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TORONTO - The co-founders of two of Canada’s top artificial intelligence firms say companies in the country are buzzing with excitement around the technology but turning that enthusiasm into products and tools takes too long. Nick Frosst, co-founder of Toronto-based enterprise AI business Cohere, says the pipeline to get AI from an idea to implementation is lengthy. “A lot of the times when I start to deal with a Canadian company, they say, ‘We’ve got to get an AI strategy. We’ve got to build AI,’” Frosst said at the University of Waterloo’s Tech Horizons Executive Forum in Toronto on Tuesday. “Then, it takes a long time to get from some high-level room that says we need this thing to an actual implementation that’s sitting in production, saving their employees time or ... delighting their users.” Nicole Janssen, the co-founder of Edmonton-based AI firm AltaML, has had a similar experience. She estimates it takes 18 months for companies reaching out to her business to commit to using AI and then another 18 months to start doing something with it. “Then people get tired of this thing that’s not giving them a return on the investment and it falls to the wayside,” she said. Tech leaders have long lamented the slow rate of adoption for their products in Canada, especially when compared to the U.S. Some have blamed the pace on a lack of funding, while others have said it’s a matter of culture. Frosst said it’s hard to narrow down what’s hampering the rate of adoption. Culture could be part of it, but he said, “I want to be clear that I don’t necessarily think that cultural thing is bad.” “Some of the things that I really like about Canada is that we’re slow and a little conscientious,” he said. “But it also has downsides and one of the downsides is five quarters of real GDP per capita decrease.” Those GDP declines have sparked a discussion about whether Canada is facing a crisis in productivity because it is lagging behind the U.S. and many other Nordic nations. Frosst estimates large language models — the underpinning of AI, which use massive data sets to recognize, translate, predict or generate text and other content — could make a big dent in Canada’s productivity woes. He said LLMs alone will “augment” about 20 per cent of knowledge-based jobs, which include teachers, doctors, financial analysts and marketing consultants. But to ensure LLMs and AI are “an absolutely massive opportunity” for Canada, Frosst said the country must not squander the foundations that have been laid for it. Canada, for example, has long been known as a hotbed of AI innovation because of its focus on AI research and talent development. Much of that work has happened through the Vector Institute and Mila, AI organizations based in Toronto and Montreal, respectively, which AI pioneers Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio are deeply involved in. Cohere has received funding from Hinton, who recently won a Nobel prize, and Frosst was one of his proteges. “Some of the best minds are still here, some of the best institutes ... are here, but we have fallen behind in adoption,” Frosst said. At the same time, every other nation is gaining ground. “It’s kind of table stakes at this stage,” he said. “America is doing it, the whole world is figuring out how to increase productivity with large language models, and although that technology came from here, we’ve been a little delayed in adopting it.” To reverse the problem, Janssen urged business leaders to get moving — and quickly. “Don’t ask the question, ‘What am I going do with AI?’ but, ‘What am I going to do with AI by the end of the year?’” she said. “Because if we don’t get started, we are going to fall behind and our productivity challenges are going to be so much more.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024.
NoneDENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk's guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag —a sister publication of POLITICO owned by the Axel Springer Group — published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country," Musk wrote in his translated commentary. He went on to say the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality.” The Tesla Motors CEO also wrote that his investment in Germany gave him the right to comment on the country's condition. The AfD is polling strongly, but its candidate for the top job, Alice Weidel , has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor because other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. An ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the technology billionaire challenged in his opinion piece the party's public image. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk’s commentary has led to a debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the paper's own opinion editor announcing her resignation, pointedly on Musk's social media platform, X. “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print," Eva Marie Kogel wrote. A critical article by the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard, accompanied Musk’s opinion piece. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong,” Burgard wrote. Responding to a request for comment from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Burgard — who is due to take over on Jan. 1 — said in a joint statement that the discussion over Musk's piece was "very insightful. Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression.” “This will continue to determine the compass of the “world” in the future. We will develop “Die Welt” even more decisively as a forum for such debates,” they wrote to dpa.LKQ Co. ( NASDAQ:LKQ – Get Free Report ) has earned a consensus rating of “Buy” from the five ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $53.80. A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on LKQ from $54.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. StockNews.com upgraded LKQ from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of LKQ from $50.00 to $48.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Roth Mkm restated a “buy” rating and issued a $59.00 price objective on shares of LKQ in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of LKQ from $53.00 to $47.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Read Our Latest Research Report on LKQ LKQ Stock Performance LKQ ( NASDAQ:LKQ – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The auto parts company reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.87 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $3.