Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, will join the Honourable Cory Deagle, PEI Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture to make an announcement regarding support for tourism in Prince Edward Island.
North Rustico, Prince Edward Island · September 26, 2024 · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, will join the Honourable Cory Deagle, PEI Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture to make an announcement regarding support for tourism in Prince Edward Island.
Date: September 27, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Eliyahu Wellness Centre 20 Recreation St. North Rustico, PE
Contacts
Connor Burton Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
April Gallant Senior Communications Officer Department of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture for the Province of Prince Edward Island aldgallant@gov.pe.ca
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, to announce federal support for businesses, communities, and organizations in developing and sharing their local tourism products for visitors from across Canada and around the globe.
Joining Minister Boissonnault will be Shae Bird, CEO, Indigenous Tourism Alberta; Traci Bednard, CEO, Explore Edmonton; Juanita Marois, CEO, Métis Crossing; and Allen Jacobson, Cultural Manager, La Cité Francophone.
Speakers will be available to answer questions from the media following the remarks.
Date: Friday, September 27, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. (MT)
Location: Room 107 Edmonton EXPO Centre 7515 118 Ave NW Edmonton, Alberta
Please use Entrance 5.
Complimentary parking is available: please register your license plate by scanning a QR code upon entry into the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
Thousands of people commit suicide annually in the U.S. The IAM’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is helping to spread the word and offering solutions. For more information about the EAP, visit https://iam4.me/eap. If you are in need of consultation, please call the EAP hotline at (301) 335-0735. If you want to learn more about being a mental health advocate in your workplace, please call: (203) 695-4862, or email: Smarcil@iamaw.org.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Cooley, a civil affairs soldier with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Battalion, listens intently during a UN engagement training with the Zambia Defence Force in Chongwe District, Zambia, Sept. 13, 2024. In addition to strengthening ZDF civil affairs capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice. (Courtesy Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL
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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
LUSAKA, Zambia – From September 2-13, 2024, the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa’s (SETAF-AF) civil affairs team in Zambia (CAT Zambia) facilitated a two-week United Nations engagement course for select participants from the Zambian Army. The training, held at the Kenneth Kaunda Peace Training Center in the Chongwe District, focused on preparing trainers within the Zambia Defence Force (ZDF) for future self-taught courses.
The mission supported partner capacity building and enhanced security cooperation between the U.S. and Zambia. In addition to strengthening ZDF capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tessa Snyder, a civil affairs soldier with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Battalion, shakes hands with Zambian Brig. Gen. T. Banda, the commandant for Kenneth Kaunda Peace Training Center, during UN engagement training with the Zambia Defence Force in Chongwe District, Zambia, Sept. 13, 2024. In addition to strengthening ZDF civil affairs capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice. (Courtesy Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL
“The UN engagement platoon ‘train the trainer’ course was beneficial in allowing CAT Zambia to understand how the UN operates within a peacekeeping capacity, and how their use of civil military cooperation and engagement teams is very similar to U.S. Army civil affairs,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Cooley, a civil affairs soldier with CAT Zambia, SETAF-AF.
The course, taught in partnership with the Institute for Security Governance (ISG), builds a sustainable training program within the ZDF by training future trainers who will continue passing on the skills and knowledge acquired during the course. By focusing on a train-the-trainer approach, the team supports AFRICOM’s engagement style: partner-led, U.S.-enabled.
As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), ISG strengthens partner institutional capacity and capability through advising, education and professional development programs such as the engagement in Zambia.
The ZDF also aims to establish a lasting impact, ensuring that their forces remain well equipped for future peacekeeping missions.
1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –Zambia Defence Force soldiers participate in a U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Battalion-sponsored UN engagement training event in Chongwe District, Zambia, Sept. 12, 2024. In addition to strengthening ZDF civil affairs capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice. (Courtesy Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Soldiers with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Battalion join a UN engagement training with the Zambia Defence Force in Chongwe District, Zambia, Sept. 12, 2024. In addition to strengthening ZDF civil affairs capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice. (Courtesy Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Soldiers with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Battalion listen intently during a UN engagement training with the Zambia Defence Force in Chongwe District, Zambia, Sept. 12, 2024. In addition to strengthening ZDF civil affairs capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice. (Courtesy Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL
“Attending this course gave us the opportunity to continue working alongside Zambian soldiers who attended a civil affairs class we instructed earlier in the year,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Behring, a civil affairs soldier with CAT Zambia, SETAF-AF. “During the program, we were able to share best practices through joint discussions, while also learning from the Zambian’s extensive UN experiences.”
The first week of the course included hands-on training, where participants engaged in exercises designed to mirror real-world peacekeeping scenarios. Instructors from CAT Zambia and ISG worked closely with participants to guide them through complex engagements with civil authorities, sharing prior experiences and enhancing their skill sets.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Soldiers with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Battalion join a UN engagement training with the Zambia Defence Force in Chongwe District, Zambia, Sept. 11, 2024. In addition to strengthening ZDF civil affairs capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice. (Courtesy Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Soldiers with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Battalion join a UN engagement training with the Zambia Defence Force in Chongwe District, Zambia, Sept. 11, 2024. In addition to strengthening ZDF civil affairs capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice. (Courtesy Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL
This civil affairs program highlights the importance of sustainable knowledge transfer within defense institutions. In line with AFRICOM’s guidance, the long-term goal is to create a self-sufficient training program that allows the ZDF to continually improve its own operational readiness.
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of AFRICOM, has continually maintained that most of the continent’s nations prefer to solve African problems with African solutions. This engagement is the latest example of U.S. commitment to supporting that goal.
Recent U.S. engagements in Zambia include the African Land Forces Summit 2024, which was held in Livingstone, April 22-26. With 40 African nations in attendance, this year’s theme was “Regional Solutions to Transnational Problems.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Behring, a civil affairs soldier U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Battalion, poses for a photo with Zambian Defence Force participants during UN engagement training with the Zambia Defence Force in Chongwe District, Zambia, Sept. 12, 2024. In addition to strengthening ZDF civil affairs capabilities, the initiative aligns with SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command strategic objectives to expand opportunities in Southern Africa, thereby distinguishing the U.S. as the region’s partner of choice. (Courtesy Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL
Ongoing civil affairs evaluations will provide valuable insights into how future training programs can be adapted to better serve the ZDF’s specific needs. Looking ahead, SETAF-AF plans to continue its support of ZDF training efforts and explore ways to incorporate civil affairs into national and regional operations.
“This engagement helped to highlight the benefits of continued partnership and cooperation,” concluded Behring.
The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) recently concluded its 52nd Convention in Minneapolis Minnesota.
America’s first federal employee union, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), on its 107th birthday, announced the re-election of Randy Erwin as National President and Maximo Alonzo as National Secretary-Treasurer. Erwin and Alonzo were elected by delegates at the Convention.
Watch Video Here.
Any NFFE member is eligible to run for the National President or National Secretary-Treasurer role. Erwin and Alonzo were the only candidates nominated for these positions, and as such, were elected by acclamation. Erwin has served as National President since being elected in 2016. Alonzo has served as National Secretary Treasurer since July of this year.
“I am incredibly humbled to continue leading this union as National President,” said Erwin. “I view each NFFE member as family and I couldn’t be prouder to represent our nation’s dedicated public servants for a third term. Together, we will continue to grow this union, to positively influence policy in Congress, and to fight for NFFE members at thebargaining table.”
“I am thrilled to continue serving this union as National Secretary-Treasurer,” said Alonzo. “Together, we have grown this union at an incredible rate over the past few years and I am excited to continue that momentum. I am honored to have the responsibility of making sure our union’s finances are used intelligently to improve the lives of our members and their families.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2
News Release
Thursday, September 26, 2024
NIH-supported findings pave the way for genetic testing, clinical trials, and therapy development.
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their colleagues have identified a gene responsible for some inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), which are a group of disorders that damage the eye’s light-sensing retina and threatens vision. Though IRDs affect more than 2 million people worldwide, each individual disease is rare, complicating efforts to identify enough people to study and conduct clinical trials to develop treatment. The study’s findings published today in JAMA Ophthalmology.
In a small study of six unrelated participants, researchers linked the gene UBAP1L to different forms of retinal dystrophies, with issues affecting the macula, the part of the eye used for central vision such as for reading (maculopathy), issues affecting the cone cells that enable color vision (cone dystrophy) or a disorder that also affects the rod cells that enable night vision (cone-rod dystrophy). The patients had symptoms of retinal dystrophy starting in early adulthood, progressing to severe vision loss by late adulthood.
“The patients in this study showed symptoms and features similar to other IRDs, but the cause of their condition was uncertain,” said Bin Guan, Ph.D., chief of the Ophthalmic Genomics Laboratory at NIH’s National Eye Institute (NEI) and a senior author of the report. “Now that we’ve identified the causative gene, we can study how the gene defect causes disease and, hopefully, develop treatment.”
Identifying the UBAP1L gene’s involvement adds to the list of more than 280 genes responsible for this heterogeneous disease.
