Alberta government rejects amendments to Canada Pension Plan exit legislation
Premier Danielle Smith’s government has rejected a proposal that would have compelled it to respect the results of a referendum on whether Alberta should quit the Canada Pension Plan.
The United Conservative government used its majority in the house Wednesday to vote down an Opposition NDP amendment to Bill 2 — the Alberta Pension Protection Act — that would have forced the government to abide by the results of such a plebiscite.
#Alberta
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Premier Danielle Smith’s government has rejected a proposal that would have compelled it to respect the results of a referendum on whether Alberta should quit the Canada Pension Plan.
The United Conservative government used its majority in the house Wednesday to vote down an Opposition NDP amendment to Bill 2 — the Alberta Pension Protection Act — that would have forced the government to abide by the results of such a plebiscite.
#Alberta
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⚛️ Canada vows to triple nuclear power production by 2050
Canada joins an international movement to dramatically increase the amount of nuclear energy produced across the country.
said Chris Keefer, co-founder of Canadians for Nuclear Energy.
The announcement was made at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates
#energy
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Canada joins an international movement to dramatically increase the amount of nuclear energy produced across the country.
This is very significant. Canada is joining 22 countries in signing a pledge to triple its nuclear capacity by 2050
said Chris Keefer, co-founder of Canadians for Nuclear Energy.
The announcement was made at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates
#energy
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🎓Federal government hikes income requirement for foreign students, targets 'puppy mill' schools
Ottawa will require foreigners applying to study in Canada to have double the amount of funds currently required, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Thursday.
He also threatened to cap visas in provinces that don't help house students or who won't shut down educational institutions that he argues shouldn't be operating.
Starting next year, prospective students will need to show they have access to $20,635 instead of the $10,000 requirement that has been in place for two decades, in addition to paying travel and tuition. The amount will be adjusted yearly based on a Statistics Canada benchmark for living costs.
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Ottawa will require foreigners applying to study in Canada to have double the amount of funds currently required, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Thursday.
He also threatened to cap visas in provinces that don't help house students or who won't shut down educational institutions that he argues shouldn't be operating.
Starting next year, prospective students will need to show they have access to $20,635 instead of the $10,000 requirement that has been in place for two decades, in addition to paying travel and tuition. The amount will be adjusted yearly based on a Statistics Canada benchmark for living costs.
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CIBC fined $1.3M for failing to comply with money laundering and terrorist financing rules
Canada's financial intelligence agency says it has levied a $1.3-million penalty against CIBC for non-compliance with money laundering and terrorist financing measures.
The penalty is the second the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada has announced this week after RBC's $7.4-million fine was publicized on Tuesday.
The agency, known as Fintrac, says it imposed the penalty over CIBC's failure to submit a suspicious transaction report when there were grounds to suspect it was related to money laundering or terrorist activity, and failures to report information related to large money transfers from outside Canada.
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Canada's financial intelligence agency says it has levied a $1.3-million penalty against CIBC for non-compliance with money laundering and terrorist financing measures.
The penalty is the second the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada has announced this week after RBC's $7.4-million fine was publicized on Tuesday.
The agency, known as Fintrac, says it imposed the penalty over CIBC's failure to submit a suspicious transaction report when there were grounds to suspect it was related to money laundering or terrorist activity, and failures to report information related to large money transfers from outside Canada.
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🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇳U.S. urges Canada to co-operate on blocking Chinese imports made with forced labour
U.S. officials are urging Canada to co-operate with Washington in blocking imports from China made with forced labour.
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley told a conference in Ottawa on Thursday that Washington has stopped more than 2,600 shipments worth a total of US$500-million since June, 2022, when an American law aimed at banning goods made with forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region went into effect.
Merkley said Chinese companies have responded to the U.S. ban by sending goods made in Xinjiang to Canada and Europe instead.
Merkley said.
Canada committed to barring imports manufactured with forced labour as part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the free trade deal that replaced NAFTA. But Ottawa has not stopped a single shipment of these goods from coming into Canada since the agreement went into effect in July, 2020.
#US #China
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U.S. officials are urging Canada to co-operate with Washington in blocking imports from China made with forced labour.
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley told a conference in Ottawa on Thursday that Washington has stopped more than 2,600 shipments worth a total of US$500-million since June, 2022, when an American law aimed at banning goods made with forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region went into effect.
Merkley said Chinese companies have responded to the U.S. ban by sending goods made in Xinjiang to Canada and Europe instead.