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.65 billion. LKQ had a net margin of 4.90% and a return on equity of 15.15%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.86 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that LKQ will post 3.43 EPS for the current fiscal year. LKQ Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 14th were given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 14th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.25%. LKQ’s payout ratio is presently 44.78%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On LKQ Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of LKQ. Erste Asset Management GmbH bought a new stake in LKQ in the third quarter valued at about $45,733,000. Seizert Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of LKQ by 451.1% in the 3rd quarter. Seizert Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,327,664 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $53,000,000 after acquiring an additional 1,086,758 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in LKQ by 552.8% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,236,158 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $51,412,000 after acquiring an additional 1,046,805 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in LKQ by 7.9% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 11,944,496 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $496,772,000 after purchasing an additional 875,420 shares during the period. Finally, Cooke & Bieler LP increased its stake in LKQ by 39.8% in the second quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 3,067,772 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $127,589,000 after purchasing an additional 873,665 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.63% of the company’s stock. LKQ Company Profile ( Get Free Report LKQ Corporation engages in the distribution of replacement parts, components, and systems used in the repair and maintenance of vehicles and specialty vehicle aftermarket products and accessories. It operates through four segments: Wholesale-North America, Europe, Specialty, and Self Service. The company distributes bumper covers, automotive body panels, and lights, as well as mechanical automotive parts and accessories; salvage products, including mechanical and collision parts comprising engines; transmissions; door assemblies; sheet metal products, such as trunk lids, fenders, and hoods; lights and bumper assemblies; scrap metal and other materials to metals recyclers; and brake pads, discs and sensors, clutches, steering and suspension products, filters, and oil and automotive fluids, as well as electrical products, including spark plugs and batteries. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for LKQ Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LKQ and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Husbandjak: The husband Wojak
TV news in Central Washington will lose a long-familiar face when Chief Meteorologist Monty Webb signs off for retirement. The 62-year-old's decades-long career in meteorology is an accomplished one, and his personality is a favorite among viewers. Webb announced his retirement last week, and his last day on air is scheduled for Jan. 3. Having always been interested in weather, Webb's start in meteorology came through the Air Force. As a forecaster in the '80s, he'd have to hand analyze large, black and white maps that were printed off from two primary weather models, according to Webb. Then, he was involved in testing for upgraded systems, allowing forecasters to see inside storms for the first time. "It was like comparing your cell phone to the old rotary dial phone," Webb said in an interview with the Herald. After he was medically retired from the military due to a blown-out knee, Webb set his sights on TV meteorology. With some help, he put together a demo reel and was eventually hired by KNDU, the NBC station covering Tri-Cities, Yakima and Eastern Oregon. This led to a fruitful, award-winning career, with meteorology positions in Seattle, Spokane, Boise, Chicago and Louisville. Ten years ago, he returned to his first station in order to work closer to family. "Out of all the places that we've worked at, this has probably been our favorite," Webb said, speaking for himself and his wife. After decades in the industry, Webb has had many unique experiences. From silly bloopers to devastating storms, he's had many memorable moments in meteorology. When asked about standout memories, he had several. Like the time in Boise when he flew off a horse's back on live TV while trying to show off his horseriding skills. Or, while at KNDU, there was the time his shorts slipped while he was getting out of a dunk tank. "We had a half-moon. We almost had a full Monty, live on TV," Webb said. "And the producer was like 'I tried to avert my eyes, but every monitor I looked at, I saw your butt.'" But there are also many serious moments he'll remember forever. Webb really cherishes his time in the Air Force as well, as he realized just how life-or-death weather can be. He told the Herald he got to forecast for just about every location in the northern hemisphere during that time, sometimes for special missions that relied on weather conditions. But one of the most memorable took place when he was Chief Meteorologist in Louisville, during the March 2012 tornado outbreak. It produced numerous tornadoes, including a massive EF4 tornado that nearly completely took out the town of Henryville, Indiana. Webb told the Herald that the tornado reached speeds over 260 miles per hour, was a half-mile long and stayed on the ground for an hour straight. His team was on air for five hours that day without breaks. While surveying the site with the National Weather Service the day after, Webb was looking at what remained of a local gas station. The owner approached and thanked the meteorologist, saying he watched Webb while preparing for the tornado. Following the broadcast team's direction to take cover, the owner instructed all customers to enter the walk-in freezer. They all lived. "That's probably the most serious and the most impactful," Webb said. "That one is the one that just will forever be in my mind." Webb says he's had a blessed career, and one full of growth and vast change in the field as well. Throughout his career, meteorology has advanced a lot, as has TV news. Instead of hand analyzing printed maps, forecasts are now done using computers, with three times as many models and generated analyses. With each technological