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Government of Canada Launches Strengthened Heat Pump Program with Nova Scotia, Addressing Affordability and Climate Goals

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DARTMOUTH, NS, Feb. 20, 2024 /CNW/ – Home heating oil is costly — not just for your pocketbooks, but also for the planet. Making the switch to an efficient heat pump can help Canadians save thousands of dollars each year on their energy bills and reduces household pollution. The benefits of switching to a heat pump are clear, and the Government of Canada has been bringing these benefits to Canadians through the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) program.

Today, Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; the Honourable Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables; and Stephen MacDonald, President and CEO of EfficiencyOne, announced that Nova Scotia will co-deliver the strengthened OHPA program, in partnership with the federal government to make the shift to heat pumps even more affordable for more Canadians.  

Under the program, low-to-median-income households in Nova Scotia that heat their home with oil can now apply here to receive up to $30,000 in funding to cover the full cost of switching to a heat pump — including up to $15,000 from the Government of Canada’s OHPA program and up to $15,000 from the Province of Nova Scotia, with EfficiencyOne acting as the co-delivery partner. Making the switch can help save thousands of dollars on heating bills every year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Canadians’ strong demand for home energy upgrades creates a strong demand for green jobs, a skilled workforce, and the materials to enable them, strengthening Canada’s economy.

In addition to these increased grants, OHPA applicants will also soon be receiving an upfront, one-time payment of $250 from the federal government. This applies to all eligible applicants who heat their homes with oil and sign up for a heat pump through OHPA in a co-delivery jurisdiction going forward, as well as all those who have signed up since April 1, 2023.

The Government of Canada is currently working to make heat pumps even more affordable for more Canadians across the country through the co-delivery of the strengthened OHPA program with other provinces and territories, which will help Canadians save money at home while addressing climate change. In jurisdictions without federal-provincial/territorial co-delivery arrangements, oil-heated households have been and will continue to be able to apply for up to $10,000 in federal OHPA funding via the national portal, managed by Natural Resources Canada. The Government of Canada is keen and remains ready to develop and finalize strengthened OHPA co-delivery agreements with all provinces and territories that wish to bring these benefits to their residents

Quotes:  

“Making the switch to more energy-efficient heating systems does not just save energy and reduce families’ carbon footprint — it also helps Canadians save on their utility bills. That is why we are strengthening the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program and ensuring that families are supported in making the switch from expensive heating oil to an efficient heat pump.”  

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson  
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources 

“We know the cost of living right now is a concern for Canadians. This investment will help Nova Scotians reduce their heating bills by switching from oil and using green technologies, like heat pumps. That means more money stays in the pockets of families while keeping harmful emissions out of the air.”

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“We are committed to fighting climate change while making life more affordable for Canadians. Today’s launch of a strengthened Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program will help Nova Scotian homeowners buy and install a heat pump and, in turn, lower their energy bills, effectively free of cost.”

The Honourable Sean Fraser 
Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities

“Making the switch from oil heating to electric heating sources like a heat pump can help you save thousands of dollars on energy bills and reduces emissions. Today’s announcement of a strengthened Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program will help ensure that Canadian households who need it the most have access to clean, reliable and affordable electric heating options.”

Andy Fillmore
Member of Parliament for Halifax

“We’re helping Nova Scotians get off expensive oil heat by strengthening the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program. This announcement will help so many folks afford to keep their homes nice and warm in the winter and cooler in the summer — with more money in their pockets!”

Darren Fisher 
Member of Parliament for Dartmouth–Cole Harbour 

“Affordability is top of mind for all Nova Scotians right now, and the cost of heating your home with oil is high. This funding will help Nova Scotians make the move to heat pumps so they can save their hard-earned dollars while helping the environment.”

The Honourable Tory Rushton
Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Government of Nova Scotia

“We are pleased to be co-delivering the OHPA grant with NRCan. These increased investment levels will help Nova Scotians do even more as they transition away from oil and provide certainty for industry to grow and plan for the future.”

