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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Aboriginal economic development in Northern Ontario

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    On Friday, September 20, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, hosted a roundtable with representatives from select regional Indigenous organizations, municipal stakeholders and senior government officials to identify economic development challenges and opportunities facing First Nations leaders and businesses in the region.

    September 26, 2024 – Thunder Bay, Ontario – Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario – FedNor

    On Friday, September 20, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, hosted a roundtable with representatives from select regional Indigenous organizations, municipal stakeholders and senior government officials to identify economic development challenges and opportunities facing First Nations leaders and businesses in the region. This conversation is part of the ongoing renewal of the Northern Ontario Prosperity and Growth Strategy (SPCNO), aimed at ensuring that the Strategy continues to meet the needs of Northern Ontario.

    Discussions focused on how the SPCNO contributes to meeting the unique needs of Northern Ontario residents, including First Nations communities. They focused on ways to effectively support First Nations-led economic development, including increasing First Nations homeownership rates, and facilitating First Nations joint ventures and access to business services in Northern Ontario. The meeting also provided an opportunity to learn more about regional perspectives on Indigenous economic reconciliation.

    Specifically, during Friday’s discussions, participants emphasized the need to continue to support capacity-building efforts at the community level and the role that FedNor can play in encouraging and promoting cooperation between First Nations communities, municipalities and other levels of government. Other topics of discussion included the role and importance of transportation and access to education in Northern Ontario, particularly for rural and remote Indigenous communities, as well as the barriers that First Nations communities face in accessing capital, business development and succession planning.

    Three additional virtual sessions, focusing on Indigenous economic growth and the challenges facing communities and businesses in the region, will be held later in the fall. FedNor will send out invitations in the coming weeks.

    These sessions on the SPCNO are part of an ongoing effort by FedNor to engage diverse stakeholders across Northern Ontario. A report on what we heard will be released in the coming months, and a revised and final Northern Ontario Prosperity and Growth Strategy will be released in early 2025.

    Roundtable participants included Brian Davey, Executive Director, Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, Georjann Morriseau, Policy Advisor, Strategic Initiatives, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Paul Capon, Policy Advisor, Matawa Tribal Council, Tara Ingram, Economic Development Advisor, Matawa First Nations Management, Alain Joseph, Manager, Indigenous Relations, City of Thunder Bay, Kim Falcigno, Vice-President, Oshki-Wenjack Oshki-Pimache-O-Win, Dawn Lambe, Economic Development Officer, Anishinabek Nation, Jeremy Bonhomme, Relationship Manager, First Nations Financial Management Board, Valerie Gideon, FedNor Chair, and Nick Fabiano, FedNor Vice-President, as well as FedNor staff.

    Jennifer KozeljPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNorjennifer.kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sewell Applauds New Biden-Harris Executive Order on Gun Violence, Will Attend White House Signing Event Thursday

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07)

    Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) applauded the Biden-Harris Administration for taking new action to combat gun violence in the wake of Saturday night’s deadly mass shooting in Birmingham. At a White House event Thursday afternoon, President Biden will sign a new executive order which, among other actions, restricts the availability of machine gun conversion devices that can turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon.

    Rep. Sewell will attend the signing of the executive order at the White House on Thursday afternoon. 

    “Machine gun converters like the one used in Saturday night’s mass shooting are designed for one purpose—mass killing,” said Rep. Sewell. “They have no place on the streets of America. I applaud President Biden for taking action to restrict the availability of these dangerous devices and for the Biden-Harris Administration’s strong commitment to tackling gun violence over the past four years. I look forward to joining him today as he announces these critical new steps. Only by taking meaningful action can we stem this needless loss of life.”

    On Tuesday morning, Rep. Sewell spoke on the House Floor to recognize the victims of Saturday night’s mass shooting. She called on Congress to pass common sense measures to keep weapons out of dangerous hands, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. She also called on officials in the State of Alabama to reverse the 2022 permitless carry law which has allowed for the unchecked proliferation of guns on the streets of Alabama.

    Rep. Sewell was joined by her colleagues of the Alabama delegation for a moment of silence on the House Floor Tuesday evening.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, and Dr. Mary Jane Ireland, Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada, on the release of the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance Year 1 Progress Report

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    September 26, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

    Today, we are pleased to announce the release of the Pan-Canadian Action Plan (PCAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance Year 1 Progress Report. The report provides an overview of the activities underway and milestones we have reached with our federal, provincial and territorial partners during the first year of the Pan-Canadian Action Plan.

    Antimicrobials, which include antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and antiparasitics, are essential medications for preventing and treating infections in humans, animals, plants and crops. Antimicrobial resistance happens when microbes evolve and the medications used to fight infections become less effective. As resistance to antimicrobials increases, the ability to successfully treat infections is threatened, which can have serious health consequences for people, animals and plants. 

    Key highlights in the report include increasing the ability to monitor antimicrobial resistance and use in Canada through expanding a national AMR laboratory surveillance system for human and animal health; publishing the Canadian reserve list for antimicrobial drugs to guide prescribers on which antimicrobial drugs to use sparingly in order to preserve effectiveness; investing in developing and sharing national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines at point-of-care to reduce unnecessary or inappropriate use of antimicrobials in human health; and developing the Antimicrobial Economic Incentives Pilot Project, which will launch later this year to improve access to antimicrobials for people in Canada.

    Progress is also being made to support disease prevention and control in animals by facilitating access to alternatives to antimicrobials, such as vaccines; modernizing the Feed Regulations to support the use of innovative products in commercial livestock feed and help reduce the need for antimicrobials; and advancing AMR research and innovation domestically and internationally, through the Genomics Research and Development Initiative on AMR, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Assessment on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Antimicrobial Use (AMU) in Food Producing Animals, and current engagement on the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance.

    Antimicrobial resistance is a global crisis with far-reaching consequences. We are pleased to participate in the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week this year to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to combat AMR, share information about our progress and work together with international health leaders and experts on key global health challenges.

    Through our collective efforts, we can help ensure that the antimicrobials we count on every day remain effective and are there for both people and animals when they need them – now and for generations to come.

    Learn more about AMR: Canada.ca/antibiotics

    Dr. Theresa Tam
    Chief Public Health Officer

    Dr. Mary Jane Ireland
    Chief Veterinary Officer

    Contacts

    Media Relations
    Public Health Agency of Canada
    613-957-2983
     media@hc-sc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Canadian Food Inspection Agency
    613-773-6600
    cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the press following bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic [scroll down for English]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Foi com enorme orgulho e enorme satisfação que recebi o primeiro-ministro de Portugal. Portugal é um país que tem uma relação exemplar com as Nações Unidas. Em todos os domínios de ação das Nações Unidas, Portugal desempenha hoje um papel relevante que é extremamente importante para nós.
     
    Em primeiro lugar, na paz e na segurança. O contingente de paz português na República Centro Africana é um contingente admirado, quer pelos centro-africanos, quer pelos colegas de outros países, quer pela comunidade internacional no seu conjunto. Trata-se de um contingente que tem dado provas de uma extraordinária coragem, de uma extraordinária eficácia e que é hoje um fator de estabilidade fundamental para a República Centro Africana.
     
    Depois, em matéria de desenvolvimento sustentável e de clima, Portugal tem políticas que estão perfeitamente alinhadas com as orientações das Nações Unidas e Portugal é um exemplo neste mundo onde, infelizmente, os direitos humanos estão sob ataque. Portugal é um exemplo de direitos humanos tomados a sério em todos os domínios, quer nos direitos políticos e cívicos, mas também, nos direitos económicos, sociais e culturais.
     
    Por todas essas razões é para mim extremamente grato verificar o prestígio que tem hoje Portugal no seio das Nações Unidas. E posso também assegurar-vos que através da Missão de Portugal, a voz de Portugal tem estado constantemente a ser ouvida, respeitada e a ter uma influência real no trabalho da Organização.

    Por isso, senhor primeiro-ministro é com enorme prazer que o recebo e pode regressar a Lisboa orgulhoso daquilo que o seu país hoje representa nas Nações Unidas.

    ******
    It was with enormous pride and satisfaction that I received the Prime Minister of Portugal. Portugal is a country that has an exemplary relationship with the United Nations. In all areas of United Nations action, Portugal today plays a relevant role that is extremely important for us.

    Firstly, in peace and security. The Portuguese peace contingent in the Central African Republic is a contingent admired, both by Central Africans, by colleagues from other countries, and by the international community as a whole. This is a contingent that has shown extraordinary courage, extraordinary effectiveness, and which is today a fundamental factor of stability for the Central African Republic.

    And also, in terms of sustainable development and climate, Portugal has policies that are perfectly aligned with the United Nations guidelines, and Portugal is an example in this world where human rights are unfortunately under attack. Portugal is an example of human rights taken seriously in all areas, whether in political and civic rights, but also in economic, social and cultural rights.

    For all these reasons, I am extremely grateful to see the prestige that Portugal has within the United Nations. And I can also guarantee that through the Mission of Portugal, Portugal’s voice has been constantly heard, respected and has a real influence on the work of the Organization.

    Therefore, Prime Minister, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you, and you can return to Lisbon proud of what your country represents today at the United Nations. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Healthcare costs at a post-pandemic high, US employers prioritize affordability and wellbeing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the cost of healthcare in the U.S. rises to a record high since the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of employers expect healthcare costs will exceed budget projections this year. In response, employers are embracing different approaches to safeguard program affordability for their companies as well as for their employees. While focusing on more competitive, cost-effective plan designs to control costs, they are seeking to maintain employee wellbeing, according to a new survey by WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company.

    WTW’s 2024 Best Practices in Healthcare Survey found that U.S. employers project their healthcare costs will increase by 7.7% in 2025, compared with 6.9% in 2024 and 6.5% in 2023. As a result of this uptick in costs, employers are reaching beyond traditional cost-shifting strategies to improve healthcare affordability and employee health. More than half of employers (52%) plan to implement programs that will reduce total costs, and just as many (51%) intend to adopt plan design and network strategies that steer to lower-cost, higher-quality providers and sites of care. Only 34% expect to shift costs to employees through premium contributions, and just 20% will promote account-based health plans or high-deductible health plans.

    “The cost of healthcare has been rising steadily for years. With cost increases reaching a post-pandemic high, companies are concerned about the burden it’s putting on their workforces, especially since it affects decisions about insurance coverage and care,” said Tim Stawicki, chief actuary, Health & Benefits, WTW. “To tackle high prices and other causes driving increased spending, companies are pursuing initiatives that are beyond cost-shifting.”

    These initiatives are focused within the prescription drug space as well, with strong interest in alternative drug channels and pricing. According to the survey, 21% of employers are planning for or considering promoting drug discount cards or direct-to-consumer prescription delivery to lower out-of-pocket costs in the next two years; 18% expect to allow members to purchase drugs through a retail or “cost plus” outlet, and 17% expect to have an acquisition cost pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) contract structure.

    Other proactive efforts to control costs over the next two years include taking vendor/health plans out to bid (43%), evaluating employee assistance programs/mental health programs (38%), and exploring narrow networks (30%) and centers of excellence (25%). Additionally, employers continue to explore new technology-enabled solutions for managing costs, with 54% exploring navigation or technology that shares provider price and quality information with members.

    To support affordability and employee wellbeing, employers’ top focus areas are obesity and weight management (40%), cancer and oncology (34%), cardiovascular health (28%) and women’s health (27%).

    Employers are still contending with the continued demand for high-cost weight loss medications. While most employers are maintaining coverage for obesity medications with some restrictions, those not offering coverage today state cost and safety as the biggest barriers. Employers are eager to consider safe and effective lower-cost alternatives; 48% of employers expressed interest in compounded GLP-1 medications available through certain vendors at much lower costs.

    “To navigate the current healthcare environment, companies need to proactively address cost challenges and implement effective risk management strategies,” said Courtney Stubblefield, managing director, Health & Benefits, WTW. “By doing so, they can mitigate financial risks, support the wellbeing of their workforce and achieve long-term sustainability.”

    Other survey findings:

    • Employers report the greatest opportunities for artificial intelligence in supporting health and benefits are navigation solutions (64%) and communication (58%).
    • More than two-thirds (67%) of employers provide coverage for fertility services beyond diagnosis of infertility, including in vitro fertilization and medications.
    • To lower costs, 73% of employers plan to carve out pharmacy benefits over the next few years, and 27% would consider a smaller PBM that offers alternate pricing models.

    About the survey

    A total of 417 employers participated in the 2024 Best Practices in Healthcare Survey, which was conducted in June and July 2024. Respondents employ 6 million employees.

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

    Media contacts:

    Ileana Feoli
    ileana.feoli@wtwco.com

    Stacy Bronstein
    stacy.bronstein@wtwco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken hosts a Ministerial on Addressing the Urgent Situation in Venezuela

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosts a Ministerial on Addressing the Urgent Situation in Venezuela in New York City, New York, on September 26, 2024.

    Transcript: https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-and-argentine-foreign-minister-diana-mondino-at-a-ministerial-meeting-on-addressing-the-urgent-situation-in-venezuela/
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at http://www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-gtJ1M2HdY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. McGarvey Introduces Bill to Invest in Entrepreneurship, Reduce Recidivism

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky-03)

    September 26, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 26, 2024) – This week, Congressman Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03) and Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) introduced H.R. 9841, the Prison to Proprietorship for the Formerly Incarcerated Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide in-depth entrepreneurship training to formerly- incarcerated individuals looking to start a business or enter the workforce. 

    “Nearly all incarcerated people will complete their sentence and return to their community—we have to make sure that we’re laying a strong foundation for success post-incarceration,” said Rep. McGarvey. “By providing a path to entrepreneurship for formerly-incarcerated Americans, my bill not only works to reduce recidivism, but also gives returning citizens the tools they need to start a business and achieve their American dream.”

    The Prison to Proprietorship for the Formerly Incarcerated Act would direct SCORE—a program within the Small Business Administration that offers free or low-cost mentorship and training to entrepreneurs—to provide formerly incarcerated individuals with one-on-one mentoring, workshops, and online instruction specifically tailored to their unique needs.