advancement, Webb has had to learn new systems and adapt to changing daily responsibilities. "As a meteorologist, you have to be willing to adapt, you have to be willing to deal with the unpredictable," he said. This skill goes beyond forecasting weather, and he says it has kept him adapting with the field for several decades. He's had to stay up-to-date with advancements in technology, working with computers and social media. When Webb started in TV, the daily expectation of a meteorologist was one main forecast. Now, there's numerous forecasts each day, with streaming channels, social pages and web updates. Though he's kept up with the developing industries, and still loves the work he does, Webb felt it was the right time to retire. One thing he's loved about KNDU is its designation as a teaching station, meant to introduce young talent to the ways of the industry and shape them for jobs in bigger markets or with more responsibilities. Webb says he's loved growing the industry, since someone has to take over for him now. The majority of his trainees have gone back to school to get their meteorology degree, including his morning show counterpart at KNDU, Sigmund Seroka. But don't fret, you'll still see Webb on KNDU from time to time. He told the Tri-City Herald he'll be filling in as needed. In retirement, Webb will spend time with his family. He has two daughters here in Tri-Cities and a son living on the west side, plus 12 grandchildren. A thirteenth grandchild is expected in January. Webb and his wife love camping, especially with the grandchildren. They go on regional trips every year, and are planning a larger trip to celebrate retirement. Beginning in March, they're going to visit Oregon then head to Phoenix and stay at the Luke Air Force Base's family campground. He also plans to do a lot of fishing, especially at the Columbia River. Webb says he once caught an 11-foot sturgeon out of the Columbia. Webb is also planning to get a Veterans Service Officer certification, which he'll use to help other veterans navigate the services and resources available to them. In a parting message to viewers, Webb said the viewers have become an extended family to him, and he's always happy to meet them while out and about. "Thank you for inviting me into your home every single day," he said. "I appreciate all of the viewers because without them, I really wouldn't have a job. They are the ones who, in my view, have always been responsible for feeding my family, for putting a roof over my head, because they watch and I can't express enough gratitude towards them." (c)2024 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) Visit Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) at www.tri-cityherald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Chris Olave made an appearance at Saints practice Tuesday. Here's the latest on his situationHey, Other Men, Share Your Experience With Dating Apps That Have Left You Hovering Over The Delete ButtonPep Guardiola’s side at least avoided the indignity of a sixth successive defeat in all competitions but alarm bells continue to ring at the Etihad Stadium after a dramatic late capitulation. A double from Erling Haaland – the first from the penalty spot – and a deflected effort from Ilkay Gundogan, all in the space of nine minutes either side of the break, looked to have ensured a return to winning ways. Yet Guardiola was left with his head in hands as Feyenoord roared back in the last 15 minutes with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Sergio Gimenez and David Hancko, two of them after Josko Gvardiol errors. City almost snatched a late winner when Jack Grealish hit the woodwork but there was no masking another dispiriting result. It was hardly the preparation City wanted for Sunday’s crunch trip to Liverpool, and the Feyenoord fans took great delight in rubbing that fact in. They sung the club anthem they share with Liverpool, You’ll Never Walk Alone, and chanted the name of their former manager Arne Slot, the current Reds boss. Guardiola arrived at the ground with a cut on the bridge of his nose and, once again, his side have been struck a nasty blow. Despite not being at their best, they had dominated early on against what seemed limited Dutch opposition. They threatened when a Gundogan shot was deflected wide and Haaland then went close to opening the scoring when he turned a header onto the post. Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther gifted City another chance when he passed straight to Bernardo Silva but Grealish’s fierce volley struck team-mate Phil Foden. Foden forced a save from Wellenreuther but City had a moment of alarm when Igor Paixao got behind the defence only to shoot tamely at Ederson. Nathan Ake missed the target with a header but some luck finally went City’s way just before the break when Quinten Timber, brother of Arsenal’s Jurrien, was harshly adjudged to have fouled Haaland. The Norwegian rammed home the resulting spot-kick and City returned re-energised for the second period. They won a corner when a Matheus Nunes shot was turned behind and Gundogan fired the hosts’ second – albeit with aid of a deflection – with a firm volley from the edge of the box. City turned up the heat and claimed their third soon after as Gundogan released Nunes with a long ball and his low cross was turned into the net by a sliding Haaland. 44' ⚽️ Man City 1-0 Feyenoord50' ⚽️ Man City 2-0 Feyenoord53' ⚽️ Man City 3-0 Feyenoord75' ⚽️ Man City 3-1 Feyenoord82' ⚽️ Man City 3-2 Feyenoord89' ⚽️ Man City 3-3 Feyenoord 🤯🤯🤯 #UCL — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 26, 2024 It seemed City were heading for a morale-lifting victory but a couple of Gvardiol errors changed the script. The Croatian, who had a torrid time in Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing by Tottenham, first horribly misplaced a backpass and allowed Moussa to nip in and round Ederson. Ordinarily that 75th-minute reply would have been a mere consolation and City would close out the game, but Gvardiol had another moment to forget eight minutes from time. Again he gave the ball away and Feyenoord pounced. The ball was lofted into the box and Jordan Lotomba fired a shot that glanced the post and deflected across goal, where Gimenez chested in. Ederson then blundered as he raced out of his area and was beaten by Paixao, who crossed for Hancko to head into an empty net. Amid some moments of unrest in the crowd, when objects were thrown, City tried to rally in stoppage time. Grealish had an effort deflected onto the bar but the hosts had to settle for a draw.
