Latest news with #CAFC
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
National strategy to fight wildfires needed, fire chiefs say
Raging wildfires that have forced mass evacuations and triggered states of emergency in two Canadian provinces have led to renewed calls for a federal agency responsible for fire management and emergency co-ordination. The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs has advocated for a national fire administration for close to a decade, its calls increasing in urgency after the country experienced its most destructive wildfire season on record in 2023. 'The significant increase of wildfires in Canada has continued to remind us of the importance of not stopping, and not giving up this effort,' CAFC president Ken McMullen said in an interview on Tuesday. 'In fact, these fires remind us that the importance of this increases every day.' Thousands of hotel rooms opened for wildfire evacuees from Western Canada The association, which represents about 3,200 fire departments across Canada, has had productive conversations with former ministers of emergency preparedness Bill Blair and Harjit Sajjan, who, along with former prime minister Justin Trudeau, had acknowledged a need for some sort of a national disaster response agency. However, with the 2025 wildfire season well under way, Canada remains one of the few G7 countries without such an agency. This week, Mr. McMullen's association wrote to federal party leaders, their top aides and key ministries, reiterating its call to co-ordinate fire-related matters through a national fire administration. It has not yet received a reply. The Ministry of Emergency Management and Community Resilience did not respond to a request from The Globe and Mail for comment on Tuesday. In the U.S., the Federal Emergency Management Agency co-ordinates the federal response to all types of large-scale disasters, working with states, Tribal Nations and territories. The U.S. Fire Administration operates within FEMA and focuses on fire prevention, education, research and training. Wildfire smoke map: Which parts of Canada are under air quality warnings? Currently, provinces and territories are primarily responsible for their own wildfire management, with support from the federal government. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre co-ordinates firefighting resources for wildland fire management agencies in Canada and internationally, handling requests for additional personnel, equipment, aircraft, information and expertise. Ali Asgary, a professor of disaster and emergency management at York University in Toronto, said current arrangements are neither sufficient nor efficient in managing or responding to multiple and multiprovincial emergencies across Canada. 'The existing level of support often comes too late, and not up to the tasks at hand, since the personnel are not trained for such tasks, and the required resources are not organized and distributed well for an immediate and rapid response,' he said. A Canadian FEMA-like organization would enable local governments 'to do more and better with their limited resources, and benefit from an economy of scale that saves a lot when such resources are available to all provinces.' Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C., said Canada would benefit from a federal firefighting force that can deploy quickly and proactively – based on fire weather forecasts – under a unified command, without the jurisdictional issues of the current approach. 'Right now when you make the call, there will be three days before you see that firefighter, that pump, that hose, that helicopter on the fire line,' he said. 'Many times, that's three days too late.' Prof. Flannigan noted that while some wildland firefighting agencies – such as those in B.C. and Alberta – are moving toward pro-active resource deployment, the changing climate requires Canada take a more comprehensive approach. Mr. McMullen, the CAFC president, noted that the role of a national fire administration would reach far beyond wildfire response and prevention. As cities grappling with housing shortages mull building code changes to allow for single-stairwell apartments, for example, the office could provide a high-level subject matter expert on fire safety issues. A national fire administration could also advise on federal policy such as that involving electric vehicles and lithium ion batteries, climate adaptation and the transportation of dangerous goods, he said.
