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  • MIL-OSI Translation: The New Era of Competition Law Enforcement in Canada

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Notes for an address by Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition at the Canadian Bar Association Fall Competition Conference – “The New Era of Competition Enforcement in Canada” – September 2024

    Notes for an address by Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition

    Canadian Bar Association Fall Competition Conference

    September 2024

    (The speech delivered is authoritative)

    Good morning.

    I am pleased to be with you again this year for the Fall Conference on Competition Law.

    I would like to begin by reiterating that we are gathered today on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people.

    We gather as the spectacular colours of fall take hold here. One of the centrepieces of this seasonal transformation – here as in much of Canada – is undoubtedly the maple tree.

    The growth of the maple tree provides us with a good analogy for the changes: including the dramatic changes in competition law in Canada that I will tell you about today.

    At first, maple trees grow upwards… very quickly. Then they spread outwards to create their large canopy.

    The evolution of competition law in Canada has followed a similar path.

    That’s why I’m here today to talk about the recent round of amendments to the Competition Act. What these changes mean for the legal community and many of your clients. And what they mean for all Canadians. I’ll also talk about what’s not changing with these recent reforms. So let’s get started.

    The new era

    Ahead of recent amendments to the Competition Act in 2021, the government made significant investments in the Bureau’s budget to strengthen our ability to enforce the law and promote greater competition.

    These budget increases have enabled us to equip ourselves to meet the needs of Canada’s modern economy. In particular, we created our Digital Enforcement and Intelligence Branch, which leverages data and technology to support our enforcement and competition advocacy work.

    However, despite these new resources, we did not have the legislative tools necessary to take the enforcement action that the general public, and parliamentarians, expect.

    As you know, since 2022, Canadian competition law has undergone three waves of amendments. Let me summarize the highlights:

    The amendments began in 2022 with the criminalization of wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements, and increased maximum fines and penalties. Then, in 2023, the outdated efficiency defense was eliminated, the abuse of dominance rules were strengthened, and the Bureau was given formal market study powers. Finally, earlier this year, amendments equipped the Bureau to more effectively review mergers, including through the introduction of structural presumptions, and strengthened the provisions on deceptive marketing practices, particularly with respect to false claims of discounts, partial pricing, and unsubstantiated environmental claims.

    That’s a lot of changes in two years.

    Not surprisingly, Canada’s legal community has taken note and is actively working to assess the impact of these far-reaching changes. The result is a growing consensus: we have entered a “new era” of competition law, compliance and enforcement.

    In your newsletters, many of you have used words to describe these changes: “landmark,” “transformative,” “radical change,” and even “profound reform.”

    The Globe and Mail, in a July 2024 editorial, called it “a new era of competition law for consumers.”

    The broad consensus on the need for reform is not new. The feeling that Canada needs to do more to promote competition has been on everyone’s minds for some time.

    Three years ago, I joined you – more than two years into my mandate and still virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic – to call for a comprehensive review of the Competition Act. At the time, it was almost a wild hope.

    And yet, we have come so far since then!

    This move was driven by a groundswell of Canadians calling for change in response to an economy where competition simply wasn’t working. People were clear: they want more competition.

    The desire for meaningful reform grew stronger in the House of Commons and the Senate, where unanimous all-party support provided the momentum needed to make these changes a reality.

    The details of these recent changes may not be universally agreed upon, as is rarely the case with laws. But there is unanimity that these efforts to modernize our laws are a legitimate and unavoidable response to the need to “do more.”

    This new era of competition law enforcement should be seen as a generational shift, rather than a radical one.

    Just as no one blames the maple tree for growing and thriving by adapting to its environment, our laws must respond to the needs and challenges of our economy as it exists today. With these changes, the government and Parliament are seeking to equip the Office with the right tools to achieve the results we all want: a vibrant and competitive Canadian economy.

    To return to the maple analogy, I see this new era a bit like the firmly spread branches of that robust tree. The brilliant canopy grew from an idea: increased competition will stimulate growth and benefit the public interest. It is a goal we all want to achieve.

    These changes are also consistent with the type of vastgovernment-wide competition program[in English only] that I am calling for to help solve Canada’s productivity problems.

    We can achieve this by doing the right thing: opening markets, setting their rules, enforcing them, and giving everyone a fair chance at growth, opportunity and investment.

    What to expect for the future

    Many of you will want to know how this modernized Competition Act will affect your clients. The changes are significant and far-reaching, and I understand that it is important for you to hear what the Bureau has to say about this new reality and how we will enforce the law going forward.

    From my perspective, there are four major changes that will define the way the Office works, thinks and reacts.

    First, more law enforcement action is to be expected.

    I think it will come from both the Bureau and the expanded private access regime.

    These legislative changes have given the Bureau the tools it needs to take meaningful enforcement action. This means that anti-competitive conduct will no longer fall through the cracks, as it did in the past, due to gaps in the legislation. It also means that there will be greater demand on the Competition Tribunal and other courts.

    And, to the delight of many in the room, I am sure, this will result in more case law.

    Second, we should expect faster and much less technocratic implementation.

    The Competition Act now includes simplified legal tests, a reverse onus and rebuttable presumptions for mergers. And as I mentioned a moment ago, the efficiency defence has been repealed.

    These changes will allow the Bureau to sort through cases and conduct investigations more quickly. They should also help to achieve results based on reasons that are understandable to ordinary people.

    To illustrate how these changes will simplify our work, we no longer have the burden of hundreds of paragraphs of complex mathematical formulas to determine whether a merger would violate the Competition Act.

    It was high time to bring some common sense back into our competition legislation.

    The third thing you can expect is a strengthening of corrective measures.

    We see this in the new merger remedial standard, the broader range of remedies available under section 90.1, and our new civil mechanism to enforce consent agreements. We also see it in the changes to maximum fines and penalties across the Act. We are now better able to seek real and meaningful sanctions when violations occur. This means that the days of absurdly low financial penalties are over.

    Private claimants will now be able to seek redress by applying to the Competition Tribunal.

    All of these changes translate into a law enforcement approach that is strict and diligent: those who break the law will face significant consequences for their actions.

    The fourth and final thing we can expect from this new era is a more people-centered approach to law enforcement.

    Implicitly, these changes ensure that the Act better reflects the current needs of the Canadian public in competition law matters, for example:

    What serves the public interest? Opening the door to public interest litigation will help answer this question. Recognizing the importance of competition to workers through the new wage-fixing and non-poaching offences, and by expressly incorporating the term “personnel” into the merger provisions. Ensuring that Canadian consumers are better protected from deceptive marketing practices, including by preventing the dissemination of partial pricing and false representations that mislead consumers and harm competitors. Strengthened protections for whistleblowers, complainants and others who come forward and provide assistance under the Act, under the new anti-retaliation provision.

    Overall, the amendments to the Competition Act result in a stronger legal framework for enforcement in Canada, and a system that is more responsive to public needs. A system that is much less tolerant of anti-competitive behaviour that misleads Canadian consumers, artificially drives up prices and keeps wages low, and limits productivity and innovation.

    Just as I talked about how this new era will affect the way the Office works, let’s now talk about how this new era will affect the choices businesses make.

    There are four areas I want to highlight today that I think will be of particular interest to you.

    Mergers

    Let’s start with effective merger control. Strong rules are vital because they are the Bureau’s first line of defense in its efforts to protect the competitiveness of our economy.

    For the vast majority of mergers, things will not change in this new era. But in some cases, there are significant changes that deserve attention.

    First, more mergers are now subject to prior merger notice requirements. And, regardless of prior notice, in all cases where we seek an injunction, a merger cannot close until the injunction is heard and determined. These changes clearly reaffirm the preventive purpose of merger review.

    Second, transactions that were not notified will be subject to a longer limitation period during which we can, if necessary, file a claim after the transaction has closed. In practical terms, this means that there is now less risk that anti-competitive transactions will escape our notice.

    Third, we can expect a greater dose of healthy skepticism about merger proposals in concentrated sectors. This is the result of the repeal of the efficiency defence and the creation of rebuttable structural presumptions. This puts an end to what was – in my view – an overly permissive approach to mergers or, as one of my predecessors described it, “the weakest merger legislation of any of our peer countries.”

    Fourth, among other notable changes regarding mergers, the standard for remedies is now much stricter. This will move us toward remedies that, in both intent and effect, fully preserve and protect competition from anticompetitive mergers. This is a significant improvement over the situation that prevailed just a year ago.

    It bears repeating: the vast majority of mergers reviewed under the Competition Act are not complex and are cleared quickly. That will not change.

    But for complex cases, especially those that raise significant competition issues, expect us to come knocking. In those cases, some parties will simply need to be well-prepared to explain their merger plans. But for ill-advised transactions that are particularly anticompetitive, in this new era, those ideas should never leave the boardroom.

    I recognize that having good guidance in this area is essential. That is why we will soon be launching a comprehensive review of the merger enforcement guidelines. We will also take this opportunity to ensure that we have modern guidelines that reflect the digital economy and the most recent case law.

    As part of this process, we will be publishing a discussion paper in the coming weeks that will include questions for your consideration. We hope that you will participate in this process to help us make these guidelines as useful and rigorous as possible.

    A draft of the revised guidelines will follow. We value your input and that of your clients. Your contributions to our guidance contribute to greater clarity for everyone.

    Monopolistic practices

    Let’s move on to the second point on the list of notable changes: monopolistic practices.

    It is not bad to be big. Companies that grow by innovating and competing on the merits should not be punished – this is an essential foundation of the competitive process.

    The recent changes do not change our view on this. What does change is our ability to clearly define offenders and the very real possibility of applying meaningful sanctions in the event of a violation. These changes finally bring us in line with our peers.

    In this new era, we now have a simplified test for determining whether there has been an abuse of dominance requiring a prohibition order. This will help us stop any conduct by dominant firms that has harmed competition in the market or was intended to do so.

    We can also count on a significant improvement in the provision on civil agreements. This will allow us to tackle a broader range of anti-competitive agreements. It is accompanied by more effective remedies to address harm and promote compliance.

    In this area, we have published newguidelines for property controlsfor public consultation. We consider our position to be strong but responsible. However, we remain open to other points of view. We invite you to provide us with your comments before finalizing these guidelines.

    Finally, on this point, we are preparing additional guidance on restrictive trade practices and we will also consult on this draft guidance.

    Deceptive business practices

    Next, let’s look at how this new era will affect our enforcement work in the area of deceptive marketing practices.

    This is an area where the Bureau needed an enforcement framework that was relevant to our times. We needed the tools to do the best job possible in combating these long-standing practices that harm consumers and competition.

    First, partial pricing. As you know, we have had many successes in pursuing those who engage in this anti-competitive practice.

    Just earlier this week, the Competition Tribunal released its decision in the Cineplex partial pricing case. This is a resounding victory for Canadians, and a concrete example of our new era of competition enforcement.

    I know that Cineplex has announced its intention to appeal. However, I want to point out that this is the first decision made by the Tribunal under the recent amendments to the Competition Act, which include the possibility of imposing higher administrative monetary penalties.

    This decision sends a strong message: companies must not practice partial pricing and must display their full prices up front whenever additional charges are mandatory for consumers. Companies that do not comply with the law are exposed to significant financial penalties.

    Of course, we have also recently obtained two consent agreements in this area, against TicketNetwork and SiriusXM Canada. We also have several other investigations underway. The lesson is clear: expect a response and consequences if you engage in false or misleading practices by advertising prices that are unattainable due to fees that are not disclosed in the offer.

    We will now turn to an area that has been the subject of much discussion: the provisions relating to environmental reporting and greenwashing. I can assure you that at the Bureau, we have heard loud and clear that there is a strong desire for guidance on these new provisions in the Act. We have already acted and we will continue to act expeditiously on this issue.

    While these changes are significant, it is important to remember that our laws already prohibited greenwashing and unsubstantiated performance claims.

    The Competition Act has long contained provisions prohibiting false or misleading representations to promote a product or business interest. Take, for example, the action we brought against Keurig Canada in 2022. Our investigation found that the company’s claims about the recyclability of its single-serve coffee pods were false or misleading. Keurig agreed to pay a $3 million penalty.

    Similarly, performance claims that are not based on adequate or appropriate testing have been prohibited in Canada since the 1930s. By extension, the Bureau has long advised companies that these provisions apply to environmental claims. Not only have we issued guidance and warnings for many years, but we have also taken enforcement action in high-profile cases.

    Based on our past actions, you can see that these new provisions represent an evolution – not a revolution – in the fight against misleading marketing practices. This means that advertisers are expected to base their environmental claims on solid foundations, so that they are not considered false or misleading to consumers.

    As you know, we are leadingconsultationson these new provisions and we will carefully examine the reactions received. In the meantime, I invite interested parties to read the special edition ofVolume 7 of the Collection of Deceptive Commercial Practices. It contains useful advice on how to comply with the pre-existing provisions of the Act in relation to environmental reporting.

    Private access

    Finally, I will share with you some thoughts on the changes to the private access regime in this new era.

    The amendments have created a much more robust private enforcement system. It now extends to most of our civil provisions. It is available to a wider range of claimants. It is accompanied by a relaxation of the test used to determine whether a case can proceed and allows the court to order the payment of money.

    We welcome and support these changes, as they will support the work of the Office, lead to more case law and provide access to private remedies.

    The impact of these changes is already visible. Private access is being used as a tool in abuse of dominance cases, including Apotex and JAMP Pharma. And this is just the beginning. More significant changes to the Act will come into force in June 2025.