    “Around 95% of incarcerated people get released and end up back on the streets,” said Rep. Burchett. “We need to make sure they’re prepared to rejoin their communities, and teaching them entrepreneurial skills helps them get a fresh start.”

    BACKGROUND:

    Despite steps to reform and improve our criminal justice system, returning citizens face significant barriers to reentering the workforce, and studies have shown that recidivism rates tend to be higher for those individuals who lack employment. As reported by the Council for State Governments, states spent an estimated $8 billion on reincarceration costs for people who exited prison in 2022, and The Department of Justice estimates that 82 percent of individuals released from state prisons were rearrested at least once during the 10 years following release. 

    Programs that teach formerly incarcerated individuals leadership skills, financial literacy, networking, and how to develop a business plan reduce recidivism and create more opportunities for returning citizens. As the flagship agency tasked with supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, the Small Business Administration has the expertise and experience to teach those skills.

    View text of the bill here.

    A one pager for the bill is available here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Warns of Danger as Catastrophic Hurricane Helene Impacts North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Warns of Danger as Catastrophic Hurricane Helene Impacts North Carolina

    Governor Cooper Warns of Danger as Catastrophic Hurricane Helene Impacts North Carolina
    mseets

    Governor Roy Cooper and state leaders urged North Carolinians today to prepare for life-threatening flooding as well as high winds, tornadoes and heavy rain as Hurricane Helene passes through the state.

    Helene is expected to bring tropical storm force winds, damaging debris flows and river flooding through Saturday. The heaviest rainfall is expected across the North Carolina mountains and foothills, with total rainfall amounts of 9-14 inches with some areas receiving up to 20 inches of rainfall. With the increased rainfall, widespread power outages and life-threatening landslides across the mountains are also increasing concerns. Helene has the potential to cause historical and catastrophic impacts to North Carolina.

    Although primary storm impacts are forecast to be concentrated in the mountains and foothills as well as the Charlotte region, impacts will likely be felt across the state. Residents in central and eastern North Carolina should prepare for heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes.

    “Helene is an unusually dangerous storm that threatens to bring heavy rain and potentially catastrophic flooding tonight and tomorrow for Central and particularly Western North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Make a plan now to stay with friends or family if you are in an area that could likely be flooded and stay informed to protect yourselves and your family.”

    Governor Cooper declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday to mobilize critical state resources ahead of anticipated storm impacts. The President granted Governor Cooper’s request for a Federal Emergency Declaration, allowing more resources to the state. The State Emergency Response Team has deployed equipment, personnel and resources to support impacted communities, including North Carolina Swift Water Rescue Teams and Urban Search and Rescue Teams, as well as more than 200 North Carolina National Guardsmen.

    North Carolina residents are advised to stay aware and keep a watch on local forecasts. State officials advise these tips to make sure your household is personally prepared:

    • Have multiple ways to receive emergency information from reliable sources. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your mobile phone and monitor local new outlets and the National Weather Service.
    • Check to see if your local emergency management office offers emergency alert services for its residents. You can visit your county government website for more information.
    • Review your emergency plan. Know where to go if you need to evacuate, especially if you live in a flood-prone area.
    • Gather emergency supplies or refresh your emergency kit. Visit ReadyNC.gov for info on how to build an emergency kit.
    • Avoid unnecessary travel. If you do not need to drive, stay home. You can find information on road conditions and closings by visiting DriveNC.Gov.
    • Never drive through flooded roadways or around barricades. Turn around. Don’t drown.

    For more information on how to ensure you are disaster ready, visit ReadyNC.gov, which features traffic, power outage and shelter information.

    ###

    Sep 26, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: History for Lunch: American Indian Tribes of North Carolina: Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: History for Lunch: American Indian Tribes of North Carolina: Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe

    History for Lunch: American Indian Tribes of North Carolina: Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe
    jejohnson6

    ELIZABETH CITY

    The Museum of the Albemarle will host History for Lunch on Wednesday, Nov. 20,  at 12 p.m. in the Gaither Auditorium. Dr. Marvin “Marty” Richardson, member and vice chief of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, will provide an informative talk on the history, culture, language, education, and contemporary issues of American Indian tribes in North Carolina. Dr. Richardson will focus on the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe concerning the cultural revitalization, including the Tutelo-Saponi language.

    The Museum will offer the History for Lunch program in-person and through Zoom. To attend the lecture virtually, register in advance by clicking here to receive the link. Registration is not required to attend the lecture in person.

    The virtual program is supported by Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle.

    About the Museum of the Albemarle

    The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453. http://www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.

    Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at http://www.dncr.nc.gov.   

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit http://www.dncr.nc.gov.

    Sep 26, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on Preparedness Efforts Ahead of Hurricane Helene

    Source: US State of Florida

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Major General John D. Haas, Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director, and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue at the State Emergency Operations Center to provide updates ahead of landfall of Hurricane Helene. As of 8:00 am ET, Hurricane Helene’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 100 mph with higher gusts, making it a Category 2 hurricane. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast tonight. Sixty-eight shelters are open throughout the state in preparation for severe impacts from Hurricane Helene, including 2 state-operated shelters in Tallahassee and DeFuniak Springs. These shelters have are housing over 2,500 residents from areas that may be severely affected by Hurricane Helene.

    Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-209 on September 24, updating EO 24-208 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties. This allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential storm impacts.

    Following Governor DeSantis’ request, FEMA approved the state’s pre-landfall disaster declaration request. This provides important federal resources and assistance, including personnel, equipment, and supplies, and makes available funding sources for emergency protective measures. The pre-landfall declaration request is for the 41 Florida counties included in Executive Order 24-208.

    Voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in multiple counties statewide. Residents need to evacuate if they are under a mandatory evacuation order. Counties under evacuation orders can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/EvacuationOrders.

    Residents in the big bed area needing assistance finding or going to a shelter in the Big Bend region for Hurricane Helene can call (800) 729-3413. FDEM team members are conducting callbacks from messages received last night and accepting new calls today to facilitate shelter coordination. For additional resources and assistance, residents can call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at (800) 342-3557. Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole.

    Watches and warnings in effect include:
    Hurricane Warning: Western Alachua, coastal Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, coastal Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, western Marion, coastal Pasco, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties
    Hurricane Watch: Inland Citrus, inland Hernando, coastal Hillsborough, coastal Manatee, inland Pasco, Pinellas, coastal Sarasota
    Tropical Storm Warning: Central and eastern Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, inland Citrus, Clay, Collier,  DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, inland Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe (including Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas), Manatee, central and eastern Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, inland Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Union, Volusia, Walton, Washington
    Storm Surge Warning: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Franklin, Gulf, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor and Wakulla counties

    To learn more, residents can visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide.  For updates on county resources available visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties for a list of all 67 county emergency management contacts.

    State Preparedness Efforts

    • The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Level 1 on Tuesday, September 24, and is leading coordination efforts for the State Emergency Response Team.
    • The State Emergency Response Team is engaged in over 1,150 missions to assist counties in their preparation efforts. These missions accomplish vital tasks like staging response resources, protecting critical infrastructure facilities like hospitals and utility stations, and coordinating personnel statewide.
    • There are 35,000 shelf-stable meals staged near the anticipated area of storm impact, ready to deploy for response.
    • Seven Urban search and rescue task forces are ready to deploy.
    • The Florida National Guard (FLNG) has mobilized nearly 3,500 Soldiers and Airmen in preparation for Hurricane Helene and can surge to 5,500 if needed.
    • The FLNG is postured to provide logistics support, law enforcement support, route clearance, search and rescue, commodity distribution, flood mitigation, aviation and other support as needed by the state.
    • The Florida State Guard (FSG) has prepared the following:
      • 250+ Soldiers ready to deploy.
      • 10 shallow water vessel boat teams
      • 7 flat-bottom-flood rescue skiffs
      • 2 amphibious rescue vehicles
      • 12 UTV’s
      • 15 Cut and toss crews
      • 7 search and rescue teams
      • 2 UH-60 Blackhawk for daytime aerial assessment and logistics missions
    • The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has positioned all assets, including aircraft, and is ready to respond for reconnaissance and damage assessments, including all backup satellite and communications systems. Portable towers have been staged for emergency communications.
    • FDLE is prestaging Telecommunication Emergency Response Taskforces for response to ensure continuity of service of the 911 system.
    • FDLE’s Criminal Justice Information Services received permission from the FBI to allow law enforcement agencies to perform criminal history queries on behalf of emergency shelters to determine the suitability of shelter staff who may care for vulnerable populations (children, the elderly, the disabled).
    • Nearly 2,000 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) team members work directly on storm response.
    • FDOT encourages drivers to download the FL511 app or visit FL511.com for road and bridge closures and potential detours that may be activated. Remember to always follow the direction of local law enforcement and emergency personnel.
    • FDOT issued an Emergency Order on September 23, lifting weight restrictions and allowing emergency response vehicles, including utility vehicles staging for rapid response, to bypass weigh stations.
    • FDOT Statewide Preparedness Efforts Include:
    • Road Ranger Service has expanded service to 24 hours in the storm impact areas.
      • 890 team members conducting pre-storm preparations.
      • 613 team members working in the field conducting pre-storm preparations.
      • 245 pieces of heavy equipment are being used for pre-storm preparations.
      • 307 team members staged for cut and toss operations
      • 120 bridge inspectors staged for deployment
      • 43 team members staged for UAV (drone) deployment
      • 40 large pumps staged
      • 688 generators staged to assist with traffic signal power
      • 4 ITS trailers are staged.
    • Seaports:
      • Port Key West, Panama City, Port St. Joe, Tampa Bay, SeaPort Manatee, Port St. Pete, Port of Fernandina, JAXPORT, and Port Canaveral are closed waterside.
    • Airports: Some flight cancellations or delays are being reported. Check with airlines directly on specific flight updates. The following airports have suspended service:
      • Tallahassee International Airport (TLH)
      • Tampa International Airport (TPA)
      • St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
    • Railroads:
      • Amtrak: Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes (New York to Miami) will terminate in Jacksonville
      • Amtrak: Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes (Miami to New York) will originate in Jacksonville
      • SunRail service has been suspended.
    • Freight Rail:
      CSX will limit operations in the Tampa area.
    • Florida Gulf & Atlantic will shut down operations except the Pensacola area.
    • Apalachicola Northern and BayLine have suspended operations
      • First Coast Railroad will shut down operations on 9/27 .
    • The following transit providers have made the following schedule modifications.
      • Service Suspended: Lakeland Area Mass Transit (Citrus Connection), Manatee County Area Transit, Sarasota County Area (Breeze) Transit, Lee County (LeeTran), Charlotte County, Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) Skyway and St. Johns River Ferry, St. Johns County (Sunshine Line), Bay County (Bayway), StarMetro, Big Bend Transit, Wakulla County Transit, Jackson County (JTrans), Calhoun County Transit, Liberty County Transit, Gulf County ARC suspending, LYNX, Marion County Transit, Key West Lower Key Shuttle, Hillsborough County (HART), Pasco County, Hernando County (The Bus)
    • The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) The VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center is operational 24/7/365 for virtual care and tele-emergency care and support to Veterans enrolled for VA Health Care in Florida. 1-877-741-3400. Visit https://department.va.gov/integrated-service-networks/visn-08 for more information.
    • Department of Management Services (DMS) is working to identify potential evacuation shelter sites for special needs and pet-friendly evacuees as far east as Lake City and west as Panama City.


    Health and Human Services

    • The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is tracking APD-licensed group homes in impacted areas to ensure client safety from Hurricane Helene. APD will provide necessary guidance for re-entry when it is appropriate to do so.
    • The Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) is deploying over 135 emergency response vehicles. Staging is currently in Leon, Liberty, Osceola, and Pinellas counties.
    • DOH has prepared for Special Needs Shelter operations to begin in areas of Helene’s path. A press release has been sent statewide for additional information on special needs shelters. To find a shelter near you, please visit the county emergency management page here.
    • DOH and the Agency for Health Care Administration have initiated Patient Movement Mission to support medical transport and evacuations of health care facilities.
    • The State Surgeon General signed Emergency Order 24-002, which:
      • Waives competitive procurement requirements in order to procure commodities, goods, and services expeditiously in response to the emergency.
      • Permits emergency medical transportation services to operate across county lines.
      • Permits Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Medical Directors, as defined by Chapter 401, Florida Statutes, licensed in other U.S. states, territories, or districts to practice in Florida in response to the emergency without penalty.
      • Authorizes a reporting extension for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
      • Authorizes an extension of the upcoming licensure renewal deadlines for Nursing Home Administrators, Radiological Personnel, and Athletic Trainers until October 31, 2024.
    • DOH and the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) sent information regarding early prescription refills permitted under Executive Order 24-209. This information was sent to the public, health insurers, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy chains, and health care providers.
    • The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has activated reporting in the Health Facility Reporting System (HFRS) and has requested that all health care providers report their census, available beds, evacuation status, and generator status information. This information allows AHCA to assist health care providers in transferring patients if needed and ensure that health care providers in impacted areas have the necessary resources and adequate power.
    • AHCA made 537 provider calls for Hurricane Helene preparation ahead of landfall.
    • As of this morning, 80 health care facilities are reporting that they are evacuating.
      • 38 assisted living facilities
      • 26 nursing homes
      • 8 hospitals
      • 4 residential treatment facilities
      • 2 residential treatment centers for children and adolescents
      • 1 adult family care home, and 1 intermediate care facility for developmentally disabled
    • 100% of operating long-term care facilities have a generator on-site. The Generator Status Map for long-term care facilities is available here.
    • The Agency has waived all prior authorization requirements for critical Medicaid services until further notice.

