NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Alphacrucis University College: Faith-Based Education in Western Sydney

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    Good morning.

    I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are meeting and pay my respects to elders past and present.

    I also acknowledge:

    •    Professor Stephen Fogarty, President of Alphacrucis University College 
    •    Rev Assoc Prof David Perry, Chair, Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) 
    •    Shiekh Shadi Alsuleiman, Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) 
    •    Associate Professor Gil Davis from the Australian Catholic University
    •    Senator Dave Sharma 
    •    Mr Peter McKeon, Chair, Australian Christian Higher Education Alliance 
    •    Ms Margery Evans, Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW) 
    •    Mr Graham Catt, Independent Schools Australia 
    •    Mr Sai Paravastu, Hindu Council of Australia 
    •    Mr Dallas McInerney, Catholic Schools, NSW 
    •    Mr Ian Liney, Christian Schools Australia 
    •    Mrs Vanessa Cheng, Australian Association of Christian Schools

    And can I thank the team at Alphacrucis for bringing us all together.

    At times like this, that’s really important.  

    We are the best country in the world.

    I really believe that.

    And a big part of that, I think, is because we are made up of people from all around the world, all different backgrounds, all different faiths.

    Living in harmony.

    That makes us different to most other countries.

    It sends a message to the rest of the world about what is possible.

    We haven’t always been like this.

    If we jumped in a time machine and went back to when I was born in the early 70s we would barely recognise the Australia we found.

    The White Australia Policy still hadn’t been completely dismantled.

    Only about 1 per cent of Australians came from somewhere other than Europe.

    Today more than 4 million Australians were born in Asia – or their parents were.

    The number of Indian Australians has doubled in just the last decade.

    After Christianity, the next biggest faith practiced by Australians is Islam.

    The fastest growing religion is Hinduism.

    We are a different country.

    Education has also made us a different country to the one I was born in.

    In 1972 only 18 per cent of Australians finished school. Today’s it’s about 80 per cent.

    Back then less than 10 per cent of young Australians had a uni degree. Now it’s almost one in two.

    That’s nation changing stuff.

    And the truth is religious institutions have done a big chunk of that work.  

    Professor Paul Oslington from Alphacrucis College has made the point that faith-based education was here before our first public universities.

    St James College on King Street was teaching children and adults before the first brick was laid at the University of Sydney.

    Across the country now there are almost 3,000 Catholic, Anglican, Islamic, Jewish and other religious schools.

    That change that I talked about, that’s happened in the last 50 years hasn’t stopped. We are still changing.

    And if we get into a time machine and take it to 2050 it will look a lot different again.

    This is why the Universities Accord is important.

    To help us get ready for that future.

    What it says is that by 2050 we are going to need a workforce where 80 per cent haven’t just finished high school, we are going to need a workforce where 80 per cent have finished school and they have gone to TAFE or university as well.

    That’s a big shift.

    Some of that will happen organically.

    Just because the fastest growing jobs are in professions that require a uni degree or a TAFE qualification.

    But some of it will require reform.

    Reform to our education system.

    To help us get there.

    I said a moment ago about one in two young Australians have a university degree today.

    But it’s not one in two everywhere.

    But it’s not one in two in our outer suburbs. It’s not one in two in the regions or the bush.

    And if we are going to hit that 80 per cent target, we have got to change that.

    That’s what the Accord says. And that’s what the reforms I am implementing are all about.

    Things like:

    •    Wiping $3 billion of HECS debt for more than 3 million Australians. 
    •    Paid prac – financial support for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students while they do their prac.
    •    Massively expanding fee-free uni ready courses – those courses that act as a bridge between school and uni.

    All of that is in the Parliament right now.

    It’s just the start.

    The Accord also recommends a new funding system, needs-based funding and a new Australian Tertiary Education Commission to steer reform over multiple governments.

    And I hope to provide you with more detail on all of that before the end of the year.

    There is also another Bill in the Parliament.

    That’s the one that sets up a National Student Ombudsman.

    An independent body to investigate and resolve disputes and give students a stronger voice when the worst happens.

    It will also have strong investigative powers, similar to those of a Royal Commission.

    It is a long overdue response to the appalling evidence of sexual violence and harassment on campuses and in student accommodation.

    But it’s not just about that. Its scope will be broad.

    That includes complaints about antisemitism and Islamophobia or any type of racism or discrimination.

    The bottom line is I want students to be safe and feel safe and if something really bad happens they have a place to go to get action.

    Something else I want to talk about today is this.

    Institutions here in this room help train teachers, nurses, counsellors, lawyers, care workers.

    And you also train pastors and priests and ministers. But we don’t train Rabbis or Imams in Australia. Not yet.

    I’ve spoken a number of times to leaders in the Jewish community and Islamic community and others, like Murray Norman, CEO of Better Balanced Futures, about this.

    I think it’s in our interest as a country to change this.

    For Australian religious leaders to be able to get the training and qualifications they need here in Australia.

    Without having to go overseas.

    I also want to talk to you today about our schools.

    We have got big challenges here too.

    Think about this.

    Over the last eight years the percentage of students finishing high school has gone down not up.

    From 85 percent to 79 percent.

    That drop isn’t happening everywhere.

    In non-government schools the percentage of students finishing school is either pretty flat or going up.

    Where the drop is happening is in our public schools. From 83 percent to 73 percent.

    This is what we have to turn around.

    This is what the reforms I am trying to implement with the States are all about.

    Our non-government schools are fully funded or on a path to be fully funded.

    Our public schools aren’t.

    We need to fix funding and tie that funding to the reforms that are going to help students catch up, keep up and finish high school.

    This not about breaking Gonski. It is about finishing it.

    That’s good for the whole schooling system.

    You know I am a product of public education. And proud of it.

    But I hope you also know that I value what you do too.

    You will never see me attacking faith-based education.

    You are an integral part of our education system.

    One last thing.

    The reforms I am driving aren’t just in our universities or schools.

    If we are serious, we have to go back further than that.

    I am talking about early education.  

    The child care debate is over. It’s not babysitting. It’s early education.

    The first five years of a child’s life are everything.

    Everything they see, everything they hear, everything they eat, every book they open, every lesson they learn shapes the person that they become.

    The Government is now considering the Productivity Commission’s final report on the future of early education.

    It tells us it’s children from poor families who are the least likely to go to early childhood education and care, and the most likely to benefit from it.

    It will help us to build a more accessible and affordable early education and care system, which gives children the skills they need to start school ready to learn.

    All these reforms will help us to continue to write the story of Western Sydney.

    A story of change. A story of progress. A story of aspiration.

    A story made possible by the power of education.

    A story that you are helping to write every day. Thank you for what you do and thank you for being here today.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency’s (TEQSA) 2024 Conference

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    I start by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are meeting and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. 

    [Acknowledgements omitted]

    Two and half years ago when I got this job, I said I didn’t want to be the type of Minister that just signed letters.

    I wanted to reform the system. 

    To make it better and fairer.

    I suspect now you can see I meant it. 

    And I hope you can see the reason why in the Universities Accord. 

    What it tells us is that by the middle of this century we are going to need a workforce where 80 per cent of people have a university degree or a TAFE qualification.

    That’s up from about 60 per cent today. 

    That’s a big shift. A big change.

    Some of this will happen organically. 

    Think about it. The fastest growing professions all require some sort of tertiary qualification.

    But some of it will require us to change what we do and how we do it.

    The key message in the Accord is that we are not going to hit that 80 per cent target unless we break that invisible barrier that stops a lot of young people from walking through your door. 

    Overwhelmingly, the young people they are talking about are from poor families, from the outer suburbs of our big cities and from our regions.

    Breaking down that barrier means reforming our entire education system.

    Here’s the nub of it.

    At a time when we need more people to go to TAFE and university, the number of people finishing school at the moment is going backwards.

    From 85 per cent 8 years ago to 79 per cent today.

    That drop isn’t happening everywhere. 

    In non-government schools it’s either pretty flat or going up. 

    It’s happening in our public schools. It’s dropped from 83 per cent to 73 per cent in just eight years.

    And in particular its kids from poor families.

    If we are going to hit that 80 per cent target we have got to turn this around.

    And that doesn’t start in high school either.

    The same young people you don’t see walking through your doors, the same young people who don’t finish high school are the same people who fall behind when they are little.

    They are also the same people who are more likely to start behind, to have never been to early education and care.

    Can you see the common thread?

    Fixing this isn’t easy or quick.

    It is going to talk a lot of work and it is going to take time.

    But the first parts of that are in the Parliament right now.

    In the next two weeks six pieces of education legislation will be voted on by the Senate. 

    The first is a 15 per cent pay rise for early educators right across the country.

    Some of the most important workers in the country and some of the most underpaid.  

    If we are going to build the sort of early education system that we need, that Danielle’s team have plotted out for us in their recent report, we need to build the workforce first. 

    And that’s what this is about. 

    The second bill is to increase funding for our public schools – to help complete the work that David Gonski started more than a decade ago. 

    Fully funding all public schools and tying that funding to reforms to turn around that drop in high school completion rates. 

    The third bill is another piece of unfinished business. 

    It extends the system of USIs, or unique student identifiers, that every university student and every TAFE student has to every school student.

    We have been talking about this for 15 years – and now it is finally happening.

    The fourth bill implements the change we are making to international education. 

    It makes important changes to fix integrity issues in the system and introduces limits, or caps, on the number of international students. 

    For VET providers, it will mean they will be able to enrol about 30 per cent fewer students next year than they did last year.

    For universities it’s different. It will mean they will be able to enrol roughly the same number of students next year that they did last year.

    The difference is it won’t just the big metro universities that benefit. 

    And when it passes, Ministerial Direction 107 will go.

    I know how important international education is. 

    It doesn’t just make money. It makes us friends.

    But we have got to get the balance right here.

    And we have also got to remember what the primary and most important job our universities do is.

    And that brings me to the fifth bill. 

    This is the bill that implements the first stage of the Universities Accord.

    It includes almost half a billion dollar investment in paid prac.

    The first time the Commonwealth has ever done this.

    That’s financial support for teaching students, for nursing students, for midwifery students and for social work students, to help support them while they do the practical part of their degree.

    A lot of students tell me that when they do their prac they have to give up their part-time job, or they’ve got to move away from home or work fewer hours. 

    Sometimes it can mean they have to delay doing their degree or not finish it at all.

    This will give people who have signed up to do some of the most important jobs in this country a bit of extra help to get the qualifications they need. And we need.

    Just to give you one example of what this will mean, earlier this year I met a midwifery student at UTS who told me this:

    “I’m a first-year mature-age midwifery student. This payment is going to be absolutely life-changing for me. As a mother of two small children, I’m often balancing between practical work, placement and looking after my babies. 

    “There are literally some days where I’m doing 16 hour days between my study and my work and looking after my children. 

    “I cannot wait for this payment to be available for myself and other future mature-age students who might also want to enrol in this course who previously couldn’t financially afford it.”

    That’s what this reform is all about.

    This is also the bill that will massively expand the number of free enabling courses.

    You know what I’m talking about.

    These are those free courses that are effectively a bridge between school and university. 

    A lot of unis already offer these courses.

    Not many do it better than Newcastle University. They have been doing it now for 50 years. 

    One in five people who get a degree from Newcastle University today, start with one of these free courses.

    People like Jennifer Baker.

    Jennifer was a mum at 19. She worked in hospitality for 10 years. One day she saw an ad for one of these free courses in the local paper. 

    Now she’s got a science degree. An Honours degree. A PhD. And a Fulbright Scholarship. 

    She’s a computational medicinal chemist.

    That’s what these courses do.

    And what this bill does is effectively uncap funding for those courses, right across the country.

    We’ve committed an additional $350 million over four years to significantly expand these courses. 

    It’s an ongoing funding commitment. 

    Universities currently receive as little as $1,286 per place to run these courses.

    These changes ensure that universities will receive $18,278 per place next year, which will be tied to CPI increases each year. 

    It provides funding certainty for universities. 

    It deals with the disincentives baked into the current system. 

    And most importantly, it ensures that these courses remain free. 

    It will help more Australians to get a crack at university and succeed when they get there. 

    The Department of Education estimates that this will increase the number of people doing these free courses by about 40 per cent by the end of this decade and double that number in the decade after that.

    This is also the bill that fixes how HECS debts are indexed. 

    It fixes what happened last year when inflation spiked and indexation went through the roof, and makes sure it never happens again.

    To do this, it caps indexation at either inflation or wage growth, whatever is the lowest.

    And it backdates this to June last year. 

    That on its own will wipe $3 billion in student debt for more than 3 million people.

    But it is just the first step in making HECS fairer. 

    As you know, a bit over a week ago, the Prime Minister announced that if we win the next election, the first piece of legislation we introduce will cut all student debts by a further 20 per cent. 

    For someone with an average student debt of around $27,000 the legislation in the Parliament at the moment will wipe about $1,200 off their debt. This will wipe a further $5,500 off it. 

    That’s real help for a lot of young Australians, just out of uni or just out of TAFE, just moved out of home, just getting started.

    And we will also make another change, to make it easier to pay off your student debt.

    We will increase the salary you have to earn before you have to start paying it off from $54,000 to $67,000. 

    And will reduce your annual minimum repayments.

    For someone on about $70,000, for example, this will mean you have to repay more than $1,000 less a year.

    It’s another recommendation of the Universities Accord. In fact it’s a recommendation from the architect of HECS, Professor Bruce Chapman. 