We need to have Canada and Europe also turn them away. It needs to be a much more united undertaking to be even more effective.
Merkley said.
Canada committed to barring imports manufactured with forced labour as part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the free trade deal that replaced NAFTA. But Ottawa has not stopped a single shipment of these goods from coming into Canada since the agreement went into effect in July, 2020.
#US #China
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🪖🏳️⚧️Canadian military bases mandate menstruation kits in men’s bathrooms
In a move to align with the Liberal government’s commitment to “inclusivity,” Canadian military bases are required to provide menstrual products, including tampons and pads, in men’s washrooms by December 15.
This directive, issued by Employment and Social Development Canada, extends to all federally regulated workplaces and military installations.
Major Soomin Kim of the Department of National Defence confirmed that this decision aligns with federal government directives, emphasizing compliance with the Canada Labour Code.
According to a recent federal briefing note, the CAF is facing a recruitment crisis as it struggles to find willing Canadians to fill the military’s thinning ranks.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
In a move to align with the Liberal government’s commitment to “inclusivity,” Canadian military bases are required to provide menstrual products, including tampons and pads, in men’s washrooms by December 15.
This directive, issued by Employment and Social Development Canada, extends to all federally regulated workplaces and military installations.
Major Soomin Kim of the Department of National Defence confirmed that this decision aligns with federal government directives, emphasizing compliance with the Canada Labour Code.
According to a recent federal briefing note, the CAF is facing a recruitment crisis as it struggles to find willing Canadians to fill the military’s thinning ranks.
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🩺 Cancer treatment delayed, B.C. man opts for medically assisted death
Dan Quayle, 52, spent 10 weeks in hospital waiting to start chemotherapy for an aggressive form of cancer. In pain, Quayle couldn't wait any longer and decided to receive MAID despite assurances from doctors that chemotherapy could potentially extend his life by a year.
Now his family is speaking out about the inadequate care he received.
B.C. wait times for cancer treatement are getting worse. Just 75 per cent of cancer patients are receiving radiation therapy within the Canadian benchmark of 28 days, according to B.C. Cancer Agency data, a drop from 77 per cent in May.
That is well below the national average of 97 per cent and one of the worst rates in the country.
Part of the explanation from B.C. Cancer is that the number of patients needing treatment has gone up, with 16 per cent more patients starting treatment in the last four weeks compared to April 2023.
#BritishColumbia #healthcare
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Dan Quayle, 52, spent 10 weeks in hospital waiting to start chemotherapy for an aggressive form of cancer. In pain, Quayle couldn't wait any longer and decided to receive MAID despite assurances from doctors that chemotherapy could potentially extend his life by a year.
Now his family is speaking out about the inadequate care he received.
B.C. wait times for cancer treatement are getting worse. Just 75 per cent of cancer patients are receiving radiation therapy within the Canadian benchmark of 28 days, according to B.C. Cancer Agency data, a drop from 77 per cent in May.
That is well below the national average of 97 per cent and one of the worst rates in the country.
Part of the explanation from B.C. Cancer is that the number of patients needing treatment has gone up, with 16 per cent more patients starting treatment in the last four weeks compared to April 2023.
#BritishColumbia #healthcare
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Free hotel rooms, meals for refugee applicants reportedly cost $769M in 2023
The government rang up a $769-million bill to provide free hotel rooms and meals for refugees and illegal immigrants this year, according to the Department of Immigration.
The total amount of $769 million represents the combined cost of two funding mechanisms.
The first is the interim lodging sites, which are the hotels. The anticipated cost for this fiscal year is $557 million.
The second is the interim lodging assistance program. Different municipalities will apply for reimbursement, and the department will evaluate them and provide reimbursement of up to $212 million.
#immigration
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The government rang up a $769-million bill to provide free hotel rooms and meals for refugees and illegal immigrants this year, according to the Department of Immigration.
The total amount of $769 million represents the combined cost of two funding mechanisms.
The first is the interim lodging sites, which are the hotels. The anticipated cost for this fiscal year is $557 million.
The second is the interim lodging assistance program. Different municipalities will apply for reimbursement, and the department will evaluate them and provide reimbursement of up to $212 million.