    Infrastructure, Roads and State Closures

    • The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is assisting the Florida Department of Corrections with the evacuation of correctional facilities as needed.
    • FHP is assisting with evacuations in Taylor County and in Cedar Key in Levy County.
    • FHP is removing any abandoned or disabled vehicles left along roadways ahead of storm arrival.
    • FHP cut teams, along with FDOT road clearing teams, are staged and ready for post-storm deployment to provide aid to areas impacted by the storm.
    • Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issued Emergency Order 24-05, in support of Executive Order 24-209 which: waives specific requirements for commercial motor vehicles providing emergency relief; and waives the replacement fees for driver’s license and identification credentials, vehicle registrations and titles, vessel registrations and titles and temporary parking permits for impacted individuals.
    • The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is working with the Community-Based Care Lead Agencies to contact foster families and group home providers to ensure preparedness. Two group homes are evacuating to safer locations.
    • DCF has contacted all licensed providers in potentially impacted areas to ensure disaster preparation plans are in place and unmet needs have been addressed.
    • The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) contacted all Area Agencies on Aging partners to receive updates on their ongoing preparation efforts and gather the status of any unmet needs.
    • The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has been in contact with all school districts and state colleges and is ready to provide assistance immediately following Hurricane Helene. Currently, 68 school districts have announced closures in addition to 25 State Colleges and 11 Universities. For more information on school closures, visit fldoe.org/storminfo.
    • In preparation for Hurricane Helene. Currently, 65 school districts have announced closures in addition to 22 State Colleges and 9 Universities. For more information on school closures, visit fldoe.org/storminfo.
    • Following the issuance of the Governor’s Executive Order 24-209, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an Emergency Final Order allowing for the activation of disaster debris management sites to store and process storm-generated solid waste and debris.
    • DEP published a storm updates webpage to keep state park visitors updated of closures: FloridaStateParks.org/StormUpdates. Visitors with existing camping and cabin reservations at closed parks have been notified of their reservation status.

    Resources for Employees, Businesses and Consumers

    • The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has partnered with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to encourage more than 71,000 Florida-licensed lodging establishments to relax pet policies and waive pet fees for evacuees.
    • Through this effort, anti-price gouging information and emergency accommodations resources have also been provided.
    • DBPR has proactively communicated with more than 137,000 restaurant and lodging licensees to provide storm preparation and food safety resources.
    • The Florida Disaster Contractors Network has been activated to connect homeowners with licensed contractors and suppliers to perform emergency repairs.
    • DBPR encourages Florida’s licensed contractors who provide post-storm construction-related services to register with its Florida Disaster Contractors Network at DCNOnline.org.
    • FloridaCommerce has activated the private sector hotline at (850) 815-4925, open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Inquiries may also be emailed to ESF18@em.myflorida.com.
    • Updates on business closures and business resources are consistently being updated at FloridaDisaster.biz/CurrentDisasterUpdates.
    • VISIT FLORIDA has activated Emergency Accommodation Modules on Expedia and Priceline to provide real-time hotel availability and lodging resources for impacted Floridians and visitors.
    • Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has crafted special offers for Evacuees and First Responders in need of accommodations during an evacuation. Please see the linked pages below for more information.
    • Rosen Hotels & Resorts activated its Florida Resident Distress Rates* for residents in the 61 counties where Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency. This initiative provides evacuees with a safe and affordable place to stay as they ride out the storm. For more information see https://www.rosenhotels.com/rosen-hotels-resorts-reduces-pricing-ahead-of-helene/
    • Visit website for CareerSource openings: careersourceflorida.com
    • Comcast has opened more than 52,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Florida. The free and public hotspots are open for all, including non-Xfinity customers. For more information click here.
    • Walmart is working with state partners to provide needed supplies after the storm has passed.
    • Publix has provided 10 pallets of water for shelters in Leon County.
    • CVS Health is working with state partners to prepare pop-up pharmacies in impacted areas.
    • UBER is providing Floridians free rides up to $35 each way to and from a state-approved shelter in counties under a state of emergency for Hurricane Helene. To get a ride users should use promo code HELENERELIEF.
    • The Florida Department of State, Division of Elections, has contacted the United States Postal Service (USPS) about election information and vote-by-mail ballots. The Division of Elections recommended that Supervisors of Elections t contact their local district USPS to discuss a mitigation plan for ballot mailing, delivery, and return.
    • The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) worked with Florida’s ports and fuel industry partners to ensure adequate fuel supplies are available, and with Florida’s agricultural partners so producers have adequate resources.
    • The Florida Forest Service staged equipment, like high-water vehicles.
    • The Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, has approved an Emergency Order temporarily suspending the intrastate movement requirements for animal transportation. In addition, the following states have waived their interstate import requirements for Florida pets, horses, and livestock leaving the state: Alabama, Georgia (does not include livestock), Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
    • The Department of Revenue (FDOR) has issued Emergency Order 24-001: Taxing Authority Millage and Budget Hearings to assist local taxing authorities with altering their plans for annual budget hearings because of Helene. Department of Revenue bulletin PTO 20-07 provides further instructions for local taxing authorities during declared emergencies.
    • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has high-water vehicles staged to deploy.
    • 72 FWC officers and staff are ready to deploy with specialized equipment, such as:
      • 6 Airboats
      • 8 Shallow draft boats
      • ATVs/Side-by-sides
      • 71 high-water capable four-wheel drive vehicles
      • 3 aerial surveillance drones
      • 12 high-water capable swamp buggies/Fat Truck/UTVs
      • 4 SOG support trailers
      • 4 BERG self-sustainment container units
      • 4 Hygiene trailers
      • 2 Mobile command units
      • 6 Generators
      • 2 Water trailers
      • 1 Fuel trailer
    • The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has evacuated 22 satellite facilities and two major facilities and relocated 4,630 inmates into hardened housing units. Inmate visitation has been suspended statewide until Monday, September 30.  The FDC will be posting updates publicly and in real-time at FDC.myflorida.com/weather-updates
    • The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) have finalized storm preparations to ensure the safety and security of staff and youth in our care. This includes fueling all vehicles, moving vehicles in low-lying and flood-prone areas to higher ground, testing and ensuring adequate fuel supplies for generators in the event of loss of power, and ensuring food, medicine, and emergency supplies are stocked and ready.

    For previous updates see below:
    9/24/2024
    9/25/2024

    Follow FDEM on X, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates for information relating to Hurricane Helene.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Congressional Delegation Calls on Caltrans to Eliminate Redundant Federal Environmental Reviews

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

    Expedite Permitting for Major Transportation Projects with Completed State Review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    WASHINGTON, DC— Today, U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA-30), Scott H. Peters (D-CA-50), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Josh Harder (D-CA-09), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), and Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA-38) sent a letter to the California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin and Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Tony Tavares urging the state to eliminate redundant, costly federal environmental reviews for major transportation projects.

    Federal law since 2015 has allowed Caltrans to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation to substitute state-prepared environmental reviews under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in lieu of completing a second, unnecessary federal environmental review at additional taxpayer expense.

    In January 2021 at Garamendi’s urging, the U.S. Department of Transportation finalized the necessary regulations to implement this 2015 pilot authority so that states with high environmental standards like California could apply to substitute their state environmental reviews for federally funded transportation projects.

    “This commonsense reform would effectively cut California’s permitting backlog in half for major transportation infrastructure projects statewide, keeping road, public transit, and rail improvements on time and under budget,” wrote the lawmakers.

    “Californians deserve both world-class transportation infrastructure and their fair share of the generational federal investment under the Biden-Harris Administration’s 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. That requires your Agency and Department to further streamline the environmental permitting for major projects by eliminating redundant federal NEPA reviews,” continued the lawmakers.

    “To become a modern state, we must once again remember how to ‘get to yes’ when it comes to building infrastructure,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). “Caltrans can be part of the solution by implementing this incredibly common-sense reform that eliminates unnecessary red tape while fully maintaining protections for the environment. I’d like to thank our Congressional delegation for advocating for this important change.”

    Garamendi was an original cosponsor of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden in 2021. As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in 2015, Garamendi also helped to develop and pass the 2015 Highway Bill, which established this pilot authority.

    In July 2023, Garamendi introduced the “Expedited Federal Permitting for California Act” (H.R.4908), cosponsored by Swalwell and Costa. This bill would make the 2015 pilot authority permanent by substituting state CEQA for federal NEPA reviews. Under current law, this federal pilot authority will expire on December 4, 2027, without ever having been used by Caltrans.

    Full Text of Letter:

    Dear Secretary Omishakin and Director Tavares:

    We write urging your Agency and Department to take advantage of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s pilot program authorized under section 330 of title 23, U.S. Code for eliminating duplication of environmental reviews. This commonsense reform would effectively cut California’s permitting backlog in half for major transportation infrastructure projects statewide, keeping road, public transit, and rail improvements on time and under budget.

    For decades, California’s congressional delegation has worked to identify and cut red tape delaying much-needed infrastructure improvements while upholding our state’s strong environmental protections and record. That work is more critical than ever as we continue working in Congress to ensure that California receives our fair share of the historic federal funding available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-58) and similar laws enacted under the Biden-Harris Administration.

    As you may know, the 2015 Highway Bill (Public Law 114-94) established a pilot program authorizing the U.S. Department of Transportation to consider requests from states with more stringent laws to substitute state environmental reviews in lieu of completing a redundant federal environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). State environmental reviews pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) are widely regarded as much more stringent than those prepared under the federal NEPA. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation finally promulgated the federal regulation necessary to implement this pilot program for California and the handful of other states with more stringent environmental review laws. However, Caltrans has yet to utilize this federal pilot program to eliminate redundant NEPA reviews for major transportation projects.

    We understand that Caltrans has delegated authority from the U.S. Department of Transportation to assume responsibility for performing NEPA reviews on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration, including an agreement for categorical exclusions to the federal environmental review. While we appreciate that Caltrans does its best to perform both the state review under CEQA and the federal review under NEPA either concurrently or in sequence, that is not always successful for every project. Furthermore, we are troubled that Caltrans is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to complete a redundant federal environmental review, with some federal reimbursement for these bureaucratic costs.

    At the request of your Agency and Department, we worked with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla to extend from 3 to up to 10 years Caltrans’ delegated authority to perform NEPA reviews on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. We also support the CEQA reforms enacted by the State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Newsom in the 2023-24 state budget, which streamlined state environmental reviews for critical infrastructure projects. The next step to fix California’s permitting morass so that major transportation upgrades can proceed on time and under budget is eliminating redundant federal NEPA reviews in favor of state-prepared CEQA reviews.

    Without action, we are concerned that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s pilot program for substituting CEQA in lieu of NEPA will expire on December 5, 2027, without ever having been used by Caltrans, if not reauthorized by Congress. If the State of California requires changes to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2015 pilot program, we stand ready to consider any such request as Congress begins drafting the next federal Highway Bill.

    To be clear, we are not proposing any changes to CEQA or other state laws. Rather, we are simply suggesting that Caltrans recognize that California’s state environmental review process makes any federal review redundant, a waste of taxpayer funds, and needlessly dilatory. Californians deserve both world-class transportation infrastructure and their fair share of the generational federal investment under the Biden-Harris Administration’s 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. That requires your Agency and Department to further streamline the environmental permitting for major projects by eliminating redundant federal NEPA reviews.

    Thank you for your leadership and consideration. We look forward to your response.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada focused on supporting Indigenous economic development in Northern Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On Friday, September 20th, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, convened a roundtable with representatives from some regional Indigenous organizations, municipal stakeholders and senior officials to identify the economic development challenges and opportunities facing First Nations leaders and businesses in the region.

    September 26, 2024 – Thunder Bay, ON – Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario – FedNor

    On Friday, September 20th, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, convened a roundtable with representatives from some regional Indigenous organizations, municipal stakeholders and senior officials to identify the economic development challenges and opportunities facing First Nations leaders and businesses in the region. This conversation is part of the ongoing renewal of the Prosperity and Growth Strategy for Northern Ontario (PGSNO), which is designed to ensure the Strategy remains responsive to the needs of Northern Ontario.

    Conversations centred on how the PGSNO is working to address the unique needs facing residents in Northern Ontario, including First Nations communities. Discussions explored ways on how best to support First Nations-led economic development, including growing First Nations ownership, joint ventures, and access to business services in Northern Ontario. The meeting also served as an opportunity to learn more about regional perspectives on Indigenous economic reconciliation.

    Specifically, during Friday’s conversations participants focused on the need to continue to support capacity building efforts at the community level, and the role that FedNor can play to encourage and promote cooperation between First Nations communities, municipalities, and other levels of government. Additional topics of discussion included the role and importance of transportation and access to education in Northern Ontario, in particular for rural and remote Indigenous communities, and obstacles facing First Nations communities as it relates to access to capital, entrepreneurship and succession planning.

    Three additional virtual sessions focused on Indigenous economic growth and the challenges facing communities and businesses in the region will be held later this fall. Invites will be sent by FedNor in the coming weeks.

    These sessions on the PGSNO form part of an ongoing effort by FedNor to engage with a variety of stakeholders from across Northern Ontario. A What We Heard Report will in issued in the coming months, and a final, refreshed Prosperity and Growth Strategy for Northern Ontario will be published in early 2025.

    Roundtable participants included Brian Davey, Chief Executive Officer, Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, Georjann Morriseau, Policy Advisor, Strategic Initiatives, Nishnawbe Aski Nation,  Paul Capon, Political Advisor, Matawa Tribal Council, Tara Ingram, Economic Development Advisor, Matawa First Nations Management, Alain Joseph, Manager of Indigenous Relations, City of Thunder Bay, Kim Falcigno, Vice President, Oshki-Wenjack Oshki-Pimache-O-Win, Dawn Lambe, Economic Development Officer, Anishinabek Nation, Jeremy Bonhomme, Relationship Manager, First Nations Financial Management Board, Valerie Gideon, President of FedNor, and Nick Fabiano, Vice-President of FedNor, and FedNor staff.

