Commons

Village Farms International Enthusiastically Supports Standing Committee’s Recommendations for New Cannabis Excise Duty Model

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024

VANCOUVER, British Columbia and ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Village Farms International, Inc. (“Village Farms”) (NASDAQ: VFF) enthusiastically supports recommendations on changes to the current Cannabis Excise Duty model released this week by the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

Key Points: 
  • VANCOUVER, British Columbia and ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Village Farms International, Inc. (“Village Farms”) (NASDAQ: VFF) enthusiastically supports recommendations on changes to the current Cannabis Excise Duty model released this week by the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.
  • Those recommendations include adjustment to the excise duty formula for cannabis so that it is limited to a 10% ad valorem (proportionate to value) rate.
  • When the Cannabis Excise Duty model was first adopted, it envisioned a retail selling price of cannabis much higher ($10-plus per gram) than is currently prevalent in today’s market, such that the $1 per gram duty would have effectively been aligned to a 10% ad valorem tax rate.
  • Related to excise duty payments, Village Farms also notes recent reports with respect to the Canadian Revenue Agency’s (CRA) collection enforcement of the growing past due excise tax balances.

HOFFMAN REALTY LAUNCHES SALES FOR THE OAK AT WEST FALLS, THE NEWEST CONDOMINIUM COMING TO FALLS CHURCH

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 4, 2024

FALLS CHURCH, Va., March 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Hoffman & Associates announced that its West Falls condominium, The Oak, is now selling. Located at 255 West Falls Station Boulevard in the northwest corner of the West Falls neighborhood, the 174,000-square-foot, 11-story building will offer 126 elevated condominium residences, along with inviting amenities and curated retail, as well as community, arts and civic space. The Oak will provide residents with modern, welcoming spaces filled with natural elements, connection to the dynamic West Falls community and the convenience of a location with unparalleled connectivity to the region.

Key Points: 
  • The Oak Offers Residents a Unique Living Experience in Falls Church with Modern Design, Inviting Amenities and Curated Retail Offerings in the Heart of the Vibrant West Falls Community
    FALLS CHURCH, Va., March 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Hoffman & Associates announced that its West Falls condominium, The Oak, is now selling.
  • One of the key characteristics that sets The Oak apart is the incredible connectivity that its location in the West Falls neighborhood provides.
  • This pedestrian-friendly area offers convenient access to bike paths, the West Falls Church Metrorail Station and Tysons Corner.
  • West Falls is the first component of a larger 40-acre community-focused development of the area between Leesburg Pike and the West Falls Church Metrorail Station.

Norton Rose Fulbright issues statement following the passing of the former Prime Minister of Canada and senior partner of the firm

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 1, 2024

Mr. Mulroney will be remembered as a statesman, a visionary, and a humanitarian.

Key Points: 
  • Mr. Mulroney will be remembered as a statesman, a visionary, and a humanitarian.
  • Before entering politics, Mr. Mulroney practised law at our office in Montreal and served as President of the Iron Ore Company of Canada.
  • Under his leadership, Canada negotiated the Free Trade Agreement with the United States, and later NAFTA, demonstrating strategy and perseverance in the face of considerable political opposition.
  • And he was a role model and mentor to countless lawyers, from associates to senior partners.

Prime Minister announces the appointment of the Honourable Konrad von Finckenstein as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 29, 2024 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Konrad von Finckenstein as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 29, 2024 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Konrad von Finckenstein as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
  • He is a recipient of the Order of Canada and served as interim Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
  • The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is an Agent of Parliament appointed for a term of seven years.
  • The Commissioner administers the Conflict of Interest Act, which sets out clear conflict of interest and post-employment rules applicable to public office holders.

Elon Musk's Carbon Tax Promo Fails says Friends of Science Society

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- "Elon Musk's Unbelievably Simple Killer Break Down on Climate Change" - a video released on Feb. 03, 2024, which promotes a carbon tax, is a failure, says Friends of Science Society. As reported by the CATO Institute on Feb. 08, 2024, the video's voice over recycles a speech Elon Musk gave at the Panthéon‐Sorbonne University in Paris, coincident to the Paris "COP21" Climate Conference in 2015.

Key Points: 
  • Elon Musk's video promoting the notion of a carbon tax as a means to mitigate climate change is a ''failure'' says Friends of Science Society, referring to Canada's disastrous experience with carbon tax and inflation.
  • CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- " Elon Musk's Unbelievably Simple Killer Break Down on Climate Change " - a video released on Feb. 03, 2024, which promotes a carbon tax, is a failure, says Friends of Science Society.
  • Numerous academics and economists back the carbon tax as 'the solution' to climate change, but Friends of Science Society calls this " CarbonTax – a-philia : Unnatural Love of Carbon Taxes for No Reason."
  • Friends of Science Society says Canada's experience with carbon tax and rebate shows the method fails to reduce emissions while simultaneously driving up inflation.