“These findings highlight the importance of providing genetic testing to our patients with retinal dystrophy, and the value of the clinic and lab working together to better understand retinal diseases,” said co-senior author on the paper, Laryssa A. Huryn, M.D., an ophthalmologist at the NEI, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Genetic evaluation of the six patients revealed four variants in the UBAP1L gene, which encodes for a protein that is abundantly expressed in retina cells, including retinal pigment epithelium cells and photoreceptors. More research is needed to understand the UBAP1L gene’s exact function, but scientists were able to determine that the identified variants likely cause the gene to produce protein that lacks function.
Future studies will also be informed by the fact that variants appear to be distinctive to geographic regions. Five of the six families in this study were from South or Southeastern Asia, or Polynesia, regions that have been underrepresented in genetic studies.
The research was co-led by investigators at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London.
The study was funded by the Intramural Research Program at the NEI, and by NEI grants R01EY022356 and R01EY020540. Researchers at the University of Liverpool (UK), and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tx also contributed to this report.
This press release describes a basic research finding. Basic research increases our understanding of human behavior and biology, which is foundational to advancing new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Science is an unpredictable and incremental process— each research advance builds on past discoveries, often in unexpected ways. Most clinical advances would not be possible without the knowledge of fundamental basic research. To learn more about basic research, visit https://www.nih.gov/news-events/basic-research-digital-media-kit.
NEI leads the federal government’s research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs to develop sight-saving treatments and address special needs of people with vision loss. For more information, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.
NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
Reference
Ullah E, Lin S, Lu J, Bender C, Webster AR, Malka S, Madusudhan S, Rees E, Williams D, Agather AR, Cukras CA, Hufnagel RB, Chen R, Huryn LA, Arno G, Guan B. “Biallelic loss-of-function variants in UBAP1L and nonsyndromic retinal dystrophies,” September 26, 2024, JAMA Ophthalmology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.3836
A new children’s home in Leicester is preparing to open its doors.
Holly House, in Aylestone, has been converted from two former council houses to create a new home with places for up to five young people, between the ages of eight and 17.
It is the first brand new children’s home to be built in the city in 40 years.
The new home includes four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a semi-independent flat for young people leaving care. The building also has communal recreational spaces, a dining room for everyone to eat together, a modern kitchen, lounge, offices and staff sleeping areas. The building is heated with air source heat pumps and has 30 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof.
Along with a home that will open next year in the west of the city, Holly House will help to increase the city council’s in-house capacity from six children’s homes, caring for up to 36 children and young people, to eight homes caring for up to 47.
The estimated cost for creating the new home is around £1,100,000, of which £500,000 has come from the Department for Education’s children’s homes capital funding programme.
There are currently more than 50 children and young people from Leicester living in residential children’s homes run by other organisations, with an average cost of £5,800 per week. Many of these are not located in the city.
The average direct cost at a council-run home in Leicester is around £5000 a week.
Cllr Sarah Russell, deputy city mayor for social care, health, and community safety, said: “It has been great to see Holly House taking shape and it’s wonderful to see that it is now almost complete.
“We consider investing in new children’s homes to be an important use of our resources, so that we can help to support and protect those who need it most.
“Children’s homes should feel like they are just that – a home – and I’m pleased to say that Holly House has been designed and finished with that in mind. We look forward to it opening its doors and becoming a welcoming home for some of Leicester’s most vulnerable children and young people.”
The vast majority of children who can’t live with their birth families live with foster carers but increasing demand for children’s social care services in recent years – a trend across the country – means there has been a significant rise in demand for residential children’s homes.
This has led to an increase in the use of external providers, but by building homes itself, the council can help children to maintain local connections and relationships, and tailor support to their individual needs.
This year, the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative celebrated ten years of working together to lead as responsible space actors.
The CSpO Initiative generates and improves cooperation and coordination of national security space activities. It has grown to ten partners: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Space is integral to our shared prosperity and security. Space systems and services require assured access to, and freedom to operate in space.
However, the security and stability of space are at risk. We are committed to ensuring the lawful and sustainable use of space, and the prevention of conflict.
Throughout the years, we have pursued collaborative efforts to meet rapidly evolving challenges and opportunities, and to deliver resilient, agile, secure, and interoperable capabilities.
The United States of America, as a CSpO Initiative partner, looks forward to continued cooperation to demonstrate responsible behaviors and the promotion of a secure, stable, and safe space domain.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army announced today that it has exceeded fiscal year 2024 recruiting goals for the Active component. The Army will achieve at least 55,300 total accessions for FY24 and will place approximately 11,000 soldiers in the Delayed Entry Program for FY25. By comparison, the Army achieved 50,181 accessions in FY23 and added 4,661 in the Delayed Entry Program.
“The U.S. Army’s recruiting force achieved our 55,000 accessions goal more than a month ahead of schedule, and we are on track to have more than 11,000 in our delayed entry program by the end of the month. This is more than double the goal we set for our delayed entry program and will allow our recruiting efforts for next year to start strong right out of the gate,” said Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth.
In October 2023, Wormuth and General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army, unveiled a series of sweeping changes to the Army’s recruiting enterprise, including an expanded focus on a larger share of the labor market and the creation of a specialized talent acquisition workforce.
“We are committed to continue to transform Army recruiting to enable our great recruiters to excel,” said George. “The Army is a great place to serve, we need to make is easier for potential recruits to join.”
The Army took tangible steps during FY24 to implement the recruiting enterprise transformation. U.S. Army Recruiting Command graduated its initial class of Talent Acquisition Technician warrant officers earlier this year and in August 2024 announced that 25 noncommissioned officers from the first cohort of Talent Acquisition Specialists will embark on a four-month Training with Industry program to learn specialized techniques from industry partners. Even as this new model is implemented, the Army overhauled the curriculum for its current recruiters and provided them with better training and outreach tools.
The Army also surged medical providers to Military Entrance Processing Stations across the country to help make the enlistment process more efficient. In January and February, the Army provided 62 medical providers – including doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants – and 46 medical technicians to 33 processing stations across the country. Surge personnel enabled USAREC to yield approximately 300 more enlistments per week compared to the same period last year.
Throughout FY24, the Army Enterprise Marketing Office built upon the “Be All You Can Be” branding campaign while also leveraging innovative new technologies to reach expanded audiences and help identify candidates interested in military service.
In addition to new recruiting initiatives, the Army also expanded its successful Future Soldier Preparatory Course, which helps potential recruits overcome academic and physical fitness barriers to service, while not sacrificing quality for quantity. Earlier this year, the FSPC added two additional companies at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and two more at Fort Moore, Georgia. As of mid-September, 13,206 trainees in the active component completed the FSPC and entered Basic Training.
“This year, we introduced new initiatives to attract qualified candidates and make the enlistment process more efficient, while our recruiters continued to connect with the communities they serve, share their Army stories and inspire others to serve as well,” said Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, commanding general of USAREC. “I’m incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication.”
Plans have been approved for the UK’s ‘first of a kind’ purpose-built majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care social rent housing scheme in Whalley Range, south Manchester.
Great Places Housing Group’s proposals for the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road, Whalley Range were approved at Manchester City Council’s planning meeting today (26 September). The brownfield site has remained vacant since the hospital was demolished in September 2019.
Commenting on the planning approval actor Ian McKellen, LGBT Foundation patron and committed supporter of the Pride in Ageing Programme, who visited the Russell Road site earlier this year, said:
“It’s wonderful to see Manchester leading the way yet again. Our community deserves to be able to age in a safe and welcoming environment where we are accepted for who we are, and Russell Road will do just that. Congratulations to everyone involved in the project and I look forward to following its progress and seeing the scheme open!”
The plans for the majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme have been co-produced in partnership with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation.
The development will deliver 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments for older people within a high-quality sustainable building offering a safe and welcoming feel and inviting presence whilst designed to respect the surrounding conservation area. The low-carbon scheme will include shared communal facilities including lounges, treatment rooms and landscaped gardens and will deliver an overall net gain of trees on the site.
Extra Care housing schemes look to increase the housing opportunities for older people to move into high-quality accommodation, with flexible care and support services available to meet changing needs and encourage independent living.
The residents at Russell Road will be aged 55 years or over, with the majority of residents being members of the LGBTQ+ community from Manchester. Living alongside allies, the aim is to provide an open and inclusive place of psychological safety for the older LGBTQ+ community.
The site will also include a neighbouring development of shared ownership homes; with 40 homes in a mix of one- and two-bed apartments. The shared ownership product will deliver an alternative option to access the housing ladder, helping to address affordability issues in the area. The shared ownership apartment block has private amenity space and adds to the sense of place this development offers the existing community.
The development will be funded by Great Places, complimented by grant funding from Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Brownfield Housing Fund. The scheme is intended to be constructed by Rowlinson Constructions Limited and the wider design team includes Triangle Architects and Mosaic Town Planning.
Work on the new site will start later this year.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:
“This is a real celebratory moment for this development, which has been in the works for some years and is designed to meet a clear need for quality, social rent housing for LGBTQ+ older people to live in safety, dignity and as part of a welcoming and supportive community.
“We have helped build hundreds of Extra Care homes across Manchester in recent years to meet demand for older people to live in their later lives, many with care needs provided on site, but this is the first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care community in the UK. It’s a landmark development in every sense and we look forward to getting on site later this year.”