#immigration
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🌱🛢Timing of Ottawa's oil and gas emissions cap 'unrealistically ambitious': CIBC
The timing of Ottawa’s newly spelled-out plan to cap the oil and gas sector’s direct emissions is “simply unrealistic” without slashing production, say analysts at CIBC Capital Markets.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced new details of the policy on Thursday at the ongoing UN climate summit in Dubai, known as COP 28. The framework requires Canada’s oil and gas sector to cut emissions by more than a third of 2019 levels by 2030. The plan is based on a cap-and-trade system, where companies can buy and sell a limited number of emissions permits, rewarding firms which pollute less.
Federal lawmakers previously envisioned a 42 per cent emissions cut by 2030, prompting push-back from top executives.
CIBC Capital Markets analysts said.
Ottawa says consideration will be given to how to phase in the system between 2026 and 2030. The 16-page framework aims to cut 20 megatonnes of emissions from oilsands operations specifically by 2030, with methane making up the largest slice of planned reductions (37 megatonnes).
#energy
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The timing of Ottawa’s newly spelled-out plan to cap the oil and gas sector’s direct emissions is “simply unrealistic” without slashing production, say analysts at CIBC Capital Markets.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced new details of the policy on Thursday at the ongoing UN climate summit in Dubai, known as COP 28. The framework requires Canada’s oil and gas sector to cut emissions by more than a third of 2019 levels by 2030. The plan is based on a cap-and-trade system, where companies can buy and sell a limited number of emissions permits, rewarding firms which pollute less.
Federal lawmakers previously envisioned a 42 per cent emissions cut by 2030, prompting push-back from top executives.
The timing of the cap remains unrealistically ambitious, and hence would make it onerous if implemented.
The legislation (if deemed constitutional) would likely not occur until 2025 amid an election that is increasingly likely to be a referendum on climate policies
CIBC Capital Markets analysts said.
Ottawa says consideration will be given to how to phase in the system between 2026 and 2030. The 16-page framework aims to cut 20 megatonnes of emissions from oilsands operations specifically by 2030, with methane making up the largest slice of planned reductions (37 megatonnes).
#energy
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Canada's surging cost of living fuels reverse immigration
In the first six months of 2023 some 42,000 individuals departed Canada, adding to 93,818 people who left in 2022 and 85,927 exits in 2021, official data show.
The rate of immigrants leaving Canada hit a two-decade high in 2019, according to a recent report from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. While the numbers went down during pandemic lockdowns, Statistics Canada data shows it is once again rising.
While that is a fraction of the 263,000 who came to the country over the same period, a steady rise in emigration is making some observers wary.
A rising trend of people leaving Canada undermines one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau government's signature policies, which granted permanent residency to a record 2.5 million people in just eight years.
#immigration
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In the first six months of 2023 some 42,000 individuals departed Canada, adding to 93,818 people who left in 2022 and 85,927 exits in 2021, official data show.
The rate of immigrants leaving Canada hit a two-decade high in 2019, according to a recent report from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. While the numbers went down during pandemic lockdowns, Statistics Canada data shows it is once again rising.
While that is a fraction of the 263,000 who came to the country over the same period, a steady rise in emigration is making some observers wary.
A rising trend of people leaving Canada undermines one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau government's signature policies, which granted permanent residency to a record 2.5 million people in just eight years.
#immigration
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🇨🇦🇺🇸Biden administration announces funding for Cascadia High-Speed Rail through to Vancouver
The Biden administration announced Friday it’s earmarking US$6.1 billion to help build a high-speed rail system in the U.S.
Part of the funding will be put towards building a high-speed rail line running between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland.
The administration said the investment in projects like the Cascadia High-Speed Rail initiative is expected to help make faster transportation a reality in the U.S. before the end of the decade.
Previous phases of the high-speed rail study estimated the project would facilitate between 1.7 million and 3.1 million one-way trips annually by 2040, with the Vancouver to Seattle route accounting for between 425,000 and 775,000 of those trips (about 25 per cent).
#BritishColumbia #US
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The Biden administration announced Friday it’s earmarking US$6.1 billion to help build a high-speed rail system in the U.S.
Part of the funding will be put towards building a high-speed rail line running between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland.
The administration said the investment in projects like the Cascadia High-Speed Rail initiative is expected to help make faster transportation a reality in the U.S. before the end of the decade.
Previous phases of the high-speed rail study estimated the project would facilitate between 1.7 million and 3.1 million one-way trips annually by 2040, with the Vancouver to Seattle route accounting for between 425,000 and 775,000 of those trips (about 25 per cent).
#BritishColumbia #US
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🇨🇦🇵🇭Philippines receives climate finance commitment from Canada
The Philippines and the United Nations Development Programme have a commitment from Canada on climate finance, the president's office in Manila said on Wednesday.
