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Category: Canada

  • MIL-Evening Report: Return-to-office mandates may not be the solution to downtown struggles that Canadian cities are banking on

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Wray, PhD Candidate in Geography, Western University

    In recent months, many Canadian employers in both the public and private sectors have implemented return-to-office mandates, requiring workers that transitioned to remote or hybrid work during the COVID-19 pandemic to work in-person again.

    Employers are justifying these mandates by arguing they improve productivity, build more collaborative teams and improve mentorship for junior employees.

    Employers are not the only group ecstatic about these mandates. Municipalities and business owners are also expressing hope that the presence of office workers will spin off into greater consumer spending at restaurants and other businesses near office buildings. The expectation is that office workers will once again start spending money on coffee, lunch or after-work beverages.

    In 2022, the mayor of Ottawa partially blamed the downtown core’s economic struggles on the fact that federal public service workers were still largely working remotely. Federal workers have since been mandated to return to work in-person three days a week in late fall.

    The Canadian Federation of Independent Business similarly criticized the slow return to offices as a leading factor behind why small and medium-size businesses, especially restaurants and bars, are facing challenges in downtown areas.

    Insight into restaurant success

    During the pandemic, there were predictions that more than half of Canada’s independent restaurants would fail as part of their customer base — office workers — shifted to working from home.

    Our recent study investigated which operational, demographic and land use factors affected restaurant survival during the first year of the pandemic in London, Ont.

    We found no significant differences between restaurants that failed and restaurants that survived based on proximity to office uses. Instead, operational decisions made by restaurants individually were much more predictive of their survival than any geographic factor, including the presence of offices.

    Restaurants are seen along Richmond Street in downtown London, Ontario, in June 2021.
    (Alexander Wray), CC BY-NC-SA

    We found that restaurants located in areas receiving more CERB (Canadian Emergency Response Benefit) payments, and with a higher density of entertainment venues around them, were less likely to survive.

    Restaurants that adapted by offering pickup and delivery options were more likely to survive, though only for those that did their own delivery in-house rather than relying on platforms like UberEats and SkipTheDishes. Restaurants that had drive-thrus, held liquor licenses, or had been established for more than five years were more likely to survive. These older, more established restaurants were likely more resilient because of financial stability and customer loyalty.

    Table-service restaurants fared better than fast food outlets, likely because they could offer large patio dining spaces during the summer. Restaurants with liquor licenses substantially benefited, especially after a regulatory change by the Ontario government that allowed alcohol sales with takeout and delivery — a first for the province.

    In short, restaurant success was driven more by individual business decisions rather than being in a specific location. People working remotely instead of in the office did not significantly affect restaurant survival during the first year of the pandemic.

    Downtown struggles

    As Canadian downtowns look to recover, many face ongoing challenges. Activity levels are down by about 20 per cent from pre-pandemic levels in many places, lagging behind many similarly sized downtowns in the United States.

    This downturn has been partially attributed to a combination of higher office building vacancies and fewer workers downtown. For the first time, downtown office vacancy rates have exceeded suburban rates in the Greater Toronto Area. There has also been tremendous housing growth within many downtown cores.

    At the same time, downtowns have become a highly visible focal point of Canada’s growing addictions, mental health and housing crises. The pandemic fully revealed the deeper social, economic and health challenges happening in Canadian society.

    While violent incidents are rare, the social incivilities and disorder on display — public urination and defecation, open drug use, visible tents and property crime — contributes to a perception that Canadian downtowns are unsafe. This perception, whether accurate or not, has an impact on the willingness of people to engage with their downtowns.

    A way forward

    The damage to the reputation of Canada’s downtowns has been done. Downtown London now has the highest office vacancy rate in the country. The Workplace Safety Insurance Board of Ontario, for instance, recently chose to consolidate its offices in the outskirts of London, rather than downtown.

    Many people now elect to spend their time and money in areas that have embraced the “experience economy.” These are places that provide highly manicured entertainment and shopping destinations, with restaurants being the bedrock of enabling high quality experiences in these areas.

    Foot traffic is at an all-time high in suburban shopping centres. The downtowns of cities that are widely known as global tourist destinations — Las Vegas, Miami and Nashville — have activity levels close to or higher than their pre-pandemic levels.

    These are places that are developing highly attractive economies that provide people with the safe, fun and exciting experiences they are looking for locally and internationally. Instead of trying to force unwilling workers back to the office, Canadian cities should instead focus on developing downtowns that people genuinely want to visit and experience.

    One potential way to do this is to provide wrap-around support services and direct pathways to stable housing across the entire community, as the City of London has done. By spreading care and outreach services across the entire city, rather than concentrating them exclusively in downtown areas, the negative effects from Canada’s homelessness crisis can be reduced on urban cores.

    This type of strategy will direct those who need help away from downtowns, and may even permanently lift them out of poverty. In turn, Canadian downtowns can return to being places for everyone to shop, eat, relax, and work in comfort.

    Alexander Wray is President of the Town and Gown Association of Ontario, and a Board Member of Mainstreet London.

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

    – ref. Return-to-office mandates may not be the solution to downtown struggles that Canadian cities are banking on – https://theconversation.com/return-to-office-mandates-may-not-be-the-solution-to-downtown-struggles-that-canadian-cities-are-banking-on-239682

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Joint Statement on the 2024 Global Ransomware Initiative

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Today, Canada met with 67 other members at the 4th annual Initiative to Combat Ransomware Summit in Washington DC to enhance international cooperation in this area.

    The 68 members of the international Initiative to Combat Ransomware (ILR)—Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Colombia, Costa Rica, Council of Europe, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, ECOWAS, Egypt, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Global Cyber Expertise Forum, Hungary, India, INTERPOL, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Organization of American States, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Vietnam—met in Washington, DC from September 30 to October 3 2024 for the fourth ILR gathering. Members who participated in previous editions welcomed Argentina, Bahrain, Cameroon, Chad, the Council of Europe, Denmark, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Finland, the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, Hungary, Morocco, the Organization of American States, the Philippines, the Republic of Moldova, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu and Vietnam as new ILR members.

    During the fourth ILR gathering, members reaffirmed their shared commitment to building collective resilience against ransomware, supporting members if they encounter a ransomware attack, pursuing actors responsible for ransomware attacks and not allowing these actors to operate in their jurisdictions, combating the use of virtual assets as part of the ransomware business model, working with the private sector to advise and support ILR members, and forging international partnerships so that we are collectively better equipped to combat the ransomware scourge.

    Over the past year, this coalition has grown and continues to build on commitments made at the third ILR gathering in 2023. The United States launched a new ILR Member Fund to strengthen members’ cybersecurity capabilities through rapid assistance following a cyberattack as well as targeted support to improve cybersecurity response skills, policies, and procedures.

    Under the Strategic Pillar, led by Singapore and the UK, efforts have been underway to strengthen resilience against ransomware attacks and leverage the ecosystem to disrupt the criminal ransomware industry. These efforts aim to strengthen the operating model that underpins the ransomware ecosystem by focusing work on secure software and labelling, methods to prevent the use of virtual assets as part of the ransomware operating model, policies to reduce ransom payments, increased and improved reporting, cyber insurance, and a playbook to guide businesses on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a ransomware attack. It is worth noting that ILR members and insurance bodies have endorsed guidelines to assist organisations that have been hit by a ransomware attack. The guidelines highlight the important role that cyber insurance can play in building resilience to cyberattacks and highlight actions that organizations should consider during an incident. In addition, pillar leaders hosted a tabletop exercise to help members identify gaps in their processes, learn best practices, and develop effective responses to ransomware attacks against the healthcare sector.

    Under the Diplomacy and Capacity Building pillar, led by Germany and Nigeria, ILR partnerships were expanded with the addition of 18 new members to the coalition and members’ capacity building assets and needs were established. To foster collaboration, build new partnerships, and recruit new members to the Initiative, ILR members hosted regional events throughout the year.

    Led by Australia and Lithuania, the Ransomware Working Group (RWWG) has focused its efforts on building resilience against malicious cyberattacks through international cooperation. As co-chairs of the RWWG, Lithuania and Australia developed governance principles for intelligence sharing and improved members’ integration into intelligence sharing platforms led by Lithuania and Belgium, as well as Israel and the United Arab Emirates. These platforms will enable members to easily share threat intelligence and indicators of compromise. As part of a project led by INTERPOL and Australia, a comparative report was produced to analyse ransomware responses and remediation across ILR member jurisdictions. Australia launched an ILR website and portal to facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, foster collaboration, and provide a mechanism for the ILR community to request assistance when members are victims of a ransomware attack. The LRWG Co-Chairs called on members to behave responsibly in cyberspace by encouraging them to hold malicious actors accountable and deny them safe haven using all cyber diplomacy and law enforcement tools at their disposal.

    Canada has established a new public-private sector advisory council to advise and support ILR members in the fight against ransomware. This advisory council will promote effective information sharing, build trust through clear expectations and people-to-people collaboration, and develop best practices to overcome practical barriers.

    ILR also hosted a first-ever event exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to combat ransomware attacks. Topics discussed included using AI to track threat actor usage and software security, scenario planning for ransomware attacks on the healthcare industry, and tools like digital watermarking to counter disinformation.

    Through the annual ILR gathering, hard work, and regional meetings that take place between gatherings, we are committed to working together at the strategic and operational levels to combat ransomware threats and hold the perpetrators of these malicious attacks accountable. The ILR continues to advocate for responsible behavior in cyberspace and encourage members to report malicious acts. We remain committed to using all appropriate tools to achieve these goals and jointly commit to the following actions in support of this mission.

    Media RelationsPublic Safety Canada613-991-0657media@ps-sp.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2024 Joint Statement

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, Canada met with 67 other members of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) in Washington D.C for the fourth annual CRI Summit to improve international cooperation in combatting ransomware.