Paul Martin, CEO at LGBT Foundation, added:
“Today’s announcement marks a significant and welcome milestone and LGBT Foundation are delighted by the news that plans for Russell Road have been approved.
Older LGBTQ+ people are currently at greater risk of discrimination, poor health outcomes and social isolation, and many do not have the support networks of family and friends. This scheme aims to address these challenges and create a safe and affirming environment where our community can age with pride.
We’re looking forward to transforming our vision into a reality and continuing to work alongside partners and the Community Steering Group to improve the lives of older LGBTQ+ Mancunians and ensure Manchester continues to be a place where LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves.”
Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, said:
“We’re delighted to receive planning approval for this groundbreaking project. Our Russell Road development is a significant step forward in providing high-quality, inclusive housing for members of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community.
“This low-carbon development of 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments aims to offer flexible care and support services for residents aged 55 and over. Our collaboration with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation has been crucial in shaping a scheme that meets residents’ needs and enhances the local area.
“Additionally, the adjacent shared ownership block will help address affordability challenges in Whalley Range.
“We look forward to starting work on site and continuing our work with all partners to make this vision a reality.”
Martin York and Susan Duncan-Wood, Joint Co-chairs of the Russell Road Community Steering Group (CSG), said:
“The Community Steering Group is proud to be involved in this pioneering development which has received planning approval.
“As representatives of the LGBTQIA+ community, future residents and the locality in which the scheme is based, we aim to ensure all voices are heard and perspectives considered to create an environment where older people can live their lives authentically and with dignity.”
Three improvement projects that are part of Aberdeen’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) have gained national recognition for their impressive partnership working to help improve people’s lives across the city.
Details were shared at the meeting of the Community Planning Aberdeen (CPA) Board yesterday (Wednesday 25 September).
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard, CPA chair, said: “The successful delivery of the updated Local Outcome Improvement Plan depends on Community Planning partners working together for the benefit of all people living in the city.
“National recognition of the positive impact our improvement projects are having highlights how by working together we can all play a part in helping to make Aberdeen a place where everyone can prosper.”
The Employment Support for People Leaving Prison project aims to increase the number of prison leavers engaging with employability support by 50% by 2026.
It’s success to date saw Aberdeen City Council receive the COSLA’s 2024 Excellence Award for Achieving Better Outcomes For The Most Vulnerable in Partnership.
The partnership between the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), pub company and brewer Greene King, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), and the Council sought to improve people’s chances of successfully reintegrating into their communities upon leaving prison, reduce reoffending rates, and help mitigate recruitment challenges for the hospitality sector.
The 12-week academy programme saw people in custody trained to work in a replica Greene King kitchen, by professional chefs. Equipment for the kitchen was funded by Aberdeen City Council’s ABZWorks.
The Business Start Up project led by Business Gateway, has seen 193 referrals of individuals in receipt of universal credits consider starting a business since the start of the programme with 91 individuals starting a business. A total of 58 businesses have been referred for the Council’s Seed Funds with ABZWorks to date.
The Business Start Up project was a finalist for the Best Collaborative Working Initiative (with other public sector or third sector) Award at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards 2024.
The Reaching Out to People at Risk and Removing Barriers to Accessing Drug Support improvement project led by Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP) is a collaboration between Aberdeen City Council, ACHSCP, Alcohol and Drugs Action, Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, Police Scotland, and NHS Grampian. The project aims to reduce by 20% the number of drug related deaths in the city’s priority neighbourhoods by increasing the distribution of Naloxone by 25% year-on-year by 2026.
A new Naloxone App was formally launched on 30 August. The app allows people to find the nearest stockists of Naloxone, videos on how to use Naloxone and respond to an overdose and links to support services.
All secondary schools have staff trained in administering Naloxone in addition to Level 6 first aid, giving them a qualification as well as the ability to save someone’s life.
The project was a finalist for COSLA’s 2024 Excellence Awards for Tackling Inequalities and Improving Health and Wellbeing Award.
The reports that went before Community Planning Aberdeen today can be viewed here.
Community Planning Aberdeen is the name for the local partnership of public, private and third sector organisations and communities working together to improve people’s lives across Aberdeen.
Photo: Aberdeen City Council wins the COSLA 2024 Excellence Award for Achieving Better Outcomes For The Most Vulnerable in Partnership. Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard (second from left) and members of the winning partnership project accept the prestigious award on behalf of the Council.
This three-day annual mega event in the international tax community attracted about 500 tax officials, tax experts, as well as representatives from international organisations, academic institutions and enterprises from nearly 50 countries and regions.
They discussed emerging tax issues and exchanged tax administration experiences under the theme “Deepening Tax Administration Cooperation for High-Quality Belt & Road Development”.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Commissioner of Inland Revenue and 5th BRITACOF Chairman Tam Tai-pang said the knowledge and insights gained from the forum are invaluable for respective jurisdictions to improve the tax systems and enhance the quality and capacity of tax administrations, which are vital to economic development.
He pointed out that the Belt & Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism had achieved significant outcomes and reached a consensus on the work of deepening tax administration co-operation of the Belt & Road jurisdictions in the future.
The 6th and 7th BRITACOF will be held in Nepal in 2025 and Indonesia in 2026.
Oxford residents are being encouraged to apply for the Home Upgrade Grant before the deadline on 31 October 2024.
Residents are being encouraged to apply for free energy efficiency upgrades by applying for the Home Upgrade Grant. The grant offers free energy efficiency measures including:
Cavity wall insulation
External wall insulation
Loft insulation (including top-ups)
Underfloor Insulation
Solar panels
Solar hot water system
Air source heat pump
Eligibility
Oxford residents are eligible for the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) if they:
are living in a home not heated by mains gas (including homes that are heated oil by coal, LPG, or electric heating), or if your home is connected to the grid for cooking, but use off-gas grid heating, it is also eligible
and have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G
and have a household income of no more than £36,000, or £20,000 after mortgage/rent
or if they live in the most economically deprived areas (IMD 1-3)
The funding is open for residents who own their home, rent, or are a private landlord with tenants.
Residents can apply online or calling 0800 107 8883.
The Home Upgrade Grant is being delivered by Agility Eco, on behalf of the Council.
Reducing Oxford’s carbon emissions
Houses are the largest contributor to carbon emissions in Oxford, making up 29% of total emissions. Privately rented and owned homes account for 79% of residential housing emissions.
In Oxford, it is estimated that most homes that are not heated by gas use electric heating as their main source of heat.
Other grant funding options
Other grant funding options are available for residents to make improvements to their home for energy efficiency, also known as retrofitting.
Last year, the Council launched a web guide for residents to find out more about the process and funding options that are available to get started on their retrofit journey.
Residents can find out more about the Home Upgrade Grant, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Energy Company Obligation fund, which range from funding for people on low incomes and living in hard to heat homes, as well as general grants for homeowners.
“With the arrival of the autumnal weather, more people will be starting to think about how they can heat their homes this winter. If your home is not heated by gas, then you can benefit from a more energy efficient home thanks to the Home Upgrade Grant. Apply as soon as possible to feel the benefit this winter.” Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
September 25, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) issued the following statement after voting against another bloated government spending bill:
“This Continuing Resolution continues a broken process. It extends the Biden-Harris administration’s reckless spending. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should be embarrassed that he refused to call for even a single vote on an appropriations bill before yet another shutdown faceoff. We must return to regular order and get this runaway spending under control.”
Source: Republic of France in English The Republic of France has issued the following statement:
President,
I would like to thank Slovenia for organizing this open debate, and the UN Secretary-General, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for their remarks.
Our Council had to meet at a time when the world was being struck and divided by major conflicts of an exceptional gravity. And unfortunately, these conflicts are growing in number. It is the responsibility of our Council to resolve them and it needs to do more.
Our first responsibility is to enforce the rules that govern the international order and to enforce the Charter of the United Nations.
This means condemning without hesitation Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, its neighbour. As I said yesterday: the Ukrainian people have been subjected to atrocities, war crimes, and indiscriminate bombardments on civilian targets on a daily basis for over 900 days. They are unjustly living in fear and suffering.
This means condemning all violations committed by Russia. This means demanding that Russia end its war of aggression on Ukraine immediately and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. The General Assembly made this demand seven times in no uncertain terms.
We have a responsibility to support Ukraine in its right to self-defence. France and its partners will continue to support Ukrainians as long as it takes in its efforts to stop Russia’s aggression and to find a just peace. And a just peace can only be based on compliance with our common Charter. It is at the core of President Zelenskyy’s peace plan that we support.
We have a responsibility to uphold the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations in the face of an unequivocally illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression. Of this I am certain: these principles are dear to all of us, particularly the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Without these principles, it is the strong who make the law and not the law that governs the strong. Without these principles, borders would no longer be intangible. Without these principles, States would no longer have security and everyone would fear an invasion by their neighbour. We must uphold these principles and enforce them. You all understand that compliance with international law is our compass everywhere.
We have clearly said since the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October, which we condemn in the strongest terms, that Israel has the right to defend itself against aggression and the duty to do so in compliance with international law, particularly international humanitarian law. Everyone must respect this law, including Israel.
