OTTAWA — The RCMP plans to create a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Canada's border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. The move is part of the federal government's $1.3-billion upgrade to border security and monitoring to appease U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's concerns about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. as soon as he is inaugurated next month unless both countries move to improve border security. Canada will also propose to the United States the creation of a North American "joint strike force" to target organized crime groups that work across borders. In addition, the government intends to provide new technology, tools and resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to seek out deadly fentanyl using chemical detection, artificial intelligence and canine teams. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told a news conference Tuesday he has discussed parts of the plan with American officials and that he is optimistic about its reception. "We have a lot of work ahead of us," said LeBlanc, who tried to play down the notion Canada was simply bowing to American demands. "The fight against fentanyl is very much a fight that Canadians want to have because of its impact in Canada," he said. "Deepening, strengthening, being more visible in the posture at the border is something that we're happy to do with our American partners." The announcement followed a promise in the fall economic statement Monday to earmark the money over six fiscal years for the RCMP, the border agency, Public Safety Canada and the cyberspies at the Communications Security Establishment. Among the other planned measures: — a Canadian Drug Profiling Centre to complement existing laboratory capacity by allowing for more specialized analysis of synthetic drug samples, helping determine where substances were made; — a Precursor Risk Management Unit to increase oversight over chemicals used to make drugs and monitor emerging illegal drug trends; — an obligation for port owners and operators to provide the border agency with the space and facilities needed to conduct export inspections, just as they currently do for imports; — stronger efforts against money laundering to help starve organized crime groups of profits from human smuggling and drug and firearms trafficking; — and new restrictions on countries that do not rapidly facilitate the return of their citizens in the event of fraudulent entry or a removal order. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, who also attended the news conference, said the goal "for us is get the technology out there as soon as we can." "I can't just buy a helicopter tomorrow, but there are processes where you can rent the helicopter, and we're exploring every facet." Duheme said an aim of the joint strike force would be develop specialists on fentanyl, bringing together law enforcement partners both in Canada and abroad. The union representing rank-and-file Mounties welcomed the move to spend more on border security. National Police Federation president Brian Sauvé said in a statement Monday that members had been protecting the border with limited resources, and the new money will allow them to continue delivering on their mandate. Aaron McCrorie, the border services agency's vice-president of intelligence and enforcement, said in a recent interview that irregular migration and smuggling of drugs such as fentanyl are common concerns for Canada and the United States. "These aren't concerns that are unique to the United States. We share those same concerns," he said. "In that sense, it really speaks to the need for us to work collaboratively." McCrorie said the Canadian border agency is working closely with U.S. counterparts including Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security, as well as with agencies in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. "Criminal enterprises, organized crime, they don't respect international boundaries. They collaborate, they exploit weaknesses in the system," McCrorie said. "And so the best way to confront them is to collaborate on our side, fill those gaps, support each other's efforts." He said Canada's border agency has two targeting officers embedded with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the American agency plans to soon send a targeting officer to Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian PressNone
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No. 22 Xavier aims to keep its perfect record intact Monday night in Fort Myers, Fla., when it takes on South Carolina in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Musketeers (5-0) are coming off an 80-55 victory on Wednesday over Siena, while the Gamecocks (3-2) beat Mercer on Thursday 84-72. Against Mercer, South Carolina sank a season-best 12 3-pointers -- tied for the fourth-most in a single game under third-year coach Lamont Paris. Jamarii Thomas, a senior transfer from Norfolk State, had 19 points and swished 4 of 5 shots from behind the arc. "Thomas got some good, clean looks," Paris said. "It was good to see those guys make their shots. Hopefully it gets those guys going in the right direction." On the season, the Gamecocks are making 7.8 3-pointers per game and shooting 32.5 percent from deep. Senior guard Jacobi Wright makes a team-best 1.8 3-pointers per game and shoots 37.5 percent from behind the arc. At 13.0 ppg, he is second on the team behind Collin Murray-Boyles (15.8). Xavier is allowing eight makes from deep per game and is letting opponents shoot 38.5 percent from behind the arc, which ranks 337th in the country. And despite an undefeated record so far for the Musketeers, third-year coach Sean Miller is worried about his players developing bad habits. "We have a virus that everybody is looking at the stat sheet, trying to get as many points as they possibly can," Miller said after the win over Siena. "They want to win, but they really want to win and score. We need a couple of guys that are willing to rebound, defend, make the extra pass, play at a high level defensively and understand what makes a team great." Marcus Foster did a decent job of doing a little bit of everything for Xavier against Siena, piling up 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. It was the first double-digit scoring outing for Foster -- a grad transfer from Furman -- in a Xavier uniform. Since 2008, Xavier is 25-11 against teams from the Southeastern Conference, but it hasn't played South Carolina in that stretch. --Field Level MediaNo. 