    The fact is university is more expensive today than it was when most of us were uni students. 

    When HECS was first created students paid an average of about 24 per cent of the cost of degree. 

    This increased to about 36 per cent in the late 1990s. 

    And now, because of the changes the previous government made, it’s about 45 per cent. 

    Cutting student debt by 20 per cent fixes that for a generation of Australians. 

    But there is more to do. 

    That includes changing the way we fund universities. 

    Part of that is uncapping the number of places at university for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who get the marks for the course they want to do. 

    Part of that is a new needs-based funding system, so these same students get the extra academic and wraparound support that they need to succeed when they get there. 

    And part of that is a new Australian Tertiary Education Commission.

    A steward. To drive reform over the long term. 

    And I hope to provide you with more detail on all of that before the end of the year.

    Finally, the sixth bill that I want the Senate to pass in the next two weeks creates a National Student Ombudsman. 

    When I was at this conference last year, I talked about the scourge of sexual violence in our universities and I said that change is coming.

    And change is coming. 

    What we are establishing is a dedicated, national body to handle student complaints within our higher education system.

    Equipped with the power:

    • To investigate complaints;
    • To bring parties together to resolve issues, including offering restorative engagement processes and alternative dispute resolution where appropriate;
    • To make findings and recommendations on what actions universities should take; and
    • To monitor the implementation of those recommendations.

    It will also have the sort of investigative powers a Royal Commission has. That includes the power to:

    • To require a person or university to provide information, documents or other records relevant to an investigation;
    • To enter premise of a university as part of an investigation; and
    • To require a person to attend and answer questions before the Ombudsman.

    Recent events at St Paul’s College in Sydney remind us of how important this work is. 

    This is another recommendation of the Universities Accord.

    And it’s not just about sexual violence. 

    It will be able to investigate everything from complaints about homophobia to antisemitism to Islamophobia to any other form of racism or discrimination.  

    This will complement the work of TEQSA.

    A couple of weeks ago I was with Dr Russell and the team at TEQSA for a meeting they organised with all Vice Chancellors as well as the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism and the Race Discrimination Commissioner.

    It was focussed on lessons learned from the last few months, sharing best practice and the work we need to do together to ensure students and staff are safe and feel safe on campus.  

    As part of this, TEQSA is currently developing ‘Sector Guidance’ and a ‘Statement of Regulatory Expectations’ for Australian higher education providers.

    To help manage contested issues, protests, and improve complaints and grievance services.

    Can I thank Dr Russell and the whole team for all the work you are doing here.

    Can I also thank you and the whole team for bringing us together yesterday and today. 

    To grapple with everything from good governance to generative AI. 

    And to talk about what’s next. 

    That’s what our universities are all about. 

    What’s next. 

    What this conference calls “Navigating Tomorrow”. 

    I have talked a bit about that today. 

    But it is really just the start. 

    There is a lot to navigate. 

    And a lot to do. 

    To make our education system better and fairer. 

    And if we get this right. Make the country we love better and fairer too. 

    It’s what makes this job so important and such a privilege. 

    One I will never take for granted. 

    Thank you so much for inviting me to talk to you today.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Owaka

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died after the single-vehicle crash on Owaka Valley Road, Owaka, earlier this afternoon.

    The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit examines the scene.

    Motorists should continue to avoid the area.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: African safaris and colonial nightmares: a visit to artist Roger Ballen’s latest show

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Research Associate, University of Oxford

    Born in the US, Roger Ballen, the internationally renowned photographer, has lived in South Africa since the 1970s.

    He gained a cult following for his grotesque, surreal images of white poverty, captured on the rural fringes during apartheid. His work exposed not only the exploitation and marginalisation of his subjects but also the reality of apartheid’s failure to uplift even its privileged white minority.

    Over time, Ballen’s practice has expanded beyond photography into a hybrid realm of exhibition, installation and performance. His new Johannesburg space, the Inside Out Centre for the Arts, serves as a theatre for this experimentation.

    The name itself, Inside Out, is typically “Ballenesque”, evoking the psychological effect he seeks to instil in viewers: a blurring of perception and reality. His exhibition, End of the Game, is an arresting debut for the centre.

    Ballen is committed to challenging perspectives on African narratives. Designed as a platform for thought-provoking exhibitions and educational programmes, Inside Out supports a range of artistic practices, including photography, painting, sculpture, installation, drawing and film.

    On a recent visit to the centre, Ballen walks me through the exhibition. As a scholar of literature and visual cultures, I am fascinated with this epic engagement with colonial archives and the history of big game hunting in Africa since the 1700s.

    Even though the show’s been up for over a year, there’s no rush to close it, Ballen tells me. It’s become the backdrop of many eclectic events at the centre – live tattooing, poetry performances, curatorial talks, music workshops, film screenings, panel discussions. The centre is also proving popular for school group visits.



    Read more:
    The real Johannesburg: 6 powerful photos from a gritty new book on the city

    End of the Game is a visual and psychological exploration of the African safari – an experience long entwined with adventure, exploration, and the exploitative legacies of colonialism. It delves into humanity’s deep-seated drive to control and assert dominance over nature and wildlife.

    A call to action

    Entering End of the Game, visitors are greeted by Tarzan posters and a room filled with photos, books and documentary material on colonial hunting. But down the stairs, the experience shifts dramatically.

    Here, Ballen’s images merge with eerie, mechanised sculptures of taxidermied (stuffed) creatures and unsettling painted tableaus. It feels like a horror-infused natural history museum.

    Ballen blurs the line between documentary and constructed imagery, creating existential psychological dramas within haunting interiors.

    Through his depictions of people and animals on the fringes of existence, he invites us to confront both our own alienation from the natural world and also the devastating consequences of our destructive behaviour.

    Over the years, the scenes in Ballen’s photography have become increasingly elaborate and theatrical. His props, masks, drawings and sculptures have come to feature more prominently than people. The results often look more like mixed media collages than photographs.

    Some of these elements are present in End of the Game. It assembles historical artefacts, paintings, colonial and contemporary photographs, as well as carefully staged objects. The result is a critical interrogation of the ecological crisis to which we have contributed. In the context of climate change, the show stands as both a stark indictment and an urgent call to action.

    Beyond photography

    The impulse to compose images beyond the medium of the photograph is what leads Ballen to collect found objects. He explains the process this way:

    I am always trying to find things that don’t necessarily belong together and in making them belong together in a new way … It takes the spectator’s mind on a journey in another direction, which is important in art.

    Nothing is static. Everything is in constant motion. The exhibition is immersive. The viewer and the objects are circling each other. Walking through it feels like entering a jungle, the taxidermied animals look poised for confrontation.

    For Ballen, this encounter is both physical and psychological – are animals enemies or figures of beauty? Perhaps coexistence is the question at the work’s core. As he explains it:

    A central challenge in my career has been to locate the animal in the human being and the human being in the animal.

    As the Tarzan posters make clear from the beginning, the idea of Africa has been hyped through Hollywood clichés. The image of it as a wild continent to be tamed and conquered, an unspoiled paradise, or a playground, has persisted. The romance of the African bush has filled the imagination of many foreign writers.

    Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina, in his essay How to Write About Africa, satirised this:

    Always use the word ‘Africa’ or ‘Darkness’ or ‘Safari’ in your title.

    Here, safari embodies the enduring thrill of conquest.

    In the screen room, a collaged film is shown, made up of old hunting expedition clips found on YouTube. It is travel propaganda of famous hunting expeditions, led by colonialists and influential western figures.

    Ballen, a US-trained geologist, was drawn to South Africa to study and work in the mineral extraction field. His deep engagement with the earth’s structure, materials and processes conceptually frames this exhibition, blending the scientific with the surreal.

    The show sparks critical conversations on wildlife conservation, responsible tourism and environmental stewardship.

    Inside Out

    Inside Out was originally intended to be a photography centre, but during construction Ballen started imagining broader possibilities. It evolved into a multi-purpose venue that is a gallery, a theatre and an exhibition space, all in one.

    However, the photography centre remains part of the plan. Ballen has bought the property next door, where the photography centre will now be established. Set to open in the last quarter of 2025, the centre will host photography exhibitions, talks and a bookstore, making it one of Africa’s few dedicated photography centres.

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

    – ref. African safaris and colonial nightmares: a visit to artist Roger Ballen’s latest show – https://theconversation.com/african-safaris-and-colonial-nightmares-a-visit-to-artist-roger-ballens-latest-show-251302

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Maraetotara

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are at the scene of a serious two-vehicle crash on Ohope Road, Maraetotara, in the Whakatane District.

    Police were called about 4.55pm. 

    The road is closed, with diversions in place. 

    Motorists should avoid the area if possible.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Mind your language: The battle for linguistic diversity in AI

    Source: United Nations 2

    By Fabrice Robinet

    Culture and Education

    For two years, one international organization under the umbrella of the UN has been leading a relentless campaign in the corridors of global digital diplomacy. Its mission? To bring linguistic diversity to English-dominated artificial intelligence.

    With his signature geeky glasses and TED-Talk-style headset, Sundar Pichai looked straight out of a Silicon Valley incubator.

    That Monday, February 10, Google’s chief executive took the stage at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris. From the Grand Palais podium, he heralded a new golden age of innovation.

    “Using AI techniques, we added over 110 new languages to Google Translate last year, spoken by half a billion people around the world,” said the tech mogul, his eyes fixed on his notes. “That brings our total to 249 languages, including 60 African languages – more to come.”

    Delivered in a monotone, his statement barely registered among the summit’s attendees – an assembly of world leaders, researchers, NGOs, and tech executives.

    © Permanent Mission of Canada

    But for advocates of linguistic diversity in artificial intelligence, Mr. Pichai’s words marked a quiet victory – one achieved after two years of intense, behind-the-scenes negotiations in the arcane world of digital diplomacy.

    “It shows the message is getting through and tech companies are listening,” said Joseph Nkalwo Ngoula, digital policy advisor at the UN mission of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, in New York.

    Linguistic divide

    Mr. Pichai’s speech was a far cry from the linguistic missteps of early generative AI – a branch of artificial intelligence capable of creating original content, from text to images, music and animation.

    When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022, non-English speakers quickly discovered its limitations.

    A query in English would generate a detailed, informative response. The same prompt in French? Two paragraphs, followed by a sheepish apology: “Sorry, I haven’t been trained on that,” or, “my model isn’t updated beyond this date.”

    Such a gap lies in the intricate mechanics of AI tools, which rely on so-called large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4, Meta’s LlaMA, or Google’s Gemini to digest vast troves of internet data that help them understand and generate text.

    But the internet itself is overwhelmingly Anglophone. While only 20 per cent of the world’s population speaks English at home, nearly half of the training data for major AI models is in English.

    Even today, ChatGPT’s responses in French, Portuguese, or Spanish have improved but remain less illuminating than their English counterparts.

    UN Photo/Elma Okic

    Sharper focus

    “The volume of available information in English is much greater, but it’s also more up to date,” said Mr. Nkalwo Ngoula. By default, AI models are conceived, trained, and deployed in English, leaving other languages struggling to catch up.

    The divide isn’t just quantitative. AI, when deprived of robust training in any given language, starts to “hallucinate” – generating incorrect or absurd answers with unsettling authority – much like an overconfident friend bluffing his way through trivia night.

    A classic AI hallucination consists of responding to a request for biographical details about a famous person by inventing a Nobel Prize or coming up with an odd parallel career, as in this example generated by ChatGPT, at the behest of UN News:

    UN News: ‘Who is Victor Hugo?’

    Hallucinating AI: “Victor Hugo, the 19th-century French writer, was also a passionate astronaut who contributed to the early design of the International Space Station.” 🚀😆

    Black box

    “It’s a black box absorbing data,” Mr. Nkalwo Ngoula explained. “The results might be formally coherent and logically structured, but factually, they can be wildly inaccurate.”

    Beyond factual errors, AI tends to flatten linguistic richness. Chatbots struggle with regional accents and language variations, such as Quebecois French or Creole languages spoken in Haiti and the French Caribbean.

    AI-generated French often feels sanitized, stripped of its stylistic nuances.

    “Molière, Léopold Sédar Senghor, Aimé Césaire, Mongo Beti – they’d all be turning in their graves if they saw how A.I. writes French today,” joked Mr. Nkalwo Ngoula.

    The issue runs deeper in multilingual countries, as in the diplomat’s native Cameroon, where youth commonly speak Camfranglais – a hybrid of French, English, Pidgin, and local languages.

    “I doubt young people could ask an AI something in Camfranglais and get a meaningful response,” he said. Expressions like “Je yamo ce pays” (I love this country) or “Réponds-moi sharp-sharp” (Answer me quickly) would likely leave A.I. models bewildered.

    UN Photo/Loey Felipe

    Shadow Campaign of La Francophonie

    Mr. Nkalwo Ngoula’s organization, La Francophonie – which brings together 93 states and governments around the use of French, representing more than 320 million people worldwide – has made this linguistic gap a centerpiece of its digital strategy.

    The group’s efforts culminated in last year’s UN Global Digital Compact, a framework for AI governance adopted by the Member States. From 2023 onward, La Francophonie leveraged its diplomatic network – including the influential Francophone Ambassadors’ Group at the UN – to ensure linguistic diversity became a core principle in AI policymaking.

    Along the way, unexpected allies emerged. Lusophone and Hispanic advocacy groups joined the fight, and even Washington sided with their cause. “The US defended language inclusion in AI development,” Mr. Nkalwo Ngoula noted.