The war in Gaza must stop now. For civilians, for the men and women of Gaza whose suffering must end; for the hostages who must finally be released, and for stability in the region, which is currently deeply shaken.
The situation is untenable. The number of civilian victims is intolerable. In the face of this humanitarian disaster, it is vital to establish an immediate and permanent ceasefire and to enable the massive unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid as a matter of urgency. The civilian population’s needs are huge.
To ensure a lasting end to the crisis in the Middle East, it is vital to reach a political settlement of the conflict between Israel and Palestine as a matter of urgency. This settlement is a two-state solution. You can count on France to continue to take the helm, with its partners, in promoting a critical and irreversible revitalization of peace efforts.
It is also vital to now begin building the future of Gaza, the “day after”. It is up to the Palestinian Authority, which we support, to exercise its full authority over Gaza. For this to become a reality, the United Nations has and will have a central role to play.
President,
These vital demands must not be paid lip service but met with action. And I will say it again: our collective responsibility is to ensure this happens. That is why France will continue to work within this Council to sketch out this path.
I asked that a meeting be held this evening on Lebanon, as hundreds of Lebanese people, including children, have lost their lives in Israel’s strikes. At a time when this Council must call for de-escalation to avoid regional conflagration with devasting outcomes. Our Council must call for reason, which requires restraint and a ceasefire, something that it has been doing for a long time.
President,
No war, no humanitarian tragedy should be forgotten.
In Sudan, more than half the population is suffering from acute food insecurity. Famine has taken hold in the Zamzun camp in North Darfur. The situation is tragic. And we must remain mobilized. To raise awareness of the international community and to work together to address this tragic situation in Sudan, we held a conference in Paris where we raised more than €2 billion, €900 million of which from the European Union and its Member States, to support civilian populations in Sudan and its neighbouring countries. Many of our States signed a declaration of principles calling for Parties in the conflict to cease their hostilities, abide by their commitments and deliver on their obligations with respect to international humanitarian law and human rights. We have called on all States to refrain from any committing any acts that would fuel the conflict. I reiterate this appeal here today.
Many diplomatic efforts have been made in recent months to end the crisis. These initiatives have produced humanitarian advances, such as the issuance of visas for humanitarian workers and the re-opening of the Adre border post. These advances are encouraging but are still not enough given the urgency of the situation. Together, we must do more.
President,
As members of this Council, and more broadly as members of the United Nations, we must work to ensure the Security Council is capable of fully exercising its prime responsibility in upholding international peace and security.
That is the reason for France’s clear, long-standing and constant support for a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, based on the belief that expansion of both membership categories is required.
We have been tirelessly advocating greater representation of Africa on the Security Council for 20 years, including among the permanent members. That is a key aspect of the G4 model, which we support, just as we support the aspirations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan to gain permanent membership.
In this same spirit of responsibility, France and Mexico promote an initiative that requires no amendment of the Charter. It is a commitment, an essential one, not to use a veto in the event of mass atrocities. That is a major expectation of the UN’s Member States. We owe it to them to progress on this matter.
President,
The principle of humanity must prevail. This year, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and I would like to recall that they are universal and apply in all circumstances in the event of armed conflict.
We need to ensure they are enforced. We will reiterate this at high level, with the ICRC which is their guarantor. We need to enforce international humanitarian law. Because respect for these rules saves lives: the lives of women, children and men who suffer in war; the lives of the humanitarian personnel who try to save them, and whose immense courage I salute; and the lives of those, too, who will otherwise live with a terrible injury in their memory.
There is only one standard: the law, made up of our Charter and our Conventions, which put humanity first.
You can count on France to enforce this standard.
Our Council, too, must enforce it in all circumstances.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressmen Steven Horsford (NV-04)
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Dependent Income Exclusion Act of 2024 to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for families with dependents who are working part-time, attending school, or enrolled in job training programs. The bill would adjust the household income calculation used to determine eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, which would ease financial burdens and expand health coverage.
“While I’ve worked to lower prescription drug costs and expand healthcare tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act, families in Nevada and across the country continue to face unacceptably high health insurance costs,” said Congressman Horsford. “This bill will help parents and guardians and make healthcare more affordable and attainable by easing the unintended costs on families with working children. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Subcommittee on Health, I will continue to push for policies that expand access to affordable, quality healthcare to all families.”
“Congressman Horsford is a champion of hardworking families and making health care affordable,” said Brad Woodhouse, Executive Director of Protect Our Care.“The Dependent Income Exclusion Act will ensure that families with children who pick up a part-time job or enroll in a job training program aren’t penalized by having to pay more for their health care. This bill demonstrates how Democrats are working tirelessly to give families more room to breathe and to ensure that people can afford the health care they need to thrive.”
The Dependent Income Exclusion Act would address the healthcare affordability gap by allowing families to exclude a portion of their dependents’ income from the modified adjusted gross income used to determine eligibility for premium tax credits. Specifically, this exclusion applies to dependents under the age of 18 or those under 24 who are part-time students, apprentices, or participants in job training programs. The excludable income is capped at 15 percent of the filer’s income.
By expanding the availability of premium tax credits, this legislation will allow previously ineligible families to access ACA subsidies and increase the credit for those who already qualify. The bill aims to ensure that families with young adults working toward a brighter future—whether through education, apprenticeship, or job training—aren’t penalized when it comes to affordable healthcare access.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)
WASHINGTON — Yesterday, House Democrats held a hearing on Project 2025’s impacts on American families, highlighting House Resolution 1386, Rep. Lauren Underwood’s (IL-14) resolution to officially condemn Project 2025 and the sweeping harm that it would do to our democracy.
Project 2025, otherwise known as the Presidential Transition Project, is a 900+ page “playbook” for the first 180 days of an incoming Trump administration. It is a step-by-step guide for dismantling critical agencies that serve Americans, restructuring the executive branch, and installing Trump loyalists and operatives at nearly every level of government.
If enacted, Project 2025 will radically alter the lives of every American.
The blueprint would strip away fundamental freedoms, destroy checks and balances on presidential powers, and lead to rising costs on health care, child care, housing, groceries, and gas.
Project 2025 would:
End Social Security and Medicare as we know it, forcing hardworking Americans to work longer for less.
Devastate working families across America, raising costs, lowering wages, destroying our environment, and dismantling access to health care.
Remove protections for people with pre-existing health conditions, raise prescription drug prices, ban Medicare from negotiating lower drug costs, and put a new tax on health insurance for people who get coverage at work.
Criminalize abortion nationwide, restrict access to birth control, and even ban fertility services like IVF.
Allow government agents to monitor pregnancies to potentially prosecute parents if they miscarry.
Cut school meals for kids, end Head Start for preschoolers, slash public school funding, and fire teachers across the country.
Raise costs and slash investments for working families to give huge new tax breaks to billionaires, CEOs, and the biggest corporations.
Threaten America’s national security and our ability to compete across the globe.
Destroy fundamental checks and balances on Presidential powers.
At the hearing, Underwood said, “As one of the only nurses in Congress, to me, Project 2025’s direct attacks on our health care are some of the most alarming parts of this 920+ page document.
This plan is extreme in the truest sense of the word. It calls to eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions like myself, proposes new taxes on people who get their health coverage from work, and would cause the cost of prescription drugs to skyrocket.
To put it simply: Donald Trump’s Project 2025 will make more Americans sick and leave them without the coverage they need to take care of themselves and their families.
Few people understand these threats better than our providers, and I am so pleased to be joined today by a fellow Registered Nurse, Vicki Gonzalez. Vicki has been an RN since 1986. For the past 20 years, she has worked as a wound and ostomy nurse at one of our nation’s largest hospitals, Jackson Memorial in Miami. Vicki has seen firsthand how the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid have brought high quality, affordable care to so many people who previously couldn’t afford to go to the doctor, and instead ended up deathly sick in the emergency room. And Vicki knows how dire it would be for these people to once again have to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need.”
To view Underwood’s full remarks visit this link. Full text of House Resolution 1386 can be found here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)
“Courtney Wild and other victims of Jeffrey Epstein have been wrongly denied standing to invoke their rights. This legislation would fulfill the original intent of the CVRA and prevent such gross miscarriages of injustice from being repeated,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Crime victims deserve dignity and adequate support rather than further victimization at the discretion of federal prosecutors. Based on cases like Courtney’s, this bill is necessary to ensure there is no ambiguity in the law and all crime victims are afforded the rights they have always deserved.”
Washington DC – Yesterday, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Burgess Owens (UT-4) introduced the bipartisan Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act to ensure victims of crime are treated with dignity, have the support they need while navigating criminal proceedings, and avoid further victimization.
The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act was spurred by Wild’s lawsuit that asserted the rights of victims who fell prey to Jeffrey Epstein and were kept in the dark as federal prosecutors hashed out a secret and shockingly lenient plea deal. Wild fought in court for over 10 years before a Federal District Court finally declared that her rights, and the rights of other victims were violated under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA). However, in April 2020, the Eleventh Circuit of Appeals rejected her lawsuit, in part because the federal government never filed charges against Epstein, so due to ambiguities in the law, the CVRA was never triggered.