    Jennifer Kozelj
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
    jennifer.kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Appoints Chair of Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Board

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Manitoba government has appointed Dr. Marcia Anderson as the new chair along with three new members to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) board of directors, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

    “Manitobans can put their trust in Dr. Anderson’s leadership,” said Asagwara. “Dr. Anderson has been leading the conversation on health equity and justice in this province. Her compassion, dedication and advocacy will have a tremendous impact on the WRHA and the patients they serve. I want to congratulate Dr. Anderson as the new chairperson of the board and thank all the new, outgoing and continuing directors for their service.”

    Dr. Anderson is the vice-dean of Indigenous Health, Social Justice and Anti-Racism at the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the provincial public health response for Manitoba’s First Nations. She was recently honoured with the province’s highest honour, the Order of Manitoba. She replaces Dr. Netha Dyck, who begins a new three-year term as a board member.

    “I am honoured by this opportunity to lead the WRHA board, draw on the strengths of the other board members and support the executive team in the important work ahead of us,” said Anderson. “We have important and pressing challenges in health care. We need to do better in being an employer of choice and providing safe environments for health workers, and at meeting the people we serve where they are at. I am excited to bring my experiences in and commitment to anti-racism, cultural safety, health equity and community-based partnerships to this role as we work to improve the care that the thousands of people we serve everyday receive. I am confident that when we work collaboratively on the broader system issues that impact people’s health and improve the environments our health workers provide service in, that we can fulfil our commitment to provide the best possible health care to those we serve.”

    Three additional board members have been appointed for three-year terms:

    • Mary Jane Brownscombe (vice-chair);
    • Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud;
    • Mala Sachdeva.

    Newly appointed members join others with ongoing terms: Adekunle Ajisebutu, Dr. Netha Dyck, Brenda McInnes, Jeff Neufeld, Patricia Ramage, Mark Stewart and Carole Urias. Board members can serve for a maximum of six consecutive years.

    The WRHA board is accountable to the health minister and responsible for the mandate, resources and performance of the organization. The board must ensure the organization complies with applicable legislation, regulations and provincial policies.

    For more information about the WRHA, visit https://wrha.mb.ca/about/board/.

    – 30 –

     

    BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province Enhances Maternal Mental Health Supports

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on September 26, 2024

    The Government of Saskatchewan is working with the University of Regina (U of R) to help new and expecting parents who are experiencing mental health difficulties, such as depression or anxiety.

    The province is providing $280,000 to the university’s Online Therapy Unit to create the Well-Being for Expecting and New Mothers Course. A Non-Birthing Parents Resource will also be developed for partners of those who have had babies.

    “It is important that new mothers feel supported in their mental health and wellbeing,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Tim McLeod said. “At a busy time with infants, having virtual options can make care easier to access. I am proud that we can work with the U of R to bring internet-delivered therapy to moms across our province.” 

    The new mothers’ course is expected to launch by the end of March, while the partner resource is expected to be available in 2026. 

    “We are honoured to be working on this vital project, which will provide a new mental health care option for expecting and new birthing and non-birthing parents across Saskatchewan,” University of Regina’s Online Therapy Unit Psychology Professor and Director Dr. Heather Hadjistavropoulos said. “By offering internet-delivered therapy, we hope to make a real difference for families navigating mental health challenges before and after birth.” 

    Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ICBT) was developed at the U of R to help Saskatchewan residents experiencing depression, anxiety, substance use, or difficulties coping with chronic health conditions and is delivered in partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). Adults complete educational modules with therapist support. Since 2015, more than 13,000 Saskatchewan residents have sought ICBT services. This fiscal year, the province is providing over $1.6 million to support this important service.

    The province is also boosting annual funding to HealthLine 811 by $3 million, some of which will support new nurse and counsellor positions for mental health, addictions and maternal mental health calls. The Ministry of Health will also work with the SHA to establish a maternal mental health coordinator position at 811. 

    Under the province’s Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions, the Ministry of Health committed to develop a new provincial approach to maternal mental health. The goal is to better support new and expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy and after delivery for the wellbeing of mothers, their children and their families. 

    Additional work is underway to develop and coordinate maternal mental health supports. This work has also received valuable insight from the Maternal Mental Health Saskatchewan Advisory Group (MMHSAG) and various community-based organizations.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd, Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Eliminate Barriers and Streamline Claims for Camp Lejeune Victims

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has helped introduced the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act alongside Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Braun (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

    The bipartisan legislation makes technical corrections to the original Camp Lejeune Justice Act by clarifying the right to jury trials, capping attorneys’ fees, and expanding jurisdiction to alleviate the backlog of toxic water claims.

    Senator Budd said in a statement:

    “Victims of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune deserve justice. But instead, DOJ bureaucrats are throwing up roadblocks and making it harder for veterans to get their day in court. That’s why I’m proud to join Senator Tillis to introduce a bipartisan bill to remove regulatory hurdles and see that Camp Lejeune victims get the compensation, care, and benefits they deserve.”

    Senator Tillis said:

    “Currently, veterans and other victims exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are running into roadblocks that are denying them their day in court for the often-crippling and deadly medical conditions they have suffered. Since coming to office, I have worked alongside those who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune that were unknowingly exposed to harmful chemicals to finally give them the health care and benefits they deserve. I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring justice for victims and provide a path forward so they have timely access to courts and the judicial system like they would in any other state or territory.”

    Background:

    The Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act:

    • Permits cases to be heard in any district court in the 4th Circuit.
    • Explicitly provides for jury trials.
    • Expressly states that victims must only show general causation, including for latent or potential harm.
    • Caps attorney fees at 20% for settlements and 25% for trials.
    • Ensures there is no room for interpreting Congress’ intent to provide complete and swift relief to victims of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of Winchester pays a visit to The Boaz Project

    Source: City of Winchester

    The Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith greatly enjoyed a recent visit to local charity The Boaz Project. Based at Hill Farm in Sutton Scotney, it’s an inclusive, farm-based charity which helps provide a brighter future for people with learning disabilities.

    The Mayor said: “It is hard to overstate my admiration for The Boaz Project, which runs on a site of some four acres in Winchester. I met some of their staff at a fete in the summer and was so impressed that I invited myself along for a visit! I hadn’t been aware that the name “Boaz” refers to a generous farmer in the Bible.

    Boaz Project General Manager Stuart Palmer, the Mayor Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith with his companion Dinah and three of the project’s members: Julian, Oliverand William

    “The staff and volunteers teach groups of adults with special needs useful skills, looking after hens, sheep and a donkey or two, growing vegetables and flowers, cooking meals for the group and making craft goods. The members learn to work, to socialise, and to value and take care of themselves.

    “I experienced a wonderful, caring atmosphere and people taking care of animals, plants and each other, outdoors in fresh air and I take my hat off to all involved.”

    Stuart Palmer, General Manager at The Boaz Project, said: “It was lots of fun showing the Mayor around, in particular showing off our recently refurbished woodwork machine shop.

    “We are keen to invite budding and or hobby woodworkers to come and enjoy our workshop facilities for themselves, rather like the Men’s Sheds movement. We are very happy to provide free parking, coffee and homemade cake for anyone who could make good use of the space.”

    The project’s woodworking facilities are available for use by external groups on Tuesdays.

    The Mayor’s Diary.

    The Mayor’s Charity events. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Duckworth, Boozman, Klobuchar Launch Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) recently launched the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation industry and the renewable fuels industry.

    “As the aviation industry strives for lower emissions and cleaner energy sources, the development and utilization of sustainable aviation fuel will be a critical element,” said Sen. Moran. “To help spur development, I am launching the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus. The caucus will work together to find ways to promote technologically innovative solutions to create a sustainable aviation industry and increase our nation’s competitiveness in the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel.”

    “As we continue our work to reduce emissions and foster energy independence, one of the most important things we can do is make aviation more sustainable by increasing the use and supply of American-grown, American-made sustainable aviation fuel,” said Sen. Duckworth. “To help us do just that, I’m proud to join Senators Moran, Klobuchar and Boozman in launching the Senate’s first-ever Sustainable Aviation Caucus. With this new caucus, I look forward to continuing our work to protect and grow American SAF production for use around the world, while also reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our domestic farmers and economy.”

    “I’m pleased to join this initiative to promote education and policies that support sustainable industry practices,” said Sen. Boozman. “I look forward to working with leaders of the caucus and stakeholders to advance measures that continue to advance aviation in an environmentally sound manner.”

    “Airlines across the country are committed to developing technologies to reduce carbon emissions from air travel,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “The expanded use of sustainable aviation fuel will create jobs in rural areas, bolster our national security, and slash carbon emissions. This caucus aims to promote data, research, and innovation in sustainable aviation to ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership in this field.”

    “The SAF Coalition is grateful to Senator Jerry Moran and his colleagues Senators Tammy Duckworth, John Boozman and Amy Klobuchar for their leadership in launching the bipartisan Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus,” said Alison Graab, Executive Director of The SAF Coalition. “The formation of the caucus is a positive step towards strengthening national energy security, driving economic growth, and generating quality jobs across the country through the development and deployment of SAF. We look forward to working with the caucus and other SAF advocates to enhance incentives that expand SAF production and support our nation’s energy needs.”

    “GAMA applauds the bipartisan leadership of Senators Moran, Duckworth, Boozman and Klobuchar for launching the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus,” said Pete Bunce, President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). “General aviation has been at the forefront of advancing technological and operational improvements that mitigate the industry’s impact on the environment. The Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus will assist in fostering key partnerships between government and other stakeholders to further advance the industry’s sustainability commitments. We look forward to working with the caucus to highlight policies, initiatives and industry developments that will advance a more sustainable future for the aviation industry.”

    “Delta Air Lines applauds the bipartisan Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus leadership and founding members for placing a spotlight on the importance of sustainable aviation policies and solutions, such as enabling the market for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF),” said Cherie Wilson, Vice President, Government Affairs – Sustainability, Delta Air Lines. “As on-road transportation increasingly electrifies, aviation demand for SAF will continue to grow exponentially. SAF is the most important lever we have to decarbonize aviation and ensure a more energy secure America, all while providing economic benefits for farmers and other agricultural value chain players across the SAF ecosystem. We look forward to working with the caucus on enabling policy solutions,”

    “We applaud Senators Moran, Klobuchar, Boozman and Duckworth for their bipartisan leadership advancing discussion in Congress to accelerate policy and dialogue around sustainable aviation solutions. The domestic adoption of cost competitive SAF is the most promising, in-production and scalable lever we have today to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions in aviation,” said Nick Boeyink, States Director, Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels. “Growing America’s clean aviation fuels market is a tremendous economic opportunity that will drive the creation of hundreds of thousands of American jobs while making our nation more energy secure. We look forward to working with members in both parties to build momentum for policies that will make American aviation more sustainable.”

    “Business aviation is leading in sustainability with a mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, through new technologies, including more efficient aircraft, electric aviation and sustainable aviation fuel,” said Ed Bolen, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO. “We commend Senators Moran, Duckworth, Boozman and Klobuchar for founding the bipartisan Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus to help innovate toward a net-zero future, on the ground and in the air. Sustainable aviation technologies will strengthen the American economy by creating good-paying jobs in manufacturing, feedstock production and energy generation, as well as reducing America’s dependence on foreign energy sources and improving our national security.”

    “Gevo appreciates Senators Jerry Moran, Tammy Duckworth, John Boozman and Amy Klobuchar leading the bipartisan Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus, which will provide a timely forum to bring more awareness to SAF and other sustainable aviation solutions,” said Lindsay Fitzgerald, Sr. Vice President of Public Affairs for Gevo. “Both co-chairs understand the key role farmers have when it comes to scaling SAF production, as well as the economic and energy security benefits that come from producing new energy resources for airlines and their customers. We look forward to working with the Caucus to advance our shared policy and sustainability goals and growing U.S. SAF.”

    “I recently joined Senator Moran?to break ground on an exciting new SAF project led by two Growth Energy members, and he understands why this industry is vital to our rural communities, our environment, and America’s ability to compete in a low-carbon economy,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “This new caucus will bring together some of the bioeconomy’s most important champions, organized around the shared goal of decarbonizing aviation with American-made biofuels. We’re grateful to Senator Moran for leading this bipartisan, bicameral?effort.”

    Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Congressman Dusty Johnson (SD-AL) also created the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus for members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Rosen Introduce Legislation to Help Veterans Translate Military Certifications to Civilian Jobs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced legislation to provide servicemembers who are transitioning out of the military with documentation outlining their military certifications and qualifications to use when applying for a job.

    The Translating Military Skills into Civilian Jobs Act would establish a military training and competency record to ensure that every servicemember has a record of the training, certifications and qualifications they achieved during their time in the military, so that when they transition, they can provide that record to employers to determine if their qualifications meet the job requirements.

    “Military service provides servicemembers and veterans with unique skills that make them valuable employees to any company,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation would make certain every servicemember leaves the military with a document outlining the training and qualifications they achieved during their service to assist in the job search and their life after service.”

    “The men and women of our military earn valuable skills and certifications during their service that should more easily qualify them for a wide array of high-demand civilian jobs when they transition into veteran status,” said Sen. Rosen. “I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to provide every transitioning servicemember with a record detailing their training, certifications, and qualifications earned through their service so that they can more easily start their civilian careers. I’ll keep working across party lines to support our veterans.”

    In May of this year, Sen. Moran introduced the Colonel Gary LaGrange AgVets Act of 2024 to codify and expand a program that provides veterans with resources and opportunities to pursue careers in the agriculture. He also introduced legislation to create a new startup tax credit for veterans who are starting small businesses to bolster local economies and support servicemembers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Eliminate Barriers to Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis, along with Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Braun (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), recently introduced the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act, bipartisan legislation that makes technical corrections to the original Camp Lejeune Justice Act by clarifying the right to jury trials and the appropriate causation standard, capping attorneys’ fees, and expanding jurisdiction to alleviate the backlog of toxic water claims.

    “Currently, veterans and other victims exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are running into roadblocks that are denying them their day in court before a jury for the often-crippling and deadly medical conditions they have suffered,” said Senator Tillis. “Since coming to office, I have worked alongside those who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune that were unknowingly exposed to harmful chemicals to finally give them the health care and benefits they deserve. I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring justice for victims and provide a path forward for justice after decades of delay.”

