Canada carves out protections for Trans Mountain pipeline in new free trade agreement
admin December 31, 2020 0 COMMENTS
FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPrint分享The Star:Experts say an annex in North America’s newest trade agreement could protect the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion from financial difficulties.The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) forbids all three governments from giving non-commercial assistance to Crown corporations, meaning governments can’t help corporations restructure debt, rescue a corporation from bankruptcy, or support activities that will have “adverse effects” in another country.All three governments chose certain Crown corporations to be exempt from these rules. The Trans Mountain Corporation is one of Canada’s picks.Under USMCA’s Annex IV, the federal government can support Trans Mountain Corporation with non-commercial assistance “for the sole purpose … to return (the enterprise) to viability and fulfil its mandate.” The government is allowed to provide assistance to the pipeline until Trans Mountain Corp. is privatized or 10 years have passed since the original agreement.Blake Shaffer, an energy adviser at the C.D. Howe Institute, said the annex could put a time limit on the government’s ownership of the Trans Mountain expansion project. “It’s … noteworthy that a countdown is on,” Shaffer told iPolitics. “At the very least, it makes it a credible statement when the federal government says it doesn’t plan to remain in the pipeline business.”Jack Aubry, a spokesperson for the ministry of finance, refuted that claim, saying there is “no specific” timeline for the divestment to occur — only that the agreement allows Trans Mountain to be exempt from UMSCA rules governing other Crown corporations for 10 years.More: USMCA protects Trans Mountain from money problems: experts Canada carves out protections for Trans Mountain pipeline in new free trade agreement
Johnson City domestic dispute leads to drug and weapons conviction
admin December 8, 2020 0 COMMENTS
According to the Broome County District Attorney Office, Imes was determined to have a loaded semi-automatic pistol, which he used to threaten his former girlfriend and her family. He was also convicted for possessing drugs with the intent to sell. Kawon Imes was convicted of the following charges: BINGHAMTON (WBNG) — Friday, Kawon E. Imes was sentenced to 13 years in prison and five years parole for drug and weapon charges. Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, in the third degree, a Class B FelonyCriminal Possession of a Weapon, in the second degree, a Class C Violent FelonyCriminal Possession of Marijuana, in the third degree, a Class E FelonyCriminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, in the second degree, a Misdemeanor (two counts)Menacing, in the second degree, a Misdemeanor. 
Imes was originally arrested by the Broome County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 28. He was indicted by a Grand Jury in April of 2019 and found guilty on Oct. 24. The Johnson City Police and New York State Police also assisted with the case.