This legislation would empower the Attorney General to implement the necessary reforms to ensure that all crime victims are afforded their rights under the CRVA. These reforms include the clarification that victims have the right to be informed by federal prosecutors of any plea or pretrial agreement that could impact their ability to secure justice and requiring the court to order a remedy if a victim’s rights have been violated, among other reforms.
U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21) and Lois Frankel (FL-22) joined as original cosponsors.
The following organizations have endorsed this legislation: Courtney Wild (survivor-advocate), Brad Edwards, and Paul Cassell (Wild’s Lawyers); Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), Victims’ Rights Law Center (VRLC), National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), and the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI).
“Courtney Wild and other victims of Jeffrey Epstein have been wrongly denied standing to invoke their rights. This legislation would fulfill the original intent of the CVRA and prevent such gross miscarriages of injustice from being repeated,” saidRep. Wasserman Schultz. “Crime victims deserve dignity and adequate support rather than further victimization at the discretion of federal prosecutors. Based on cases like Courtney’s, this bill is necessary to ensure there is no ambiguity in the law and all crime victims are afforded the rights they have always deserved.”
“The Courtney Wild case exposed glaring gaps in our justice system—a web of legal loopholes and procedural barriers that prevent victims from sharing their voices and downplays the horrors they’ve faced, particularly when powerful people are involved. Thanks to Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s tireless advocacy for this bipartisan effort, we can ensure that no victim is forced to navigate the justice system in silence again,” said Rep. Owens
“Jeffrey Epstein’s victims were kept in the dark as a sweetheart deal was hashed out, allowing a prolific sexual predator to go free with just a slap on the wrist. This bill ensures a more victim-centered process so that such a miscarriage of justice never happens again,” saidRep.Frankel.
“As the co-founder of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am proud to support this legislation. It is imperative that we make necessary reforms to the Crime Victims Rights Act to ensure that victims receive the support they deserve and have their voices heard in the justice system,” said Rep. Costa.
“The current CVRA leaves most victims without legal representation and without any real recourse or remedy for injustice. This amendment is crucial for the advancement of victim’s rights in the United States,” said Courtney Wild, survivor-advocate.
“We are extremely grateful for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Congressman Burgess Owens’s (R-UT) leadership on the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act. This bill would ensure the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) provides equitable and meaningful rights to survivors of crime,” said Bridgette Stumpf, co-founder and executive director of Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC). “Additionally, this bill would ensure consistency in how victims experience the criminal legal system and strengthen access to independent crime victims’ counsel–creating an environment of accountability within the criminal process.”
“The National Center for Victims of Crime proudly fought side by side with then-Senator Biden to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 30 years ago. It is now our privilege and honor to stand with two incredible Representatives, Rep. Schultz and Rep. Owens, as they take up the battle for victims through the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act. This crucial act expands VAWA and VOCA in protecting victims’ dignity, not only by ensuring that crime victims’ rights are enforced, but also by providing accountability and remedies when those rights are violated. We thank Rep. Schulz and Rep. Owens for their work on this crucial bill, and we commit to advocating for and serving victims across the nation. Only when victims’ rights are automatic and unquestioned will our victory be achieved,” said Renee Williams, Esq., executive director of the National Center for the Victims of Crime (NCVC).
“The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act is an incredible step forward in protecting the rights of federal victims of crime. NOVA commends Ms. Wild for courageously advocating for federal victims of crime to be treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity throughout the criminal justice process. We thank Ms. Wild and U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Burgess Owens (R-UT) for championing this landmark bill,” said Claire Ponder Selib, Executive Director, National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA).
“Twenty years ago the CVRA was passed with the intention of making crime victims meaningful participants in criminal justice by ensuring that they have rights from the time of their victimization and that they have access to attorneys at no cost to help protect those rights. We are so grateful to Representative Wasserman Schultz for continuing to push to make these promises a reality,” said Meg Garvin, Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute.
Read the entire bill here. A one-pager on the bill is available here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)
Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian Mast (R-FL) today introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen key protections for fisheries and promote responsible management of forage fish. The Forage Fish Conservation Act improves protections for forage fish – including herring and shad – that support marine ecosystems as well as other recreationally and commercially important species such as tuna, salmon, and cod. These populations have experienced substantial decline because of human activity, which threatens the viability of marine ecosystems as well as opportunities for recreational fisherman. Currently, there are few management measures in place to address this decline.
“Safeguarding fish stocks from further decline is critical to protecting marine ecosystems and strengthening coastal economies,” said Dingell. “This legislation’s science-based conservation framework for forage fish will both help promote sustainable fisheries and preserve marine wildlife for the enjoyment of future generations.”
“On the Treasure Coast we know firsthand how irresponsible management of our marine ecosystem devastating ripple effects on our environment can have, food supply, fishing industry and overall economy,” Mast said. “This is important and bipartisan sustainability legislation that will help protect our coastal health, environment and economy.”
The bill is endorsed by the National Audubon Society and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
“Forage fish are essential for seabirds, larger fish, marine life, and our economy,” said Romaric Moncrieffe, marine conservation policy manager for the National Audubon Society. “This legislation builds on nearly 50 years of successful fisheries management to protect these small but important fish.”
“The Forage Fish Conservation Act seeks to strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Act by prioritizing the protection of forage fish, which are crucial for sustaining recreationally important fish populations, and ensuring that fisheries management supports vibrant fishing communities and a healthy marine ecosystem,” says Joel Pedersen, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “We thank Representative Dingell and Representative Mast for their commitment to bolstering our coastal economies and ecosystems.”
The Forage Fish Conservation Act builds upon the successes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary federal law governing marine fisheries management. To improve the conservation of forage fish and strengthen the marine ecosystem, the legislation:
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop a science-based definition for forage fish in federal waters with advice from the fisheries councils;
Assesses the impact a new commercial forage fish fishery could have on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem prior to the fishery being authorized;
Account for predator needs in existing management plans for forage fish;
Specifies that managers consider forage fish when establishing research priorities;
Ensures scientific advice sought by fishery managers includes recommendations for forage fish;
Conserves and manages river herring and shad in the ocean; and
Preserves state management of forage fish fisheries that occur within their jurisdiction.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug Lamborn (5th District of Colorado)
Washington, D.C. –Yesterday, Congressman Doug Lamborn joined his House Republican colleagues in passing H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions for Fiscal Year 2025, by a vote of 341-82. This legislation prevents a government shutdown while authorizing the appropriate federal funding for defense, disaster relief, and more.
“I am pleased to see this continuing resolution passed,”said Congressman Lamborn. “Now more than ever, we cannot afford to shut down the government. Failing to properly fund critical defense operations emboldens our adversaries and endangers our national security. We will still continue to advocate for conservative priorities as the 118th Congress comes to a close. It remains imperative that reckless spending in Washington is avoided.”
H.R. 9747 will extend funding at current FY 2024 levels through December 20, 2024. In light of recent events, the bill also appropriates an additional $231 million to the Secret Service to ensure they have the resources and manpower to protect all major candidates, including former Presidents. This funding is contingent on the timely transmission of a Mission Assurance Report from Secretary Mayorkas regarding the attempted assassination of President Trump.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan
WASHINGTON –Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03) is proud to announce Muskegon Heights will receive over $65K in an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant will help equip the department with the necessary tools, training, and personnel to maintain emergency preparedness.
“When West Michiganders are in crisis, our fire departments are often the first to respond,” said Scholten. “We are so fortunate to have our brave firefighters supporting our community through natural disasters and other emergencies. These investments will ensure the Muskegon Heights Fire Department is at peak preparedness and equipped with the most up-to-date, lifesaving technologies.”
“We express our deepest gratitude for Congresswoman Scholten’s continued support of the City of Muskegon Heights and for her assistance with securing the AFG Grant for the Muskegon Heights Fire Department,”said Muskegon Heights Fire Chief Shawn Roberson. “Her dedication to improving our community and ensuring the safety of its residents is truly commendable. We are grateful for her unwavering support.”
“I want to commend our Muskegon Heights Firefighters who took the initiative to research, prepare, and submit this grant,”said Muskegon Heights Mayor, Bonnie McGlothin. “The new exhaust system is needed and will contribute to the overall health and safety of our firefighters. In the past 18 months, the City has purchased several new fighting apparatuses and increased the staffing of its full-time professional firefighters. This is another step in our commitment to provide our firefighters with the equipment and training they need to keep our community safe.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County)released the following statement after voting in favor ofH.R. 9747to keep the federal government open and working for the American people.
“Despite partisan fear-mongering, House Republicans have kept the government funded, open, and working for the American people. While others bicker and play politics, I stay focused on delivering real results for Suffolk County, including securing over $150 million in federal funding for our communities,”said LaLota. “Since taking office, I’ve been proud to rank among the most productive freshman members, passing more bills than 97% of my peers—eight bipartisan bills and 20 amendments through the House. These efforts include protecting the Long Island Sound, addressing the fentanyl and sanctuary city crises, and supporting our small businesses and veterans. My commitment is to put the American people first and improve the quality of life for everyone in Suffolk County.”
To read the full text of the legislation, clickHERE.