The collaboration and finance commitment will run until 2026 and Canada will support the Philippines in promoting biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience with consideration for gender equality, the Philippines' presidential office said.
The UNDP said the Philippines is included as part of a total international climate finance commitment by Canada of US$5.3 billion.
#Philippines
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The Philippines and the United Nations Development Programme have a commitment from Canada on climate finance, the president's office in Manila said on Wednesday.
The collaboration and finance commitment will run until 2026 and Canada will support the Philippines in promoting biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience with consideration for gender equality, the Philippines' presidential office said.
The UNDP said the Philippines is included as part of a total international climate finance commitment by Canada of US$5.3 billion.
#Philippines
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🌱Nearly half of Canadians think carbon tax is ineffective at fighting climate change
A new survey has found that Canadians are feeling slightly more confident in the carbon tax’s effectiveness at combatting climate change than they were a few months ago—but uncertainty is still high.
Nearly half of Canadians surveyed, a Nanos poll found, still believe the carbon tax is ineffective at combatting climate change, but this number has gone down since July, while the percentage of those who say it is effective has gone up in the same time period.
Around 46 per cent said the carbon tax was ineffective at combatting climate change, compared to the 53 per cent who selected that response in a July poll.
#energy
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A new survey has found that Canadians are feeling slightly more confident in the carbon tax’s effectiveness at combatting climate change than they were a few months ago—but uncertainty is still high.
Nearly half of Canadians surveyed, a Nanos poll found, still believe the carbon tax is ineffective at combatting climate change, but this number has gone down since July, while the percentage of those who say it is effective has gone up in the same time period.
Around 46 per cent said the carbon tax was ineffective at combatting climate change, compared to the 53 per cent who selected that response in a July poll.
#energy
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Commons Speaker Greg Fergus says he is prepared to quit over partisan video
Greg Fergus, who became Speaker of the House of Commons in October, says he is prepared to resign from his post if MPs decide that he should.
Mr. Fergus is under fire for participating in a congratulatory video for John Fraser, the former interim leader of the Ontario Liberals, and a long-time personal friend. In the video screened at the party meeting where Bonnie Crombie was named Ontario Liberal Leader, Mr. Fergus is wearing his Commons uniform.
MPs on the procedure and House affairs committee are looking into Mr. Fergus’s appearance in the video and whether there should be consequences for it.
The Bloc Québécois and the federal Conservatives have called for him to quit, saying his partisan conduct raises questions about his impartiality, a concern given the Speaker’s role as a kind of referee in the Commons.
Mr. Fergus said.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Greg Fergus, who became Speaker of the House of Commons in October, says he is prepared to resign from his post if MPs decide that he should.
Mr. Fergus is under fire for participating in a congratulatory video for John Fraser, the former interim leader of the Ontario Liberals, and a long-time personal friend. In the video screened at the party meeting where Bonnie Crombie was named Ontario Liberal Leader, Mr. Fergus is wearing his Commons uniform.
MPs on the procedure and House affairs committee are looking into Mr. Fergus’s appearance in the video and whether there should be consequences for it.
The Bloc Québécois and the federal Conservatives have called for him to quit, saying his partisan conduct raises questions about his impartiality, a concern given the Speaker’s role as a kind of referee in the Commons.
I truly wish to rectify the problem and regain the trust of the House of Commons, but if the House decides that this isn’t possible, that the issue can’t be remedied, then of course I will leave.
Mr. Fergus said.
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Nurses, health workers set to join other Quebec public sector workers on picket lines
A Quebec union representing 80,000 nurses and other health-care workers started a four-day walkout on Monday, joining hundreds of thousands of other public sector employees on strike to pressure the provincial government to settle their collective agreements.
The nurses union, known as the FIQ, says a deal before the end of the year is possible, adding that its leadership is ready to hold talks over the holidays if that's what it takes. But union president Julie Bouchard told a news conference there are "still many obstacles."
Aside from the FIQ, a group of four unions calling itself the "common front" and representing 420,000 public sector workers, including teachers, education support staff and lab technicians, are on strike until Dec. 14. Meanwhile, the FAE, a teachers union with about 66,000 members, has been on an unlimited general strike since Nov. 23.
Common front unions say that if a deal isn't reached soon, their next move will be to launch an unlimited strike.
#Quebec
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A Quebec union representing 80,000 nurses and other health-care workers started a four-day walkout on Monday, joining hundreds of thousands of other public sector employees on strike to pressure the provincial government to settle their collective agreements.
