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Government of Canada invests $100 million in VITAL health data platform

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VITAL will securely connect hospital data to improve health services, accelerate research and support Canadian innovation

TORONTO, June 23, 2026 /CNW/ – Every day, Canada’s health system generates data that could help improve care, strengthen health services and accelerate medical innovation. But too often, that data remains fragmented across hospitals, systems and jurisdictions, making it harder for researchers, clinicians and innovators to use it responsibly for the benefit of Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, and Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, announced a $100 million investment in the VITAL health data platform.

VITAL is building digital infrastructure for health data using near real–time clinical data from hospitals across Canada. By securely connecting de-identified electronic health data from across different systems, VITAL will create the largest hospital data network in Canada, providing researchers with near real–time access to health data for research and innovation. VITAL will significantly expand Canada’s capacity to support cutting-edge research that addresses health care’s pressing challenges, and it will support high-impact clinical trials and strengthen Canada’s leadership in health data and AI innovation.

This $100 million investment, announced as part of Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All, builds on significant prior federal support for VITAL. Through the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy announced in Budget 2024 and the update provided in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada committed up to $30 million over three years for the initial development of VITAL across three provinces: Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Building on this momentum, in 2025, VITAL secured an additional $24.5 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for a $68 million project to expand participation to rural hospitals, develop clinical trials software and integrate medical imaging data.

Together, these investments will enable VITAL to connect clinical data from more hospitals across Canada, break down data silos and help turn Canadian health data into better care, better services and Canadian-made innovation, while protecting patient privacy.

Quality data is also the foundation for responsible AI in health care. AI applications are already running across multiple provinces for tasks such as predicting heart disease and detecting sepsis. And more than 80 Canadian companies are working with health data and AI to improve triaging, remote monitoring and diagnostics. VITAL gives them a national platform to build on and will allow Canadians across the country to benefit from these innovations.

By investing in secure digital infrastructure and improving access to high-quality health data, Canada is supporting faster research, stronger clinical trials, better informed decision making and innovative tools that improve outcomes for patients.

Quotes

“Better health data can mean better health care. Every day, our hospitals generate information that could help researchers discover new treatments, improve services and build the next generation of Canadian health innovation. VITAL will help unlock that potential in a secure, privacy-preserving way. By investing in VITAL, we are building a sovereign health data ecosystem, governed in Canada and guided by Canadian values, so that data and AI can deliver better care for Canadians.”
– The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Investments in initiatives like VITAL are helping create a secure, pan-Canadian platform that connects clinical data across the country, enabling researchers and healthcare providers to harness artificial intelligence responsibly, accelerate discovery, and unlock the full potential of health innovation and research.”
– Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

“VITAL positions Canada as an ideal place to develop health AI tools and advance discoveries that could save lives and make the health care system better for patients and families. The platform will help safeguard national data sovereignty by ensuring the population’s health data is owned and governed by Canadians, for the benefit of Canadians.”
– Dr. Fahad Razak and Dr. Amol Verma, co-founders of VITAL and physicians at St Michael’s Hospital, a site of Unity Health Toronto.

Quick facts

The first phase of VITAL connects 160 hospitals across Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, serving over 20 million Canadians.With this increased investment, the platform could expand to additional provinces and territories over the coming months.The VITAL platform is designed to be sovereign and secure. Each province and territory will maintain ownership and oversight of its hospital data. The data will be de-identified and managed under strict governance frameworks that comply with federal and provincial standards for health data protection. VITAL also incorporates Indigenous-led governance to respect data sovereignty and privacy of Indigenous data.

Associated links

Overview of Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for AllCanadian Sovereign AI Compute StrategyArtificial intelligence ecosystemCanada Foundation for Innovation

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Corgi Launches Digital Assets Coverage Endorsement for Directors and Officers Liability Insurance

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New endorsement affirms D&O coverage for organizations engaged in cryptocurrency, stablecoins, and other digital asset operations

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Corgi, the AI-native insurance carrier built for startups, today announced the launch of its Digital Assets Coverage Endorsement, a new policy enhancement designed to provide greater clarity and certainty for companies operating in the digital asset ecosystem.