    Their push paid off. The final Global Digital Compact explicitly recognizes cultural and linguistic diversity – an issue that had initially been buried under broader discussions on accessibility. “Our goal was to bring it to the forefront,” he said.

    The movement even reached Silicon Valley. At the UN Summit for the Future in September 2024, where the Compact was officially adopted, Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, surprised many by emphasizing the need for A.I. to provide access to global knowledge in multiple languages.

    “We’re working toward 1,000 of the world’s most spoken languages,” he pledged – a commitment he reaffirmed in Paris months later.

    Limits of the Global Digital Compact

    Despite these gains, challenges remain. Chief among them is visibility. “Francophone content is often buried by platform algorithms,” Mr Nkalwo Ngoula warns.

    Streaming giants like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify prioritize popularity, meaning English-language content dominates search results.

    “If linguistic diversity were truly considered, a French-speaking user should see French-language films at the top of their recommendations,” he argued.

    The overwhelming dominance of English in AI training data is another hurdle sidestepped by the Compact, which also omits any reference to UNESCO’s Convention on Cultural Diversity – an oversight that, according to Mr. Nkalwo Ngoula, should be rectified.

    “Linguistic diversity must be the backbone of digital advocacy for La Francophonie,” Nkalwo Ngoula insisted.

    Given the pace of AI development, those changes can’t come a moment too soon.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ancient Chinese Guqins on display in Budapest

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A special exhibition featuring ancient Chinese zithers, or Guqins, kicked off Friday evening at the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest.

    Titled “The Voice of Nature and the Human Soul from China – An Exhibition of Guqins from the China Three Gorges Museum” in China’s southwest city of Chongqing, the display offers a rare glimpse into the artistry, spirituality, and philosophy embedded in this traditional Chinese string instrument, often referred to as the “instrument of the sages.”

    In his welcome address, Lajos Kemecsi, director-general of the Museum of Ethnography, said “The exhibition opening today marks a significant milestone in the complex cooperation between the Museum of Ethnography and its Chinese partner institutions. China’s musical culture has a long and distinguished history, characterized by remarkable richness.”

    Kemecsi added that visitors can experience the unique charm and depth of Chinese instrumental culture through the carefully selected items on display.

    Sun Jie, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, emphasized the symbolic value of holding such an event in Hungary, a country with deep musical traditions.

    It is a great honor to present the ancient art of the Guqin in a nation that cherishes music. This exhibition reflects the long-standing friendship between China and Hungary and will further deepen mutual understanding, he said.

    According to him, the 10 Guqins on display date back hundreds of years and are valued not just as musical instruments but as cultural artifacts combining lacquer art, calligraphy, and the Eastern philosophy of harmony between man and nature.

    Gabor Csaba, deputy state secretary at Hungary’s Ministry of Culture and Innovation, underlined the broader importance of such cultural exchange.

    “Cultural cooperation like this lays the foundation for harmonious development,” he stated. He also noted that Hungary and China celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations last year, reflecting the growing depth of bilateral cultural ties.

    The opening ceremony is accompanied by live performances, including Guqin music, traditional Hanfu dance, and curator-guided tours. The exhibition is open to the public until June 30. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for information after crash, Airport Road

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Waikato Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a crash involving a car and a truck on Airport Road, Tamahere this afternoon.

    Emergency services were called to the crash, near the intersection of Raynes Road, about 2.10pm.

    The driver of the car sustained minor injuries.

    Police would like to speak to the driver of the truck, who may be unaware that a collision has occurred, but will likely have damage to the left side of their trailer.

    The truck was described as a white European-style truck with a flat nose, possibly a Scania or similar make. It was described as towing a double curtain sider trailer and was travelling north on Airport Road towards the Waikato Expressway.

    Police would also like to hear from anybody who may have witnessed this crash and may have information that could assist in identifying the truck involved, such as dash cam footage.

    If you can help, please contact 105 and quote the event number P062005619.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Driver charged following crash on State Highway 5

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has been summonsed to court following a crash on State Highway 5, Rangataiki today.

    Police responded to a two-vehicle crash involving a van and an SUV on State Highway 5 around 10:30am.

    Upon arrival 12 people were located injured inside the vehicles, including four that were transported to hospital in a serious condition, and eight people who transported in minor to moderate conditions. 

    The road was closed for around three hours as the road was cleared, and enquiries were conducted at the scene.

    Initial enquiries suggest the driver attempted to overtake a vehicle, and has struck the second vehicle head on.

    The 57-year-old van driver has been summonsed to appear in the Tauranga District Court next week on a charge of careless driving causing injury.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Key consensus reached at China-Japan high-level economic dialogue

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, co-chairs the sixth China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2025. Officials from 15 government departments of both countries attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

    Chinese Foreign Minister and member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Saturday co-chaired the sixth China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue in Tokyo, pledging efforts to deepen economic collaboration between the two nations.

    Both sides agreed to jointly implement an important consensus reached by their leaders, enrich the economic dimension of the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and work together to build a constructive and stable economic and trade relationship that meets the demands of a new era.

    The dialogue concluded with 20 key consensus points regarding cooperation in areas such as green development, environmental protection, elderly care services, service trade, food safety, supply chains and intellectual property protection, among others.

    The two sides agreed to support each other in hosting multiple events, and hold consultations and dialogues at various levels.

    The two countries also agreed to hold the seventh China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue in China at an appropriate time. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US military launches fresh strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah airport, central province

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The U.S. naval forces carried out three strikes on the Hodeidah airport in the Yemeni Red Sea port city, and five strikes on the Majzar district in Yemen’s central province of Marib on Saturday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

    The report did not provide details on casualties or damage caused by the attacks, and there has been no comment from the U.S. side yet.

    The Hodeidah airport has been closed to civilian flights since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control over several northern cities, including the strategic city of Hodeidah. The airport has also been a frequent target of previous U.S. airstrikes.

    Earlier on Saturday, the Houthis said they had carried out a sixth attack on U.S. naval forces in the northern Red Sea since March 15, launching several drones at warships escorting the USS Harry S. Truman.

    The Houthis said they had also launched a ballistic missile attack on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, an assault the Israeli military said was intercepted late on Friday.

    The Houthis, which control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have been fighting against the internationally-recognized government since 2014.

    Tensions between the Houthis and the U.S. military have escalated since Washington launched fresh airstrikes on Yemen on March 15. The strikes followed Houthi threats to resume attacks on Israeli targets unless humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Japan, ROK FMs pledge to advance trilateral cooperation

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China is ready to work with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to elevate China-Japan-ROK cooperation under the new circumstances, and make it more mature, stable and resilient, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Tokyo on Saturday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the 11th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and ROK Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.

    Noting that the trilateral cooperation is one of the most deeply rooted, highly institutionalized, and promising cooperation frameworks in East Asia, Wang said the three-way cooperation has yielded positive results over the past 20 years since its inception, which not only benefits the peoples of the three countries and their respective development, but also promotes regional stability and economic integration.

    With the joint efforts of the three parties, new progress has been made in the cooperation in the six key areas identified at the Ninth China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit, Wang said, adding that facts have proved that the more solid China-Japan-ROK cooperation, the stronger the ability of the three countries to withstand risks, the stronger the foundation for empowering development, and the more effective the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples.

    Wang noted 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, as well as the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and only by sincerely reflecting on history can we truly create the future.

    The three countries should review the consensus of “facing history squarely and looking to the future,” stick to the original intention of cooperation and promote the China-Japan-ROK cooperation to achieve the effect of “1+1+1>3” for the benefit of the three countries, the region and the world.

    Stressing that wind and rain are the norm, but being undeterred by them is a state of mind, Wang said to achieve steady and lasting trilateral cooperation, it is essential to create a virtuous cycle of mutual reinforcement with bilateral relations.

    In particular, the three countries need to respect each other’s core interests, properly manage differences, and continuously build consensus, cultivate momentum and deepen cooperation on the basis of maintaining sound and steady relations, Wang said.

    First, Wang said, the three countries will deepen economic and trade cooperation and strengthen its role as the “ballast stone.” Negotiations on the China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Agreement should be resumed at an early date to reach an agreement, expand mutual trade and investment, set up a trilateral dialogue mechanism on export controls, and maintain the stability and smoothness of industrial and supply chains.

    Second, to promote scientific and technological innovation to stimulate new drivers for growth. In line with the principle of openness and cooperation, we will share innovation opportunities and enable new quality productive forces to better empower the high-quality development of the three countries. A trilateral dialogue mechanism on digital economy cooperation will be established. Japan and the ROK are welcome to actively participate in the China-Japan-ROK Innovation Cooperation Center that China is planning to establish.

    Third, to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges and consolidate public support. We will strive to increase the number of people-to-people exchanges among the three countries to 40 million by 2030, ensure the success of the China-Japan-ROK Year of Cultural Exchange from 2025 to 2026, continue to build the brands of “Culture City of East Asia” and “CAPMUS Asia,” carry forward the fine traditional culture of East Asia, and promote mutual understanding and friendship among our peoples.

    Fourth, to respond to common challenges and promote sustainable development. We will deepen cooperation in healthy aging, medical and health care, new energy, green development and ecological and environmental protection, and strengthen cooperation in disaster management, police and counterterrorism, and jointly address non-traditional security challenges.

    At present, as changes unseen in a century accelerate, global economic growth remains sluggish, geopolitical conflicts are intensifying and the global openness index keeps declining, Wang pointed out that China, Japan and the ROK, as important countries in the Asia-Pacific and major economies in the world, should adhere to the general direction of open economy, jointly uphold free trade, firmly safeguard the rule-based multilateral trading system, foster an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory international economic environment, and promote economic globalization that benefits all.

    We should actively promote regional cooperation, support the building of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Community, create more “China-Japan-ROK+” cooperation projects, and inject strong impetus into the development of East Asia cooperation with the vitality of trilateral cooperation, Wang added.

    He said the three countries should practice a new concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and jointly safeguard regional and world peace, noting we should adhere to the unity of independence and self-reliance and take the destiny of Asia into its own hands.

    The top diplomats of the three countries exchanged in-depth views on trilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues and made preparations for the 10th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit, believing that they should jointly maintain the momentum of trilateral cooperation, advance practical cooperation in the six key areas in a comprehensive and balanced manner based on the Trilateral Cooperation Vision for the Next Decade, explore new areas of cooperation and expand future-oriented cooperation on the basis of maintaining continuity.

    The three sides also agreed on continuing to deepen people-to-people and culture exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, enrich practical cooperation in various fields, and work for more new outcomes that benefit the peoples of the three countries and the region.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Owaka Valley Road, Owaka

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are at the scene of a serious single-vehicle crash on Owaka Valley Road, Owaka, Clutha District.

    Police were called about 2.45pm.

    The road is closed, and the Serious Crash Unit will examine the scene.

    Motorists should avoid the area if possible.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hong Kong-born giant panda cubs meet public under mother’s patronage

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Visitors to Ocean Park Hong Kong can see Hong Kong-born twin giant panda cubs together with their mother Ying Ying from Saturday.
    Fans of the cubs had come for the moment of maternal affection two hours before the amusement park opened.
    “Giant panda cubs grow up best nurtured by their mothers. They usually won’t live independently until two to three years old,” said Howard Chuk, head of zoological operations and conservation of Ocean Park Hong Kong. Tagging along their mother allows the cubs to learn sniffing and other skills humans can’t teach.
    In the venue, the male cub followed Ying Ying closely and coyly jollied for her attention until the mother kissed it and licked its tummy. The female cub also got a kiss-on-the-cheek from Ying Ying while resting on a wooden rack. After the cubs frolicked for some time, Ying Ying breastfed them.
    The park said it would dole out around 3,000 entrance tickets for visitors to see the giant panda family from 10 a.m. every day. On Saturday, all tickets had been distributed by noon. Visitors are allowed 3 minutes with the family in 40-strong groups.
    The two cubs, who made their public debut on Feb. 16 when they turned six months old, now weigh around 12 kilograms each. They are breastfed and bottle-fed.
    The father Le Le now lives separately from the family because giant pandas are solitary animals, said the park. Male pandas don’t take care of young offspring.
    The two cubs’ official names will be unveiled in the first half of the year, chosen from entries for a city-wide naming contest.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese commerce minister meets chairman of BMW AG

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, in Beijing on Saturday, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce.

    During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on topics including the German carmaker’s cooperation with China and the European Union (EU)’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).

    Wang pointed out that the unilateral and protectionist actions of certain countries have brought significant uncertainty to the global economy. He emphasized that China hopes to work with the European side to become a pillar of the multilateral trading system, injecting certainty and stability into the world.

    The Chinese market remains committed to opening-up, and China’s policies are consistent, Wang said, noting that the Chinese government will advance high-level opening-up and optimize the business environment.

    Wang said that properly resolving the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs is of significant importance, as it will send a clear and positive signal to the world.

    China is committed to resolving differences through dialogue, he said, expressing hope that the German carmaker would continue to play an active role in promoting the European side to demonstrate political will and work with China to find mutually acceptable solutions at an early date.

    Zipse emphasized that Europe’s green transformation cannot be achieved without cooperation with China. The company remains optimistic about China’s economic prospects and is confident in its development in the market, he said.

    The company is committed to expanding its investment in China and accelerating the localization of production as well as research and development, Zipse added.