The nurses union, known as the FIQ, says a deal before the end of the year is possible, adding that its leadership is ready to hold talks over the holidays if that's what it takes. But union president Julie Bouchard told a news conference there are "still many obstacles."
Aside from the FIQ, a group of four unions calling itself the "common front" and representing 420,000 public sector workers, including teachers, education support staff and lab technicians, are on strike until Dec. 14. Meanwhile, the FAE, a teachers union with about 66,000 members, has been on an unlimited general strike since Nov. 23.
Common front unions say that if a deal isn't reached soon, their next move will be to launch an unlimited strike.
#Quebec
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💰Albertans are more in favour of staying in CCP, survey finds
According to a new report by Angus Reid, Albertans are more likely to believe leaving CPP will cost them money and half believe it will be worse for their retirement under an Alberta Pension Plan.
🔹Slightly less than half of Albertans (48 per cent) said they oppose the idea of forming a provincial pension plan and leaving the federal program. 36 per cent of the respondents said they support the proposal.
🔹51 per cent, believe there would be a net loss to their own retirement savings, while 31 per cent believe they would receive more under an Alberta pension plan, and 18 per cent believe there would be no change.
Any province is eligible to leave the national pension plan with three years notice and start their own. Every province but Quebec has been part of the national pension plan since pensions were mandated in 1966.
#Alberta
🍁 Maple Chronicles
According to a new report by Angus Reid, Albertans are more likely to believe leaving CPP will cost them money and half believe it will be worse for their retirement under an Alberta Pension Plan.
🔹Slightly less than half of Albertans (48 per cent) said they oppose the idea of forming a provincial pension plan and leaving the federal program. 36 per cent of the respondents said they support the proposal.
🔹51 per cent, believe there would be a net loss to their own retirement savings, while 31 per cent believe they would receive more under an Alberta pension plan, and 18 per cent believe there would be no change.
Any province is eligible to leave the national pension plan with three years notice and start their own. Every province but Quebec has been part of the national pension plan since pensions were mandated in 1966.
#Alberta
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🏠City council faces hurdles to unlock $500M in federal housing cash
Beginning at a city hall meeting Wednesday, Toronto councilllors will scrutinize a to-do list from the federal housing minister with the goal of accessing more than half a billion in funding to build new homes.
Last month, federal housing minister Sean Fraser said that if Toronto wants its $500 million share of the Housing Accelerator Fund it needs to make a slew of changes to city building policy. Civil servants are expected to present council with a report with a plan to address Fraser's concerns.
Mayor Olivia Chow said.
The mayor added work on the file was underway right up to the deadline to submit documents to council.
#housing #Ontario
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Beginning at a city hall meeting Wednesday, Toronto councilllors will scrutinize a to-do list from the federal housing minister with the goal of accessing more than half a billion in funding to build new homes.
Last month, federal housing minister Sean Fraser said that if Toronto wants its $500 million share of the Housing Accelerator Fund it needs to make a slew of changes to city building policy. Civil servants are expected to present council with a report with a plan to address Fraser's concerns.
One of the votes that I'll be whipping very hard is the Housing Accelerator Fund because we need another $500 million to build housing like this.
Mayor Olivia Chow said.
The mayor added work on the file was underway right up to the deadline to submit documents to council.
#housing #Ontario
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🇨🇦🇺🇦🪖Canadian Army needs to spend $220 million to replace gear donated to Ukraine
The Canadian Army will need to spend $220 million to replace the equipment it has donated to Ukraine, but in some cases it will take years to acquire weapons similar or the same as to what was given away.
🔹Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $2.4 billion in military assistance donations to Ukraine. While some of the equipment is being ordered directly from U.S. companies and financed by Canada, a considerable amount is coming from existing stocks of the Canadian Army.
Those include M777 howitzers, ammunition and small arms, Leopard tanks, armoured vehicles, anti-armour weapons and rocket launchers.
🔹Various options have been examined for replacing the Leopard tanks donated to Ukraine. The options examined included purchasing the most modern variant of the Leopard tank as well as supporting a new tank production line that is being pushed by Germany.
Canada is also working with the U.S. to establish a North American industrial base to ramp up production of 155mm ammunition which is used by the M777 howitzers.
#Ukraine #US
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The Canadian Army will need to spend $220 million to replace the equipment it has donated to Ukraine, but in some cases it will take years to acquire weapons similar or the same as to what was given away.
