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Canada and Nova Scotia Announce Major Investment in Wildfire Equipment and Enhance Wildfire Resilience

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HALIFAX, NS, Oct. 2, 2024 /CNW/ – With wildfires increasing in frequency and severity across Canada — impacting our health, economies, communities and wildlife — the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are supporting Canadians and Nova Scotians whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by wildfires.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, with the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, announced a joint investment of nearly $30 million over five years under the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (FMWCC) – Equipment Fund and the Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program.

A joint investment of $25.6 million through the FMWCC – Equipment Fund is supporting Nova Scotia’s efforts to purchase wildfire firefighting equipment such as helicopters, fire trucks, communication vehicles, incident command trailers, weather monitoring stations, technology upgrades, personal protective equipment and more. This investment increases Nova Scotia’s response capacity by buying and upgrading specialized firefighting equipment and training more personnel to support surge capacity needs. This investment will further enhance safety for communities and firefighters and improve wildfire resource sharing across Canada.

This funding also builds on last year’s contribution of $169,292 to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) to deliver wildfire firefighter training to Indigenous participants from several Mi’kmaq communities throughout Nova Scotia. The contribution came from Natural Resource Canada’s (NRCan) FMWCC – Training Fund, which provides support primarily to Indigenous communities and organizations to train firefighters and increase NRCan’s understanding of the needs and barriers in this space. Staff from the CIFFC and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables have delivered this training to 21 Mi’kmaw firefighters in 2023.

Through the RCF Program, Nova Scotia and NRCan will invest up to $3.9 million over five years aimed at preparing for wildfires, reducing risks before they occur and expanding the adoption of FireSmart principles and practices in Nova Scotia. With this funding, Nova Scotia will deliver educational and awareness activities related to wildfire prevention and community-based risk reduction. Nova Scotia is also using the funding to increase capacity to conduct wildfire risk assessments and develop tools to support wildfire prevention and mitigation. This initial investment is part of a series of joint investments aimed at supporting provincial and territorial efforts to advance FireSmart principles and practices to prevent wildfires and mitigate their impacts.

While reinforcing our country’s ability to respond to wildfires when they occur is essential, proactive investment will also help reduce risks before a wildfire happens. The federal government has invested in both areas by supporting fire agencies across the country to better prepare for and respond to wildfires and by implementing community-level measures to prevent and reduce the impacts of wildfires.

Keeping Canadians safe and healthy is a top priority for the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. By working with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the federal government continues to address and support the fight against wildfires to protect Canadian lives, as well as the health, safety, homes and livelihoods of our communities across the country.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is providing provinces, territories and partners with the support they need to address the challenges posed by wildfires. Today’s announcement with the Government of Nova Scotia highlights our commitment to working together to mitigate and respond to wildfires through the FMWCC Program and the promotion of FireSmart Canada as a national program. Through tangible and fast-flowing funding, the Government of Canada is helping for future challenges and longer, more intense wildfire seasons.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“We had our worst wildfire season in recorded history last year, and we don’t want to ever see that kind of devastation again. We know that wildfire is one of our top climate change risks, and we’re taking action to both prevent and prepare for them. Through agreements with our federal partners, we’re investing in equipment — including replacing our fleet of four helicopter water bombers — and we’re stepping up our prevention measures to help keep our people and our communities safe.”

The Honourable Tory Rushton
Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables.

Quick Facts

The FMWCC – Equipment Fund was launched in 2022 to proactively invest in and support provincial and territorial fire agencies’ efforts in strengthening fire management capacities and capabilities across the country. By facilitating the purchase of firefighting equipment, such as fire crew trucks and personal protective equipment, the fund aims to increase capacity to respond to wildfires.Under Natural Resources Canada’s FMWCC – Equipment Fund, provinces and territories must cost-share investments with the Government of Canada for equipment, such as vehicles, mobile units, avionics upgrades (parts), hoses, pumps and enhanced communications equipment, and for the repair of aging equipment and training.The FMWCC – Training Fund is providing $28 million over five years, starting in 2022–23, to train 1,000 firefighters and incorporate traditional knowledge in fire management. The fund includes a two-year Wildfire Training Pilot that ended in 2023–24 valued at $8.2 million, resulting in a total of 10 projects that mainly supported Indigenous organizations and communities. Over the next three years, starting in 2024–25, the Wildfire Training Fund has $16.8 million available to support successful applicants under the Call for Applications, which ended in February 2024.FireSmart Canada, a national program within the CIFFC, empowers Canadians to increase neighborhood resilience to wildfires and minimize their negative impacts. It offers resources, programs and recommendations designed to help individuals, landscape planners, forest managers and others protect homes and communities from wildfires.Visit Canada.ca/wildfires for a complete list of links to various federal supports for individuals impacted by wildfires.