    The 68 members of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI)—Albania, Argentina,  Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Council of Europe, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, the ECOWAS Commission, Egypt, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, Hungary, India, INTERPOL, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, the Organization of American States, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Vietnam—met in Washington, D.C. from September 30 – October 3, 2024 for the Fourth CRI Gathering. Previously participating members welcomed Argentina, Bahrain, Cameroon, Chad, the Council of Europe, Denmark, the ECOWAS Commission, Finland, the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, Hungary, Morocco, the Organization of American States, the Philippines, the Republic of Moldova, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, and Vietnam as new CRI members.

    During the Fourth CRI Gathering, members reaffirmed our joint commitment to develop collective resilience to ransomware, support members if they are faced with a ransomware attack, pursue the actors responsible for ransomware attacks and not allow safe haven for these actors to operate within our jurisdictions, counter the use of virtual assets as part of the ransomware business model, partner with the private sector to advise and support CRI members, and forge international partnerships so we are collectively better equipped to counter the scourge of ransomware.

    Over the past year, this coalition has grown and continues to build upon the commitments made at the Third CRI Gathering in 2023. The United States launched a new fund for CRI members to strengthen members’ cybersecurity capabilities through both rapid assistance in the wake of a cyber attack, as well as targeted support to improve cybersecurity skills, policies, and response procedures.

    The Policy Pillar, led by Singapore and the United Kingdom, spearheaded efforts to build resilience against ransomware attacks and leverage the ecosystem to disrupt the ransomware criminal industry. These efforts seek to undercut the business model that underpins the ransomware ecosystem by driving forward work on secure software and labeling, methods to counter the use of virtual assets as part of the ransomware business model, policies to reduce ransom payments, increase and improve reporting, cyber insurance, and a playbook to guide businesses on how to prepare for, deal with, and recover from a ransomware attack. Of note, CRI members and insurance bodies have endorsed guidance to help organizations experiencing a ransomware attack. The guidance underscores the important role cyber insurance can play in helping to build resilience to cyber attacks and highlights actions organizations should explore during an incident. In addition, the Pillar held a table-top-exercise to assist members in identifying gaps in their processes, learning best practices and supporting members develop effective responses to ransomware attacks on the healthcare sector.

    The Diplomacy and Capacity Building Pillar, led by Germany and Nigeria, expanded the CRI’s partnerships with the addition of 18 new members to the coalition and mapped out the capacity building assets and needs of members. To foster collaboration, forge new partnerships, and recruit new members into the Initiative, CRI members hosted regional events throughout the year.

    Under the leadership of Australia and Lithuania, the ICRTF focused its work on building resilience against malicious cyber attacks through international cooperation. Lithuania and Australia, as ICRTF co-chairs, worked to develop governance for information sharing and increase onboarding of members to the information sharing platforms led by Lithuania and Belgium as well as Israel and UAE. These platforms will allow members to easily share threat information and indicators of compromise. In a project led by INTERPOL and Australia, a comparative report was produced analyzing Ransomware Interventions and Remediation in CRI members’ jurisdictions. Australia launched a website and member portal so CRI members can easily share information and best practices, foster collaboration, and use as a mechanism to request assistance from the CRI community when experiencing a ransomware attack. The ICRTF co-chairs presented a statement for members to join that calls for responsible behavior in cyberspace and encourages members to hold malicious actors accountable and deny them safe haven using all of the cyber diplomacy and law enforcement tools at their disposal.

    Canada established a new Public-Private Sector Advisory Panel to advise and support CRI members in combating ransomware. This advisory panel will catalyze effective information sharing, build trust through clear expectations and person to person collaboration, and develop best practices to navigate practical hurdles.

    The Initiative also hosted its first-ever event dedicated to examining the use of AI to counter ransomware attacks. Topics of discussion included the use of AI to track threat actor use, AI for Software Security, scenario planning around ransomware attacks on the healthcare industry, and tools such as watermarking to counter disinformation.

    Through the Initiative’s annual gathering as well as the dedicated work and regional meetings occurring between each meeting, we commit to working together at both a policy and operational level to counter ransomware threats and hold perpetrators of these malicious attacks accountable. CRI continues to call for responsible behavior in cyberspace and encourage members to call out malicious acts, and we remain committed to using all appropriate tools to achieve these goals, and are jointly committed to the following actions in support of this mission.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Precision Drilling Corporation 2024 Third Quarter Results Conference Call and Webcast

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Precision Drilling Corporation (Precision) intends to release its 2024 third quarter results after the market closes on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, and has scheduled a conference call to begin at 11:00 a.m. MT (1:00 p.m. ET) on the next day, Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

    To participate in the conference call please register at the URL link below. Once registered, you will receive a dial-in number and a unique PIN, which will allow you to ask questions.

    https://register.vevent.com/register/BI4cb3a3db88084e66ad528ebb2bdb81e4

    The call will also be webcast and can be accessed through the link below. A replay of the webcast call will be available on Precision’s website for 12 months.

    https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/mov2xb4k

    About Precision

    Precision is a leading provider of safe and environmentally responsible High Performance, High Value services to the energy industry, offering customers access to an extensive fleet of Super Series drilling rigs. Precision has commercialized an industry-leading digital technology portfolio known as Alpha™ that utilizes advanced automation software and analytics to generate efficient, predictable, and repeatable results for energy customers. Our drilling services are enhanced by our EverGreen™ suite of environmental solutions, which bolsters our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our operations. Additionally, Precision offers well service rigs, camps and rental equipment all backed by a comprehensive mix of technical support services and skilled, experienced personnel.

    Precision is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PD” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PDS”.

    Additional Information

    For more information about Precision, please visit our website at http://www.precisiondrilling.com or contact:

    Lavonne Zdunich, CPA, CA
    Vice President, Investor Relations
    403.716.4500

    800, 525 – 8th Avenue S.W.
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G1
    Website: http://www.precisiondrilling.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canada and Nova Scotia announce significant investment to purchase more wildfire equipment and build resilience to wildfires

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, and the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy for Nova Scotia, the Honourable Tory Rushton, announced a joint investment of nearly $30 million over five years through two Government of Canada initiatives: the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate (FWMC) Capital Fund and the Building Resilient Communities through FireSmart program.

    October 1, 2024 Halifax, Nova Scotia Natural Resources Canada

    As the frequency and severity of wildfires increase in Canada – to the detriment of our health, economy, living environments and wildlife – the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are supporting their citizens whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by wildfires.

    The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, and the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy for Nova Scotia, the Honourable Tory Rushton, today announced a joint investment of nearly $30 million over five years through two Government of Canada initiatives: the Equipment Fund for the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (CGFFCC) and the Resilient Communities through FireSmart program.

    A joint investment of $25.6 million from the CGFFCC Equipment Fund will support Nova Scotia in its efforts to purchase wildfire equipment, including helicopters, fire trucks, communications vehicles, incident command trailers, weather stations, technology upgrades and personal protective equipment. By supporting the acquisition and upgrade of specialized wildfire equipment, as well as the recruitment and training of personnel to meet peak needs, this investment will improve Nova Scotia’s response capacity. It will also strengthen community and firefighter safety and the ability to share resources across Canada.

    The investment builds on last year’s $169,292 contribution to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) to train firefighters to fight wildfires in several Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia. The contribution came from the CGFFCC Program Training Fund Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), which prioritizes support for Indigenous communities and organizations in training firefighters and provides NRCan with a better understanding of the needs and barriers in this area. Staff from CIFFC and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy provided this training to 21 Mi’kmaq firefighters in 2023.

    Through the Building Resilient Communities through FireSmart program, Nova Scotia and NRCan will invest up to $3.9 million over five years to support fire preparedness, risk reduction and the expansion of FireSmart principles and practices in Nova Scotia. With this funding, Nova Scotia will provide education and awareness related to wildfire prevention and mitigation at the community level. The funding will be used to build capacity to better assess fire risk and develop tools to support prevention and mitigation. This initial investment is part of a series of joint investments to help provinces and territories advance FireSmart principles and practices to prevent and mitigate wildfire impacts.

    While strengthening our ability to fight wildfires when they occur is critical, we also need to make proactive investments to reduce risks in the first place. The federal government has invested on both fronts by helping fire departments across the country better prepare for and respond to wildfires and by implementing community-based measures to prevent wildfires and reduce their impacts.

    The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia have the health and safety of Canadians as their top priority. Working with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the federal government continues to support and lead the fight against wildfires to keep our communities safe by protecting the lives, health, livelihoods and homes of our citizens from coast to coast to coast.

    Cindy CaturaoPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources613-795-5638cindy.caturao@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Patricia JreigeCommunications AdvisorNova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy902-718-7866media.spsa@gov.sk.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada and Nova Scotia Announce Major Investment in Wildfire Equipment and Enhance Wildfire Resilience

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, with the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, announced a joint investment of nearly $30 million over five years under the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (FMWCC) – Equipment Fund and the Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program.

    October 1, 2024                                                          Halifax, Nova Scotia                                               Natural Resources Canada

    With wildfires increasing in frequency and severity across Canada — impacting our health, economies, communities and wildlife — the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are supporting Canadians and Nova Scotians whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by wildfires.

    Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, with the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, announced a joint investment of nearly $30 million over five years under the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (FMWCC) – Equipment Fund and the Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program.

    A joint investment of $25.6 million through the FMWCC – Equipment Fund is supporting Nova Scotia’s efforts to purchase wildfire firefighting equipment such as helicopters, fire trucks, communication vehicles, incident command trailers, weather monitoring stations, technology upgrades, personal protective equipment and more. This investment increases Nova Scotia’s response capacity by buying and upgrading specialized firefighting equipment and training more personnel to support surge capacity needs. This investment will further enhance safety for communities and firefighters and improve wildfire resource sharing across Canada.