🔹Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $2.4 billion in military assistance donations to Ukraine. While some of the equipment is being ordered directly from U.S. companies and financed by Canada, a considerable amount is coming from existing stocks of the Canadian Army.
Those include M777 howitzers, ammunition and small arms, Leopard tanks, armoured vehicles, anti-armour weapons and rocket launchers.
🔹Various options have been examined for replacing the Leopard tanks donated to Ukraine. The options examined included purchasing the most modern variant of the Leopard tank as well as supporting a new tank production line that is being pushed by Germany.
Canada is also working with the U.S. to establish a North American industrial base to ramp up production of 155mm ammunition which is used by the M777 howitzers.
#Ukraine #US
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Whistle-blower alleges government coverup over report on green-tech funding agency
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne on Tuesday denied a whistle-blower’s allegation that his office softened the final report of an investigation into governance and conflict of interest breaches at Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to protect the federal agency’s senior leadership.
The investigation was triggered by a voluminous file alledging that as much as $150-million could have been granted improperly.
A former SDTC employee, who launched the initial complaints about its board and management, testified before a House of Commons industry committee Monday that the federal government knew for several months of serious financial and governance infractions, and in the end covered up the full extent of the problems.
Conservative MP Michael Barrett calls on Prime Minister Trudeau to shut down SDTC amid allegations.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne on Tuesday denied a whistle-blower’s allegation that his office softened the final report of an investigation into governance and conflict of interest breaches at Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to protect the federal agency’s senior leadership.
The investigation was triggered by a voluminous file alledging that as much as $150-million could have been granted improperly.
A former SDTC employee, who launched the initial complaints about its board and management, testified before a House of Commons industry committee Monday that the federal government knew for several months of serious financial and governance infractions, and in the end covered up the full extent of the problems.
Conservative MP Michael Barrett calls on Prime Minister Trudeau to shut down SDTC amid allegations.
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💉Government paid $323 million for vaccine factory that never produced anything
Canadian taxpayers were on the hook for $323 million that went towards a Quebec vaccine facility that was never built and never produced a single vaccine.
The startling revelation came from a House of Commons health committee meeting Monday regarding Medicago, a now defunct company in Quebec City that received $323 million in federal subsidies – double the amount initially reported.
Despite the money, its vaccine never made it to market. Medicago CEO Toshifumi Tada refrained from divulging contract details.
Medicago failed to deliver any Covid vaccines under an Advance Purchase Agreement, costing taxpayers $150 million.
The company also secured around $173 million in research subsidies through Innovation Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, but Tada was unable to provide specifics, citing confidentiality constraints.
#Quebec
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Canadian taxpayers were on the hook for $323 million that went towards a Quebec vaccine facility that was never built and never produced a single vaccine.
The startling revelation came from a House of Commons health committee meeting Monday regarding Medicago, a now defunct company in Quebec City that received $323 million in federal subsidies – double the amount initially reported.
Despite the money, its vaccine never made it to market. Medicago CEO Toshifumi Tada refrained from divulging contract details.
Medicago failed to deliver any Covid vaccines under an Advance Purchase Agreement, costing taxpayers $150 million.
The company also secured around $173 million in research subsidies through Innovation Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, but Tada was unable to provide specifics, citing confidentiality constraints.
#Quebec
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More than 68,000 guns seized in cross-border mail over four-year span
A Canada Border Services Agency Report said that just over 68,000 guns were seized by federal agents in cross-border mail between 2018 and 2022.
Ninety-six per cent of Canada Border Services Agency firearm seizures, which includes parts, magazines and ammunition, occurred in the postal mode, according to the report.
Under the Canada Post Corporation Act, only postal inspectors, not police, are permitted to intercept suspicious packages in transit.
On June 6, the Senate gave Second Reading to Bill S-256 — An Act to Amend the Canada Post Corporation Act — to allow police to intercept suspicious parcels in transit.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
A Canada Border Services Agency Report said that just over 68,000 guns were seized by federal agents in cross-border mail between 2018 and 2022.
Ninety-six per cent of Canada Border Services Agency firearm seizures, which includes parts, magazines and ammunition, occurred in the postal mode, according to the report.
Under the Canada Post Corporation Act, only postal inspectors, not police, are permitted to intercept suspicious packages in transit.
On June 6, the Senate gave Second Reading to Bill S-256 — An Act to Amend the Canada Post Corporation Act — to allow police to intercept suspicious parcels in transit.
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