    He also noted that there are only losers and no winners in a tariff war. The company firmly opposes the EU imposing additional tariffs on Chinese EVs and hopes that both the EU and China can properly resolve their differences, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Japan hold sixth high-level economic dialogue

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

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo, Japan, on March 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    TOKYO, March 22 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya on Saturday co-chaired the sixth China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue in Tokyo.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, pointed out that since the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, bilateral trade has increased more than 300 times and has remained at a high level of 300 billion U.S. dollars for 15 consecutive years, with the accumulative bilateral investment reaching nearly 140 billion U.S. dollars.

    The economic outcomes proved that China and Japan are partners, not rivals, Wang stressed.

    Amid profound adjustments in the global economic landscape, rising unilateral protectionism, and setbacks to economic globalization, China and Japan, as major world economies, should establish a correct understanding of each other, demonstrate responsibilities, seek development with innovative thinking, add momentum to cooperation and mutual benefit, and reduce obstacles and differences, Wang said.

    He called for efforts on four key areas of cooperation, including accelerating the transformation and upgrading of economic and trade cooperation, achieving strong partnerships for mutual success, addressing each other’s concerns in a balanced manner, and strengthening regional and multilateral cooperation.

    The two countries should uphold the tradition of promoting political relations through economic cooperation, and expand dialogue and exchanges across all sectors to cultivate new growth drivers, Wang said.

    Enterprises from both countries should be encouraged to collaborate in artificial intelligence, the digital economy, energy conservation, environmental protection, and green trade.

    Cooperation in medical and elderly care industries will be further strengthened to foster the “silver economy.”

    The two countries should expand third-market cooperation to benefit the Global South, and support each other in the successful hosting of the Osaka Expo and the China International Import Expo, while promoting regional cooperation, Wang said.

    With a forward-looking approach, China and Japan should leverage the China-Japan economic partnership consultation mechanism to enhance government-business communication, expand market access and eliminate discriminatory restrictions.

    The two sides will work to avoid the politicization of economic security in order to maintain stable and smooth industrial and supply chains.

    Upholding Asian values, the two countries should advocate openness over isolation, and promote inclusiveness over exclusiveness, Wang noted.

    Negotiations for the China-Japan-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement should be resumed and the process of establishing an Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area should be advanced, according to Wang.

    Officials from 15 government departments of both countries attended the meeting.

    In conclusion, Wang said that the dialogue enhanced mutual understanding and confidence in cooperation.

    At a time when unilateral protectionism is rampant, the dialogue has sent a strong signal in support of a free trade system, adherence to international trade rules, and alignment with economic globalization.

    Both sides should further expand their horizons and explore new areas of cooperation to continuously enrich the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, Wang said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: National licensing for electrical trades

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    The Albanese Government will work with states, territories, businesses and unions to design a national licensing scheme for electrical trades people.

    We’re cutting red tape to save tradies time and money.

    This reform is good for workers, good for businesses and will make our economy more productive and competitive.

    It will help housing affordability by easing workforce shortages that are holding back construction of more homes.

    The 2025–26 Budget will enable the design and implementation of the national licensing scheme through the National Competition Policy (NCP) framework.

    The Government has committed $900 million to the National Productivity Fund to drive NCP reforms.

    National licensing will enable people in electrical trades to work seamlessly across state and territory borders without reapplying for a separate licence or paying additional fees.

    By removing unnecessary barriers, this scheme will encourage highly skilled electrical workers to go where they are needed most in the industry, like in housing construction and clean energy.

    As this scheme relates to high‑risk occupations, it will address the need for high standards, while cutting red tape, delays and multiple fees for trades people.

    Of all the construction trades, more workers are employed in electrical services than any other, accounting for around one in seven workers in construction.

    Productivity Commission modelling shows that reforming occupational licensing across a range of industries could provide significant benefits, including a boost to economic output of up to $10.3 billion.

    The Albanese Government has a big and broad economic agenda aimed at boosting productivity because we recognise this is the key to growing our economy and further lifting living standards.

    The Liberals oversaw the slowest decade of productivity growth in 60 years and we’re working hard to turn that around.

    The Liberals abandoned a national license scheme agreed with states and territories at their first Council of Australian Governments meeting under then Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 2013.

    National licensing will complement reforms previously agreed under NCP, including the development of a national screening check for workers in the care sector, streamlining commercial zoning and planning, and removing barriers that inhibit the take‑up of modern construction methods.

    The Albanese Government’s five pillar productivity agenda is focused on creating a more dynamic economy, building a skilled workforce, harnessing data and digital, investing in net zero and delivering quality care more efficiently.

    We’ll make our economy more productive by investing in the jobs and industries of the future and by backing our people, not by making Australians work longer for less.

    Our fourth budget is all about helping with the cost of living, paying down Liberal debt and building a stronger economy.

    We’ll continue to do what we can to make our economy more productive and competitive and ease the burden on tradies and small businesses.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Dempster Highway now part of Yukon Resource Gateway Project

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Dempster Highway now part of Yukon Resource Gateway Project
    hgillesp
    March 22, 2025 – 11:11 am

    This a joint news release between the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon.

    To enhance Arctic security, regional connectivity and ongoing access to resources, the governments of Yukon and Canada have agreed to include the Dempster Highway in the Yukon Resource Gateway Project. This is a significant step in the ongoing enhancement of Canada’s only all-season highway crossing to the Arctic Circle.

    The Dempster Highway is a vital regional link for Yukoners and the communities it serves, both in the Yukon and in the Northwest Territories. This nationally significant highway enables the transportation of resources, goods and services while attracting tourists from around the world.

    By including the Dempster Highway in the Yukon Resource Gateway Project, the Government of Yukon is investing in improving year-round reliability, upgrading northern infrastructure, and ensuring safer, more efficient travel for Yukoners. The planned improvements will focus on making the highway safer and more reliable through road surface improvements, road reconstruction, avalanche and rockfall mitigation, sinkhole repairs, improved roadside safety measures and improved drainage.

    This work will create jobs for Yukoners, strengthen northern communities, drive economic growth, and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

    Initiated in 2017, the Yukon Resource Gateway Project supports infrastructure upgrades for existing roads in mineral rich areas to support long-term, sustainable mineral development. With the addition of the Dempster Highway, the project will now also contribute to supporting Arctic security and sovereignty.

    For each component of the Yukon Resource Gateway Project, the Government of Yukon negotiates a project agreement with the Yukon First Nation in whose Traditional Territory the project resides. These project agreements provide a process for the Government of Yukon and Yukon First Nations governments to work collaboratively to create meaningful employment and business opportunities that create lasting benefits.

    By building a more resilient Dempster Highway, we are enhancing a critical corridor that serves multiple sectors, including tourism and the transport of vital supplies to local communities. This addition to the project compliments our ongoing commitment to invest in infrastructure upgrades to support economic growth and long-term, sustainable mineral development across the territory. 
     

    Modern and accessible infrastructure is a key component of resiliency and long-term economic growth for Yukoners while reinforcing their sovereignty and security. Through the inclusion of the Dempster Highway in the Yukon Resource Gateway Project, we will be able to better support the expansion, sustainability, and reliability of a vital northern route that provides essential travel and transportation.

    Dr. Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    A strong and reliable transportation network is essential for the prosperity of our communities and industries. Investing in the Dempster Highway will improve safety, support economic opportunities, and reinforce Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. This initiative underscores our commitment to infrastructure that meets the needs of Yukoners while contributing to Canada’s broader strategic priorities in the Arctic.

    Minister of Highways and Public Works Nils Clarke

    The inclusion of the Dempster Highway in the Yukon Resource Gateway Program marks a bold step forward in fortifying our northern transportation network. This not only enhances safety and accessibility for all Yukoners, but it also paves the way for future economic opportunities. By modernizing a critical corridor and working hand-in-hand with Yukon First Nations, we are strengthening our commitment to both community prosperity and Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.

    Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker

    Quick facts

    • The Yukon Resource Gateway Project now targets roads benefiting mining, Arctic security and regional connectivity projects.

    • The project is designed to enhance the safety, reliability and accessibility of the Yukon’s road network while supporting Canada’s long-term economic growth and prosperity.

    • The Dempster Highway is a nationally significant road that connects the Yukon and the Northwest Territories to the rest of Canada via the National Highway System. As Canada’s only all-season public road crossing the Arctic Circle, the Dempster Highway is a vital transportation route for residents, businesses, and travelers. 

    Media contact

    Laura Seeley
    Cabinet Communications
    867-332-7627
    laura.seeley@yukon.ca

    Krysten Johnson
    Communications, Highways and Public Works 
    867-332-4847
    krysten.johnson@yukon.ca

    Alison Callaghan
    Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
    867-334-3460
    alison.callaghan@yukon.ca

    News release #:

    25-127

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada and Government of Yukon invest over $11.1M to enhance water services in Mayo and Whitehorse

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Government of Canada and Government of Yukon invest over $11.1M to enhance water services in Mayo and Whitehorse
    zaburke
    March 21, 2025 – 12:31 pm

    This a joint news release between the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon.

    The Village of Mayo and City of Whitehorse will see improvements to water service through two projects after a joint investment of more than $11.1 million from the federal and territorial governments. 

    In the Hillcrest Subdivision area of Whitehorse, rehabilitation of water, sewer and roads will include upgrades to the sanitary and main lines and expansion of the underground storm systems and culverts.

    In the Village of Mayo, funding for underground utility upgrades will result in safer and more accessible drinking water, improved flow of water for firefighting and better capacity to transport sewage. The rehabilitation of water infrastructure will also result in the resurfacing of the impacted roads.

    Supporting infrastructure projects that provide effective and reliable water services for communities helps create healthier environments for the future.
     

    Our government is proud to support water and sewer upgrade projects in Whitehorse and the Village of Mayo. Reliable and stable water infrastructure will benefit the wellbeing of Yukoners in their day to day lives by ensuring efficiency and resiliency in essential services for these communities for years to come.

    Member of Parliament for Yukon Dr. Brendan Hanley on behalf of Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Nathaniel Erskine-Smith

    Investing in essential infrastructure, like water services, is key to building resilient communities. The improvements in both the Village of Mayo and the City of Whitehorse will ensure safer, more reliable access to water, better sewage capacity and enhanced road systems. This joint investment of over $11.1 million reflects our commitment to strengthening the foundations of our communities and fostering a healthier, more sustainable future for Yukoners.

    Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn

    The Village of Mayo is excited with the announcement that the 4th and final phase of our long-term project to replace the outdated water and sewer infrastructure will be completed soon. This vital upgrade will ensure the Village is well-equipped for many years to come. 

    Mayo Mayor Trevor Ellis  

    We are pleased to be working in partnership with the governments of Canada and Yukon to invest in community infrastructure. Whitehorse is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada and enhancing infrastructure is key to ensuring the sustainable growth of our community. Meeting the growing needs of our city will require substantial investments in the years to come and ongoing support from our federal and territorial partners.

    Whitehorse Mayor Kirk Cameron

    Quick facts

    • The federal government is investing $9,612,500 under the Green Infrastructure Stream (GIS) and Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream (RNIS) through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). The Government of Yukon is contributing $1,537,500.

    • The Green Infrastructure Stream helps build greener communities by contributing to climate change preparedness, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting renewable technologies.

    • Including today’s announcement, over 30 infrastructure projects under the Green Infrastructure Stream have been announced in the Yukon, with a total federal contribution of more than $138 million and a total territorial contribution of nearly $32.4 million.  

    • The Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream supports projects that increase access to more efficient and reliable energy sources, improve community infrastructure and improve internet connectivity for rural and northern communities.

    • Including today’s announcement, 20 infrastructure projects under the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream have been announced in the Yukon, with a total federal contribution of more than $141 million and a total territorial contribution of nearly $39.4 million. 

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

    • Federal funding is conditional on fulfilling all requirements related to consultation with Indigenous communities and environmental assessment obligations.

    Media contact

    Laura Seeley
    Cabinet Communications
    867-332-7627
    laura.seeley@yukon.ca 

    Taylor Harvey 
    Communications Analyst 
    Government of Yukon 
    867-332-1237 
    taylor.harvey@yukon.ca  

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

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

    Matthew Cameron
    Manager, Strategic Communications
    City of Whitehorse
    867-689-0515
    matthew.cameron@whitehorse.ca 
     

    News release #:

    25-126

    Related information:

    Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
    Green Infrastructure Stream
    Housing and Infrastructure Project Map
    Strengthened Climate Plan

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Federal government invests in community buildings across Canada

    Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation

    Ontario

    Algonquins of Pikwakanagan Health Centre Renovations

    Replace the wood siding and wood frame windows with triple-paned windows, and increasing the basement insulation. The heating will be upgraded to an energy efficient heat pump, which provides significant GHG savings. The propane unit will remain, providing back up support in the case of extreme cold temperatures. Energy saving will also come from upgrading to low flow plumbing fixtures and lighting to LEDs. Accessibility will be improved by retrofitting the bathroom and upgrading the ramp to the building to meet code. A wing of the Centre will be retrofitted to improve accessibility with wider hallways and larger door frames.

    $2,989,125

    Ayr

    Ontario

    North Dumfries Net Zero Arena Project

    The Township of North Dumfries is embarking on an exciting project to construct a new state-of-the-art ice arena. This facility aims to provide a modern, accessible, and energy-efficient space for ice sports and community events. The project includes a full-sized ice rink, seating for spectators, locker rooms, and multipurpose rooms for community use.