Stephen MacDonald 
President and CEO, EfficiencyOne

Quick Facts:  

Heat pumps are two- to three-times more efficient than oil furnaces. The fact that heat pumps simply move heat, rather than generate it, is a large part of why they are more efficient and less costly than alternatives.The average Canadian home that uses heating oil spends $2,000 to $5,500 on energy bills per year, depending on the province or territory — making it the most expensive heating option. Homeowners who switch from an oil furnace to a cold-climate heat pump could save approximately $1,500 to $4,500 per year on their home energy bills.In Canada, oil furnaces and boilers generate around three million tonnes of CO2 every year — the equivalent of pollution from approximately 920,000 cars. Oil combustion in heating systems also generates nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and fine particles that can be harmful to human health and the environment.In June 2023, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) announced up to $60.5 million funding through its Recapitalized Low Carbon Economy Fund to support lower-income Nova Scotian homeowners’ move from home heating oil to more affordable low-emitting heating technologies, like electric heat pumps.Since ECCC’s announcement, nearly 1,400 mini split heat pumps have been installed as part of Efficiency Nova Scotia’s HomeWarming program, and an additional 2,500 customers have been approved to have their installations occur in the coming weeks and months. This program expects to serve 10,186 qualifying low-income homeowners in Nova Scotia.

Related Information  

Oil to Heat Pump Program – Nova ScotiaEnhancements to the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability ProgramCanada Greener Homes InitiativeDelivering support for Canadians on energy billsCutting pollution and making life more affordable: Government of Canada announces $101.7 million to switch to cleaner energy in Nova Scotia

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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TransPerfect Legal Recognizes Its 2026 Pro Bono Partners

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Translation and interpretation services for partner firm Fenwick and legal aid organizations.Helps immigrants, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable populations access the US legal system.Language support remains critical to ensuring equal access to justice.

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026
/PRNewswire/ — TransPerfect Legal, the global leader in legal technology, AI, and advisory services, today announced that in honor of the 2026 National Celebration of Pro Bono, it is recognizing the legal aid organizations and partner firms it has supported this year with translation and interpretation services. These partnerships extend legal access to immigrants, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable populations who depend on accurate language support to navigate the US legal system.

The National Celebration of Pro Bono, sponsored by the American Bar Association October 25–31, brings attention to the importance of pro bono legal services and honors the lawyers and organizations working to expand access to justice.

This year, TransPerfect provided translation and interpretation services at reduced rates to Fenwick in support of the following pro bono efforts:

Fenwick — Immigration clinics and mattersCommunity Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) — U Visa Project with attorneys (full-scope work); passport and asylum clinicsCo-Counsel NYC — Naturalization clinicsImmigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) — Naturalization clinicsLawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF) — Asylum clinicsNew York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) — Asylum, naturalization, and TPS clinicsTahirih Justice Center — Immigration intake and U visa clinics

The need for pro bono legal support remains significant. The Pro Bono Declaration of the Americas states that “members of the legal profession have a responsibility to provide pro bono legal services”—a responsibility the Declaration links to the profession’s broader role in society and its commitment to a fair and equitable legal system.

“Access to justice depends on access to language,” said Eric Elting, Regional Director. “When someone can’t understand the proceeding that will decide their asylum claim or their immigration status, the legal system isn’t actually open to them. That’s the gap our pro bono partners work to close every day, and we’re proud to support that work.”

TransPerfect President and Co-CEO Phil Shawe commented, “Since our humble beginnings in NYC, we are proud to have performed pro bono legal work, including work to eliminate language barriers in legal processes. These efforts continue to this day.”

About TransPerfect Legal
TransPerfect Legal is the global leader in legal technology, AI, and advisory services for Am Law 200 and Global 100 law firms as well as corporate legal departments. With offices in more than 150 cities worldwide, solutions include forensic technology and consulting, eDiscovery and early data assessment, managed review and legal staffing, language services, deposition and trial support, and paper discovery, all offered alongside the Reef Technology ecosystem, TransPerfect Legal’s suite of proprietary applications that address the needs of legal and regulatory practitioners around the world. For more information, please visit www.transperfectlegal.com.

About TransPerfect
TransPerfect is the world’s largest provider of language and AI solutions for global business. From offices in over 150 cities on six continents, TransPerfect offers a full range of services in 200+ languages to clients worldwide. More than 6,000 global organizations employ TransPerfect’s GlobalLink® technology to simplify the management of multilingual content. With an unparalleled commitment to quality and client service, TransPerfect is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certified. TransPerfect has global headquarters in New York, with regional headquarters in London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit our website at www.transperfect.com.

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SOURCE TransPerfect

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Forum Edge AI Announces $94.4 Million Definitive AI Cloud Services Compute Agreement with Fireworks

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PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Forum Markets, Incorporated (“Forum” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: FRMM), an innovator in sourcing and operating cash-generating assets in AI infrastructure, commercial aerospace and AI-powered consumer finance, today announced that Forum Edge AI LLC (“Forum Edge”), the Company’s joint venture with Edge Node Inc., has entered into a definitive agreement with Fireworks, the specialized intelligence platform, for a 36-month reservation of Nvidia B300 GPU capacity at its existing, powered data center facility in Dallas.

