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☆ WNBA officially expanding to Toronto, first franchise to exist outside U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Lukas Weese | Eric Koreen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Toronto, the most populous city in Canada, will be home to the league’s 14th franchise, the WNBA announced Thursday at a news conference. AdvertisementLed by Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Venture, the unnamed franchise will use the 8,000-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum as its home arena. Tips off in 2026. pic.twitter.com/NjwjmetAiY — WNBA (@WNBA) May 23, 2024Teresa Resch, a former Raptors executive and the executive vice president for Kilmer Sports Venture, will serve as team president. Engelbert called it a “seminal moment” for Toronto in its feasibility to receive a WNBA expansion team. The WNBA team will add to the list of Toronto’s professional women’s sports franchises.

Persons: Larry Tanenbaum’s, Tanenbaum, ” Tanenbaum, “, Justin Trudeau, Doug Ford, Olivia Chow, Masai Ujiri, Scottie Barnes, Kyle Lowry —, ” Trudeau Organizations: WNBA, Area, Toronto, Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Venture, Cola, Associated Press, University of Toronto’s, ”, Toronto Raptors, Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers Locations: United States, Toronto, Canada, Vancouver, Montreal, Ontario

☆ A college is removing its vending machines after a student discovered they were using facial recognition technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A university in Canada is expected to remove a series of vending machines from campus after a student discovered a sign they used facial recognition technology. The smart vending machines at the University of Waterloo first gained attention this month when Reddit user SquidKid47 shared a photo. Stanley investigated the smart vending machines, discovering that they're provided by Adaria Vending Services and manufactured by Invenda Group. Canadian publication CTV News reported that Mars, owner of M&M's, owns the vending machines. AdvertisementIn response to the student publication's report, the director of technology services for Adaria Vending Services told MathNEWS that "an individual person cannot be identified using the technology in the machines."

Persons: SquidKid47, Stanley, MathNEWS, Adaria, MathNews, we've, Rebecca Elming, TikTok Organizations: University of Waterloo, Business, University, Waterloo, Ars Technica, Adaria Vending Services, Invenda Group, CTV News, Data, Invenda, Guardian, DePaul University Locations: Canada, China

☆ Premarket stocks: Wall Street is worried about another regional banking crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But while the last crisis was all about interest rate risk, this one revolves around the $20 trillion commercial real estate market. What’s happening: After decades of growth bolstered by low interest rates and easy credit, commercial real estate has hit a wall. The increase was driven partly by expected losses on commercial real estate loans, it said. “As losses from a [commercial real estate] loan portfolio accumulate, they can spill over into the broader financial system,” they wrote. “There’s some smaller and regional banks that have concentrated exposures in these areas that are challenged and we’re working with them,” he said.

Persons: It’s, Goldman Sachs, Anna Cooban, Janet Yellen, Jerome Powell, Gary Gensler, ”, Chip Somodevilla, She’s, Powell, “, ” McDonald’s, McDonald’s, Jordan Valinsky, Samantha Murphy Kelly, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, New York Community Bancorp, US Regional Bank, Japan’s Aozora Bank, Deutsche Bank, Canadian Public Pension Investment Board, Boston Properties, US Securities and Exchange, Financial, Biden, Senate, CBS, Verizon, Old Telephone Service, landlines, UK, Consumers, CNN, California Public Utilities Commission Locations: New York, Manhattan, Boston, Washington ,, East, United States, California, France, California ”

A cascade of developments followed, including parliamentary hearings in June 2022 over Hockey Canada’s handling of the case and announcements in July 2022 that London police and Hockey Canada would reopen their investigations. CNN also has sought comment from the woman’s lawyer and Hockey Canada. Hockey Canada apologized for its handing of the caseA month after the TSN report, the Canadian government announced in June 2022 that it was freezing federal, public funding for Hockey Canada until the organization had submitted the complete results of its original, two-year investigation and plans for implementing change within Hockey Canada. Renney confirmed during the hearings that Hockey Canada had settled a civil lawsuit that the woman filed in April 2022, but he did not reveal the settlement amount. In July 2022, Hockey Canada published a letter apologizing for it said was inadequate action regarding the assault allegations, and said it was reopening an internal investigation.