Sky News
30-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Federal judges rule Trump tariffs can stay in place for now - as president rages at trade court's 'country threatening decision'
A federal appeals court has ruled that Donald Trump's sweeping international tariffs can remain in place for now, a day after three judges ruled the president exceeded his authority. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) has allowed the president to temporarily continue collecting tariffs under emergency legislation while it considers the government's appeal. It comes after the Court of International Trade blocked the additional taxes on foreign-made goods after its three-judge panel ruled that the Constitution gives Congress the power to levy taxes and tariffs - not the president. The judges also ruled Mr Trump exceeded his authority by invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The CAFC said the lower trade court and the Trump administration must respond by 5 June and 9 June, respectively. Trump calls trade court 'backroom hustlers' Posting on Truth Social, Mr Trump said the trade court's ruling was a "horrible, Country threatening decision," and said he hopes the Supreme Court would reverse it "QUICKLY and DECISIVELY". After calling into question the appointment of the three judges, and suggesting the ruling was based on "purely a hatred of 'TRUMP'," he added: "Backroom 'hustlers' must not be allowed to destroy our Nation! 1:14 "The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs. In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. "If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power -- The Presidency would never be the same!" The US president unveiled the controversial measures on "Liberation Day" in April, which included a 10% tariff on UK imports and caused aggressive sell-offs in the stock market. Mr Trump argued he invoked the decades-old law to collect international tariffs because it was a "national emergency". 3:16 Tariffs 'direct threat' to business - Schwab The trade court ruling marked the latest legal challenge to the tariffs, and related to a case brought on behalf of five small businesses that import goods from other countries. Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel for the Liberty Justice Center - a nonprofit representing the five firms - said the appeal court would ultimately agree that the tariffs posed "a direct threat to the very survival of these businesses". US treasury secretary Scott Bessent also told Fox News on Thursday that the initial ruling had not interfered with trade deal negotiations with partners. He said that countries "are coming to us in good faith" and "we've seen no change in their attitude in the past 48 hours," before saying he would meet with a Japanese delegation in Washington on Friday.
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
How people can stay safe during wildfire season
Watch Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs Paul Boissonneault shares some tips for people to stay safe when wildfires happen.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Scammers are using ads featuring Canadian media personalities like Marilyn Denis and Kelsey McEwan. Here's how they work — and how to falling for them
March is Fraud Prevention Month, which helps raise awareness about the methods and tactics scammers use to take advantage of people — and the warning signs to look for to protect yourself and your loved ones. The internet and social media have made it easier than ever for scammers to exploit the likenesses of public figures in their schemes. Last year, several well-known Canadian women in the media, including meteorologist Kelsey McEwen, talk show host Marilyn Denis and chef Mary Berg, have spoken out about their images being used in fake advertisements or articles on social media. These fake posts can be found on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X (formerly known as Twitter), among other social media platforms. They're generally linked to websites that may look familiar, but are fake, and try to get the user to enter banking information. In August 2024, McEwen took to Instagram after seeing fake ads about herself. In a video, she included screenshots of some of the fake articles, with one that read, 'Police searched Kelsey McEwen's house and were shocked by what they found.' Another included edited images of her face with fake bruises. 'There are some fake ads online right now using my face and my name and writing these awful headlines to get you to click through because they're trying to scam you,' she said in the Instagram Reel. 'They're trying to get you to not only get the clicks but also enter your credit card information and buy God knows what, probably nothing, just take your money.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kelsey McEwen (@kelseymcewen) 'Please do not click these. They are fake and there's nothing atrocious going on in my life other than I haven't had a full night of sleep in a really long time,' the mom continued. But how exactly do these scams work, who are they targeting, and what can you do to protect yourself? Here's what you need to know. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), scammers are increasingly using photos and likenesses of public figures to add credibility to their fraudulent efforts. The CAFC told Yahoo Canada in a statement that these scams often include romance scams, investment fraud and extortion. They rely on the trust people have towards these public figures to con victims who wouldn't suspect it. In 2023 alone, the CAFC received 4,010 reports of investment scams, for example, with 3,631 victims losing a total of more than $309 million. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE), along with various Government of Canada partners, recently launched a campaign to educate Canadians on how these types of scams work and what to look out for. According to the CSE, 'The scam technique that uses the name and image of public figures is a type of social engineering, and if their likeness is used to promote a product or to click on a link, whether real or fake, it could lead to possible phishing scams.' Social media platforms are also grappling with deceptive content. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, told Yahoo Canada it's against its policies to run ads that use public figures to scam people out of money. 