The endorsement expressly affirms coverage under Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance for claims arising from organizations who have digital asset operations, including activities involving cryptocurrencies.

As digital asset businesses continue to mature, many founders and executives face uncertainty around how traditional insurance policies respond to emerging technologies and business models. The Digital Assets Coverage Endorsement is designed to address that uncertainty by explicitly recognizing digital asset operations within the scope of covered activities.

Digital asset companies have spent years navigating an insurance market that often treated blockchain businesses as exceptions,” said Emily Yuan, CEO and co-founder of Corgi. “We believe insurance should evolve alongside innovation. This endorsement provides founders, boards, and investors with greater confidence that their insurance coverage reflects the realities of how modern technology companies operate.”

The endorsement defines digital assets broadly to include blockchain-based and distributed ledger-based tokens, cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and other virtual assets, regardless of how they are classified under applicable law.

Importantly, the endorsement clarifies that an organization’s participation in digital asset operations, by itself, does not trigger policy exclusions. Coverage remains subject to all other policy terms, conditions, exclusions, retentions, and limits.

The launch reflects Corgi’s continued expansion into emerging technology risks and its commitment to building insurance products that align with the needs of innovative companies.

About Corgi
Corgi is an AI-native insurance carrier built for startups and high-growth technology companies. By combining proprietary underwriting technology, in-house claims handling, and modern insurance infrastructure, Corgi helps businesses secure coverage faster and manage risk more effectively as they scale.

Media Contact

Erika Lee

erika@corgi.insure

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/corgi-launches-digital-assets-coverage-endorsement-for-directors-and-officers-liability-insurance-302809823.html

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PS Hogan highlights launch of National Food Security Strategy

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CALGARY, AB, June 24, 2026 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada is focused on building a stronger economy and making life more affordable for Canadians. Today, Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation, on behalf of the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, highlighted the launch of the National Food Security Strategy in Calgary, Alberta.

Backed by more than $3 billion in investments over 10 years, this strategy will drive productivity and innovation, support independent grocers, and create greater competition across Canada’s food system to help lower prices for Canadians.  

PS Hogan outlined the Strategy’s four main objectives:

Spur grocery store competition and create more choice for Canadians 
Canada’s new government will invest $1 billion in food infrastructure – including new and expanded food terminals and hubs – to help independent grocers buy and move competitively-priced products without relying on supply networks owned by large retail chains. Additional funding will also provide the Competition Bureau and Competition Tribunal with more resources to investigate, prevent, and combat unfair business practices.Boost domestic food production across Canada   
For decades, we’ve been paying other countries to convert what we already have into what we really need. This Strategy changes that. This Strategy launches a new $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance Fund through Farm Credit Canada (FCC), and a $150 million Food Security Fund to help Canadian businesses grow, produce, and process more food in Canada. The Strategy will also create a $100 million Collaborative Food Innovation Fund to help producers make better use of what they already grow – expanding processing so more parts of each crop are used, and so more value is kept in Canada.Grow fruits and vegetables year-round   
We will invest $750 million to drastically expand year-round Canadian production of fruits and vegetables, through greenhouses, vertical farms, and other enclosed growing spaces, including in rural and Northern communities. The Strategy will reduce reliance on long, costly supply chains by expanding local food production.Cut red tape across the agricultural supply chain 
To reduce the regulatory burden on farmers and producers, we will modernize key regulations; speed up approvals for seeds, feed, fertilizers, and veterinary products; and reduce backlogs that slow down the system. This will help farmers access the tools they need sooner, increase productivity, and stabilise the food supply. The Strategy will also help provincially licensed food businesses meet federal requirements so that a Canadian product made in one province or territory can more easily reach a shelf in another.

A country’s sovereignty depends on its ability to feed itself, fuel itself, and defend itself. And right now, Canada is not fully in control of our own food system. Our overreliance on foreign suppliers has left us vulnerable to global shocks – to conflicts overseas, to droughts, and to tariffs. Our new National Food Security Strategy is about changing that. It is about putting Canadians back in control of what we grow, of what we buy, and of what we put on our tables, so that we can build a truly strong, affordable, resilient Canada for all.

