Yaron Vorona

Canadian citizens deserve the best AI legislation. Currently, the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (#AIDA) is one of three acts bundled into the Digital Charter Implementation Act - known as Bill C-27. This bill is currently at a crossroads.  ➤ AIDA's legislation journey is #flawed and lacks an open public consultation process. The situation with AIDA's journey is not just about legislation but its democratic legitimacy and our future with technology. 💡 Yesterday marked a pivotal moment as a coalition of civil society groups, think tanks, businesses, academics, and professionals united to voice their concerns (https://lnkd.in/e-ScnryC). I am proud to be one of them. 📧 In our open letter (see first comment) to the Canadian Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, we highlight these issues and advocate for a change. 📢 We urge the #Canadian #Government to withdraw AIDA from Bill C-27 and reintroduce an improved form of it. There is no other way to ensure Canadians get the sound AI legislation they deserve. This is more than policy - this is our path forward. In a world dominated by emerging technologies and those who make them, a well-crafted law isn't just a safeguard but a compass guiding us toward what responsibility is and a more democratic future. Sharon Polsky, MAPP, Brenda McPhail, Christelle Tessono, Alessandra Renzi, Alexandra F., Andrew Clement, Bianca Wylie, Blayne Haggart, Colin Bennett, Daniel Konikoff, Light, Evan, Fenwick McKelvey, Jane Bailey, Joanna Redden, Jonathan A. Obar, Jonathan Roberge, Kate Milberry, PhD, Kate Tillecczek, Kristen Thomasen, Leslie Shade, Luke Stark, Mariette Pilon, Mary Ott, Matt Malone, Natasha Tusikov, Nicole St-Pierre CIAPP/M, Nkechi Agugoesi, LL.M, CIPP/C Center for AI and Digital Policy Sara Grimes, sava saheli singh, Spencer Izen, Sun-ha Hong, Tamir Israel, Tim McSorley, OpenMedia.org #AI #AIDA #Canada #openletter #democracy #openconsultation #techpolicy #c27

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I strongly believe that entrepreneurship and innovation are the two things that we need to nurture and encourage in order to drive collective wealth creation for all Canadians in the coming decades. The recent federal budget policies about capital gains are going in the opposite direction as they will have a direct effect to slow down private investments in such a critical sector - the knowledge economy - and ultimately slowdown innovation and the little efforts that could help us bring back Canadian productivity to where it must be to compete on the global stage. This is not a tax on the wealthy, it’s a tax on innovation and entrepreneurship. I encourage all founders, entrepreneurs and investors to sign the letter below.

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This article speaks volumes about what is wrong with the two-tier Ontario educational system. On the one hand our public system is chronically underfunded while the catholic system is running surpluses (this is taxpayer money, by the way) and wasting taxpayer money on overpriced religious art and $45,000 diligence trips by trustees who know nothing about art. Personally, I consider this a breach of public trust. https://lnkd.in/g6XYGYg4

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The evidence linking UNWRA to Hamas are mountain high crystal clear The evidence of the UN 🇺🇳 covering for UNWRA are equally clear The media outlets that still tries to avoid reporting the truth - or highlighting the UN “investigation” (if we can even call it that) denying that Israel provided evidence of UNWRAs involvement in #7thoctmassacre or the direct links to #Hamas - also have a huge responsibility and blame. One commits war crimes One covers it up One tries to distort the narrative The combined force of these three elements poses a significant threat to the political and security structures entrenched within much of the European political establishment.

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"The problem is not the level of B.C.’s debt, but how quickly it is rising. S&P calls that trend “a turning point” for the province’s finances, noting that the “size and persistence of material after-capital deficits differentiate B.C. from its peers.” The words are measured, but the warning is clear: B.C.’s finances are headed in the wrong direction. The fiscal plan is likely understating the problem. Health spending, for instance, is to increase by 14.9 per cent in the current year, but that growth suddenly decelerates to 2.6 per cent and 1.6 per cent in the following two years. That would result in reduced health care funding, once adjusted for population growth and inflation. The same pattern shows up for the education and social services budgets. Is the NDP contemplating a period of relative austerity? Or are those numbers understated to keep the deficit and debt picture from looking even more gloomy?" https://lnkd.in/gJYWaYfc

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Beyond the reality that 2% GDP is about aligning with NATO allies, I still maintain that we would be better off matching our North American NATO ally at ~3.1% GDP. That said, knowing what VALUE we are getting for the COST would serve both politicians and the public. That is only a complex issue when we are managing things poorly and are unable to articulate VALUE, communicate that VALUE versus COST, and see if the stakeholders agree with the VALUE proposition put forward. I will also point out that same is true for most government functions, with Intelligence potentially being one that might not work in this way.