    We will be monitoring cases closely and scrutinizing them for opportunities to intervene and provide the Bureau’s perspective, particularly if important legal issues are at stake. And I am sure many of you in this room will do the same.

    We plan to update our Private Access Procedures Information Bulletin in light of these important changes, including the factors we will consider in deciding whether to intervene.

    I also want to make it clear that we recognise the importance of having a well-resourced Competition Tribunal. As we move into a new era where we intend to bring more cases before the Tribunal, and we anticipate an increasing number of private access cases, this will only become more important to ensure that we adjudicate quickly and efficiently.

    What comes next

    I have spent a good deal of my time today explaining to you what I believe the changes to the Competition Act will do to the enforcement of the Act. And, therefore, what they will do to your work.

    Yes, there is broad public support for modernizing the Competition Act, and these changes bring Canada in line with international best practices. And yes, some of the changes are still a bit rough; they will need to be sanded down to a smoother finish, whether through guidance or case law. That is to be expected. After all, this is a framework law, not a code.

    However, despite these significant changes, it is also important to note what is not changing. This is still a framework law focused on maintaining and promoting competition in Canada, not a sector-specific regulation or price control regime.

    The Competition Act remains subject to strong due process protections, evidentiary requirements and clearance standards to ensure fairness for all parties and to weed out clearly unmeritorious cases. The Bureau will, of course, continue to enforce the law in a transparent, predictable and rigorous manner. In other words, while the maple tree’s canopy has expanded, its roots have remained the same.

    When it comes to ensuring fair and equitable competition in Canada, we have been working to do so for almost as long as Canada has existed. It is not talked about enough. The new laws are a response to an old problem.

    In 1889, Canada became the first country in the world to adopt modern antitrust legislation. Our legislation, like that of the United States, was a response to the serious problems faced by people in these young, emerging markets. This tradition, which dates back more than 135 years, continued into the 20th century. In the 1920s, Prime Minister Mackenzie King himself introduced the Combines Investigation Act, which became the basis for today’s Competition Act, for first reading.

    Then, in the 1980s, the Competition Act was amended through Bill C-91 – legislative changes that, according to a statement by the then minister responsible for that portfolio, were necessary to adapt the Act to the demands of a modern marketplace.

    This brings us to today’s changes, the final step in a long journey.

    As I explained at the beginning of my speech, a generational change in competition law is here. Finally.

    Which brings us back to the maple analogy:

    These are new branches that complete the canopy of Canada’s competition tree. They cover a larger area with the rules and enforcement framework needed to keep pace with today’s economy. But this canopy is consistent with previous principles. These changes build on the Bureau’s long history of commitment to transparent, evidence-based enforcement.

    Conclusion

    In closing, I would like to reiterate that we are entering a new era of competition law enforcement in Canada. Today, we have much stronger legislation that finally addresses many of the long-standing deficiencies in the Competition Act.

    As I indicated, we are developing guidance to clarify the effects of these changes for the Office and for your clients. We want you to help us refine it.

    However, the message from Canadians and parliamentarians has been clear: they want stronger and more active enforcement. These recent amendments have given us the tools to achieve this.

    I would like to leave you with a clear conclusion: in this new era, you must expect a more aggressive and active authority, which will use all the tools at its disposal in the interests of Canada, its people and its economy.

    These changes are long overdue, and it is now up to me, as Commissioner of Competition, to ensure that they are implemented in a way that meets the high expectations of the Canadian public and parliamentarians.

    So, fasten your seat belt.

    THANKS.

    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 and its partners are laying the groundwork for standardizing mental health and substance use care

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Government of Canada and partners lay the groundwork for standardizing mental health and substance use care New set of guidelines and resources released to support equitable access to quality care for all

    New set of guidelines and resources released to promote equitable access to quality care for all

    September 26, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

    Everyone living in Canada deserves a health care system that provides the services they need, when and where they need them. The types and ease of access to mental health and substance use supports can vary across Canada, leading to inconsistencies in quality and accessibility.

    In response to this challenge, Health Canada has tasked the Standards Council of Canada with coordinating the development of a set of guidelines and resources to strengthen understanding, consistency and integration among mental health and substance use health providers across the country.

    These resources include the following:

    Integrated Youth Services (IYS) Guidance Document Report on Integrating Mental Health and Substance Use Health Services in Primary Care Settings Report on Gaps and Recommendations for SMSLCS Digital Applications Report on Integrated Mental Health and Substance Use Health Services for People with Complex Needs – with a Focus on Early Intervention for Psychosis Publicly Available Guidance Document to Systematize Substance Use Competencies for All Prescribers Report on Gaps and Opportunities for Enhancement in Withdrawal Management Services to Support Substance Use Health Care

    This work can improve care for people across Canada by promoting evidence-based approaches to key mental health and substance use issues. It recognizes that health care delivery is primarily the responsibility of the provinces and territories and provides mental health and substance use care providers with a collection of principles, guidelines and best practices that they can reference, learn from and put into practice.

    Additionally, this work will help inform future federal actions to support positive mental health and substance use care, reduce barriers to care, and address capacity constraints in the front-line workforce.

    Hundreds of Canadians invested their energy and expertise in this initiative, including individuals with past and present experience, Indigenous peoples, clinical specialists, service providers, community organizations, family and peer advocates, academics and many others. Health Canada would like to thank all those who participated in this important work, and especially the committee co-chairs, Ms. Carol Hopkins and Mr. Brian Rush, for their leadership and wisdom in guiding this process.

    Yuval DanielDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Honourable Ya’ara SaksMinister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health819-360-6927

    Media RelationsHealth Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada613-957-2983media@hc-sc.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: Ministers LeBlanc and Anand announce trucking pilot to improve movement of goods

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, (September 26), 2024 – Today, at the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) meeting, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, announced the launch of a pilot project to mutually recognize regulatory requirements in the trucking sector.

    The ministers thanked the coalition of willing jurisdictions: Ontario; Nova Scotia; Manitoba; Prince Edward Island; Saskatchewan; Alberta; Newfoundland and Labrador; Northwest Territories; Yukon; and Nunavut for joining this effort to improve the efficient movement of goods — a crucial aspect to Canada’s productivity and affordability. The pilot project will be co-chaired by Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.

    Mutual recognition agreements in key sectors, such as transportation and trucking, have the potential to boost Canada’s productivity and economic growth. Experts forecast that adopting mutual recognition as a means to reduce barriers to internal trade could increase Canada’s economy by $200 billion per year.

    Under this new trucking pilot, participating provinces and territories will commit to recognizing each other’s regulatory requirements, even where differences exist, such as oversized vehicle signage requirements, to allow trucks and the goods they carry to move across Canada more effectively, without compromising safety and security measures. The pilot, the first of its kind on this scale within Canada, will help governments test and measure what can be achieved through mutual recognition and will help drive future work in other important sectors of the economy, including labour mobility.

    Today’s announcement is an important first step towards wider, national adoption of mutual recognition and builds on the Government of Canada’s demonstrated leadership and action to liberalize trade and boost Canada’s economic productivity.

    Through federal leadership, including the Federal Action Plan to Strengthen Internal Trade, the Government of Canada has:

    • Launched the Canadian Internal Trade Data and Information Hub, providing open and accessible information on domestic trade and trade barriers in key economic sectors;
    • Removed and narrowed 1/3 of federal exceptions in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, providing Canadian businesses with more opportunities to be competitive across the country;
    • Strengthened regulatory cooperation through the harmonization of building codes and energy efficiency regulations and exempting oil rigs from duplicative requirements; 
    • Funded the development of a National Registry of Physicians, led by the Medical Council of Canada, a foundational element that will support labour mobility for physicians;
    • Reviewed the Red Tape Reduction Act and made it a requirement for the one‑for‑one rule to control the administrative burden on business and to take into account burden reduced as a result of regulatory cooperation between the Government of Canada and other jurisdictions;
    • Advanced regulatory cooperation through the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council and the Federal-Provincial/Territorial Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table to reduce regulatory barriers to trade and make it easier for businesses to operate across multiple jurisdictions; and
    • Held regional roundtables in Canada and the United States to better understand the regulatory challenges businesses face when conducting business across internal and international borders.

    Additionally, as announced in August 2024, the Treasury Board of Canada is setting up a working group to examine productivity in Canada’s public sector and inform the government’s economic plan. The working group will be comprised of various experts from academia, think tanks, private and public sectors, and will engage with unions. It will examine the delivery of services to Canadians and the role of technology in helping address barriers to achieving greater efficiencies for Canadians and businesses. The working group’s mandate and terms of reference will be finalized and made public in the coming weeks.

    Gabriel Brunet
     Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
    Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    819-665-6527
    gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca

    Myah Tomasi
     Press Secretary
    Office of the President of the Treasury Board of Canada
    myah.tomasi@tbs-sct.gc.ca
    343-543-7210

    Media Relations
     Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
    Telephone: 613-369-9400
    Toll-free: 1-855-TBS-9-SCT (1-855-827-9728)
    Email: media@tbs-sct.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces Final September 2024 Cash Distribution for Ninepoint Cash Management Fund – ETF Series

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint Partners”) today announced the final September 2024 cash distribution for the Ninepoint Cash Management Fund – ETF Series. The record date for the distribution is September 27, 2024. This distribution is payable on October 7, 2024.

    The per-unit final September distribution is detailed below:

    Ninepoint ETF Series Ticker Cash Distribution per unit Notional Distribution per unit CUSIP
    Ninepoint Cash Management Fund NSAV $0.15667 $0.00000 65443X105


    About Ninepoint Partners

    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies including Alternative Income and Real Assets, in addition to North American and Global Equities.

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit http://www.ninepoint.com or please contact us at 416.362.7172 or 1.888.362.7172 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Ninepoint Partners LP is the investment manager to the Ninepoint Funds (collectively, the “Funds”). Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees (if any), and other expenses all may be associated with investing in the Funds. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. Prospective investors who are not resident in Canada should contact their financial advisor to determine whether securities of the Fund may be lawfully sold in their jurisdiction.

    Please note that distribution factors (breakdown between income, capital gains and return of capital) can only be calculated when a fund has reached its year-end. Distribution information should not be relied upon for income tax reporting purposes as this is only a component of total distributions for the year. For accurate distribution amounts for the purpose of filing an income tax return, please refer to the appropriate T3/T5 slips for that particular taxation year. Please refer to the prospectus or offering memorandum of each Fund for details of the Fund’s distribution policy.

    The payment of distributions and distribution breakdown, if applicable, is not guaranteed and may fluctuate. The payment of distributions should not be confused with a Fund’s performance, rate of return, or yield. If distributions paid by the Fund are greater than the performance of the Fund, then an investor’s original investment will shrink. Distributions paid as a result of capital gains realized by a Fund and income and dividends earned by a Fund are taxable in the year they are paid. An investor’s adjusted cost base will be reduced by the amount of any returns of capital. If an investor’s adjusted cost base goes below zero, then capital gains tax will have to be paid on the amount below zero.

    Sales Inquiries:

    Ninepoint Partners LP
    Neil Ross
    416-945-6227
    nross@ninepoint.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Afghanistan: Calls for legal action against Taliban is ‘vital step’ to secure justice for women and girls

    Source: Amnesty International –

    © Kiana Hayeri / Amnesty International

    Taliban’s violation of women’s and girls’ rights likely amounts to a crime against humanity

    The international community should pursue all available avenues to end ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan

    Governments also need to protect all those fleeing discrimination and oppression

    ‘The Taliban have made life for Afghan women and girls intolerable. They have erased them from all spheres of life’- Agnès Callamard

    Responding to the announcement by Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands during the UN General Assembly yesterday that they will initiate legal proceedings that could lead to action at the International Court of Justice against Afghanistan for numerous violations of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

    “The Taliban have made life for Afghan women and girls intolerable. They have erased them from all spheres of life and systematically stripped away their rights and dignity.

    “Amnesty International welcomes any steps by states to hold the Taliban accountable under international law for the widespread and institutionalised violation of women’s and girls’ human rights, which most likely amount to the crime against humanity of gender persecution.

    “The international community should pursue all available avenues to end ongoing pervasive human rights violations in Afghanistan, including through the International Court of Justice.

    “This is a vital step towards securing justice for violations, it should be complemented by other comprehensive efforts to address the full range of past and ongoing atrocities, including those against women and girls, that the Taliban and other state and non-state actors have committed throughout the continuous cycle of conflict in Afghanistan for more than 40 years.

    “The world must act in solidarity with the courageous women and girls of Afghanistan by advocating for their rights and holding the Taliban regime to account.

    “This welcome legal initiative should also serve as a timely reminder that governments have a responsibility to provide international protection to all those fleeing systematic discrimination and oppression in Afghanistan.”

    View latest press releases

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Minas — Statement from Superintendent Jason Popik, Southwest Nova District Policing Officer, in relation to RCMP member charged with assault

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Nova Scotia RCMP is sharing the following media release from the Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) in relation to its independent investigation into an allegation of misuse of force against an RCMP member posted to West Hants Detachment.

    On September 26, SiRT charged the member with Assault under Section 266 of the Criminal Code.

    This criminal charge is disconcerting and we take these incidents seriously. The member, Cpl. Dale Keeping, is currently on administrative duties. His duty status will be reviewed pending an internal code of conduct investigation and the court process.

    Media release issued by SiRT:

    The SiRT Charges RCMP Officer with Assault

    The Director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has reasonable and probably grounds to believe that an RCMP officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the assaut of a youth on March 8, 2024.