Related products

Canadian Wildland Fire Information System: Monthly and Seasonal ForecastsCanadian Wildland Fire StrategyFighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate ProgramWildFireSat: Enhancing Canada’s ability to manage wildfiresWildfire Resilient Futures InitiativeWildfires -– Canada.caCanada’s National Adaptation Strategy: Building Resilient Communities and a Strong Economy

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AmeriTrust Solutions Expands Point-of-Care Medicaid Application Support to All 50 States

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Available today, the platform gives hospitals and RCM partners a practical way to help eligible patients pursue coverage without a major IT project.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AmeriTrust Solutions today announced that its Medicaid application platform is available across all 50 U.S. states. As hospitals and revenue cycle management (RCM) partners prepare for Medicaid changes under H.R.1, the platform gives them a practical way to help eligible patients pursue coverage and address uncompensated care at the point of care.

The platform addresses a source of uncompensated care that begins before billing: patients who may qualify for Medicaid but never complete an application. By simplifying the process when the need for coverage is immediate, AmeriTrust Solutions helps patients overcome application barriers and gives hospitals a path to reimbursement for care that might otherwise be written off.

The scale of the problem is substantial: U.S. community hospitals provided $42.7 billion in uncompensated care in 2020, according to the American Hospital Association.

Uninsured encounters are often written off as uncompensated care, even when patients may qualify for Medicaid. Long applications, confusing questions and information patients struggle to gather can stand between them and coverage, leaving hospitals without payment for care that could otherwise qualify for reimbursement.

“Hospitals already know what uncompensated care is costing them,” said Peter Justen, founder and CEO of AmeriTrust Solutions. “They need a practical way to help eligible patients get covered and create a path to payment for the care they provide. That starts with an application patients can actually finish.”

AmeriTrust Solutions uses verified third-party data to prefill available information and plain-language questions to guide patients through what remains. Patients review and certify their information before submission through the state’s existing process. The state makes every eligibility decision.

Available today, the platform is designed for straightforward deployment alongside existing hospital workflows, without a major IT project or replacement of state eligibility systems. Hospitals can begin submitting applications as soon as the platform is live, creating the potential for Medicaid reimbursement within weeks, depending on state eligibility decisions and claims processing. Hospitals can offer the experience under their own brand, giving existing teams a straightforward way to help patients complete applications at intake or the bedside.

RCM partners can add this capability to their hospital offering without developing Medicaid application technology internally. That gives them another way to support hospital clients serving uninsured and self-pay patients, with a focus on helping more applications reach submission.

As healthcare organizations evaluate AI and other new technologies, AmeriTrust Solutions puts the emphasis on a clear, guided application process and the value it can deliver. The platform uses verified information, relevant questions and applicant review to make a complex administrative task more manageable.

“The questions hospital leaders are asking are straightforward: What will this do for us, and how soon can we put it to work?” Justen said. “Our focus is helping patients complete applications now, so hospitals can begin addressing the coverage gaps that contribute to uncompensated care.”

Hospitals and RCM partners can learn more about the platform and discuss deployment at ameritrustsolutions.com/.

About AmeriTrust Solutions
AmeriTrust Solutions helps hospitals and RCM partners reduce uncompensated care by simplifying Medicaid applications at the point of care. Verified data prefill and guided questions help patients complete more accurate applications for submission through existing state eligibility processes. By reducing administrative burden and helping eligible patients access coverage, the company creates a clearer path to reimbursement—supporting rural hospital financial stability and helping preserve local access to care. Visit https://ameritrustsolutions.com/

Media contact
Tina Burgess
AmeriTrust Solutions
(202) 770-0272
pr@ameritrustsolutions.com

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SOURCE AmeriTrust Solutions

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University of Phoenix highlights career-focused, transfer credit-friendly degree programs

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University data highlights affordability as students apply transfer credits toward business, management, healthcare, technology and other career-focused degree programs while reducing education costs

PHOENIX, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — University of Phoenix is recognizing National Transfer Student Week by highlighting the degree programs receiving the highest volumes of transfer credits, demonstrating how adult learners are benefiting from affordability, transparency and certainty as they apply previously earned academic credit toward career-focused degrees. Many of these programs align with occupational fields projected for growth by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, underscoring how students are building on prior academic achievements while pursuing educational pathways connected to workforce needs.