    This funding also builds on last year’s contribution of $169,292 to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) to deliver wildfire firefighter training to Indigenous participants from several Mi’kmaq communities throughout Nova Scotia. The contribution came from Natural Resource Canada’s (NRCan) FMWCC – Training Fund, which provides support primarily to Indigenous communities and organizations to train firefighters and increase NRCan’s understanding of the needs and barriers in this space. Staff from the CIFFC and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables have delivered this training to 21 Mi’kmaw firefighters in 2023.

    Through the RCF Program, Nova Scotia and NRCan will invest up to $3.9 million over five years aimed at preparing for wildfires, reducing risks before they occur and expanding the adoption of FireSmart principles and practices in Nova Scotia. With this funding, Nova Scotia will deliver educational and awareness activities related to wildfire prevention and community-based risk reduction. Nova Scotia is also using the funding to increase capacity to conduct wildfire risk assessments and develop tools to support wildfire prevention and mitigation. This initial investment is part of a series of joint investments aimed at supporting provincial and territorial efforts to advance FireSmart principles and practices to prevent wildfires and mitigate their impacts.

    While reinforcing our country’s ability to respond to wildfires when they occur is essential, proactive investment will also help reduce risks before a wildfire happens. The federal government has invested in both areas by supporting fire agencies across the country to better prepare for and respond to wildfires and by implementing community-level measures to prevent and reduce the impacts of wildfires.

    Keeping Canadians safe and healthy is a top priority for the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. By working with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the federal government continues to address and support the fight against wildfires to protect Canadian lives, as well as the health, safety, homes and livelihoods of our communities across the country.

    Cindy Caturao
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    613-795-5638
    cindy.caturao@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Patricia Jreige
    Communications advisor
    Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables
    902-718-7866
    patricia.jreige@novascotia.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Plains All American Pipeline and Plains GP Holdings Announce Quarterly Distributions and Timing of Third Quarter 2024 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (Nasdaq: PAA) and Plains GP Holdings (Nasdaq: PAGP) today announced their quarterly distributions with respect to the third quarter of 2024 and also announced timing of third quarter 2024 earnings.

    Third Quarter Distribution Declaration 

    PAA and PAGP announced the following quarterly cash distributions:

    • PAA Common Units – $0.3175 per Common Unit ($1.27 per unit on an annualized basis), which is unchanged from the distribution paid in August 2024.
    • PAGP Class A Shares – $0.3175 per Class A Share ($1.27 per Class A Share on an annualized basis), which is unchanged from the distribution paid in August 2024.
    • PAA Series A Preferred Units – $0.61524 per Series A Preferred Unit (approximately $2.46 per unit on an annualized basis).
    • PAA Series B Preferred Units – $24.25 per Series B Preferred Unit (based on the applicable quarterly floating rate).

    The distributions on the PAA Common Units, PAGP Class A Shares and PAA Series A Preferred Units are payable on November 14, 2024 to holders of each respective security as of October 31, 2024. The distribution on the PAA Series B Preferred Units is payable on November 15, 2024 to holders of such security as of November 1, 2024.

    Although equity holders should consult their own tax advisor regarding their particular circumstances, the PAGP cash distribution per Class A Share is expected to be a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of a Class A Shareholder’s tax basis in each PAGP Class A Share and a reduction in such tax basis. In addition, to the extent any cash distribution exceeds a Class A Shareholder’s tax basis, it should be taxable as a capital gain. Qualified Notices under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446 with respect to the PAA Common Unit distribution and PAA Series B Preferred Unit distribution will be posted on the Plains website under “Investor Relations – Tax Information.”

    Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Timing

    PAA and PAGP also announced that they will release third quarter 2024 earnings before market open on Friday, November 8, 2024. Following the announcement, PAA and PAGP will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET) with analysts and investors to discuss earnings. The call will be webcast live on the internet and may be accessed through the “Investors Relations” section of the website at http://www.plains.com. An audio replay will be available on the website after the call.

    PAA is a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and provides logistics services for crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL). PAA owns an extensive network of pipeline gathering and transportation systems, in addition to terminalling, storage, processing, fractionation and other infrastructure assets serving key producing basins, transportation corridors and major market hubs and export outlets in the United States and Canada. On average, PAA handles approximately eight million barrels per day of crude oil and NGL.

    PAGP is a publicly traded entity that owns an indirect, non-economic controlling general partner interest in PAA and an indirect limited partner interest in PAA, one of the largest energy infrastructure and logistics companies in North America.

    PAA and PAGP are headquartered in Houston, Texas. More information is available at http://www.plains.com.

    Investor Relations Contacts:        

    Blake Fernandez
    Michael Gladstein
    (866) 809-1291

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Quarterly Coal Report (QCR)—Second-Quarter 2024

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    The Quarterly Coal Report (QCR) provides detailed quarterly data on U.S. coal production, exports, imports, receipts, prices, consumption, quality, and stocks. The report also provides data on U.S. coke production, consumption, stocks, imports, and exports. All data for 2022 and previous years are final. All data for 2023 and 2024 are preliminary.

    Highlights for the second quarter of 2024

    • U.S. coal production during the second quarter of 2024 totaled 118.1 million short tons (MMst), which was 9.1% lower than the previous quarter and 17.1% lower than the second quarter of 2023. Production in the Western region, which represented about 49.1% of total U.S. coal production in the second quarter of 2024, totaled about 58 MMst (24.1% lower than the second quarter of 2023).
    • U.S. coal exports for the second quarter of 2024 (25.8 MMst) decreased 3.8% from the first quarter of 2024. The average price of U.S. coal exports during the second quarter of 2024 was $135.64 per short ton.
    • The United States continued to import coal primarily from Colombia (50.6%) and Canada (39.5%). No imports from Australia or Indonesia were recorded for the second quarter of 2024. U.S. coal imports in the second quarter of 2024 totaled 0.5 MMst. The average price of U.S. coal imports during the second quarter of 2024 was $187.79 per short ton.
    • Steam coal exports totaled 12 MMst (3.6% lower than the first quarter of 2024). Metallurgical coal exports totaled 13.8 MMst (4% lower than the first quarter of 2024).
    • U.S. coal consumption totaled 91.2 MMst in the second quarter of 2024, which was 9% lower than the 100.2 MMst reported in the first quarter of 2024 and 0.3% lower than the 91.5 MMst reported in the second quarter of 2023. The electric power sector accounted for about 90.1% of the total U.S. coal consumption in the second quarter of 2024.
    • In the second quarter of 2024, coal stocks dropped to 157.9 MMst from 158 MMst at the end of the first quarter of 2024 (a 0% decrease). Stocks in the electric power sector decreased to 133.5 MMst from 133.6 MMst at the end of the first quarter of 2024, the first decrease since the end of third-quarter 2023.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Labor orders railroad to reinstate employee, pay $200K in back wages, damages after retaliation for safety complaints

    Source: US Department of Labor

    ENDERLIN, ND – A federal whistleblower investigation has found a North Dakota railroad company illegally retaliated against and terminated a claims representative who reported an injury, discussed safety concerns with their supervisor and filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor. 

    The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated a complaint filed by an Enderlin-based employee of Soo Line Railroad Co. who reported an injury they believed was related to dust and chemical exposures during indoor workplace construction. In the months after, the claims representative discussed their safety complaints with their supervisor and co-workers. 

    While the Federal Railway Safety Act protects a worker’s right to report injuries, to discuss them and file complaints with regulatory agencies, Soo Line Railroad later suspended and fired the employee subsequently.

    OSHA investigators found Soo Line Railroad violated the claims representative’s federal protections and ordered the company to reinstate the employee, pay them more than $45,000 in back wages and $155,000 in other damages. The railroad operator must also remove negative reports from the worker’s personnel record.

    “Employees must be able to exercise their legal rights regarding workplace safety freely without fear of  employer retaliation,” explained OSHA Regional Administrator Jennifer S. Rous in Denver. “Our investigation and actions on this employee’s behalf reflect the U.S. Department of Labor’s determination to ensure workers’ rights are protected.”

     Based in Minneapolis, the Soo Line Railroad is a key U.S. subsidiary of Calgary-based Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, one of the six major Class I railroads in the U.S.

    The company and the former employee may file objections or request a hearing with the department’s Office of Administrative Law Judges within 30 days of receiving the agency’s order.

    OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the FRSA and more than 20 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various workplace safety and health, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, securities, tax, criminal antitrust and anti-money laundering laws. For more information on whistleblower protections, visit OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Programs webpage.

    Editor’s note: The U.S. Department of Labor does not release the names of employees involved in whistleblower complaints.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation School Officially Opens

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    will celebrate the official opening of a new school located on the territory of Alexis Nakota.

    Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Treaty 6 Territory, Alberta — Please be advised that Chief Tony Alexis and the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Council, along with Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, will celebrate the official opening of a new school on Alexis Nakota territory. Transformative for Alexis Nakota, this school provides traditional and contemporary education to students in grades five to twelve.

    Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024Time: 10:15 a.m. (MT)

    Place : Chief Aranazhi SchoolAlexis Nakota Sioux Nation

    Reem SheetPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Patty HajduMinister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNorReem.Sheet@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Shauna MacDonaldBrookline Public Relations, on behalf of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation403-585-4570smacdonald@brooklinepr.com

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Federal government and Boyle Street Community Services invest in vital community building in downtown Edmonton

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    Press release

    Edmonton, Alberta, May 3, 2024 — Edmonton’s downtown core will have a renovated facility to deliver a vital range of programs and services thanks to a joint investment of more than $45 million from the federal government and Boyle Street Community Services.

    Announced by Minister Randy Boissonnault and Jordan Reiniger, Executive Director, Boyle Street Community Services, this new building will be better suited to provide health and support services to people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Edmonton’s growing downtown core.

    The new Okimaw Peyesew Kamik (King Thunderbird Centre) will be an accessible, energy-efficient building that will replace the former community centre. It will provide essential health and housing services, while supporting Edmonton’s vulnerable community, all under one roof. Located two blocks north of the former location, the centre will feature a private outdoor space for ceremony and land-based healing, as well as 75,000 square feet of indoor space, including a triage area for those waiting for health supports and services. Improvements to this innovative, solution-focused space include improved accessibility to services on the ground floor and the integration of important aspects of Indigenous culture and ceremony throughout the building. The renovated building, which will be carbon neutral, will serve as the headquarters for Boyle Street Community Services.

