-site quality control, drawing reviews and technical research.

    The 142.3-km high-speed railway has shortened the journey between Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, and Bandung, a famous tourist city, to only 40 minutes.

    Meanwhile, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, namely the China-Laos Railway, began operations in December 2021.

    “Before the China-Laos Railway opened, it took me two days to travel from Vientiane to Mongla by car,” said a Lao passenger. “Now, it takes me about five hours by train, which is very fast and convenient.”

    Another Chinese-built project, the Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed railway, has transported nearly 8.8 million people between Serbia’s two largest cities since starting operation in 2022.

    At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles signed a purchase contract with Serbia to introduce China’s bullet trains to this country in Eastern Europe.

    Based on a mature and reliable technical platform, both design and production of trains are tailored according to local railway conditions and technical specifications.

    In recent years, the products of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles have been exported to 23 countries and regions. The company’s export business model currently covers the full life cycle service of vehicles, and it has set up 11 branches and subsidiaries worldwide.

    “China’s high-speed trains feature high levels of science and technology, strong brand influence and thriving innovation,” said Tao Guidong, a scientist of CRRC.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada to re-open 10-year green bond

    Source: Government of Canada News

    This re-opening follows the successful issuance of a 10-year, $4 billion green bond in February 2024, which saw robust investor demand as demonstrated by a final order book of $7.4 billion. The February issuance is the government’s second green bond, following the successful issuance of Canada’s first 7.5-year, $5 billion green bond in March 2022.

    October 8, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

    The Government of Canada is announcing its plan to re-open its second Canadian-dollar-denominated green bond this week, subject to market conditions.

    This re-opening follows the successful issuance of a 10-year, $4 billion green bond in February 2024, which saw robust investor demand as demonstrated by a final order book of $7.4 billion. The February issuance was the government’s second green bond, following the successful issuance of Canada’s first 7.5-year, $5 billion green bond in March 2022.

    The government’s intent is to proceed with two transactions in fiscal year 2024-25—today’s re-opening and a separate offering at a later date—to meet the planned green bond issuance target outlined in Budget 2024.

    This offering will be the second under Canada’s updated Green Bond Framework, released on November 21, 2023. Canada is the first sovereign borrower to include certain nuclear expenditures in a green bond, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to being a global leader in clean nuclear power.

    Canada’s green bond program is supporting the growth of the sustainable finance market in Canada, and around the world, and advancing Canada’s investments in clean growth, renewable energy, climate action, and environmental protection. Green bonds unlock private financing to speed up projects such as green infrastructure and nature conservation.

    The Government of Canada’s green bonds will meet demand from investors seeking green investment opportunities backed by Canada’s AAA credit rating, while contributing to the development of a stronger sustainable finance market in Canada.

    • To support the growth of the sustainable finance market in Canada, in March 2022 the government launched the federal green bond program. Mobilizing capital through green bonds is an important element of Canada both meeting its 2030 emissions reduction targets and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Green bond projects will grow Canada’s economy and create more good-paying jobs across the country.

    • In March 2023, the government published its inaugural allocation report on the distribution of green bond proceeds, and an allocation and impact report in 2024. 

    • In November 2023, the Government of Canada updated its Green Bond Framework to make certain nuclear expenditures eligible, in line with the government’s position that nuclear power is vital, clean technology for Canada’s path to net-zero emissions by 2030, as well as updated taxonomies, international best practices, and evolving investor preferences.

    • Canada’s Green Bond Framework is aligned with the green bond frameworks of other sovereign issuers that have been widely accepted by green bond investors and market indices. Other sovereign green bond issuers include France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

    • Green bonds issued under the initial Framework continue under its parameters, and no proceeds from the first green bond issued in March 2022 will be allocated to nuclear related expenditures by the Government of Canada.

    • Sustainalytics, an independent environmental, social and governance (ESG) research group, concluded that Canada’s Green Bond Framework is a credible and transparent plan to deliver positive environmental benefits.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Message from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health – Mental Illness Awareness Week

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    October 8, 2024 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada

    This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, an opportunity to highlight that everyone’s experience with mental illness is unique. Almost all of us have been affected by mental illness, either directly or through the experiences of our family, friends or colleagues. This year’s theme, “Access For All: Time for Action, Time for Change,” is a reminder that we must all work together to promote access to mental health care for everyone.