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This is an interesting one..... Government of British Columbia has introduced legislation regarding electricity supply for #cryptocurrency miners. These miners consume substantial #electricity while creating very few local jobs, prompting the need for oversight. ⚡ Temporary Suspension of Connections: In December 2022, the Province directed the British Columbia Utilities Commission to suspend new electricity connections for cryptocurrency mining projects for 18 months. This move affected 21 projects, requesting a total of 11,700 gigawatt hours per year—equivalent to more than two Site Cs worth of annual energy. 👍👍👍👍👍👍 Positive Implications: 💈 Energy Conservation: By regulating electricity access for cryptocurrency miners, the legislation aims to conserve energy resources. Cryptocurrency mining operations are known for their high energy consumption, and limiting their access ensures that energy is used more efficiently. 🌏 Environmental Impact: The restriction encourages a shift toward cleaner energy sources. By prioritizing electricity for homes, businesses, and sustainable industries, British Columbia can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and promote environmental sustainability. 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 Negative Implications: 💸 Economic Impact: Cryptocurrency mining can contribute to local economies through job creation and investment. Restricting access may discourage mining companies from operating in the region, potentially leading to job losses and reduced economic activity. 📣 Innovation and Investment: Stringent regulations might deter innovation and investment in the cryptocurrency sector. If miners perceive British Columbia as an unfavorable location due to limited electricity access, they may choose other regions with more lenient policies. In summary, while the legislation aims to address energy concerns and environmental impact, it must strike a balance to avoid unintended negative consequences for the economy and technological development . What are your thoughts? Imagine having invested tons of money in setting an operation up to be shut down by this? Comment below: ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ #economy #electricity #investment #business #entrepreneurship

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Thank You Colin Deacon for leading this discussion paper ... Here is a quote from the work - "Despite the billions in funding dedicated to promoting business innovation, Canada received a ‘C’ grade on the Conference Board of Canada’s 2024 Innovation Report Card, ranking us 15th out of 20 countries. This Government has consistently emphasized innovation as a priority, yet results remain underwhelming considering our collective potential." Canada needs innovation to keep the number of jobs up (63% of Canada's workforce comes from small businesses with less than 100 employees, 21% in the 100-499 category and only 16% from the 500+ club - StatsCan March 2023) .. innovation is one way to help create jobs. ISED needs to hire entrepreneurs to help get the program right ... the civil servants need to have metrics that really measure what counts, all the civil servants in the program need to understand how payroll and cashflow might impact the small and medium businesses they work with and KPIs to show they are on track. Here is the discussion paper ... Senator Deacon is looking for comments... please read and comment.

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https://lnkd.in/g-a--pWc spending is not the issue. it is where we spend it. with no meaningful defence industrial base, the vast bulk of our defence spend - especially on equipment - is sent overseas. this means investing in increasing our defence industrial capacity now to supply what we need in the future, and spend on only that equipment where Canada equipment suppliers are already part of a defence industrial supply chain. this means the US. not anyone else. and this means the entire farcical exercise of non-defense industrial spending - potato chip factories come to mind - should cease.