    “Victims of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune deserve justice. But instead, DOJ bureaucrats are throwing up roadblocks and making it harder for veterans to get their day in court,” said Senator Budd. “That’s why I’m proud to join Senator Tillis to introduce a bipartisan bill to remove regulatory hurdles and see that Camp Lejeune victims get the compensation, care, and benefits they deserve.”

    “Victims of Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water deserve recompense and accountability,” said Senator Blumenthal. “With this essential legislation, we eliminate roadblocks and provide a pathway to seeking justice for our veterans and their families affected by toxic exposure, ensuring access to well-deserved benefits and relief.”

    “We need to make it as easy as possible for veterans exposed to harmful chemicals to get the benefits they deserve,” said Senator Braun.  

    “After selflessly answering the call to serve our nation, too many brave servicemembers were exposed to toxic chemicals from Camp Lejeune’s drinking water—but could not receive the justice and care they deserve due to unnecessary roadblocks,” said Senator Duckworth. “This bipartisan legislation would help make it easier for impacted servicemembers and Veterans to access the care and benefits they’ve earned through their service. It’s the least we could do after all they sacrifice for us.” 

    “It’s unacceptable that individuals impacted by the Camp Lejeune water contamination continue to experience bureaucratic roadblocks,” said Senator Rubio. “Compensation for veterans and other victims impacted, including thousands of individuals in Florida, is long overdue. Senator Tillis and I are eternally grateful for their service and are working to rectify this situation.”

    “Camp Lejeune veterans and their families deserve justice,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to cosponsor the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act, which will improve and clarify the legislation Congress passed two years ago to give these families a path to justice.” 

    The following Veteran Service Organizations have endorsed the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act: the Special Operations Association of America, the American Legion, the National Military Family Association, the Marine Corps League, the Marine Corps Reserve Association, the Military Chaplains Association, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the Moral Compass Federation, the Blinded Veterans Association, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard, and the Association of the US Navy.

    “Two years ago, Mike Partain and I sat in the Senate Gallery and witnessed the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act,” said Jerry Ensminger, father of Janey Ensminger, a Camp Lejeune water contamination victim. “We thought our decades-long fight for justice at Camp Lejeune was nearing an end. Instead, we have seen yet more roadblocks and delays, which was not the intent of Congress and the original bill. This new legislation will help remedy this issue and help our service personnel and their families achieve their justice for the toxic tragedy at Camp Lejeune.”

    “SOAA is glad to see this bi-partisan effort to achieve justice for veterans who have waited so long,” said David Cook, Executive Director, Special Operations Association of America. “This is also a win for veterans’ choice in pursuing action. Helping Camp Lejeune veterans and families has been a long-time priority for SOAA and the many victims of the contaminated water who are critically ill. We urge Congress to pass this legislation as soon as possible.”

    “On behalf of our 1.6 million dues-paying members, The American Legion is proud to support the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2024,” said James A. LaCoursiere, National Commander, The American Legion. “This bill enhances previous Camp Lejeune water legislation by expanding judicial jurisdiction to any of the five states of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit — Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina — rather than just in North Carolina’s federal courts. In addition, this bill codifies caps on attorney’s fees for administrative claims and for lawsuits filed in court based on Department of Justice recommendations. We applaud Senator Tillis and Senator Blumenthal for their leadership in expanding court access and protecting our veterans and their families from predatory actors.”

    “We have a special responsibility to protect those charged with protecting our freedoms,” said Besa Pinchotti, CEO, National Military Family Association. “But the veterans and military families affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune have been waiting for help for decades. This bill rights the technical wrongs in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, ensuring that the families who have served us and suffered since finally get the justice they deserve.”

    “With exposure to toxic chemicals during military service also having emerged somewhat recently as a factor in diseases causing loss of sight, we as blind and low vision veterans feel that we can relate to the plight of service members and family members of Camp Lejeune who continue to be victimized by the lack of a fair and timely path to judicial relief,” said Donald D. Overton, Jr., Executive Director of the Blinded Veterans Association. “We support the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act as a means of correcting this injustice and encouraging action on the incomprehensible 360,000 claims for which only 114 have currently received a settlement.” 

    Full text of the bill is available HERE and a one-page summary is available HERE.

    Background:

    With passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, Congress intended to create a jury trial right with a lower causation standard to ensure a compensation process that would be fair and proportionate to the level of harm and injuries caused by exposure. However, the Department of Justice has fought the law and successfully challenged both the jury trial and causation standards intended by Congress.

    Specifically, The Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act:

    • Permits cases to be heard in any district court in the 4th Circuit.
    • Explicitly provides for jury trials.
    • Expressly states that victims must only show general causation, including for latent or potential harm.
    • Caps attorney fees at 20% for settlements and 25% for trials.
    • Ensures there is no room for interpreting Congress’ intent to provide complete and swift relief to victims of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. 

    Senator Tillis has been fighting for the victims of Camp Lejeune toxic contamination for over a decade, working to successfully advance bipartisan legislation. In 2014, as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Tillis was successful in amending North Carolina’s statute of repose that previously prevented toxic contamination victims from bringing lawsuits more than 10 years after a pollution event took place. In September 2015, Senator Tillis pressed the Department at a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) hearing on Camp Lejeune for answers about granting Lejeune veterans disability status. Bureaucratic red tape and internal resistance at the VA delayed a final decision for years. Finally, the VA announced in December 2015 that the victims of Camp Lejeune’s poisoned water diagnosed with certain illness would be granted disability status. 

    In 2019, he co-introduced the Janey Ensminger Act to ensure individuals with diseases scientifically linked to toxic chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina receive proper medical care from the Veterans Administration (VA). The bill was named in honor of Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger’s daughter Janey, who was only nine-years-old when she died from a rare form of leukemia after being exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune.  Unfortunately, while the VA allowed veterans exposed to contaminated water to pursue VA benefits, most of the claims were denied. In 2019 alone, the U.S. Navy denied nearly 5,000 claims filed by Navy veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune. During this timeframe, three in four Camp Lejeune veterans had their requests for VA benefits denied. 

    In September 2020, Senator Tillis introduced the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, legislation that provided veterans and their families who are suffering due to water contamination at Camp Lejeune long-overdue judicial relief. The legislation corrected unintended injuries unique to Marine families stationed at Camp Lejeune due to an anomaly in the application of North Carolina law in the federal court system. Senator Tillis reintroduced the bipartisan Camp Lejeune Justice Act in 2021, which was codified into law in 2022. 

    In May 2023, Senators Tillis and Budd led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Secretary of the Navy and Attorney General Garland expressing concerns over the Navy’s failure to adjudicate claims submitted since August 2022 for Camp Lejeune water contamination. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION FOR CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY TO DEVELOP SHOVEL-READY SITE FOR ATTRACTING MORE EMPLOYERS & GOOD-PAYING JOBS TO WESTERN NY

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Schumer Says Funding Will Create New Shovel-Ready Site In Ripley—Creating Economic Development Opportunities In Western NY By Attracting New Companies, Creating Good-Paying Jobs, And Bringing In Tax Revenue

    Funding Comes From The Appalachian Regional Commission, A Federal-State Partnership That Schumer Fought To Boost Funding For In Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law

    Schumer: We’re Building New Job-Creating Opportunities For Chautauqua County & Western NY

    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced $1,000,000 for the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA)’s Ripley Interstate Shovel Ready Site project to extend electrical service to prepare a 147-acre site for future employers. The funding is through the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal-state partnership that Schumer boosted funding for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

    “Chautauqua County is a prime location for economic investment, and this $1 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help build a new shovel-ready site in Ripley to ensure that Western NY can land new employers and good-paying jobs,” said Senator Schumer. “I fought to increase funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission because I know how important it is to create opportunities for economic development across Upstate NY. Now, this commission is delivering for New York, positioning the region to attract new investment that will bring employment opportunities and tax revenue to Chautauqua County and broader Western NY.”

    “Securing this funding marks a tremendous step forward in the development of the Ripley shovel-ready site, a project that is vital to the future growth and prosperity of not only the local community but all of Chautauqua County. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer for his steadfast advocacy and to Mark Geise, our Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, for his tireless work in bringing this vision to life. This site will provide new opportunities for businesses to invest in our region, creating jobs and fostering economic development that will benefit generations to come,” said Paul M. Wendel Jr. Chautauqua County Executive.

    The Ripley Interstate Shovel Ready Site project, led by the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), received $1,000,000 to turn a large parcel in Ripley into a shovel-ready site. The project is expected to spur economic growth in Western NY by supporting CCIDA efforts to improve infrastructure, especially extending a 34.5 kv electric service to the site, providing necessary power to attract more employers looking to expand or move to Western NY. This improved site readiness will especially help meet an increased demand from manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing industries to grow in the region, partially spurred by increased investment from the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS & Science Law, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Schumer pushed to pass into law.

    In 2021, Schumer secured $1 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that he negotiated in the Senate for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) over 5 years, increasing the budget to $200 million per year through 2026. The investment provided additional support for economic development, infrastructure, workforce, and other community development projects and programs to improve the quality of life and create new business growth and job opportunities throughout the Appalachian region of Upstate NY.

    The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community, capacity, and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia. New York State receives an allocation of resources from the ARC each year to fund area development in NYS’s 14-county Appalachian Region. The New York counties are represented by one of three Local Development Districts: Southern Tier West (STW) based in Salamanca, NY and comprised of Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties; Southern Tier Central (STC) based in Corning, NY and comprised of Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties; and Southern Tier 8 in Binghamton, NY and comprised of Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Tioga and Tompkins counties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the cost of living crisis and games industry turmoil could hurt Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro release

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adam Jerrett, Lecturer, Faculty of Creative & Cultural Industries, University of Portsmouth

    In late November 2020, I was one of those people standing in line – or rather,
    refreshing my browser – hoping to snag a PlayStation 5 during a restock. The
    pandemic was in full swing, and with most of the world locked indoors, there weren’t many better things to do. The original PS5 promised to deliver true 4K gaming at very smooth frame rates – though a claim that it supported 8K gaming was later removed from the console’s packaging.

    However, the PS5 got off to a slow start, owing primarily to game delays as a result of the pandemic. Additionally, gamers had to effectively choose between preset modes related to fidelity – high-quality visuals – and game performance within the in-game settings menus.

    In November, gamers will no longer be faced with this dilemma, as Sony is set to release its “mid-generation refresh” console, the PlayStation 5 Pro. Its upgraded graphics processing unit (GPU) has more processing power and a faster memory than the basic PS5, allowing for up to 45% faster rendering of the graphics.

    Advanced ray tracing – a technique to simulate the way light behaves in the real world – and AI technology called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution are expected to enable higher-resolution visuals at higher frame rates. This could fulfil the basic PS5’s promise of 4K gaming at 60 frames per second.

    However, all that power doesn’t come cheap. The £699 digital-only console scales to £798 with a £99 disc drive, which is required to play physical games. It is already selling out in some markets. There’s also a £25 vertical stand (which came bundled with the original PS5).

    PS5 Pro Technical Presentation.

    That’s a lot of money for a console that won’t have any exclusive titles. Every game you can play on the PS5 Pro will also run on the base PS5. Some even speculate that it still may not play forthcoming games at the highest possible fidelity.

    That kind of price is even more of a shock when compared with the different world of 2020’s PS5 launch. Demand for games and consoles surged during the pandemic, but the economic landscape has drastically shifted in the past four years. Inflation is at an all-time high, and the cost of living has rocketed, leaving less disposable income for non-essential purchases, of which the PS5 Pro is a prime example.

    The games industry has also seen waves of layoffs resulting from investment shortfalls, changing work patterns, and post-pandemic consumer behaviour. A further irony is that such layoffs prevent studios from having the time, budget, or labour to create the graphically intense, polished games that the PS5 Pro would take full advantage of.

    Consoles have always been loss leaders –- products sold at lower profit margins to get buyers into a product ecosystem. The basic PS5 is barely fulfilling that role (most PlayStation gamers still play on the PS4). So it makes business sense for the PS5 Pro to merely reflect the economic realities of 2024, where the rising cost of materials, supply chain disruptions and a scramble for computing power due to AI’s enhanced workloads means that consoles are significantly more expensive to produce.

    This time, instead of Sony absorbing the cost, they’ve passed it along to consumers – most of whom are deeply unhappy about it. YouTube reactions to the PS5 Pro reveal trailer have been overwhelmingly negative, sitting at a 3:1 dislike ratio on YouTube.

    A solution without a problem?

    Many are also wondering whether the PS5 Pro is solving any real problems. The current generation of consoles has been plagued by delays or underwhelming game releases, and many remakes and remasters. Sony is even porting games that were previously exclusive to consoles over to PCs in a bid to reach new audiences. This has left the PS5’s true “exclusives” library somewhat barren.

    The PS5 Pro launch was similarly absent of any blockbuster titles making use of the new hardware. Astrobot, Sony’s most recent smash-hit and likely Christmas bestseller, certainly won’t be using all that horsepower.

    Astrobot Launch Trailer.

    Regardless, there’s little doubt that the PS5 Pro will sell out at launch. Sony is probably producing fewer units of the Pro model than they did for the basic PS5, creating an artificial scarcity that will drive demand. Those who can afford it and who want the best possible gaming experience will jump at the chance to own the most powerful PlayStation console ever made.

    This all makes the PS5 Pro’s launch feel a little strange. The PS5 Pro’s technical improvements are genuinely impressive. It’s clearly aimed at the hardcore gamers who want the best possible experience, regardless of the cost –- Sony knows its audience here.

    However, the PS5 Pro is not the console that will drive mass adoption nor convince PS4 players to finally upgrade. Instead, like all things “Pro” in the tech world, it’s simply another niche, high-end option.

    And as much as I’m tempted by the promise of true 4K 60FPS console gaming, I can’t
    help but feel that this mid-generation upgrade is arriving at a time when the games
    industry has myriad more important things to address than a shiny new toy.