Persons: Mike McLeod, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, McLeod, Katherine Dann, Dann, Thai Truong, “, ”, she’d, Daniel Brown, Lindsay, Formenton, McLeod “, David Humphrey, Seth Weinstein, ” Foote “, ” Hart “, Riaz Sayani, Megan Savard, Dube “, Louis P, Kaleigh Davidson, Dube, Foote, Tom Renney, Renney, CNN’s David Close Organizations: CNN, NHL, Canadian, Canada, New, New Jersey Devils, Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Ottawa, Hockey Canada, London Police, London Police Service, CTV News, CTV, TSN, Hockey, London, Senators, Flames, ” Locations: London , Ontario, New Jersey, London, Switzerland, Swiss, Canada, Hockey Canada

Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on September 7. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press/AP/FILECanadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said his government is taking the vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing “extremely seriously,” and is receiving regular updates from US authorities, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and border service agencies. “This is obviously a very serious situation,” the minister said, but would not speculate on the “origin” of the incident or fatalities due to its "evolving" nature. He and the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will receive further updates in the “coming moments," he said. Trudeau echoed the minister's sentiments and said the explosion at is “obviously a very serious situation” and additional measures are being "contemplated and activated."

Persons: Dominic LeBlanc, Justin Tang, Leblanc, Justin Trudeau, Trudeau Organizations: Canadian Public, Canadian Press, Public, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Locations: Ottawa

CNN —The two occupants of a car that exploded Wednesday at the US-Canada Rainbow Bridge border crossing are dead, a law enforcement source told CNN. The FBI, New York State Police and US Customs and Border Protection are on the scene investigating. A vehicle was trying to enter the US side of the border, according to a spokesperson for the Niagara Falls mayor’s office. Debris is scattered about inside the customs plaza at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, in Niagara Falls, New York. There are four ports of entry between Canada and the US near Niagara Falls, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

Persons: Dominic LeBlanc, “, Derek Gee, ” Aaron Ferguson, CNN’s Laura Dolan Organizations: CNN, New York State, Public, FBI, New York State Police, US Customs, Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition, The Buffalo News Locations: Canada, New York, Buffalo , New York, Niagara Falls , New York, Niagara Falls

☆ Celine Dion’s sister calls her a ‘strong woman’ amid the singer’s struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Celine Dion’s sister has shared an update while the “Heart Will Go On” singer deals with a rare health issue. “She’s doing everything to recover,” Dion’s older sister Claudette told Hello! “She’s a strong woman.”The Grammy-winner’s family is rallying around her as she battles Stiff Person’s Syndrome, a rare disorder that causes involuntary muscle spasms. “It’s an illness we know so little about,” Claudette said. “There are spasms – they’re impossible to control.

Persons: Celine Dion’s, “, Claudette, ”, ” Claudette, ” Dion, Priyanka Chopra, Dion Organizations: CNN Locations: Canada, Las Vegas

CNN —Canada’s former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole has accused China of targeting him with misinformation and voter suppression campaigns during the 2021 election, citing intelligence from Canada’s spy agency. Canadian Security Intelligence Service last week identified multiple threats against him, O’Toole told Parliament on Tuesday. O’Toole emphasized that alleged misinformation occurred in the run-up to the 2021 general election, which saw the reelection of a Liberal Party government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Earlier this month, Canada expelled an accredited Chinese diplomat accused of involvement in a harassment campaign against Canadian opposition lawmaker Michael Chong and his relatives. China has repeatedly dismissed previous claims of political interference in Canada’s political system.

Persons: CNN —, Erin O’Toole, O’Toole, ”, Justin Trudeau, Michael Chong, Chong, Marco Mendicino, Mendicino, Meng Wanzhou, Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor, Meng Organizations: CNN, Conservative Party, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Liberal Party, Huawei, Canadian Public Safety, CSIS, ” Locations: China, Canada, Canadian, Beijing

☆ Canada calls public worker strike demands 'unaffordable'; union urges Trudeau intervention
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Picketers march on Parliament Hill as approximately 155,000 public sector union workers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) continue to strike, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Blair GableOTTAWA, April 26 (Reuters) - The union representing some 155,000 striking Canadian public workers is making "unaffordable" demands, the Treasury Board of Canada said on Wednesday, while the union head accused the government of stalling. The strike by federal government workers, represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, entered its eighth day on Wednesday, affecting services ranging from tax returns to passport renewals. Union President Chris Aylward called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get involved in negotiations and give the Treasury Board a new mandate. Earlier Wednesday the union said it was escalating strike action, blocking ports in Vancouver, Montreal and Saint John’s.