    The goal is to create a hub for local sports teams, recreational leagues, and public skating, fostering a sense of community and promoting healthy, active lifestyles. The new arena will serve residents of all ages, from young children learning to skate to seniors participating in recreational activities. By incorporating sustainable building practices and energy-efficient technologies, we aim to minimize the environmental impact and ensure long-term operational cost savings.
    This project will not only enhance the quality of life for North Dumfries residents but also attract visitors and events, boosting local economy and community spirit.

    $5,000,000

    Beamsville

    Ontario

    The Next Chapter – Vineland Library

    The Town of Lincoln will retrofit and expand the public library in Vineland. The branch, built in 1996, is showing signs of wear and aging. It is the only public space on the East side of Lincoln and is currently visited by over 38,000 each year.  Lincoln is experiencing significant planned residential growth, and the increased population will include newcomers, seniors and children at risk, who require space to meet and connect.
    This project will include a 6000 sq foot addition, including new study and community spaces and a place for the local archives, a green retrofit complying with the zero-carbon building design standard v4, and will improve the accessibility of the branch to 2024 AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) standards.

    The upgraded library will provide inclusive space for residents to access library programs and services and be a model of Net Zero design and construction in the Niagara Region.

    $2,000,000

    Blood 148

    Alberta

    Unlocking Energy Efficiency Potential for Blood Tribe Employment and Skills Training (BTEST) Building

    Improve the comfort and efficiency of the facility and the success of programming by lowering energy consumption, reducing operating costs and demonstrating energy efficiency leadership.
    Works include upgrading lights to LED, improving insulation and sealing of windows and doors, and building out a solar array. The expected energy efficiency improvements from these projects is 32.4%.

    $307,119

    Bonnechere Valley

    Ontario

    Eganville Community Arena GHG Reduction and Energy Efficiency Upgrades

    Replace refrigeration equipment, install a 272 kW solar array, upgrade to LED lighting, improve air tightness and optimize the Building Automation System (BAS) for better climate control.
    These measures aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower operational costs, and ensure the arena remains a vital community space for activities and events.

    $1,000,000

    Breton

    Alberta

    Carolyn Strand Civic Centre Energy Retrofit Improvements

    Replace the outdated HVAC system with a high-efficiency heat pump and upgrade interior lighting with LED fixtures and a control panel, which will reduce energy consumption by 54.5%. An accessible ramp will also be installed to ensure all community members, including those with mobility challenges, can access the services.

    $527,625

    Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Reserve

    Manitoba

    Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Community Hall

    Convert the existing kitchen into a commercial-grade kitchen, install an energy efficient backup generator for emergency power, improve HVAC and audio-visual systems, and accessibility within the building based on CSA standard. Energy efficiency upgrades will feature an air source heat pump, ductwork repairs, demand-controlled ventilation, and repairing the kitchen’s heat recovery ventilator (HRV), leading to a 47.1% reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions.

    $996,368

    Burlington

    Ontario

    Skyway Community Centre and Park

    Build a new facility that will exceed the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) for accessibility requirements. This new community centre will feature a revitalized park which includes a baseball diamond, natural playground, arena, program rooms and an indoor walking track. This will be a low carbon operating facility which aligns with the City’s goal of being a net carbon operation by 2040.

    $1,000,000

    Caledon

    Ontario

    Low Carbon Electric Heating Retrofits and Building Automation System Expansion at Caledon East Community Complex

    Retrofit end-of-life natural gas heaters to electric radiant heaters in two arenas and a garage bay at the Caledon East Community Complex. Expand existing building automation system (BAS), as well as optimize the remaining assets which span the remaining 95,962 ft2 of original floor space at the complex. The retrofitted heaters and expanding the BAS system will result in energy savings of 944,583 ekWh and abate 131 tonnes of CO2e from entering the atmosphere.

    $336,688

    Cape Breton Regional Municipality

    Nova Scotia

    Going Green in 2023 2023

    Install a new refrigeration system which will utilize significant green energy and carbon  reductions measures and put in place solar  panels as the primary energy source. This will lead to greater efficiency and significantly reduced utility rates and will also be part of a net-zero objective. Building renovations will assist with greater accessibility.

    $1,000,000

    Edmonton

    Alberta

    Pimatisiwin Bridge Housing Renovation

    The Pimatisiwin Bridge Housing Renovation Project will rehabilitate and transform a former tavern space into a comprehensive support hub featuring 44 bridge housing units, a commercial kitchen, office space, conference rooms, spiritual space, and accessible washrooms. This project will serve individuals experiencing chronic homelessness by providing 24/7 accommodations, meals, showers, and wrap-around services. Residents will receive culturally sensitive support, helping them stabilize and transition to permanent housing. The renovated space will accommodate over 100 people daily, offering holistic care, including cultural, spiritual, and healthcare services. This project directly supports Edmonton’s unhoused population, particularly Indigenous individuals, and promotes long-term housing solutions.

    $5,000,000

    Edmonton

    Alberta

    Terra Centre 146 Street Renovation

    Terra Centre recently purchased a building to accommodate the expansion of our programmes. Terra Centre is instrumental in raising the standard of living for minority families in Edmonton by being the only organization solely dedicated to pregnant and parenting teen mothers.

    By reducing energy consumption and operating costs, we can ensure that services remain free for teen parents and their families. The agency has implemented many strategies to achieve this goal:

    – Energy Efficiency Upgrade: HRV Replacement, Built-Up Roof System Replacement, Windows, Skylight and Storefront Replacement, LED Lighting Fixture Upgrade.
    The retrofit plan includes enhancing accessibility in the building to welcome more employees, clients, and members of the public, thereby expanding access to more people who require service – Accessibility Retrofits: Accessible family washrooms, Ramps (Exterior and Interior), Automatic Doors, Accessible Reception Desk.

    $1,000,000

    Edmonton

    Alberta

    North Glenora Community League – Net Zero Retrofit

    Improve the energy efficiency of the Community Leagues buildings and retrofit them to net zero. This project will eliminate the carbon emissions of the Community League, act as a demonstration for energy retrofits for residents, improve community climate resilience by providing emergency shelter from extreme weather, and increase the accessibility of the League buildings.

    $752,113

    Edmonton

    Alberta

    Avonmore Community League – Hall Building – Stepped Pathway to Net Zero

    Reduce annual energy consumption by 87.3% (45,880 kWh), reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 89.4% (10.1 tCO2e), improve climate resilience, and work towards removing accessibility barriers. This will be achieved with a building envelope retrofit, reduction of natural gas consumption, electric heating and cooling, renewable energy generation, and accessibility enhancements.

    $406,667

    Edmonton

    Alberta

    Ritchie Community Hall Replacement Project

    Replace the hall to align with community needs and municipal requirements. With a secured development permit, support from various organisations and access to 552 memberships and over 30 businesses, the league is shovel ready and feasible. The building currently serves as an affordable space for charities and non-profit organisations to provide affordable programs to young families and cultural groups. The new hall will also better serve houseless residents.

    $4,287,392

    Edmonton

    *Announced on March 21, 2025

    Alberta

    Crestwood Hall HVAC and Envelope Upgrades

    Correct stucco cladding, windows and doors, and heating and air conditioning systems.
    This will also support the long term goal of becoming NetZero in an incremental and financially responsible way. This project will cut energy use by 44%, and prepare the building for full electrification.

    $396,000

    Edmonton

    *Announced on March 21, 2025

    Alberta

    Edmonton’s Food Bank (EFB) Solar Array Project (Main Building)

    Reduce the operating costs for EFB yearly by at least $70,000 and reduce the carbon emissions (GHG) associated with the operation of EFB by 225 tCO2. Funding will also create a sustainable and prosperous community by reduced costs and reinvestment into the local economy through things like food purchases and programs.

    $482,160

    Georgina

    Ontario

    Energy, Accessibility, and Climate Resiliency Retrofit of Sutton Arena

    Improve the energy efficiency, accessibility, and climate resiliency of the facility by retrofitting the building envelope and equipment to reduce energy usage by over 26%, upgrading the elevator and flooring to meet accessibility standards, and implementing low impact development features in the parking lot to mitigate climate risks. The project will improve the enjoyment and usability of the space for the community by improving temperature controls and occupancy comfort, improving indoor air quality and accessibility, and building in climate resiliency.

    $1,118,412

    Grand Cache

    Alberta

    Aseniwuche Winewack Nation of Canada (AWN) Tawow Centre Retrofit

    Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and operational costs while expanding programming for the community. Key upgrades will include optimizing heating and cooling systems, improving insulation, replacing windows and lighting with energy-efficient alternatives, and enhancing air quality.
    The retrofit will benefit over 500 AWN members, including youth, elders, and families.

    $399,700

    Hamlet of Kugaaruk

    Nunavut

    Wellness Centre Renovation and Expansion

    Renovate and expand the Centre to better serve the rapidly growing community, with a programming based on Inuit traditions. The Hamlet will install a new kitchen and additional food storage to support the Elders lunch and soup kitchen programs that provide services for the most vulnerable. To better serve expecting mothers and early families through the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program, a 25 m² expansion is planned. Additionally, the project will include a solar and battery energy storage system, enabling the Centre to operate essential services in emergencies and reducing reliance on diesel-powered electricity.

    $2,998,331

    High Prairie

    Alberta

    High Prairie Friendship Centre Retrofit

    Improve the building envelope and HVAC systems, as well as implement rooftop solar. These upgrades will significantly reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, promote climate resiliency, improve accessibility and building comfort, and ensure vital community services for years to come.

    $1,350,995

    Kingston

    Ontario

    Isabel Turner Library Renovation

    Isabel Turner Library is a 32,000 sq. ft public library constructed in 1997 and serves as a critical community hub in the west-end of Kingston. The retrofit project will involve aggressive decarbonization measures, energy efficiency upgrades, and site-wide accessibility improvements, including:

    • Extensive building mechanical upgrades (i.e. new high efficiency heat pumps) 
    • Full lighting replacement from fluorescent to LEDs
    • Modifications to public and staff entrances to make them fully accessible 
    • Washroom renovations to make them accessible and a new universal washroom 
    • General accessibility improvements, including: colour contrasting floors and walls, improved circulation, elevator repairs, low reach shelving, integrated assistive devices, and wayfinding
    • Building envelope improvements (water sealing).

    $1,000,000

    Kingston

    Ontario

    Solar PV Array – Rideau Heights Community Centre

    Retrofit the facility with a net-metered photovoltaic array on the roof and in the adjacent parking lot.

    $1,294,560

    Kitchener

    Ontario

    Quad Gymnasium at RBJ Schlegel Park

    The new 33,800 sq. ft. gymnasium will be Kitchener’s first facility of this kind, designed to competition standards for pickleball, basketball, indoor cricket, volleyball, and badminton. Located at the intersection of Huron Road and Fischer-Hallman Road, the facility is in the rapidly growing southwestern area of Kitchener, an area that has historically lacked sufficient recreational infrastructure. Just a 10-minute drive from Highway 401 and near other arterial routes the facility will be easily accessible by many, with an expected 150,000 local and non-local visitors in the first year with numbers expected to grow. The gymnasium will operate as a Net-Zero facility, making it one of the most environmentally sustainable recreation centers in Ontario. This will be achieved through a combination of advanced geo-thermal and solar photovoltaics as well as sustainable material selection such as cross-laminated timber wall systems, which significantly reduce the building’s carbon footprint.

    $2,000,000

    Lac Brome, Quebec (formerly known as Knowlton)

    Quebec

    Lac Brome Museum Expansion – New Building

    Construction a 6000 sq.ft., 2-story building to expand museum displays/public spaces and to provide access during winter to museum and public events.  The climate-controlled building will have an elevator, disabled-friendly washrooms and ground-floor exhibits.

    $2,211,089

    Lindsay

    Ontario

    Ampere’s Community STEAM Space

    Ampere is undertaking a green and inclusive retrofit to create a community STEAM space in Lindsay, Ontario.

    Currently, this 13,248 sq.ft. facility is largely inaccessible with poor energy efficiency. Retrofits will help create a safe, energy efficient, and inclusive multi-purpose learning and activity space. Its ambitious goals include:
    – Green measures (target  65% energy savings, -90% in annual GHG emissions): Adding insulation and curtain walls, upgrading windows and exterior doors, upgrading HVAC, installing LED lighting
    – Accessibility measures (exceeding the highest accessibility standards): Installing exterior/interior ramps, non-slip flooring, elevator, and accessible doors.

    This project will primarily benefit underserved/high needs groups in rural Ontario, including people experiencing poverty, Indigenous peoples, people living with disabilities, newcomers, and seniors.

    $2,000,000

    Little Current

    Ontario

    Fuel Electrification and Solar Net Metering at NEMI Municipal Library

    Offset existing propane and heating oil fuel consumption through installation of cold temperature air-source heat pumps as the new primary heating source, while retaining some of the existing heating system for backup and peak heating demand during extreme cold weather. Other ventilation, HVAC control and building envelope improvements are planned to increase occupant comfort and reduce issues around shoulder season heating with existing heating systems.

    $97,362

    London

    *Announced on March 20, 2025

    Ontario

    Shelter from the Heat: Creating a Community Forestry Centre for Southwestern Ontario

    Transform a 1940s Veterans facility into an energy-efficient, solar-powered, climate-resilient centre for community forestry programs aimed at combating climate change, particularly extreme heat, through tree planting and other nature-based solutions. The centre will offer a variety of free, publicly accessible programs, events, and services.