    For over 50 years, Boyle Street Community Services has been working to help people experiencing homelessness and poverty. The new facility will allow Boyle Street Community Services to continue its long-standing work in the community, providing vital programs such as basic needs support, health services, addictions assistance, identification and financial services, cultural healing and essential services.

    Quotes

    “Through this significant investment in the new Okimaw Peyesew Kamik (King Thunderbird Centre) in Edmonton, the federal government is helping to improve Edmonton’s downtown core. By ensuring Boyle Street Community Services continues to operate in a centralized location that provides a safe and reliable space for the community, we will make our downtown core a safer and more vibrant place to work and live. This world-class facility, which is being built to better meet the unique needs of a vulnerable population, will provide dignified support to those who need it most in our city.”

    The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “Today’s transformative $21 million contribution to Okimaw Peyesew Kamik (King Thunderbird Centre) through the BCVI grant from the Government of Canada is ensuring that the people our organization serves receive the health and community services they need in a welcoming, accessible and beautiful building. It is also enabling us to build a carbon neutral and climate resilient building that will enable our organization to sustainably support our community for decades to come. The success of this project is yet another testament to the care and compassion that exists in Edmonton and Canada. It reminds us of what can be accomplished when we come together and put the dignity of our most vulnerable neighbours at the heart of our efforts.” On behalf of everyone who works at Boyle Street, I want to thank Ministers Boissonnault and Fraser, and their teams, for their dedication and commitment to our organization, and for their role in making okimaw peyesew kamik a reality.”

    Jordan Reiniger, Executive Director, Boyle Street Community Services

    Quick Facts

    The federal government is investing $21,000,000 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program, and Boyle Street Service Society is investing $24,023,383.

    These improvements are expected to result in annual fuel savings of approximately 99% for the facility and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 709 tonnes.

    The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program was created to support Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It supports the first pillar of the Plan by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency, and by helping to build resilience to climate change.

    The program provides $1.5 billion over five years for modernization, repair or improvement work that promotes the environment and accessibility.

    At least 10 percent of the funds are allocated to projects for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, which includes Indigenous populations in urban centres.

    The application period for the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program is now closed.

    On December 18, 2023, the federal government launched the Prairie Green Economy Framework, which highlights the need for a collaborative, regional approach to sustainability, focused on strengthening the coordination of federal programs and initiatives with significant investments. The Framework is the first step in a journey that will bring together many stakeholders. PrairiesCan, the federal department working to diversify Canada’s Prairie economy, has committed $100 million over three years to support projects aligned with priority areas identified by Prairie stakeholders to create a stronger, more sustainable and inclusive economy for the Prairie provinces and Canada.

    Infrastructure Canada supports the Prairie Green Economy Framework to encourage greater collaboration on investment opportunities, leverage additional funding and attract new investment to the Prairies to better meet needs.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Mathis DenisPress OfficerOffice of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages343-573-1846mathis.denis@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsInfrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll Free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada

    Elliott TantiDirector, Communications and EngagementBoyle Street Community Services587-338-4025etanti@boylestreet.org

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Diversified Royalty Corp. Announces October 2024 Cash Dividend and Q3 2024 Earnings Release Date

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved a cash dividend of $0.02083 per common share for the period of October 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024, which is equal to $0.25 per common share on an annualized basis. The dividend will be paid on October 31, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 15, 2024.

    Q3 2024 Earnings Release Date
    DIV will release earnings results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 following the closing of regular trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on November 6, 2024.

    About Diversified Royalty Corp.

    DIV is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. DIV’s objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and franchisors.

    DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires, AIR MILES®, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning Centres, Stratus Building Solutions and BarBurrito trademarks. Mr. Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada, with locations across Canada. AIR MILES® is Canada’s largest coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care provider with locations across Canada and the United States as well as in Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canada’s leading franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise company providing comprehensive environmentally friendly janitorial, building cleaning, and office cleaning services primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada.

    DIV’s objective is to increase cash flow per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per share allows.

    Forward Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, ”project”, “should”, “believe”, “confident”, “plan” and “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to: the amount and timing of the October 2024 dividend to be paid to DIV’s shareholders; DIV’s objective to continue to pay predictable and stable monthly dividends to shareholders; and DIV’s corporate objectives. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking information. DIV believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In particular there can be no assurance that: DIV will be able to make monthly dividend payments to the holders of its common shares; or DIV will achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking information included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and uncertainties affecting DIV’s business and the businesses of its royalty partners can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Information Form dated March 21, 2024 and in its most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, copies of each of which are available under DIV’s profile on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.com.

    In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that, among other things, DIV will generate sufficient cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends to shareholders; the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

    All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking information included in this news release is presented as of the date of this news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.

    THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    Additional Information

    Additional information relating to the Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.com.

    Contact:
    Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Diversified Royalty Corp.
    (236) 521-8470

    Greg Gutmanis, Chief Financial Officer and VP Acquisitions
    Diversified Royalty Corp.
    (236) 521-8471

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, issue a statement on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Government of Canada issues a statement to mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and start of the High Holy Days

    OTTAWA, October 2, 2023

    Shana tova to all Jewish communities in Canada and around the world!

    Tonight’s sunset marks the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which also signals the beginning of the High Holy Days, lasting 10 days.

    During Rosh Hashanah, apples dipped in honey symbolize the hope for a sweet and harmonious New Year. The call of the shofar, an instrument made from a ram’s horn, will be heard, calling for introspection.

    Although this sacred time embodies both optimism and reflection, it is a difficult period for the Canadian Jewish community and Jewish people around the world. On October 7, we will mark the first anniversary of the deadliest attack on Jews, during which Canadians were killed, since the Holocaust. We are also all deeply alarmed by the rise of antisemitism in our country and law enforcement takes all threats seriously. There is no excuse for this hatred and there is no place for it in Canada. Everyone has the right to feel safe, regardless of who we are, what we look like or what we believe.

    Jewish communities are not alone. Our federal government is committed to doing whatever it takes to protect everyone living in Canada and to uphold the values of the country we believe in, where diversity and inclusion are our strengths. During Rosh Hashanah, we recognize the heightened security concerns of the Jewish community as they attend synagogues and temples across the country. We are committed to safeguarding their right to worship safely and peacefully. Recently, we launched Canada’s first-ever Action Plan on Combatting Hate to empower communities with the resources they need to identify and prevent hate, increase supports to victims and survivors, and ensure we have a coordinated approach across government to protect Canadians. A key component of the Action Plan is the Canada Community Security Program, which provides time-limited funding and support, for communities at risk of hate-motived incidents, to take safety measures to protect their communities. We know that the Jewish community has been targeted by vile hatred online and in the real world. Bill C-63 proposes tougher hate laws and creates a regime to make social media companies more responsible for hate and other harmful content on their platforms.

    Jewish people have helped shape the Canada we know and they continue to make our communities more vibrant every day. May Rosh Hashanah remind us of how new beginnings can bring hope and unity. We wish all Jewish communities in Canada and beyond a happy, healthy and meaningful New Year.

    Shana tova u metuka!

    Waleed Saleem
    Attaché de presse
    Cabinet de la ministre de la Diversité, de l’Inclusion et des Personnes en situation de handicap
    waleed.saleem@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pharma company funding for patient advocacy groups needs to be transparent

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Joel Lexchin, Professor Emeritus of Health Policy and Management, York University, Canada

    As a first step in determining whose interests patient groups align with, we need more transparency about the source of their revenue. (Shutterstock)

    Patient groups should be playing a central role in Canada’s health-care system, advocating for their members by promoting the visibility of their conditions, pushing for more rapid and accurate diagnoses and lobbying for the introduction and funding of new treatments and drugs that may help relieve their members’ symptoms and extend their lives.

    However, all of this requires resources. In the past, groups could turn to the federal government for funding, but that option dried up in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

    Pharmaceutical industry funding

    In response, patient groups looked to the pharmaceutical industry to be able to continue functioning. How much money Canadian groups get from drug companies is largely unknown.

    Neither the federal government nor the major industry association, Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC), require companies to report on payments to groups and similarly there are no rules saying that patient groups must reveal who gives them money or how much. Even if groups are registered charities, that type of granular information is not collected in reports they have to file with the Canada Revenue Agency.

    How much money Canadian patient advocacy groups get from drug companies is largely unknown.
    (Shutterstock)

    There is one source of partial information that has not been investigated until now. Since 2016, six companies have voluntarily released detailed annual statements about which groups they give money to and the value of those payments — GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi and Teva.

    I have analyzed the available reports from these companies. Because pharma companies have a history of trying to buy influence — a topic I’ve researched extensively — it’s important to look at what and who they are funding. All told, from 2016 to 2023, they gave more than $30 million in 671 separate payments to 263 groups. The $30 million figure is a minimum because not all of the six companies report in any individual year. There are also an additional 42 member companies in IMC that don’t file any reports. (Teva does not belong to IMC.)

    The median amount that a patient group received was $26,000 but that number hides the extremes. The Black Health Alliance received a single payment of $250 in 2023 from Novartis whereas the World Federation of Hemophilia, based in Montréal, got over $4.5 million from Roche and Sanofi between 2020 to 2023. Fourteen groups accounted for almost one-half of all payments groups received. Although Novartis only reported in three years (2021-23) it gave the largest amount of money, over $7.5 million.

    Conflicts of interest

    Receiving money creates a conflict-of-interest (COI), where a COI is defined by the U.S. Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) as “a set of circumstances that creates a risk that…judgment or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest.” In this case, that would mean that the patient group was looking out for the interests of the drug company that gave it money as opposed to the interests of its patient members.