    Mental illness, including mood disorders, can affect how someone thinks, feels, and behaves, and can significantly impact a person’s day to day. Improving our knowledge and understanding of mental illness helps reduce barriers to care, like stigma. The Government of Canada is working to improve access to mental healthcare by challenging stigma, improving mental health literacy, funding culturally relevant and tailored resources and normalizing conversations to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness.

    Getting help for a mental illness can significantly improve your quality of life. Learning about mental illness and knowing when to reach out for help is an important part of self-care. Through the recently announced Youth Mental Health Fund, the government of Canada has committed to helping young Canadians access the mental health care they need by reducing wait times and providing more care options.

    If you or a loved one are struggling with lasting negative emotions or have concerns about mental health, visit Canada.ca/mental-health for free mental health resources.

    For those living with mental illness, support is available. Speak to a health care professional or someone you trust. You can also connect with Kids Help Phone which provides confidential mental health resources 24/7 for kids, teens and young adults, or the Hope for Wellness Helpline which provides Indigenous Peoples with immediate emotional support and crisis intervention with experienced and culturally sensitive helpline counsellors.

    If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline at any time, from anywhere in Canada to access bilingual, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate suicide prevention support.

    Mental Illness is as real as any physical illness, and no one should have to face it alone. We are working with all levels of government so that everyone in Canada has the mental health care support they need, when or where they need it.

    The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, P.C., M.P.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Release of The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    Developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada, The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report provides accessible, scientific insight into the population status of 463 bird species that occur regularly in Canada.

    Population changes in Canada’s bird species since 1970

    • 168 species (36 percent) have decreased in population
    • 143 species (31 percent) have increased in population
    • 98 species (21 percent) have experienced little change in population
    • 54 species (12 percent) are data deficient (not enough information to determine a trend)
    Long Description

    A spaghetti chart showing the population change in Canada’s birds from 1970 to 2020. The graph shows Waterfowl increase by 46%, Birds of Prey increase by 35%, Wetland Birds increase by 21%, Marine Birds increase by 0%, Forest Birds decrease by 1%, Arctic Birds decrease by 28%, Long-Distance Migrants decrease by 29%, Shorebirds decrease by 42%, Aerial Insectivores decrease by 43%, and Grassland Birds decrease by 67%.

    Key findings from the report

    • Three bird groups have increased in population since 1970: waterfowl (46 percent), birds of prey (35 percent), and wetland birds (21 percent). From banning DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) to save the Peregrine Falcon campaign to conserving wetlands for birds like the Least Bittern, conservation action is having positive impacts on bird populations.
    • A crisis is unfolding in the Prairies. Grassland birds have declined by 67 percent since 1970, with no sign of levelling off. The destruction and degradation of native grasslands is the single greatest threat to this group of birds and biodiversity in general. Without urgent action to conserve their habitat, species like the Chestnut-collared Longspur and the Burrowing Owl may be lost from Canada, along with the ecosystem services that healthy habitats provide.
    • Shorebirds are continuing to decline, with a drop of 42 percent since 1970. The populations of some species, like the Hudsonian Godwit, have fallen by over 90 percent. Shorebirds face many threats, as many make perilous, long-distance migrations and breed in vulnerable habitats, like the Arctic and the Prairies.
    • Aerial insectivores—birds that hunt for insects in flight—have declined by 43 percent since 1970. Although the decline has subsided recently, populations are far lower than they were in the 1970s. Declines in insect populations have likely been one of the major causes, and reversing these declines could help save threatened birds like the Bank Swallow and the Chimney Swift.

    The threats birds face in Canada

    • Habitat loss threatens birds across Canada and affects migratory birds throughout their annual journeys. The destruction and degradation of habitats is driven by agricultural practices, urban development, natural resource extraction, and infrastructure.
    • Climate change is a significant and growing threat to birds in Canada. Northern birds are likely to be most affected, as the changing climate alters the timing of events like insect and plant emergence. An increase in extreme weather events like storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires also puts birds at risk.
    • Outdoor and feral cats kill more than 100 million birds in Canada annually.
    • Collisions with windows are estimated to kill more than 25 million birds in Canada every year, especially when migration brings many species into urban and suburban areas. Millions of birds are also killed annually through collisions with vehicles and power lines.
    • Contaminants and waste affect birds in all environments. Pesticides and other contaminants from agriculture and industry threaten both birds and their habitats. Ingestion of plastics also causes mortality, especially in marine birds.