The agreement carries a combined total contract value of approximately $94.4 million, reflecting GPU capacity and associated CPU management node fees payable over the 36-month term. Fireworks has provided a substantial prepayment deposit, which will be credited against fees due across the term.

The GPUs are expected to be deployed at Forum Edge’s Dallas data center in late December or early January. The Dallas facility is one of the sites included in Forum’s initial AI infrastructure investment and features existing permits, power access and physical infrastructure.

“This agreement is an important proof point for our AI infrastructure strategy and reflects our focus on bringing revenue generating GPUs to market quickly in a modular manner,” said McAndrew Rudisill, chairman and chief executive officer of Forum Markets, Incorporated. “We have a strong partnership with Fireworks and are excited about our growth trajectory as we scale our AI infrastructure business. This is the first finalized contract Forum Edge is executing against and the first of several exciting partnerships we expect to deploy into our unique footprint.”

Fireworks provides inference, training, and routing that help enterprises deploy and scale generative AI applications in production. The company was most recently valued at approximately $17.5 billion, with backers including Nvidia, Atreides Management, Index Ventures and TCV. Fireworks’ scale and the caliber of its financial backers reflect the type of high-quality counterparty Forum has identified in its off-take partnerships.

Hosted AI, Inc., through its AI commercialization network/mesh and platform, facilitated the relationship between Forum Edge AI and Fireworks.

The agreement represents Forum Edge’s first contracted customer commitment and supports Forum’s broader strategy of deploying disciplined, risk-adjusted capital into cash-generating AI infrastructure assets.

About Forum Markets, Incorporated

Forum Markets, Incorporated (Nasdaq: FRMM) is an innovative company that sources and structures cash-generating assets with attractive risk-adjusted returns in aerospace, AI, and AI-powered consumer finance. The company draws on proprietary origination pipelines and strategic co-investment partnerships to scale its portfolio and generate durable operating income. Forum integrates traditional asset management principles with hands-on operational execution as it builds a new framework for how real-world assets are owned, managed, and monetized. For more information, please visit forum-markets.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the future performance and growth of the Company; the ability of the Company to execute its plans, the assets to be held by the Company, the Company’s current and anticipated yield strategies, and future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and actual results may differ materially. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk that the proposed transactions described herein may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, including the risk that the parties do not execute definitive documentation for the joint venture or any individual project; the risk that anticipated site capacity, power availability, permitting, equipment delivery or customer contracts are delayed or not obtained; the risk that equipment financing is not available on the terms or in the amounts assumed, or at all; risks relating to the Company’s recently completed offering, including dilution to existing stockholders and the risk that the net proceeds are insufficient to fund the initial projects as contemplated or are applied to uses other than those described herein; risks associated with the Company’s guarantee obligations in support of project-level financing; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the stock repurchase program, previously announced private placements, sale of convertible notes, and related transactions, including the Company’s ability to achieve profitable operations; the Company’s ability to repurchase shares of common stock, the timing thereof, purchase price thereof, and the fact that repurchases may not be undertaken under the stock repurchase program; fluctuations in the market price of ETH that will impact the Company’s accounting and financial reporting; government regulation of tokenized securities; risks relating to the treatment of assets for U.S. and foreign tax purposes; changes in securities laws or regulations; changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; risks relating to the Company’s OTC transaction, including the Company’s ability to repay such facility, covenants associated therewith and security interests associated therewith; risks relating to the Company’s previously announced ATM offering, including potential downward pressure on the Company’s stock price associated therewith; risks relating to the Company’s operations and businesses; risks related to increased competition in the industries in which the Company does and will operate; risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets generally; expectations with respect to future performance, growth and anticipated acquisitions; potential litigation involving the Company; global economic conditions; geopolitical events and regulatory changes; access to additional financing, and the potential lack of such financing; and the Company’s ability to raise funding in the future and the terms of such funding, including dilution caused thereby, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as well as the supplemental risk factors and other information the Company has or may file with the SEC, including those disclosed under Item 8.01 of the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Investors should also be aware that under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), certain crypto assets must be measured at fair value, with changes recognized in net income for each reporting period. These fair value adjustments may cause significant fluctuations in the Company’s balance sheet and income statement from period-to-period. In addition, for certain crypto assets, including ETH, which the Company holds as collateral against a loan, impairment charges may be required to be reported in net income if the market price of such assets falls below the cost basis at which those assets are carried on the balance sheet. Readers are encouraged to read the Company’s filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. The Company’s business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.