    However, just because groups received money from drug companies does not necessarily equate to the positions and actions that they took. There is a wide range of positions taken by patient groups that have received pharma funding, and when their positions align with those of their sponsors, these associations do not establish cause and effect.

    The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders that received just shy of $450,000 between 2018 and 2023 from a combination of GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Roche and Sanofi has publicly criticized the legislation that potentially creates the first steps to a universal, first-dollar coverage pharmacare plan.

    Twenty-eight patient groups, including Save Your Skin Foundation and Myeloma Canada, lobbied the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board to try to stop the board from instituting reforms to how it regulated drug prices. Save Your Skin Foundation got just over $750,000 in drug company money and Myeloma Canada got $831,000.

    Pharma companies have a history of offering funding and other resources that have been shown to influence health-care professionals.
    (Shutterstock)

    Some groups that take drug company money do not necessarily align with the interests of their funders. The president of the Canadian Spondylitis Association (CSA) pulled his organization out of a focus-group project organized by Janssen and AbbVie because he refused to sign off on a report claiming that patients were strongly opposed to switching from the medication Humira, sold by AbbVie, to a less expensive biosimilar.

    Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) used to receive grants from Janssen and AbbVie until it also came out in favour of switching to biosimilars. (CSA received over $100,000 from Merck and Novartis, while ACE $267,000 from Merck and Novartis as well as Teva.)

    How pharma funds buy influence

    Pharma companies have a history of offering funding and other resources that have been shown to influence health-care professionals, which has extended the reach of pharma companies’ interests into virtually all aspects of health care. Funding patient groups may be another strategy to further extend the reach of those interests, which do not always align with those of patients and the public.

    As a first step in trying to determine whose interests patient groups align with, we need more transparency about the source of their revenue. The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) code requires that member companies disclose on their websites a list of patient organizations to which they provide financial support, the amount of the payment and a description of the nature of the support or services provided.

    However, a study of industry payments in Nordic countries concluded that the EFPIA code fails to ensure transparency and compliance. EFPIA allows national industry associations the freedom to determine how its code will be implemented and how much oversight is required, leading to disparate transparency practices. EFPIA has not created a disclosure template to standardize reporting. Finally, EPFIA’s code does not apply to companies that are not members.

    Industry codes are not the answer.

    Before the Ontario election in 2019, the government was finalizing regulations for Bill 160 that required all drug and device manufacturers to disclose payments to patient groups. The legislative process stopped when the government changed post-election. The federal government should pick up the mandate on this issue and pass similar legislation to make reporting mandatory on a national basis.

    Between 2021-2024, Joel Lexchin received payments for writing a brief on the role of promotion in generating prescriptions for a legal firm, for being on a panel about pharmacare and for co-writing an article for a peer-reviewed medical journal. He is a member of the Boards of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and the Canadian Health Coalition. He receives royalties from University of Toronto Press and James Lorimer & Co. Ltd. for books he has written.

    – ref. Pharma company funding for patient advocacy groups needs to be transparent – https://theconversation.com/pharma-company-funding-for-patient-advocacy-groups-needs-to-be-transparent-239197

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities; the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs; and the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada; issue a statement to mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Government of Canada issues a statement on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and the beginning of the High Holidays

    OTTAWA, October 2, 2024

    Shana tova to all Jewish communities in Canada and around the world!

    At sunset tonight, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins, marking the start of the 10-day High Holidays.

    During Rosh Hashanah, apples dipped in honey are eaten, symbolizing the hope for a sweet and fruitful new year. The sound of the shofar, an instrument made from a ram’s horn, will be heard in synagogues to call for introspection.

    While this sacred time is one of optimism and reflection, this is a difficult time for the Jewish community at home and for Jewish people around the world. On October 7, we will mark the first anniversary of the deadliest attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust, in which Canadians lost their lives. We are deeply concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism in this country, and law enforcement takes all threats seriously. There is no justification for such hatred, and it has no place in Canada. Everyone deserves to feel safe, no matter who they are, what they look like, or what they believe.

    Jewish communities are not alone. The federal government is committed to doing whatever it takes to protect everyone who lives in Canada and to upholding the values of the country we believe in, where diversity and inclusion are our strengths. We know that Jewish communities fear for their safety as they travel to synagogues and temples across the country on Rosh Hashanah. We are committed to protecting their right to worship safely and peacefully. We recently launched Canada’s first-ever Action Plan to Combat Hate to provide communities with the resources they need to identify and prevent hate; increase support for victims and survivors; and provide a coordinated, government-wide approach to protecting Canadians. A key element of the new action plan is Canada’s Community Safety Program, which provides one-time financial and logistical support to communities exposed to hate-motivated incidents so they can take steps to protect themselves. We know that the Jewish community has been the target of vile hatred both in the virtual and real worlds. Bill C-63 proposes stronger laws to combat hate and creates a regime that holds social media companies accountable for hateful or harmful content on their platforms.

    Jewish people have helped shape the Canada we know, and every day they contribute to the vibrancy of our communities. May Rosh Hashanah remind us that new beginnings bring hope and unity. We wish all Jewish communities in Canada and beyond a rewarding new year filled with health and happiness.

    Shana tova u’metuka!

    Waleed SaleemPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilitieswaleed.saleem@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsCanadian Heritage819-994-91011-866-569-6155media@pch.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Media Advisory: Infrastructure Announcement in District of Sechelt

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    District of Sechelt, British Columbia, October 2, 2024 — Members of the media are invited to an infrastructure announcement with Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, British Columbia, and Catherine Leach, Executive Director, Sunshine Coast Community Services.

    Date:         Thursday, October 3, 2024

    Time:        1:00 p.m. (PT)

    Location:  Sunshine Coast Community Services, Main Office
                        5638 Inlet Avenue
                        Sechelt, BC  V0N 3A0

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

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

    Media Relations
     Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    Catherine Leach
     Executive Director
    Sunshine Coast Community Services
    604-885-5881
    info@sccss.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Press Release for Early Warning Report Filing Pursuant to National Instrument 62-103

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On October 02, 2024, JPK Capital Holdings (Barbados) Inc., of Burnham Court, Bishop’s Court Hill, Upper Collymore Rock, St. Michael, Barbados BB11115

    (“JPK”) , announces that it has acquired 25,000,000 common shares of PowerBand Solutions Inc. (“PowerBand”) in a private placement pursuant to which an aggregate of 217,410,000 common shares were issued by PowerBand from treasury at a price of $0.05 per common share.

    Prior to completion of the private placement, JPK and its joint actor, Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd. ( “ICBL”), held an aggregate of 31,873,001 common shares and warrants to acquire an additional 31,573,001 common shares of PowerBand, representing 7.09% of the issued and outstanding common shares on an undiluted basis, and 13.18% of the outstanding common shares, assuming the exercise of all of the warrants held by JPK and ICBL but no other outstanding warrants. Both JPK and ICBL are companies controlled by Joe Poulin.

    Following completion of the private placement, JPK and ICBL collectively hold a total of 56,873,001 common shares and warrants to acquire an additional 31,573,001 common shares of PowerBand, representing 8.53% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares on an undiluted basis, and 12.66% of the outstanding common shares, assuming the exercise of all of the warrants held by JPK and ICBL but no other outstanding warrants.

    JPK acquired the shares pursuant to a subscription agreement with PowerBand with an aggregate subscription price of $1,250,000.

    The shares were acquired by JPK for investment purposes. JPK and/or ICBL may, depending on market and other conditions, increase or decrease their beneficial ownership, control or direction over additional securities of PowerBand, through market transactions, private agreements, treasury issuances, exercise of convertible securities or otherwise.

    This press release is issued pursuant to the early warning requirements of National Instrument 62-103 of the Canadian Securities Administrators which also requires a report to be filed with regulatory authorities in each of the appropriate jurisdictions containing additional information with respect to the foregoing matters (the “Early Warning Report“). A copy of the Early Warning Report will appear with the PowerBand’s documents under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    For further information, please contact:

    Mark J. Coleman, Vice President, +1 (646) 873-0600, Mark@jpkcapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Media Advisory: Sechelt District Infrastructure Announcement

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Media Advisory

    District of Sechelt, British Columbia, October 2, 2024 — Members of the media are invited to an infrastructure announcement with Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, British Columbia, and Catherine Leach, Executive Director of the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society.

    Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024

    Time: 1:00 PM (PT)

    Place : Sunshine Coast Community Services Society Main Office5638 Inlet Avenue Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia OuslisCommunications AdvisorOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and CommunitiesSofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsHousing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada613-960-9251Toll free: 1-877-250-7154Email:media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us onTwitter,Facebook,InstagramAndLinkedInWebsite:Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    Catherine LeachExecutive DirectorSunshine Coast Community Services Society604-885-5881info@sccss.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Kilne Cookware, Founded by Former Endy CEO, Retains Westmount Capital Partners as Exclusive Financial Advisor

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westmount Capital Partners (“WMC” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Kilne Cookware Inc., a premium direct-to-consumer cookware brand founded by Mike Gettis, former CEO of Endy, has retained Westmount as its exclusive financial advisor. Westmount will assist Kilne in its efforts to fuel market expansion and product development.

    This partnership opens an exciting opportunity for investors to join Kilne in its next phase of growth as it expands into new markets and continues to introduce innovative products that resonate with consumers. Kilne is strategically positioned to emerge as a leading premium cookware brand, setting itself apart with its commitment to exceptional quality, innovative design, and sustainable manufacturing. With a focus on empowering home cooks, Kilne aims to redefine the cooking experience by providing high-performance products that not only enhance culinary creativity but also elevate the kitchen aesthetic.

    Kilne is set to capitalize on the growing $27 billion North American cookware market, with a total addressable market (TAM) for premium cookware estimated at $7 billion. This promising landscape reflects the increasing consumer demand for high-quality, non-toxic cookware. Gettis, who successfully exited Endy in 2018 when Sleep Country acquired the company for $88.7 million, is now leading Kilne’s dedicated team as they embark on this ambitious journey.