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

    – ref. How the cost of living crisis and games industry turmoil could hurt Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro release – https://theconversation.com/how-the-cost-of-living-crisis-and-games-industry-turmoil-could-hurt-sonys-playstation-5-pro-release-239064

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ketamine: what you need to know about the UK’s growing drug problem

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ian Hamilton, Honorary Fellow, Department of Health Sciences, University of York

    There is growing awareness of the problems caused by the use of a fast-acting drug called ketamine. Often referred to as K or ket, it was made a class B drug in the UK in 2014 and is illegal to buy or sell. Possessing the drug can lead to a maximum five-year prison sentence and supplying the drug up to 14 years in prison.

    Ketamine is an effective anaesthetic and plays an important part in battlefield and emergency medicine. It is used to treat pain in end-of-life care and could treat some forms of depression. However, it is its non-medical use that is causing concern among some doctors and specialist drug-treatment providers.

    On the illicit market, ketamine is cheaper than cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy), costing about £20 a gram. Police forces report large seizures of the drug, but global rates of production are high, and the wholesale price of a kilogram of ketamine is believed to have fallen from £8,000 to £5,000. This makes it an attractive drug for young people and those with a limited income.

    Ketamine typically takes about 15 minutes to work and induces euphoria, relaxation and a slight sense of detachment. However, with higher doses it can also cause dissociation. This can be confusing and can cause panic attacks and memory loss. It can increase blood pressure and affect breathing and heart function.

    Effects can also be fatal. The Friends actor Matthew Perry died in 2023 as a result of using the drug.

    Some urologists have also expressed concern about an increase in bladder problems (so-called “ketamine bladder”) as a result of prolonged and heavy use of the drug. Although national data about the number of people with ketamine bladder is not available, there are other sources about the use of ketamine.

    Ketamine first became popular as a recreational drug in the early 1990s. Use among people aged 16-24 in England and Wales rose from 0.9% in 2006-07 to 3.8% in 2022-23 – which is about 220,000 people.

    There has been an increase in young people attending specialist treatment services with problems related to ketamine use: 512 during 2021-22 rising to 719 in 2022-23.

    The increase is concerning as few services and interventions are available that specifically address ketamine use. An increase in people seeking treatment has not been helped by historic cuts to drug-treatment funding, which is only beginning to be addressed, and a lack of meaningful drug education and early intervention responses.

    This increase in young people seeking treatment is also seen in adults. Rising from 1,551 in 2021-22 to 2,211 during 2022-23. There has been a fivefold increase in adult treatment since 2014.

    Self-medicating

    There is a suggestion from experts that part of the increase in the use of ketamine is due to some people who have mental health problems that are unable to access treatment because of long waiting lists.

    Rather than wait for specialist treatment some people turn to drugs like ketamine that offer some reprieve from their symptoms. Ketamine can create a sense of detachment in users, this will be a desirable state for those who are seeking to escape invasive mental health symptoms of troubling thoughts and feelings.

    In effect, they are finding their own solutions by self-medicating with the drug. Given that ketamine is easily available, relatively cheap and fast-acting it is easy to see why this drug is appealing, particularly as there are no long waiting lists or invasive assessments to undergo.

    Ketamine doesn’t induce the same type of hangover that alcohol and other drugs do. This makes it appealing to those who need to be at work the day after using it. Likewise, it is appealing to those on zero-hour contracts who are asked to work at short notice.

    However, many people will use other substances alongside ketamine – typically alcohol. Mixing alcohol and ketamine can cause significant harm, ranging from slowed breathing to coma and even fatal overdose.

    Paradoxically ketamine is being investigated as a treatment for those who are dependent on alcohol, including those who haven’t responded to more traditional forms of therapy.

    As with the promise that other drugs, such as psychedelics, might help treat mental health problems, current evidence suggests that these drugs are only effective when given alongside therapy.

    It’s not clear whether the UK has reached peak ketamine use. Most drugs fall in and out of fashion. It is clear that originally banning the drug in 2005, and increasing punishments in 2014 has failed to halt its rising popularity. What could have helped was investment into prevention, education and harm reduction services, but this didn’t happen and we are seeing some of the consequences now.

    Preventing the use of ketamine is the only way to be sure that it won’t cause harm. But if we accept that young people and adults will continue to use it then we should be aiming to reduce the potential for harm. There are useful resources already available, but reducing drug-related harm requires a more active response – one that doesn’t rely on people visiting websites or reading a leaflet.

    We should put effort and resources into providing public health messaging that reaches those who are at the most risk from harm due to ketamine. At the same time, investing in and providing timely mental health support would reduce the need for those who are self-medicating with the drug.

    With a new government in the UK, commanding a sizeable majority in parliament, could this Labour government adopt a policy shift that could reduce suffering and save lives?

    Harry Sumnall receives funding from public grant awarding bodies for alcohol and other drugs research, and fees from (international) not-for-profit organisations and government departments for consultation work. He is an unpaid steering group member of the Anti-Stigma Network, an unpaid member of the Scientific Advisory Group of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), an unpaid member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Mind Foundation, an unpaid advisor to the UK Drug Education Forum, and an unpaid co-opted member of UK Government Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) Working Groups on cocaine, and prevention.

    Ian Hamilton 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. Ketamine: what you need to know about the UK’s growing drug problem – https://theconversation.com/ketamine-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-uks-growing-drug-problem-239412

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The seven greatest cover songs of all time – according to music experts

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Glenn Fosbraey, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Winchester

    We recently asked subscribers to our arts and culture newsletter, Something Good, to name their favourite cover song. We received a range of replies, from Beyoncé’s reimagining of the Dolly Parton classic, Jolene, to Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged recording of The Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie. Here’s how seven of our academic experts responded when we asked them the same question.

    1. Heaven, by DJ Sammy (2001)

    The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a glut of Euro-dance songs troubling the higher reaches of the UK charts, as artists like Alice Deejay, Fragma and Sash (all aliases for male DJs fronted by female guest vocalists) married heavy trance beats with catchy melodies. But above all others stood 2001’s Heaven, by DJ Sammy. A shining example of the energetic but straightforward approach to music that characterised the era, it had a generation of club-goers running for the dancefloor.

    Heaven saw Spanish producer Sammy turn a mawkish 1983 Bryan Adams track into the ultimate dance track for all seasons, complete with a relentless beat, hypnotic synth riff, and earworm-of-all-earworm choruses delivered by Dutch singer Dominique Rijpma van Hulst (stage name Do). It’s fun, unapologetically simple, yet somehow seems to encompass every emotion going. An era-defining track that needs to be played loud and proud.

    Glenn Fosbraey

    2. Me and the Devil Blues, by Gil Scott-Heron (2014)

    A great cover is more than a different version of a song – it re-articulates the track and injects it with new meaning. Some do this by radically changing the genre, others by making the song so intensely personal that it is difficult to imagine anyone else singing it. But Gil Scott-Heron’s cover of Robert Johnson’s Me and the Devil Blues (1938), on Scott-Heron’s final album, accomplishes an even rarer feat.

    It layers the pain and anguish of a modern black life lived in the heavy bootprint of the fight for civil rights, de-industrialisation and the “war on drugs”, over the legend of original singer Robert Johnson’s daring and tragic story in the Jim Crow south.

    Scott-Heron’s cover is an opaque homage that ruminates on living in the echoes of an American music legend’s ruins. It’s a reminder of the continuing horrors of racism, and the enduring artistry of resistance and resilience.

    Justin Patch

    3. Helter Skelter, by Siouxsie and the Banshees (1978)

    As a young artist from Liverpool who was newly signed to Deltasonic Records in the early 2000s, I was keen to find inspiration from artists other than our beloved Beatles. Little did I expect that much of this inspiration would circle back to Paul, John, George and Ringo when I discovered Siouxsie and the Banshees’ album The Scream (1978).

    Their cover of Helter Skelter from The Beatles’ White Album (1968) blew me away. Personally, I think this is the best cover of a Beatles song ever, performed by a woman who wasn’t afraid to take control of it.

    Eva Petersen

    4. Wild is the Wind, by David Bowie

    David Bowie frequently supplemented his original material with thematically connected cover songs. There are covers on Hunky Dory (1971), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust (1972) and Aladdin Sane (1973). These moments are often the weakest spots on Bowie’s records – with one major exception.

    Bowie’s 1976 album Station To Station closes with his take on Wild Is The Wind, reworking Johnny Mathis’s two-minute original from 1957 into a soaring and theatrical six-minute showstopper. Bowie’s band dutifully rises to the occasion, decorating the track with elegant lead guitar work and one of the most exquisite drum performances ever committed to tape.

    Never one to underplay, Bowie gives the vocal performance of a lifetime, culminating in a soaring climax guaranteed to leave goosebumps on any listener with a pulse.

    Daniel Ash

    5. Against All Odds, by The Postal Service (2004)

    A good cover version needs to find ways to reinvent the texture and structure of the original. Beyond The Postal Service’s iconic 2003 album Give Up, the indie-tronica outfit have a tiny repertoire. For my money, their cover of Phil Collins’s Against All Odds (1984) was the only bright spot in the horrendous Josh Hartnett movie, Wicker Park (2004).

    The familiar texture and soundscape of Give Up is heard in the distant and crackly vocal, reverse delays and keyboard of the opening verse and chorus. This gives way to a middle section which is cleaner and more purposeful than the first, with a brighter tempo. A final outro section repeats the lyrical hook – “take a look at me now” – with gentle guitar bringing the song to a close.

    With this cover, The Postal Service manage to remake an emotional love ballad into a more angsty and complex work with their own musical stamp.

    Conor Caldwell

    6. Shipbuilding, by Suede

    I always tell students to look at their hero’s heroes and find the covers they chose to do. It is often the case that we discover a classic song from a cover.

    The 1995 charity album HELP featured 20 songs (many of them cover versions) by 20 artists in support of children displaced by the Bosnian War.

    Suede’s cover of Shipbuilding (written by Elvis Costello and Clive Langer in 1982) was the first version of the song I heard. Such is the power of the piece, I suspect it was not difficult to convey the message. Written during the Falklands war, it concerned the resurgence of the shipyards caused by the necessity to replace ships lost in the conflict.

    This led me to discover the definitive 1982 version sung by Robert Wyatt and featuring Costello, which has superb brushed drums and double bass. A masterpiece.

    Howard Monk

    7. Such Great Heights, by Iron and Wine

    In this cover, Sam Beam of Iron and Wine strips what could be potentially considered the calling card of The Postal Service’s small but perfectly formed oeuvre to its bare bones. Featuring nothing more than a hushed voice, gently plucked acoustic guitar and subtle flourish of mandolin, the yearning romanticism of the lyrics is endearingly exposed.

    Curiously, The Postal Service chose to include this wonderfully considered cover version as a b-side to their own single release of the song in 2003. This may have prompted its use in the divisive indie movie Garden State (2004), elevating Iron and Wine to deservedly greater heights in the process.

    Steve Ryan


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Eva Petersen has previously received Arts Council funding for her research in 2019. She currently works for Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

    Conor Caldwell, Daniel Ash, Glenn Fosbraey, Howard Monk, Justin Patch, and Stephen Ryan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The seven greatest cover songs of all time – according to music experts – https://theconversation.com/the-seven-greatest-cover-songs-of-all-time-according-to-music-experts-235145

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Workplace wellbeing programmes often don’t work – but here’s how to make them better

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jolanta Burke, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

    Research shows wellbeing programmes often have little impact. Lucky Business/ Shutterstock

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has just published alarming statistics showing that employee mental health issues result in a US$1 trillion (£747 billion) loss in productivity each year. The WHO has called on employers to take urgent action by introducing comprehensive wellbeing programmes to tackle the escalating mental health crisis in the workplace.

    But the problem is that many workplace wellbeing programmes don’t work. A UK study which looked at 46,336 employees from 233 organisations found there was no evidence that a range of common workplace wellbeing initiatives – including mindfulness and stress management classes, one-to-one mental health coaching, wellbeing apps or volunteering work – improved employee wellbeing.

    So despite companies investing over US$60 billion annually worldwide in wellbeing programmes, they appear to make little impact.

    There are a number of reasons why these programmes don’t work – and understanding them is the only way companies will be able to make these programmes effective.

    Motivation

    Organisations often opt for easy-to-implement initiatives, such as hosting wellbeing talks or offering mindfulness or yoga classes. They then complain that employees don’t attend or don’t appreciate them.

    Many employees say they don’t attend these activities because they find them irrelevant, unhelpful or they don’t value them enough to attend – meaning their workplace has failed in identifying their needs.

    Understanding what motivates people to participate in wellbeing programmes is crucial in improving its effectiveness. For example, one survey found employees were more interested in learning about healthy lifestyles than having a discussion about stress management. Although not directly related to mental wellbeing, prioritising these kinds of talks would have a greater effect on improving wellbeing in the end.

    Content matters

    Wellbeing programmes tend to be more effective for people whose wellbeing is average or below average. So when people with high levels of wellbeing participate in such programmes, they often see little benefit. This can make it appear the programme isn’t effective – when in reality, it still is for those who need it most.

    This is why it’s so important to determine what type of help employees need most when designing wellbeing programmes.

    For employees who aren’t experiencing poor mental health, a programme that primarily addresses depression or anxiety may be less effective as they’re probably already practising many of the strategies such programmes would discuss. But if the wellbeing programme goes beyond reducing symptoms and focuses on promoting flourishing, meaning and purpose in life, it could provide value to a broader audience.

    This is where a programme designed by an expert in positive psychology would be beneficial in workplaces. Positive psychology is the science of wellbeing. It focuses on building on the positive aspects of life that make life worth living – rather than solely addressing symptoms of mental ill health which only affect 10-20% of the population.But positive psychology measures still have a positive impact on those who experience mental health issues at the same time. They include such activities as identifying and using your character strengths at work, re-thinking your past events positively, learning optimism or practising gratitude.