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A great panel from yesterday's event on whether researchers be the CEO? Answer as always...**IT DEPENDS** Researchers CAN grow into the leaders of their companies if a few things happen: 1-Like Clara Karton, PhD you actively reach out into the ecosystem and seek ways to be a better entrepreneur (shout out to Invest Ottawa and SheBoot). You have the technical skills, you can learn the business skills, you also need to build resilience. 2-Like Carolina Ilkow you are well surrounded by an experienced team who have built and scaled research-based ventures before. Their guidance will critical as to if leadership changes need to be made. 3-You are eventually ready to jump in full-time. As Mike Weider pointed out, this is the biggest, not the capability, the intention, or the passion. It's the time. Being a CEO is a full-time job, and if you are not ready to burn the boats, the company will not move at the pace necessary to be competitive. So how do you bring on an executive? 1-Find someone like Bruce Ford who matches your level of passion for the problem and your customers. 2-Date before getting married: get a few advisors who could fit the bill so you can vet them (and they can vet you), then bring on the one that aligns best with the company's mission. 3-Understand your role once the CEO steps in. Are you the CTO, CMO, or CSO? How many days a week can you commit to the company? Thank you to University of Ottawa Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) & Gowling WLG for the support in putting on this event.

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Motion for Retrial I. Introduction Weizhen Tang, respectfully submits this Motion for a Retrial under Section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees the right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal. This motion is based on the fact that the jury in the trial was not composed of my peers and was unable to fairly and accurately assess the complexities of the case, violating my right to a fair trial. II. Grounds for Retrial Impartial Jury and Representation of Peers Under Section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the defendant is entitled to a trial by an impartial tribunal, including a jury that represents a fair cross-section of society and the defendant's peers. In this case, the jury failed to include individuals from my community and business sphere who are familiar with my character, professional practices, and the intricacies of investment management. The absence of members from my community, particularly investors and those with knowledge of financial markets, significantly impacted the jury’s ability to understand and fairly assess the evidence. The individuals best suited to serve as impartial jurors—those familiar with complex financial strategies—were excluded, depriving me of a fair opportunity to present my defense to those who could empathize with or understand the context of my actions. Complexity of the Case and Jury's Understanding The case involved complex financial transactions, investment strategies, and business practices that require a sophisticated understanding of finance. The jury, composed of individuals unfamiliar with these complexities, was not equipped to make informed decisions about my actions and intentions. In Canadian law, juries are expected to understand the evidence presented to them in order to deliver a just verdict. Given the technical nature of the financial matters at the heart of this case, there is reason to believe that the jury lacked the expertise to fully appreciate the defense’s arguments, which would have influenced the outcome of the trial. Failure to Fairly Consider Defense My community members and investors, who were excluded from the jury, are my true peers. They are familiar with my business practices and the nuances of the investment strategies that were put on trial. Their exclusion limited the jury's ability to fairly consider the defense, thereby violating my right to a tribunal that is both impartial and representative of my peers, as guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. III. Conclusion For the reasons stated above, the defendant respectfully requests that this Court grant a retrial. The failure to provide a jury of peers with the necessary expertise to understand the case deprived the defendant of a fair trial as guaranteed under Section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A new trial is necessary to ensure justice and restore public confidence in the judicial process.

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Canada announced plans to acquire up to 12 new submarines as part of its updated defense policy focused on Arctic protection and countering challenges from Russia and China. The defense ministry has initiated a formal process to engage with manufacturers and will issue a request for information in the fall. The new fleet will be conventionally powered and capable of operating under ice. This move aligns with Canada's strategy to bolster maritime security in light of the Arctic Ocean's potential as a key shipping route by 2050. The procurement is also part of Canada's efforts to meet NATO's defense spending targets. #BVCSHOP #CSE #Stablecoin #BlockchainVentureCapitalInc #VeritasMedia #ShopBVC #LatestTrends #HighQuality #UnbeatablePrices #FastShipping #OneStopShop #FashionDeals #ElectronicsSale #HomeGoods #ExclusiveDeals #ShopNow #OnlineShopping #CanadaDefense #ArcticSecurity #SubmarineProcurement #NATOSpending #MaritimeSecurity #DefenseStrategy #ArcticProtection #GlobalSecurity #MilitarySpending Check out my blog post https://wix.to/EUa5G5f