    Westmount Capital Partners will support Kilne’s ambitious expansion plans, enhance marketing efforts, and assist in the launch of new products that reflect its premium quality ethos. These products include the ‘Mini Everything Pan,’ a new line of cast iron cookware, and additional color options for Kilne’s best-selling pieces. Kilne has already made a significant impact in the Canadian market, winning prestigious awards such as the Red Dot Product Design Award and Good Housekeeping’s Kitchen Gear Award in 2023. As the brand prepares for its U.S. market entry, Kilne will continue to leverage its direct-to-consumer model, offering professional-grade cookware without the retail markups, ensuring high-quality products at accessible prices.

    Alex Camus, Managing Partner at Westmount Capital Partners, stated: “Mike’s success with Endy speaks for itself. We are proud to partner with him and Kilne as they prepare for this exciting phase of growth. Kilne is perfectly positioned to capture the attention of both investors and consumers with its innovative approach to cookware.”

    Mike Gettis, Co-Founder and CEO of Kilne, added: “As we prepare to expand into the U.S. and other markets, having the right financial partner is crucial. Westmount Capital Partners brings the expertise we need to efficiently raise capital and accelerate our growth. I believe this will be my biggest venture yet, and with their support, we’re poised to scale Kilne into a household name while empowering home cooks with exceptional, affordable kitchen products.”

    About Westmount Capital Partners
    Westmount Capital Partners Inc. is a premier financial advisory firm specializing in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance solutions. With a commitment to operational excellence and strategic growth, Westmount Capital Partners provides exceptional advisory services tailored to meet the evolving needs of its clients across various industries.

    About Kilne Cookware

    Founded in 2020, Kilne Cookware is a premium direct-to-consumer brand dedicated to becoming a leading name in premium kitchenware. Kilne offers professional-grade tools designed for home cooks who value quality and performance. By collaborating with top chefs and eliminating traditional retail markups, Kilne delivers high-quality, non-toxic cookware at accessible prices. With a mission to transform the home cooking experience, Kilne ensures every product is crafted to meet the highest standards, making healthy and enjoyable cooking attainable for all.

    For further information contact:

    Westmount Capital Partners Inc.
    c/o Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l.
    Constitution Square, 340 Albert St #1400,
    Ottawa, ON, K1R 7Y6
    Attention: Nino Silvestri, President
    E-mail: nino@westmount.ventures     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Joint Statement Following the Strategic Dialogue Between Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    From September 27 to 29, 2024, foreign ministers from Canada and the Nordic countries met in New York and Iqaluit, Nunavut, as part of the Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue.

    September 29, 2024 – Iqaluit, Nunavut – Global Affairs Canada

    From September 27 to 29, 2024, the foreign ministers of Canada and the Nordic countries met in New York and Iqaluit, Nunavut, as part of the Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue. This meeting follows the commitment made by the foreign ministers to hold a strategic dialogue at the First Ministers’ Meeting in Iceland on June 26, 2023. On September 27, 2024, the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, as well as the State Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, met in New York. On September 28 and 29, they travelled to Iqaluit, Nunavut, where they were joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Faroe Islands and a representative of the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut). In Iqaluit, Iceland was represented by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of State and Ambassador for the Arctic.

    Canada and the Nordic countries enjoy a strong and growing partnership, rooted in our shared democratic values, our shared interests in the North Atlantic and the Arctic region, and our commitment to the rules-based international order, multilateral cooperation, international law, democracy, human rights, and countering disinformation. The transatlantic relationship is key to our collective security, and we will work together to strengthen it. It is the foundation on which we commit to working together pragmatically to address complex global challenges, including those arising from the challenge to the global order.

    In New York, substantive issues were discussed regarding Russia’s illegal and large-scale invasion of Ukraine, transatlantic cooperation and the worrying developments in the Middle East, including in the Gaza Strip. The foreign ministers reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s continued aggression and reaffirmed their commitment to continue providing Ukraine with the means to defend itself for as long as necessary. They also condemned Russia’s hostile hybrid operations in response to the support provided to Ukraine.

    The Iqaluit portion of the dialogue focused on Arctic issues. As Arctic nations, Canada and the Nordic countries share a deep commitment to multilateral cooperation and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Inclusive engagement with those who live in the region, including Indigenous peoples, is essential to ensuring the stability, prosperity and security of the Arctic region. Foreign ministers committed to working together to achieve these goals. To this end, they agreed to explore how to better foster the security dialogue among like-minded Arctic states.

    In Iqaluit, delegations heard valuable insights from the Government of Nunavut, Inuit leaders, including the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, national defence officials, and the Canadian Rangers on the context, realities and challenges facing northerners in Canada’s Arctic. Foreign Ministers expressed deep concern about the intensifying impacts of climate change, particularly in the Arctic. They reaffirmed their commitment to work together pragmatically to address the complex challenges of climate change, promote sustainable economic growth in the Arctic, foster regional stability, and support stronger collaboration, including North-North and Indigenous-Indigenous linkages.

    Canada and the Nordic countries will continue to explore opportunities to deepen their collaboration to combat wildfires in the North and to ensure healthy oceans and ecosystem resources, as part of a comprehensive, sustainable and knowledge-based approach to ocean management.

    Foreign Ministers recognize that our countries possess significant deposits of critical minerals and confirm their commitment to promoting the responsible development of sustainable and resilient value chains for these critical minerals, and to working together to advance economic well-being, defense and security, infrastructure, energy security and connectivity, including in the Arctic.

    Foreign Ministers agreed to continue dialogue on shared political priorities and to further strengthen transatlantic cooperation between Canada and the Nordic countries.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint statement following the Strategic Dialogue between Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Between September 27 and 29, 2024, the foreign ministers of Canada and the Nordic countries met in New York and Iqaluit, Nunavut, for the Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue.

    September 29, 2024 – Iqaluit, Nunavut – Global Affairs Canada

    Between September 27 and 29, 2024, the foreign ministers of Canada and the Nordic countries met in New York and Iqaluit, Nunavut, for the Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue. This meeting delivers on the commitment for foreign ministers to hold a strategic dialogue, made at the Prime Minister level meeting in Iceland, on June 26, 2023. On September 27, 2024, the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden and the State Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland met in New York. On September 28 and 29, they traveled to Iqaluit, Nunavut where they were joined by the Foreign Minister of the Faroe Islands and an official from the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut). In Iqaluit, Iceland was represented by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of State / Arctic Ambassador.

    Canada and the Nordic countries enjoy a strong and deepening partnership, anchored in our common democratic values, shared interests in the North Atlantic and the Arctic region, as well as our commitment to the rules-based international order, multilateral cooperation, international law, democracy, human rights, and tackling disinformation. The transatlantic relationship is key to our collective security, and we will work together to strengthen this relationship. This is the foundation upon which we commit to work pragmatically together to address complex global challenges, including those arising from challenges to the global order.

    In New York, substantive issues were discussed relating to Russia’s illegal and full-scale invasion of Ukraine, transatlantic cooperation, and the concerning developments taking place in the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip. The foreign ministers reiterated their steadfast support to Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression and re-affirmed their commitment to continue to provide Ukraine the means to defend itself for as long as it takes. They also condemned the hostile hybrid operations Russia conducts in response to support given to Ukraine.  

    The Iqaluit portion of the Dialogue focused on Arctic issues. As Arctic nations, Canada and the Nordic countries share a deep commitment to multilateral cooperation and international law, including UNCLOS. Inclusive engagement with those who live there, including Indigenous peoples, is essential to ensure a stable, prosperous and secure Arctic region. The foreign ministers committed to work together to achieve these goals. To this end, they agreed to explore means through which to deepen security dialogue amongst all like-minded states in the Arctic.

    In Iqaluit, the delegation heard valuable perspectives from the Government of Nunavut, Inuit leaders including from Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, National Defence officials and Canadian Rangers on the context, realities and challenges experienced by northerners in the Canadian Arctic. The foreign ministers expressed their strong concern over the intensifying impacts of climate change, notably in the Arctic. They re-affirmed their commitment to work pragmatically together to address complex climate change challenges, to promote sustainable economic growth in the Arctic, to foster regional stability and to support closer collaboration, including North-to-North and Indigenous-to-Indigenous connections.

    Canada and the Nordic countries will continue to explore opportunities to deepen collaboration in addressing wildland fires in the North and securing healthy oceans and ecosystem-based resources as part of a comprehensive, knowledge-based, and sustainable approach to ocean management.

    The foreign ministers recognize that our countries possess significant deposits of critical minerals and confirm their commitment to promote the responsible development of sustainable and resilient critical mineral value chains and to work together to advance economic well-being, defence and security, infrastructure, energy security and connectivity, including in the Arctic.

    The foreign ministers agreed to continue the dialogue on shared policy priorities and to further strengthen the transatlantic cooperation between Canada and the Nordic countries.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, about the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

    Prime Minister Trudeau expressed concern over the devastating effects of recent events on civilians in Lebanon, recognizing the hundreds killed in airstrikes, and he emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation to preserve unity. The people of Lebanon deserve to live in peace and security and should not bear the consequences of actions by Hezbollah, a terrorist organization. Prime Minister Trudeau also underscored the impact on the families of Canadians who have been affected, especially those who have been killed or injured.

    The two leaders discussed efforts underway to support de-escalation across the region, including for an immediate ceasefire. Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated that Canada is committed to continue working with the international community to help advance peace in the region, as underscored by our call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border. The Prime Minister expressed his support for a diplomatic settlement consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.

    The leaders expressed their shared concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation resulting from the conflict. They agreed on the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law, ensuring humanitarian access to the affected areas, preserving the safety and security of civilian infrastructure, and protecting civilians. Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to humanitarian support in Lebanon through the recent announcement of $10 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of civilians in Lebanon.

