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Canada Announces Over $15 million to Support Canadian Mining Sector at the 2024 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention

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TORONTO, March 6, 2024 /CNW/ – Canada’s minerals and metals are essential contributors to our economy, infrastructure, innovation and environmental stewardship. And as the world moves toward net zero by 2050, demand for Canada’s mineral resources, especially critical minerals, will only increase. By making the right investments in the exploration and mining sector, we can enable sustainable resource development, create good jobs, drive economic growth and advance Indigenous participation and leadership in our economy. 

That is why, yesterday at the 2024 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced federal investments of over $15 million in projects to increase Indigenous participation and support the development of Canada’s critical minerals sector.

Minister Wilkinson also announced the launch of the first call for proposals for Indigenous grants under the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF). The first call for proposals will provide up to $3.5 million in federal funding available to support Indigenous engagement, knowledge sharing and capacity building related to clean energy and transportation projects to enable critical minerals development. Overall, the CMIF Indigenous grant stream will provide $13.5 million in funding and run until March 31, 2030.

And to support Indigenous communities today in seizing the economic opportunities presented by sustainably sourced mineral resources, Canada will be funding seven mining projects representing over $10.4 million under the Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) program. Activities funded through these projects include capacity building initiatives, support for the development of partnership programs, conducting key feasibility studies, expanding skills training and advancing important infrastructure projects.

These projects will expand the participation of Indigenous communities and organizations in the development of critical mineral projects that support the transition to a clean energy future. Recipients of the INRP funding include:

Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation (LKFN) — $1,974,675Global Indigenous Development Trust — $2,408,543Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resources Centre of Excellence — $4,500,000Accurate Industries (Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation) — $234,467Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation (FDLDFN) — $688,998Keewatin Tribal Council (KTC) — $324,432Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation — $352,500

On Monday, the Government of Canada also provided $4.9 million to Magneto Investments Limited Partnership through the Critical Minerals Research Development and Demonstration Program. This funding will go toward new and innovative technologies and processes that will help increase the supply of battery-grade cobalt and nickel sulphate, which are essential to the development of a secure and sustainable domestic electric vehicle value chain.

Canada is one of only two countries with the minerals and metals required for lithium-ion battery production. Magneto’s project will support Canada in participating directly in the growing market of battery-grade cobalt and nickel sulphate domestically, instead of shipping concentrate overseas to feed the stainless-steel industry.

These announcements made at PDAC 2024 are part of a series of significant steps the Government of Canada is taking to support innovation in the mining sector, strengthen Indigenous partnerships and create jobs. Canada will continue to work with partners to establish our country as the world’s green supplier of choice for critical minerals — ensuring a prosperous and clean future for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Quotes

“Critical minerals are a generational economic opportunity for Canada — from mineral exploration and extraction to advanced manufacturing to processing and recycling, we are making investments across the value chain. Canada will continue to make these strategic investments in important projects and Indigenous communities to help enable and grow the sustainable development of these minerals, reinforcing Canada’s position as a global supplier of choice for clean technology, clean energy and the resources the world needs to build a prosperous net-zero economy”.

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“The demand for critical minerals, and the products made with them, presents an occasion for industrial diversification, high-quality employment and sustainable development. Because of the abundance of critical minerals in our country, Canada can become the green supplier of choice by contributing to responsible development, competitiveness, and supply chain stability.”

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Canada recognizes the pivotal role of Indigenous participation in our critical minerals sector. These investments align with our vision of a sustainable, responsible and inclusive approach to mineral development, essential for driving Canada’s transition to a net-zero future.” 

The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez
Minister of Transport 

“Strategic investments in clean energy and transportation infrastructure that support the expansion of this critical industry are essential to advancing innovation in the mining sector while creating good Canadian jobs and growing the economy.” 

The Honourable Sean Fraser
Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities 

Quick Facts

Budget 2022 allocated $80 million over five years, starting in 2022–2023, to renew and expand the INRP to all natural resource sectors and all regions of Canada. At least $25 million of this funding is dedicated to Indigenous communities’ capacity building to support their participation in critical minerals development.Information on funding opportunities and the applicant materials for CMIF are available online. Applications for this CFP must be submitted online by December 31, 2024.