    How Canadians can help protect birds

    • Create and protect habitats for birds. Plant native plants, reduce pesticide use, and make windows safer for birds.
    • Keep cats indoors or provide outside time with a leash or catio. Leash dogs in sensitive natural areas.
    • Help fight climate change. Use less fossil fuel, waste less food, use less energy at home, and eat less meat.
    • Volunteer for conservation. Take part in citizen science and support local, regional, and national organizations that work to conserve birds and their habitats. Participate in tree plantings, invasive species control, habitat creation, and restoration projects.
    • Choose bird-friendly products. If you are able, choose organic produce, bird-friendly coffee, certified paper products, sustainable seafood, and grass-fed beef.
    • Buy less and produce less waste. Use fewer single-use plastics, dispose of garbage and recycling properly, and help with clean-ups.
    • Learn more about birds, contribute to an inclusive and accessible birding community, and advocate for bird-friendly initiatives, policies, and conservation action.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Middle Hainesville — Missing 60-year-old man

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Keswick RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing 60-year-old man from Middle Hainesville, N.B.

    Glendon Smith was last seen on October 4, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m., on Highway 104, near Middle Hainesville. He was reported missing to police on October 7. 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.

    Glendon Smith is described as being approximately 5 feet 3 inches (160 centimetres) tall, and weighing approximately 152 pounds (69 kilograms). He has blue eyes, and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a dark hoodie, blue jeans, blue and white sneakers and a red hat with a brown trim.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: CRTC launches public consultation on the Code of Conduct for bargaining under the Online News Act

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Today, the CRTC is launching a public consultation on the proposed Code of Conduct for the Online News Act (the Act) bargaining framework.

    October 8, 2024—Ottawa–Gatineau—Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

    Today, the CRTC is launching a public consultation on the proposed Code of Conduct for the Online News Act (the Act) bargaining framework.

    The Act (formerly Bill C-18), which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2023, aims to ensure that online platforms that make Canadian news content available fairly compensate Canadian news organizations. The Act requires the CRTC to set up and supervise the bargaining framework to support fair negotiations between news organizations and the largest online platforms.

    The CRTC is moving quickly to advance the implementation of the Act. So far, the CRTC has launched three public consultations: one on the mandatory bargaining process, undue preference and information gathering, another on the Cost Recovery Regulations, and the third on Google’s exemption application. In this fourth consultation being launched today, the CRTC is seeking views on the proposed Code of Conduct for bargaining under the Act.

    The purpose of the proposed Code of Conduct is to help ensure online platforms and news organizations bargain in good faith and make informed decisions during negotiations.

    The CRTC is accepting comments until November 7, 2024, and interested parties can participate by:

    • filling out the online form
    • writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N2
    • sending a fax to 819-994-0218

    All comments received will form part of the public record and will inform the CRTC’s decision.

    Quick facts

    • The CRTC is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. The CRTC holds public hearings and makes decisions based on the public record.
    • More information on the CRTC’s Online News Act consultations can be found in the regulatory plan.

    Associated links

    General Inquiries
    Telephone: 819-997-0313
    Toll free: 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
    TTY: 819-994-0423

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Travelling for Thanksgiving long weekend? The CBSA gives tips for a smooth trip

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 8, 2024
    Ottawa, Ontario

    The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminds travellers that it can be extra busy at the border over the Thanksgiving long weekend.

    Every day, the CBSA works hard to protect Canadians, support the economy and ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across the border. In 2023, we welcomed over 86 million travellers and intercepted more than 72,200 kg of prohibited drugs, cannabis, narcotics, and chemicals, representing an increase of close to 30% from 2022.

    The CBSA is dedicated to planning and preparing for peak periods, including long weekends and summer months. We monitor traveller volumes and take measures to minimize border wait times at land ports of entry and at international airports, without compromising safety and security.

    Here are some tips to help you plan for your trip:

    • Check border wait times and expect delays.
      • Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times.
      • The Monday of  holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest.
      • Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic.
      • Check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official CBSA Directory of Offices and Services.
      • If you are using a GPS application (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options (such as fastest and shortest routes) to determine the preferred route of travel.
    • Have your travel documents handy. This will speed up processing times at the border.
    • Be prepared to declare. Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle.
    • When travelling with children, it is recommended that the accompanying adult have a consent letter authorizing them to travel with the child if they share custody or are not the parent or legal guardian. Border services officers are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.
    • Travelling with pets? Pets must meet specific requirements to enter Canada. Review Importing and travelling with pets before leaving.
      • Will you be going to the U.S. with a dog? As of August 1, 2024, there are updated documentation requirements for all dogs entering the U.S. from Canada. For more information, visit Dogs travelling to the United States.
    • Flying into Canada? Use Advance Declaration and make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada at participating airports.
    • Entering Canada by boat? You must report to the CBSA without delay. Review reporting requirements for private boaters before making travel plans. If you are the operator of a boat entering Canadian waters with the intent to disembark, you are responsible for reporting your goods on board.
      • Are you towing or transporting a watercraft or any water-related equipment (canoe, paddleboard, etc.) into Canada? If so, these items must be clean, dry, and free of any aquatic invasive plants or species. Learn more: Clean, Drain, Dry and Decontaminate.