    Prime Minister Trudeau and caretaker Prime Minister Mikati highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between Canada and Lebanon and the ongoing contributions of Lebanese Canadians to Canada’s national fabric. They agreed to remain in close contact as the situation continues to evolve.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation — Loon Lake RCMP serious assault now suspicious death investigation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The adult male who sustained injuries as a result of a serious assault that occurred on September 23, 2024, at a residence on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation has since died in hospital (background included below). He has been identified as 35-year-old Shoshone Morningchild of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation.

    The Saskatchewan RCMP is releasing his name in an effort to elicit tips from the public and help further the investigation.

    Anyone with information regarding the assault is asked to report it to the Saskatchewan RCMP at 310-RCMP or to their local police service. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or http://www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

    Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes and General Investigation Sections have taken carriage of this suspicious death investigation. The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is also engaged and an autopsy has been ordered.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government to Engage with Rural Manitobans on New Poverty Reduction Strategy

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    September 20, 2024

    Government to Engage with Rural Manitobans on New Poverty Reduction Strategy

    The Manitoba government is launching a series of in-person public meetings in rural communities across the province to gather feedback on the development of a new five-year poverty reduction strategy, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith announced today.

    “Poverty does not discriminate by location,” said Fontaine. “Rural Manitobans make up about 40 per cent of our provincial population. Hearing directly from people in in rural communities will help us develop a more effective, people-centred strategy that reflects the real needs of Manitobans across the province.”

    Public meetings are taking place throughout October and November in Thompson, The Pas, Dauphin, Brandon, Morden and Arborg. These interactive workshops will provide residents the opportunity to be part of building the new strategy, ask questions and share their perspectives on how government should prioritize this work.

    “Systemic barriers continue to be one of the biggest drivers of poverty and we need to focus on removing the obstacles facing those most vulnerable,” said Smith. “We know that poverty has a significant impact on the lives of Manitobans. These engagements will ensure voices from across Manitoba are heard and reflected in Manitoba’s poverty reduction strategy.”

    Smith noted there will also be targeted consultations with Indigenous rightsholders and community stakeholders, as well as dedicated focus groups with Manitobans who have lived experience of poverty to hear about the challenges and realities they face.

    The Manitoba government has also hosted roundtable discussions with representatives of front-line service providers who work in poverty alleviation including community organizations, advocates and experts.

    Key areas of discussion across all engagements include prioritizing work to support people’s basic needs, education and training, employment, health, well-being and sense of belonging, as well as identifying current successes and future gaps in supports, the ministers said. They noted meetings will also be held in Winnipeg in October.

    The Poverty Reduction Strategy Act requires Manitoba to review and update its poverty reduction strategy at least once every five years. The current poverty reduction strategy, Pathways to a Better Future, was released in March 2019.

    To register for a public engagement meeting or participate virtually, visit https://engagemb.ca/poverty-reduction. The online survey closes Nov. 15.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Day: Minister Ellis

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    “For almost a century and a half, Alberta police and peace officers have unfailingly answered the call to serve and protect their neighbours and communities. Today we reflect on the sacrifice of 106 Alberta police and peace officers who have died in the line of duty since 1876. It is with profound gratitude that we honour these heroes and the courage and professionalism they demonstrated in the line of duty.

    “In rising to meet the demands of the moment, these men and women laid down their lives in service of us all. While we can never come close to repaying the collective debt we owe them, by pausing to remember the fallen and acknowledge their ultimate sacrifice, we keep their memory alive and solemnly reaffirm the values they lived and upheld in life.

    “Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the profound loss that families, friends and colleagues of the fallen officers live with. Acknowledging the sacrifices made by the families of our officers is crucial, as they endure the challenges and uncertainties that come with the demands of law enforcement. Their unwavering support and resilience play a vital role in enabling officers to carry out their duties, and we must honour their contributions and the emotional toll they often bear in silence.

    “The police and peace officers serving today bravely confront danger and selflessly work to preserve the peace and security we all enjoy. We can never allow ourselves to take this for granted. Current and fallen officers, our province is deeply grateful to each of you for your service. On behalf of all Albertans, I thank you for keeping us safe.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hurricane Helene update #2 from Congressman Edwards

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)

    Dear Friend,

    Two days post-disaster and the country is showing up for us. More than 30 swift water and helicopter rescue crews from across North Carolina and seven nearby states have rescued more than 200 people since Thursday. Thousands of linemen from across North America, including crews from Canada, have been deployed to our community to restore power, and we’ve seen the state come together to transport dozens of trucks filled with potable water and food to our shelters.

    While resources are certainly on the top of many communities’ minds, I have heard from numerous families that are still trying to connect with their loved ones who may be in areas with limited cell service. Residents trying to connect with family members may call NC 211 (or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state) to report missing loved ones.

    Additionally, people in the impacted areas can indicate that they are safe by reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800-ED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations.

    Lastly, North Carolina has officially received a Major Disaster Declaration, making individuals in Buncombe, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians eligible for Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

    Individual Assistance provides financial aid and services to eligible individuals and households that have been affected by a disaster to assist with the recovery process. Individuals can officially begin applying for Individual Assistance online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST.

    Just a reminder that today is update number two of many, with more information to follow in the coming days. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family.

    Food and Water

    • Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews.
      • Water plants in Haywood, Jackson, Rutherford and Yancey counties are closed, impacting tens of thousands of households.
      • A total of 17 water plants have reported having no power and an additional 23 are operating on backup power.
    • A total of 50 water systems are on a system-wide boil water advisory.
    • Dozens of trucks with potable water and meals have successfully been delivered to western NC, including to the WNC Agricultural Center, and many more are en route.
      • Air operations for food and water deliveries began Saturday afternoon in areas without roadway access.
    • Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the Walmart Foundation have committed up to $6 million in support of hurricane relief efforts, including donations of food, water, essential supplies and grants to organizations providing relief.
    • My office continues to work with additional private companies to get much needed food and water delivered across our district.

    Power and Gas

    • Power outages remain widespread in Western North Carolina, but NCDOT is working diligently to clear roadways and increase accessibility for repairs.
      • Currently, there is still no established timeline for restorations, but Duke Energy hopes to publish restoration power timelines in the coming days.
      • I will keep you posted when we learn of those timelines.
    • Energy providers are working around the clock to restore power and have successfully restored power for over 544,000 customers across the state, but here is the lay of the land in NC-11:
      • 630,000 customer accounts remained without power Saturday afternoon.
        • The bulk of the outages are in Buncombe County.
      • 3,400 critical customer accounts are out – critical accounts include hospitals, fire stations, police, EMS, water treatment facilities, etc.
        • 1,600 are healthcare accounts
        • 200 are nursing facilities
          • As of Saturday evening, power has been restored to AdventHealth in Fletcher and my office has been assured that power at Pardee Hospital should be restored later this afternoon, Sunday, September 29.
        • 360 substations are out
          • A substation is responsible for transmitting electricity throughout Western North Carolina.
            • Many of these substations were completely flooded and Duke Energy is unable to assess the damage until the flooding has lowered, the water has been pumped out and the equipment is thoroughly dried.
          • The flooding provides a unique challenge not previously faced by substations in Western North Carolina.
            • There is a high likelihood that the substations are not reparable, and replacement of the substation equipment will be necessary.
            • Duke Energy is prepared to both repair or replace damaged equipment once the equipment has been dried and assessments are complete.
        • Duke Energy continues to warn that Western North Carolinians should be prepared for multi-day outages.
          • Over 11,000 linemen are continuing to work quickly and safely on repairs, including additional crews from 19 states and Canada.
        • Fuel planning continues to be ongoing for both rescue operations and communications resources.
          • Fuel contracts have been activated.
            • A fuel contract provides a steady fuel reserve during an emergency.
          • Air deliveries have already begun in hard-to-reach areas.

    Roads

    • A “DO NOT DRIVE” message remains in place from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Western North Carolina.
      • Unless it is an emergency, please do not travel.
    • As of 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 385 roads remain closed in Western North Carolina, with the majority being in Henderson (48), Buncombe (25) and Jackson (20) counties.
      • Over 15 closed roads have been cleared of debris and reopened since Saturday morning.
        • 59 of these are on primary routes including I-40 at mile marker three near the Tennessee-North Carolina border and dozens of U.S. and N.C. routes.
        • A previously closed section of I-26 south of Asheville has reopened.
      • Crews have opened a path through the rock/landslide on I-40 near Old Fort to allow stranded vehicles and emergency responders to pass through with assistance from Highway Patrol.
        • The remaining closures remain due to high water, land/rockslides, downed power lines, pipe failures and fallen trees.
      • More than 100 additional NCDOT employees have been deployed from across the state to assist Western North Carolina in clearing debris and addressing storm-related road closures, bringing the total number of deployed NCDOT personnel to 1,600 employees.

    Asheville Regional Airport

    • Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding.
    • The airport was expected to reopen by mid-day Saturday, September 28, but was unable to do so.
      • The airport was unable to reopen for commercial flights due to a lack of internet service, preventing commercial airlines from processing their passengers for boarding.
      • No commercial flights are permitted in or out of Asheville Regional Airport at this time.
    • Asheville Regional Airport has reopened for non-commercial air traffic, including planes delivering National Guard supplies for in-need counties.

    Cell Service

    • Western North Carolina continues to see severe cell service outages due to the flooding.
    • Service providers have deployed additional Compact Rapid Deployables since Friday, with more on the way.
      • Current on-air network recovery equipment include:
        • Buncombe County – 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
        • Henderson County – 1 SatCOLT
      • Network recovery equipment en route to in-need counties include:
        • Buncombe County – 4 SatCOLTs
        • Cherokee County – 1 SatCOLT, 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
        • Clay County – 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
        • Haywood County – 2 SatCOLTs, 3 Compact Rapid Deployables
        • Henderson County – 3 SatCOLTs, 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
        • Macon County – 1 SatCOLT
        • Madison County – SatCOLT
        • McDowell County – 1 SatCOLT
        • Transylvania County – 1 SatCOLT
        • Rutherford County – 1 SatCOLT, 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
      • Compact Rapid Deployables are a transportable cell tower and internet access point that can generate wired internet and wi-fi coverage anytime and anywhere.
      • SatCOLT stands for “Satellite Cells on Light Trucks” and are vehicles with mobile cell sites that connect via satellite and do not rely on commercial power supply.