Background:
LaLota has consistently and successfully voted to keep the government open, funded, and working for the American people.
Since being sworn into office, LaLota has passed eight of his bills through the House, each of which has earned bipartisan support:
H.R. 3511 – Service Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act
H.R. 4424 – Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act
H.R. 4669 – DOE & SBA Research Act
H.R. 5441 – Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Reauthorization Act
H.R. 5717 – No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act
H.R. 7105 – Women-Owned Small Business Certification & Opportunity Expansion Act
H.R. 7987 – Plain Language in Contracting Act
H.R. 8663 – DETECT Fentanyl & Xylazine Act
Through the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, LaLota secured over $150 million in federal funding that will directly benefit Suffolk County, including millions in Community Project Funding for infrastructure projects, water quality improvements, and wastewater treatment in each of the First Congressional District’s Towns.
H.R. 9747 would extend current government funding through December 20th, 2024, extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, ensure working families have access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, guarantee Veteran, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits continue, provide an additional $231 million for the Secret Servicefor protective operations for Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees in the 2024 Campaign and activities related to National Special Security Events and provide the agency with flexibility to quickly obligate funds for protective operations, and allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flexibility to quickly obligate funds provided by the CR for the Disaster Relief Fund to respond to disasters.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Ivey – Maryland (4th District)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, and Glenn Ivey met Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol with senior representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of the Interior and Maryland Department of Natural Resources to discuss planning for the next stage of the Chesapeake Bay program and restoration efforts. This is a critical time for the Bay and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which was signed in 2014. Many of the goals and outcomes for the Bay had a target of 2025. As this date approaches, the Chesapeake Bay Program is determining how best to meet these goals and outcomes, incorporate new science and strategies, and strengthen the multi-state partnership.
At the meeting, members of the Maryland delegation heard from key federal agency and state leaders working towards the next stage of the agreement. Leading the discussion was Adam Ortiz, who serves as the Administrator for EPA Region 3, which governs the Mid-Atlantic Region. In this role Administrator Ortiz is deeply involved in EPA’s role in the Chesapeake Bay Program. The delegation also heard from Department of Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Matt Strickler, who serves at the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principal’s Staff CommitteeChair. In 2022, the Chesapeake Executive Council tasked its Principal’s Staff Committee with making recommendations for the future of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program’s work. Representing senior state leadership was Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, who directs Maryland’s role in the multi-state partnership and has deep expertise in the stakeholder community.
The planning effort marked a milestone this summer when the Chesapeake Bay Program Beyond 2025 Steering Committee released its Beyond 2025 Draft Report and invited public feedback.
“Team Maryland will always fight for the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, and its restoration is a model for regional, multi-jurisdictional landscape stewardship. It is a model for other regions and other environmental protection efforts at many scales – and it is not simple,” said Senator Cardin. “As the Chesapeake Bay program is recalibrated for the next phase of action, we are committed to securing additional federal resources. We have high expectations for future results.”
“We have a responsibility to protect the Chesapeake Bay – our people, our economy, and our environment depend on it. That’s why we’ve fought to deliver major federal investments to improve the Bay’s health – and while we know they’re making a real difference, the watershed states have more work to do to reach our restoration goals. As we near the Bay Agreement’s 2025 benchmark, we must take stock of the challenges faced in meeting its goals and work together to drive further progress toward a healthier Chesapeake Bay,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“I’ve been proud to work with our delegation to support the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries throughout my career – especially in the past decade since we secured the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement,” Congressman Hoyer said. “I was pleased our delegation could meet with our partners in federal and state government to discuss the progress we’ve made toward fulfilling the various goals we laid out in that agreement and to assess the important work that remains. The Chesapeake Bay is the beating heart of Maryland and a true national treasure, and we will continue working to preserve it for generations to come.”
“Ten years ago, we set aggressive but necessary goals to restore and protect our treasured Chesapeake Bay, which has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach from every level of government,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “As we approach our deadline, we must ensure we are leveraging new technologies and sciences and collaborating with our other watershed states as effectively as possible. I appreciated this opportunity to come together and discuss our long and short-term strategies, especially as my own time in office draws to a close.”
“Today’s discussions provided an opportunity to reaffirm our collective vision for the future of the Chesapeake Bay. It is imperative that the next phase of watershed restoration is centered around achieving goals and outcomes that reflect the current, best available science to ensure the health of our communities, the vitality of our region and a sustainable future for Bay ecosystems and natural resources. We look forward to sustained collaboration with federal, state and local government partners as we continue to support Beyond 2025 planning,” said Congressman Sarbanes.
“Marylanders across our state depend on a healthy Chesapeake Bay — the largest estuary in the United States — for food, recreation, and to make a living,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “Continued collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels is vital to ensure this national treasure flourishes and effective restoration and conservation projects are enacted throughout the Bay and its ecosystem,” he concluded.
“Team Maryland is united in our efforts to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, a treasured natural resource and cornerstone of our local ecosystem,” said Congressman Raskin. “I’m grateful to our EPA and Maryland state government partners for their continued collaboration with the Maryland Congressional delegation to preserve the Bay for generations to come.”
“Protecting the Chesapeake Bay is everyone’s responsibility. We are grateful for our longtime Maryland advocates now on the federal and state level, Adam Ortiz, and Josh Kurtz, respectively. Local, state, and federal partnerships can help keep our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay, available for all to appreciate and partake in. Crabbing, fishing, sailing and otherwise being active in and around its shores are activities we want to cherish well into the future and our actions today will make sure that our kids and grandkids can benefit from the Bay in their tomorrow’s,” said Congressman Ivey.
EPA Region 3 Administrator, Adam Ortiz
“The Moore-Miller administration thanks the Maryland congressional delegation for their continued strong leadership on the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Their efforts have resulted in improvements in water quality and the health of the ecosystem,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “It was an honor today to discuss our plans to focus our work post-2025 on rebuilding habitat, creating resiliency in the face of climate change, and charting a new future for the Chesapeake Bay.”
The Chesapeake Executive Councilconsists of the governors of the six watershed states, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It establishes the policy direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay.
The Principals Staff Committee (PSC) acts as the policy advisors to the Executive Council, accepting items for Council consideration and approval, and setting agendas for Council meetings. Individual members of the PSC arrange and provide briefings to their principals, the Agreement signatories. The PSC also provides policy and program direction to the Management Board.
CRIMINAL CODE (CANADA) (section 672.38) – Effective October 25, 2024, reappoints Maryann Chichak as a member of the Criminal Code Review Board for a term to expire on October 24, 2027.
HONOURABLE MR. ELLIS
237/2024
PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming sections 3(e), 7, 8(b) and (c), 16, 19, 45, 46(a) and 47 of the Police Amendment Act, 2022 in force on March 1, 2025.
238/2024
POLICE ACT (section 61(1)) as amended by Police Amendment Act, 2022 (section 46(a)) – Makes the Police Governance Regulation.
HONOURABLE MR. GLUBISH
239/2024
ALBERTA RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ACT (section 7); Alberta Research and Innovation REGULATION (section 3) – Appoints James Keirstead and Rhea Solis to the board of directors of Alberta Innovates, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2026; appoints Carissa Browning, David Edmonds, Kim Moody and Janet Riopel to the board of directors of Alberta Innovates, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.
HNOURABLE MR. HORNER
240/2024
CREDIT UNION ACT (section 8) – Reappoints Laurene Beloin as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2026; reappoints Camille Bérubé, nominated by Credit Union Central Alberta Limited, as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; appoints Harpreet Kohli as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.
HONOURABLE MR. JEAN
241/2024
MINES AND MINERALS ACT (sections 5 and 11) – Transfers the administration and control of the mines and minerals and the pore space of certain provincial Crown lands to the Crown in right of Canada to be set aside for the use and benefit of the Lubicon Lake Band #453.
242/2024
RESPONSIBLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ACT (section 11) – Effective October 21, 2024, appoints Andrew MacPherson to the roster of hearing commissioners of the Alberta Energy Regulator for a term to expire on October 20, 2029.
HONOURABLE MRS. LAGRANGE
243/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Louise Sharon Mosier as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists.
244/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Tammy McCorkell as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Elaine Maria Andrews, to succeed Terence Bunce, and Nickolletta Adriane Sandie, to succeed Wilma Slenders, as public members to the council of the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists, each for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
245/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Bob Sprague as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Optometrists for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.
246/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Kenneth Letander and Nicola von Hoensbroech as public members to the council of the Alberta College of Pharmacy, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Larry Loven, to succeed Irene Elizabeth Pfeiffer, as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Pharmacy for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
247/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Laura Mae Delfs as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Social Workers.