Teacher apprenticeships may encourage more people into the profession – but greater change is needed to get them to stay

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 16, 2024

In eight of the past nine years there have been too few people entering the teaching profession in the UK.

Key Points: 
  • In eight of the past nine years there have been too few people entering the teaching profession in the UK.
  • In 2023-24, only half of the targeted secondary trainee teacher places have been filled.
  • Now the government has announced teacher degree apprenticeships as a new way to enter the profession.

Attracting teachers

  • In the academic year 2023-24, the government sought to recruit 2,820 new physics teachers, and offered training scholarships and bursaries worth up to £29,000 to attract them.
  • Bonuses like these do not appear to be a significant driver in people’s choice to become teachers.
  • An important element of this strategy is to support teaching assistants – who are already familiarised with working in schools – to become teachers.
  • But it does assume that teaching assistants wish to become teachers, which is not necessarily always the case.

Working conditions and wellbeing

  • It is no wonder that more than half of teachers in England feel their workload is unmanageable.
  • Nor is it surprising that people working in education are subject to higher levels of stress than other professions and are also likely to be disappointed with their occupation.
  • In 2023, the government launched a teacher workload reduction taskforce to find ways to reduce teachers’ working weeks by five hours.
  • Unless the teaching profession experiences a fundamental shift in working conditions for all we are likely to continue to see poor workforce satisfaction and teachers continuing to leave the profession.


Stephen Corbett receives funding from the University of Portsmouth. He is affiliated with the Education and Training Foundation.

Wellingborough and Kingswood byelections: it’s never been this bad for the Conservatives, and it could still get worse

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 16, 2024

But the party’s defeat in Wellingborough in Northamptonshire was particularly brutal.

Key Points: 
  • But the party’s defeat in Wellingborough in Northamptonshire was particularly brutal.
  • The Tory vote share was a mere 25% and the Conservative to Labour swing of 28.5% was the second biggest in modern electoral history.
  • The loss of Kingswood in South Gloucestershire was on a smaller (16.4%) swing, but is equally ominous for Rishi Sunak.

An unprecedented year of byelections

  • Since 2022, the Conservatives have now lost six byelections to Labour, on an average swing of 21%.
  • Byelections used to be prompted mainly by deaths.
  • Eight of the nine byelections following resignations were lost, as was the recall petition contest and one of the three caused by death.

Looking towards a general election

  • And the results are more a consequence of the Conservative vote dropping – Labour is not piling on the votes.
  • It is a huge leap of faith to assume the stay-at-homes were all Conservative-leaners who will show up at the general election.
  • Nonetheless, Reform winning 13% of the vote in Wellingborough and 10% in Kingswood is an achievement worth noting, if unlikely to be replicated come general election day.
  • No party has ever won an election when trailing its main rival on the economy.

Rochdale embarrassment

  • The party dropped support for its official candidate, Azhar Ali, after leaked audio revealed Ali’s anti-Israel conspiracy theory comments regarding the October 7 Hamas attack.
  • Rochdale is thus high on the embarrassment scale for Labour, but as an issue affecting the outcome of the general election, it is negligible.


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

Minister Khera welcomes first Annual Report from Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

Today, in the House of Commons, the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, tabled the first Annual Report from Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO), Stephanie Cadieux.

Key Points: 
  • Today, in the House of Commons, the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, tabled the first Annual Report from Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO), Stephanie Cadieux.
  • "This first Annual Report from the Chief Accessibility Officer is a milestone moment for the Government of Canada and our implementation of the Accessible Canada Act.
  • Stephanie Cadieux was appointed as Canada's first Chief Accessibility Officer in May 2022.
  • More than 100 accessibility organizations and 6,000 Canadians shared their views and ideas about an accessible Canada.

Treasury Board President Anita Anand tables the Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023-24

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 15, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, tabled Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023–24, in the House of Commons.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 15, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, tabled Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023–24, in the House of Commons.
  • This year, Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023–24, present for Parliament's approval planned spending of $8.9 billion.
  • - The Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board
    Through 2023–24 Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates, requested authorities totaling $248.2 billion in voted budgetary expenditures were presented to Parliament for this fiscal year.
  • The Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023–24 is the third and final Supplementary Estimates planned for this fiscal year.

Prime Minister announces the appointment of a senator

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

"Ms. Oudar is an accomplished administrator, and her experience in a variety of fields will bring an important perspective to the Senate.

Key Points: 
  • "Ms. Oudar is an accomplished administrator, and her experience in a variety of fields will bring an important perspective to the Senate.
  • Candidate submissions are reviewed by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which provides recommendations to the Prime Minister.
  • With today's announcement, there have been 81 independent appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
  • By convention, senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.