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A new study by John Lester from C.D. Howe Institute on Why Canada Needs a Focused SR&ED Review and an IP Box https://lnkd.in/gnvQiKh8 With the CRA's review of the SR&ED and Patent Box, this brief is perfectly timed. John suggests that larger companies and small public companies should receive a greater SR&ED incentive. He also believes that there should be a higher rate for basic/applied research than for experimental development. Like many other people, his thoughts on making the regular SR&ED tax credit refundable is gaining popularity. John also proposes that the SR&ED returns should be made independently from filing a tax return. I think this would be a significant challenge to implement and quite costly. Lastly, like many other OECD countries, there should be an incentive for IP which is developed and retained in Canada. It is important to note that this is not only patents but includes trade secrets. I think John hits the mark on many points but disagree with his stance on increasing the incentive for non-CCPC's at the expense of the enhanced rate. We need to continue to support small businesses so they can grow into larger ones even though the small business is less efficient. We should continue to promote entrepreneurial risk-taking with the support of government funding. John says: "While the empirical evidence is limited, spillovers from basic research appear to be several times larger than for applied research and experimental development." I think we should spend more time understanding this. We already have significant government support for NRC, educational institutions and researchers - many of whom undertake basic research and do not qualify for SR&ED. However, those that conduct basic research that do qualify for SR&ED typically have a business goal in mind or an ability to patent the research. Therefore, why complicate the SR&ED program when there are other methods to encourage basic research? What do you think about John's suggestions? #SRED

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The capacity of the Canadian federal government to misunderstand the innovation economy never ceases to amaze me. There are many examples, here are just a couple from both sides of the spectrum: - the Conservative gov allowing Nortel to fail and then allowing its $5 B patent portfolio to be plundered by foreign companies. - the spectacular failure of the Liberal gov's so-called supercluster initiative, followed by its creation of an investment bank whose decision cycle on investments is longer than the entire lifecycle of most tech companies. But it is regressive tax policies that kill startups and small companies who provide employment to 90% of Canadians. - the most insideous being taxes on cash reserves needed to sustain cyclical cash flows. The latest tax of cap gains will now kill the motivation to even start a business. If you have cash invested by the business it is taxed away, and if you use it to grow the value of the business it is taxed away. The root cause is not the lack of industry advisory committees but the lack of willingness by politicians to listen to them. What can go wrong when you listen to unaccountable civil servants who have no comprehension of running a business, let alone in working in a fast-moving environment where accountability is honed by the fine line between failure and success? https://lnkd.in/eJ4N6kTX

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The creation of the US-CAN “Joint Task Force to Negotiate Beaufort Sea Boundary” is timely. With elections on both sides of the border on the near horizon, decisions about oil and gas exploration and environmental protection will heat up. And there are also geo-strategic issues at stake. Both sides should compromise to reach a boundary deal in support of their broader mutual strategic interests. The ambition of Russia and China to transform the Arctic into a global transportation corridor would have big security and environmental implications. Canada and US have lots of shared interests and need to assert more effective control in the region, including through the development of new space-based monitoring, quantum-enhanced radar and other technologies. #arctic Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Hear my comments on Bloomberg: https://lnkd.in/gp8tEigx.

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This!!! We are very close to fixing a problem that has hurt Canadian innovators for 40 years. Please share widely - every founder, all their employees, and anyone interested in closing the productivity gap with the US. The US has had a “Buy USA innovation” in place since 1953. Simple and elegant- 3.2% of procurement, with a 5% increase in productivity or price saving, only CCPCs eligible to bid. They now have a 19% advantage in productivity and growing. Every founder I know would rather a purchase order vs a grant. Time to “Buy Canadian Innovation!” Please share widely - there is a real chance to have this legislation passed this fall! 7 mins to fill in the survey below: https://lnkd.in/gFfpX34h Headline: It is time to LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD with US SMEs. Legislation needs to: (1) Set aside 3.2% of spend (2) Only CCPCs eligible to bid (3) 5% improvement to productivity or cost savings. Simple, clear, and consistent. Allows SMEs to engage (no complicated rules/carveouts, pilots etc = a real path to revenue), starts to close the productivity gap with the US, and value for Canadian tax payers. Canada's Tech Network | Réseau Tech Canada C100 Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA) #BuyCanadain Colin Deacon