    The SiRT received the referral on May 3, 2024, from the West Hants RCMP and the Department of Community Services and began its investigation into the matter that day. As a result of the SiRT investigation, on September 26, 2024, Corporal Dale Keeping was charged with assault contrary to s. 266 of the Criminal Code.

    Corporal Dale Keeping will appear before the Nova Scotia Provincial Court at 240 King Street, Windsor, Nova Scotia on October 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

    As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SiRT will not provide further comment on the investigation.

    The SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The new era of competition enforcement in Canada

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Notes for an address by Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition to the Canadian Bar Association Competition Fall Law Conference – “The new era of competition enforcement in Canada” – September 2024

    Notes for an address by Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition

    Canadian Bar Association Competition Fall Law Conference

    September 2024

    (As prepared for delivery)

    Good afternoon.

    I’m pleased to be back here with you again this year for the Fall Competition Law Conference.

    I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered today on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People.

    We do so as Fall’s spectacular colours take hold here. And a centerpiece of that seasonal transformation—here and across much of Canada—is the maple tree.

    The growth of the maple tree gives us a good analogy for change: including the dramatic ones in competition law in Canada that I’m going to talk to you about today.

    You see, early on, maples grow upward…really fast. And then they expand outward to create their large canopy.

    The evolution of competition law in Canada has charted a similar course.

    That’s why today, I’m here to talk about the recent series of amendments made to the Competition Act. About what these changes mean for lawyers and the clients that many of you represent. And what it means for all Canadians. I’ll also talk about what doesn’t change with these recent reforms. So let’s get started.

    The new era

    Before the recent amendments to the Competition Act, in 2021, the Government made significant investments in the Bureau’s budget to enhance our ability to enforce the law and advocate for more competition.

    This has allowed us to tool up to meet the needs of Canada’s modern economy. This includes creating our Digital Enforcement and Intelligence Branch, which is leveraging data and technology to support our work in enforcement and competition promotion

    However, despite these new resources, we lacked the legislative tools to take the kind of enforcement action that Canadians, and parliamentarians, expect.

    As you know, since 2022, there have been three waves of amendments to Canada’s competition law. To name but a few of the highlights:

    • It started in 2022 with the criminalization of wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements and increasing maximum fines and penalties.
    • Then in 2023, the outdated efficiencies defense was scrapped, the rules around abuse of dominance were strengthened, and the Bureau was granted formal market study powers.
    • And, earlier this year, the Bureau was given more effective merger controls, including the introduction of structural presumptions, and stronger deceptive marketing provisions, that target bogus discount claims, drip pricing and unsupported environmental claims.

    That’s a lot of change over two short years.

    Not surprisingly, Canada’s legal community took notice and has been actively assessing the impacts of these wide-ranging changes. From that, came a growing consensus that we are now in “a new era” of competition law, of compliance and of enforcement.

    Words used by many of you, in your bulletins, to describe these changes have included – “landmark”, “transformative”, a “sea-change”, and my favourite – “breathtaking”.

    The Globe and Mail, in a July 2024 editorial called it: “The new era of consumer-friendly competition law.”

    The broad consensus on the need for reform isn’t new. The sense that Canada must do more to foster competition has been on everyone’s mind for quite a while.

    It was three years ago when I joined you, more than two years into my mandate and still virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to call for a comprehensive review of the Competition Act. At the time that felt like a forlorn hope.

    It is hard to quantify just how much progress has been made since then.

    This has been driven by a groundswell of Canadians calling for change in response to an economy where competition simply was not working. Canadians have been clear – they want to see more competition.

    The desire for significant reform gathered steam in the House of Commons and in the Senate, where unanimous support across parties provided the momentum needed to turn these amendments into law.

    The fine details of these recent changes might not have universal agreement—laws rarely do. But there is unanimity that these efforts to modernize our laws are a legitimate, necessary response to the need to “do more”.

    This new era of competition enforcement is best thought of as generational change, rather than radical.

    Just as no one faults the maple tree for growing up and then outward as it adapts to its environment, our laws must respond to the needs and challenges of our economy as it is today. With these changes, the Government and Parliament are seeking to equip the Bureau with the right tools to achieve the outcomes we all want: a dynamic and competitive Canadian economy.

    To come back to the analogy of the maple, I see this new era much like the capable limbs on that hardy tree. The brilliant canopy has grown from the sapling of an idea: that greater competition will drive growth and provide a public good. This is something we all want to achieve.

    These changes are also consistent with the kind of broader, whole-of-government, competition agenda I have been calling for to help solve Canada’s productivity challenges.

    We can get there by doing the right thing: opening up markets, defining their rules, enforcing those rules, and giving everyone a fair shot at growth, opportunity and investment.

    What you can expect next

    Many of you will want to know how this modernized Competition Act will affect your clients. The changes are significant and wide reaching, and I understand the importance for you to hear from the Bureau on how we view the new lay of the land and how we intend to enforce the law going forward.

    As I see things, there are four big changes that will define how the Bureau works, thinks and responds.

    First, expect to see more enforcement action.

    I anticipate this will come both from the Bureau and through the expanded private access regime.

    These legislative changes have equipped the Bureau with the tools we need to take meaningful enforcement action. That means anti-competitive conduct won’t be slipping through the cracks the way it used to, owing to gaps in the law. It will also mean greater recourse to the Competition Tribunal and the courts to address non-compliance with the law.

    And, to the delight of many in the room I am sure, this will mean more case law.

    Second, expect to see faster enforcement that’s far less technocratic.

    The Competition Act now has streamlined legal tests, reverse onus requirements, and rebuttable presumptions for mergers. And as I mentioned a moment ago, the efficiencies defence has been repealed.

    These changes will allow the Bureau to triage and investigate cases faster. They should also result in outcomes of cases based on reasons that average people can understand.

    As an example of how these changes will streamline our work, we’re now unburdened by what was once hundreds of paragraphs of complex math formulae to determine whether a merger would run afoul of the Competition Act.

    It was high time that some common sense was brought back into our competition laws.

    The third thing you can expect is stronger remedies.

    We see that in terms of the new remedial standard for mergers, the broader range of remedies available under section 90.1, and our new civil mechanism for enforcing compliance with consent agreements. We also see it in the changes to maximum fines and penalties throughout the Act. We now have a greater ability to seek real, meaningful, penalties when the law is broken. This means the days of pennies-on-the-dollar financial penalties are over.

    And now, private applicants will have access to redress through private access to the Competition Tribunal.

    This all adds up to enforcement that means business: those who break the law will face meaningful consequences for their actions.

    The fourth and final thing you can expect from this new era is more people-focused enforcement.

    Implicit in the changes is that the provisions of the Act are much more focused on what Canadians need from their competition laws today, for example:

    • What’s in the public interest? Opening the door to public interest litigants will help determine the answer.
    • Recognizing the importance of competition to workers through the new wage-fixing and no-poaching offences, and by expressly incorporating a “labour” call-out in the merger provisions.
    • Ensuring that Canadian consumers have better protections against deceptive marketing practices, including guarding against the spread of drip pricing and bogus claims that deceive consumers and harm competitors.
    • Enhanced protections for whistleblowers, complainants and others that come forward and provide assistance under the Act under the new anti-reprisal provision.

    Overall, the amendments to the Act mean a more robust legal framework for competition law enforcement in Canada. It means a system that is more responsive to the needs of citizens. A system that is far less tolerant of anti-competitive conduct that misleads Canadian consumers, artificially raises prices and keeps wages low, and limits productivity and innovation.

    Just as I talked about how this new era will affect the way the Bureau works, let’s now talk about how this new era will affect the choices that businesses make.

    There are four areas that I want to highlight today, as I believe these will be of particular interest to all of you in this room.

    Mergers

    Let’s start with effective merger control. Having strong rules here is vital because it’s the first line of defense for us at the Bureau in our efforts to protect the competitiveness of our economy.

    For the vast majority of mergers, things won’t change in this new era. But in specific instances, there are big changes that certainly warrant attention.

    First, more mergers are now subject to pre-merger notification requirements. And, regardless of notification, in all cases where we apply for an injunction, a merger will not be able to close until the injunction is heard and decided. These changes clearly re-affirmed the preventative goal of merger review.

    Second, deals that are not notified will be subject to a longer limitation period within which we can bring a post-closing challenge if necessary. Concretely, that means there is now less risk of anti-competitive deals slipping past us.

    Third, you can expect much more healthy skepticism about proposed mergers in concentrated sectors. That’s as a result of the repeal of the efficiencies defense coupled with the creation of rebuttable structural presumptions. This puts an end to what was—in my view—an overly permissive approach to mergers or, as one of my predecessors described it, “the weakest merger law among all of our peer countries”.

    And fourth, among the other noteworthy changes affecting mergers, the remedy standard is now much stronger. That’s going to steer us toward remedies that—in both intent and effect—fully preserve and protect competition from anti-competitive mergers. This is a big improvement over where we were just a year ago.

    It does bear repeating: the vast majority of mergers reviewed under the Competition Act are non-complex and cleared quickly. That won’t change.

    But for those complex cases—especially those that raise significant competition issues—expect us to come knocking. In those cases, some parties will simply need to be well prepared to explain their proposed merger. But for those ill-conceived deals

    that are particularly anti-competitive, in this new era, those ideas should never leave the boardroom.

    I recognize that good guidance here will be vital. That’s why we will soon be launching a comprehensive review of the Merger Enforcement Guidelines. We’ll also be taking this opportunity to ensure we have modern guidelines that reflect the digital economy and the latest jurisprudence.

    As a part of this process, we will be publishing a discussion paper in the coming weeks that will include questions for your consideration. We hope that you will participate in this process in order to help us make these guidelines as useful and as rigorous as possible.

    A draft of the revised guidelines will follow. We value and appreciate the input of you and your clients. Your contributions to our guidance help create greater clarity for everyone.

    Monopolistic practices

    Let’s turn to item two on the list of noteworthy changes: monopolistic practices.

    It’s not bad to be big. Companies that grow large by innovating and competing on the merits should not be punished – this is a fundamental underpinning of the competitive process.

    The recent amendments do not change our thinking on this point. What does change is our ability to clearly define rule breakers, and the very real potential of meaningful penalties for violations. These changes finally align us with our peers.

    In this new era, we now have a streamlined test to determine whether there has been an abuse of dominance that would require a prohibition order. This will help us stop dominant-firm conduct that has either harmed competition in the marketplace or was intended to do so.

    Also, we have a significantly improved civil-agreement provision. It will allow us to address a broader range of anti-competitive agreements. This is coupled with more effective remedies to address harm and promote compliance.

    In this area, we have published new property controls guidance for public consultation. We see our position here as strong but responsible. However, we also remain open to other viewpoints. We welcome your feedback here before finalizing this guidance.

    Lastly on this point, we are preparing additional guidance on restrictive trade practices, and we will be consulting on that draft guidance as well.

    Deceptive marketing practices

    Next, let’s talk about how this new era will affect our enforcement in the area of deceptive marketing practices.

    This is an area where the Bureau needed an enforcement framework that was up to speed with the times. We needed the tools to do the best job possible in countering these age-old practices that harm consumers and undermine competition.

    First up is drip pricing. As you know, we have a long track record in successfully pursuing those who engage in this anti-competitive practice.

    Most recently, earlier this week, the Competition Tribunal handed down its decision in the Cineplex drip pricing case. This was a resounding win for Canadians, and a concrete example of our new era of competition enforcement.

    I recognize that Cineplex has announced its intention to appeal. However, I want to highlight that this is the first decision by the Tribunal to deal with the recent changes to the Competition Act, including the availability of higher administrative monetary penalties.

    The decision sends a strong message that businesses should not engage in drip pricing and need to display their full prices upfront whenever additional fees are mandatory for consumers. Businesses that fail to comply with the law risk significant financial penalties.

    Of course, we also recently secured two consent agreements in this area—against TicketNetwork and SiriusXM Canada. We also have several other active investigations. The overall lesson here is clear: expect pushback and consequences if you engage in false or misleading practices by advertising prices that are unattainable due to fees that aren’t included in the offer.

    Next up is an area that has seen a lot of ink spilled: the provisions about environmental claims and greenwashing. I can reassure you that, at the Bureau, we heard loud and clear that there’s a deep desire for guidance on these new provisions in the Act. We have and will move quickly here.

    While these changes are significant, it is important not to overlook the reality that prohibitions against greenwashing and unsupported performance claims already existed in our laws.

    The Competition Act has long had provisions prohibiting false or misleading claims to promote a product or a business interest. Case in point, look at the action we took against Keurig Canada in 2022. There, our investigation concluded the company’s claims about the recyclability of its single-use coffee pods were false or misleading. Keurig agreed to pay a $3 million penalty.

    Similarly, performance claims not based on adequate or proper testing have been prohibited in Canada since the 1930s. By extension, the Bureau has long advised businesses that these provisions apply to environmental claims. Not only have we published guidance and warnings for many years, we’ve also taken enforcement action in high-profile cases.

    With our past track record for context, you can see that these new provisions are an evolution—not a revolution—in addressing deceptive marketing practices. It means that advertisers are expected to have a foundation for their environmental claims, so that they’re not deemed false or misleading for consumers.

    As you know, we are consulting on these new provisions, and will carefully consider the feedback received. For now, I invite interested parties to read the special edition of Volume 7 of the Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest. It lays out some helpful advice on how to comply with the pre-existing provisions of the law when it comes to environmental claims.

    Private access

    Last but not least, I will share with you a few thoughts about changes to the private access regime in this new era.

    The amendments have created a much more robust private enforcement system. It now extends to most of our civil provisions. It is accessible by a broader range of applicants. This comes with an eased leave test and the possibility of monetary disgorgement payments.

    We welcome and support these changes, because they will complement the Bureau’s work, lead to more jurisprudence, and provide access to private redress.

    You can already start to see the impacts of these changes. It is being used as a tool in abuse-of-dominance cases, including Apotex, and JAMP Pharma. And that’s just for starters. More significant changes to the Act come into force in June 2025.

    We will be keeping a close eye on cases and scrutinizing them for opportunities to intervene and provide the Bureau’s perspective, particularly if there are important questions of law at stake. And I’m sure many of you in this room will be doing the same.

    We plan to update our Information Bulletin on private-access proceedings in light of these significant changes. This will include laying out the factors we will consider in deciding whether to intervene.

    I also want to state that we recognize the importance of having a properly resourced Competition Tribunal. As we move into a new era where we intend to bring more cases, and we anticipate a growing number of private access cases, this will only become more important to ensure timely and effective adjudication.

    What comes next?

    I’ve spent much of my time today walking you through what will I believe will change in competition law enforcement in Canada as a result of the recent amendments. And how those changes will affect your work.

    Yes, there’s widespread public support for a modernization of the Competition Act, and these changes bring Canada into alignment with international best practices. And yes, some changes still have some rough edges that will need sanding down to a smoother finish, be it through guidance or case law. That’s normal. Because this is framework law, after all, not a code.

    But, despite these significant changes, it’s also important to take note of what doesn’t change. This is still a framework law focused on maintaining and promoting competition in Canada, it is not sector-specific regulation or a price control regime.

    The Competition Act remains subject to robust due process protections, evidentiary requirements and leave standards, to ensure fairness for all parties and to weed out clearly unmeritorious cases. The Bureau will, of course, continue to apply the law in a transparent, predictable and rigorous manner. In other words, while the maple tree’s canopy may have expanded, its roots are the same.

    When it comes to the desire to ensure competition that’s fair and just in Canada, we’ve been threading that needle for nearly as long as Canada has been Canada. That doesn’t get talked about enough. New laws here are a response to an age-old problem.

    Way back in 1889, Canada was the first country in the world to introduce modern anti-trust legislation. Ours—along with similar laws in the US—was a response to serious problems faced by people in those young, emerging markets. That 135-plus year tradition continued on in the 20th century. In the 1920s, Prime Minister Mackenzie King himself introduced the first reading of the Combines Investigation Act, which was the foundation of today’s Competition Act.

    Next in the 1980s the Competition Act saw amendments via Bill C-91, in which the Minister of the day responsible for this portfolio said plainly that legislative changes were needed to “gear them to the requirements of a modern marketplace.”

    And that takes us to today’s changes—the latest segment on what’s been a long road.

    As I explained in the beginning of my remarks, generational change in competition law is here. Finally.

    To bring us back to the analogy of the maple:

    These are new limbs to fill out the figurative tree canopy of competition in Canada. It covers more with the rules and enforcement framework needed to keep pace with the economy of today. But it’s consistent with past principles. These changes are backed by a long tradition of commitment by the Bureau to transparent, evidence-based law enforcement.

    Conclusion

    As I conclude, I want to reiterate that this is a new era of competition enforcement in Canada. Today, we have a law that is significantly stronger, one that finally addresses many of the longstanding inadequacies of the Competition Act.

    As I have stated, we are developing guidance to provide clarity on what these changes will mean for the Bureau and for your clients. And we will want to hear from you to help us refine it.

    However, Canadians’ and Parliamentarians’ message has been clear — they want to see stronger and more active enforcement. These recent amendments have equipped us with the right tools to do just that.

    I want to leave you with a clear takeaway: in this new era you should expect a more aggressive and active enforcer, one that will be using all the tools at our disposal for the benefit of Canadians and the Canadian economy.

    These changes were long overdue, and it is now my role as Commissioner of Competition to see them implemented in a way that meets the high expectations of Canadians and Parliamentarians’.

    So buckle up.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada and Partners Pave Way for Standardized Mental Health and Substance Use Care

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Government of Canada and Partners Pave Way for Standardized Mental Health and Substance Use Care New series of guidance and resources promote equitable access to quality care for all

    New series of guidance and resources promote equitable access to quality care for all

    September 26, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

    Everyone in Canada deserves a health system that provides each of us with access to the services we need, when and where we need them. The availability and types of mental health and substance use supports can vary across Canada, which can lead to inconsistencies in quality and accessibility.

    To help address this challenge, Health Canada commissioned the Standards Council of Canada to coordinate the development of a series of guidelines and resources to promote better understanding, alignment, and integration among mental health and substance use health care providers throughout the country.

    These resources include:

    • Guidance document on Integrated Youth Services (IYS)
    • Report on the integration of Mental Health and Substance Use Health Care services in primary care settings
    • Report on gaps and recommendations related to Mental Health and Substance Use Health Care digital apps
    • Report on integrated Mental Health and Substance Use Health Care services for people with complex needs – with a focus on early psychosis intervention
    • Publicly available specification to formalize substance use health competencies for all prescribers
    • Report on gaps and opportunities for improving substance use health-related withdrawal management services

    This work can inform better care for people across Canada by promoting evidence-based approaches across key mental health and substance use health issues. Recognizing that the delivery of health care is primarily the responsibility of provinces and territories, this work offers mental health and substance use health care providers a collection of principles, guidance, and best practices that they can refer to, learn from, and put into action.

    It will also help guide federal actions in support of positive mental health and substance use health in the future; reduce barriers to care; and address limited front-line workforce capacity.

    Hundreds of Canadians contributed their energy and expertise to this initiative, including people with lived and living experience, Indigenous peoples, clinical experts, service providers, community organizations, family and peer advocates, academics, and more. Health Canada would like to thank everyone who contributed to this important body of work with a special acknowledgement to the Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee, Dr. Carol Hopkins and Dr. Brian Rush, for their leadership and wisdom, which guided this process.

    Yuval Daniel
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks
    Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
    819-360-6927

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Joint statement by Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic, and Joe Biden, President of the United States of America.

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    It is time to reach a settlement on the Israeli-Lebanese border that guarantees security and allows civilians to return to their homes.

    The exchanges of fire that have taken place since October 7, and particularly over the past two weeks, threaten to widen the conflict and harm civilians.

    That is why we have been working together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalation on both sides of the border.

    The declaration we negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar. We call for broad adherence and immediate support from the governments of Israel and Lebanon.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Joint statement by President  Biden and President  Macron

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. We therefore have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border. The statement we have negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar. We call for broad endorsement and for the immediate support of the Governments of Israel and Lebanon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: O2Gold Announces AGM Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — O2Gold Inc. (TSX-V: OTGO) (“O2Gold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the results of its annual and special meeting of shareholders (“AGM”) held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 in Toronto, Canada.

    AGM Results

    The nominees listed in the Company’s management information circular dated August 23, 2024 (the “Circular”), which was mailed to O2Gold shareholders of record as of August 26, 2024, were elected to the board of directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly appointed or elected.

    Nominee Percentage of Votes For Percentage of Votes Against
    Scott Moore 74.90% 25.10%
    Kam Gill 99.93% 0.07%
    Roger Lemaitre 76.20% 23.80%

    A total of 11,067,073 common shares were voted at the AGM, representing approximately 40.33% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company.

    In addition, O2Gold shareholders received the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023, and approved all of the other resolutions detailed in the Circular and put forward at the AGM, namely:

    • Re-appointing McGovern Hurley LLP as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year;
    • Approving the proposed omnibus incentive plan of the Company (the “Omnibus Plan”), to be implemented upon completion of the uplisting of the Company’s common shares from the NEX board of the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) to Tier 2 of the TSXV (the “Uplist”);
    • Re-approving the existing stock option plan of the Company, which will remain in effect if the Uplist is not completed or the Omnibus Plan is otherwise not implemented; and
    • Approving the acquisition of a gold mining exploration property in Quebec through the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding securities of Quebec Aur Ltd. from its shareholders, one of which is a related party (as such term is defined in MI 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions) of the Company.

    The Circular is available under O2Gold’s profile on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.ca.

    About O2Gold

    O2Gold is a mineral exploration company.

    For additional information, please contact:

    Scott Moore, Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: (416) 861-1685
    Email: smoore@miningsm.com

    Cautionary Notes

    Certain of the information contained in this news release may constitute ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including (but not limited to) statements with respect to the election and appointment of directors and the Uplist, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, obtaining regulatory approvals. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

    NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of Canada and the Municipality of the District of Clare invest in the renovation of the Clare Veterans Centre

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Regional Government of Canada – in French 2

    Press release

    Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, July 14, 2023 – Today, Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, and Yvon LeBlanc, Warden of the Municipality of the District of Clare, announced a joint investment of more than $2.9 million to renovate the Clare Veterans Centre in Saulnierville.

    This investment will improve the building’s accessibility, including the addition of a new accessible entry point with a concrete ramp and an interior elevator. It will also install photovoltaic solar panels that will produce renewable energy and reduce operating costs. In addition, the building’s exterior cladding will be re-done with sustainability in mind, and a new façade will be constructed. Inside, numerous renovations and equipment upgrades will be carried out, including the installation of a new heating and cooling system, modernization of electrical systems and lighting, construction of new accessible washrooms, renovation of the kitchen, construction of a cold room, installation of new drywall and application of new paint.

    These improvements are expected to reduce the building’s energy consumption by approximately 31.9% and greenhouse gas emissions by 33.2 tonnes annually. In addition, the improvements will create an accessible environment for users and extend the life of the building, while enhancing its versatility and improving its overall appearance.

    The Clare Veterans Centre in Saulnierville is located in the largest rural Acadian community in Nova Scotia. The centre is widely used by groups from all sectors and demographics. In addition, it hosts many annual events.

    By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country’s economy, increasing the resilience of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.

    Quotes

    “The Government of Canada’s investment will help ensure that the Clare Veterans Centre remains a welcoming and inclusive place for all members of the community. The renovations will allow the community to continue to successfully host cultural events in a comfortable environment. In addition, by reducing the facility’s carbon footprint, this project contributes to provincial and federal climate change mitigation efforts.”

    Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities

    “The upgrade to the Clare Veterans Centre is necessary and well deserved. The building is used daily by residents of the municipality, and I am confident that the planned renovations will be enjoyed by all those who make good use of public space. The planned work will certainly improve the aesthetics of the building, but also more functional elements such as its accessibility and carbon footprint.”

    Yvon LeBlanc, Warden of the Municipality of the District of Clare

    Quick Facts

    Our government is investing $2,356,494 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program. The Municipality of the District of Clare is contributing $589,124.

    The BCVI program aims to improve the places where Canadians work, learn, play, live and gather by reducing pollution, making life more affordable and supporting thousands of good jobs. Through green upgrades and other work to existing public community buildings, and new construction in underserved communities, the BCVI program helps ensure community facilities are inclusive, accessible and have a long lifespan, and help Canada achieve its net-zero emissions targets by 2050.

    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 Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program was created to support Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, and supports the first pillar of the Plan by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and building resilience to climate change. The program provides $1.5 billion over five years for retrofits, repairs or improvements that promote the environment and accessibility.

    The funding announced today is part of the work the Government of Canada is doing under the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create good-paying middle-class jobs, strengthen local economies and build inclusive communities.

    For more information, please consult Infrastructure Canada website.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Jean-Sébastien Comeau Press Secretary and Senior Communications AdvisorOffice of the Honourable Dominic LeBlancMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities343-574-8116Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca

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

    Pam Doucet Director of Community DevelopmentMunicipality of the District of Clare902-769-2031directorcd@munclare.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: Joint Statement in Support of the Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Prime Minister of Canada – in French

    We, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine today and in the future, in times of war and peace. As stated in the Leaders’ Communiqué issued at the G7 Summit in Puglia, together with our international partners, we remain committed to providing Ukraine and the Ukrainian people with military, budgetary, humanitarian and reconstruction support. We are also firmly committed to helping Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs, as well as to supporting its long-term recovery and reconstruction priorities.

    We dispel any misconception that time is on Russia’s side or that Russia could prevail by causing Ukraine’s economic failure. Russia’s war of aggression has caused severe damage to Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Today, we reiterate a range of commitments to neutralize its effects.

    First, under international law, there is no doubt that Russia has a responsibility to pay for the damage it causes. We reaffirm that, in accordance with all applicable laws and our respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in our territories will remain frozen until Russia stops its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

    Second, we commit to using our economic support to help Ukraine maintain macro-financial stability, repair and build critical infrastructure, including in the energy sector, stimulate economic growth, and foster societal resilience and the implementation of priority reforms. This will include, for example, improving the business climate, strengthening the fight against corruption, reforming the judiciary, and promoting the rule of law in the context of the European Union accession process. We will also provide support to Ukraine to promote the timely and transparent absorption of donor funds.

    Third, we continue to jointly implement the decision taken at the G7 Summit in Puglia to establish loans within the framework of the acceleration of the use of extraordinary revenues for Ukraine by the end of the year, in order to make available to Ukraine additional financing of approximately 50 billion US dollars. The servicing and repayment of these loans will be ensured by future flows of extraordinary revenues from the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other administrative territories. Part of this financing will be dedicated to military support for Ukraine. We will maintain our solidarity as part of our commitment to support Ukraine.

    Fourth, we will also continue to deliver on our vision by defining a strategy on Ukraine’s economic recovery and reconstruction, and by coordinating and directing our support in this regard through the Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine. This will include mobilizing private sector contributions, leveraging funds from bilateral sources, the European Union and international financial institutions, and supporting Ukraine’s reform agenda in preparation for its accession to the European Union. We will continue to strengthen Ukraine’s human capital by addressing humanitarian needs and promoting social protection.

    Finally, we will continue to assess and monitor progress against these commitments through the meetings of the Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine and the Ukraine Recovery Conference, the next annual edition of which will be hosted by Italy in 2025.

    In order to implement the above commitments, we will each endeavour to provide Ukraine with targeted bilateral support, in accordance with this Joint Statement and the bilateral security arrangements and agreements negotiated and concluded with Ukraine.

    As for Ukraine, it is committed to implementing its reforms in the areas of economy, justice, anti-corruption, good governance, defense, public administration, public investment management and law enforcement. These reforms are necessary and will be crucial to ensuring long-term support for the country’s reconstruction and recovery.

    Our message is clear: we remain firmly committed to the strategic objective of a free, independent, democratic, and sovereign Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, that is prosperous and capable of defending itself. We emphasize the importance of an inclusive and gender-responsive recovery and the need to address the different needs of women, children, and persons with disabilities, as well as other groups of the population disproportionately affected by Russia’s war of aggression. Through our collective support for Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery, we will ensure that Russia fails in its goal of subjugating Ukraine, and that Ukraine emerges from this war of aggression with a modernized, vibrant, inclusive society and an innovative economy that can withstand Russia’s threats. Other countries wishing to contribute to these efforts to support Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction and recovery are invited to join this joint statement at any time.

    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: Governments of Canada, Nova Scotia and Bayside Development Corporation invest in energy-efficient renovations at Bayside Travel Centre in Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Regional Government of Canada – in French 2

    Press release

    Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, Nova Scotia, July 11, 2023—Today, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy, and Rose Paul, CEO and President of Bayside Corporation, announced joint funding of over $1.6 million for energy-efficient green energy retrofits at the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation’s Bayside Travel Centre.

    The project involves the installation of a direct current microgrid energy system consisting of solar photovoltaic panels, a battery storage system and two electric vehicle fast chargers at the Bayside Travel Centre, owned by the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. By integrating three separate technologies, this project is the first microgrid in Nova Scotia to work together to provide energy services.

    This investment will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,945 tonnes, improve access to electric vehicle chargers and create jobs in the community.

    By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country’s economy, increasing the resilience of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.

    Quotes

    “The Bayside Travel Centre solar microgrid is a significant milestone for Nova Scotia, the Municipality of Antigonish and the Paq’tnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. Green energy projects like this benefit our communities in many ways. They generate clean electricity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create good jobs. This project will play a vital role in combatting climate change and ensuring a clean energy future for Nova Scotia.”

    Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities

    “The Government of Canada is working with Indigenous partners to make investments in clean energy that will create jobs across the country. Today’s investment is a great example of this ambitious action. We are pleased to deploy EV charging stations, batteries and solar panels at the Bayside Travel Centre with the Paq’tnkek Mi’kmaw Nation and our provincial partners.”

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources

    “Our approach to the energy transition must leave no one behind. Today’s announcement will enable the community to reduce emissions while creating good-paying jobs for its members. Investments in climate-friendly solutions like this will create benefits for years to come, for the environment and for Indigenous peoples. Congratulations to the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation for taking this important step.”

    The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services

    “The technology being deployed in Nova Scotia’s renewable energy sector is truly inspiring. The upgrades completed by the Bayside Development Corporation will serve as an example for other organizations in the province looking to move toward a cleaner, greener future.”

    The Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy

    “Developing renewable energy is an example of energy sovereignty and being stewards of the land and resources. Working toward our carbon neutrality goals is an opportunity to be at the forefront of an industry that aligns with our sustainability values while providing social and economic opportunities for our communities.”

    Rose Paul, CEO and President of Bayside Corporation

    Quick Facts

    The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.4 million in this project, the Government of Nova Scotia is investing $200,000 and the Bayside Development Corporation is providing $18,309.

    The Government of Canada’s funding comes from Infrastructure Canada’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Green Infrastructure Stream, Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, and Indigenous Services Canada’s Atlantic Canada Clean Energy Indigenous Economic Development Strategic Partnerships Initiative.

    Federal investments are supporting the development of a coast-to-coast EV charging network along highways, as well as the deployment of chargers in local areas where Canadians live, work and play, with more than 43,600 EV chargers selected to date for funding.

    This green infrastructure component supports the development of greener communities by promoting climate change preparedness, greenhouse gas emission reductions and renewable technologies.

    Including today’s announcement, 63 infrastructure projects or groups of projects have been funded in Nova Scotia under the Green Infrastructure Stream, for a total federal contribution of more than $357 million and a total provincial contribution of nearly $459 million.

    Through the Investing in Canada plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

    Infrastructure Canada helps address the complex challenges Canadians face every day, from rapidly growing cities to climate change to environmental threats to our waters and lands.

    The funding announced today is part of the work the Government of Canada is doing under the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create good-paying middle-class jobs, strengthen local economies and build inclusive communities.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Jean-Sébastien Comeau Press Secretary and Senior Communications AdvisorOffice of the Honourable Dominic LeBlancMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities343-574-8116Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca

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

    Patricia Jreige Communications AdvisorNatural Resources and Renewable Energy902-718-7866Patricia.jreige@novascotia.ca

    Richard Perry Public RelationsBayside Development Corporation902-318-7272rgperry@icloud.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: Media Advisory: Infrastructure Announcement in Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Regional Government of Canada – in French 2

    Media Advisory

    Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, Nova Scotia, July 10, 2023—Members of the media are invited to an infrastructure announcement with Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso; the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy; and Rose Paul, CEO and Chair of Bayside Corporation.

    Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2023

    Time: 11:00 a.m. (ADT)

    Location: Bayside Travel Centre, 86 Bayside Road, Afton Station, NS B0H 1A0

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Kelly Ouimet Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities 343-552-3420 Kelly.Ouimet@iga-aig.gc.ca

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

    Patricia Jreige Communications Advisor Natural Resources and Renewable Energy 902-718-7866 Patricia.jreige@novascotia.ca

    Richard Perry Public Relations Bayside Development Corporation 902-318-7272rgperry@icloud.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 Canada: Joint Declaration of Support for Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine today and in the future, in war and in peace. As stated in the Apulia-G7 Leaders’ Communiqué, together with international partners, we remain determined to provide military, budget, humanitarian, and reconstruction support to Ukraine and its people and are strongly committed to helping Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs and to assisting with Ukraine’s long-term recovery and reconstruction.

    We dispel any false notion that time is on Russia’s side or that Russia can prevail by causing Ukraine to fail economically. Russia’s war of aggression has wrought tremendous damage upon Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Today, we reaffirm a series of commitments to counter its effects.

    First, Russia’s responsibility under international law to pay for the damage it is causing is clear. We reaffirm that, consistent with all applicable laws and our respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

    Second, we commit to use our economic assistance to ensure Ukraine maintains macro-financial stability, to repair and build critical infrastructure including in the energy sector, to boost economic growth, to support social resilience as well as the implementation of priority reforms. These include improving the business climate, strengthening anti-corruption efforts, implementing the justice system reform and promoting of the rule of law within the context of the EU accession process. We will also support Ukraine to ensure rapid and transparent absorption of donor financing.

    Third, we are continuing our joint work to implement the decision made at the G7 Summit in Apulia to launch Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine by the end of the year, in order to make available approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine. The loans will be serviced and repaid by the future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions. Part of these funds will be directed to military assistance to Ukraine. We will maintain solidarity in our commitment to providing this support to Ukraine.

    Fourth, we will continue to pursue our vision also by strategizing, coordinating and steering our support for Ukraine’s economic recovery and reconstruction through the Ukraine Donor Platform. This will include catalyzing private sector contributions as well as leveraging bilateral, European Union, and international financial institution funding, and encouraging Ukraine’s reform agenda in view of the country’s accession path to the EU. We will continue to support Ukraine’s human capital through our ongoing response to humanitarian needs and social protection.

    Finally, we will continue to assess and monitor progress on these commitments through Ukraine Donor Platform meetings and the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference, the next edition of which will be hosted by Italy in 2025.

    In order to implement the above-mentioned commitments, we will each work to provide Ukraine with specific, bilateral support aligned with this joint declaration and with the bilateral security agreements and arrangements that have been negotiated and signed with Ukraine.

    For its part, Ukraine is committed to implementing its economic, judiciary, anti-corruption, corporate governance, defense, public administration, public investment management and law enforcement reforms. These reforms are necessary and will be vital to enabling long-term support for Ukrainian reconstruction and recovery.

    Our message is clear: we remain committed to the strategic objective of a free, independent, democratic and sovereign Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, that is prosperous and able to defend itself. We highlight the importance of an inclusive and gender-responsive recovery and the need to address the different needs of women, children and disabled persons as well as other population groups who have been disproportionately affected by Russia’s war of aggression. Through our collective support for Ukrainian reconstruction and recovery, we will ensure that Russia fails in its objectives to subjugate Ukraine – and that Ukraine emerges from Russia’s war of aggression with a modernized, vibrant, inclusive society and innovative economy, resilient to Russian threats. Other countries that wish to contribute to this effort in support of Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction and recovery may join this Joint Declaration at any time.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Westhaven Announces Brokered Private Placement for Gross Proceeds of Up to C$5.0 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westhaven Gold Corp. (TSX-V:WHN) (“Westhaven” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. (the “Agent”) to act as sole agent and bookrunner in connection with a best efforts, private placement (the “Marketed Offering“) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 from the sale of the following:

    • 10,000,000 units of the Company (each, a “Unit”) at a price of C$0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$1,500,000 from the sale of Units; and
    • gross proceeds of up to C$3,500,000 from the sale of any combination of (i) common shares of the Company that will quality as “flow-through shares” within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a “Traditional FT Share”) at a price of C$0.175 per Traditional FT Share and (ii) flow-through units of the Company to be sold to charitable purchasers (each, a “Charity FT Unit”, and collectively with the Units and Traditional FT Shares, the “Offered Securities”) at a price of C$0.22 per Charity FT Unit.

    Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a “Unit Share”) and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Charity FT Unit will consist of one Traditional FT Share and one half of one Warrant. Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a “Warrant Share”) at a price of C$0.22 at any time on or before that date which is 24 months after the closing date of the Offering (as defined below).

    The Agent will have an option, exercisable in full or in part, up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional C$1,000,000 in any combination of Units, Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units at their respective offering prices (the “Agents’ Option” and together with the Marketed Offering, the “Offering”).

    Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106”), those Units, Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units representing gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 (the “LIFE Securities”) will be offered for sale to purchasers in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan (the “Canadian Selling Jurisdictions”) pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the “Listed Issuer Financing Exemption”). The Unit Shares, Traditional FT Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable pursuant to the sale of the LIFE Securities are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. The Units may also be sold in offshore jurisdictions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “U.S. Securities Act“), as amended.

    Any Units and Charity FT Units sold in excess of gross proceeds of C$5,000,000 as well as the Traditional FT Shares (collectively, the “Non-LIFE Securities”) will be offered by way of the “accredited investor” and “minimum amount investment” exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Canadian Selling Jurisdictions, or in the case of the Units, also in offshore jurisdictions and the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The Unit Shares, Traditional FT Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable from the sale of Non-LIFE Securities will be subject to a hold period ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the closing date of the Offering under applicable Canadian securities laws.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Units for working capital and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Traditional FT Shares and the Charity FT Units will be used for Canadian exploration expenses on the Company’s mineral projects in British Columbia and will qualify as “flow-through mining expenditures”, as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “Qualifying Expenditures”), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2025 and renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024 in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units.

    The Offering is scheduled to close on or around October 15, 2024, or such other date as the Company and the Agent may agree, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

    The Company will pay to the Agent a cash commission of 6% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering (the “Agents’ Commission”). In addition, the Company will issue to the Agent warrants of the Company (each warrant, a “Broker Warrant”), exercisable for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date, to acquire in aggregate that number of common shares of the Company which is equal to 6% of the number of Offered Securities sold under the Offering at an exercise price equal to C$0.15 per Common Share.

    There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company’s profile at http://www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company’s website at http://www.westhavengold.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

    To the extent that any directors and/or officers the Company participate in the Offering, such participation will constitute a “related party transaction” within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101“). The Company expects any participation by directors and officers in the Offering will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 based on the fact that neither the fair market value of the Units, Traditional FT Shares or Charity FT Units subscribed for by directors and officers, nor the consideration for such securities to be paid by them, will exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.

    The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, as amended, or any state securities law, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    On behalf of the Board of Directors

    WESTHAVEN GOLD CORP.

    “Gareth Thomas”

    Gareth Thomas, President, CEO & Director

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

    About Westhaven Gold Corp.

    Westhaven is a gold-focused exploration company advancing the high-grade discovery on the Shovelnose project in Canada’s newest gold district, the Spences Bridge Gold Belt. Westhaven controls 60,950 hectares (609.5 square kilometres) with four gold properties spread along this underexplored belt. The Shovelnose property is situated off a major highway, near power, rail, large producing mines, and within commuting distance from the city of Merritt, which translates into low-cost exploration. Westhaven trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol WHN. For further information, please call 604-681-5558 or visit Westhaven’s website at http://www.westhavengold.com

    Forward Looking Statements:

    This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws, which is based upon the Company’s current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company’s expectations with respect to the Offering; the use of proceeds of the Offering; completion of the Offering and the date of such completion. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “potential”, “is expected”, “anticipated”, “is targeted”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.

    Forward-looking information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, and without limitation: that the Offering may not close within the timeframe anticipated or at all or may not close on the terms and conditions currently anticipated by the Company for a number of reasons including, without limitation, as a result of the occurrence of a material adverse change, disaster, change of law or other failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Offering; the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to complete its planned exploration program; that the Company will not derive the expected benefits from its current program; the Company may not use the proceeds of the Offering as currently contemplated; the Company may fail to find a commercially viable deposit at any of its mineral properties; the Company’s plans may be adversely affected by the Company’s reliance on historical data compiled by previous parties involved with its mineral properties; mineral exploration and development are inherently risky industries; the mineral exploration industry is intensely competitive; additional financing may not be available to the Company when required or, if available, the terms of such financing may not be favourable to the Company; fluctuations in the demand for gold or gold prices generally; the Company may not be able to identify, negotiate or finance any future acquisitions successfully, or to integrate such acquisitions with its current business; the Company’s exploration activities are dependent upon the grant of appropriate licenses, concessions, leases, permits and regulatory consents, which may be withdrawn or not granted; the Company’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; there is no guarantee that title to the properties in which the Company has a material interest will not be challenged or impugned; the Company faces various risks associated with mining exploration that are not insurable or may be the subject of insurance which is not commercially feasible for the Company; the volatility of global capital markets over the past several years has generally made the raising of capital more difficult; inflationary cost pressures may escalate the Company’s operating costs; compliance with environmental regulations can be costly; social and environmental activism can negatively impact exploration, development and mining activities; the success of the Company is largely dependent on the performance of its directors and officers; the Company’s operations may be adversely affected by First Nations land claims; the Company and/or its directors and officers may be subject to a variety of legal proceedings, the results of which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business; the Company may be adversely affected if potential conflicts of interests involving its directors and officers are not resolved in favour of the Company; the Company’s future profitability may depend upon the world market prices of gold; dilution from future equity financing could negatively impact holders of the Company’s securities; failure to adequately meet infrastructure requirements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business; the Company’s projects now or in the future may be adversely affected by risks outside the control of the Company; the Company is subject to various risks associated with climate change, the Company is subject to general global risks arising from epidemic diseases, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising inflation and interest rates and the impact they will have on the Company’s operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, supplies, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all is uncertain; as well as other risk factors in the Company’s other public filings available at http://www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in the Company’s expectations, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this offering document is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Oil and gas is alive and well, Minister Wilkinson: Minister Jean

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    “It is a shame that the federal energy minister is so misinformed when it comes to the future of oil and gas in Canada and around the world.

    “Wilkinson falsely claimed that oil and gas will be peaking this year, that the market is inevitably declining and that making more investments in this industry, supporting it and defending it will allegedly make Canada poorer.

    “We shouldn’t be surprised that this comes from a government whose anti-energy and anti-development policies broke Canada.

    “Let us be absolutely clear, Alberta’s government remains committed to increasing oil and gas production. Small, medium and large companies are actively investing in oil and gas growth all across our province to reach this target.

    “The demand for Alberta’s oil is only growing and reached record production in July. Alberta has recently developed new markets in Asia. Millions of people die every year from energy poverty. To kill the oil and gas industry would be to condemn developing countries to energy poverty.

    “It is Alberta’s responsibility to meet this demand.

    “All reputable international forecasters predict this growth to continue for years to come. Alberta’s oil and gas sector is driving Canada’s economy, and we will continue to defend the sector by any means possible.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Challenges Ukraine Narrative, Blasts Biden-Harris Administration for Prolonging the War

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    “The Biden-Harris Administration needs to negotiate a peace agreement now . . . or there will be disastrous consequences coming in the very near future”
    WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) delivered a floor speech criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for prolonging the unwinnable war in Ukraine at the expense of American taxpayers. Sen. Tuberville also discussed why the history of NATO is inconvenient for the Biden-Harris administration’s narrative. In the speech, Sen. Tuberville highlighted that Ukraine is becoming desperate, which could have dire consequences.
    Read the speech below or watch it here.
    “Mr. President, 
    I rise today to talk about the un-winnable war in Ukraine, which has already cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. 
    Now, anyone who dares question the Uni-Party’s narrative on the war in Ukraine is obviously going to get criticized. That’s OK. The media has been complicit in pushing this narrative. Think about [it]: when was the last time you saw live footage on the ground in Ukraine? It’s rare because Ukraine is losing and is losing badly.
    This comes after we just gave Ukraine $60 billion dollars more of taxpayer money earlier this year to prolong this war. 
    I see President Zelensky, a Uni-Party puppet, is here begging, begging for more money on [the] campaign trail with Kamala Harris. It feels like he’s here every other month demanding more and more taxpayer money. That’s because he knows that the money spigot will cut off if Kamala Harris doesn’t win in November.
    Look, this subject is too important to go unaddressed. Over the last several months, I’ve asked multiple high-ranking members of the Biden-Harris administration to articulate what it is trying to accomplish in Ukraine. Just tell us. Tell us what it will cost and how we plan to achieve these results. Basically, I’m asking: what is our game plan? Not one official in this administration has answered my questions clearly. Not one. 
    One of the most interesting responses I received was from Secretary Austin himself, Secretary of Defense. He says, ‘We want to see Ukraine remain a sovereign, independent and democratic state that has the ability to defend itself in its territory and deter aggression.’ Ok. Secretary Austin continued, stating that it is the administration’s goal to bring Ukraine into NATO while simultaneously blaming Russia for NATO’s past expansion. 
    Now, here’s when the DC establishment really, really gets upset. I’m going to review a few undeniable facts about NATO’s history. Predictably, the Uni-Party will accuse me of spewing Russian propaganda. But these are the facts and that’s what we have to go by. We can’t shy away from them. 
    NATO was formed 75 years ago in 1949 as a defensive alliance to counter the communist Soviet Union. It was wildly successful in that it maintained peace through deterrence throughout the cold war. NATO helped us win the Cold War and dissolve [the] communist Soviet Union. When the Cold War ended in 1991, Ukraine instantly became the world’s third-largest nuclear power. Ukraine. Following a series of negotiations, Ukrainians agreed to give up their nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees from both Russia and NATO. Territorial integrity and political independence.
    These efforts were successful because they included assurances by many, many heads of state, including our own, that would no up-eastward expansion of NATO towards Russia would ever happen. It was over. At that time, there were 16 NATO members. Today, 33 years later, after this agreement, there are 32 NATO members. Even though in 1991 we agreed to no more eastward expansion, we broke the agreement. We, NATO and the United States. NATO has expanded eastward seven times since that agreement in 1991. The largest expansion in 2004 included two countries that share a border with Russia: Estonia and Latvia. Today, NATO includes three countries that border Russia. Six NATO members are former Warsaw Pact members. The bulk of this expansion happened before Russia annexed Crimea and invaded part of Ukraine in 2014.
    Again, these are all the facts. All play a part in the NATO story and Russia’s response to it. Here’s another fact: NATO’s expansion was on NATO’s terms, separate and apart from any Russian input or activity. Let me read that again. NATO expansion was on NATO’s terms, separate and apart from any Russian input or activity—contrary to Secretary Austin’s claims. Ask yourself: How would the U.S. react if China or Russia entered a mutual defense organization with Mexico or Canada? How would we react? What if they started basing troops or participating in military exercises just miles from our homeland?
    Having covered a brief history of NATO, let’s ask logical follow-up questions that we should always ask before involving ourselves in any armed conflict. First, how far are we willing to take this proxy war with Russia? How far are we? Did we think about that before we got into this? Are we [as] committed to winning as Russia’s President is? Vladimir Putin? Are we committed to winning? What happens if the momentum turns? What happens if it turns against Ukraine and Russia starts making real gains, as it appears is happening today. Will the U.S. send more taxpayer money? More weapons? Will NATO send troops? Will the United States send troops? What’s the plan? 
    War is a serious business. We should understand that by now. You don’t half-ass your way into one and certainly don’t half-ass your way out of one. That doesn’t seem to resonate around here.
    Since the Russian offensive began, we have sent more than one $174 billion taxpayer dollars to Ukraine, one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Recently, the Biden-Harris administration announced their intent, their intent, to send an additional $700 million taxpayer dollars to Ukraine in cash. Are you kidding me? Why on earth would we give cash to the most corrupt country on the face of the planet? 
    So, after all that, after the last two and a half years of funding billions of taxpayer dollars, getting hundreds of thousands of people killed, what do we have to show for it? The war has only gotten worse. Hundreds of thousands are dead. Ukraine is becoming more desperate, as its forces are [experiencing] widespread insubordination and even mass desertion. We don’t hear that on TV. We don’t hear that in this propaganda media. Over six million Ukrainians have fled the country, have run, have left their country.
    Ukraine is playing with fire, now seeking to conduct offensive operations deep inside Russia. Why? You can’t win. Most recently, Ukraine launched a drone attack that struck in Moscow. What are we trying to do— start World War III? Most recently, Ukraine launched a drone attack that struck several other office buildings in Moscow. Adding to the uncertainty of this situation, this administration’s current policy towards Ukraine has all the hallmarks of every Biden-Harris foreign policy decision that has preceded it: weak planning, disastrous results, zero leadership. This administration never considered the consequences of Ukraine losing. How can that ever happen?
    This is really sad. It’s sad for the United States of America. It’s sad for the taxpayers. It’s sad for our military. It’s sad for our allies and it’s sad for NATO. Some of [his] Democratic colleagues have said, ‘Joe Biden never made a correct decision in foreign policy in forty years.’ Well, he hadn’t broke that. 
    Biden-Harris administration has dumped billions of dollars also into the lap of Iran. Removed the terrorist designation from the Houthis, who by the way, we’re fighting against right now, but they’re ‘not terrorists.’ Alienated one of our most important friends, Saudi Arabia. And they’ve executed the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal that unnecessarily cost the lives of Americans. All this weakness was a direct signal to our adversaries: ‘Now is the time to make your move.’ And that’s exactly what our adversaries China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea are doing.
    China today tested another ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. They’re preparing. Russia now has pounced on Ukraine. Whatever you hear in the media, it’s not true. It is a slaughter. Iran has released its proxies and terrorized the Middle East. Our ally Israel is fighting for its life against Hamas following the gruesome October 7th attack almost a year ago. The Houthis, the Houthis, are a bunch of people that live in the mountains, have been emboldened to attack ships, which has negatively impacted global trade. We can’t even beat the Houthis and we’re trying to create more wars. China has stepped up its aggression in the China Sea. We’re losing influence across the globe, especially in South America and Africa where the Chinese and the Russians are taking over. We’re leaving leaps and bounds.
    So, let’s be very clear. Despite the administration’s incompetence, I still believe Putin was wrong to invade Ukraine. I think we all do. He should have withdrawn his forces immediately after it started. Putin is responsible for his actions, and he has made no secret of the fact that he sees Ukraine as historically a part of Russia. 
    At the same time, I do not think that Ukraine’s border is more important than ours—not even close—which we have been completely […] neglecting the last three and a half years.
    We have been overrun, [at the] southern border, northern border, and from airplanes all over the world flying into our cities. It’s an embarrassment.
    We do not need the administration to enable Ukraine to use offensive weapons and strike deep into Russia. That cannot happen. We are on the cusp of a nuclear war. Nobody seems concerned: ‘It won’t happen.’ Yes, it will happen. Putin has told us it will happen if you continue this. This would only escalate this conflict to an entirely new level that none of us can ever imagine. Do you think this offensive would convince Putin to come to the table and negotiate a peace agreement? Well, I would hope we would go, but we do not seem to want to make a peace agreement. We had better and we’d better do it in the very near future. This will provoke him to [use] even more deadly weapons if we continue to attack within their borders, costing more and more lives. NATO and the U.S. would be forced to respond as a result. We’re trying to create a war. 
    We must consider these questions thoroughly before we involve ourselves in another one of these crazy conflicts that should never happen. Improvising won’t cut it. Now is the time for the U.S. to lead and negotiate a peace to the end of this bloody war. I keep hearing people say, ‘well, we’re building equipment for our military.’ Yeah, right. Or our men and women are not losing their lives. We’re getting close to it. We’re getting very close.
    Now look, I come from a military state in the state of Alabama. We build everything. We have thousands of troops. I want it to be well-funded and well-equipped if we ever have to fight a war. We need a lethal killing machine to deter other aggression. That’s what a military is about. This is not about defunding our military. I want our military laser-focused on protecting Americans and not woke DEI initiatives. And it’s not about abandoning our allies either. We need to support our allies.
    It’s about this administration funding a proxy war with no plan, zero, no plan on how to stop it, or how to win it. The Biden-Harris administration needs to negotiate a peace agreement now. Immediately, or there will be huge, disastrous consequences coming in the very near future. 
    Mr. President, I yield floor.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Action against Afghanistan over violations of human rights of women and girls

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Australia will join Germany, Canada and the Netherlands to take unprecedented action to hold Afghanistan to account under international law for the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.

    This action is being brought against Afghanistan for violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which Afghanistan is a party.

    We urge Afghanistan to participate in negotiations, as provided for under the Convention.

    Australia is strongly committed to protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls at home and around the world.

    Today we were united with partners from all regions of the world on the importance of strong international action in response to the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.

    The Taliban has demonstrated contempt for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan, through a campaign of sustained and systematic oppression.

    This includes denying girls their right to education and attempting to erase women from public life.

    We will not stand by and allow the situation in Afghanistan to become a ‘new normal’.

    We have heard the calls of Afghan women and we are committed to defending their human rights and amplifying their voices.

    The participation of women and girls in society is essential to achieving peaceful societies and sustainable development.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO | Braun to Novo Nordisk CEO: “Why are Americans paying more for the same drug?”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Mike Braun (Indiana)

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Braun questioned Novo Nordisk CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Tuesday about the high prices of the company’s weight loss drug, Ozempic, in the United States.

    “This has everything to do with a system that’s broken with no transparency, no competition, barriers to entry, and by the way a consumer who doesn’t have the tools to really measure what the best value is.”—Sen. Mike Braun

    Partial Transcript of Senator Braun’s questions:

    Braun: “Are you making a profit on your Ozempic product when you’re selling it to Australia for $87 and you’re selling to the U.S. for $936? Are you making a profit at $87?

    Jørgensen: “Yes, we are and the price you mentioned in the U.S. is not what we get. That’s the list price.

    Braun: “So what are you getting in the U.S.? What price?”

    Jørgensen: “So I mentioned that on average for our products we give 74% in rebates to PBMs.”

    Braun: “And that was the chart that Senator Marshall held up that PBMs are making 74% and you’re getting 26%. So, you’ve got a screwed-up industry. Number one, when I’ve talked to other pharma folks, they regret that PBMs ever came into it. It would seem like since you make the product, that you could disassemble them or do something to go around it, if in fact this place won’t do something about it. Have you ever thought of that?”

    Jørgensen: “It’s very difficult Senator because they control what insurance is put in front of patients so they have integrated themselves with insurance companies and we negotiate against the PBMs, but they’re owned by the insurance companies so no matter what we do, they decide what products—”

    Braun: “Okay- and that’s kind of the conundrum, but you’re making a profit at $87 and of the $936, it would be the list price? Is that total being split between you and the PBM? I know you give big discounts to the PBM. Why do give them such large discounts for them to make that much money?”

    Jørgensen: “On this we have a high list price and give them rebates, we are not making it onto the insurance formulary. So, they make a fee based on the list price, you mentioned distribution, they don’t get a flat fee for the distribution.”

    Braun: “So, after you give the discounts, and you do everything, what is your revenue on Ozempic, roughly?”

    Jørgensen: “I don’t have that number from the top of my head.”

    Braun: “That is something that ought to be on the top of your head because most of us would want to see that so you could make the case against PBMs. That basic lack of transparency, that to me comes from the top, that cloaks the system, in general, is what is impacting the future of why in our own country it is 18% of our GDP and from Canada and Europe it is 12% of their GDP, Eastern Europe it is 6 to 7 %. And yes, rationing is maybe going to be one of the results, but it should never be to where something is going to cost that much more here versus there when you’re making a profit on it. Until you figure that out, everyone is going to think your industry is screwed up.”

    Senator Braun is the leader in the Senate on reforming PBMs and lowering drug prices through transparency:

    • Senator Braun’s landmark transparency legislation – the Health Care PRICE Transparency Act – would reveal all negotiated rates and cash prices between plans and providers so Americans can know the true cost of health care services before they pan, bringing down prices.
    • Senator Braun’s Drug Price Transparency Act would end the broken PBM system by requiring insurers and PBMs to pass rebates directly to consumers enrolled in commercial health plans and Medicare Part D. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate HSGAC Advances Legislation to Strengthen Northern Border Security, Rename Casselton Post Office

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here to download audio.***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) held a markup today for two pieces of legislation U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) helped shepherd. They are the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act and legislation to rename the post office in Casselton as the “Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office.” The committee unanimously advanced both pieces of legislation, which will now head to the Senate floor for consideration. 

    Cramer, co-chair of the American-Canadian Economy and Security (ACES) Caucus, joined U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in introducing the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act last week. The bill marks a significant milestone in efforts to secure the U.S.-Canada border.

    “Our steadfast alliance with Canada has long been a cornerstone of both economic and national security,” said Cramer. “The U.S.-Canada relationship is defined by more than just geography; it is built on an enduring trust, mutual respect, and a shared responsibility to address global and domestic challenges. With this being the world’s longest border, it’s crucial we remain vigilant in addressing emerging threats and challenges. The advancement of this legislation brings us one step closer to ensuring the dependability and safety of our shared border for the families and communities who live on both sides.”    

    The Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act represents the latest in a long history of border management, trade, and joint security cooperation between the two countries. This legislation requires an updated northern border threat analysis every three years, starting on September 2, 2025. The analysis will include an assessment of apprehension changes at the northern border, with a focus on recent trends in both the volume and demographics of apprehensions at the sector level. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is required to update its Northern Border Strategy by September 2, 2026, and every five years thereafter.

    The legislation will also implement a 2019 U.S. Government Accountability Office recommendation for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop performance measures assessing the effectiveness of its programs. This will ensure the resources and strategies deployed are rigorously measured and continuously improved to meet the demands of a dynamic security environment.

    Cramer’s leadership in the ACES Caucus, which he co-launched in June 2023 with U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), underscores the long-standing partnership between the U.S. and Canada. Earlier this year, Cramer and King introduced a resolution reaffirming the “deep and steadfast United States-Canada partnership” and the commitment to mutual economic and national security interests.  

    In May, the North Dakota delegation introduced legislation in the House and Senate to designate the United States Postal Service facility at 840 Front Street in Casselton as the “Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office.” 

    “This tribute is a testament to the profound bond between Commander Olson and the Casselton community, a solemn promise that his extraordinary contributions will forever be remembered,” said Cramer.

    Commander Olson served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He earned multiple awards for his service, including the Navy Commendation Medal with valor, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon Bar. His name is also inscribed along with all fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

    This legislation will memorialize his distinguished service and ultimate sacrifice, while recognizing his connection to Casselton and his heroic contributions to the nation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of Canada and the Ahousaht, Ehattesaht/Chinekint, Hesquiaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations (the Five Nations) sign an unprecedented progressive reconciliation agreement on fisheries resources

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    September 25, 2024

    Vancouver Island, British Columbia – Reconciliation and co-management are essential in efforts to rebuild salmon populations and create sustainable fisheries. The Government of Canada and the Ahousaht, Ehattesaht/Chinekint, Hesquiaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations (the Five Nations) are committed to working together to advance collaborative governance processes for fisheries resources.

    Today, on behalf of the Government of Canada, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, was pleased to join the Five Nations in announcing a path forward by signing the Progressive Fisheries Reconciliation Agreement (the Agreement). This two-year funding agreement provides the framework for an effective and collaborative approach to the governance, management, and planning of the Five Nations’ fisheries resources. The Agreement recognizes that the Five Nations, through their respective Ha’wiih (hereditary leaders) and elected leaders, have a role to play in managing fisheries in their territories.

    The Agreement also provides funding to the Five Nations for implementation, capacity building, and acquisition of access to commercial fisheries. It establishes the mechanisms for a community-based economic fisheries plan, including shared goals and objectives to support the development of healthy, self-sustaining, and sustainable fisheries for the Five Nations that will contribute to the local and Canadian economy.

    The Government of Canada is committed to renewing its relationship with Indigenous peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. Through agreements such as the Progressive Fisheries Reconciliation Agreement, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is actively working to advance reconciliation and address the fisheries losses suffered by the Five Nations.

    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: Government of Canada and Ahousaht, Ehattesaht/Chinekint, Hesquiaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tla-o-qui-aht (the five Nations) Sign Groundbreaking Incremental Reconciliation Agreement on Fisheries Resources

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    September 25, 2024

    Vancouver Island, British Columbia – Reconciliation and joint management are essential in the effort to restore salmon populations and create sustainable fisheries. The Government of Canada and the Ahousaht, Ehattesaht/Chinekint, Hesquiaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations (the five Nations) are committed to working together to advance collaborative governance processes for fisheries resources.

    Today, on behalf of the Government of Canada, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, was pleased to join the five Nations in announcing a path forward with the signing of the Incremental Reconciliation Agreement for Fisheries Resources (IRAFR). This two-year funding agreement provides the framework for an effective and collaborative approach to governance, management and planning of the five Nations’ fisheries resources. The agreement recognizes that the five Nations, through their respective Ha’wiih (hereditary leadership) and elected leadership, have a role in the management of fisheries in their territories.

    The IRAFR also provides funding to the five Nations for implementation, capacity building and to acquire commercial fishing access. It sets out mechanisms for a Community-Based Economic Fishery plan, including shared goals and objectives to support the development of healthy, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries for the five Nations that will contribute to the local and Canadian economy.

    The Government of Canada is committed to renewed relationships with Indigenous peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. Through agreements like the IRAFR, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is actively working to achieve reconciliation and redress for losses experienced by the five Nations in the fisheries.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Whitehorse — Whitehorse RCMP make arrests relating to a break, enter and theft of firearms

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 23, 2024 RCMP alerted the public to police activity in the downtown area of Fourth Avenue, Strickland and Black Street. Police were investigating a break, enter and theft from a local business. As a result, two men were arrested and charged with multiple offences.

    On September 23rd, 2024 at 5:17am, Whitehorse RCMP were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision in the Porter Creek subdivision. Initial information provided to police was a vehicle had backed into G and R Pawn Shop. Investigation determined the collision was deliberate in order to facilitate a break and enter to the business and firearms were believed to have been stolen. The vehicle, which was still on scene, was seized and the Forensic Identification Section attended the crime scene. RCMP determined the vehicle used to smash into the building was stolen.

    Police located the perpetrators at a location downtown and cordoned off the area. A hold and secure was requested for schools and daycares in the area out of an abundance of caution and the public was asked to avoid the area so that the police could conduct their investigation.

    Whitehorse RCMP with the assistance of multiple divisional units including the Critical Incident Program safely arrested two males. The firearms stolen from the pawn shop were recovered. Christopher Darryl Munch (47 years old) and Robert Martin Suffesick (37 years old) were jointly charged with possession of property obtained by crime less than $5000, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle and unsafe storage of firearm.

    Christopher Munch has been charged with weapon contrary to order, two counts of fail to comply with a release order and possession of a firearm when knowing its possession is unauthorized. At the time of his arrest Mr. Munch had three outstanding un-endorsed warrants which were executed.

    Both individuals appeared in court September 24 and Mr. Munch was held for a court appearance on October 2, and Mr. Suffesick was release for a subsequent court appearance October 2.

    Police continue to investigate this matter. Please contact Whitehorse RCMP if you have any information regarding this crime.

    You can report a crime to the police at 867-667-5555. To remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1 (800) 222-8477 or online at https://www.crimestoppersyukon.ca/

    Police would like to again thank the public for their cooperation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Edmonton and Yellowknife return from successful Operation CARIBBE

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    September 25, 2024 – Esquimalt, BC – Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Today, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Edmonton and Yellowknife returned to their homeport of Esquimalt, British Columbia, after a successful seven-week deployment on Operation CARIBBE.

    During this deployment, on September 5, 2024, HMCS Yellowknife, working closely with the United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, intercepted a drug smuggling vessel. This interception, conducted approximately 430 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,400 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $60 million (Canadian).

    Operation CARIBBE is Canada’s contribution to the enhanced counter-narcotics operations led by the United States through the Joint Interagency Task Force – South, which is responsible for conducting international and interagency detection and surveillance operations and facilitating the interdiction of illicit trafficking. This operation is one of many activities undertaken by the Government of Canada to disrupt transnational criminal activity at sea and help keep drugs off Canadian streets.

    Quotes

    “The performance of HMC Ships Edmonton and Yellowknife on Operation CARIBBE was exceptional and brought great credit to Canada’s Pacific Fleet. The skill and professionalism of both crews, in joint operations with our American allies, resulted in the seizure of tens of millions of dollars worth of dangerous narcotics. This impressive seizure clearly demonstrates how the Canadian Navy contributes to the overall security of Canadians. Welcome home and congratulations, you have earned it.”

    – Rear Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commander, Maritime Forces Pacific

    “I would like to thank the crews of HMCS Edmonton and Yellowknife, as well as the embarked team from the US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment who deployed with us. We are proud of our contribution to the multinational effort to stem the flow of illicit drugs into North America. Through our collaborative efforts, we have helped enhance the safety and security of Canada.”

    – Lieutenant-Commander Tyson Babcock, Commanding Officer of HMCS Yellowknife

    Quick Facts

    HMCS Edmonton and Yellowknife are Kingston-class coastal defence vessels designed for surveillance and patrol of coastal waters.

    The Royal Canadian Navy has been conducting Operation CARIBBE since November 2006 and remains committed to working with partners in the Western Hemisphere and Europe to address security challenges in the region and disrupt illicit trafficking operations.

    Each year, Canada, working closely with partner countries, intercepts and seizes millions of dollars worth of illicit drugs and plays a major role in stemming trafficking in international waters. In doing so, Canada helps control and disrupt drug trafficking in international waters near South and Central America.

    Related products

    Related links

    Contact persons

    Maritime Forces Pacific Public AffairsPhone: 250-363-5789 or 250-888-6775Email: ESQPACIFICNAVYPUBLICAFFAIRS@forces.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 USA: Haiti Caucus and Tri-Caucus Statement on False and Dangerous Rhetoric About Haitian Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), along with Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Steven Horsford (NV-04), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán (CA-44), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Judy Chu (CA-28), issued the following statement condemning the false and dangerous lies about Haitian, Latino, and Asian immigrants.

    “We, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, stand united in condemning the false, hateful, and dangerous rhetoric directed at Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. These disgraceful lies, perpetuated by Donald Trump, Senator J.D. Vance, and Republicans, are not only rooted in xenophobia, racism, and anti-Blackness, but are also the latest attempt by Republicans to sow division and fear within our communities and distract from their deeply unpopular agenda.

    “These lies target some of the most vulnerable among us — individuals and families fleeing violence, instability, and humanitarian crises in search of a better life. Our Haitian neighbors, including our Latino and Asian families, who have come to the United States, seek safety and opportunity, and the contributions they make to our cultural and economic fabric are endless. To demonize and dehumanize them with baseless accusations puts their lives at risk and is an affront to everything we stand for as a nation.

    “To be clear: these lies have had very real consequences. Haitian families in Springfield and across the country are living in fear, facing harassment, and facing bomb threats. Children lie awake at night not knowing if they’ll be safe come morning, and parents are consumed with worry for their babies’ safety. We’ve seen this tired playbook before, and we will not stand for it.

    “If you come for one of us, you come for all of us. As leaders of the Haiti Caucus, CBC, CHC, and CAPAC, we stand in solidarity with Haitian immigrants and all of our families who have been unjustly targeted. We urge our colleagues to reject this vile rhetoric and instead advance policies that affirm the dignity and humanity of all people, starting with our most vulnerable.”

    As Representative for the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District, Congresswoman Pressley serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country, with approximately 46,000 Haitians and Haitian-Americans living across the state and over half in the Boston metropolitan area. Additionally, Massachusetts is home to more than 4,700 Haitians with Temporary Protected Status.

    • On September 20, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs joined colleagues and advocates at a press conference to stand in solidarity with Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio and across America, and to demand accountability for the harmful and false narratives perpetuated by Republicans.
    • On June 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden-Harris Administration’s extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). 
    • On April 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley, alongside Co-Chairs Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), led a group of 50 lawmakers urging the Biden Administration to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pause on deportations back to Haiti, extend humanitarian parole to any Haitians currently detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention centers, end detention of Haitian migrants intercepted at sea, and provide additional humanitarian assistance for Haiti.
    • On April 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs led a letter to House Ways and Means Committee leadership emphasizing support for the early renewal of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts, commonly known as HOPE/HELP. 
    • On April 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian-led activists, organizations, and a directly impacted person in Haiti for a press call urging federal action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
    • On March 27, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and her colleagues on the Massachusetts congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to expedite visa processing for Haitians, particularly  for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
    • On March 18, Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and the House Haiti Caucus led 67 lawmakers on a letter urging the Biden Administration to extend TPS for Haiti and halt deportations.
    • On March 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Cherfilus McCormick and Yvette Clarke issued a statement on the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
    • On March 6, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the recent jailbreak and State of Emergency in Haiti.
    • On December 8, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke urged the U.S. Department of State to withdraw U.S. support for an armed foreign intervention in Haiti and encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition.
    • On December 6, 2022, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden Administration’s extension and re-designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
    • On December 1, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Cori Bush, and Rep. Mondaire Jones led 14 of their colleagues on a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Velázquez led 54 of their colleagues on a letter calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and provide humanitarian parole protections for those seeking asylum. The lawmakers’ letter followed the Administration’s resumption of deportation flights to Haiti as thousands of Haitian migrants continue to await an opportunity to make an asylum claim at the border. 
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues on the House Oversight Committee in demanding answers regarding the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback and pushing to Biden Administration to end the ongoing use and weaponization of Title 42.
    • On August 17, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings, Yvette Clarke, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), called on President Biden to appoint a new Special Envoy to Haiti, a position that has remained unfilled since September 2021.
    • On July 7, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Andy Levin (MI-09), Val Demings (FL-10) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
    • On May 31, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Reverend Dieufort Fleurissaint, chair of Haitian Americans United, published an op-ed in the Bay State Banner in which they called on the Biden administration to withdraw support for de facto ruler of Haiti, Ariel Henry, and instead support an inclusive, civil society-led process to restore stability and democracy on the island. 
    • In April 2022, she joined her colleagues at a press conference reaffirming her support for President Biden’s decision to end Title 42. Full video of her remarks at the press conference is available here. Rep. Pressley applauded the Biden Administration’s end of Title 42 in a statement in April 2022.
    • On May 26, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24), led a letter to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power urging her to act to ensure food security in Haiti.
    • On March 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Mondaire Jones called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky to fully end Title 42, cease deportations of people to Haiti and affirm their legal and fundamental human right to seek asylum.
    • On February 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 100 House and Senate colleagues in urging President Biden to reverse inhumane immigration policies – such as Title 42, originally introduced under the Trump Administration – that continue to disproportionately harm Black migrants.
    • On February 14, 2022, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more.
    • On February 14, 2022, Reps. Pressley, Judy Chu (CA-27), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to CDC Director Walensky demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more. Days later, Rep. Pressley once again called on the Biden Administration to reverse the Title 42 Order and other anti-Black immigration policies.
    • On January 12, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), and Val Demings (FL-10) released a statement on the 12-year anniversary of the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.
    • On November 21, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren led the Massachusetts congressional delegation on a letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) calling on them to coordinate with the government agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist newly arrived families from Haiti. 
    • On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley, and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings (FL-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Andy Levin (MI-09) issued a statement following the kidnapping of American and Canadian missionaries in Haiti.
    • On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the civil rights complaint filed by Haitian families demanding a federal investigation into the heinous actions perpetrated by federal officials at the border.
    • On October 22, 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), sent a letter to Troy A. Miller, the Acting Administrator of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), demanding a briefing and answers regarding press reports of the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback. 
    • On September 17, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) led 52 of their colleagues calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and take urgent action to address the concerns of the Haitian Diaspora after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti.
    • On August 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) released a statement regarding the recent earthquake in Haiti.
    • On July 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling on him to take a series of steps to support the Haitian diaspora amid ongoing political turmoil in Haiti.
    • In July 2021, the Reps. Pressley, Clarke, Demings and Levin issued a statement condemning the assassination of President Moïse and calling for swift and decisive action to bring political stability and peace to Haiti and the Haitian people.
    • In May 2021, on Haitian Flag Day, Reps. Pressley, Levin, Clarke and Demings announced the formation of the House Haiti Caucus, a Congressional caucus dedicated to pursuing a just foreign policy that puts the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people first.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Chilkoot Way Road Improvements in Whitehorse

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    Whitehorse, Yukon, September 25, 2024 — Daily travel on the Chilkoot Way in Whitehorse will be improved thanks to a joint investment of $850,000 from the federal government and the City of Whitehorse.

    The work involves installing a new two-way protected bike lane on the north side of Chilkoot Way, creating a new pedestrian crossing, installing signage, completing pavement markings in critical areas, and providing improved lighting. In addition, traffic signals will be upgraded, a new advanced left-turn signal will be installed at Chilkoot and Two Mile Hill, and a new cycle push button will be installed to improve accessibility. The bike path will connect residents to downtown schools, the Whitehorse Health Clinic, workplaces and retail businesses along the river, and roads that connect neighbourhoods.

    Improving the Chilkoot Way will provide a more accessible and safer active transportation route to the Riverfront and Two Mile Hill multi-use paved trails. It will also make it easier for people to get around by walking, cycling or taking public transit.

    Quotes

    “Improving active transportation routes for communities supports healthier travel. Work on the Chilkoot Way in Whitehorse will make transportation infrastructure more accessible for cyclists, pedestrians and transit users, making it easier for them to get around every day.”

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

    “We are pleased to partner with the federal government to enhance Whitehorse’s active transportation network. The new active transportation route along the Chilkoot Way is a game changer for cyclists commuting downtown. It also promotes inclusion, health and connection by meeting the needs of all, regardless of mobility level, age or fitness level. This project demonstrates the City’s ongoing commitment to building a more sustainable and accessible community.”

    Laura Cabott, Mayor of Whitehorse

    Quick Facts

    The federal government is investing $588,750 in this project through the Active Transportation Fund (ATF), and the City of Whitehorse is contributing $261,250.

    Active transportation refers to the movement of people or goods through human activity. This includes walking, cycling, and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, e-bikes, inline skates, snowshoeing, cross-country skis, and more.

    To support Canada’s first National Active Transportation Strategy, the Active Transportation Fund is providing $400 million over five years, starting in 2021, to make active transportation travel easier, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable.

    Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy is the first pan-Canadian strategic approach to promoting active transportation and its benefits. The strategy aims to make data- and evidence-based investments to expand and build new active transportation networks, and to support healthier, more active, more equitable and more sustainable travel.

    Investing in active transportation infrastructure provides many tangible benefits, creating good middle-class jobs, strengthening the economy, promoting healthier lifestyles, ensuring everyone has access to the same services and opportunities, reducing air and noise pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CCTF) will provide an average of $3 billion per year in permanent funding to address local transit needs by strengthening integrated planning, improving access to transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable and inclusive communities.

    The FTCC serves the needs of communities of all sizes, from large metropolitan areas to mid-sized and smaller communities, including rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities.

    We are currently accepting expressions of interest for Metropolitan Area Agreements and Core Funding. Visit the website Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada website to find out more.

    Related links

    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

    Matthew CameronManager, Strategic CommunicationsCity of Whitehorse867-689-0515matthew.cameron@whitehorse.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: Alberta tourism soars to new heights

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Tourism is Alberta’s number one service export sector, bringing jobs, dollars and prosperity into the province’s economy. The 2023 tourism indicators make it clear: investments made by Alberta’s government in the province’s tourism sector are paying off. According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, in 2023 visitors spent $12.7 billion in Alberta, surpassing 2022’s record-setting $10.7 billion by nearly 20 per cent.

    In addition, international visitor spending surpassed pre-pandemic levels, injecting $2.9 billion into Alberta’s economy in 2023. This is an increase of more than 25 per cent from the previous high of $2.3 billion in 2019.

    “This past February, Alberta’s government launched a long-term tourism strategy, setting the bold and ambitious goal of growing Alberta’s visitor economy from $10 billion in annual visitor expenditure to $25 billion annually by 2035. The strength of Alberta’s tourism industry—as demonstrated by our record-breaking year—show that the strategy is working. We are well on our way to reaching our goal.”

    Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport

    Alberta’s tourism strategy focuses on the five key pillars of leadership and alignment, competitive product, people and careers, expansion of access and Indigenous tourism to drive the province’s visitor economy to new heights. Travel Alberta, the province’s destination management organization, is key to the tourism strategy.

    Notably, Travel Alberta’s investments in growth projects drove $155 million in total economic impact, creating jobs across the province. The organization also secured more than 300,000 direct airline seats to Alberta from international and transborder target markets, yielding nearly $11 in visitor spending for every dollar invested.  

    “This continued growth demonstrates that our strategies to develop and promote Alberta’s tourism sector are yielding strong results. Together, in partnership with the thousands of hardworking Albertans that make up the tourism industry, we’re building world-class destinations that support long-term prosperity for communities across the province.”

    Jon Mamela, chief commercial officer, Travel Alberta

    Quick facts

    • Statistics Canada determines spending from people travelling from international countries through their Visitor Travel Survey.
    • International expenditures in Alberta grew by 91 per cent year-over-year—faster than in other major provinces such as British Columbia (81 per cent), Ontario (77 per cent) and Quebec (63 per cent).
    • Travel Alberta is the destination management organization of the Government of Alberta. It operates under the Travel Alberta Act within the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.

    Related information

    • Travel Alberta visitor spend data
    • Higher ground: a tourism sector strategy
    • Travel Alberta Annual Report 2023-24

    Multimedia

    • Video message from Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow

    Related news

    • En route to Alberta (Apr. 15, 2024)
    • Supporting new adventures in Alberta (Jan. 23, 2024)
    • Tourism spending recovers two years ahead of schedule (Nov. 17, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: His Majesty’s Canadian Ships Edmonton and Yellowknife Return from Successful Operation CARIBBE

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Edmonton and Yellowknife returned to their home port of Esquimalt, British Columbia, after a successful seven-week deployment on Operation CARIBBE.

    September 25, 2024 – Esquimalt, B.C. – Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Today, His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Edmonton and Yellowknife returned to their home port of Esquimalt, British Columbia, after a successful seven-week deployment on Operation CARIBBE.

    During this deployment, on September 5, 2024, HMCS Yellowknife intercepted a drug smuggling vessel, in close partnership with the embarked United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment. This interdiction, approximately 430 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, resulted in the seizure approximately 1,400 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $60 million (Canadian).

    Operation CARIBBE is Canada’s contribution to the U.S.-led Enhanced Counternarcotics Operations under Joint Interagency Task Force – South, which is responsible for conducting interagency and international detection, monitoring operations, and facilitating the interdiction of illicit trafficking. This Operation is one of the many activities undertaken by the Government of Canada to suppress transnational criminal activity at sea and help keep drugs off Canadian streets.

    “The performance of HMCS Edmonton and Yellowknife on Operation CARIBBE was outstanding, bringing great credit to Canada’s Pacific Fleet. The skill and professionalism of both crews, in joint operations with our American allies, enabled the seizure of tens of millions of dollars’ worth of dangerous narcotics. This impressive seizure demonstrably showcases how Canada’s Navy contributes to the overall safety of Canadians. Welcome home and congratulations— you’ve earned it.”

    – Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific 

     “I would like to thank the crews of HMCS Edmonton and Yellowknife, as well as the embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment team who deployed with us. We are proud of our contribution to multinational efforts impeding the flow of illicit narcotics into North America. Through our collaborative efforts, we helped improve the safety and security of Canada.”

    – Lieutenant-Commander Tyson Babcock, Commanding Officer of HMCS Yellowknife

    MIL OSI Canada News –