23 Texas A&M aims to hand Oregon first loss at Players EraMiami enters the week still stunned after losing its fourth straight game. Next up, the Hurricanes will play host to Arkansas on Tuesday night in Coral Gables, Fla., as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Miami (3-4) lost on Saturday afternoon to Charleston Southern, a team that entered with a 1-7 record. Arkansas (5-2) is coming off a Thanksgiving loss to Illinois on a neutral floor in Kansas City, Mo. "We've got a lot to learn," said John Calipari, in his first season coaching Arkansas. "We really haven't scrimmaged because we haven't had 10 guys (due to injuries). "But this team is going to be fine." The same thing cannot confidently be said about the Hurricanes. Their first three defeats of the current skid were tough for Miami to take, losing to Drake, Oklahoma State and VCU on a neutral court as part of the Charleston Classic. But the loss to Charleston Southern -- which was a 25-point underdog -- has to be considered among the worst in Miami history. Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga was without point guard Nijel Pack, who missed the contest due to a lower-body injury. Pack leads Miami in scoring (15.2) and assists (4.7). There are no reports on how long he will be out. With Pack unavailable, five-star freshman Jalil Bethea made his first college start. However, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard has not yet played up to his ranking. Bethea is averaging 6.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists. He is also shooting 30.0 percent on 3-pointers. Miami ranks 284th in the nation in rebounds and 259th in blocked shots. "We haven't been able to put together a solid defensive effort," Larranaga said following the loss to Charleston Southern. "Some of it has to do with fundamentals. Some of it has to do with athletic ability. Some of it has to do with size." Tuesday's game will match two veteran coaches: Larranaga, 75, and Calipari, 65. Calipari brought in seven transfers and five freshmen for his first season in Fayetteville. Two of those transfers -- 6-foot-8 wing Adou Thiero and 7-foot-2 center Zvonimir Ivisic -- were signed after leaving Kentucky, Calipari's previous stop. Thiero leads Arkansas in scoring (19.1), rebounds (5.9) and steals (2.9). Ivisic leads Arkansas in blocks (2.7) while ranking third in points (12.1). Freshman Boogie Fland, a McDonald's All-American, has made a quick transition to college ball. The 6-foot-2 point guard is second on the team in scoring (15.9) and steals (1.9) and first in assists (4.9). Among Arkansas' bench pieces are 6-foot-11 Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo and 6-foot-10 Arkansas holdover Trevon Brazile. Their combined 92 college starts illustrate Arkansas' depth. "The ceiling is there," Calipari said. "But we need to be the aggressors." --Field Level Media
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The artist has unveiled his latest exhibit “Hidlaw” at the Adoro Gallery-Museum in Iloilo City. Layout by PINGGOT ZULUETA Iggy Rodriguez has unveiled his latest exhibit “Hidlaw” at the Adoro Gallery-Museum in Iloilo City. The show, which runs until Nov. 30, is a curated collection of his works spanning a decade that showcases human desire, ambition, and a yearning for meaning. “Hidlaw,” a Hiligaynon term for longing, forges a deeper connection with the Ilonggo audience and engages with them on a personal level. “I decided to use a Hiligaynon term because I wanted to make it relatable to the Ilonggo audience. I consulted with my friends about what Hiligaynon word could best capture the concepts of longing and yearning and desire,” recounts Rodriguez. “This led to the conclusion that the term “Hidlaw” not only fitted the concept for the whole exhibit, but also gives it a local feel. It establishes a local connection and creates a sense of familiarity. I hope the audience would be able to establish an emotional resonance with the works, and engage in a personal dialogue with each artwork presented in the show.” The exhibit features a range of works, from intricate pen and ink drawings to layered cutouts. One of the highlights is the “Asa” series, inspired by Renaissance and Baroque paintings. Rodriguez reimagines the kneeling figures, transforming them into solitary portraits that pose profound questions about human existence. “This series is inspired by characters to be kneeling or bowing down in the various Renaissance and Baroque paintings on the assumption of Mary and the deposition of Chirst. I wanted to focus on these figures and reimagine them where they become solitary portraits or individuals in a scene where their posture becomes the point of inquiry, asking ‘Why? To whom? For what?’—creating several meanings or interpretations all revolving around the idea of longing and yearning, infinitely hoping for something that can never be found,” he explains. “The series is titled ‘Asa,’ which means ‘hope,’ but also ‘blind hope’ or ‘overly dependent.’ It’s a cycle of yearning, a reflection of the human condition.” Rodriguez’s creative process is a s meticulous as his final works. He describes it as a meditative practice, involving multiple layers of drawing and contemplation. “The cut-out layered process is a significant part of my creative process as it is both an experiment and a reflection of my whole approach to art,” he says. “I consider ever aspect and step as layers, starting from concept building to planning, then to execution.” Another theme explored in “Hidlaw” is the fine line between aspiration and greed. Rodriguez’s works challenge viewers to reflect on the selfish aspects of desire and the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition. “All of the works presented in the exhibit tackle themes of human desire—the longing for power and status – and reveal a fine line between greed and aspiration. It asks viewers to reflect upon the selfish aspects of desire and the consequences of unchecked ambition which inevitably leads to lust for power and control,” he explains. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, “Hidlaw” also serves as a social commentary. Rodriguez’s involvement with the UGAT Lahi artist collective has shaped his perspective, leading him to explore themes of social justice and human rights. “My works are partly informed by my experience as a member of the UGAT Lahi Artist Collective and my involvement with socially committed organizations,” he reveals. “My creative and critical perspectives on national issues are reflected in my works, from the personal to the social. As a committed social observer, my political sympathies lean toward human rights and social justice.” “Hidlaw” runs until Nov. 30 at the Adoro Gallery-Museum, Iloilo City.
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