    The content of workplace wellbeing programmes is crucial. Avoiding generic self-help approaches will enhance their overall impact.

    Everyone is different

    Factors such as whether or not an employee enjoys a specific wellbeing activity or programme, whether they believe that wellbeing can be changed or their level of distress when starting a programme can all affect whether or not workplace wellbeing initiatives work.

    Even a person’s genetics can significantly affect whether such programmes have any impact. Research shows that people who have a higher genetic predisposition towards change are more likely to benefit disproportionately from these programmes – and their positive effect tends to last longer.

    All of these factors should be carefully considered when designing a workplace wellbeing programme. And given how difficult this will make it to design one that’s effective, it’s important employee wellbeing programmes are actually developed by experts in the field – not consultants who lack in-depth knowledge of psychology.

    Implementation

    The way a wellbeing programme is implemented is just as important as its content – though this aspect is often overlooked by wellbeing consultants.

    For instance, overusing gratitude exercises can lead to disengagement from a programme. Similarly, offering too many wellbeing activity options can overwhelm participants and result in them discontinuing the programme.

    To maximise the impact a wellbeing programme has in the workplace requires careful attention not only to the content but also how it’s implemented.

    There are many nuances involved in designing a workplace wellbeing programme. Employers must ensure the programmes they offer not only promote wellbeing but also avoid causing unintended harm to others in the process. Consulting experts who know the nuances of psychology and of wellbeing programmes is key, as they will ensure programmes will be effective and helpful. Programmes that combine positive psychology and lifestyle medicine (which focus on helping people improve their health and fitness) may be particularly beneficial in workplaces.

    Jolanta Burke 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. Workplace wellbeing programmes often don’t work – but here’s how to make them better – https://theconversation.com/workplace-wellbeing-programmes-often-dont-work-but-heres-how-to-make-them-better-239040

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The boomer generation hit the economic jackpot. Young people will inherit their massive debts

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University

    GoodIdeas/Shutterstock

    Young people in Britain could be forgiven for despairing at the financial pressures they face – and feeling that previous generations enjoyed a much fairer economic environment. Then just to add to their worries about home ownership and a precarious jobs market, along comes the gloomy announcement that the UK’s public debt is now 100% of GDP.

    That debt burden will have to be carried by tax-payers for decades to come. Paying the interest – just the interest – of the country’s debt currently accounts for around 7.3% of public spending. That’s more than what is spent on defence (4.8%) or transport (3.8%).

    And while some of what’s left will go to towards essential future public services, it will also go towards fixing problems caused by a historic lack of public investment (less money being spent by previous generations) in water, railways and other crucial infrastructure.

    In fact, in the 1980s much of that infrastructure was used by the UK government to help finance itself, with assets including British Gas sold off at a bargain price. Those baby boomers and older generations who could afford to buy shares often made a decent profit.

    There are other kinds of costs that today’s younger generations have had to bear too. During COVID lockdowns, universities and schools were closed as the young were forced to stay at home, predominantly to protect the elderly. They have lost the freedom to live and work in the EU after 60% of retired people voted for Brexit, while most young people voted against. Leaving Europe has also made the UK less well-off.

    But not everyone is poorer. In the last 20 years, the average income of pensioners has increased on average by more than 50%, while that of working-age adults has risen by less than 10%. The median income of pensioner households is now higher after housing costs than that of households with children.

    Most of the country’s wealth is now in the hands of older people. In 2018, one in four people aged over 65 was living in a household with a total wealth of over a £1 million pounds. Poverty rates of pensioners are now lower than for the rest of the population.

    Yet pensioners receive all sorts of unconditional discounts and benefits, such as free or discounted public transport. Their income is exempt from national insurance contributions, and there is a triple-lock on state pensions, which is guaranteed to grow faster than work income.

    Until recently, the winter fuel allowance meant that anyone born in 1944 or before received £300 (reduced to £200 for younger pensioners).

    Boomer and bust?

    While there is mild popular support for limiting the fuel allowance to poorer pensioners, the question of recouping money from older people remains highly sensitive. (Back in 2017, the then prime minister Theresa May had to quickly U-turn when she suggested using pensioners’ wealth to finance the rising cost of care.)

    One reason for this reluctance to prise money from older people may be that while most pensioners are doing better (compared to the working population) this is not true of the poorest ones. Also, some pensioners do not claim the benefits they are entitled to, and the last thing a civilised society wants is to let its older people freeze.

    ‘Loser has to pay off the national debt.’
    fizkes/Shutterstock

    But the apparent economic divide raises a broader question about inter-generational justice. What does one generation owe the generations that follow?

    And it’s not just about money. Global warming is another thing older people have not spent most of their lives having to pay for, with the burden for repairing environmental damage again falling mostly on the young.

    Perhaps a fair philosophical approach would be that it’s OK to leave certain costs to be paid in the future if the next generation can generally expect to live longer and in better health, with more consumer choice and comfort, and an improved quality of life.

    But this does not seem to be the expectation right now. Incomes have stalled, and so has life expectancy, while housing prices have not been so expensive relative to earnings since the 19th century.

    In that sense, many people, however old they are, would probably sympathise with young people today. And they may even argue that it’s time for the government to focus on policies that explicitly benefit the young – like house building, different forms of taxation or subjecting pension income to national insurance.

    There could also be a change in fiscal rules to allow for more investment in national infrastructure, higher taxes on fossil fuels to pay for the energy transition, or sharing the cost of funding higher education more evenly among all graduates, regardless of when they got their degree.

    Such changes would provide a dramatic shift towards an economic system which seeks to redistribute wealth not just among citizens – but between the generations.

    Renaud Foucart 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. The boomer generation hit the economic jackpot. Young people will inherit their massive debts – https://theconversation.com/the-boomer-generation-hit-the-economic-jackpot-young-people-will-inherit-their-massive-debts-238908

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa has a good childhood vaccination system – what’s stopping it from being great

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Susan Goldstein, Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand

    The two public health interventions that have had the greatest impact on the world’s health are clean water and vaccines. Professors Susan Goldstein and Haroon Saloojee assess South Africa’s child vaccination programme.

    Why are childhood vaccinations so important? What are some essential ones?

    A recent study published in The Lancet estimated that since 1974, 154 million lives have been saved by immunisation, most of them children.

    A 2016 study of low- and middle-income countries found that for every dollar invested in vaccines, the return on investment was estimated to be US$44, considering broader social and economic benefits.

    Childhood vaccines are most effective when they are administered to children at the right age, and with the recommended dosage, as children are susceptible to certain diseases at certain ages.

    As an example, polio occurs most frequently in children below the age of five. Five doses of polio vaccinations are recommended, starting at birth.

    As the most contagious and fast-moving of the vaccine-preventable diseases, measles is often described as the “canary in the coalmine”: a warning of other disease outbreaks that might spring up where there are gaps in vaccination coverage.

    How does South Africa fare?

    A case study done in 2011/2012 found South Africa spent US$131 million on basic child vaccine procurement, less than 1%-1.5% of public health expenditure and comparable to Latin American countries known for early vaccine adoption. In 2023 new vaccines were included in the routine Expanded Programme on Immunisation to the value of US$194 million.

    We do spend appropriately on vaccines.

    South Africa has an excellent immunisation schedule with protection offered against 11 diseases.

    According to the District Health Barometer, national coverage for children under one year was 82.2% in 2022/3.

    In 2019, a national household immunisation survey, the first such survey done in two decades, provided the most detailed picture of South Africa’s vaccination programme that we have. The survey screened almost 2 million households and found 84% of babies had received all their shots by the time they turned one.

    Although these rates may seem good, they fall short of the 90% target set by the United Nations. They are also lower than in several other sub-Saharan countries, as this graph shows.

    A greater concern, however, is the disparity at the district level. For instance, Sekhukhune in Limpopo province had a coverage rate of just 53%, meaning almost one in two children were not fully immunised. Ten other districts had coverage rates below 75%, meaning that at least a quarter of the children were not fully protected.

    What is preventing the country from achieving the 90% target?

    In the national survey the main reasons for children not being fully immunised were related to the health service:

    • the vaccine was out of stock (29%)

    • the child was ill and not offered a vaccine (12%)

    • caregivers did not know that the child was due for immunisation (19%)

    • the caregiver forgot that the child had a scheduled immunisation visit (6%)

    • there was no-one to take the child to the clinic (9%).

    Other factors include:

    • negative interactions with healthcare workers – these can deter caregivers from taking children for their vaccines

    • waiting times

    • the dynamics within families – for example, adolescent mothers and elderly caregivers might have difficulty getting children to clinics.

    Vaccine refusal by parents for religious or other reasons existed, but this was infrequent (3%).

    What needs to be done?

    To protect children better, Unicef’s Immunization Agenda 2030 recommends a “people-centred” approach:

    • ensuring all healthcare workers are skilled at administering inoculations, and not missing opportunities to vaccinate a child whenever they visit a health service

    • avoiding vaccine shortages by electronically linking central pharmacies to facilities

    • listening to communities to understand their attitudes towards vaccines and their experiences with health workers at clinics, both good and bad.

    In South Africa districts with low coverage warrant special attention, such as increasing access to immunisation services. This could mean opening clinics on weekends or evenings so that working parents could bring their children to be vaccinated.

    Vaccinations are the safest method to protect children from life-threatening diseases. We need to ensure that every child gets them.

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

    – ref. South Africa has a good childhood vaccination system – what’s stopping it from being great – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-a-good-childhood-vaccination-system-whats-stopping-it-from-being-great-237336

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa has a good childhood vaccination system – what’s stopping it from being great

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Susan Goldstein, Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand

    The two public health interventions that have had the greatest impact on the world’s health are clean water and vaccines. Professors Susan Goldstein and Haroon Saloojee assess South Africa’s child vaccination programme.

    Why are childhood vaccinations so important? What are some essential ones?

    A recent study published in The Lancet estimated that since 1974, 154 million lives have been saved by immunisation, most of them children.

    A 2016 study of low- and middle-income countries found that for every dollar invested in vaccines, the return on investment was estimated to be US$44, considering broader social and economic benefits.

    Childhood vaccines are most effective when they are administered to children at the right age, and with the recommended dosage, as children are susceptible to certain diseases at certain ages.

    As an example, polio occurs most frequently in children below the age of five. Five doses of polio vaccinations are recommended, starting at birth.

    As the most contagious and fast-moving of the vaccine-preventable diseases, measles is often described as the “canary in the coalmine”: a warning of other disease outbreaks that might spring up where there are gaps in vaccination coverage.

    How does South Africa fare?

    A case study done in 2011/2012 found South Africa spent US$131 million on basic child vaccine procurement, less than 1%-1.5% of public health expenditure and comparable to Latin American countries known for early vaccine adoption. In 2023 new vaccines were included in the routine Expanded Programme on Immunisation to the value of US$194 million.

    We do spend appropriately on vaccines.

    South Africa has an excellent immunisation schedule with protection offered against 11 diseases.

    According to the District Health Barometer, national coverage for children under one year was 82.2% in 2022/3.

    National immunisation coverage for children under 1 year. District Health Barometer.

    In 2019, a national household immunisation survey, the first such survey done in two decades, provided the most detailed picture of South Africa’s vaccination programme that we have. The survey screened almost 2 million households and found 84% of babies had received all their shots by the time they turned one.

    Although these rates may seem good, they fall short of the 90% target set by the United Nations. They are also lower than in several other sub-Saharan countries, as this graph shows.

    South African vaccine coverage of one-year-olds compared to other sub-Saharan countries. Unicef 2023

    A greater concern, however, is the disparity at the district level. For instance, Sekhukhune in Limpopo province had a coverage rate of just 53%, meaning almost one in two children were not fully immunised. Ten other districts had coverage rates below 75%, meaning that at least a quarter of the children were not fully protected.

    What is preventing the country from achieving the 90% target?

    In the national survey the main reasons for children not being fully immunised were related to the health service:

    • the vaccine was out of stock (29%)

    • the child was ill and not offered a vaccine (12%)

    • caregivers did not know that the child was due for immunisation (19%)

    • the caregiver forgot that the child had a scheduled immunisation visit (6%)

    • there was no-one to take the child to the clinic (9%).

    Other factors include:

    • negative interactions with healthcare workers – these can deter caregivers from taking children for their vaccines

    • waiting times

    • the dynamics within families – for example, adolescent mothers and elderly caregivers might have difficulty getting children to clinics.

    Vaccine refusal by parents for religious or other reasons existed, but this was infrequent (3%).

    What needs to be done?

    To protect children better, Unicef’s Immunization Agenda 2030 recommends a “people-centred” approach:

    • ensuring all healthcare workers are skilled at administering inoculations, and not missing opportunities to vaccinate a child whenever they visit a health service

    • avoiding vaccine shortages by electronically linking central pharmacies to facilities

    • listening to communities to understand their attitudes towards vaccines and their experiences with health workers at clinics, both good and bad.

    In South Africa districts with low coverage warrant special attention, such as increasing access to immunisation services. This could mean opening clinics on weekends or evenings so that working parents could bring their children to be vaccinated.

    Vaccinations are the safest method to protect children from life-threatening diseases. We need to ensure that every child gets them.

    – South Africa has a good childhood vaccination system – what’s stopping it from being great
    – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-a-good-childhood-vaccination-system-whats-stopping-it-from-being-great-237336

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canada-France Declaration on a Strengthened Partnership in Defence and Security

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Meeting in Ottawa on September 26, 2024, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, call for working together to foster the development of a strengthened partnership in defence and security.

    September 26, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Meeting in Ottawa on September 26, 2024, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, call for working together to foster the development of a strengthened partnership in defence and security.

    Canada and France have a strong defence relationship, based on shared history and interests, a common language and universal values.

    During the 20th century, Canada and France have forged a close defence relationship. During both world wars, Canadian and French soldiers fought side by side. This year, our two countries celebrated the eightieth anniversary of the Normandy landings. This defence relationship was solidified in 1949 with the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), of which our two countries are founding members, and with our joint participation in several peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations, in operations under NATO command, and as part of the international coalition against Daesh.

