Latest news with #Lohr
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Groups begin lobbying N.S. government over potential booze sale changes
With the provincial government launching consultation on whether to expand sales points for alcohol in Nova Scotia, interested parties are not waiting for a phone call. Organizations on both sides of the issue have started issuing news releases and open letters to Finance Minister John Lohr, whose department is overseeing the process. Lohr announced last week that Infuse Public Relations and Crestview Strategy will collectively manage the public opinion polling of 1,500 random people and stakeholder engagement with 194 groups. The contract for the work is worth $300,000. A news release this week from the Atlantic division of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said 77 per cent of small businesses in Nova Scotia support allowing convenience stores and grocery stores to sell alcohol. "This moment is the government's chance to support local retailers at a time when over six in 10 are experiencing lower demand, and provide much-needed shelf space to local producers," Duncan Robertson, the federation's director of legislative affairs, said in the release. The CFIB's recommendations include allowing the sale of beverages that do not exceed alcohol by volume of 7.1 per cent in convenience and grocery stores — similar to steps taken in Ontario — and opening those rules to all small businesses, not just large retailers. Nova Scotia already permits alcohol to be sold in some private wine and specialty stores, in on-site stores at breweries and wineries, and farmers' markets. Lohr also received an open letter this week from a group of 14 doctors who specialize in addiction medicine, urging the government not to expand alcohol sales because it would increase consumption and "worsen individual and societal harms." "Every day we care for patients and families suffering from alcohol use disorder and medical complications of alcohol use," the letter said. "Alcohol causes more than 500 deaths, 5,000 hospital admissions, and 35,000 emergency department visits in Nova Scotia each year, and creates more health care and social costs to our province than any other substance." The doctors went on to say that revenue earned through taxation on alcohol sales does not compensate for society-wide costs of health harms, violence and driving accidents attributable to alcohol. They wrote that alcohol is already widely available in Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation retail and agency stores. "It is crucial that the government keeps control of alcohol distribution to minimize further public costs and health harms," they said. Finance Department officials said 194 groups are included in stakeholder engagement so far. That includes 126 craft breweries, wineries and distillers, along with another 11 groups or agencies also in favour of opening things up, such as the Retail Council of Canada. Jim Cormier, the group's Atlantic director of government relations, said members have been looking at this issue particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. "They've been looking at any way to try and get more people to get away from online shopping, using their smartphones to shop, and get them to come out to go into bricks-and-mortar stores," he said in an interview. Cormier said there can be extended benefits for the local economy by getting people into retail stores where it's possible to cross-promote Nova Scotia craft beer, wine and spirits with other products, such as cheese, berries and glassware. "Obviously it would be more than just Nova Scotia products, but that's the pitch we're making," he said. Council members are looking for things to be as open as possible so there are no winners or losers, said Cormier. "If you're in a rural community and there happens to be a hardware store and they think that they could make a case that they could sell beer and do so in a responsible manner and meet all the rules and regulations, why shouldn't they be allowed to at least apply to do that?" Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg, a pediatric emergency physician and a trauma team leader at the IWK Health Centre, said it is vital that the government not make any changes without first speaking to the people responsible for caring for those most impacted by alcohol. During her 10 years working in Nova Scotia since moving from Ontario where she also practised medicine, Weerdenburg said she's seen an increase in the number of young people presenting to the emergency department with intoxication. Data needs to be reviewed under the current regulatory regime to understand what's happening before access is expanded, she said. "I do start to get more concerned nowadays, if kids have more access, what their futures will look like." Weerdenburg is also a member of the Nova Scotia Alcohol Policy Coalition, which recently wrote to the government outlining its concerns. The group is one of several dozen representing interests related to health care, intimate partner violence prevention, addictions and marginalized communities slated to be consulted. Although the stakeholder list does not include Nova Scotia Health, the IWK Health Centre or Public Health, a Finance Department spokesperson said the three agencies would be consulted as part of an internal engagement process for government departments. MORE TOP STORIES
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Investors are pressuring companies to get serious about AI