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SOURCE Forum Markets, Incorporated

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Perhaps Agency Expands Network Relationships for Emerging Brands

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Perhaps Agency’s new FuseTwo partnership and AvantLink certification give emerging brands broader access to networks, partnerships and expertise as rising paid-media costs push advertisers toward new acquisition channels.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Perhaps Agency, a full-funnel partner marketing agency specializing in affiliate and influencer marketing, announced the continued expansion of its strategic relationships with networks across the partner marketing industry, including FuseTwo, a recently launched partner marketing platform, and AvantLink, an affiliate marketing platform. These relationships give Perhaps Agency’s clients broader access to networks, technology and partnership opportunities as emerging brands seek growth channels beyond paid media.

“Every network relationship we add gives our clients another route to find the right partners. Our partnerships with FuseTwo and AvantLink build on that, and we’ll keep expanding our list of strategic partners that serve emerging brands.” — Jen Root, Managing Director, Perhaps

Rising costs across paid social and search have pushed many brands to look for acquisition channels they can scale without expanding an internal team or committing to a large retainer. Partner marketing is one route: it brings affiliate, influencer, creator and media partnerships together in one performance-based program. For growing brands, the right network relationships can determine whether an affiliate or influencer program gets off the ground. Perhaps builds and maintains those relationships on its clients’ behalf, while strengthening its ability to identify strategic opportunities and connect brands with the partners that support their growth.

Perhaps Agency’s partnership with FuseTwo, a partner marketing platform built for growing brands, offers Perhaps clients additional opportunities, resources and expertise. These brands gain access to the FuseTwo platform, which brings affiliate, influencer, creator and media partners into a single system with unified attribution. FuseTwo’s cookieless affiliate attribution and tracking, real-time reporting and AI-assisted automation give the Perhaps team faster data across every program the agency manages, supporting publisher recruitment and partner program optimization.

This approach pairs human expertise with accelerated technology. The Perhaps team, with more than two decades of combined partner marketing experience, continues to make the strategic calls, while the FuseTwo platform speeds up the analysis behind them.

As part of the partnership, Perhaps Agency is able to offer certain promotional features through the Perhaps + FuseTwo Growth Launch Offer, available to brands that register with FuseTwo through Perhaps. The features include FuseTwo covering a brand’s first month of Perhaps partner marketing management services, including strategy, recruitment and hands-on support, and Perhaps covering the brand’s FuseTwo platform setup fee. FuseTwo also offers qualifying migrating advertisers 0% transaction fees when they bring a qualifying group of active publishers to the platform. Subsequent management services are subject to the applicable service agreement, and additional terms and eligibility requirements may apply.

Beyond its partnership with FuseTwo, Perhaps is now an AvantLink Certified Agency Partner, demonstrating the company’s expertise and commitment to building network relationships for clients. AvantLink, an affiliate marketing platform, offers an agency certification program for agencies within its ecosystem. The program validates practical expertise in affiliate strategy, partner management, attribution and technology capabilities.

The certification signifies three areas: credibility, capability and visibility. Credibility reflects demonstrated knowledge of affiliate marketing strategy and program management. Capability reflects an understanding of partner relationships, attribution models, reporting and optimization. Visibility reflects opportunities for agency recommendations, preferred partner listings and co-marketing collaboration.

For Perhaps Agency, this status reinforces its expertise in affiliate marketing strategy and publisher partnerships. For growing brands, it means working with an agency that combines experienced program management with access to established affiliate marketing technology, which can help reduce the complexity of launching, managing and scaling a partner program.

About Perhaps: Perhaps Agency is a full-funnel U.S. partner marketing agency, serving as an affiliate marketing agency and influencer marketing agency for emerging and mid-market brands across Apparel, Beauty, Health & Wellness, Home Goods, CPG, DTC and more, including affiliate marketing for Shopify brands, WooCommerce affiliate marketing and affiliate marketing for CPG brands. Perhaps combines affiliate network management, influencer and creator management and Performance PR into a single, integrated partner marketing program. The Perhaps team brings more than two decades of combined affiliate and influencer marketing experience. Learn more at Perhaps.com.

Media Contact

Jen Root, Perhaps, 1 (786) 396-9863, pr@perhaps.com, www.perhaps.com

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SOURCE Perhaps

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