Quotes 

“The National Food Security Strategy is about giving Canadians greater choice, control, and access to affordable, locally produced food. Through this made-in-Canada approach we will be able to process more of what our farmers grow, creating new jobs, economic opportunity and more food self-sufficiency. By reducing red tape and helping innovative businesses get projects off the ground faster, we will unlock new opportunities for farmers, food processors, and entrepreneurs across the agri-food sector.”
     –  The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food’

“This strategy takes practical steps to strengthen Canada’s food system by improving how food is produced, processed and delivered to communities, benefiting communities in Calgary. It will help create new opportunities for Canadian businesses while ensuring families have reliable access to affordable, locally grown food.”
    –  Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation

Quick Facts

The Strategy builds on federal measures already helping lower everyday costs for Canadians, including:Eliminating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for first-time homebuyers on new homes up to $1 million and reducing it on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.Making the National School Food Program permanent, providing school meals for up to 400,000 children each year and saving participating families with two children in school an estimated $800 annually on groceries.Cancelling the federal consumer carbon price effective April 1, 2025, helping lower gas prices in most provinces and territories by around 18 cents per litre compared to 2024-25.Launching the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, providing a family of four up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years, and a single person up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years – reaching more than 12 million Canadians.To support Canadians while building a stronger domestic food system, the government is also:Providing $20 million to food banks and community food organisations across the country through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund’s Community Support Stream.Through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Regional Development Agencies, the Government will call on industry leaders inviting them to put forward projects to improve the resilience and self-sufficiency in food processing by building new capacity, modernizing existing capacity and strengthening our support infrastructure. The Strategic Response Fund is to launch an early wave of its call for proposals in June 2026, followed by a second wave in the fall of 2026, in conjunction with Regional Development Agencies.Delivering immediate expensing for new or expanded greenhouse construction, providing upfront tax relief to help boost the domestic supply of fresh fruits and vegetables.Reforming the Nutrition North Canada program to improve food-related access, affordability, and long-term sustainability in Northern communities.

Additional Links 

National Food Security StrategyNational Food Security Strategy – placemat

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Monport Laser Kicks Off Prime Day Mid-Year Sale With Up to $600 Off and Free Gifts on Every Laser Machine

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Running June 23–30, the laser engraving brand’s biggest mid-year event combines tiered spending discounts with free accessories across its CO2 laser, fiber laser, and UV laser lineup.

NEW YORK, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Monport Laser, a manufacturer of CO2 laser, fiber laser, and UV laser engraver and laser cutter machines, today announced its Prime Day Mid-Year Sale, running June 23–30, 2026. The event pairs tiered spending discounts of up to $600 off with free bundled accessories across the brand’s desktop, industrial, and fiber laser engraver lines — giving hobbyists, small business owners, and production shops a wider window to upgrade equipment at mid-year prices.

“Create More. Save More” anchors this year’s event, with discounts structured to reward larger purchases rather than offering blanket markdowns. The tiered model lets customers stack savings with free gifts already built into select machine bundles, while one of the brand’s most popular industrial models, the Effi16s 150W Industrial CO2 laser engraver, is included at current pricing ahead of a planned price increase.

How the Tiered Savings Work

Unlike single flat-discount sales, Monport’s Mid-Year Sale rewards higher-tier laser engraver machines with proportionally larger dollar savings:

Shoppers can unlock instant discounts based on their purchase total:

Spend $999 or more, save $70Spend $1,999 or more, save $150Spend $2,999 or more, save $220Spend $3,999 or more, save $300Spend $6,999 or more, save $600

The highest spending tier delivers the largest savings of the event, allowing customers to maximize value when investing in professional fiber laser, CO2 laser, laser engraver, and laser cutter solutions.

Whether upgrading a workshop, expanding production capacity, or purchasing a first desktop CO2 laser, the tiered discount structure gives businesses and creators additional incentives to invest in equipment that supports long-term growth.