    Are you bringing any of the following into Canada?

    Restricted and prohibited goods:

    Make sure you review the necessary information before attempting to bring certain items into Canada. If not, you risk having your goods seized or facing fines and prosecution.

    • Firearms: Leave them at home. You are encouraged not to travel with firearms. If you choose to do so, be sure to check the rules on importing firearms.
    • Weapons: Restricted and prohibited goods include pepper spray, switchblades, and butterfly knives.
    • Narcotics: Narcotics such as cocaine and heroin are illegal in Canada.  If you are found to be in possession of illegal drugs (on your person, in your vehicle, or in your luggage) you will be arrested and may be charged. The drugs will be seized.
    • Cannabis: Don’t bring it in. Don’t take it out. While cannabis is legal in Canada, bringing it across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.

    Not sure? Ask a CBSA officer. The best way to save time is to be open and honest with the border services officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, don’t hesitate to ask!

    For more information, visit the CBSA website or call us at 1-800-461-9999.

    For more information or to schedule an interview with a CBSA representative, please contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government and Business Partner to Create more Affordable Housing

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 8, 2024

    Manitoba Government and Business Partner to Create more Affordable Housing

    The Manitoba government is providing $10 million in grant funding to the Business Council of Manitoba to support a new investment trust that will increase the availability of affordable housing units in Manitoba, Premier Wab Kinew and Housing, Addictions, and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith announced today.

    “Today marks another significant step forward in our collective efforts to end chronic homelessness,” said Kinew. “This funding will work to create more affordable housing across Manitoba. We’re proud to partner with the big-hearted business community to put people on a path to home ownership.”

    Developed by the Business Council of Manitoba, the Collaborative Housing Alliance Real Estate Investment Trust aims to increase the availability of affordable housing in Manitoba by converting and renovating existing buildings and building new units that will offer below-market affordable housing options.

    Once launched, the trust would utilize resources from private, public and non-profit organizations to create a scalable and sustainable investment platform for non-market housing in Manitoba that is protected from market forces.

    “Addressing the housing crisis in Manitoba is a shared responsibility that requires close collaboration between the public, non-profit and private sectors,” said Smith. “Together, we can make a difference.”

    The one-time grant funding will cover the startup costs of the trust, allow the business council to solicit other investors and acquire or construct at least three new housing projects in the next year, the minister noted. The Manitoba government will closely monitor the outcomes of the trust over the next year.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn on Whistle Bend

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn has issued the following statement:

    “The Government of Yukon continues work to strengthen and grow the vibrant community of Whistle Bend.

    • Read more about Statement from Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn on Whistle Bend
    • Add new comment

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from the Health Human Resources Steering Committee co-chairs regarding the union’s decision to withdraw from the committee

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Social Services Matt King and CEO of the Yukon Hospital Corporation Jason Bilsky have issued the following statement:

    “Today, leaders from the Yukon Employee’s Union and the Professional Institute of Public Service of Canada informed Yukon’s Health Human Resources Steering Committee that they would be withdrawing from the committee.

    • Read more about Statement from the Health Human Resources Steering Committee co-chairs regarding the union’s decision to withdraw from the committee
    • Add new comment

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister Silver on the Yukon Association of Education Professionals collective bargaining

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Minister of the Public Service Commission Sandy Silver has issued the following statement:

    “The Government of Yukon values the work and contributions of education professionals in nurturing the intellectual, social and personal development of Yukon students. Yukon teachers are amongst the highest paid in Canada, with average salaries more than 30 per cent higher than in British Columbia.

    • Read more about Statement from Minister Silver on the Yukon Association of Education Professionals collective bargaining
    • Add new comment

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: During Fire Prevention Week, Government of Yukon urges residents to make sure their smoke alarms are working

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 6 to 12 is Fire Prevention Week across North America, a good time to learn about home fire safety. This year’s theme, Smoke alarms: Make them work for you, highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms in every home.