    We share common security interests in a context of serious international tensions and, more broadly, the assertion of power logics and fait accompli. The year 2024 is thus characterized by an increase in meetings between our respective authorities, both at the political and military levels, with a shared desire to boost our exchanges in the field of defense and security, in order to establish a more ambitious strategic partnership. We are convinced that strengthened cooperation between our two countries will make it possible to better contribute to defending the international order based on the rules of respect for the sovereignty of States and our democratic principles. Together, we are determined to do our part to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter, to contribute to the management of international crises and conflicts, including in the cyber domain, and to ensure the security and collective defense of NATO members.

    We will therefore deepen our defence and security cooperation with a view to supporting Ukraine, contributing to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening our collaboration in crisis management and in the modernisation of our armed forces and combating foreign interference and the manipulation of information.

    Support Ukraine

    Canada and France will support Ukraine for as long as it takes to defeat Russia’s war of aggression in flagrant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter. Our support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders is unwavering. In line with the G7 Joint Statement of Support for Ukraine of July 2023, Canada and France have respectively signed bilateral agreements with Ukraine committing them, over the long term, to strengthening Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself, developing the country’s resilience and deterring Russia from any further aggression.

    We will strengthen our cooperation in the field of military material support to Ukraine and in the field of training, within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG – also called the “Ramstein format”).

    Canada and France have already trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers through Operation UNIFIER for Canada and the EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) for France. Our armed forces have continued cooperation on the training of Ukrainian fighter pilots. Our armed forces will continue to deepen their strategic cooperation in the field of cyber defence in support of Ukraine. We are determined to work with Ukraine and our partners to enable Ukraine to defend its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression, both in traditional domains and in cyberspace, including by supporting the strengthening of Ukraine’s civilian cybersecurity capacities through the Tallinn Mechanism. More broadly, we will continue our discussions on the topics of common interest discussed at the Paris conference on February 26, 2024.

    Canada and France recognize that the deportation of Ukrainian children is a major issue and will continue their efforts, within the framework of the international coalition, for the return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia.

    Contributing to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific

    Canada and France are two Pacific countries that wish to actively contribute to regional stability and security. We aim to maintain an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, free from excessive dependencies and any form of coercion, and based on respect for international law, sovereignty and multilateralism.

    We reaffirm our shared commitment to support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through the implementation of United Nations resolutions and the enforcement of sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council. We remain fully mobilized with our partners to deter any attempt to circumvent these sanctions through maritime and air-sea surveillance.

    We deplore the escalating tensions in the South China Sea. We firmly oppose coercive or destabilizing activities, which lead to increasingly violent and recurring incidents, and call for enhanced dialogue between the different parties. We also emphasize the importance of the ability of all States to exercise their rights and freedoms, including freedom of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

    Our two countries will strengthen their cooperation in strategic and military analysis in the area, study the deployment of future joint patrol missions and increase their participation in multilateral exercises. This cooperation will improve interoperability between the armed forces of our two countries. With this in mind, we will work on the possibility of integrating Canadian support for the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

    Canada and France will deepen cooperation to combat illegal fishing and conduct maritime surveillance with Pacific Island countries to strengthen their sovereignty. We will work toward joint deployments in the area. We will also strengthen regional security by participating in training for Pacific Island partner countries.

    Strengthening our collaboration in international crisis management and engaging together

    Canada and France recognize that climate change is not only an environmental threat, but also one of the greatest security challenges of our time. We strongly support NATO’s Action Plan on Climate Change and Security, including as co-sponsors, with 10 other Allies, of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Climate Change and Security in Montreal.

    We will share our crisis management situation assessments, as we did recently during the crisis in Haiti and in anticipation during targeted situation assessment exchanges in areas of common interest, such as the Middle East. We will identify new opportunities to deploy together. We will strengthen the NATO partnership by sharing experience between framework nations for the Canadian deployments in Latvia and the French deployments in Romania. France is ready to cooperate with Canada to facilitate logistical support to Canadian forces positioned in Latvia.

    In the Canadian Arctic, Canada and France are collaborating on Operation NANOOK, the Canadian Armed Forces’ flagship operation in this region. Our two countries aim to increase joint navigation exercises, experience sharing, interoperability and crew training in polar environments, particularly by leveraging the expertise and support of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Canadian Arctic.

    In the Sahel and more recently in the Gulf of Guinea, Canada provides unwavering support to the French armed forces through its operation FREQUENCE. We intend to renew this important and effective cooperation in 2025.

    Strengthening our collaboration in the modernization of the armed forces

    To better respond to crises, Canada and France will deepen their partnership to modernize their armed forces and improve their ability to engage together.

    We will continue to share expertise in human resources, which form the heart of our armed forces, in order to improve recruitment or for training in specific skills, by drawing on the capabilities that each has, particularly in terms of transport and strategic supply or submarine forces.

    Canada and France are committed to increasing their defence resources and strengthening their capabilities in order to ensure their sovereignty and support their partners. In this context, we will develop the sharing of our respective technological know-how, and work on new concrete cooperation in the land, maritime, air and cyber domains. We will continue our discussions on the organization and improvement of our industrial and acquisition processes.

    Combating foreign interference and manipulation of information

    Canada and France are facing foreign interference operations and the manipulation of information. Canada and France will strengthen their exchanges in order to respond effectively to these threats.

    Through our commitment to the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (G7 RRM), our two countries are developing a collective response framework to counter foreign information manipulation operations, as announced at the G7 Summit in Puglia. These efforts must be accompanied by support for honest and quality information, for example through the Partnership for Information and Democracy and its Forum on Information and Democracy. We welcome initiatives such as the Journalism Trust Initiative, in which several of our Canadian and French media participate, to promote quality information.

    Through the G7 MRR, we are also developing collective approaches to counter other threats to democracy and will continue to advance these goals under our successive G7 presidencies in 2025 and 2026.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada–France Declaration on a Stronger Defence and Security Partnership

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On September 26, 2024, in Ottawa, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, called on our countries to work together towards a stronger defence and security partnership.

    September 26, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    On September 26, 2024, in Ottawa, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, called on our countries to work together towards a stronger defence and security partnership.

    Canada and France have cultivated a strong defence relationship, founded upon shared history, interests, a common language and universal values.

    During the 20th century, Canada and France developed a close defence relationship. During both World Wars, Canadian soldiers and French soldiers fought side by side and this year, our countries celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. Our defence relationship was solidified in 1949 with the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), of which our two countries are founding members, as well as through our joint participation in various United Nations peacekeeping operations, NATO-led operations, and the Global Coalition Against Daesh.

    We share common security interests in a world facing serious international tensions and, more broadly, one marked by unilateral assertions of power. Given this, our respective officials, both political and military, have met with one another more regularly in 2024, to enhance our conversations on defence and security, and ultimately build a more ambitious strategic partnership. We are convinced that stronger cooperation between our two countries will facilitate better defence of the rules-based international order founded on respect for state sovereignty, and our democratic principles. Together, we are committed to doing our part to uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations; to help manage international crises and conflicts, including in the cyber domain; and to ensure the collective security and defence of NATO members.

    We will therefore expand our defence and security cooperation to support Ukraine, contribute to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, reinforce our collaboration on crisis management and modernization of our armed forces, and fight against foreign interference and information manipulation.

    Support Ukraine

    Canada and France will support Ukraine for as long as it takes to thwart Russia’s war of aggression, which is a flagrant violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. Our support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders is unwavering. In line with the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine of July 2023, Canada and France respectively signed bilateral agreements with Ukraine to confirm our commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, foster resilience in the country, and deter future aggression from Russia in the long-term.

    As part of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), also known as the Ramstein group, we will strengthen our cooperation in the area of military equipment support to Ukraine and training.

    Canada and France have trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers through Operation UNIFIER (Canada) and the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (France). Our armed forces have cooperated on training Ukrainian fighter pilots. Our armed forces will continue to deepen their strategic cooperation in the field of cyber defence in support of Ukraine. We are determined to work with Ukraine and our partners to support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty, independence and its territorial integrity against Russian aggression, both in the traditional domains and in cyberspace, including by helping strengthen Ukraine’s civilian cyber capacity through the Tallinn Mechanism. More broadly, we will continue our conversations on the topics of shared interest broached at the conference in Paris on February 26, 2024.

    Canada and France recognize that the deportation of Ukrainian children is a major concern and, as part of the international coalition, we will continue our efforts to ensure the return of the Ukrainian children deported to Russia.

    Contribute to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific

    Canada and France are two Pacific nations that wish to actively contribute to regional stability and security. We aim to maintain an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, free of excessive dependencies and any form of coercion, and founded on respect for international law, sovereignty and multilateralism.

    We reaffirm our shared commitment to support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, through implementing United Nations resolutions and implementing sanctions decided upon by the United Nations Security Council. We remain fully engaged with our partners to dissuade any attempt to circumvent those sanctions by means of maritime surveillance and maritime air surveillance.

    We deplore the rising tensions in the South China Sea. We strongly oppose coercive and destabilizing activities, which are leading to increasingly violent and recurrent incidents, and call for the various parties to engage in dialogue. We also highlight the importance for all states to be able to exercise their rights and freedoms, including freedom of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

    Our two countries will strengthen our cooperation in terms of strategic and military analysis in the region, study opportunities for deploying future joint patrol missions, and increase our participation in multilateral exercises. This cooperation will improve interoperability between the armed forces of our two countries. In the same vein, we will consider integrating Canadian support to the deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

    Canada and France will cooperate more closely to fight against illegal fishing and ensure maritime surveillance with Pacific Island countries in order to strengthen their sovereignty. We will work on joint deployments in the area. We will also strengthen regional security by participating in the training of Pacific Island partner countries.

    Collaborate more closely on international crisis management and conduct joint operations

    Canada and France recognize that climate change is not only an environmental threat, but is also one of the greatest security challenges of our time. We wholeheartedly support NATO’s Climate Change and Security Action Plan, and we are two of the 12 sponsoring Allied nations of the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence in Montreal.

    We will share our crisis management situation assessments, as we did recently during the crisis in Haiti, and in anticipation of situations in areas of mutual interest, like the Middle East. We will identify new opportunities to deploy together. We will strengthen the partnership within NATO by sharing experience among framework nations for Canada’s deployment in Latvia and France’s deployment in Romania. France stands ready to cooperate with Canada to facilitate logistical support to Canadian forces prepositioned in Latvia.

    In the Canadian Arctic, Canada and France collaborate on Operation NANOOK, the Canadian Armed Forces’ signature operation in that region. Our two countries wish to increase joint navigation exercises, knowledge sharing, interoperability and training of crews in polar environments, drawing on the expertise and support of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Canadian Arctic.

    In the Sahel and more recently in the Gulf of Guinea, Canada has provided the French Armed Forces with unfailing support under Operation FREQUENCE. We intend to renew this important, effective collaboration in 2025.

    Collaborate more closely on the modernization of armed forces

    To better respond to crises, Canada and France will deepen our partnership to modernize our armed forces and improve our ability to conduct joint operations.

    We will continue sharing expertise on human resources, the heart of our armies, to improve recruitment and training on specific skills, while leveraging each other’s capabilities in areas such as transport, strategic resupply, and submarine forces.

    Canada and France are committed to increasing our defence capacity and strengthening our capabilities to ensure our sovereignty and support our partners. To that end, we will share our respective technical know-how, and will find tangible new ways to work together on land, sea, air and cyberspace. We will continue discussing how to organize and improve our industrial and procurement processes.

    Fight against foreign interference and information manipulation

    Canada and France are confronted with foreign interference operations and information manipulation. Canada and France will increase communication with each other to effectively respond to those threats.

    Through our commitment to the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (G7 RRM), our two countries are developing a collective response framework to counter foreign operations of information manipulation, as announced at the G7 Summit in Apulia. These efforts must be accompanied by support for factual and high-quality information, such as through the International Partnership on Information and Democracy and the Forum on Information and Democracy. We welcome initiatives such as the Journalism Trust Initiative, in which Canadian and French media are participating, to foster high-quality information.

    Thanks to the G7 RRM, we are also developing collective approaches to counter other threats to democracy and will continue to advance these objectives during our successive G7 presidencies in 2025 and 2026.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ahtahkakoop — UPDATE* Ahtahkakoop RCMP: Report of firearm discharged at motorist

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    September 25, 2024
    Ahtahkakoop, Saskatchewan

    News release

    Ahtahkakoop RCMP have arrested one adult male in relation to this incident.

    The investigation remains ongoing.

    Further updates and information will be provided when available.

    –30–

    Backgrounder

    Ahtahkakoop RCMP: Report of firearm discharged at motorist

    2024-09-25

    On Wednesday, September 25 at 6:28 p.m., Ahtahkakoop RCMP received a report of a firearm being discharged at a motorist. The incident occurred approximately 5-10 minutes before that just outside of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

    It was reported that a driver was travelling on a grid road on the north boundary of Ahtahkakoop when they came across a black Chevrolet Equinox parked on the side of the road, looking in need of assistance. The individual pulled over and approached the Equinox. The driver of the Equinox pointed a firearm at the individual and reportedly discharged it in their direction multiple times. No injuries have been reported to police.

    It is believed there were three individuals inside the Chevrolet Equinox at the time of the incident: an adult male (the driver) and two adult females. The male driver may have had a tattoo above his right eye. At this time, we don’t have fulsome descriptions of these individuals. The license plate of the Equinox may be: 642 HPR. If we have more information as the investigation unfolds, an update will be provided.

    Police are asking anyone who sees the suspect vehicle to report it immediately by calling 310-RCMP. In an emergency, call 911. The vehicle should not be approached. The occupants are considered armed and dangerous. The public is asked to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.

    Should an imminent risk to public safety be identified, the Saskatchewan RCMP will notify the public.

    MIL Security OSI –