CEOs face pressure from investors to enhance their AI strategies. Investor demand for AI adoption surged from 68% to 90% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, according to KPMG. One investor told BI there's no board of a VC-backed startup that isn't discussing AI. Executives, investors, and boards are united on one thing: AI. Last month, enterprise AI company Dataiku published a survey that showed that CEOs are putting pressure on themselves, and each other, to ramp up their AI strategy. But a new report from KPMG shows that some of the heat is coming from investors. Investor pressure to adopt AI has jumped from 68% to 90% from the last quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, according to the firm's survey of 130 executives from a mix of public and private companies with over $1 billion in revenue. KPMG's head of ecosystems Todd Lohr said he expects investors to double down more, potentially driving a rise in activism. "There's a signal of 'change is going to continue to come,' especially if you're not moving fast enough," he told Business Insider. "There's going to be others that are going to move your hand for you." Lohr said board members, too, are becoming more attuned to AI. "I do a lot of speeches for boards and board members, and they're getting pretty deep on the technology because they want to make sure they're asking the right questions for how it's going to disrupt their businesses," he said. Several venture capitalists told BI that they are actively driving their portfolio companies to deploy AI. "We've been working with our portfolio companies to incorporate GenAI features into their product portfolios," Jai Das, president and partner at enterprise technology firm Sapphire Ventures, told BI. "AI is a generational shift, and companies that don't embrace it in a big way will be history footnotes versus becoming companies of consequence." Maria Palma, general partner at Freestyle Capital, said the firm has been having discussions with all its portfolio companies on how they are integrating AI. It's also hosting a series of "optional sessions on AI's potential to improve workflows across various departments, like engineering or marketing," she wrote to BI by email. In the age of AI, Palma's thesis is that companies should have "strong peripheral vision" so they can keep an eye on the tools competitors are deploying. "Adopting AI in your company won't guarantee its survival. But the lack of it? That will guarantee to put your company at a huge disadvantage, and ultimately place it on a path toward extinction," she wrote. In some cases, though, companies are scrambling to save face. They're applying AI features as a quick fix rather than analyzing where they can achieve real gains, founders of companies developing those AI features told BI. This results in an "AI arms race that creates real risks," Florian Douetteau, Dataiku's CEO, told BI. "Without a unified strategy across the business, organizations expose themselves to chaos: siloed experimentation of point solutions, unmonitored AI application usage, data leakage, cost overruns, and more," Douetteau said. "AI is raw power, and it can only work to drive measurable business results if it is controlled." Darren Louie, a vice president at Proof — a platform for digital identity and verifications — echoed the idea. "Investor expectations are understandably rising, so businesses are under growing pressure to demonstrate ROI on their AI initiatives, but many of these companies have serious and valid concerns about compliance and security," Louie said. Across the board, spending on software has accelerated among Global 2000 enterprises in the last two quarters, said FirstMark Capital's Matt Turck. Within that, there's been a "meaningful increase" in spend on AI tooling and applications as companies move from consulting projects and proof of concepts to deploying AI, Turck told BI via text. That means discussions about AI are happening constantly, he said. "As an investor, I don't think there's any board of VC-backed startups where there isn't a current conversation on using AI throughout the company to increase efficiency across functions like development, sales, marketing, etc," he said. The big question, though, is whether the Trump Administration's sweeping new tariffs will change things, he said. The "tariff nonsense is particularly painful because it may (or may not) have stopped that trend — we'll see what the Q2 numbers look like," Turck said. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Investors are pressuring companies to get serious about AI
Executives, investors, and boards are united on one thing: AI. Last month, enterprise AI company Dataiku published a survey that showed that CEOs are putting pressure on themselves, and each other, to ramp up their AI strategy. But a new report from KPMG shows that some of the heat is coming from investors. Investor pressure to adopt AI has jumped from 68% to 90% from the last quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, according to the firm's survey of 130 executives from a mix of public and private companies with over $1 billion in revenue. KPMG's head of ecosystems Todd Lohr said he expects investors to double down more, potentially driving a rise in activism. "There's a signal of 'change is going to continue to come,' especially if you're not moving fast enough," he told Business Insider. "There's going to be others that are going to move your hand for you." Lohr said board members, too, are becoming more attuned to AI. "I do a lot of speeches for boards and board members, and they're getting pretty deep on the technology because they want to make sure they're asking the right questions for how it's going to disrupt their businesses," he said. Several venture capitalists told BI that they are actively driving their portfolio companies to deploy AI. "We've been working with our portfolio companies to incorporate GenAI features into their product