September 17, 2023 | Local, Security
Canada will contribute C$33 million ($24.5 million) to a British-led partnership that is buying air defense equipment for Ukraine to help it fend off Russian missile and drone attacks, Defence Minister Bill Blair said on Sunday.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-give-c33-mln-help-buy-air-defenses-ukraine-2023-09-17/
November 5, 2023 | Local, Aerospace
A Canadian military helicopter operating in the South China Sea had a close encounter of the unfriendly kind with Chinese fighter jets, the Department of National Defence has confirmed.
September 6, 2018 | Local, Security
By Terry Pedwell A mandate letter for Canada's new corrections commissioner calls for more engagement with community groups to help prevent re-offending — something prisoner advocacy organizations say the prison system has not been very good at doing. The letter, issued to Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) commissioner Anne Kelly in mid-August but only made public Wednesday, also calls on her to reduce the use of segregation, especially for inmates suffering from mental illness. Two major lawsuits launched since 2015 have challenged how the prison system uses segregation to keep inmates in line, or to prevent them from harming themselves or others. The letter says prisons should explore new, supervised use of computers so inmates are more prepared to enter the workforce once they are released. And it calls on the commissioner to do more to address the needs of Indigenous offenders, including increasing the use of community-run healing lodges. The government said the letter marks the first time a CSC commissioner has received a public mandate. The letter to Kelly from Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says the prison system can not take a one-size-fits-all approach to incarceration. “Different groups of offenders — including black Canadians, women, young adults, LGBTQ2 people and aging offenders — have different needs and experiences, which require tailored approaches,” Goodale said in a statement to Kelly, dated Aug. 17. “In particular, more work needs to be done to address the needs of Indigenous Peoples, who are overrepresented in federal custody.” Jennifer Metcalfe, executive director of Vancouver-based Prisoners' Legal Services, applauded the mandate, but said she is frustrated the government has appealed recent court decisions denouncing the use of segregation. “If the government was really committed to making concrete changes that would have a positive impact on peoples' health and mental health, they shouldn't be fighting these issues in the courts,” she said. Her legal services clinic has filed a human rights complaint on behalf of prisoners with mental disabilities that calls for significant changes to Canada's prison system. “We would like to be at the table to help (CSC) come up with alternatives to solitary confinement that would better treat people with mental disabilities,” said Metcalfe. She said more money needs to be invested in mental health care services for offenders, rather than warehousing people where they can develop bad behaviours including self injury. Goodale said the CSC commissioner has four critical responsibilities: ensuring offenders can live law-abiding lives when they are released, providing a safe workplace for prison employees, showing victims of crime compassion and keeping them informed, and ensuring offenders are treated safely and humanely. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of Kelly as CSC commissioner in late July. The Canadian Press https://ipolitics.ca/2018/09/05/correction-services-head-marching-orders-less-segregation-more-engagement/
October 4, 2018 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, C4ISR, Security
Invites Canadian small businesses to develop innovative solutions to nine new challenges October 3, 2018 – Ottawa, Ontario Small businesses and their ability to innovate make Canada's economy run. At the same time, the federal government is Canada's largest purchaser of goods. How can the government use these purchases to help small businesses innovate and grow? The answer is Innovative Solutions Canada. Through this program, government departments are inviting small businesses to come up with a new innovative product, service or solution in answer to specific challenges they face. Winning small businesses may receive up to $150,000 to refine their research and development and, if accepted into Phase 2, receive up to $1 million to develop a working prototype. The Government will then act as a first customer, helping small businesses to commercialize their innovations, scale up their business and create good jobs. The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, today announced nine challenges on behalf of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is challenging small businesses to: 1. Improve soil sample collection to make it easier, and make testing more accurate 2. Make “smart farming” technology cheaper so that smaller farms can use it Canadian Coast Guard is challenging small businesses to: 3. Harness the movement of ships in ocean waves to reduce fuel consumption and the need for external power sources Correctional Service Canada is challenging small businesses to: 4. Find new technology to stop inmates from performing illegal activities using wireless devices 5. Monitor the life signs of inmates and identify critical conditions so that staff can respond more quickly in emergencies 6. Create an innovative and cost-effective way to stop contraband items from getting into prisons via drone or being