    Yukoners can take simple steps to keep themselves and loved ones safe from fires at home.

    • Read more about During Fire Prevention Week, Government of Yukon urges residents to make sure their smoke alarms are working
    • Add new comment

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Media Advisory: Housing Announcement in Ottawa

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Members of the media are invited to a press conference with the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, for an update on the Housing Design Catalogue.

    Ottawa, Ontario, October 8, 2024 — Members of the media are invited to a press conference with the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, for an update on the Housing Design Catalogue.

    Date:
    Wednesday, October 9, 2024

    Time:
    12:45 p.m. EDT

    Location:
    National Press Theatre
    180 Wellington Street, Room 325
    Ottawa, Ontario
    K1P 5A4

    Participation in the question and answer portion of this event is in person or via Zoom, and is for accredited members of the Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca for temporary access.

    Sofia Ouslis
    Communications Advisor
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Opening Statement to the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages: Digital Health Care Market Study

    Source: Government of Canada News

    In July 2020, the Bureau launched a market study of the health care sector in Canada, focusing on how to support digital health services through policies that promote competition. These policies can drive innovation, increase choice and expand access to digital health services across the country.

    Remarks from Flore Kouadio, Acting Senior Competition Law Officer, Policy, Planning and Advocacy Directorate

    Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

    Ottawa, Ontario

    October 7, 2024

    (As prepared for delivery)

    Good morning, Mr. Chair – and ladies and gentlemen of the Committee. I thank you for inviting us to appear before you today.

    My name is Flore Kouadio and I am an Acting Senior Competition Law Officer with the Competition Bureau’s Policy, Planning and Advocacy Directorate. With me today is Anthony Durocher, Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Promotion Branch.

    The Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. We do this work because competition drives lower prices and innovation while fuelling economic growth.

    We administer and enforce the Competition Act. We investigate and take action against anti-competitive business practices, including price fixing, deceptive trade practices and abuse of dominance. We also review mergers to ensure they do not substantially harm competition. Finally, we promote policies and regulations that foster competition.

    In July 2020, the Bureau launched a market study of the health care sector in Canada, focusing on how to support digital health services through policies that promote competition. These policies can drive innovation, increase choice and expand access to digital health services across the country.

    Following a public consultation, the Bureau identified three main areas of study:

    1. Data and information: The Bureau examined ways to improve access, use and sharing of digital medical data and information, including considering how their exchange and interoperability can improve the competitive landscape and accelerate the development and adoption of digital health services.
    2. Goods and services: The Bureau examined issues related to the development, approval, procurement and marketing of digital goods and services. 
    3. Health care providers: The Bureau examined the capacity of health care providers to deliver digital care to patients and, more specifically, issues related to billing codes, compensation, licencing and scope of practice.

    It is important to note that the use of official languages in the health sector was not a subject of study. The Bureau’s mandate is limited to protecting and promoting competition. However, a competitive market requires businesses to adapt to the needs of consumers, which may include the languages in which they offer their services. This leads to more patient-centred health care.

    Before answering your questions, I would like to say that the law requires that the Bureau conduct its investigations in private and protect the confidentiality of the information we obtain. This obligation could prevent us from discussing some of our current or previous investigations.

    I would like to thank the Committee again for the opportunity to appear here today. We will be pleased to answer your questions.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Antigonish — Antigonish County District RCMP arrest three youths in relation to threats

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Antigonish County District RCMP has arrested three youths following threats complaints.

    On October 4, at approximately 11 p.m., Antigonish County District RCMP responded to a report of an individual threatening several people on a university campus. Immediate patrols were made but the suspect was not located. Officers continued with attempts to locate the suspect.

    On October 5, at approximately 1 a.m., Antigonish County District RCMP responded to a report of two youths, believed to be armed, threatening several people on the university campus. The two fled before officers arrived. The initial investigation indicates both youth were also involved in the threats complaint on October 4. No one was injured in either incident.

    Responding officers observed the suspects, and a third youth, nearby a short time later. Upon seeing the officers, the three fled on foot into a wooded area. With assistance of RCMP Police Dog Services and Emergency Response Team, officers located and safely arrested two youths in the wooded area. Officers did not recover any weapons. The third youth was not located at that time.

    On October 6, officers located and safely arrested the third youth at a residence in Antigonish. All three youth are from Antigonish.

    Antigonish County District RCMP is continuing with the investigation, and charges are anticipated. Anyone with information is asked to call 902-863-6500. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at http://www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

    File # 2024-1468417

    MIL Security OSI –