portfolios," Jai Das, president and partner at enterprise technology firm Sapphire Ventures, told BI. "AI is a generational shift, and companies that don't embrace it in a big way will be history footnotes versus becoming companies of consequence." Maria Palma, general partner at Freestyle Capital, said the firm has been having discussions with all its portfolio companies on how they are integrating AI. It's also hosting a series of "optional sessions on AI's potential to improve workflows across various departments, like engineering or marketing," she wrote to BI by email. In the age of AI, Palma's thesis is that companies should have "strong peripheral vision" so they can keep an eye on the tools competitors are deploying. "Adopting AI in your company won't guarantee its survival. But the lack of it? That will guarantee to put your company at a huge disadvantage, and ultimately place it on a path toward extinction," she wrote. In some cases, though, companies are scrambling to save face. They're applying AI features as a quick fix rather than analyzing where they can achieve real gains, founders of companies developing those AI features told BI. This results in an "AI arms race that creates real risks," Florian Douetteau, Dataiku's CEO, told BI. "Without a unified strategy across the business, organizations expose themselves to chaos: siloed experimentation of point solutions, unmonitored AI application usage, data leakage, cost overruns, and more," Douetteau said. "AI is raw power, and it can only work to drive measurable business results if it is controlled." Darren Louie, a vice president at Proof — a platform for digital identity and verifications — echoed the idea. "Investor expectations are understandably rising, so businesses are under growing pressure to demonstrate ROI on their AI initiatives, but many of these companies have serious and valid concerns about compliance and security," Louie said. Across the board, spending on software has accelerated among Global 2000 enterprises in the last two quarters, said FirstMark Capital's Matt Turck. Within that, there's been a "meaningful increase" in spend on AI tooling and applications as companies move from consulting projects and proof of concepts to deploying AI, Turck told BI via text. That means discussions about AI are happening constantly, he said. "As an investor, I don't think there's any board of VC-backed startups where there isn't a current conversation on using AI throughout the company to increase efficiency across functions like development, sales, marketing, etc," he said. The big question, though, is whether the Trump Administration's sweeping new tariffs will change things, he said. The "tariff nonsense is particularly painful because it may (or may not) have stopped that trend — we'll see what the Q2 numbers look like," Turck said.
CBS News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Pirates fan asked to remove bag from his head during game, team cites safety reasons
A Pirates fan hoping to send a silent but clear message about the state of the team was forced to remove the bag he was wearing on his head, prompting the team to explain why the symbolic gesture isn't allowed for safety reasons. Frustrated by the play on the field, the Clemente logo removal, and the Bucco Bricks disappearance, season-ticket holder Tom Lohr decided to wear a brown paper bag on his head to Wednesday's game. "It sends a message that wearing a bag on our head that we're proud to be Pirates fans but were embarrassed of the product on the field and how the team's been run," Lohr said. "For me, it represented a nice, peaceful, silent protest." During the third inning, a ballpark staff member told Lohr that he'd either have to take off the bag or leave. He took off the bag. "I asked him why, and he said, 'there's a no mask policy at the ballpark," Lohr said, explaining it prompted him to check the ballpark's rules online. "There are a lot of rules, but none that say anything about masks." A Pirates spokesperson told KDKA-TV that it is an unwritten rule that fans aren't allowed to cover their entire heads at the ballpark, explaining that it's a rule that's common at sports venues across the country. The rule has been in place for years, and is the reason the Pirates don't let people in with Halloween masks or any other non-religious full face coverings. "This [rule] is for the safety and comfort of all our other guests," the Pirates spokesperson said. "While this incident certainly seems innocent enough, the problem with someone's face being covered is that it prevents security from identifying fans in the event of a safety emergency." It's the lack of a publicly available policy that left Lohr coming to a different conclusion. "I'm thinking... he just doesn't want me to have my bag on my head, because it tells the world that Pirates fans are embarrassed of the product that's on the field," Lohr said. But, the Pirates say that's not the case and that they have gone to great lengths to ensure even the most frustrated fans can have their say. "I'd say if you don't want someone wearing a bag over their face, be honest, be sincere, have some authenticity about managing a team that's successful," said fan Stephen Erskine outside of the ballpark Wednesday. On Opening Day, the Pirates did not toss out of the ballpark the group of fans who followed and berated team owner Bob Nutting. "We appreciate the passion of our fans and respect the ways in which they express that passion both in good times and bad," The Pirates spokesperson said. Lohr is hoping other fans join him at a future game, wearing bags like him. "In some cases, these face coverings can be scary and concerning to other guests, especially families," the Pirates spokesperson added.