According to University transfer-credit data for the past year, students applied more than 525,000 accepted transfer credits to the Bachelor of Science in Management program and more than 275,000 accepted transfer credits to the Bachelor of Science in Business program. University data also shows associate and bachelor students saved an average of more than $12,010 through transferred credits, excluding military students, underscoring the role transfer pathways can play in making higher education more affordable.

“Transfer credit can help students do more than save time and money,” said Devin Andrews, vice president, Office of Admissions and Evaluations. “It can help them continue making progress toward degrees that align with their professional goals. By recognizing eligible transfer credit, we help students build on what they have already accomplished and focus on the education and skills needed for the next phase of their careers.”

As University of Phoenix celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, the institution is reflecting five decades of helping working adults build on previous academic achievement and professional experience rather than start over. Today, transfer-credit pathways remain an important part of that mission, helping eligible students reduce costs while pursuing degrees aligned with career goals.

Students apply transfer credits across career-focused degree programs

University transfer-credit data shows students are applying significant volumes of transfer credit toward degree programs aligned with business, management, healthcare, public service and technology careers.

Programs receiving the highest volumes of accepted transfer credits include:

Bachelor of Science in Management: 525,085 accepted transfer credits and 447,622 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Business: 275,745 accepted transfer credits and 243,281 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Health Administration: 165,159 accepted transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration: 159,810 accepted transfer credits and 139,898 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Information Technology: 140,604 accepted transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Social Work: 135,583 accepted transfer credits.

These programs represent areas where students are frequently building on previously earned academic credits as they continue toward degree completion and career goals.

University of Phoenix transfer student Joshua Barron decided to earn his degree while working full time and raising his child. “I have always had a goal of earning my bachelor’s degree,” said Barron, who came to the University with previous college credit. “I transferred credits from another college and used self-paced provider options to accelerate my progress. What started as a goal became a clear path toward achieving the degree I wanted for my future.”

Affordable degree pathways align with growing workforce needs

Several of the University’s most popular transfer-friendly programs align with occupations projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to experience faster-than-average employment growth through 2034. Management occupations, Healthcare occupations, and Information Technology occupations all fall into high-growth categories according to BLS projections.

Learn more about transfer-credit opportunities

Students interested in learning how previously earned credits may apply toward a degree program can learn more here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is Built for Real Life. 50 Years Strong. The University innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Active students and alumni have access to Career Services for Life® resources including career guidance and tools. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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SOURCE University of Phoenix

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/C O R R E C T I O N – Verisave/

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In the news release, Verisave appoints Payments Veteran Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer to Drive Product Development and Growth, issued 22-Oct-2026 by Verisave over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

Verisave appoints Payments Veteran Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer to Drive Product Development and Growth

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Verisave, a leading provider of payments optimization solutions, today announced the appointment of Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2026. Lefebvre, who joins from Fiserv, succeeds Jeremy Layton, who will transition into the role of Founder and Chief Commercial Officer to ensure strategic continuity.

Lefebvre brings more than 30 years of executive leadership across payments, financial services and technology, with a track record of guiding companies through growth, transformation and successful exits. He led financial services for a major retailer and was selected to serve on the Merchant Advisory Board for the card networks. As COO of BankServ, he led the company’s national expansion and its successful exit. Lefebvre has since held C-suite roles at eCommerce sales and marketing companies, after which he founded CRC, a management and strategy consulting firm serving regulated companies in healthcare, energy and financial services. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Relationship Management for Grocery, Petroleum, and Technology at Fiserv, and was instrumental in reshaping their client engagement strategy.

“I am extremely proud of the work Verisave has done over the years,” said Jeremy Layton, Verisave Founder and Chief Commercial Officer. “I am confident in our ability to continue bringing solutions and transparency to an industry that is largely unregulated and highly complex. Our clients increasingly need better solutions to control costs and manage their payments proactively. Chris brings deep payments expertise and a track record of building products and solutions around this need.”

“Verisave has built something rare: a trusted platform that delivers real and measurable value for its clients,” said Chris Lefebvre. “What drew me to the role is how much opportunity lies ahead, both in deepening our core solutions and expanding our reach across the broader financial ecosystem. I’m energized by the prospect of working with such a talented team as we look to accelerate Verisave’s growth and bring even greater value to our clients.”

About Verisave
Verisave is a payments optimization and consultancy firm, specializing in merchant account, payments stack, processing fee, and interchange fee solutions. Verisave identifies wasted spend and inefficiencies within the payments operations and merchant account settings, bringing significant direct and operational cost savings to clients. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company is backed by Ceto Capital. Learn more at verisave.com

Media Contact:
Samuel Barber
sam@pitchr.ai

Correction: A headshot of Chris Lefebvre has been added.

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SOURCE Verisave

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