Related Information

INRP ProjectsCanadian Critical Minerals StrategyCritical Minerals Centre of ExcellenceCanada’s List of Critical MineralsCanadian Minerals and Metals PlanGovernment of Canada Launches Second Call for Proposals for Critical Minerals Research Development and Demonstration ProgramMagneto Investments Limited PartnershipCritical Minerals Infrastructure FundCritical Minerals Infrastructure Fund Indigenous Grant Expression of Interest FormPrograms and funding for critical minerals projectsIndigenous Natural Resource Partnerships

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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GAC Showcases Multiple Models at Canton Fair: Systemic Global Expansion as a Response to High‑Level Opening‑Up

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GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On 15 October, the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) kicked off in Guangzhou. Dubbed “China’s No.1 Exhibition” with a 70‑year history, it serves as a vital window for global merchants to understand China, and one of GAC’s stages to connect with the world. For international buyers, GAC serves not only as a sourcing platform but as a trusted channel for experiencing Chinese automotive innovation and building long-term local partnerships. Having made its debut in 2012, GAC has participated in the fair 30 times to date. Together with the Canton Fair, it has witnessed the transformation of Made‑in‑China products into Chinese global brands.

This transformation is reflected in GAC’s global expansion journey through a string of continuously refreshed sales figures. Overseas sales stood at 90,000 units in 2024, hit 130,000 units in 2025, and exceeded 197,000 units in January‑September 2026, representing a year‑on‑year surge of 138.9%. GAC is sprinting full steam ahead toward its annual target of 300,000 overseas units. GAC has accomplished a shift from “product export” to “system‑level global expansion”.

At the GAC booth, XT80, AION i60 and AISTALAND GX7 showcased intelligent driving, three-electric systems and premium cabins. The energy-ecology zone featured DC ultra-fast charging piles, 7 kW smart home chargers, multi-in-one electric drive units and PV-Storage-Charging-Swapping Technology, addressing range anxiety. Opening day drew buyers from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and Africa. At the Music & Cuisine Festival, GAC built three immersive spaces blending smart mobility, Cantonese cuisine, camping and sports. The XT80, AION N60, GAC S7 and AISTALAND GT7 served as lifestyle carriers, letting guests enjoy morning tea, global cuisines and intangible cultural heritage.

GAC will advance its ONE GAC 2.0 strategy, deepening localized operations and expanding its systematic global layout. As a tribute to the Canton Fair’s 70th anniversary and a new business card for China’s auto industry, GAC will help drive Chinese intelligent manufacturing onto the global stage.

For further information about GAC, please visit https://www.gacgroup.com/en or follow us on social media.

 

SOURCE GAC

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Highland and Bath Counties, Virginia Go Live on a Shared Caliber Hosted CAD Environment

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Two neighboring rural counties, two dispatch centers, one common platform supporting more than 900 square miles of mountainous terrain

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Caliber Public Safety announced that Highland County and Bath County, Virginia went live on Caliber Hosted CAD on Tuesday, October 6, with both counties operating within a shared hosted environment. The arrangement gives each county its own dispatch operation while placing both on a common platform, creating a practical foundation for coordination between two neighboring jurisdictions.

For rural agencies, interoperability is usually a question of what happens when an incident crosses a county line. Mutual aid is routine in this part of western Virginia, where Highland County covers roughly 416 square miles with about 2,300 residents, and Bath County covers more than 500 square miles with about 4,100 residents. Together, the two counties serve a largely forested and mountainous service area with a small number of dispatchers and responders on any given shift.

The shared tenant approach addresses that directly. Each county retains the configuration, workflows, and local control it needs to run its own center. Both counties work from the same underlying platform, which removes the technical barriers that normally sit between separate CAD systems in adjacent jurisdictions.

“Two counties sharing one hosted CAD environment is not something you see often in rural public safety, and it took real coordination between both counties and our teams to get there,” said Michael Sturgeon, Senior Project Manager at Caliber Public Safety. “What matters is what the dispatchers and responders have now. Each county runs its own center the way it needs to, and neither one is working in isolation anymore.”