    $2,195,115

    London

    Ontario

    LOSC BMO Sports Centre Green Retrofit Project

    Retrofit windows and minimize energy loss, and update outdated mechanical systems and HVAC equipment to optimize performance and reduce environmental impact. The project will provide a more eco-friendly facility, benefiting the London community and its 600,000+ annual visitors by improving comfort and lowering operational costs.

    $600,000

    Madeira Park,  Sunshine Coast Regional District, Area A

    British Columbia

    Pender Harbour Community Hall  Renovation & Upgrade Project

    Replace the rafters and roof of the Hall with the goal of extending the life of the building and reduce GHG emissions by upgrading insulation, installing LED lighting and an ERV. The project will enable a solar panel array on the roof. The project will improve accessibility by installing automatic door opener at the main entrance which will complement the accessibility ramp donated by a local business. The project will reduce operating costs by reducing energy consumption and making the Hall more accessible for stakeholders.

    $532,059

    Mississippi Mills

    Ontario

    Reducing the Carbon Footprint: Museum Retrofit

    Improve energy efficiency, reduce the carbon footprint of the MVTM, and increase long-term viability of the site through investments in grid-connected solar PV, high-efficiency electric heat pumps, improved thermal performance, electrical system upgrade, and WIFI-enabled computerized energy management.

    $800,000

    Montréal

    Quebec

    Project Second Chance –  Enhancing Community Inclusion, Integration and Support Services to Ex-Inmates

    Expand the Maison Belfield facility by approximately 8% by removing walls between the living room, kitchen, and dining areas to create a more open and functional environment and enhance public accessibility to group meetings, social events, and rehabilitation activities.

    $294,455

    Montréal

    Quebec

    The Oasis in Transformation: together for an inclusive and sustainable environment for the families of our community

    Renovation of the backyard to better manage rainwater and reduce its impact on the building. To improve accessibility, plans include renovating common areas, automating one of the entrance doors, and installing a weather-protected universal access ramp. Improvements to insulation, windows, doors, the air conditioning and heating system, and lighting are also planned.

    $550,000

    Montréal

    *Announced on March 19, 2025

    Quebec

    Montreal North Sport Centre

    Build the sports section of the arena, which includes a double gymnasium, a gymnastics area, a walking track, locker rooms, bleachers, and administrative offices for the organizations.

    $15,000,000

    Municipality of Pictou

    Nova Scotia

    MARSA Expansions

    Expand kitchen and greenroom/storage, deck, and improve energy and climate and accessibility.

    $202,840

    Nepean

    Ontario

    Mamaawi Lodge: Expanding Green Spaces for an Inclusive Future

    The Mamaawi Lodge Expansion project involves a substantial addition to cultural performance and education facility, addressing the growing demand for its programming. The expansion will add 457.7 m² to the existing 442 m² pavilion, creating space for an artisan marketplace, office, makerspace, classroom, storage, washrooms, and more.

    Upgrades to the current pavilion will include refinishing the event space, energy-efficient lighting, new AV and stage systems, and enhancements to the building envelope such as re-cladding, new windows, doors, insulation, and barriers. A new heat pump, septic system, and hydro service upgrades will further improve sustainability.
    This expansion enhances the organization’s ability to offer culturally immersive and educational experiences, benefiting Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities by promoting cultural understanding and reconciliation.

    $5,000,000

    Norfolk County

    Ontario

    Reducing CO2 Emissions: Port Rowan Community Centre Retrofit

    Install a new roof with insulation, solar panel installation with battery storage, HVAC improvements, building envelope upgrades, and enhanced accessibility features.

    $1,510,000

    Oka

    Quebec

    Renovation of Juliette Huot Place

    Modernize and make this seniors’ reception center more environmentally friendly. The work will include demolishing and rebuilding the entrance ramp for better accessibility, replacing doors and windows with more energy-efficient models, adding gutters and roof ventilators, and improving insulation. The project also includes decontaminating and removing a buried oil tank, installing an electric furnace, and making various repairs to the building envelope.

    $442,008

    Ottawa

    Ontario

    African, Caribbean & Black Wellness Resource Centre: Breaking Barriers

    Install energy-efficient windows, lighting, and HVAC systems to reduce the building’s environmental impact and operational costs. Install automatic, wheelchair-accessible doors and an exterior ramp, ensuring ease of access for all members of the community, especially those with mobility impairments. The subfloors will be upgraded to smooth, safe vinyl flooring, improving traction and significantly reducing the risk of accidents.

    $237,699

    Percé

    Quebec

    Renovation of the Charles Robin heritage barn (built in 1780) into the Percé community Art Centre

    For 16 years, the Percéides Festival has been a major cultural player in the region, offering programming for all audiences. As a long-term tenant of the Charles Robin heritage building, Les Percéides wants to restore this venue’s artistic and community vocation by restoring and redeveloping it into the Percé Art Centre, offering cutting-edge cultural, community, and educational activities year-round, aimed at all ages. The winterized building will be accessible and serve the various communities of Greater Percé and the Gaspé Peninsula so they can meet and develop social and multidisciplinary activities. The renovated building will include various accessible spaces such as a meeting room, a community kitchen for events, a community café, a screening room, artist residencies, and an exhibition hall.

    $2,000,000

    Pictou County, District 10:   Coalburn, Greenwood, Kirmount, McLellans Brook, McLellans Mountain

    Nova Scotia

    Ivor MacDonald Deep Energy Retrofit Project

    Reduce the building emissions (by over 85%) from the Ivor MacDonald Community Arena by making vast improvements to the properties envelope, mechanical, lighting, and renewable energy systems. Targeted upgrades include converting aging oil and wood boilers to an efficient closed-loop geothermal heating system, installing ductless heat pumps, adding a 75kW solar PV array, replacing fluorescent lighting with LED, upgrading controls, and increasing wall insulation. In total the project looks to reduce total on-site energy use by 87%.

    $200,000

    Qualicum Beach

    *Announced on March 22, 2025

    British Columbia

    Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion Project

    Double the size of the current facility, connecting rural and urban residents of the Oceanside, BC area with publicly accessible, affordable aquatics programming. This improve community services while meeting the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Standard V4.The new facility includes a new pool area and modernized change rooms.

    $7,000,000

    Rothesay

    New Brunswick

    The Rothesay Intergenerational Centre – Phase 2

    The Rothesay Intergenerational Centre (RIC) – phase 2 project is to refurbish and repurpose the 50-year-old Rothesay Arena as a multiuse recreation facility serving the broad Rothesay community and the nearby town of Quispamsis (total population ±35,000).
    The existing rink boards and ice plant will be removed and a new multipurpose floor installed suitable for a variety of sports, recreation and cultural activities. The existing structure and select components of the building will be retained and a new, energy-efficient building envelope and HVAC system added. The facility will be upgraded to universal design standards (barrier free). Usage will be intergenerational responding to the needs of a growing senior’s population, active adults and emerging needs of newcomers. Sited adjacent one of our neighbourhoods under stress and within walking distance of a second, this facility is expected to provide wellness opportunities for youth and adults otherwise unserved or underserved.

    $7,000,000

    Saint-Félix-de-Valois

    Quebec

    Energy renovation and remodelling of the old Presbytery

    Modernization, roof repair, replacement of the heating and ventilation system, renovation of the sanitary blocks and redefinition of the storage and office spaces so that the building complies with the building code will allow the rehabilitation of the premises to accommodate community organizations, to preserve an important element of the built, religious and historical heritage of the community while improving the accessibility of the building and its ecological footprint in order to make it a truly green, inclusive and accessible community building.

    $1,300,000

    Saint Theresa Point First Nation # 298

    Manitoba

    Saint Theresa Point First Nation Daycare Solar Project

    Retrofit the St. Theresa Point First Nation Daycare building with a grid tied solar photovoltaic system. The 50.6 kW solar PV system is designed to reduce carbon emissions and overall carbon footprint. The solar system will create ~55,900 kWh or 98% of the electricity requirements, lowering operating expenses by ~$6000/year that can to go towards equipment, toys, lunches and even additional staff to meet the constant demand.

    $255,332

    Sault Ste. Marie

    Ontario

    John Rhodes Community Centre Energy Retrofit and Accessibility Project

    Replace the existing roof to support solar panel installation, upgrading the roof condenser and air handling units for better HVAC efficiency, converting the entire facility to LED lighting and solar panel installation. These changes aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs, aligning with Canada’s climate goals. Additionally, accessible bleachers will be installed in the hockey arena to create an inclusive environment for families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

    $1,000,000

    Seine River First Nation

    Ontario

    Seine River Community Centre Renovations

    Retrofit the 20-year old gymnasium / community centre, that includes replacing the diesel boiler with a geothermal system, adding a solar panel array and replacing windows, and improving accessibility of the building by installing a wider entryway with a concrete apron.

    $2,998,863

    St. John’s

    Newfoundland and Labrador

    Kilbride Lions Community Centre: Deep Energy Retrofit & Renewal Project

    The City of St. John’s is undertaking a comprehensive retrofit of the Kilbride Lions Community Centre to improve energy efficiency, accessibility, and safety. This project will focus on deep energy retrofits, including upgrades to insulation, heating systems, and lighting, key accessibility upgrades, such as the installation of a gender-neutral accessible washroom and an elevator and, critical safety upgrades, including modernizing outdated electrical systems to address long-overdue maintenance issues.

    These improvements target an 80% reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, aligned with the City’s climate action plans, while also promoting inclusivity and safety. The project will benefit all residents, especially vulnerable populations such as indigenous households, single-parent families, and those experiencing energy poverty in the community.

    $1,000,000

    Surrey

    British Columbia

    North Surrey  Indigenous Learning Centre

    The North Surrey Indigenous Learning Centre is a new construction project designed to support the cultural, educational, and social needs of the Kwantlen, Katzie, and Semiahmoo First Nations. The Centre will feature workshops, classrooms, and gathering spaces, fostering cultural knowledge sharing and Indigenous traditions like wood carving. Designed with a focus on sustainability and accessibility, the fully electrified building will meet Zero Carbon Building standards and feature energy-efficient systems. The Centre will also offer the broader Surrey community an opportunity to learn about and engage with First Nations culture, enhancing cultural exchange and inclusivity.

    $2,000,000

    Temiskaming Shores, Timiskaming District

    Ontario

    Waterfront Pool & Fitness Centre Energy & GHG Retrofit

    Upgrade the regional health and wellness facility, which is the only indoor aquatic and fitness facility within a 75 km radius, providing essential services to seniors, low-income families, and other vulnerable populations, and improve thermal comfort by modernizing HVAC system. This will achieve a 32% improvement in energy efficiency.

    $810,160

    The Magdalen Islands

    Quebec

    Musée de la Mer des Îles-de-la-Madeleine: Geothermal upgrading and climate resilience

    Improve the performance of the envelope to save energy. Subsequently, an increase in auxiliary power will be necessary to relieve the overstressed geothermal units in the friable soil of the archipelago by about 40%. The new auxiliary system will consist of overhead VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) units to complement the geothermal system.

    $116,766

    Thessalon

    Ontario

    The Town of Thessalon Sustainability Initiative: Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Accessibility at the Thessalon Memorial Arena and Thessalon Curling Club

    This transformative project aims to modernize the Thessalon Memorial Arena and Curling Club by installing an energy-efficient CO2 refrigeration plant and implementing a suite of energy conservation measures, including electric resurfacing equipment, space temperature setbacks, and ice temperature optimization. The project will reduce electrical consumption by 35.3% and lower CO2e emissions by 42.4%, supporting Canada’s climate goals. Additionally, key accessibility upgrades, such as automatic door openers, improved washrooms, and ramp modifications, will ensure that the facility is inclusive for all community members. These improvements will safeguard the arena’s future, ensuring it remains a vital recreational hub for Town of Thessalon, Thessalon First Nation and many other surrounding communities.

    $2,000,000

    Thunder Bay

    *Announced on March 19, 2025

    Ontario

    Science North Thunder Bay: A Net Zero Attraction and Home for Science in Northwestern Ontario

    Build a net-zero science centre attraction in Thunder Bay, designed to the Canadian Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Standard (V4) and provide accessible community services to 67,500 people annually, including populations experiencing higher needs.

    $20,000,000

    Toronto

    Ontario

    YMCA Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre

    This is a new mixed-use community and recreation centre, owned by the YMCA of Greater Toronto, will contain a combination of health, fitness and child programming along with leased spaces for local community social and health services. The facility will be roughly 14,000 m2 and brings together numerous local small United Way community agencies alongside large established organizations like Scarborough Health Network (SHN) to weave health and well-being into this forward-thinking model of caring for all ages at all stages of their wellness journey.

    The project is targeting LEED certification, Toronto Green Standard Tier 2, and Fitwel – making it an example of healthy and climate-smart development. The current design includes ultra-efficient energy systems and low-carbon materials, and GICB funding will allow the project to achieve Zero Carbon Standard certification by eliminating fossil fuels and offsetting any residual emissions associated with the project.

    $9,000,000

    Toronto

    Ontario

    Central YMCA energy infrastructure retrofit

    Implement a variety of repairs and retrofit measures to significantly reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions, which will ultimately result in a 38% reduction in fuel consumption, 32% reduction in fuel cost, and 49% reduction in carbon emissions.

    $1,060,152

    Toronto

    Ontario

    Oshawa YMCA energy infrastructure retrofit

    This is an existing, 5,794 sqm mixed-use community and recreation centre owned by the YMCA of Greater Toronto. It brings together the local community and features a wide range of health and fitness facilities and programs, childcare, and day camps. However, as an older building, the building currently contains a number of inefficient systems and building features, resulting in higher energy consumption and GHG emissions, as well as increased fuel cost.