    North Carolina National Guard

    • 410 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen have been deployed to provide support to Western North Carolina so far.
      • This includes the deployment of 76 High Water Vehicles, 12 Palletized Load Systems for commodity distribution and six Forestry Support Teams for debris clearance.
    • The National Guard currently has 10 operating aircraft.
      • The National Guard is actively awaiting 2 additional CH-47 aircraft from New York and two to four additional hoist-equipped aircraft from other states.
    • The Asheville National Guard Armory remains relocated in East Flat Rock due to lost power.
      • Despite the relocation, the Asheville National Guard Armory has continued operations and is providing support to Western North Carolina.
    • The National Guard has Readiness Centers actively monitoring and serving Western North Carolina in the following locations:
      • Asheville
      • Morganton
      • Charlotte
      • Greensboro
      • Rockingham
      • Raleigh – aviation assets only
        • Readiness Centers can serve as Joint Operation Centers when disasters exceed local capabilities.
        • The above-mentioned Readiness Centers work with North Carolina’s Office of Emergency Management to respond to western NC as military first responders.

    For Local Government Resource Requests

    • For county leaders: This is a reminder to make sure your Emergency Operation Center has submitted the request for gasoline, food, water, cell service deployables, etc. with North Carolina Emergency Management to have your request processed and resources delivered.
      • My office stands ready to assist with checking the status of your request if the county or municipality has not heard back from NC Emergency Management within 24 hours.

    Shelters

    • For those unable to evacuate to a safe location or in need of a place to go, the following shelters are currently open and available as of September 29:
      • Buncombe
        • A-B Technical Community College
          • 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
        • First Baptist Church Swannanoa
          • 503 Park St., Swannanoa, NC 28778
        • WNC Agricultural Center
          • 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
      • Haywood
        • Haywood County Government Armory
          • 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781
      • Henderson
        • Edneyville Elementary School
          • 2875 Pace Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
        • Henderson County Recreation Center
          • 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
      • Jackson
        • Cashiers Recreation Center
          • 355 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717
        • Jackson County Department of Aging
          • 100 County Services Pk., Sylva, NC 28779
      • Madison
        • Madison County Wellness Center
          • 5734 US 25-70 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28752
      • McDowell
        • First Baptist Church of Old Fort
          • 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762
        • Glenwood Baptist Church
          • 1550 Old US 221 S., Marion, NC 28752
        • McDowell County Senior Center
          • 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752
      • Polk
        • Polk County High School
          • 1681 NC 108 Highway E., Columbus, NC 28722
      • Rutherford
        • Rutherfordton/Spindale Central High School
          • 641 US 221 Hwy. N., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
      • Swain
        • Swain Community College
          • 125 Brendle St., Bryson City, NC 28713
      • Transylvania
        • Pisgah Forest Baptist Church
          • 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
      • Yancey
        • South Toe Elementary School
          • 139 South Toe School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
        • West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department
          • 6557 US Hwy. 19, Burnsville, NC 28714

    With my warmest regards,


    Chuck Edwards
    Member of Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Justice Minister Matt Wiebe Recognizing Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    September 29, 2024

    Statement from Justice Minister Matt Wiebe Recognizing Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day

    On Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day, I encourage all Manitobans to take time to reflect on the sacrifices of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 

    Our government honours and recognizes the commitment, dedication and hard work of police and peace officers and the Manitobans who paid the ultimate price working to making our province a safer place. 

    Paying tribute to fallen police and peace officers is a reminder of the risks officers face each day in carrying out their duties. 

    In 1998, the government of Canada proclaimed the last Sunday in September of every year as Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day. This day gives Canadians an opportunity to formally express appreciation for the dedication of police and peace officers to keep our communities safe. 

    For more information about the Canadian Police and Peace Officer’s Memorial, visit: https://thememorial.ca. 

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of Canada helps religious and community organizations in Mount Royal protect themselves against hate-motivated crimes

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Everyone living in Canada deserves to be and feel safe in their community. In recent years, we have seen an increase in hate incidents in many communities. This is unacceptable, and the federal government is taking action to combat hate and protect communities.

    September 29, 2024Montreal (Quebec)

    Everyone living in Canada deserves to be and feel safe in their community. In recent years, we have seen an increase in hate incidents in many communities. This is unacceptable, and the federal government is taking action to combat hate and protect communities.

    Today, Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced an investment of $738,992 to strengthen security in schools, places of worship and community centres in the riding of Mount Royal through the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP).

    The amount of $738,992 was distributed among numerous organizations in the riding of Mont-Royal, including the Hebrew Association of Young Men and Young Women of Montreal and the Chevra Kadisha B’Nai Jacob – Beit Hazikaron congregation, both of which received funding under the PFPIS.

    On September 24, Minister LeBlanc announced the launch of the new Canada Community Safety Program (CCSP), which aims to replace and improve the work undertaken under the PFPIS based on feedback from communities. The first call for applications will be launched on 1 October 2024.

    Eligible measures include security equipment and materials, minor renovations to enhance security, security and emergency plans and assessments, hate-motivated incident response training, and third-party certified security personnel for a limited period of time.

    Public Safety will contact organizations that have submitted an application under the PFPIS to discuss the status of their application and their participation under the PSCC.

    Organizations wishing to be kept informed of the launch of the next PSCC call for applications are invited to register at distribution list of the National Crime Prevention Strategy.

    “Against a backdrop of rising anti-Semitism in Canada and around the world, it was wonderful to see so many Jewish schools, synagogues and community organizations in my riding receive support from the federal government through the Security Infrastructure Program to enhance the security of their buildings. This program is more important than ever, not only for the Jewish community, but for other communities across Canada.”

    – Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

    Gabriel Brunet Press SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Dominic LeBlancMinister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs819 665-6527gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca  

    Media RelationsPublic Safety Canada613 991-0657media@ps-sp.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of Canada helps religious and community organizations in Montreal protect themselves against hate-motivated crimes

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Everyone living in Canada deserves to be and feel safe in their community. In recent years, we have seen an increase in hate incidents in many communities. This is unacceptable, and the federal government is taking action to combat hate and protect communities.

    September 29, 2024Montreal (Quebec)

    Everyone living in Canada deserves to be and feel safe in their community. In recent years, we have seen an increase in hate incidents in many communities. This is unacceptable, and the federal government is taking action to combat hate and protect communities.

    Today, Rachel Bendayan, Member of Parliament for Outremont, announced, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, an investment of $3,855,746 to religious and community organizations in Montreal under the Security Infrastructure Projects Program (SIPP).

    On September 24, Minister LeBlanc announced the launch of the new Canada Community Safety Program (CCSP), which aims to replace and improve the work undertaken under the PFPIS based on feedback from communities. The first call for applications will be launched on 1 October 2024.

    Eligible measures include security equipment and materials, minor renovations to enhance security, security and emergency plans and assessments, hate-motivated incident response training, and third-party certified security personnel for a limited period of time.

    Public Safety will contact organizations that have submitted an application under the PFPIS to discuss the status of their application and their participation under the PSCC.

    Organizations wishing to be kept informed of the launch of the next PSCC call for applications are invited to register at distribution list of the National Crime Prevention Strategy.

    “We have experienced three school shootings in my riding of Outremont in recent months. All levels of government must do more to protect our neighbourhoods. War abroad never justifies violence in Canada.

    I am proud that our federal government has secured millions of dollars in federal funding to strengthen the security and better protect our local schools, daycares, places of worship and community centres.

    We are now taking the next step by launching a new and improved program, the Canada Community Safety Program (CCSP), which will provide increased federal funding and support to more institutions and recipients on an ongoing basis.”

    – Rachel Bendayan, Member of Parliament for Outremont, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

    Gabriel Brunet Press SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Dominic LeBlancMinister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs819 665-6527gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca  

    Media RelationsPublic Safety Canada613 991-0657media@ps-sp.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Government of Canada helps Hamilton faith-based and community organizations protect themselves from hate-motivated crimes

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Everyone living in Canada deserves to be and feel safe in their community. In recent years, we have seen an increase in hate incidents in many communities. This is unacceptable, and the federal government is taking action to combat hate and protect communities.

    September 29, 2024 Hamilton, Ontario

    Everyone living in Canada deserves to be and feel safe in their community. In recent years, we have seen an increase in hate incidents in many communities. This is unacceptable, and the federal government is taking action to combat hate and protect communities.

    Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced an investment of $251,893 to faith-based and community organizations in Hamilton through the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP).

    On September 24, Minister LeBlanc announced the launch of the new Canada Community Safety Program (CCSP), which aims to replace and improve the work undertaken under the PFPIS based on feedback from communities. The first call for applications will be launched on 1 October 2024.

    Eligible measures include security equipment and materials, minor renovations to enhance security, security and emergency plans and assessments, hate-motivated incident response training, and third-party certified security personnel for a limited period of time.

    Public Safety will contact organizations that have submitted an application under the PFPIS to discuss the status of their application and their participation under the PSCC.

    Organizations wishing to be kept informed of the launch of the next PSCC call for applications are invited to register at distribution list of the National Crime Prevention Strategy.

    “Hate-motivated incidents have no place in Canada. All Canadians deserve to feel safe, no matter where they live, work, gather and worship. Investments like these are just one example of the government’s ongoing commitment to keeping our country safe for everyone, regardless of our religious affiliation or beliefs.”

    – The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

    Gabriel Brunet Press SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Dominic LeBlancMinister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs819 665-6527gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca  

    Media RelationsPublic Safety Canada613 991-0657media@ps-sp.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI