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Category: Canada

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Speech by Sharon Kozicki, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada

    Source: Bank of Canada

    OTTAWA – On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Sharon Kozicki, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada, will speak before C.D. Howe Institute in Toronto.

    Topic

    Talking to Canadians: How real-world insights shape monetary policy

    Time

    12:35 (Eastern Time)

    Place

    Toronto, ON

    Lock-Up

    At 10:50 (ET), journalists are invited to review copies of the speech, under embargo, at the Bank’s head office in Ottawa. Please use the Bank of Canada Museum entrance, located at 30 Bank Street (corner of Bank and Wellington), and bring photo ID.

    For security reasons, journalists wishing to attend must confirm their presence by contacting Media Relations before 14:00 (ET) on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Those who have not registered will not be admitted to the lock-up.

    The embargo will be lifted at 12:20 (ET).

    Distribution

    The Deputy Governor’s text will be available on the Bank’s website at 12:20 (ET).

    Media Availability

    There will be no media availability for this event.

    Accredited journalists who wish to participate remotely must contact Media Relations for connection information before 14:00 (ET) on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

    Audience Q&A

    There will be an audience Q&A period.

    Webcast

    Audio and video webcasts of the speech and media questions will be available.

    Note

    Media wishing to attend the event need to email
    to register.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Israel and the OPTs: Minister for the Middle East Statement

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Written statement to Parliament

    Israel and the OPTs: Minister for the Middle East Statement

    Minister for the Middle East statement to Parliament on UK sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich

    With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    The two-state solution is in peril.

    Catastrophic conflict in Gaza…

    and a shocking deterioration in the West Bank.

    This is an affront to the rights of Palestinians…

    but is also against the interests of Israelis…

    against their long-term security and their democracy.

    Today, I will update the House on new actions we are taking…

    to uphold human rights…

    and defend the vision and viability of two sides living side-by-side in peace.  

    Mr Speaker, 2024 saw the worst settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank in the last two decades.

    2025 is on track to be just as violent.

    Between 1996 and 2023, an average of seven illegal settler outposts were established annually.

    In 2024, settlers erected 59.

    These outposts are illegal under both Israeli and international law.

    Two weeks ago, the Israeli government itself announced 22 new settlements in the West Bank.

    Every outpost…

    every building the settlers erect…

    is a flagrant breach of international law…

    and disregards the views of Israel’s partners.

    There are now in excess of five hundred thousand settlers living in the West Bank…

    and over 100,000 in East Jerusalem…

    the territory that must form the heart of a sovereign, viable and free Palestine.

    Mr Speaker, the sharp growth in settlements alone is dangerous enough.

    But it has been accompanied by a steep rise in settler violence and extremist rhetoric.

    Itamar Ben-Gvir has led seven provocative intrusions into Haram Al Sharif/Temple Mount since 2022.

    In 2023, settlers rampaged through the village of Huwara…

    in what Israel’s own West Bank military commander described as a “pogrom done by outlaws”.

    Last month, the villagers of Mughayyir ad-Deir fled their homes in fear after the construction of an illegal outpost 100m away.

    This month, settlers attacked the town of Deir Dibwan…

    setting fire to houses and injuring residents.

    This violence and rhetoric is deeply concerning.

    An assault not just on Palestinian communities…

    but on the very fundamentals of a two-state solution.

    An attempt to entrench a one-state reality, where there are no equal rights.

    The two-state solution remains the only viable framework for a just and lasting peace…

    I know it is supported on every side of this House.

    Israelis living in secure borders…

    recognised and at peace with their neighbours…

    free from the threat of terrorism.

    Palestinians living in their own state…

    with dignity and security…

    free of occupation.

    Mr Speaker, we are steadfastly committed to defending that vision…

    not just with words, but with action.

    That is why we have pledged £101m in additional support to the Palestinian people this year.

    Why we are working to strengthen and reform the Palestinian Authority…

    Why My Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary signed a landmark agreement with Prime Minister Mustafa…

    and why my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister welcomed him to Downing Street.

    Why we are clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally, and that Hamas can have no role in Palestinian governance.

    Why we are committed to working with civil society – Israeli and Palestinian – to support those who believe in peace and coexistence.

    However, Mr Speaker, the gravity of the situation demands further action.

    The reality is that these human rights abuses…

    incitement to violence…

    the extremist rhetoric…

    comes not just from an uncontrolled fringe…

    but from individuals who are Ministers in this Israeli government.

    We have to hold them to account and protect the viability of the two-state solution.

    And so today, we are sanctioning Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir…

    acting alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway…

    who have also announced their own measures today.

    These two men are responsible for inciting settler violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank…

    violence which has led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole towns and villages.

    This violence constitutes an abuse of Palestinians human rights.

    It is cruel and degrading…

    and completely unacceptable.

    We have told the Israeli Government repeatedly that we would take tougher action if this did not stop.

    It still didn’t.

    The appalling rhetoric has continued unchecked.

    Violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.

    So let me tell the House now…

    when we say something, we mean it.

    Today, with our partners…

    we have shown the extremists we will not sit by while they wreck the prospects of future peace.

    Mr Speaker, our actions today do not diminish our support for the security of Israel and the Israeli people.

    The agendas of these two men are not even supported by the majority of Israelis…

    Israelis recognise that these individuals are not working in their interest.

    As the Foreign Secretary said to this House last month…

    we want a strong friendship with Israel based on shared values and our many close ties.

    Our condemnation of Hamas, a proscribed organisation…

    and the appalling attacks of October 7th is unequivocal.  

    Our commitment to Israel’s security and future is unwavering.

    We will continue to press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza…

    the release of the hostages still held so cruelly by Hamas…

    a ramping up of aid to those Gazans in desperate need.

    The repeated threats by Hamas to the lives of the hostages are grotesque…

    and prolongs the agony of their families and loved ones.

    Hamas should release all the hostages immediately and unconditionally.

    Mr Speaker, the situation in the West Bank cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza.

    Extremist rhetoric advocating forced displacement of Palestinians…

    denial of essential aid…

    the creation of new Israeli settlements in the Strip…

    is equally appalling and dangerous.

    This Government will never accept the unlawful transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza…

    nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.

    The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic.

    While Israel’s ground and air operations expand, Gazans have been pushed into less than 20% of the territory.

    Hospitals have been destroyed and damaged.

    Gaza’s entire population is at risk of famine.

    Meanwhile, Israel’s newly introduced measures for aid delivery endanger civilians and foster desperation.

    They are inhumane.

    The Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah reported last week that it has responded to an unprecedented five mass casualty incidents in the two weeks prior…

    in each case, Palestinians have been killed or injured trying to access aid sites in Gaza.

    Desperate civilians who have endured twenty months of war should never face the risk of death or injury simply to feed themselves and their families.

    We need further action from the Israeli government now…

    to lift all restrictions on aid…

    to enable the UN and aid partners to do their work…

    and to ensure food and other critical supplies can reach people safely wherever they are.

    We will continue to support the UN and other trusted NGOs as the most effective and principled partners for aid delivery.

    Our support has meant over 465,000 people have received essential healthcare…

    640,000 have received food…

    and 275,000 people have improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

    We support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

    And we welcome France and Saudi Arabia’s initiative to chair an international conference later this month to advance a two-state solution.

    Mr Speaker, it is a two-state solution that is the only way to bring the long-lasting peace that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve.

    But it must not remain an empty slogan…

    repeated by generations of diplomats and politicians…

    but increasingly divorced from the reality on the ground.

    Mr Smotrich said there is no such thing as a Palestinian nation.

    Mr Ben Gvir has spoken of his rights in the West Bank…

    a territory his government is occupying…

    as more important than the rights of millions of Palestinians.

    Their own words condemn them, Mr Speaker.

    To defend those Palestinians’ rights…

    to protect the two-state solution…

    to see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in safety and security…

    this Government is taking action.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Talking to Canadians: How real-world insights shape monetary policy

    Source: Bank of Canada

    Surveying Canadians

    Now on to another important tool: surveys.

    Like other central banks, the Bank conducts a number of surveys with the financial sector. The results provide us with information on important issues like lending conditions as well as the demand for and supply of credit. We also gain important insights on risks and resiliency in the financial system. And we talk to financial market professionals to hear their views on where the economy and inflation are headed.

    But today, in talking about surveys, I want to focus more on how our regional offices inform our monetary policy deliberations by reaching out to households and businesses.

    Since the late 1990s, the Bank has been expanding its reach into the diverse regions that make up this great country. This work has included opening regional offices, and surveying businesses and consumers about their economic views. Our regional staff are well positioned to strengthen our ties with key local stakeholders such as industry, government, educational institutions and community organizations.

    Currently, the Bank’s regional offices conduct three key macroeconomic surveys: the Business Outlook Survey, the Business Leaders’ Pulse and the Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations., , 

    I’ll go over each one in greater detail in a moment. But overall, surveys like these accomplish three main goals.

    First, they help inform our outlooks for the economy and inflation. We hear from individuals and businesses about how they’re feeling—a measure of their current levels of confidence. We also ask what they expect to happen to prices and their own spending in the future.

    This gives the Bank forward-looking views on economic activity, demand, capacity pressures and inflation. That makes surveys particularly helpful in providing early indications of how the economy is reacting during times of great uncertainty, like the current trade conflict.

    Surveys also shine a light on trends that may be simmering beneath the surface. They help us understand behavioural changes that don’t always show up in aggregated data reports—at least not immediately.

    Finally, these surveys help us gather a wide range of views on how current economic conditions are playing out in communities across Canada.

    Our national economy is made up of diverse regional economies. Economic conditions may differ across regions, and regions may respond differently to broad-based upswings and downturns. Survey data give us a clearer view of the differences in how households and businesses are experiencing the economy.

    Let me now turn to each of the surveys.

    The Business Outlook Survey—or BOS for short—is a quarterly survey of businesses across the country. It has existed since 1997, which provides us a rich, long dataset for comparisons.

    Staff in our regional offices meet with local business leaders to discuss their views on the economy. We ask about their expectations for sales and demand, as well as their investment intentions. We probe their views about labour shortages, as well as hiring and wages. And we ask for their outlooks on costs and pricing, as well as economy-wide inflation. This gives us a broad range of perspectives about how businesses view the economy.

    For example, the results of the BOS for the fourth quarter of 2021 helped us better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting firms. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, we saw that businesses were planning to pass along cost increases stemming from supply chain pressures. They had concluded that customers understood these pressures and were willing to accept price increases.

    More recently, firms told us that uncertainty about tariffs has been affecting them in multiple ways. These impacts include weaker demand from their business customers that would be directly affected by tariffs.

    Now on to the Business Leaders’ Pulse, or BLP for short. This is our newest survey, created in 2021. It’s a short monthly online questionnaire to assess firms’ expectations for growth in sales and employment. It also asks about perceived risks to their business outlook, and poses other topical questions.

    The BLP provides a flexible and nimble pulse of evolving situations. It complements the BOS with timely feedback from firms about the effects of rapid changes in the economy.

    And the BLP has been very helpful in monitoring effects from the situation south of the border. For example, businesses were reporting an increase in both uncertainty and inflation expectations as early as November 2024. In December, we also began noting a decline in business sentiment—even before the new US administration was sworn in.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Nobody beats Alberta drilling

    Alberta is home to the best drilling expertise in the world. Decades of oil and gas development has made the province a proven drilling leader, while Alberta-led advancements in geothermal, lithium and other areas continue growing Alberta’s reputation as a powerhouse in energy innovation.

    However, many promising technologies and products have challenges reaching the market due to high costs and limited access to demonstration sites where testing can be done in real-world settings. With the right resources, Alberta’s energy developers can bring drilling technologies to market faster and more affordably.

    Alberta’s government is investing more than $20 million in industry-funded TIER dollars to launch the Alberta Drilling Accelerator program and keep pushing Alberta’s drilling expertise to greater heights. Delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta, this funding will help Alberta companies advance new and emerging technologies, reduce emissions and, ultimately, increase responsible energy production around the world.

    “Alberta’s drilling expertise is second to none. The world needs energy and Alberta has the experience, geology, expertise and innovative spirit needed to deliver it. This funding is all about getting the next generation of drilling tech out of the lab and into the field, powering the world and Alberta’s economy at the same time.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    “Drilling technology is highly relevant to Emissions Reduction Alberta’s mandate, as it offers a potential pathway to direct emissions reduction in the oil and gas sector while also playing a critical role in commercializing technologies in emerging areas like geothermal and critical minerals extraction. We look forward to sharing the scope of this funding in the fall.”

    Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta

    This new funding program will help speed up the development of geothermal, helium, critical minerals, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and other technologies and commodities that rely on Alberta’s world-class drilling expertise, further establishing Alberta’s global leadership in providing affordable, reliable, responsibly produced energy.

    More details on the program will be announced when it officially launches this fall.

    This is phase one of the province’s Alberta Drilling Accelerator. Future phases and initiatives will be developed as government continues accelerating new technologies that rely on Alberta’s world-class drilling expertise.

    Quick facts

    • The Alberta Drilling Accelerator program will launch in fall 2025, with planning and engagement taking place this summer.
    • Funding for the program comes from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund.
    • Demand for new and more efficient technologies is rising globally, and Alberta is well-positioned to capitalize. For example, cumulative geothermal investment is poised to reach $1 trillion by 2050, while investment for oil and gas, carbon capture and storage and other sectors continues to grow.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins 32 Colleagues in Amicus Brief Challenging Trump Administration Abuse of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, recently joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and 29 of his colleagues in filing an amicus brief in a key case, Oregon v. Department of Homeland Security, challenging the Trump Administration’s abuse of emergency powers to impose tariffs. The brief opposes the Administration’s request for a stay of a recent court decision that struck down these tariffs.  Vermont was a part of the twelve-state coalition that filed this legal challenge.  
    In May, the U.S. Court of International Trade held that the Trump Administration lacked authority to issue the challenged tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—a statute that no president prior to President Trump has ever tried to use to impose tariffs. The Senators’ amicus brief argues that a stay should be rejected.   
    “Granting a stay will cause irreparable harm to constituents of Amici, particularly thousands of small and medium-sized businesses that will continue to be harmed if the President persists in collecting the unlawful IEEPA tariffs,” wrote the Senators. “Small businesses do not have cash-on-hand or capital reserves to pay the increased tariffs, nor can they quickly adapt to them by modifying supply chains. If they cannot pass on the tariff costs to consumers—which would create additional harms for Amici’s constituents—many face letting employees go or filing for bankruptcy. Even a few weeks of additional tariffs means small businesses will suffer irreparable harm.”  
    “The powers to impose tariffs and regulate international trade were given to Congress for a reason,” continued the Senators. “Absent authorization from Congress to impose tariffs and approval to enter binding, durable trade agreements, it is contrary to the public interest for the President to arrogate Congress’s power to himself.”  
    “Further, the broad-based tariffs, which include extensive levies on treaty allies Japan, Canada, and members of the NATO alliance, undermine U.S. national security by weakening U.S. alliances,” concluded the Senators. “Amici regularly interact with U.S.-allied leaders who want to work with the U.S. on security and economic matters; IEEPA tariffs have been raised as one of the foremost irritants and obstacles to maintaining strong partnerships with the U.S. Multiple allied governments, including Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, have threatened retaliation targeting American exports and American companies—further compounding the economic harm to Amici’s constituents. Denying a stay will ensure the Administration cannot continue to usurp powers granted to Congress, and it will promote U.S. national security and economic interests.” 
    In addition to Senators Welch, Shaheen, Wyden, and Schumer, the letter was cosigned by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Angus King (I-Maine), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). 
    Read and download the full amicus brief. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Environment and Climate Change Canada presents summer seasonal outlook

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 10, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec

    Today, Environment and Climate Change Canada presented a seasonal outlook for summer. Experts predicted higher-than-normal temperatures are likely throughout most of Canada this summer, with cooler-than-normal conditions possible in some northwestern regions along the Beaufort Sea.

    This spring, parts of Canada saw an uneven transition out of winter, with many regions experiencing temperature swings. Additionally, much of Canada, particularly in the Prairies, experienced dry conditions. These conditions, in combination with the high likelihood of a warmer-than-normal summer, could increase the risk of wildfires in the coming months—potentially leading to poor air quality and health risks for you and your family.

    Understanding the risks of these extreme weather events can help Canadians make informed decisions to protect their health, safety, and property. Canada’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is an important tool to help people understand what the air quality around them means for their health.

    Climate change is causing more frequent and intense severe weather across the country. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather information and alerts are essential tools in protecting Canadians. The public is urged to regularly monitor weather forecasts, monitor the AQHI and UV Index, take all weather alerts seriously, and get prepared this summer. Canadians can download the WeatherCAN app to receive weather alerts directly on their mobile devices and set personal notifications for temperature and the AQHI.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union Applauds House Freshmen for Supporting Fair Trade Policies

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Union International President Brian Bryant recently expressed his appreciation to a coalition of House Freshmen for signing a letter supporting fair trade practices, including a renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the reauthorization of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.

    “On behalf of the 600,000 active and retired members of this very diverse union, I want to thank these House Freshmen who understand the importance of fair trade policy,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “U.S. trade policy has led many news headlines in recent months, and this letter underscores the importance of renegotiating the USMCA to protect domestic manufacturing in areas like aerospace, reauthorizing the U.S. Labor Department’s TAA program, and enacting strategic tariffs that punish bad actors and protect U.S. jobs.”

    Rep. Josh Riley (NY-19) and Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12) led 18 of their colleagues in a letter to President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling for a trade policy that strengthens America’s middle class, rebuilds the U.S. industrial base, and safeguards family farms and small businesses.

    “For too long, bad trade deals have been written in Wall Street boardrooms and rubber-stamped in political backrooms—while towns from Endicott to Ellenville got sold out,” said Rep. Josh Riley. “I came to Congress to give blue-collar towns a real voice in trade talks. I’ll work with anyone from any party who wants to rethink trade in a way that supports American farmers, builds American factories for American workers, and strengthens national security.”

    “I’m proud to represent the Port of Oakland, the largest refrigerated cargo export port in the United States,” said Rep. Lateefah Simon. “Tariffs are not inherently bad, but President Trump’s chaotic, self-imposed tariff war has been a disaster for the U.S. economy. That’s why I am leading my freshman colleagues to call on the president to fix U.S. trade policy to support workers, small businesses, and the environment.”

    The members outlined four key areas of proposed collaboration:

    1. Improving the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):

    • Include stronger labor and environmental standards.
    • Close China’s USMCA backdoor into U.S. markets.
    • Fix digital trade provisions.

    2. Investing in American Manufacturing:

    3. Reauthorizing Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA):

    • Support and improve TAA for communities impacted by past trade policies.

    4. Pairing Strategic Tariffs with Pro-Worker Laws:

    • Implement tariffs with anti-price gouging and pro-labor reforms.

    Read the full text of the letter here. 

    The IAM continues advocating for trade agreements prioritizing U.S. labor standards, environmental protections, and domestic production.

    The post IAM Union Applauds House Freshmen for Supporting Fair Trade Policies appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: SIRT Investigating in Custody Death at Kamsack RCMP Detachment

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 10, 2025

    On Thursday, June 5, 2025, at approximately 8:00 p.m., the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) received a notification from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) regarding a possible in-custody death at the Kamsack RCMP Detachment. 

    SIRT’s Civilian Executive Director accepted the notification as within SIRT’s mandate and directed an investigation by SIRT.

    On June 3, an individual approached a member of the Kamsack RCMP Detachment during a sitting of the Saskatchewan Provincial Court at Kamsack and advised that a family member had outstanding arrest warrants that he wished to deal with. At approximately 12:22 p.m., the man, a 61-year-old, was taken into custody by a member of the RCMP without incident or use of force. The man was transported to the Kamsack RCMP detachment where he was searched and provided with an opportunity to speak with a lawyer. At approximately 12:43 p.m., the man was placed into one of the detachments cells.

    The next day the man appeared in court via CCTV and was held in custody until his next court appearance, which was scheduled for June 6. The man remained in custody at the detachment, but on June 5 at approximately 7:02 p.m., the man was determined to be unresponsive within his cell, and was checked by RCMP members, who subsequently contacted EMS. At approximately 8:37 p.m., EMS arrived at the RCMP detachment, and the man was pronounced deceased. 

    Following the notification, a SIRT team consisting of five SIRT investigators was deployed to Kamsack to begin their investigation. A community liaison will also be appointed pursuant to S.91.12 (1) (a) of The Police Act, 1990. SIRT’s investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man’s arrest and the cause of his death. No further information will be released at this time. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.

    SIRT’s mandate is to investigate alleged cases of serious injury, death, sexual assault or interpersonal violence arising from the actions or omissions of on and off-duty police officers, or while an individual is in police custody.

    For updates on SIRT investigations, follow SIRT on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Property owner fined $60,000 for destroying vital fish habitat on Vancouver Island, B.C.

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 10, 2025

    Courtenay, BC – Protecting fish and fish habit is vital to help sustain and support Canada’s precious marine species. Under Canada’s Fisheries Act, measures must be taken to avoid causing the death of fish and any harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat when conducting any work or activities in or near water.

    On January 23, 2025, in Courtenay Provincial Court, area resident David Tingley was found guilty of failing to correct work that he had done illegally on his property, that affected fish and fish habitat on the Trent River. Mr. Tingley was fined $60,000, which was directed to the Environmental Damages Fund for the conservation and protection of salmon and salmon habitat in the Vancouver Island region.

    The case stems from work carried out without Fisheries Act authorization over successive years on one of Mr. Tingley’s properties, which is bisected by the Trent River, an important fish bearing watercourse. 

    DFO protects and conserves marine resources, and enforces the Fisheries Act. As part of DFO’s work to disrupt and prevent illegal activity, the Department asks the public for information on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and regulations. Anyone with information can call DFO Pacific Region’s toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details to DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union Gears Up for 2025 Transportation Conference in Las Vegas, Focusing on the Future of Labor

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The IAM Union is set to hold its 2025 Transportation Conference at Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas from June 23-25. The IAM Union delegates who will attend the conference work primarily in the airline and railroad industries. The conference will highlight the IAM’s powerful presence in these sectors.

    Conference Details:

    • Location: Caesars Palace Hotel, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd., S. Las Vegas, NV 89109
    • Conference Dates: Monday, June 23 – Wednesday, June 25, 2025

    Under the banner of “Building a Better Tomorrow,” this year’s conference emphasizes the IAM’s dedication to bolstering transportation jobs, protecting workers’ rights, and developing the next generation of labor leaders. Attendees will attend general sessions and targeted committee meetings addressing key industry issues.

    A major highlight is the launch of the Young Workers Committee, which aims to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas into the IAM’s strategies.

    “This conference is more than an event, it’s a catalyst for change within the transportation sector,” said IAM Union Air Transport General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “By uniting our members, from airline workers to railroad workers, and welcoming new voices, we’re not just adapting to the future—we’re shaping it.”

    Committee discussions will lead to formal reports presented at the conference. The IAM Transportation Conference is a premier gathering for international and national leaders and members within the transportation sector.

    The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

    goIAM.org | @IAM_Union

    The post IAM Union Gears Up for 2025 Transportation Conference in Las Vegas, Focusing on the Future of Labor appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: DIAGNOS Welcomes Founder of National Vision Associates, Ed Weiner, to its Advisory Board for the United States

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROSSARD, Quebec, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diagnos Inc. (“DIAGNOS” or the “Corporation”) (TSX Venture: ADK, OTCQB: DGNOF, FWB: 4D4A), a pioneer in early detection of critical health issues using advanced technology based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), is thrilled to announce that Mr. Ed Weiner has joined the Corporation’s Advisory Board.

    Mr. Weiner will team up with Dr. Tomas J. Philipson, former vice chairman and acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, to provide valuable insights to DIAGNOS about the US optical market. Mr. Weiner is a seasoned entrepreneur and has been a leader in the optical industry for decades. He was the first to introduce Ralph Lauren Eyewear. He also partnered with Walmart to open 400 optical locations within Walmart’s chain of stores. Mr. Weiner was also chairman and founder of National Vision Associates, one of the largest optical retailers in the USA.

    “We are honored to welcome Ed to our Advisory Board,” said André Larente, President and CEO of DIAGNOS. “In our opinion, his deep knowledge of the US optical market will contribute to bring DIAGNOS as one of the main AI driven healthcare solutions among opticians and optometrists across the US.”

    Mr. Larente added, “DIAGNOS has built an AI platform to analyze retina images, these images are taken by thousands of optometrists worldwide. According to recent VisionWatch data, the US saw approximately 111 million routine eye exams and 60 million medical eye exams in 2020. DIAGNOS, along with its partners can address this growing market”. DIAGNOS recently opened its US office in south Florida to support its US prospects and clients.

    About DIAGNOS
    DIAGNOS is a publicly traded Canadian corporation dedicated to early detection of critical eye-related health problems. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence, DIAGNOS aims to provide more information to healthcare clinicians to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes on a global scale.

    Additional information is available at www.diagnos.com and www.sedarplus.com.

    This news release contains forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements. DIAGNOS disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    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.

    The MIL Network –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: How far-right ideas in Canada are working their way into mainstream politics

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Lisa Gasson-Gardner, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Mount Royal University

    The fortunes of the Conservative Party and its leader Pierre Poilievre in Canada’s April 2025 election seemed to have shifted dramatically after United States President Donald Trump called for Canada to become the 51st state.

    Political pundits regarded Mark Carney and the Liberal Party’s victory — along with the failure of Poilievre to retain his own seat — as a “Trump slump” and a repudiation of both Trump’s and Poilievre’s style of politics.

    But is that an accurate assessment? The Conservative Party received its largest vote share since Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Exit polling data suggested stronger support for the Conservative Party among people aged 18-34 than among people aged 55 and older.

    Although Trump has said Poilievre is “not a MAGA guy,” some political analysts have likened the rhetoric of Poilievre and other Canadian Conservatives to American Republicans who lean towards far-right Christian nationalist politics..

    As an inter-religious humanities scholar of the U.S. far right, I have observed alarming parallels between the rise of the far right in mainstream politics in the U.S. and the scene in Canada.



    Read more:
    A ‘Trump slump’ has lifted the left in Canada and now Australia – what are the lessons for NZ?

    Christian nationalism’s role in politics

    In the U.S., both scholars and news media have been highlighting the connections between far-right Christian ideology and politics.

    Trump’s first presidential term ended with the Jan. 6, 2021 violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. Scholars like Matthew Taylor, author of The Violent Take it by Force, have pointed to Christian nationalism and other far-right ideologies as factors that motivated the rioters.

    In February 2025, Trump appointed televangelist Paula White-Cain to head the newly created White House Faith Office. White-Cain’s appointment followed an executive order establishing a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias.

    Thea appointment adds to the the narrative that U.S. Christians are facing persecution, a refrain since at least the 1970s and heightened during Barack Obama’s presidency. Scholars have linked the assertion that “Christianity is under attack” to the rise of Christian nationalism in mainstream politics.



    Read more:
    Trump may have emboldened hate in Canada, but it was already here

    What is Christian nationalism?

    American sociologists Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry define Christian nationalism as “a cultural framework that blurs distinctions between Christian identity and American identity, viewing the two as closely related and seeking to enhance and preserve their union.”

    It’s tempting to read “Christian idenity” and “American identity” and assume it does not affect Canada.

    But Christian nationalist ideologies were present during the so-called Freedom Convoy in Ottawa in 2022. According to Canadian scholars, national identity is blurred in online spaces, allowing U.S. nationalist ideals to take hold in Canada.]

    Christian nationalism is not synonymous with Christianity or any specific branch of Christianity, like evangelical Christianity.

    According to U.S. sociologist Daniel Miller, Christian nationalism is not a set list of ideological or religious beliefs. Instead, Miller says, Christian nationalism emerges when people identify with “a very narrow, idealized prototype of the ‘real or ‘authentic’ American.”

    He says two mechanisms connect people to Christian nationalism. The first is perceived loss of power by the people who historically held power. This is known as a “power devaluation crisis.” The second is a narrative of decline — known as a a “declensionist narrative” — which asserts that American society has declined since the 1960s and needs repair and reclamation.

    Poilievre’s signals to Christian nationalists

    Poilievre is not open about his religion and does not call for Canada to be a Christian nation. But whether Poilievre intends to stir up Christian nationalists, some of his rhetoric has indicated support for the classic definitions of Christian nationalism.

    According to Miller, support for Christian nationalism is not always direct. It can be activated by stoking a crisis of lost power, like the decline of the “traditional” family or by asserting a narrative of decline, like “Canada is broken.”

    For example, Poilievre’s 2025 campaign mobilized both of the narrative mechanisms that attract Christian nationalist mentioned by sociologists: a power devaluation crisis and the narrative of decline.

    In the lead-up to his 2025 campaign, Poilievre repeatedly called Canada “broken.”. He cited increased crime, addiction, high grocery prices and more as evidence of Canada’s brokenness, accusing the Liberal government of erasing Canada’s past.

    When Poilievre calls Canada “broken,” it affirms the world view of Christian nationalists.

    Poilievre courts conservative Christians

    Another strategy Poilievre reportedly adopted from Trump was his work to court conservative Christians.

    In an 2024 interview with The Tyee, religious right scholar Carmen Celestini of Waterloo University said Poilievre had “ramped up” his presence at churches. Additionally, The Globe and Mail reported there were fewer photos ops of Poilievre visiting mosques in 2024.

    Of course, visits to churches are not enough to signal alignment with Christian nationalists. And Poilievre has not espoused any Christian evangelical ideals in any public speech.

    But it’s still important for Canadians to remain alert about Christian nationalists and their ambitions to become part of mainstream politics.

    Canadian Christian nationalism

    A study from the U.S. has linked the rise in Christian nationalist ideologies to attacks on religious minorities. The 2024 qualitative data from the study indicates that when politicians rhetorically supported Christian nationalist values, there was a increased violence against minority groups.

    According to Statistics Canada, the violent crime rate in Canada rose 13 per cent from 2021-2022.. Police-reported hate crimes increased 32 per cent from 2022 to 2023. Crimes targeting religion rose 67 per cent in 2023, primarily targeting Jewish and Muslim communities.

    While I know of no studies showing the rise of the far right is directly leading to violence in Canada, Canadians should be aware of the pattern in the U.S. Research shows that growing Christian nationalists and far-right world views south of the border are, in fact, connected to a rise in violence.

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

    – ref. How far-right ideas in Canada are working their way into mainstream politics – https://theconversation.com/how-far-right-ideas-in-canada-are-working-their-way-into-mainstream-politics-238965

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why more youth are landing in the ER with vomiting from cannabis use

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jamie Seabrook, Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Professor, Department of Paediatrics; Professor, Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Western University

    As cannabis use among youth rises in Canada — and THC potency reaches record highs — emergency departments are seeing a surge in cases of a once-rare condition: cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).

    Characterized by relentless vomiting, abdominal pain and temporary relief through compulsive hot showers or baths, CHS is increasingly affecting adolescents and young adults. Yet few people — including many clinicians — know it exists.

    As public health and substance use researchers, and authors of a recent review on CHS in youth, we are struck by how misunderstood and misdiagnosed this condition remains.

    A silent side-effect of heavy cannabis use

    Canada ranks among the highest globally for youth cannabis use, with 43 per cent of 16-19-year-olds reporting use in the past year. Usage peaks among those 20–24 years, with nearly half (48 per cent) reporting past-year use.

    This rise in regular, heavy use coincides with a 400 per cent increase in THC potency since the 1980s. Strains with THC levels above 25 per cent are now common. As cannabis becomes more potent and accessible, clinicians are seeing more cases of CHS, a condition virtually unheard of before 2004.

    What is CHS?

    CHS unfolds in three phases:

    1. Prodromal phase: Nausea and early morning discomfort begin. Users increase cannabis consumption, thinking it will relieve symptoms.

    2. Hyperemetic phase: Intense vomiting, dehydration and abdominal pain follow. Hot showers or baths provide temporary relief — a hallmark of CHS.

    3. Recovery phase: Symptoms resolve after stopping cannabis entirely.

    Diagnosis is often delayed. One reason is because CHS mimics conditions like gastroenteritis or eating disorders, leading to costly CT scans, MRIs and gastric emptying tests. One telltale sign — compulsive hot bathing — is frequently overlooked, despite its strong diagnostic value.

    Nausea and early morning discomfort begin in the early stages of CHS.
    (Shutterstock)

    Why CHS is dangerous for youth

    Youth face unique risks. The brain continues to develop until about age 25, and THC exposure during this critical window can impair cognitive functions like memory, learning and emotional regulation. Heavy cannabis use is associated with heightened risks of anxiety, depression, psychosis and self-harm.

    Some youth use cannabis to self-medicate for mental health concerns and increase their use when symptoms of CHS appear, mistakenly believing cannabis will help. Others are reluctant to disclose their use due to stigma, fear of judgment or legal consequences.

    In our recent review, we found that CHS is frequently misdiagnosed as bulimia nervosa because of the vomiting and unintended weight loss. But unlike bulimia, CHS-related vomiting is involuntary and not motivated by body image concerns. A clue is that those with CHS often return to normal eating and bathing patterns during symptom-free periods, which is not typical for an eating disorder.

    Compulsive hot bathing is a telltale sign of CHS.
    (Shutterstock)

    A burden on the health system and individual

    CHS doesn’t just take a toll on youth — it strains the health-care system. Emergency department visits for CHS have spiked in recent years, with a study in Ontario showing a significant rise after cannabis commercialization following legalization in 2018. Repeated ER visits, missed school or work and emotional distress compound the burden. In rare cases, CHS can lead to kidney failure due to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

    Unfortunately, anti-nausea medications like ondansetron often fail. Studies have shown temporary relief from topical capsaicin or low-dose haloperidol, but no acute treatment consistently works unless cannabis use stops.

    What can be done?

    The most effective long-term solution to treating CHS is cannabis cessation. For youth who use cannabis to cope with anxiety, quitting can lead to withdrawal symptoms and distress. This makes harm reduction strategies critical: gradual reduction plans, mental health supports and non-judgmental conversations between providers and patients.

    Clinicians should systematically screen youth presenting with cyclic vomiting for cannabis use and hot bathing behaviour. Youth are more likely to disclose cannabis use when asked in an empathetic, stigma-free way.

    Public health campaigns can play a major role. We need honest, accessible education — in schools, clinics and online — that explains what CHS is, how to recognize it and how to seek help. In our view, the addition of CHS content to youth health curriculums, pediatric training programs and cannabis use screening tools is overdue.

    A preventable crisis

    CHS is a preventable but growing consequence of chronic cannabis use in young people. As legalization continues to reshape social norms and access, it is essential to ensure that youth — and those who care for them — are informed about the full spectrum of cannabis-related health risks.

    This story was co-authored by Morgan Seabrook, an undergraduate research assistant at the Human Environments Analysis Laboratory at Western University.

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

    – ref. Why more youth are landing in the ER with vomiting from cannabis use – https://theconversation.com/why-more-youth-are-landing-in-the-er-with-vomiting-from-cannabis-use-258375

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Chatbots can help clinicians become better communicators, and this could boost vaccine uptake

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jaigris Hodson, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Royal Roads University

    Strengthening doctors’ communications skills is a public health benefit. (Shutterstock)

    Measles is back. In recent months, outbreaks have re-emerged across North America including 2,968 cases in Canada as of May 31, 2025. At the heart of many of these surges lies missed childhood vaccinations — not just because of access barriers, but also due to conversations that didn’t happen.

    Many clinicians want to support their patients in making protective health decisions, but these are not simple conversations. Trust is essential, and clinicians need to accept that these may be complex discussions and learn how to build trust when medical misinformation and misunderstandings are in play.

    These conversations are important, but clinicians’ and patients’ time together is often limited, and it’s hard to demonstrate trustworthiness and build trust. That’s where we believe — and evidence suggests — artificial intelligence (AI) can help.

    A surprising use for AI

    AI is already being used to support diagnostic decisions and streamline administrative tasks in health care. But it also offers promise as a training tool for the human side of care.

    We’re part of a team researching how chatbots can be developed to help clinicians practise difficult conversations about vaccines. These tools have the potential to provide low-cost, emotionally engaging and psychologically safe simulations for health professionals like doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists.

    These kinds of tools are especially valuable in rural and remote areas, where access to in-person workshops or continuing education may be limited. Even for busy clinicians in well-resourced areas, chatbots can offer a flexible way to hone communication skills and to learn about circulating concerns.

    Improving communication

    Research consistently shows that clinicians can increase vaccine uptake by using better communication strategies. Even brief interventions — such as training in motivational interviewing — have measurable impacts on patient trust and behaviour.

    Chatbots provide an opportunity to deliver this kind of training at scale. In recent work, computational social scientist David Rand and colleagues have demonstrated how AI-based agents can be trained to engage in social conversations and generate responses that effectively persuade.

    These principles can be applied to the clinician–patient setting, allowing professionals to test and refine different ways of engaging with vaccine hesitancy before stepping into real-world conversations.

    In research conducted in Hungary, clinicians reported feeling more confident and prepared after interacting with simulated patients. The opportunity to rehearse responses, receive feedback and explore multiple conversational pathways helped clinicians understand what to say — and how and when to say it.

    Simulating conversations between clinicians and patients can help clinicians prepare for actual encounters.
    (Shutterstock)

    Practising communication

    We believe chatbots can be used to train clinicians in a type of presumptive language known as the AIMS method (announce, inquire, mirror and secure trust). Similar approaches, drawing on motivational interviewing, have been tested in Québec, where it has demonstrated success in helping clinicians increase vaccine confidence and uptake among new parents.

    This kind of intervention will simulate conversations with patients with vaccine questions, allowing physicians to practice AIMS techniques in a low-stakes environment. For example, the chatbot could play the role of a parent, and the physician would begin by announcing that it is time for the parents to vaccinate their children.

    Then, if the “parent” (the chatbot) expresses vaccine hesitancy, the physician would inquire about what is driving the hesitancy. Importantly, when the “parent” responds to the questions, the AIMS approach teaches the physician not to respond directly to the concerns, but instead first mirror the response to show the parent that they are being heard and understood.

    Finally, and sometimes after multiple rounds of inquiry and mirroring, the physician can move on to securing the parent’s trust.

    Becoming adept at methods of conversational approaches like AIMS takes practice. That’s what a chatbot can offer: repeated, flexible, low-risk rehearsal. Think of it like a flight simulator for conversations.

    Staying ahead of misinformation

    The landscape of misinformation is constantly shifting. New conspiracy theories, viral videos and misleading anecdotes can gain traction in days. Clinicians shouldn’t have to confront these narratives for the first time during a brief patient visit.

    By having the AI model underlying the chatbot constantly trawling the web for the latest misleading claims and updating chatbot scenarios regularly, we can help clinicians recognize and respond to the kinds of misinformation circulating now. This is especially important when trust in institutions is wavering and personalized, empathetic responses are most needed.

    Conversations build trust

    While we propose chatbots can be used to teach doctors how to address vaccine skepticism, motivational interviewing has already been employed via AI-based chatbots to address smoking cessation, with some promising results.

    A similar approach has also been used to encourage the uptake of stress-reduction behaviours. Though the use of chatbots in education is a growing area of inquiry, the specific use of chatbots to train physicians in motivational interviewing approaches is a new field of study.

    Using this approach as part of (continuing) clinical education could help better prepare the frontlines to serve as a successful bulwark against vaccine concerns not rooted in science.

    In the face of falling vaccination rates and rising distrust, clinicians are on the front lines of public health. We owe them better tools to prepare and build trust.

    Trust isn’t built in a moment. It’s built in conversation. And those can be practised.

    Jaigris Hodson is on the advisory board of the Clarity Foundation. She receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Heather Lanthorn is a senior advisor to the Clairity Foundation.

    David Rand has received funding from Google, Meta, and the Gates Foundation.

    Heather Lanthorn is the Senior Advisor to the Clarity Foundation.

    – ref. Chatbots can help clinicians become better communicators, and this could boost vaccine uptake – https://theconversation.com/chatbots-can-help-clinicians-become-better-communicators-and-this-could-boost-vaccine-uptake-255045

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ communities for a safer, more equitable and inclusive Canada

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 10, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario — Women and Gender Equality Canada

    Pride Season is a time to raise our voices—and our flags—to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other sexual and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) communities. It is also a time to recommit to building a country where everyone can live in safety and dignity.

    Today, as the Intersex-Inclusive Pride Flag was raised on Parliament Hill, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), announced $1.5 million to support the security needs of Pride festivals across Canada.

    This funding—administered by Fierté Canada Pride through Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate—will help cover the rising cost of safety and insurance planning, so organizers can continue building welcoming and inclusive spaces for all.

    As we begin Pride Season, the Government of Canada remains committed to working with 2SLGBTQI+ communities to build a future where no one is left behind.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Shaheen, Schumer Lead Amicus Brief Supporting Oregon Attorney General Rayfield Challenging Trump Administration Abuse of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    June 10, 2025
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today led their colleagues in filing an amicus brief in Oregon v. Department of Homeland Security, a key case led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield challenging the Trump Administration’s abuse of emergency powers to impose tariffs.
    The brief—which Wyden spearheaded with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)—opposes the Administration’s request for a stay of a recent court decision that struck down these tariffs.  
    “Donald Trump has been abusing the law on trade since Day One, and the result has been trade chaos that is raising prices and costing American jobs,” said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “I stand with AG Rayfield and Oregonians to tell the court that Congress never intended the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to be a blank check to tax everything Americans buy. The faster these tariffs are struck down and Congress restores its authority over trade and tariffs, the better it will be for American families.”
    “Trump’s illegal and chaotic tariffs are harming American consumers and businesses, leaving them to foot the bill for Trumpflation’s rising prices,” Merkley said. “While Trump is doing all he can to make life more expensive for families across the country, we’re fighting back against the Trump tariff wrecking ball with every tool at our disposal.”
    “Trump’s tariffs make everything more expensive for all of us – from the food you buy at the grocery store to your monthly utility bill, most Oregonians cannot afford $3800 a year for these tariffs,” Rayfield said. “Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley’s support in this case further illustrates how the president is misusing his emergency powers.”
     In May, the U.S. Court of International Trade held that the Trump Administration lacked authority to issue the challenged tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—a statute that no president prior to President Trump has ever tried to use to impose tariffs. The Senators’ amicus brief argues a stay should be rejected.  
    “Granting a stay will cause irreparable harm to constituents of?Amici,?particularly thousands of small and medium-sized businesses that will continue to be harmed if the President persists in collecting the unlawful IEEPA tariffs,” the senators wrote. “Small businesses do not have cash-on-hand or capital reserves to pay the increased tariffs, nor can they quickly?adapt to them by modifying supply chains.??If they cannot pass on the tariff costs to consumers—which would create additional harms for?Amici’s constituents—many face letting employees go or filing for bankruptcy. ?Even a few weeks of additional tariffs means small businesses will suffer irreparable harm.” 
    “The powers to impose tariffs and regulate international trade were given to Congress for a reason,” the senators continued. “Absent authorization from Congress to impose tariffs and approval to enter binding, durable trade agreements, it is contrary to the public interest for the President to arrogate Congress’s power to himself.” 
    “Further, the broad-based tariffs, which include extensive levies on treaty allies Japan, Canada, and members of the NATO alliance, undermine U.S. national security by weakening U.S. alliances,” the senators concluded. “Amici? regularly?interact?with U.S.-allied leaders who want to work with the U.S. on security and economic matters; IEEPA tariffs have been raised as one of the foremost irritants and obstacles to maintaining strong partnerships with the U.S. ?Multiple allied governments, including Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, have threatened retaliation targeting American exports and American companies—further compounding the economic harm to?Amici’s?constituents. ?Denying a?stay will?ensure the Administration cannot continue to usurp powers granted to Congress, and it will promote?U.S. national security and economic interests.” 
    The full amicus brief is here.
    The amicus brief was signed by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Warner (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Edward Markey (D-MA). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder – Canada imposes fourth round of sanctions on facilitators of extremist settler violence against civilians in the West Bank

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations designate two (2) officials of the State of Israel. There are reasonable grounds to believe that these individuals have engaged in activities that undermine the peace and security of the State of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories by directly facilitating, supporting, providing funding for or contributing to the use of violence by Israeli extremist settlers against Palestinian civilians or their property in the West Bank.

    Canadian measures

    Persons (individuals and entities) in Canada or Canadians outside Canada are thereby prohibited from dealing in the property of, entering into transactions with, providing services to, transferring property to, or otherwise making goods available to these listed individuals. These measures will also render these individuals inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Under the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulation, a listed person may apply to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to have their name removed from the Schedule of designated persons. The Minister must determine whether there are reasonable grounds to make a recommendation to the Governor in Council for removal.

    The specific prohibitions are set out in the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations.

    The names of the individuals added to the Schedule of these regulations are the following:

    • Itamar Ben-Gvir
    • Bezalel Yoel Smotrich

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Saskatchewan Advances Development of Women’s Unit at Regina Provincial Correctional Centre

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 10, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan is moving forward with the development of a new Women’s Unit at the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre, a key initiative under the 
    2025-26 Provincial Budget aimed at enhancing correctional infrastructure and addressing capacity challenges within the system.

    “This is a critical step in ensuring our correctional facilities meet the evolving needs of our communities,” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said. “By investing in this project, we are enhancing the infrastructure necessary to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of female offenders.”

    To ensure the project’s success, the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement is preparing to procure professional and consulting services to support the project’s development. The team of external services will help oversee the planning, design, and construction phases, ensuring that the facility meets the highest standards of safety, security and inmate care.

    “This new facility will make a real difference, not just by helping relieve pressure on our correctional system but also by allowing for more space, better programming and stronger supports for women in custody,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod, K.C., said. “Together with the Saskatoon Correctional Centre expansion scheduled to open this year, these new builds will help us create opportunities for individuals to take steps toward a better path in life.”

    This project is part of a broader commitment to improve safety for correctional staff, offenders and the public. The new Women’s Unit will provide a women’s correctional facility in the southern part of the province and will offer programs tailored to the needs of female inmates, supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.

    The project is currently in the early planning phase, with further details to be announced as development progresses.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Protecting Canada’s livestock industry with a new vaccine bank

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Canada is making significant progress towards the creation of a dedicated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank, which will build on existing protections for the livestock industry and equip producers with another tool to control and eliminate the disease should an outbreak occur.

    Following a competitive procurement process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, awarded contracts to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Biogénesis Bagó SA to supply multiple types of vaccine products and develop Canada’s first FMD vaccine bank. This FMD vaccine bank complements Canada’s current access to vaccines through the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, ensuring readily available vaccines for Canadian producers.

    FMD is a highly contagious and severe disease that affects cattle, sheep, swine, and other cloven-hoofed animals. An FMD infection can cause painful blisters that make it hard for animals to eat, walk, and produce milk, leaving them weak and sick.

    Preparedness efforts, including building a Canadian FMD vaccine bank, are key to protecting Canadian animals and agriculture. Having a ready supply of FMD emergency vaccines will strengthen our ability to respond effectively to an outbreak should one occur. It could also reduce the number of cases and the duration of the outbreaks. 

    Collaboration between Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments along with stakeholders plays a key role in Canada’s FMD prevention and preparedness plans. These efforts, combined with Canada’s existing strict import requirements, on-farm biosecurity measures, and disease surveillance, continue to protect the health of Canadian animals and the economic prosperity of our producers and farming communities.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Nine Albertans to receive Alberta’s highest honour

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Melfort Hospital Receives Upgrades as Province Continues Investment in Rural Health Facilities

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 10, 2025

    On Monday, June 9, 2025, Rural and Remote Health Minister Lori Carr visited the town of Melfort as part of her Saskatchewan summer tour. Minister Carr met with healthcare professionals in the community and toured two of the local healthcare facilities. 

    “It was a pleasure to meet with many of the medical staff in Melfort while touring their respective healthcare facilities, where I was able to get a real sense of their working environment,” Minister Carr said. “Our visit was very positive, and I want to extend my sincere appreciation for their contribution and invaluable service to the health care system.”

    Government continues to prioritize timely access to high quality healthcare services, as well as recruitment and retention of physicians, nurses and other allied healthcare professionals. 

    As part of Government’s capital funding plan, both Melfort Hospital and Parkland Place recently received new chillers. The sewer system was also recently replaced at Melfort Hospital and a project to upgrade the operating room airflow system is currently in procurement. This is a total investment of approximately $1.3 million over the past two budget years.

    In 2024-25, surgical capital funding of $163,800 was earmarked to purchase an advanced surgical microscope that will allow Melfort’s visiting specialists to perform more ear, nose and throat (ENT) procedures.

    Additionally, beginning in this year’s budget, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has entered a five-year lease agreement for new endoscopy equipment for a cost of $264,000 per year.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    Shannon Gilbert
    Health
    Regina
    Phone: 306-787-4083
    Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca
    Cell: 306-537-3594

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple services deliver powerful features and intelligent updates to users this fall

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple services deliver powerful features and intelligent updates to users this fall

    June 10, 2025

    UPDATE

    Apple services deliver powerful features and intelligent updates to users this fall

    New features include AutoMix and updates to Lyrics in Apple Music; preferred routes and Visited Places in Apple Maps; easy-to-track orders with Apple Intelligence in Apple Wallet; the introduction of Digital ID; and more

    With the release of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26 this fall, Apple is bringing exciting new features and adding more intelligence across its services, delivering even greater everyday functionality to users. This includes an enhanced listening experience in Apple Music; easier navigation with preferred routes and Visited Places in Apple Maps; new ways to make and track purchases with Apple Intelligence in Apple Wallet; customized playback experiences with Apple Podcasts; a refreshed boarding pass in Wallet; the introduction of Digital ID; and more.

    “Apple’s services are integral to many parts of a user’s day, and we’re excited to bring features that pack even more power and fun into their everyday moments,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “These updates will help users better navigate and explore the world around them with Apple Maps, offer an enhanced Apple Music experience, elevate how they shop with Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, and so much more.”

    “AI and machine learning are a core part of what makes Apple’s services feel so personal and intuitive to our users around the world,” said Jeff Robbin, Apple’s vice president of Services Engineering. “They love the ease and simplicity that intelligent features like natural language search and App Store review summaries have brought, and we’re excited to continue adding thoughtful, tailored experiences to Apple’s services — including AutoMix, which mixes songs like a DJ in Apple Music, the option to use Enhance Dialogue to isolate voices and make them sound clearer in Apple Podcasts, and more.”

    Apple Music Introduces AutoMix, Upgrades to Lyrics, and More

    Apple Music delivers an elevated listening experience with AutoMix, which mixes one song into the next, just like a DJ. Using AI to analyze audio features, it crafts unique transitions between songs with time stretching and beat matching to deliver continuous playback and an even more seamless listening experience.

    This fall, Apple Music brings Lyrics Translation, which lets users understand the meaning of their favorite songs, and Lyrics Pronunciation, which enables users to sing along when lyrics are in another language. The new features use machine learning to translate lyrics — with fine-tuning from language experts — to ensure the emotion, cultural context, and lyrical intent are fully preserved.

    With Sing, the sing-along experience reaches a whole new level, allowing users to transform iPhone into a handheld microphone for Apple TV and have their voice amplified as they belt out their favorite songs with friends. And with real-time lyrics and visual effects that light up the screen, Sing reaches a new level of fun.

    Additionally, users can pin their favorite music to the top of their Library in Apple Music for easy access.

    Apple Maps Gets More Intelligent and Personalized with Preferred Routes and Visited Places

    Apple Maps makes everyday life easier with new enhancements that help users navigate their preferred routes and keep track of places they’ve previously visited, all while protecting user privacy.1 iPhone can now use on-device intelligence to learn and understand the routes users take between the places they frequently visit, like home and work. The Maps widget then shows users a preview of their commute so they know what to expect before they leave, and commute notifications alert users of significant delays and offer alternate routes, even before their journey begins.

    With Visited Places, users can allow iPhone to intelligently detect the places they visit and spend time in — like restaurants or shops — and they’ll automatically be saved to Maps. Users can search for places they’ve visited, and easily share them with family and friends. Visited Places are built with privacy in mind; they’re protected with end-to-end encryption, cannot be accessed by Apple, and can be easily removed with just a swipe.

    A Customized Playback Experience with Apple Podcasts

    Apple Podcasts delivers more customization to the listening experience, including a wider range of playback speeds and Enhance Dialogue. Users will be able to find the perfect listening speed for them, with speed options from 0.5x to 3x, and save their preferred setting for each show. Using real-time audio processing and machine learning, users can turn on Enhance Dialogue to hear speech more clearly over background sounds.

    New Ways to Track Orders with Apple Intelligence and Apple Wallet, and Make Purchases with Apple Pay

    Apple Wallet now uses Apple Intelligence to automatically identify, summarize, and display order tracking details from emails sent from merchants or delivery carriers. This works across all orders, giving users the ability to see their full order details, progress notifications, and more, all in one place.

    Additionally, Apple Pay expands the ability to pay with rewards and installments to in-store purchases for added flexibility and choice. Users can view and pay with rewards — as well as access installment loan offers from eligible credit or debit cards — when making an Apple Pay purchase in person with iPhone.

    The ability to access installments from credit and debit cards, including from pay-over-time providers, when making an in-store Apple Pay purchase will roll out in the U.S. with Affirm, Cash App Afterpay, Klarna, Synchrony, and U.S. Bank; in the UK with Monzo and Klarna; and in Canada with Klarna. The ability to redeem rewards for in-store purchases with Apple Pay will be available beginning in the U.S. with Synchrony and U.S. Bank.2

    Send and Receive Money in Group Chats with Apple Cash

    Apple Cash provides a convenient way for users to request, send, and receive money directly within group conversations in Messages, making it easier to settle up after dinner or pay friends back for concert tickets.3 Users can send money to an individual or request money from everyone in the group.

    More Convenient Travel with a Refreshed Boarding Pass Experience and Digital ID in Wallet

    In Apple Wallet, a refreshed boarding pass experience delivers rich, relevant information straight to users’ fingertips with Live Activities that offer real-time updates about their flights. For added convenience, users can also share their flight’s Live Activities so friends and family can stay up to date on their journeys.

    Refreshed boarding passes also allow users to conveniently access Maps to navigate airports and explore local recommendations, all in one place from their pass; quickly use Find My to track important items and report lost baggage; view key services on an airline’s app, such as seat upgrades and standby lists; and more. Refreshed boarding passes will be available starting with Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Jetstar, Lufthansa Group, Qantas, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Australia.

    Digital ID offers a secure and private new way for users to store and present their ID information using their iPhone and Apple Watch. Users can seamlessly create and add a Digital ID to Apple Wallet using a U.S. passport.

    With REAL ID implementation in effect, at launch, Digital ID provides another way for users to conveniently and securely present an ID in person at select TSA checkpoints for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. Digital ID is not a replacement for a physical passport, and cannot be used for international travel and border crossing in lieu of a U.S. passport. Like all IDs in Apple Wallet, this new solution takes advantage of the privacy and security features already built into iPhone and Apple Watch.

    Additionally, Verify with Wallet on the Web enables users to seamlessly and securely present their eligible driver’s license or state ID in Wallet to websites for age and identity verification, starting with Chime, Turo, Uber Eats, and U.S. Bank, as well as the Arizona MVD, Georgia DDS, and Maryland MVA.

    Ready-Made Custom Plans Unlock Consistent Routines in Apple Fitness+

    Custom Plans in Apple Fitness+ make it simpler than ever to follow a personalized schedule, automatically creating plans based on users’ workout and meditation preferences, including their top activities, durations, trainers, music, and more.

    To keep users motivated, Stay Consistent provides a premade schedule of activities that matches their current routine. With Push Further, users receive a plan that increases the time of each day’s workout sessions — or even adds another day — making it perfect for those looking to challenge themselves. For anyone new to Fitness+, Get Started provides a ready-made plan built from selected interests or popular activities, giving users a helpful starting point. Additionally, Custom Plans are now centrally located in a dedicated Plans page.

    A New Daily Puzzle Brings a Fresh, Friendly Challenge to Apple News+

    Apple News adds Emoji Game to Apple News+ Puzzles, joining Crossword, Mini-Crossword, Quartiles, and Sudoku. Emoji Game brings to life one of users’ favorite ways to communicate in a fun and engaging way, with players challenged to use emoji to complete three phrases, with the goal of solving the puzzle in as few moves as possible. Users can share puzzles, track stats and streaks, and compete with others through Game Center leaderboards. Emoji Game features a daily puzzle available in the U.S. and for English-speaking users in Canada, and can be accessed from the Following tab in the News app.

    Apple’s services make everyday activities more personal, productive, and enjoyable, and these new features and additional intelligent updates continue to deliver thoughtful, tailored experiences to users across the globe.

    Availability

    The Apple Intelligence features detailed require supported devices, which include all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad and Mac models with M1 and later that have Apple Intelligence enabled and Siri and device language set to the same supported language: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese (simplified). More languages will be coming by the end of this year: Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (traditional), and Vietnamese. For more information, visit apple.com/apple-intelligence. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions, and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.

    1. Preferred routes and Visited Places are not available in all regions.
    2. Available on cards from participating banks and card providers in certain markets. Subject to eligibility and approval. In the U.S., Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Any card used in Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer.
    3. Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., is a service provider of Green Dot Bank for Apple Cash accounts. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Learn more about the terms and conditions. Only available in the U.S. on eligible devices.

    Press Contacts

    Heather Norton

    Apple

    heather_norton@apple.com

    Kimberly Mai

    Apple

    k_mai@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The world needs bold, equitable climate action at the 2025 G7 summit

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sharon E. Straus, Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

    As climate change and disrupted weather patterns impact countries around the world, leaders must act to mitigate the negative effects on public health.

    Leaders from six western countries and Japan will soon gather in Kananaskis, Alta., for the Group of Seven (G7) meeting from June 15 to 17, 2025. In the lead-up to this meeting, the Royal Society of Canada hosted the Science 7 (S7). This is an engagement meeting of the leading academies of the G7 member countries.

    Following discussion and deliberation, three statements aimed at advancing science for society were published, entitled Advanced Technologies and Data Security, Sustainable Migration and Climate Action and Health Resilience.

    One of us (Sharon Straus) oversaw the S7 statement on Climate Action and Health Resilience. This statement draws attention to the health impacts of climate change and recommends several mitigation strategies.

    Wide-ranging health impacts

    Experts on health and climate change have outlined the growing impact of delayed climate action. The data are clear. Extreme weather events such as heat, floods, droughts and wildfires are having wide-ranging health impacts.

    In the 10 years between 2014-2023, there was a 167 per cent increase in heat-related deaths in those aged 65 years and older compared with the 10 years between 1990-99. Extreme weather events also directly impact food and water security, as well as infectious diseases and chronic diseases.

    The health consequences of climate change are not only the result of environmental factors. Of equal importance are recent decisions eliminating funding for programs that mitigate the risks of climate change.

    Consider for example, the multiple threats to recent progress in eliminating malaria. The World Malaria Report published in December 2024 by the World Health Organization estimated that 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million malaria deaths were averted between 2000 and 2023.

    Now, many countries anticipate a malaria resurgence. Antimalarial drug resistance, mosquito resistance to insecticides, changes in temperature and humidity affecting mosquito survival and the emergence of new mosquito species linked to climate change — combined with the recent abrupt funding freeze from the United States — are leading to a perfect storm.

    Economic impact of climate change

    The economic burden of climate change, which includes more health-care use, lost productivity, adaptation and mitigation expenses — to say nothing of the costs of rebuilding — is massive.

    Much of that burden is borne by those who live in low- and middle-income countries (80 per cent of the world’s population) and who are the lowest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions.

    To put this in perspective, in 2021, the United Nations Environment Program estimated the costs of annual adaptation for vulnerable countries at US$70 billion and predicted this would increase to US$140-300 billion by 2030.

    In addition to the costs of adaptation aimed at reducing vulnerability to climate change, there are the costs associated with losses resulting from climate change. The 2024 Lancet Countdown estimated that the average annual economic losses due to extreme weather-related events reached US$227 billion between 2019-2023. This value exceeds the gross domestic product of approximately 60 per cent of the world’s economies.

    What about Canada?

    In Canada, warming is happening at twice the global rate with resulting heat, wildfires and floods. There is also evidence of significant impacts on mental health and chronic diseases, leading to an increased need for health care.

    Indigenous communities, older adults and those who have experienced homelessness are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Indigenous Peoples, especially those living in remote and northern areas, are particularly vulnerable.

    Currently there are 37 long-term and 40 short-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities across Canada. The lack of safe, clean drinking water can exacerbate climate-related food and water insecurity and lead to infectious disease transmission.

    The number of people experiencing homelessness is growing and many of these individuals are over 50 years old. These older adults are physiologically 15-20 years older than their housed counterparts and are at higher risk of chronic diseases, including those exacerbated by climate change.

    Similarly, frail older adults are at higher risk of health effects of climate change. It is worth remembering the impact of poor air quality and lack of air conditioning during the COVID-19 pandemic on those living in long-term care homes.

    Climate change costs health-care systems more each year. The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices recently estimated that health-related hospitalizations will increase by 21 per cent by mid-century. Our health systems are not prepared for this.

    In addition, the costs of death and reduced quality of life from heat-related climate change is estimated to rise between $3 billion and $3.9 billion by the middle of this century. Factoring in other impacts such as those from air pollution, flooding and wildfires, the total estimated costs are in the tens to hundreds of billions.

    S7’s recommendations

    The S7 statement on Climate Action and Health Resilience includes seven recommendations. Addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on populations who are particularly vulnerable and investing in innovative solutions are among them. Particularly critical are societal and political innovations that involve affected communities, including Indigenous communities.

    The S7’s climate and health resilience recommendations include:

    • Developing and optimizing climate change mitigation strategies to transform health and social services (such as early warning infectious disease systems and biomonitoring).

    • Developing new regulations nationally and internationally to transform health, public health and social services, increasing their readiness and safeguarding health from climate change impact.

    • Providing economic and regulatory incentives to foster adaptation and resiliency of health systems.

    • Investing in innovative solutions (including vaccine development for emerging diseases, wastewater surveillance) to mitigate climate change and its health risks.

    The G7 summit is an opportunity to centre climate change discussions and act on the S7 recommendations. Bold investment in innovations that address the health challenges resulting from climate change will benefit us all and drive new economic activity and resilience.

    Climate change is a health issue, a social justice issue and an economic issue, and the time to act is now. Scientists, policymakers, clinicians and the public must work together.

    Sharon E. Straus receives research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

    Françoise Baylis is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

    – ref. The world needs bold, equitable climate action at the 2025 G7 summit – https://theconversation.com/the-world-needs-bold-equitable-climate-action-at-the-2025-g7-summit-256876

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President reaffirms commitment to global diplomacy 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to global diplomacy, describing the upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit as a critical opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and promote the country’s leadership within the G20.

    Speaking to members of the media during a visit to Sefako Makgatho Primary School in Saulsville, Pretoria, the President confirmed that South Africa had been officially invited to attend the G7 by Canada, this year’s chair of the summit.

    “Yes, we are going to the G7. We’ve been invited by Canada, who are the conveners, who are the head of the G7 this time around. I’m hoping that when we meet the various leaders of the G7, we’ll be able to interact meaningfully with them,” President Ramaphosa said.

    The President outlined a number of key bilateral engagements scheduled on the sidelines of the summit, including meetings with the Chancellor of Germany, the Prime Minister of Canada, and the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

    “The G7 gives us an opportunity to go and propagate our message, the message about the presidency of South Africa’s G20 and how we want to see great outcomes of the G20. We’re going to use it as a platform to begin to consolidate what we want to have in November when the leaders’ summit takes place here,” the President said on Tuesday.

    President Ramaphosa is set to jet off to Canada, Kananaskis from 14-17 June to attend and participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit. 

    READ | President Ramaphosa to attend G7 Leaders’ Summit in Canada

    Reflecting on the US working visit

    Reflecting on his recent visit to the White House in Washington DC, President Ramaphosa dismissed criticism of the trip, saying it was a strategic move to reset relations with one of South Africa’s key trading partners.

    “We do confirm that our visit to the White House in the United States was a moment where South Africa set out to reset the relationship with the United States, and I do believe that we have achieved that. 

    “Many people were very critical of our going there…and some were even suggesting that we were summoned. We were not summoned. In my telephone conversation with President Trump two weeks earlier, I said, I want to come and see you. And immediately conceded to that, and later they gave us a date. So that is not summoning, it is us taking the initiative that we want to go and see him,” the President said. 

    He said there was engagement that was taking place between the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition and the Department of International Relations. “So, we’ve opened the way for us to engage seriously with the United States. And on the other hand, we were also going to talk about trade matters, and that is now underway,” the President said. 

    He added that the White House meeting was also used to underscore the importance of President Trump attending the upcoming G20 Summit, which South Africa will host in November. 

    The President added that President Trump had “immediately conceded” that the G20 is not fully effective without the participation of the United States. 

    “For us, it’s important as a nation to reposition ourselves in the very turbulent geopolitical architecture or situation that we have, and that is why it was important to go to the United States, as we will go to many other countries, both on our own continent, in the Middle East and in Asia and in Europe as well. 

    “We are a country that is exposed and has relations with many countries around the world, and where the challenges and problems, we should immediately take action to correct those,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ places travel ban on extremist Israeli politicians

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New Zealand has joined Australia, Canada, the UK and Norway in placing travel bans on two extremist Israeli politicians, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.

     The bans will prevent Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from travelling to New Zealand.

     “Our action today is not against the Israeli people, who suffered immeasurably on October 7 and who have continued to suffer through Hamas’ ongoing refusal to release all hostages.  Nor is it designed to sanction the wider Israeli government.

     “Rather, the travel bans are targeted at two individuals who are using their leadership positions to actively undermine peace and security and remove prospects for a two-state solution.

     “New Zealand is a long-standing supporter of the two-state solution. Ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have severely and deliberately undermined that by personally advocating for the annexation of Palestinian land and the expansion of illegal settlements, while inciting violence and forced displacement.

    “New Zealand’s consistent and historic position has been that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are a violation of international law. Settlements and associated violence undermine the prospects for a viable two-state solution.”

     Today’s targeted sanctions are consistent with New Zealand’s approach to other foreign policy issues, Mr Peters says.

     “New Zealand has also targeted travel bans on politicians and military leaders advocating violence or undermining democracy in other countries in the past, including Russia, Belarus and Myanmar.”

     The international community is overwhelmingly in favour of a future Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution, Mr Peters says.

     “The crisis in Gaza has made returning to a meaningful political process all the more urgent. New Zealand will continue to advocate for an end to the current conflict and an urgent restart of the Middle East Peace Process.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Minister of National Defence in response to the Auditor General of Canada’s report on Delivering Canada’s Future Fighter Jet Capability 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 10, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Following the tabling of the Auditor General of Canada’s (AG) report on Canada’s fighter force, the Minister of National Defence, The Honourable David McGuinty, issued the following statement:

    “I welcome the AG’s report on the administration of the fighter project. It lays out the tireless efforts by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Government of Canada to implement the fighter capability on time.

    “As articulated in Canada’s 2017 defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, and reaffirmed in our 2024 defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada is investing in a modern fleet of fighter jets to support RCAF operations now and into the future.

    “The aim is to provide the RCAF with a fighter fleet that will be capable, lethal, survivable, upgradeable, resilient, and interoperable with our allies’ and partners’ fleets. This will enable Canada to continue to meet its North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commitments, and execute any other missions assigned to Canada.

    “The Government of Canada takes these findings seriously, and is taking several steps to address the AG’s recommendations:

    • We have put in place an approved and updated risk management plan to formally and regularly identify all known Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) risks ensuring there are appropriate mitigation strategies in place.
    • We will update and refine a master implementation plan to manage project activities in accordance with the Integrated Master Schedule. As with all major projects, the plans for the FFCP are evergreen, and will continue to be monitored and updated when required.                                           
    • We will review the FFCP cost estimates on an annual basis, or more frequently should significant issues be identified.
    • Additionally, we will communicate on milestones achieved on discrete projects in order to be transparent in public reporting.

    “The Future Fighter Capability Project value— which includes the costs for 88 fighter aircraft, associated equipment, sustainment set-up and services, training and information services, as well as construction of Fighter Squadron Facilities—has increased since initial estimates.

    “The increased cost to the FFCP is the result of external economic conditions driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, including global supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and increased inflation and foreign exchange rates. In combination with increased global tensions and related impacts on the availability and demand for materials, we would not have been able to deliver the full scope of this project under our previous budget. This increase included additional contingency funding to enable our ability to better mitigate potential economic risks and uncertainty in the future.

    “We will continue to work closely with our partners to actively manage costs throughout the duration of this project to ensure that the best value is being provided to Canadians. The FFCP represents the greatest investment in the RCAF since the Second World War. This project will provide Canada with an invaluable air defence capability that will continue to support the RCAF well into the future.

    “It is critical to note that Canada needs fighter aircraft to protect the sovereignty of Canadian airspace and ensure the safety and security of Canadians. Through the NORAD alliance, the RCAF makes substantial contributions to continental defence, generating the vital capabilities required to detect, deter, and defeat threats to Canada and, by extension, North America. Abroad, fighter aircraft are a critical contribution to NATO operations or other Coalition operations, where they operate to deter aggression or conducting air campaigns.

    “Additionally, I would like to highlight that the Government of Canada is currently reviewing the defence procurement system, including examining internal processes used by the Department of National Defence to define requirements and approve projects, and looking at the broader set of rules, regulations, and policies that govern military procurement. This effort will clarify mechanisms to facilitate the timely delivery of military equipment and look at how best to leverage existing programs to strategically invest in the domestic capacity building.

    “I will ensure that the AG’s recommendations are fully integrated and that the best value continues to be provided to Canadians.”

    Associated Link

    2025 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister Lightbound in response to the Auditor General’s report on her performance audit of real property management

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 10, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec               

    Today, the Auditor General of Canada presented her report on the performance audit of real property management, which examined the management of the government’s office space portfolio, as well as the management of the Federal Lands Initiative.

    I welcome the findings of the Auditor General’s report and thank her for her important work on this file. Our government remains fully committed to fairness, openness and transparency in the management of federal real property.

    In general, the report found that the government has encountered delays in achieving the target of reducing its office space portfolio by 50%, and that a lack of information from some federal tenants is impeding this work.

    The report also found that the Federal Lands Initiative, under the leadership of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), is on target to meet its housing affordability, energy efficiency and accessibility targets.

    The Auditor General makes recommendations for Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC). Our government accepts all of the recommendations.

    In particular, I welcome the recommendation that PSPC improve its public reporting on progress toward achieving the 50% reduction of its office portfolio by 2034. The department recently shared an update on its website and will provide updates on results annually going forward.

    My department also remains committed to working with federal departments and agencies to improve data collection so that we can better achieve our office space portfolio targets.

    The report recommends that TBS assess its capacity to resume the work of the former Centre of Expertise for Real Property. While the funding for this centre has concluded, TBS will continue to support departments in the management of real property and, based on available capacity, will seek opportunities to address outstanding priorities from the Horizontal Fixed Asset Review.

    Finally, the report recommends that HICC improve its reporting mechanisms and review its current tools and measures to ensure alignment with the goals of the Federal Lands Initiative. HICC will continue to work in collaboration with CMHC to report results on a quarterly basis through the National Housing Strategy Progress Report. HICC and CMHC will also work together to explore measures to ensure projects support housing that is affordable in communities that need it.

    I am committed to working closely with TBS and HICC to implement the Auditor General’s recommendations in an open and transparent way and will provide updates on our government’s progress toward reducing the federal office footprint.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister Lightbound in Response to the Auditor General’s Report on its Performance Audit of Professional Services Contracts

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 10, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec             

    Today, the Auditor General of Canada released her report on the Performance Audit of Professional Services Contracts, which included all professional services contracts awarded, and payments made by federal organizations to GC Strategies and other companies incorporated by its co-founders.

    I welcome the findings of the Auditor General, and the Government of Canada remains committed to maintaining fairness, openness and transparency in federal procurement.

    In March 2024, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) suspended the security status of GC Strategies Inc., which precluded it from participating in all federal procurements with security requirements. In addition, PSPC also suspended the company from all professional services contracts and contract vehicles administered by the department. Last week, GC Strategies was determined to be ineligible from entering into contracts or real property agreements with the Government of Canada for 7 years under the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy.

    The results of this report are in line with previous internal and external audits and reviews relating to professional services contracts and other procurements. While the report did not make any new recommendations, the Government of Canada has taken significant actions on past recommendations and continues to take strong steps to improve oversight and management of federal procurement.

    PSPC is transforming and modernizing how the department procures professional services by simplifying existing mandatory procurement tools, while addressing the audits and reviews completed between 2023 and 2025. This includes measures to mitigate procurement risks, improve contract management practices and encourage the use of business approaches that focus on comprehensive solutions to achieve best value from the private sector.

    To date, the department has taken the following actions on previous recommendations from the Auditor General, including:

    • improving evaluation requirements to ensure resources are appropriately qualified
    • requiring increased transparency from suppliers around their pricing and use of subcontractors
    • improving documentation when awarding contracts and issuing task authorizations
    • clarifying work requirements and activities, and specifying which initiatives and projects are being worked on by contractors

    Our new government remains committed to strengthening federal procurement practices. We also expect public servants and departments to operate with the highest standards of integrity when procuring professional services to support their program delivery. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom on measures targeting Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 10, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Today, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom have announced sanctions and other measures targeting Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

    Settler violence is incited by extremist rhetoric which calls for Palestinians to be driven from their homes, encourages violence and human rights abuses and fundamentally rejects the two-state solution. Settler violence has led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole communities.

    We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution which is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion.

    Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous. These actions are not acceptable. We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity. This is why we have taken this action now – to hold those responsible to account. The Israeli Government must uphold its obligations under international law and we call on it to take meaningful action to end extremist, violent and expansionist rhetoric.

    The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel’s security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas.  Today’s measures are targeted towards individuals who in our view undermine Israel’s own security and its standing in the world. We continue to want a strong friendship with the people of Israel based on our shared ties, values and commitment to their security and future.

    Today’s measures focus on the West Bank, but of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza. We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid. There must be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. We will continue to work with the Israeli Government and a range of partners. We will strive to ensure an immediate ceasefire, the release now of the remaining hostages and for the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid including food. We want to see a reconstructed Gaza no longer run by Hamas and a political pathway to a two-state solution.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New sheriffs begin service to uphold safety in B.C. courthouses

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    A graduating class of 33 sheriffs is preparing to start their careers, helping keep people safe as they access court services throughout B.C.

    Niki Sharma, Attorney General, welcomed the graduates from the Justice Institute of British Columbia’s spring class at a ceremony on Monday, June 9, 2025. They will be assigned to work in provincial courthouses, including Fort St. John, Nelson, Terrace and the Lower Mainland.

    “Sheriffs play a critical role in our justice system, ensuring access to justice is preserved and keeping the people who use our courts safe and protected,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “We recognize and appreciate the dedication shown by each graduate. The sheriff-recruit training program is challenging and rigorous, and we celebrate their achievements and commitment to serving and protecting our communities.”

    Sheriffs maintain a safe environment for everyone, delivering justice services in 90 Provincial Court locations. They are highly trained peace officers who provide protective services for the judiciary, the Crown, defence, court staff, the public and all participants in the justice system. Sheriffs also protect court users, transport accused and convicted people to and from correctional institutions, and perform other duties. Without sheriffs, court matters cannot proceed.

    The spring class will continue training until July 8, 2025. Their first day on duty will be July 9, 2025. The next sheriff-recruit training class will start training on July 14, 2025.

     “We are proud to welcome 33 new deputy sheriffs to the BC Sheriff Service,” said Roger Phillips, acting chief sheriff, and executive director, BC Sheriff Service. “I know they will contribute to the safety of B.C.’s justice system by applying the skills and knowledge gained during the rigorous recruit training.”

    The BC Sheriff Service (BCSS) is recognized as an international leader in providing protective and enforcement services for the justice system. The BCSS is the oldest law-enforcement agency in B.C.

    The Province is collaborating with BCSS to enhance recruitment, retention and training. BCSS is focusing on deployment and growth opportunities, and implementing a more competitive pay and benefits framework for sheriffs.

    The Province is highlighting key investments this week that strengthen B.C.’s court system and improve access to timely justice. From appointing new judges to training and graduating more sheriffs and opening new court services, these efforts ensure B.C.’s courts are safer, more efficient and better equipped to serve people in the province.

    Learn More:

    To watch a video about working as a B.C. sheriff, visit: https://youtu.be/rdhf8trOoSM

    To explore career opportunities with the B.C. Sheriff Service, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/careers-myhr/job-seekers/featured-careers/deputy-sheriff

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 11, 2025
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