CBC
07-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
N.S. government asked municipalities to support more resource development. It hasn't happened
Most Nova Scotia municipalities have not followed the province's request to publicly support more resource development in the province, with some calling the appeal "vague" and "inappropriate." Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr wrote to all 49 municipalities on Feb.11, asking them to signal their support for "greater resource development within our province" by letter or press release. Lohr offered no details about what kinds of resources he meant, but the PC government had by that time discussed lifting the ban on uranium mining and fracking for onshore gas. That eventually happened when Bill 6 passed in late March. Many municipal councils discussed Lohr's letter in recent weeks, while others have simply accepted the letter without comment. Warden Penny Smith of the District of Shelburne attended a meeting of mayors, wardens and CAOs in late February to talk about issues like the resource letter. "The feel around the table was, 'What are you thinking?' Smith said during a Feb. 26 council session. "I think a lot felt it was disrespectful and inappropriate to ask for carte blanche for resource extraction." Coun. Keith Rhyno of East Hants said he had heard from residents worried about the return of fracking. People in Noel and Kennetcook have long complained of test wells in those areas, and fracking wastewater in holding ponds left behind. Rhyno said he might be able to consider new resource or fracking projects if the province can provide evidence they won't harm groundwater, drinking wells, or contaminate the land. "But they haven't done that.… They just want to open 'er up. And without those assurances, how can anybody support this letter?" Rhyno said on Feb.26. "It doesn't say how, when, where, what are the plans, what are the details. We don't know any of that stuff, so it is vague," said Colchester Mayor Christine Blair on Feb.27. The PC government has said it is working to update regulations around natural resource development, and is mindful of modern environmental protections. The Municipality of the County of Cumberland approved a letter on March 26 that said while resource development may help the provincial economy, it cannot come with "at all costs." "Cumberland municipal council is saying neither 'yes' nor 'no,' in each and every case of resource development. Rather, we say 'maybe-maybe not.' We say 'show us the details, let us examine the risks and benefits and consult on each project,'" said the letter from Mayor Rod Gilroy. In Mahone Bay, Coun. Kelly Wilson said on Feb.27 that while he might personally agree with the PC government's resource approach, "I don't think it's our place to support a particular party's position on a particular issue." Various municipalities also have had residents and advocacy groups write to their councillors with environmental concerns, asking them to not support Lohr's request. Resident Leitha Haysom, a former councillor with the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, said she found it odd that the provincial government was asking for municipal support on resources when they have dismissed their concerns in the past over issues like the decision to abandon the Coastal Protection Act. "You shouldn't dirty your hands by doing the province's dirty work. They weren't elected on the platform of resource extraction … but they do want you to give them the credibility," Haysom said at a Feb.25 council meeting. Instead of signaling support for Lohr's request, many municipalities have agreed to have the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities speak for all 49 units on the issue. "We've had a number of members just say clearly like 'we're not going there. We need NSFM to lead this with the province,'" Pam Mood, federation president and mayor of the Town of Yarmouth, said last week. In light of recent PC bills stepping into municipal territory, like on Halifax development and transportation decisions across the province, Mood said municipalities are always concerned that the province will push through resource projects without local consultation. The District of Yarmouth is one of the only municipalities who have taken a different approach. On March 5, council passed a letter drafted by Deputy Warden Trevor Cunningham that told Lohr it supported the province's efforts to "promote responsible resource development" in Nova Scotia. "These initiatives are crucial pieces to strengthening our economy, creating jobs, and ensuring long-term prosperity for our communities," the letter said. It also referenced the importance of the Yarmouth district's port and airport, which councillors said require overdue upgrades. "It also puts a little onus on the back of the Department of Municipal Affairs, and [Lohr] as he's also the minister of finance — touching upon the wharfs and the airport is a great opportunity for us to do a little quid pro quo, and get something back in return," said Coun. Phil Mooney. Mood said she wasn't aware of any municipalities who had supported Lohr's request, but even if one wanted to take that step "that doesn't mean the other 48 municipalities are ready to go." When asked about the lack of explicit municipal support for resource development, Premier Tim Houston said his government has reached out to community and elected leaders. He said the response has been encouraging. "There'll be full consultation," Houston told reporters last Thursday. "It's OK to proceed cautiously, but we have to proceed — and we will." CBC asked to interview Lohr about the response to his letter, but that request was declined. Province says 'collaboration' will happen A statement from the Department of Municipal Affairs said work on natural resources "will require close collaboration" with municipal partners and the federation of municipalities to "determine how to move forward in a sustainable way, while supporting our economy for the benefit of all Nova Scotians." Mood said she has spoken with the province about municipal concerns, and the federation has a strong relationship with the PC government that she is hopeful will continue. The NSFM is now speaking with its members and drafting a formal response around resource development. Mood said that should go to the province in the next few weeks.
