Maine can't enforce foreign election interference law that appeals court calls unconstitutional
Voters overwhelmingly approved a ban on foreign governments and companies with 5% or more foreign government ownership from donating to state referendum races. The law is one of a handful around the country that attempt to limit foreign influence on U.S. elections.
The law has been on hold pending federal lawsuits from utilities companies and media organizations that raise constitutional challenges about it. The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston said in court papers in July that it affirmed a lower-court ruling that the law likely violates the First Amendment.
'The prohibition is overly broad, silencing U.S. corporations based on the mere possibility that foreign shareholders might try to influence its decisions on political speech, even where those foreign shareholders may be passive owners that exercise no influence or control over the corporation's political spending,' wrote Judge Lara Montecalvo.
The matter was sent back to the lower court, where it will proceed, and there has been no substantive movement on it in recent weeks, said Danna Hayes, a spokesperson for the Maine attorney general's office, on Monday. The law is on the state's books, but the state cannot enforce it while legal challenges are still pending, Hayes said.
Voters approved the law in 2023 by a margin of 86% to 14%. It followed a multimillion-dollar effort by a Canadian-owned utility to influence a project in Maine in which it's a partner.
The law reflects the will of Maine residents to ensure clean elections, said Rick Bennett, chair of Protect Maine Elections, the committee formed to support the 2023 ballot initiative. He said the fight to save the law was still ongoing.
'Mainers spoke with one voice: our elections should belong to us, not to corporations owned or influenced by foreign governments whose interests may not align with our own,' Bennett said in a statement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
an hour ago
- Cision Canada
Minister Olszewski announces support for agriculture sector in Saskatchewan Français
Investments in manufacturing, agri-food, research and development, and value-added ag will boost innovation and expand the agriculture sector SASKATOON, SK, Aug. 12, 2025 /CNW/ - Saskatchewan is a world leader in agricultural production and innovation. To advance the Government of Canada's commitment to building a stronger, more resilient one Canadian economy, PrairiesCan is investing to help Saskatchewan to capitalize on those strengths. Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced over $4.2 million to support Saskatchewan's leading role in Canada's agriculture sector. These investments will enable advanced breeding capabilities for crops and livestock, expand local grain bin manufacturing, increase food processing opportunities, and promote value-added agriculture: The Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan (GIFS) to develop a genomic selection-based accelerated breeding program, through over $1.6 million in federal support. Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. is receiving funding of $2.1 million to install novel automation equipment for new grain bin manufacturing. The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) is receiving an investment of $420,000 to purchase equipment and renovate to increase co-packing capabilities and incubation space. Ag-West Bio Inc. will leverage funding of $20,000 to deliver the Agri-Value Forum in 2025 and 2026, an event to promote value-added agriculture in Saskatchewan. Quotes "In today's global landscape, food security and economic stability are top of mind — and Saskatchewan's agri-food sector is ready to lead. With deep expertise and a drive to innovate, producers and processors are driving economic growth and creating good jobs here at home while also strengthening Canada's position on the world stage. Our government's investments in the agri-food sector through PrairiesCan are helping grow one strong Canadian economy that works for Saskatchewan." –The Honourable Eleanor Olszewksi, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada "Saskatchewan farmers and agri-businesses know how to turn potential into results, and these investments in local innovation will help our producers grow more, process more, and sell more — right here at home and around the world." –The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development) and Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River "PrairiesCan's latest investment builds on its earlier investment into GIFS, strengthening our outcomes-driven, team-based model. By integrating cutting-edge platforms - high-throughput genotyping, engineering biology and data analytics - we deliver real-world impact through market-facing programs like our FCC Accelerated Breeding Program and Biomanufacturing. Our unique model—unmatched in Canada and uncommon globally—closes a critical innovation gap, reducing risk and accelerating the path from discovery to market for partners." –Dr. Steven R. Webb, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Global Institute for Food Security. "The Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan is committed to