'We have put substantial resources towards tackling these kinds of ads and have improved our enforcement significantly, including suspending and deleting accounts, Pages and ads that violate our policies,' a Meta spokesperson explained. Facebook has also developed specific detection models for 'celeb-bait' ads. However, Meta emphasized that this issue is not unique to its platforms: 'It's important to note that this isn't new, nor limited to Meta's platforms. It's plagued the online ad world for years, and we don't expect this fight to be over any time soon.' YouTube, for example, has strict policies in place to protect users from deceptive content. 'Protecting our users is a top priority, and we have strict ads and content policies to protect people from scams,' a Google spokesperson told Yahoo Canada. 'Our enforcement teams are constantly monitoring ads and content on YouTube to ensure that bad actors do not deceive users, including by impersonating celebrities and other public figures. When we find ads that violate our policies, we take immediate action, including removing the ads and suspending advertiser accounts when necessary.' The short answer? Everyone. The CAFC stated these scams do not discriminate based on demographic factors, making virtually anyone a potential target. With social media, scammers can cast a wide net and reach people who may not be aware of how deceptive ads can be. According to Google, its platforms have strict ads policies that govern the types of ads allowed. That includes prohibiting the use of manipulated media like deepfakes and other doctored content designed to deceive. It also does not allow ads that imply affiliation with or endorsement by public figures without their knowledge or consent. This year, Google announced a policy update that allows its teams to take stronger action against accounts promoting fake endorsements or affiliations with public figures. The goal of these scams is simple: 'Duping the victim out of their hard earned money,' the CAFC said. When someone clicks on a fake ad or article, they can unknowingly install malware (a virus or spyware) on their device, be directed to a phishing site that steals their financial details, or be emotionally manipulated into donating money to a fake cause. Data harvesting is another common tactic, where visiting a fraudulent website allows scammers to collect personal details like IP addresses, location data and browsing activity, which can then be used for targeted scams. 'In general, fake articles and 'deepfakes' are tools scammers use to deceive and exploit people for financial gain and access to personal or financial data,' CAFC explained. The CSE emphasized that these scams are designed to manipulate and misinform the public. Janny Bender Asselin of the CSE noted, 'There are many layers to these types of social media posts, and it is important to be aware of all these layers and ask questions if it doesn't seem quite right.' Facebook (Meta) encourages users to report suspected scam ads so that they can investigate and take action. Similarly, in 2023 alone, Google blocked or removed more than 206.5 million ads that violated its misrepresentation policy. Google uses both human reviewers and AI (artificial intelligence) to identify and respond to content that violates its policy. 'LLMs can begin enforcing policy violations far more quickly and with less data, making our enforcement efforts more nimble and effective against emerging threats,' the spokesperson explained. YouTube also uses machine learning to find and remove 'deceptive behaviour' quickly. In the second quarter of 2024, YouTube removed more than 8.4 million videos that violated its Community Guidelines. More than 96 per cent of those videos were flagged by automated systems before human intervention. Scammers often choose high-profile personalities because they bring legitimacy to their schemes. For example, Kelsey McEwen's trusted presence as a meteorologist and TV personality can make an ad seem more credible to viewers who recognize her. This tactic is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust that public figures have built with their audiences over time. She's not alone. Talk show host Marilyn Denis was targeted a few years back, and took to X at the time reminding her followers to not purchase from scams that uses her likeness. Over the last 2 1/2 years scammers have used my name & likeness to promote products I do not endorse. It's a scam! Do NOT buy! Whether it's skincare or anything else, if you have been scammed here's what you do. — Marilyn Denis (@MarilynDenisCTV) September 20, 2021 MasterChef Canada winner Mary Berg was targeted on X earlier this year, with edited photos seeming like she's in handcuffs and a link leading to a fake news site. That site was found to be linked to a cryptocurrency trading platform, The Canadian Press reported. Meteorologist McEwen urged her Instagram followers to be cautious: 'Please do not get scammed by this. If you see these ads just report them, you can send me a link to them or screenshot it. We're working to get them taken down.' She assured she and her family are OK — and reiterated there's not much she can do about it. 'I'm sorry this is happening but it's not something we can control other than to try and get it taken down,' she told followers. The CAFC said it's important to be vigilant when seeing online ads or articles that seem too good to be true. Here's what you can do: 1. Research Social media users should do their research 'before clicking on ads and parting with any of their hard earned funds.' Legitimacy of ads or offers can be verified by searching the internet for discussions on forums, as there are many alerts posted about fake ads already. 2. Verify investment platforms When investing, always verify that a platform or website is registered with the respective regulatory bodies in your province and check forums for discussions. The Securities Commissions often post alerts regarding fake investment platforms. 'If it sounds too good to be true, it most definitely is,' the CAFC cautioned. Those who come across suspicious posts or ads on social media can report them. On YouTube, for example, users can report a post by clicking the three dots that appear next to an ad and completing a short form.