    The project will implement a variety of repairs and retrofit measures to significantly reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions, which will ultimately result in a 40% reduction in fuel consumption, 34% reduction in fuel cost, and 60% reduction in carbon emissions. With these measures funded through the GICB program, this project is an excellent example of retrofitting existing buildings to convert them into modern, high-performance facilities.

    $1,000,000

    Toronto

    Ontario

    Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC) Community Hub Revitalization and Energy Saving Retrofit

    Replace the windows and the roof, insulating walls and replace the 25-year-old rooftop HVAC units with a new, highly efficient centralized HVAC (VRF) system. Accessibility and fire safety systems will conform to the highest standards. The renovation will not only improve energy efficiency, accessibility, and safety but will reduce GHG emissions, make PARC more resilient to climate change and reduce the risks and costs associated with it.

    $500,000

    Toronto

    Ontario

    Westend YMCA energy retrofit

    Implement a variety of repairs and retrofit measures to significantly reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions, which will ultimately result in a 39% reduction in fuel consumption, 32% reduction in fuel cost, and 44% reduction in carbon emissions.

    $414,624

    Town Of Bancroft

    Ontario

    The Green Ice Initiative:  Accessible and Sustainable Upgrades to the North Hastings Community Centre

    Upgrade to the Thermalcare refrigeration system, which is safer and offers up to a 41% reduction in energy costs, and install a universal washroom addressing the lack of accessible facilities in the arena.

    $1,944,217

    Town of Main Brook

    Newfoundland and Labrador

    Moving Towards a Green Future – Revitalizing Community Spaces

    Retrofit an existing municipal storage and warehousing building to become a multi-purpose building that enhances community engagement and interactions, attracts guests, visitors and new families, and supports diverse and underserved local groups with a focus on mental health, aging in place, education and entertainment for youth.

    $230,323

    Town of Olds

    Alberta

    Olds Men’s Shed and Community Arts Hub: Activating the former Town of Olds Operations Shop

    Renovate the interior of the building to ensure it is safe, accessible, and functional as a community building while improving energy efficiency, lowering carbon emissions and enhancing climate resilience. A Community Arts Hub would offer space for local artists to gather, create and share their talents through various projects and cultural events. The Hub would also be a place for community members to come together to engage in art creation, appreciate art, and participate in other cultural activities.

    $199,824

    Town of Whitby

    * Announced on March 14, 2025

    Ontario

    55+ – Feasibility Study / HVAC Upgrades & Interior Renovations

    Upgrade the Seniors Activity Centre HVAC systems, including new air handling units, rooftop unit condensers, replacement of hot water tanks, and building automation system upgrades.

    $798,486

    Township of Johnson

    Ontario

    Johnson Township Community Centre Green Efficiency Updates

    Improve the ice making plant, HVAC system, bathrooms, showers, lighting, and enclosure tightness. The installation of automation solutions and replacement of equipment long past its useful life, will reduce consumption, limit water usage, and reduce product waste throughout the building. This will increase energy efficiency’s by approximately 25%, reduce GHG emissions by approximately 35%, reduce costs by $45,000, and reduce water consumption by a minimum of 660,000 gallons annually.

    $1,309,728

    Trenton

    Ontario

    Wooler Schoolhouse Project

    The Wooler Schoolhouse Project will renovate the heritage 1915 Wooler Schoolhouse in Quinte West, Ontario to return it community service as a modernized, sustainable, climate change resilient, and accessible recreation facility. Renovations will include an addition to provide elevator access and a second emergency exit.
    The Schoolhouse’s 2.8-acre property will be developed to support outdoor recreational and cultural activities identified by the community. 

    The Project is led by the non-profit Wooler and Area Community Organization that will operate the renovated Schoolhouse to provide inclusive, affordable, local access to recreational programs and spaces for community events, services missing in the area since the demolition of the Wooler Town Hall in 2012.
    The revitalized Schoolhouse will become a sustainable platform for community engagement, economic development, preservation of history, and cultural events, including meeting the needs of underserved area youth and seniors.

    $1,000,000

    Village of Memramcook

    *Announced on March 21, 2025

    New Brunswick

    Memramcook Recreation Centre

    Build a sustainable recreation centre in the rural linguistic minority community. This centre will be a modern and inclusive space, designed to meet the needs of vulnerable groups such as at-risk youth, newcomers, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. The centre will offer affordable and accessible programming. The project aligns with Canada’s net-zero carbon energy goals, aiming for net-zero energy performance.

    $6,000,000

    Waterloo

    Ontario

    MSCC Energy and Accessibility Retrofit

    Reductions Energy/GHG by electrification of (natural) gas heating systems, energy recovery, lighting, controls, and new roofing. Accessibility and inclusivity is enhanced with a new universal washroom, and automatic door operators. Community service offering is increased with a new arena dehumidifier with air conditioning.

    $2,399,582

    Westport

    Ontario

    WTC Communication Center GHG Reduction & Energy Efficiency Upgrades

    The Westport Community Arena Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Upgrades project aims to enhance the facility’s energy performance and environmental impact through a series of targeted measures. These include optimizing dehumidifier controls, installing air-source heat pump water heaters, implementing night temperature setbacks, and upgrading to LED lighting with occupancy sensors. Additionally, the project will integrate a hydronic forced-air bleacher heating system using reclaimed heat, and install a solar photovoltaic system on the roof. These upgrades will reduce energy consumption by 98.6%, lower operational costs, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 96.1%, benefiting the entire Westport community by providing a more sustainable and cost-effective recreational facility. The project will also improve accessibility, indoor air quality and comfort for users, ensuring a healthier and more enjoyable environment for all.

    $2,000,000

    Winnipeg

    *Announced on March 21, 2025

    Manitoba

    Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum Energy & Envelope Upgrade

    Replace windows, and mechanical systems including HVAC system with heat pumps, new ductwork, controls and energy recovery ventilators.

    $1,000,000

    Winnipeg

    *Announced on March 19, 2025

    Manitoba

    Riverview Community Centre –  Comprehensive Green Energy Retrofit: Interior & Exterior

    Replace mechanical systems and interior and exterior components that have exceeded their functional lifespan. These upgrades will improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and prepare the centre to serve the community in a carbon-constrained future.

     $924,079

    Yellowknife

    Northwest Territories

    Endacho Healing Lodge

    Build a new, energy efficient and eco-sensitive Endacho Healing Lodge that will be built as a place of harmony with the land and water. In this place, Indigenous people who have suffered trauma can heal by connecting with their culture and the land through a combination of traditional and western healing methods.  The Lodge is designed to integrate into the natural contours of the land, incorporating energy efficiency technology proven effective and sustainable in the northern environment.

    $7,000,000

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road blocked, State Highway 5, Rangitaiki

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are responding to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 5 near Rangitaiki School Road, Taupo District.

    The crash was reported around 10:30am.

    Initial indications suggest multiple people have been seriously injured. Helicopters are enroute to transport the patients.

    The road is blocked and motorists are advised to expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Removing the consumer carbon price, effective April 1, 2025

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    The Government of Canada has made regulations that cease the application of the federal fuel charge, effective April 1, 2025, and is also removing requirements for provinces and territories to have a consumer-facing carbon price as of that date. These actions refocus federal carbon pollution pricing standards on ensuring carbon pricing systems are in place across Canada on a broad range of greenhouse gas emissions from industry. A price on pollution for large emitters will continue to be a pillar of Canada’s plan to build a strong economy and greener future. It is a system that is fair and effective. Industrial carbon pricing is one of the most important greenhouse gas emission reduction policies in the government’s comprehensive Emissions Reduction Plan to bend the curve and meet Canada’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. Carbon pricing systems for industry are also designed to keep costs low to protect against competitiveness risks. 

    This backgrounder provides details on how removing the consumer carbon price will work and on how the proceeds return mechanisms (including the Canada Carbon Rebate) will be wound down.

    Ceasing the Application of the Federal Fuel Charge

    The federal fuel charge currently applies in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nunavut and Yukon (referred to as listed provinces). Under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, the fuel charge generally applies to 21 fossil fuels and combustible waste upon delivery, importation or use in listed provinces.

    The federal government removed the fuel charge, effective April 1, 2025, via regulations. It will also be considering broader amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, including proposed amendments to complete the orderly wind-down of the fuel charge.

    After March 31, 2025, the applicable fuel charge rates for all types of fuel and for combustible waste will be set to zero. Therefore, beginning on April 1, 2025, the fuel charge ceases to apply.

    The regulations will also cease the application of certain administrative requirements that are no longer necessary. Specifically:

    • After March 31, 2025, requirements for registered emitters subject to a provincial output-based performance standards system to provide certain information in respect of changes to their facilities to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change will cease to apply. After September 30, 2025, all residual requirements in respect of those registered emitters will cease to apply.
    • After March 31, 2025, no persons will be required to newly register in respect of any category or any type of fuel. All existing registrations will be cancelled on November 1, 2025.
    • For reporting periods beginning after March 31, 2025, there will be no requirement to file a return if no positive amount of fuel charge is payable.

    The regulations do not affect obligations for reporting periods prior to April 1, 2025. Fuel charge payers are still required to pay amounts owed, continue to be able to claim rebates to which they are entitled, and are subject to assessments and re-assessments in respect of past reporting periods.

    Canada Carbon Rebate

    The Canada Carbon Rebate was introduced to return direct proceeds from the federal fuel charge to residents of provinces where it applied. With the removal of the federal fuel charge effective April 1, 2025, eligible Canadians will receive a final Canada Carbon Rebate payment, starting April 22.

    In provinces where the federal fuel charge currently applies, a family of four will receive up to $456 under the base Canada Carbon Rebate for April 2025 (see table below for specified amounts by province). In addition to the base rebate amounts, a rural top-up of 20 per cent is provided for individuals residing in small and rural communities.

    To receive their Canada Carbon Rebate for April 2025, Canadians need to file their 2024 tax return. For Canadians who are registered for direct deposit with the Canada Revenue Agency, the Canada Carbon Rebate will be deposited directly into their bank account; otherwise, the Canada Carbon Rebate will be delivered via cheque. For those who have a spouse or common-law partner, the person who files their tax return first will receive the Canada Carbon Rebate amount for all members of the household, including children.

    Table 1
    April 2025 Canada Carbon Rebate Amounts, as specified by the Minister of Finance
    ($)
    NL PEI* NS NB ON MB SK AB
    First Adult 149 110 110 165 151 150 206 228
    Second Adult 74.50 55 55 82.50 75.50 75 103 114
    Each Child 37.25 27.50 27.50 41.25 37.75 37.50 51.50 57
    Family of Four 298 220 220 330 302 300 412 456
    *As all residents in PEI are considered to be living in a small or rural community, the rural supplement is already included in the base amounts for that province. The amounts for other provinces do not include the rural supplement; those eligible for the supplement will receive 20 per cent more.

    Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses

    In provinces where the fuel charge currently applies, a portion of fuel charge proceeds from the price on pollution is returned to eligible small- and medium-sized businesses via the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, an automatic, refundable tax credit provided directly to eligible businesses.

    With the removal of the federal fuel charge effective April 1, 2025, the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses payment in respect of the 2024-25 fuel charge year will be the final payment to eligible businesses.

    The Minister of Finance will specify payment rates to return the previously specified $623.1 million in proceeds for the 2024-25 fuel charge year once sufficient information is available from the 2024 taxation year.

    Fuel Charge Proceeds Fund for Indigenous Governments

    In provinces where the fuel charge was in place prior to April 1, 2025, a portion of fuel charge proceeds from the price on pollution is being returned to eligible federally recognized Indigenous governments by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through grant agreements delivered by the Fuel Charge Proceeds Fund for Indigenous Governments (FCPFIG). The FCPFIG offers maximum flexibility for eligible First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments to manage and use their share of fuel charge proceeds towards self-determined priorities.

    Following the removal of the federal fuel charge effective April 1, 2025, ECCC will continue to work with eligible recipients to return $531.5 million in proceeds for the 2020-21 to 2024-25 period, consistent with the amounts previously specified by the Minister of Finance. The Government of Canada is committed to establishing the necessary grant agreements and issuing payments through the FCPFIG to eligible Indigenous governments as soon as possible.

    Return of Fuel Charge Proceeds to Farmers Tax Credit

    Recognizing that many farmers use natural gas and propane in their operations, the federal government provides a refundable tax credit to return fuel charge proceeds to farming businesses that operate in provinces where the federal fuel charge currently applies.

    The Minister of Finance has the authority under the Income Tax Act to specify payment rates for eligible farming expenses that are incurred in the 2025 calendar year, which would have corresponded to returns of fuel charge proceeds for the 2025-26 fuel charge year, and the designated provinces in which these payment rates will apply. Those provinces are Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

    With the removal of the federal fuel charge effective April 1, 2025, the Return of Fuel Charge Proceeds to Farmers Tax Credit in respect of the 2024-25 fuel charge year will be the final credit available to eligible farming businesses. Consequently, the Minister of Finance has specified the payment rate per $1,000 in eligible farming expenses that are incurred in the 2025 calendar year (in respect of the 2025-26 fuel charge year), in the designated provinces, to be nil.

    This nil payment rate replaces the payment rate for the same calendar year (and fuel charge year) that was previously announced on January 10, 2025.