providing innovative solutions to feed the world's growing population. By building a robust accelerated breeding program, we aim to further enhance the inroads we've made in this growing field. These enhancements would not be possible without the continued support of PrairiesCan, and we thank them for their support and dedication to advancing and elevating the positive impact for Canada's agri-food sector." –Baljit Singh, Vice President Research, University of Saskatchewan "Moving our business from importing and retailing grain bins to manufacturing our own product in Watson, Saskatchewan is an extremely capital-intensive venture. PrairiesCan is crucial to businesses like ours that must make massive capital cost investments to create Canadian products and jobs." –Rebecca Paszt and Tom Dooley, Co-owners, Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. Quick facts Saskatchewan accounts for almost 40% of the country's total farm area and a value-added ag sector that has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Investments announced today are expected to create over 30 new jobs, $7 million in export revenue, and $51 million in new commercialization revenue growth. Backgrounder PrairiesCan is investing $4,201,298 for four projects in Saskatchewan through the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program and the Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program. Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program – $2,100,000 The BSP program supports high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up, and commercialize technology. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of two years. PrairiesCan announced an investment for one project under BSP: Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. - $2,100,000 Venlaw is installing novel automation equipment for manufacturing new grain bins in Watson, Saskatchewan. PrairiesCan funding will help Venlaw purchase equipment for the manufacturing scale-up of a roof roll forming and sidewall line, material handling equipment for finished goods preparation, a finished goods cold storage building and costs around export market development. This investment will reduce imports of manufactured products and replace them with Canadian-made products that utilize Canadian steel and local supply chains. Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program - $2,101,298 The RIE program helps create, grow, and nurture inclusive regional ecosystems. Through RIE, targeted investments in not-for-profit organizations assist businesses in priority sectors to innovate, grow, and compete globally. PrairiesCan announced investments for three projects under RIE: Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan (GIFS) - $1,661,298 GIFS is developing a genomic selection-based accelerated breeding program that will extend advanced breeding capabilities to companies and breeding organizations, bringing higher-yielding and higher-quality livestock, pulses, and other crops to market quicker. This investment builds on previous support to GIFS, including $2.5 million in 2022 which helped build Canada's only biomanufacturing facility advancing sustainable agriculture and innovative food ingredients. Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) - $420,000 The Food Centre will purchase equipment and renovate their space to increase co-packing capabilities and incubation space for the value-added agriculture sector in the Prairies. PrairiesCan has proudly supported the Food Centre as they have grown over the years to expand food processing in Saskatchewan, including an investment of $1 million in 2023 to enhance their co-packing capacity for agri-food clients. Ag-West Bio Inc. - $20,000 Ag-West Bio is receiving support to deliver the Agri-Value Forum in 2025 and 2026, an event including a conference, workshops, and tours to promote value-added agriculture in Saskatchewan. The Agri-Value Forum has been supported by PrairiesCan since 2021 and attracts more than 200 attendees each year from across the province and Canada. Recently the Forum has added an additional half day of learning workshops to assist small and medium sized enterprises addressing specific current challenges, such as cybersecurity, workforce training, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Associated links Global Institute for Food Security Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. Ag-West Bio Inc. Stay connected Follow PrairiesCan on X and LinkedIn Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378 TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada
an hour ago
Country singer Dallas Smith winks at Trump's annexation threats with 51-date tour