Free Gifts Bundled Into Every Series

Beyond the tiered discount, Monport is bundling free laser engraver accessories directly into its CO2 laser and fiber laser lines for the duration of the sale:

MegaS 70W desktop laser engraver: Free air assist pump + 2 metal marking spraysReno Series desktop CO2 laser: Free 2 metal marking sprays + 1 laser coolantEffi Series high-speed CO2 laser machines: Free 2 metal marking sprays + free LightBurn software license, plus $200 off a compatible conveyor systemGA / GT Fiber Laser Series: Free LightBurn software license + free M85 70mm F-theta field lens

For buyers comparing a desktop CO2 engraver against a fiber laser system for the first time, the bundled laser engraver software and lenses offset some of the most common first-year add-on costs.

Built for Hobbyists Through Production Shops

The Mid-Year Sale spans Monport’s full laser machine range:

Desktop CO2 Laser Engravers (Reno45, Reno45 Pro, Reno45 Pro Vision, Reno65, Reno65 Pro, Reno65 Pro Vision, MegaS 70W) — compact laser engravers with magnetic-assisted or camera-based autofocus, suited to makers, Etsy sellers, and small workshops working with wood, acrylic, and leather.Industrial CO2 Laser Engravers (Monport 60W, 90W, Effi9S, Effi16S) — higher-wattage systems with autofocus and, on the Effi series, a built-in water chiller for sustained production runs.Fiber Laser Engravers (GM Pro 20W–60W, GT 30W–200W Split MOPA, GA 60W/100W) — metal marking and engraving systems for shops doing color marking, deep engraving, and industrial part identification.UV Laser Engravers (6W, 10W) — precision marking for materials prone to heat damage or discoloration under CO2 and fiber lasers, including electronics and specialty packaging.

“Mid-year is when a lot of our customers are deciding whether to add a second machine or step up in wattage for the first time,” said Monport Laser CEO. “Structuring the discount by spend tier, instead of a single sitewide percentage, means the savings actually scale with the kind of upgrade someone is making.”

Shop with Confidence

Monport’s Prime Day Mid-Year Sale is designed to give customers more than just exceptional savings. Every eligible purchase is backed by Monport’s 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, providing added peace of mind when investing in professional laser equipment.

Whether you’re purchasing your first laser engraver, upgrading to a more powerful CO2 laser, or expanding production with a new fiber laser, Monport’s customer-focused support helps ensure a smooth purchasing experience. This added protection allows creators and businesses to invest with confidence while exploring new opportunities for growth and production.

Earn More with the Monport Loyalty Program

The savings don’t stop when the sale ends.

Customers can also join the Monport Loyalty Program for free and begin earning points and rewards every time they shop. Designed for makers, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses, the program offers ongoing opportunities to unlock additional value with every purchase.

Members can enjoy:

Earn points on eligible purchasesAccess exclusive rewards and member benefitsUnlock additional savings opportunitiesEnjoy special perks throughout the yearGet rewarded as your business and creativity grow

Monport’s loyalty program is built to give customers more of what they love—more savings, more perks, and more opportunities to level up their passion for creating.

Creators interested in maximizing the value of their laser investment are encouraged to learn more about the Monport Loyalty Program and start earning rewards today.

Limited-Time Opportunity

With substantial tiered discounts, exclusive bonus gifts, a 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, and ongoing rewards through the Monport Loyalty Program, the Prime Day Mid-Year Sale offers one of the best opportunities of the year to invest in a professional desktop CO2 laser, laser cutter, CO2 laser, fiber laser, or laser engraver.

The promotion runs through June 30, 2026, while supplies last.

About Monport Laser

Founded in 2021, Monport Laser is a laser engraving equipment manufacturer serving hobbyists, small businesses, and industrial customers with a range of CO2, fiber, and UV laser engraving and cutting machines, with power outputs from 40W to 200W. Monport’s product lineup includes standard features such as autofocus, water cooling, and LightBurn software compatibility, backed by a warranty of up to two years and free U.S.-based technical support. Monport ships orders from U.S. warehouses within 2–7 business days. Learn more at monportlaser.com.

Media Contact:
Monport Laser
Email: official@monportlaser.com
Website: https://monportlaser.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/monport-laser-kicks-off-prime-day-mid-year-sale-with-up-to-600-off-and-free-gifts-on-every-laser-machine-302809978.html

SOURCE Monport Laser

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