    Strengthening Industrial Carbon Pricing

    Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan contains a comprehensive suite of mitigation measures, strategies, and investments, including policies that complement carbon pricing. A price on pollution for large emitters will continue to be a pillar of Canada’s plan to build a prosperous net-zero economy and make progress on climate targets. According to independent estimates, industrial carbon pricing is the climate policy with the single largest contribution to achieving our climate targets, all while helping us transform and grow our economy. The government intends to refocus federal carbon pollution pricing requirements on ensuring carbon pricing systems are in place across Canada on a broad range of greenhouse gas emissions from industry. The government intends to strengthen Canada’s approach to carbon pricing for industry to ensure its continued effectiveness.

    The federal government intends to engage with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and stakeholders on changes to the minimum national stringency standards for carbon pollution pricing, known as the federal ‘benchmark’ criteria.

    Changes would focus the benchmark on ensuring industrial pricing systems continue to maximize emissions reductions and encourage the transition to low carbon technologies, while protecting industry against competitiveness and carbon leakage impacts. Improving the emissions performance of Canadian industry makes it more efficient and can support its competitiveness as Canada works to diversify its trading relationships and deepen market access, especially in jurisdictions that increasingly value lower emitting goods, such as the European Union.

    The goal of the benchmark criteria would continue to be that systems are similarly stringent, fair and effective. The benchmark review will consider opportunities to strengthen industrial carbon markets so that they deliver the incentives needed for major decarbonization projects across industry, while creating jobs and driving investment in the technologies that will shape the clean economies of the future.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government invests in greener public transit across Quebec

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Montréal, Quebec, March 22, 2025 — The federal government is investing over $400 million in 11 infrastructure projects, including three in Montréal, to make public transit greener across Quebec.

    First, more than $200.5 million will be used to electrify the St-Laurent ($106.7 million) and Anjou ($93.7 million) transport centers through the acquisition and installation of electrical equipment that will allow the installation of several dozen charging points. In total, 148 charging points will be installed at the St-Laurent transport center, and 132 will be installed at the Anjou transport centre.

    An investment of more than $83.2 million will go towards the partial electrification of the Legendre transport centre, allowing the installation of 72 charging positions for buses. This project includes technical studies, the acquisition and commissioning of equipment and infrastructure, as well as the expansion of premises for electrical equipment, the modernization of infrastructure such as the fire protection system and telecommunications rooms, the reinforcement of the building structure, and the connection to the existing generator.

    The federal investments announced today will also be used to fund electrification projects at transit authority garages and operations centres across the province, notably in Longueuil, Lévis, Quebec City, Sherbrooke, and Saguenay.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Federal government invests in greener public transit projects across Quebec

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    The federal government is investing over $400 million through the Zero Emission Transit Fund to support 11 projects across Quebec.

    Project information:

    Location

    Project Name

    Federal Funding

    Lévis

    Conversion of the St-Omer Garage to Electric Propulsion

    $7,625,369

    Lévis

    New Bus Depot for the Société de transport de Lévis

    $4,720,000

    Longueuil

    NCESH Phase 2: Opportunity File and Business File

    $10,757,430

    Longueuil

    Construction of electrical infrastructure and a bus charging shelter at the Vieux-Longueuil Operations Centre

    $34,835,216

    Longueuil

    Planning of Phase 1 for the Construction of the Saint-Hubert Operations Centre

    $8,579,879

    Montréal

    Electrification of the Anjou Transportation Centre

    $93,772,567

    Montréal

    Electrification of the St-Laurent Transportation Centre

    $106,774,883

    Montréal

    Partial electrification of the Legendre Transportation Centre

    $83,275,026

    Saguenay

    Electrification of the Garage of the Société de transport du Saguenay – Phase 1

    $15,577,230

    Sherbrooke

    Expansion of Cabana Operations Centre

    $30,805,687

    Québec

    Functional and Technical Program and Studies for the Lebourgneuf Centre

    $3,430,320

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Wellington

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died after a two-vehicle crash on the Wellington motorway overnight.

    Emergency services were called to State Highway 1, Kaiwharawhara about 11:30pm where two cars had collided in the northbound lane.

    Sadly, the driver of the first vehicle was unable to be revived, and died at the scene.

    The passenger from the first vehicle, and driver of the second, were both taken to Wellington Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

    The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene and a crash investigation is underway.

    The motorway reopened about 3:45am.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Statement from U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert on the passing of former U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert provided the following statement regarding the passing of former U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber:

    “We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber.  She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being. We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world. Her professionalism, grace, and legal acumen set the standard. Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard.  Jess was a proud Virginian from high school through college and throughout her career. She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back.  We remain committed to her life’s work, a commitment to seeking justice, as she would have wanted.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Keep safe and cool in hot weather

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Setting your air conditioner to 23 degrees or higher can help avoid strain on the electricity grid.

    In brief:

    • Summers in Canberra can be long, hot and dry.
    • It’s important to be prepared for extreme heat and emergencies.
    • This story contains tips and information to help you prepare for the summer months.

    Canberrans have a long, hot and dry summer ahead of us. It’s important to be aware of potential risks to your family and your property.

    There are actions that you can take to prepare for the summer months. This includes things like preparing for hazard season and using electricity carefully.

    Be emergency ready

    During summer, the ACT can have a higher risk for:

    • bushfires
    • grass fires
    • storms flood
    • extreme heat weather events.

    If you and your home prepare well, you stand a better chance of surviving an emergency.

    You can be emergency ready by completing or updating your survival plan and packing your home emergency kit.

    Visit the ACT Emergency Services Agency website for more information and resources.

    Take note of prescribed burns

    The ACT Government conducts several prescribed burns each year to manage fire risk across the region.

    You’ll also see the ACT Government’s mowing team busy managing grass growth across the territory. This is part of the annual mowing program. This not only improves presentation, access and safety, it reduces fire fuel.

    Find out when prescribed burns are happening in your area.

    You can also check the ESA website to see a list of active incidents.

    And if you see a fire unattended, call triple-zero (000).

    Know your nearest heat refuge

    During cases of extreme heat, some library branches may extend their opening hours. This is to allow the public to escape the heat. Extended opening hours is determined at the time on advice from ACT Health.

    Not only are public library branches free and open to everyone, but all are air conditioned. The community can enjoy access to free books, DVDs, magazines, music downloads, e-books, wi-fi, programs and events.

    When extreme heat events occur, Libraries ACT will display the extended opening hours on their website. Find out more.

    Be energy conscious this summer

    On extreme heat days, the electricity grid can become strained. It’s important to be mindful of your energy use. This can help manage demand on days like these while still keeping your home cool and comfortable. It can also help you save on energy bills.

    Our top tips to turn down the heat include:

    • use fans first – they are cheaper to run
    • set your air conditioner to 23 degrees or higher
    • service or clean filters on aircons to help your system run more efficiently
    • keep windows covered during the day to keep out the heat
    • open windows at the end of the day to benefit from the cooler evening air
    • draught proof your home to prevent cool air from escaping from gaps between windows, doors, vents and exhausts.

    Visit the Climate Choices website for more ideas on saving energy and saying cool for less.

    Read more like this:

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government announces investments in two major transit infrastructure projects in Quebec

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Quebec City, Quebec, March 22, 2025 — Today, the Government of Canada is announcing an additional federal contribution of more than $1.1 billion to help complete the Quebec City tramway and Montréal Metro Blue line extension projects. These investments in critical infrastructure are essential to help build the strongest economy in the G7.

    These two major projects will improve mobility in Quebec City and the Montréal metropolitan area, promote sustainable mobility, support urban and economic development and consolidate the public transit network in these two major Quebec cities. They will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus strengthen climate resilience.

    Quebec City Tramway (TramCité)

    This project involves the construction of a 19 km 100% electric tramway line, including approximately 1.9 km underground. Work includes the universally accessible construction of 29 stations, five interchanges, two park-and-ride facilities, an operations and maintenance centre, two centralized control stations, a fleet of around 30 cars and related works, including the construction or modification of engineering structures, as well as landscaping and the installation of street furniture. The vehicles will be powered by a hybrid overhead contact line and batteries.

    A federal contribution of over $1.1 billion had already been approved in July 2019. The Government of Canada is increasing its contribution to the project by $332.3 million for a total federal contribution of over $1.4 billion.

    Montréal Metro Blue line extension

    The project includes five new metro stations in a tunnel spanning some six kilometers, two bus terminals, an underground pedestrian tunnel, a mezzanine pedestrian link and various operational infrastructure elements. Commissioning of these metro stations is scheduled for 2031.

    The federal government had initially committed to contribute more than $1.3 billion to the Blue line extension project. Today, the federal government is announcing that it will increase its contribution to the project by more than $650 million to just over $1.9 billion.

    In addition, the federal government is also announcing an investment of $202.8 million in the train control system project, which will replace the current fixed block train control system with a technology-based system for the entire Montréal Metro Blue line, including its extension.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst: Sarah Root’s Killer Now in U.S. Custody

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    OMAHA, Neb. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today attended the extradition arrival of Edwin Mejia, an illegal immigrant who took the life of Iowan Sarah Root in 2016, as he arrived in the United States, where he will now face justice.
    On January 31, 2016, Mejia was driving drunk when he struck and killed 21-year-old Sarah Root on the night of her college graduation. Before her family could even lay her to rest, a loophole in the law allowed her killer to be released and escape the consequences of his crimes. Since then, Ernst has fought for closure on behalf of the Root family and the safety of Iowans.

    Download photos here and b-roll here.
    For nine years since the tragedy, Senator Ernst worked tirelessly to pass Sarah’s Law to bring closure to the Root family and ensure this never happens again. This year, she shepherded the legislation through the Senate and the House, and President Trump madethis legislation the law of the land.
    During Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s confirmation process, Senator Ernst advocated to ensure Sarah and the Roots’ story was not forgotten and has continued to work on this issue with Secretary Noem and the Trump administration.
    Senator Ernst’s remarks on today’s event:
    “I just left the Omaha airport – where Edwin Mejia was just taken into U.S. custody – and he will now face justice for taking the life of a young Iowan over nine years ago.
    “Too many of you know his name – because too many of you know Sarah Root’s story.
    “She was an innocent young Iowan whose life was taken far too soon at the hands of an illegal immigrant who slipped away due to a loophole in the law.
    “For years, we have been telling her story alongside her parents– Michelle Root and Scott Root – so this illegal immigrant would be brought to justice and her family could finally have some closure.
    “Thankfully, the Trump administration never, ever forgot Sarah Root’s story.  
    “Together, we fought for justice to hold the illegal immigrant who took her life accountable.
    “Thank you to President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary Noem, Secretary Rubio, and the men and women across our agencies who helped make today a reality.
    “Now Mejia will face the consequences of his actions. And my Sarah’s Law will ensure that he – nor anyone else who breaks our laws – can escape justice again.
    “This has been a long-fought battle, and it has spanned nearly a decade.
    “We needed a White House that would take action on behalf of American lives – The Biden admin removed Mejia from ICE’s Most Wanted list.
    “And the Obama admin memo was the cited reason ICE declined to take custody of Mejia, despite his repeated driving offenses and history of skipping court dates.
    “This administration continues to show they take Americans’ safety seriously and are not allowing the senseless death of a young Iowan to go unanswered.
    “While it is too late for Sarah, the Roots can rest knowing that Sarah’s killer will be held accountable and this administration is taking action to prevent this from happening to someone else’s daughter.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Bashes Donald Trump’s Executive Order Aimed at Dismantling Education Department at the Expense of Children and Middle-Class Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 20, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, jeopardizing federal resources and support that millions of teachers and children in our education system depend on:

    “With this reckless executive order, Donald Trump is turning his back on tens of millions of students and middle-class families across the country. Dismantling the Department of Education will needlessly jeopardize critical resources that low-income students and children with disabilities need to receive the quality education they deserve—from pre-school to college and beyond. We should be doing all we can to strengthen our education system, not taking a chainsaw to a Department that supports the future of our children, our workforce and our economy. By signing this executive order, Trump is proving he cares more about carving out tax cuts for billionaires than he does supporting our children. As a mother of two girls, I am disgusted, mad as hell and committed to doing everything I can to repair the damage done by Trump’s relentless chaos.”

    Funding and support from the U.S. Department of Education in Illinois includes:

    Critical annual K-12 funding to Illinois to meet the needs of 4,000 K-12 schools and over two million K-12 students, including:

    • $652 million in annual funding for 295,000 students with disabilities – reflecting 15 percent of Illinois’s student population.
    • $778 million in annual funding for schools enrolling 1.3 million students from low-income backgrounds – reflecting 65 percent of Illinois’s student population.
    • $30 million in annual funding for about 240,000 English learners – reflecting 12 percent of Illinois’s student population.
    • $57 million in annual funding to support safe and healthy students and provide a well-rounded education.
    • $54 million in annual funding to support academic enrichment activities such as before and after school programs for students.
    • $8 million in annual funding for students enrolled in rural schools.
    • $36 million in annual funding to support children living on military bases or Native American reservations.

    Funding for Department of Education-administered workforce development programs, including:

    • $77 million in annual funding for career and technical education and workforce development in Illinois.
    • $152 million in annual funding to expand employment and services for individuals with disabilities in Illinois.

    Dispersing financial aid and supports to help students across Illinois to attend and complete college, including: $1 billion in Pell Grants reaching 226,000 students in Illinois.

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    MIL OSI USA News –