Country singer Dallas Smith isn't looking to stir the political pot, but he admits it's no coincidence that his upcoming Canadian concert tour is booked for 51 dates. In a wink to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of making Canada the 51st state, the British Columbia-born country singer and frontman of rock band Default says he's investing in his homeland with an acoustic tour that rolls through 51 communities starting this fall. We were close to that number and then we said let's just make that happen, he said with a laugh in a recent interview. It was important for me to come, especially at this time, [with] a lot of Canadian pride. I want to get out there, really go hard, and visit all these places that I haven't been and see the country. The Dallas Smith & His Band (Unplugged) tour will focus on places he's never toured before and is mostly booked in small theatre venues of several hundred to a thousand seats. Enlarge image (new window) Dallas Smith poses on the red carpet at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Photo: The Canadian Press / Jeff McIntosh He starts in Fort St. John, B.C., on Oct. 3 and continues to less-travelled communities such as Kitimat, B.C., Enoch, M.B. and Wingham, Ont. By the time it's over, Smith will have wound through nine of the 10 provinces — skipping Newfoundland and Labrador and the territories — reaching his final stop in Belleville, Ont., on Dec. 14. Sporting a red-brimmed maple leaf baseball cap emblazoned with Canada, Smith explained the reasons behind making Canada his main focus for the rest of the year. There is a lot going on in the U.S. that goes against my upbringing and what I think is right, he said in a video chat from Nashville, where he was meeting with his management. So why not double down and spend the time in a place that I really want to enjoy and be around my people? 'Nooks and crannies' of Canada Few Canadian musicians take on the challenge of playing so many small markets. Life on the road can be mighty expensive once accounting for all the people required to carry a tour. With his band Default, Smith is more familiar with big venues, music festivals and major events, such as the Calgary Stampede, where he's roared through hits like Wasting My Time and Deny . LISTEN | Smith talks about switching to country (new window) He intends to revisit some of those older songs on this tour with stripped-back versions, while sharing stories of his upbringing, music career and newer solo tracks, including How Do You Miss Me and Drop . The concept is inspired by the MTV Unplugged sessions of the 1990s made famous by Nirvana and Alice In Chains. Smith said he's been throwing around the idea of exploring the nooks and crannies of Canada since before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the plan never took shape. More recently, alongside his management team, he mapped out a budget to make it happen, shedding the lavish perks and complex lighting rigs for something more modest — a single bus, trailer, full band and most of his regular crew. Together they'll work on a tight schedule that, at times, sees them booked for six consecutive nights in six different cities before they have a break. To make it happen, their stage setup will be minimal. We're gonna dial back and allow the beauty of these venues to kind of lead the way and be the backdrop, he added. Smith's approach might seem counter to the music industry trend of making shows bigger and more social media friendly — think towering digital screens and gimmicky celebrity appearances. But he said he's often rejected those pressures, and with this tour, he focused on making tickets affordable, within the $60 to $100 range, without impacting the live performance. I did not want to sacrifice how these songs would be played, Smith said. I love the guys in my band; they're like brothers to me. Playing these songs together, and paying them a full wage where they feel valued ... and balancing that with ticket price, it's a little tricky, but we landed in a good spot where everybody feels really happy.
Calgary Herald
an hour ago
- Calgary Herald
Federal government commits $45.7M to boost wildfire prevention and response
Article content With wildfire season underway across much of Canada, the federal government is earmarking $45.7 million for 30 projects aimed at strengthening Canada's wildfire prevention, mitigation and recovery. Article content Natural Resources Canada says the projects, funded through its Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program, are focused on advancing research to protect Canadians from the growing threat of wildfires, strengthen risk assessments and improve mitigation and adaptive forestry practices. Article content Article content Article content The funding was announced Tuesday by Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan. Article content Article content Hogan said the funding will help close knowledge gaps, improve risk assessments and support Indigenous-led projects that restore cultural fire stewardship. Article content Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson said protecting the safety, health, and economic well-being of communities across Canada is a top priority amid ongoing wildfires threats. Article content 'Our government is leading efforts to strengthen wildfire management and reduce wildfire risks in Canada,' Hodgson said in a statement. 'Today's announcement will allow us to prepare for future challenges by advancing wildfire knowledge, accelerating risk and mitigation strategies, and supporting Indigenous fire stewardship to build resilience and protect Canadian families and homes.' Article content Article content Eleanor Olszewski, minister of emergency management and community resilience, said the money is part of a broader plan to bolster Canada's disaster preparedness.