Capabilities Delivered

Highland County, which joined the Caliber CAD customer base with this project, is now operating Hosted CAD with integrated mapping and CJIS query, along with Google Places address validation and a LinX interface for regional information sharing. The county also uses Caliber’s Online RMS for sworn and non-sworn personnel. For dispatchers covering a county with one of the highest mean elevations east of the Mississippi River, verified addressing and immediate access to criminal justice data reduce the guesswork that slows down a call.

Bath County is operating Hosted CAD with mapping and CJIS query, plus interfaces to PulsePoint, RapidSOS with alerts. The RapidSOS connections put caller location and device data in front of the dispatcher at the start of the call, which matters in terrain where a caller may not be able to describe where they are. The PulsePoint interface extends cardiac arrest notifications to trained citizens and off-duty responders nearby, a meaningful addition in a county where response distances are long.

A Migration, Not Just an Implementation

Bath County has been a Caliber premise CAD and Online RMS customer for years. As part of this project, the county moved its premise-based system onto Hosted CAD, and Caliber completed a data conversion to bring the historical CAD databases forward into the new environment.

That piece is often the sticking point for agencies considering a move off a premise system. Years of call history, incident records, and master index data represent case continuity, state reporting obligations, and institutional knowledge. Data conversion is a formal, structured component of every Caliber implementation, with Caliber’s team managing the technical transformation, validation, and loading so that historically critical records carry over intact.

Caliber products are hosted at Nlets, the International Justice and Public Safety Network, and meet FBI CJIS policies, standards, and guidelines. The facilities include multi-site hot backup disaster recovery and redundant network paths to key state and federal entities.

Project Teams

The go-live required coordination among both counties and Caliber’s Professional Services, Deployment, Training, Engineering, and Support teams. Caliber congratulates the public safety professionals of Highland County and Bath County on a successful implementation and looks forward to a fruitful partnership.

About Caliber Public Safety

Caliber Public Safety provides integrated technology solutions for law enforcement, fire/EMS, corrections, and 911 communications agencies. The Caliber platform includes CAD, Mobile, Online RMS, and JailTracker, all built by and for public safety professionals. With a focus on reliability, interoperability, and ease of use, Caliber serves hundreds of agencies across the country, helping first responders spend less time on technology and more time serving their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highland-and-bath-counties-virginia-go-live-on-a-shared-caliber-hosted-cad-environment-302911615.html

SOURCE Caliber Public Safety

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ASSA ABLOY sells PKI business unit to Vista Equity Partners

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ASSA ABLOY has signed an agreement to sell HID’s PKI business unit to Vista Equity Partners (“Vista”).

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The PKI business unit (Public Key Infrastructure) provides digital trust, identity, authentication, encryption, and certificate management solutions. The business unit includes PKI SaaS – IdenTrust and HydrantID – credential management, and ZeroSSL.

“I find it very satisfying that with Vista, the PKI business unit and its employees and customers gain a committed long-term investor, creating new opportunities for the future and I wish them every success,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

“Our PKI team has built a strong business with a strong customer base, and Vista has the expertise to take it forward as the market evolves,” says Björn Lidefelt, EVP and Head of HID. “We are pleased with this outcome for our customers, our employees, and for HID.”

The divested business had sales in 2025 of MUSD 58 (approx. MSEK 570) with a strong operating margin.

The divestiture is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026.

For more information, please contact:
Nico Delvaux, President and CEO, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 82
Erik Pieder, CFO and Executive Vice President, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 72
Björn Tibell, Head of Investor Relations, tel. no: +46 70 275 67 68, e-mail: bjorn.tibell@assaabloy.com

About ASSA ABLOY
ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in access solutions. Every day we help people feel safe, secure and experience a more open world. We operate worldwide with 64,000 employees and sales of SEK 152 billion, with leading positions in areas such as efficient door openings, trusted identities and entrance automation. Our innovations enable safe, secure and convenient access to physical and digital places.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/assa-abloy/r/assa-abloy-sells-pki-business-unit-to-vista-equity-partners,c4410007

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/assa-abloy-sells-pki-business-unit-to-vista-equity-partners-302911805.html

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