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Meet Doug the beaver, the Secwépemc watershed recovery engineerDrones, helicopters being considered for U.S. border, public safety minister says OTTAWA — Canada is considering supplying the RCMP and border agency with more resources including drones, helicopters and personnel in case of a "surge" at the border, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Tuesday in response to Donald Trump's David Baxter, The Canadian Press Nov 26, 2024 12:39 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland walks with Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc as they make their way to speak with reporters following cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Listen to this article 00:04:28 OTTAWA — Canada is considering supplying the RCMP and border agency with more resources including drones, helicopters and personnel in case of a "surge" at the border, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Tuesday in response to Donald Trump's threat to impose steep tariffs on Canadian imports into the U.S. The president-elect threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports unless action is taken to stem the flow of both migrants and illegal drugs crossing the border. "As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before," Trump said on Truth Social on Monday night. LeBlanc said his office has been working with finance officials, the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency "for months" to see what is needed and feasible. The minister added that Canada shares many of the same concerns as the Americans when it comes to illegal migration, and drugs and other contraband making its way across the border. LeBlanc said Canadian agencies work collaboratively with their U.S. counterparts. "For decades, this collaborative work happening literally daily with American authorities and Canadian authorities has allowed us to keep both countries safe, including dealing with some of the real challenges around the opioid crisis," LeBlanc said. Immigration Minister Marc Miller was asked on Tuesday about deploying more officers to oversee the New York-Vermont border area, which sees the highest rates of illegal crossings from Canada into the United States. He cautioned that there is no comparison to the flow of migrants entering the U.S. from Mexico. "It's the equivalent on a yearly basis with a significant weekend at the Mexico border. At the same time, it's not something I want to not take seriously, because it is serious," Miller said. "We have a job to not make our problems the Americans' problems and they have a job not to make their problems ours." U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows its officers recorded nearly 200,000 encounters at the northern border between October 2023 and September 2024. The same period in 2022 saw more than 109,000 encounters and there were around 32,000 in 2020. The term "encounters" includes apprehensions, people who are deemed inadmissible and those who are expelled from the U.S. Between October 2023 and September 2024, U.S. officials recorded more than two million encounters at the Mexican border. The two prior years also saw more than 2 million encounters each at the southern border. Chief border patrol agent Robert Garcia said last month on X that agents in the Swanton Sector, which covers Vermont's border with Quebec, apprehended more than 19,000 people from 97 countries in the last year — more than the last 17 years combined. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it also seized nearly 5,000 kilograms of illegal drugs at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024. That included 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl. Comparatively, border agents seized nearly 125,000 kilograms of narcotics at the border with Mexico, including almost 10,000 kilograms of fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, two milligrams of fentanyl is a potentially fatal dose. Cannabis is by far the most commonly seized drug coming from Canada, accounting for almost 60 per cent of total seizures. From Mexico it's methamphetamine, accounting for about 57 per cent of seizures at the southern border. Drug seizures coming from Canada to the U.S. are down significantly from the prior two years, according to border patrol data: about 25,000 kilograms of narcotics were seized between October 2022 and September 2023, down from about 27,200 kilograms in the year before. Both Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet called on the Trudeau government to ensure the border is secure on Tuesday. Poilievre focused on government data that was raised at the immigration committee on Monday that said 4.9 million people will have their Canadian visas expire by the end of December 2025. In question period Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the "overwhelming majority" of people leave when their visas expire and there are measures in the immigration system to deal with cases where that does not happen. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she is open to talks with the Trump administration on the tariff issue, but said drugs were a "public health and consumption" issue in the U.S. She added most of the weapons entering Mexico are smuggled in through the U.S. In recent months the RCMP have announced two significant operations with ties to Mexican drug cartels. This includes the arrest of three men in Surrey, B.C., earlier this month, who police say are connected to an organized crime group with ties to Mexican drug cartels. Police seized "multiple kilos" of illicit drugs, and said the accused were allegedly "planning large-scale distribution" of drugs out of Surrey. In October, the RCMP, FBI and other policing partners arrested nine Canadians in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. The accused are alleged to have ties to a Mexico cartel-linked criminal network. Charges include murder, conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press David Baxter, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News B.C. health executive fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccine loses EI appeal Nov 26, 2024 1:17 PM Victims' families urge parole board to keep 'sadistic' killer Bernardo behind bars Nov 26, 2024 1:15 PM Trump's tariff threat a grim reminder of turbulent trade in first administration Nov 26, 2024 1:06 PM Featured Flyer
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