248/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Gail Hufty as a public member to the council of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Sean Cameron Melrose, to succeed Tamara Jones, as a public member to the council of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
249/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Wilma Slenders, to succeed Tongjie Zhang, as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Dental Assistants for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
250/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Munira Peermohamed as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Denturists for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
251/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Tamara Jones, to succeed Elaine Maria Andrews, as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Psychologists for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
252/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Laura Mae Delfs, to succeed Patricia Pelton, as a public member to the council of the College of Chiropractors of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
253/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Kenneth Hawrelko as a public member to the council of the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Patricia Pelton, to succeed Nickolletta Adriane Sandie, as a public member to the council of the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
254/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Louise Sharon Mosier as a public member to the council of the College of Dietitians of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
255/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Tongjie Zhang as a public member to the council of the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
256/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints William Gaudette as a public member to the council of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Irene Elizabeth Pfeiffer as a public member to the council of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
257/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Mohammad Sajid Khan and Patricia Palechuk as public members to the council of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Alissa Harding, to succeed Jennifer Carscallen, as a public member to the council of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
258/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Jennifer Carscallen as a public member to the council of the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
259/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Terence Bunce as a public member to the council of the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.
260/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Munira Hanifmohamed Peermohamed as a public member to the council of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta.
261/2024
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Larry Loven as a public member to the council of the College of Respiratory Therapists of Alberta.
HONOURABLE MR. LOEWEN
262/2024
PUBLIC LANDS ACT (section 7) – Transfers the administration and control of certain public land to the Crown in right of Canada in full settlement of the Lubicon Lake Band #453 land settlement claim.
HONOURABLE MR. MCIVER
263/2024
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT (section 125) – Makes the Order Annexing Land from the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 to the City of Cold Lake.
264/2024
SAFETY CODES ACT (section 65) – Makes the Certification and Permit (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation.
HONOURABLE MR. NALLY
265/2024
PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming section 5 of the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on October 20, 2024.
266/2024
LAND TITLES ACT (sections 213 (as amended by section 5(11) of Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024) and 214) – Makes the Tariff of Fees Amendment Regulation.
HONOURABLE MR. NEUDORF
267/2024
PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming sections 1, 2(2) to (7) and (9), 4 and 6 of the Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on the date of issue of the Proclamation.
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION ACT (Schedule 13.1, section 6) – Makes the Utilities Consumer Advocate Amendment Regulation.
269/2024
UTILITY COMMODITY REBATE ACT (section 10) – Makes the Utility Commodity Rebate Amendment Regulation.
HONOURABLE MRS. SAWHNEY
270/2024
POST-SECONDARY LEARNING ACT (sections 44 and 56) – Effective September 29, 2024, reappoints Daniel Hugo as a member of The Board of Governors of NorQuest College for a term to expire on September 28, 2027.
271/2024
POST-SECONDARY LEARNING ACT (sections 44 and 56) – Appoints Rana Atta as a member of The Board of Governors of Olds College for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.
HONOURABLE MR. SCHOW
272/2024
TRAVEL ALBERTA ACT (section 4) – Reappoints Juanita Marois as a director of the board of Travel Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.
HONOURABLE MR. SIGURDSON
273/2024
LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY DIVERSIFICATION ACT (section 33) – Makes the Domestic Cervid Industry (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation.
HONOURABLE MS SMITH
274/2024
ALBERTA INVESTMENT ATTRACTION ACT (section 5) – Appoints Ian Gunn as a member of the board of directors of Invest Alberta Corporation for a term to expire on January 30, 2027.
HONOURABLE MS SMITH
HONOURABLE MR. LOEWEN
HONOURABLE MR. AMERY
275/2024
PROCLAMATION – Proclaims certain provisions of the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on the date of issue of the Proclamation and October 15, 2024.
The Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO) wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable hunting season and reminds everyone that a secure firearm is a safe firearm.
“A successful hunt starts with safety,” SFO Deputy Commissioner and Chief Firearms Officer Murray Cowan said. “Respect your firearm, respect wildlife, and respect the environment. Hunting is not just about the harvest; it is about preserving the balance of nature and returning home safely.”
When transporting your firearms, ensure they are not loaded, are kept out of sight, locked securely in a case, or otherwise rendered inoperable (using a trigger lock or cable, or the bolt is removed), and that they are stored separately from live ammunition. Do not leave firearms unattended in your vehicle, and if you must, conceal them and do so briefly while the vehicle is kept within eyesight.
When hunting, ensure you have a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and Hunting and Fishing Licence (HAL) and be mindful of the training that came with those licences. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, always control its muzzle, know your target and what’s beyond it, be aware of your surroundings, and always get permission to access private land.
The SFO is proud of its ongoing relationship with Métis Nation Saskatchewan (MN-S) to advance firearms safety and training for Métis citizens in the province.
“Our partnership with Métis Nation Saskatchewan is being built on trust, respect and a shared vision for the heritage of Saskatchewan,” SFO Commissioner Robert Freberg said. “Together, we are honouring traditional knowledge, while empowering meaningful, long-lasting collaboration, standing as a testament to the power of unity and mutual respect in shaping a brighter future for the province.”
The agreement signed last year outlines specific areas they will collaborate on and ensures funding for a community educator position within MN-S, who will work to educate their community members about firearms safety and storage, licensing and hunting. Thanks to this partnership, the SFO was invited to attend Back to Batoche this summer, where staff had the opportunity to provide firearms knowledge to festival attendees.
The SFO is also pleased to report that the new Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory is yielding positive results.
Since becoming operational, the lab has completed over 100 firearms examinations for police agencies in Saskatchewan, and it has been able to create linkages from crime scenes in Saskatchewan to others in Canada and the United States. The reduced wait times for forensic testing has also positively impacted prosecutions and court timelines, as tests that would have taken months to complete are now being completed before first court appearances occur.
The SFO is committed to its role in enhancing public safety through community outreach and education, promoting safe firearms use and ownership, and advocating for the proud and longstanding heritage of responsible firearms stewardship in Saskatchewan.
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, and those who care for them.
September 26, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and those who care for them.
The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, tabled the Framework for Autism in Canada (Framework) in Parliament today. The Framework outlines principles and best practices to guide national autism policy, programs and activities in Canada. It leverages the Government of Canada’s leadership role to advance best practices that support Autistic people of all ages, their families and caregivers.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) also launched Canada’s Autism Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy is a multi-year action plan that supports federal implementation of the Framework. It outlines federal-specific short- and medium-term initiatives and builds on existing programs and measures to address key priority areas. The Strategy is intended to be updated on a regular basis, as the needs and priorities of Autistic people of all ages living in Canada evolve over time.
Through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial working group, these were developed collaboratively with Autistic people, their families, caregivers, provinces, territories, Indigenous organizations and other stakeholders. Implementation will require coordinated efforts across governments in Canada, as well as many partners, organizations, and individuals whose work touches on autism-related initiatives. The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories to advance the needs of Autistic people in Canada.
Lastly, we officially launched the process for the creation of a National Autism Network today. The Network is intended to bring together the skills and resources of autism organizations and stakeholders, including people with living experience, to support the implementation of activities guided by the Framework and Strategy. We invite eligible organizations to respond to the call for applications for the Network by November 25, 2024.
This sets out a vision to improve screening, diagnosis and services across Canada; strengthen economic inclusion; enhance data collection, public health surveillance and research; increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance; and facilitate access to evidence-informed autism resources and tools.
Autism (also known as autism spectrum disorder or ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. Autistic people may communicate and connect with other people differently, have sensory processing differences, or focus intensely on certain interests or activities. Autistic people may also have other physical, intellectual, learning, or mental health conditions which can introduce further complexities and challenges.
It is estimated that 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 years have been diagnosed with autism in Canada. The Government of Canada is exploring options to measure and report on autism in adults living in Canada. This information will build the evidence base required to inform public health actions aimed at improving the health and well-being of Autistic people across the life course.
Since 2018, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research have invested approximately $88 million in research on autism. This research is increasing our understanding of autism and guiding the development of innovative tools and more effective ways to support people on the autism spectrum and their families.
Budget 2021 provided PHAC with $15.4 million over two years to work collaboratively with provinces, territories, families and stakeholders toward the creation of an autism strategy.
In 2022, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) published an assessment report on autism highlighting gaps in knowledge regarding the needs and outcomes of Autistic adults, including quality of life, activities of daily living, loneliness, and mental health.
The Framework is aligned with other disability related activities, such as the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which was released on October 7, 2022. The DIAP is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion, which embeds disability considerations across Government programs while identifying targeted investments in key areas to drive change.
The National Autism Network will be a non-profit organization, working independently from the Government of Canada to share their skills, knowledge and resources, supporting key autism priorities and providing a forum for ongoing engagement on federal policies and programs. The Network will work directly with provinces and territories on specific initiatives at the provincial/territorial level and coordinate and integrate autism investments, while bringing together the knowledge and experience of local autism organizations, partners and the perspectives of those with living experience. It will also lead targeted national public awareness campaigns and provide sustained, accessible and culturally relevant resources (available online and elsewhere) to support Autistic people in Canada, their families and caregivers.
PHAC hosted two national conferences on autism in November 2022 and August 2024. The first, to bring together people from across Canada to identify potential short-, medium- and long-term priorities for action under an autism strategy and the second, to discuss the Framework’s five priority areas and the actions needed to advance them.
The Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act received Royal Assent on March 30, 2023. This legislation outlines a commitment for the development of a framework designed to support Autistic people in Canada, their families, and caregivers.