thrown over the fence Public Services and Procurement Canada is challenging small businesses to: 7. Improve the sound quality for remote interpretation services so that service isn't interrupted because the interpreters can't hear Shared Services Canada is challenging small businesses to: 8. Deliver high-speed broadband Internet access to citizens and Government of Canada employees who work or live in remote areas of the country Transport Canada is challenging small businesses to: 9. Accelerate the adoption of low-cost yet effective technologies that improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety around commercial vehicles, preventing injuries and saving lives Innovative Solutions Canada is a key component of the government's Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year plan to make Canada a global innovation leader and prepare Canadians to succeed in tomorrow's economy. Quotes “In the Economic Strategy Tables reports, we heard it clearly from Canada's industry and innovation leaders: the Government must use its purchasing power to help small businesses innovate and be more competitive. That's exactly what we're doing through Innovative Solutions Canada. Government gets access to quality products, while businesses grow and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.” – The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and employ over 8 million hard-working Canadians. That's why our government is committed to helping small businesses start up, scale up and access new markets. Innovative Solutions Canada is a fantastic program that uses government procurement to help small and medium-sized businesses innovate and then commercialize their innovations. These are worthy new challenges, and I can't wait to see what our innovative Canadian small businesses come up with.” – The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion “Through the Innovative Solutions Canada program, we are challenging small businesses to help us provide Canadians and federal employees with access to the services they need, whether it is accurate translation of proceedings or improved efficiency of high-speed Internet access in remote locations.” – The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility and Minister responsible for Shared Services Canada Innovation is a driving force of Canada's agricultural sector. Through these challenges, small business innovators can help agriculture researchers, smaller-scale farms and processing plants access the tools and technologies they need to be environmentally sustainable and economically prosperous. We look forward to seeing their creative solutions to help drive the sector forward and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.” – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food “The Canadian Coast Guard is a leader in environmental stewardship and marine safety. By partnering with innovative small businesses to find ways to reduce fuel consumption, we are supporting our government's commitment to reduce emissions and protect our marine environment.” – The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard “Partnering with Innovative Solutions Canada is a great opportunity to share new ideas that contribute to public safety for all Canadians. I welcome innovative ideas that support Correctional Service Canada's mandate of actively encouraging and assisting federal offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens.” – The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness “I'm pleased to see this initiative being used to explore new ways to protect vulnerable road users. This program is an excellent opportunity to encourage small businesses to be new partners in road safety by advancing technologies that improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.” – The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport Quick facts Program funding will come from the 20 departments and agencies participating in Innovative Solutions Canada. Each department will set aside funding for this initiative that amounts to one percent of its 2015–16 combined procurement and internal research and development expenditures. Together, the funding from the departments and agencies represents a more than $100-million investment over the course of five years. Small businesses make up 98 percent of Canadian businesses and employ over 8 million hard-working Canadians. Innovative Solutions Canada is encouraging submissions from businesses owned and led by women, Indigenous peoples, youth and members of visible minorities by ensuring those groups are included in the program's outreach plans and activities. There are hundreds of programs and services that offer everything from funding to expert advice to help businesses innovate, create jobs and grow Canada's economy. With a simple, story-based user interface, the new Innovation Canada platform can match businesses with the most fitting programs and services in about two minutes. Associated links Innovative Solutions Canada challenges News release: Government helping small businesses innovate News release: Government helping small businesses develop sustainable solutions Contacts Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA Nilani Logeswaran Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development 343-291-2849 613-668-1794 Sandra Aubé Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion 343-998-5328 Media Relations Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 343-291-1777 ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2018/10/government-challenges-small-businesses-to-innovate.html