OTTAWA, April 22 (Reuters) - A union representing some 155,000 striking Canadian public workers called on Saturday for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speed up negotiations over a deal for higher wages and work-from-home guarantees. "I need to see the prime minister getting involved in these negotiations and helping and assisting to move these negotiations along," Aylward said. "There is no time, nor tolerance for stalling and misinformation," the office of Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said in a statement. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years. Apart from wages, PSAC also wants the new agreement to recognize the right to work remotely.

☆ Factbox: Canadian public servants' strike: demands and impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] PSAC National President Chris Aylward speaks to media after more than 155,000 public sector union workers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) began a strike, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 19, 2023. The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees: 120,000 workers under the Treasury Board and more than 35,000 revenue agency workers. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years. * New language in the agreement with the revenue agency to protect union members' work from being contracted out to private firms. About 48,000 union workers have been deemed essential and will continue to report to work during the labor disruption.

[1/5] A sign is pictured in front of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) national headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 13, 2017. REUTERS/Chris WattieOTTAWA, April 19 (Reuters) - About 155,000 federal workers in Canada walked off the job on Wednesday after failing to reach a deal for higher wages and work-from-home guarantees, a strike that affects a range of public services from tax returns to passport renewals. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union said contract negotiations would continue, and Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed the urgency of resolving the dispute. The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees: 120,000 workers under the Treasury Board and more than 35,000 revenue agency workers. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years.

☆ After immigrant deaths at border, calls to end U.S-Canada asylum pact grow louder
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Molly Cone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The deaths come less than two weeks after the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) pact was amended, allowing refugee claimants to seek asylum in the first safe country they arrive in. Protesters presented a petition to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, whose ministry is responsible for border patrol and policing in Canada. Critics say this policy separates families and pushes immigrants to try to cross the border via deadly informal routes. Total of eight people from two families died last week trying to enter the United States from Canada by boat across the St. Lawrence River near Akwesasne, Quebec. Canada and United States have maintained that STCA has is the best way to manage the world's longest land border.

☆ This startup has developed an operating system for GPs that cuts down on admin. Check out the 13-slide pitch deck Doctorly used to raise $10 million.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

German health tech startup Doctorly has raised $10 million in Series A funding. The startup, founded in 2018, offers practice management software for healthcare providers. A German health tech startup that has developed an operating system for medical practices has raised $10 million in fresh funds. The startup wants to "re-digitize" practices and make it easier for them to adapt to external innovations in health tech. Doctorly is one of the very few regulated health tech startups in Germany and it believes its technology can help cut the time spent by practitioners on administration in half.

☆ Canada police suspends contract with China-linked company
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Radio-Canada reported on Wednesday that Ottawa had awarded a contract worth about C$550,000 ($404,950) for a radio frequency filtering system to Ontario-based Sinclair Technologies in 2021. The equipment's uses include protecting the RCMP's land-based radio communications from eavesdropping, according to the report. Sinclair Technologies is a unit of British Columbia-based Norsat International, which was bought by Hytera Communications (002583.SZ) in 2017. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has Hytera on its list of foreign communications equipment and service providers deemed threats to U.S. national security. Mendicino's spokesperson said the contract had been suspended, but declined to provide details.

☆ Police in Canada say remains of 2 slain Indigenous women are likely in landfill — but they won't search site
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Police in Canada are facing scrutiny after saying they believe they know where the bodies of two Indigenous women allegedly slain by a suspected serial killer are buried — but that they won't be searching the area due to difficult conditions. In May, the Winnipeg Police Department announced that partial remains of one of the victims, Rebecca Contois, 24, had been found in a landfill. In a tweet Tuesday, Niki Ashton, a Member of Parliament with Canada's New Democratic Party, said: "We remember the Indigenous women who have been targeted and killed because they are Indigenous women. "These deaths must not be ignored, nor the reality that they represent the ongoing generational harms and trauma that are rooted in violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit people," the statement said. Federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday that he believed all levels of government have failed Indigenous women, girls and Two Spirit people for centuries, CBC News reported.

☆ Canada bans new handgun sales in latest gun control action
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The handgun freeze was announced in May alongside proposed legislation that would implement the nation's strongest gun control measures in 40 years as part of Trudeau's plan to tackle gun violence, his office said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"As we see gun violence continue to rise... we have an obligation to take action," Trudeau added. Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino called it the most significant action on gun violence in Canada in a generation. Trudeau's ruling Liberal government introduced bill C-21 to fight gun violence, and his office said Friday's action will help "keep Canadians safe" while the legislation is debated. Under the executive action, any handgun applications submitted before Friday will still be processed, Trudeau's office said.

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