Matthew Kronberg Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Mark Holland Minister of Health 343-552-5654
Media Relations Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada 613-957-2983 media@hc-sc.gc.ca
September 26, 2024 Calgary, Alberta Canada Border Services Agency
The Chief Mountain port of entry is closing for the season on September 30, at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST). It will reopen in the spring of 2025.
Due to its high elevation and harsh winters, Chief Mountain only operates from May to September.
Chief Mountain is located along Alberta’s Highway 6 on the boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park. At 1,722 meters, it has the highest elevation of all border crossings in Canada and has long been considered one of Canada’s most scenic ports of entry.
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine.
The Secretary-General and Prime Minister Mustafa discussed the war in Gaza, the urgent need for an agreement on an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages as well as the post war perspective. The Secretary-General also expressed concerns about the tense situation in the occupied West Bank.
They further spoke about the UN support to the Palestinian people, including the irreplaceable role played by UNRWA in Gaza and across the region.
They reaffirmed their shared commitment towards ending the occupation and achieving a viable two-State solution, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of Israel and Palestine, in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions and prior agreements.
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister discussed regional and global issues, the Summit of the Future, as well as the upcoming ASEAN-UN Summit in October, in Vientiane.
Premium income (insurance premiums and other income) of €12.0 billion, up +8.7%
Growth in property and casualty insurance (+5.0%)
Increase in premium income in health and protection insurance (+10.0%)
Strong growth in the savings and pensions business (+20.7%)
Insurance revenue (IFRS 17) of €7.9 billion
Net income of €398 million
Economic operating income of €409 million, impacted by events in New Caledonia and by a better understanding of the seasonality effect
Fairly moderate weather loss experience
Combined non-life ratio of 95.9%
Strong solvency ratio of 190% without transitional measure
Solvency ratio of 249% with transitional measure on underwriting reserves
Group’s IFRS equity of €9.3 billion
Contractual services margin of €3.6 billion
The Board of Directors of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles met on 26 September 2024, under the chairmanship of Laurent Poupart, and approved the Group’s combined financial statements for the first half of 2024. The half-year financial statements underwent a limited review by the statutory auditors.
Activity (insurance premiums and other income)
As at 30 June 2024, Groupama’s combined premium income stood at €12.0 billion, a +8.7% increase from 30 June 2023. The increase came from property and casualty insurance (+5.0%), health and personal protection insurance (+10%), and savings and pensions (+20.7%).
Groupama premium income as at 30 June 2024
in millions of euros
30/06/2024
Like-for-like change (%)
Property & casualty insurance
6,470
+5.0%
Health & personal protection
3,690%
+10.0%
Savings & pensions
1,734
+20.7%
Financial businesses
120
+16.3%
GROUP TOTAL
12,014
+8.7%
In France
Insurance premium income in France as at 30 June 2024 amounted to €10.3 billion, up +8.8% compared with 30 June 2023.
In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €5.3 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +4.6% compared with 30 June 2023. All segments were up, including agricultural (+5.0%), home insurance (+3.9%) and motor insurance (+1.7%).
The health and personal protection business continued to grow (+9.4%) to €3.5 billion as at 30 June 2024, driven by individual health insurance (+5.5%) and growth in group insurance (+15.9%).
In savings and pensions, premium income increased significantly (+24.7%) to €1.5 billion as at 30 June 2024 thanks to strong inflows from unit-linked products. Unit-linked products accounted for more than 60% of premium income in individual savings and pensions.
Abroad
Over the first half of 2024, business reached €1.6 billion, up +7.6% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with 30 June 2023, mainly from the sustained business growth in Hungary (+14.2%) and Italy (+6.1%).
In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €1.1 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +7.2% compared with the previous period. This increase was due to the growth in home insurance in particular (+15.1%), mainly in Hungary and Greece, motor insurance (+5.5%) in Hungary and Italy, and good performance in business and local authorities casualty insurance (+13.5%).
Health and protection businesses grew significantly (+22.0%) to €195 million, benefiting from the growth of the group health and personal protection segments (+42.3%), particularly in Romania and Bulgaria.
Premium income in savings and pensions was stable (-0.3%), with strong growth in unit-linked products (+24.8%) mitigating the decline in euro funds (-33.8%).
Financial businesses
The Group’s premium income was €120 million, including €116 million from Groupama Asset Management and €4 million from Groupama Epargne Salariale.
Results
The Group’s economic operating income amounted to €409 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €612 million as at 30 June 2023.
It came from property and casualty insurance for €181 million (€378 million as at June 30, 2023) and health and protection insurance for €68 million (€182 million as at June 30, 2023). The non-life combined ratio stood at 95.9% as at 30 June 2024, up +4.2 points compared with 30 June 2023. This increase was largely due to the cost of the events in New Caledonia in May and June 2024 as well as the recognition of a seasonality reserve, making it possible to better capture the effects of seasonal fluctuations. Weather claims remained at a fairly moderate level, comparable with the level at the end of June 2023. The operating costs ratio was virtually stable at 28.7% as at 30 June 2024.
Economic operating income in savings and pensions was €208 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €57 million as at 30 June 2023. It benefited from the result of the switch of the share reinsured by Groupama Gan Vie to CNP Retraite in the PREFON Retraite reinsurance treaty, effective 1 January 2024.
Economic operating income amounted to +€20 million from financial businesses and -€68 million from the Group’s holding company business as at 30 December 2024.
The transition from economic operating income to net income includes non-recurring items, in particular the realisation of capital gains or losses, the change in the fair value of financial assets, and financing expenses. Overall, the Group’s net income amounted to €398 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €447 million as at 30 June 2023.
Balance sheet
Group’s equity totalled €9.3 billion as at 30 June 2024 compared with €9.9 billion as at 31 December 2023. This change was mainly due to the redemption in May 2024 of perpetual subordinated bonds issued in 2014 for €871 million, partially offset by the positive contribution of the result. Note that the perpetual subordinated debt issued in early July 2024 for €600 million is not included in the 2024 half-year financial statements.
The Group’s contractual service margin, which represents the deferred future profits of outstanding contracts in savings and pensions and long-term protection, calculated discounted, was stable at €3.6 billion as at 30 June 2024.
As at 30 June 2024, the Solvency 2 ratio, without transitional measure on underwriting reserves, was 190%. The 7-point decrease in this ratio compared with end-2023 was mainly due to the redemption of subordinated bonds issued in 2014, mitigated by the result over the period. The perpetual subordinated debt issued at the beginning of July 2024 is not included in the ratio as at 30 June 2024. Including the transitional measure on underwriting reserves, authorised by the ACPR, the ratio was 249%.
The Group’s financial strength is highlighted by Fitch Ratings, which confirmed in March 2024 the IFS Groupama’s rating of ‘A+’ with a ‘Stable’ outlook.
Group Communications Department
For the financial statements as at 30/06/2024, the Group’s financial information consists of:
this press release, which is available on the website groupama.com,
Groupama Group’s half-year financial report, which will be filed with the AMF on 30 September 2024 and posted on thegroupama.comwebsite on the same day. The English version will be available on 22 October 2024.
About Groupama Group
For more than 100 years, Groupama Group has based its actions on timeless, humanist values to enable as many people as possible to build their lives in confidence. It relies on humane, caring, optimistic and responsible communities. The Groupama Group, one of the leading mutual insurers in France, carries out its insurance and service business activities in ten countries. The Group has 12 million members and customers and 31,000 employees throughout the world, with premium income of €17.0 billion.
Appendix: Groupama key figures
Premium income (insurance premiums and other income)
€ million
30/06/2023 pro forma*
30/06/2024
Change ** as %
> France
9,507
10,339
+8.8%
Property & casualty insurance
5,102
5,335
+4.6%
Health & personal protection
3,195
3,495
+9.4%
Savings & pensions
1,210
1,508
+24.7%
> International & Overseas
1,445
1,555
+7.6%
Property & casualty insurance
1,059
1,135
+7.2%
Health & personal protection
160
195
+22.0%
Savings & pensions
227
226
-0.3%
Total Insurance
10,952
11,894
+8.6%
Financial businesses
103
120
+16.3%
Groupama premium income
11,055
12,014
+8.7%
* Based on comparable data ** Change on a like-for-like exchange rate and consolidation basis
Net income
€ million
30/06/2023
30/06/2024
Insurance – France Insurance – International
545 71
396 62
Financial businesses
15
20
Holding companies
-19
-68
Economic operating income
612
409
Recurring financial margin
-69
31
Others
-96
-43
Net income
447
398
Balance sheet
€ million
31/12/2023
30/06/2024
Group’s IFRS quity
9,862
9,280
Subordinated debts
3,009
2,140
– equity instrument
871
–
– financing debts
2,138
2,140
Contractual services margin
3,649
3,638
Total balance sheet
91,949
88,587
Main ratios
30/06/2023
30/06/2024
PAA combined ratio
91.6%
95.9%
31/12/2023
30/06/2024
Solvency 2 ratio (with transitional measure*)
267%
249%
Solvency 2 ratio (without transitional measure*)
197%
190%
* transitional measure on underwriting reserves
Insurer Financial Strength rating – Fitch Ratings
Rating
Outlook
Groupama Assurances Mutuelles and its subsidiaries