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"Oh Canada : Silicon Prairie Explores Launching Funding Portal North of Border" Today I Learned that Canada actually DOES have a "harmonized" CrowdFunding exemption that is evidently federally covered! "National Instrument 45-110 Start-up Crowdfunding Registration and Prospectus Exemptions introduces a single, uniform set of rules that replaces and enhances the requirements currently in effect in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Québec and Saskatchewan." Issuers can raise up to $1.5M annually with a simplified investor maximum of $2,500 or up to $10,000 if they have been advised by a broker that the investment is "suitable". https://lnkd.in/g6Qjkp8k

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🇨🇦Canada’s 'Crypto King' Arrested in Alleged $30M Ponzi Scheme! The self-proclaimed “Crypto King” Aiden Pleterski and his associate Colin Murphy have been arrested in Canada, accused of defrauding investors out of $30 million USD through a crypto and foreign exchange investment scheme. Pleterski, 25, faces charges of fraud and money laundering, while Murphy, 27, is charged with fraud. This follows a 16-month investigation, dubbed Project Swan, by Canadian authorities. In a dramatic twist, Pleterski was allegedly kidnapped and tortured by disgruntled investors in December 2022, with a $3 million ransom demanded for his release. The ordeal was captured in a coerced apology video that was later posted on social media. Toronto-born NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who purchased Pleterski's $8.4 million mansion, backed out of the deal after receiving threats related to Pleterski's activities. Between 2021 and 2022, around 160 investors entrusted Pleterski’s company, AP Private Equity Limited, with $40 million CAD, only to discover he had invested a mere 2% of it. The rest was spent on his lavish lifestyle, including $150,000 on Legos. The saga underscores the need for vigilance in the volatile world of cryptocurrency investments. Read More on CoinDesk #Canada #Toronto #Cryptocurrency #Crypto #Fraud #PonziScheme #Investing #FinancialNews #CryptoScam #Regulation

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Canadian pension funds: Carrots rather than sticks to invest more at home! According to Bloomberg, former Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz is examining a list of ideas to get the country’s pension funds to invest more in the domestic economy – including the creation of a pooled fund that would make dealmaking easier for some of them. In April, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tasked Poloz with exploring ways to “catalyze” more local investment opportunities for Canadian pension funds. His study comes at a time when there’s a debate in the country about how to solve weak productivity, soft business investment and a general lack of excitement in capital markets. The initial public offerings market in Canada has been largely frozen for the past two years. Some pension funds may be discouraged from looking at smaller opportunities within Canada because the analytical work in making an investment decision is costly and eats up a greater share of their potential profit, Poloz said. That’s where the pooled fund concept comes in. Pension plans could make allocations to a central fund devoted to Canadian assets, where those costs are shared. It’s “one of the ideas that solves scale,” Poloz said, increasing the likelihood that pension managers will say yes to investing in assets that they would otherwise take a pass on. He pointed to the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative or VCCI as one potential model. Through the initiative, the federal government invests in funds-of-funds and venture capital funds, which are required to raise capital from private-sector investors to leverage the public money. Most recently, the government made C$450 million ($334 million) available through three streams of the program. Another roadblock to the pension investment is the reluctance of governments — including provincial administrations – to allow the privatization of larger infrastructure assets such as airports and highways. Canada’s largest pension funds tend to deploy a much smaller proportion of their capital in domestic assets now than they did two decades ago, when reforms were kicking in that permitted them to become more active in global public and private markets. Carrots, Not Sticks Poloz said consultations have been wide-ranging, with proposed reforms going from broad suggestions to specific policy proposals. “It’s an amazing number of cool ideas that have emerged,” he said. “It’s a restaurant with too big of a menu to choose from.” Some firms have worried that the government will consider coercive measures, like taxes or new constraints on non-Canadian investment, to push pension funds to use more of their capital in Canada. Still, Poloz was clear to point out that all of the solutions he discussed in the interview « fall into the carrot category, not the stick category ». Thanks Steve for your involvement and help Canadian policymakers to do the right things! #pensionfunds #investing #cdnpoli CPPIB CPP Investments | Investissements RPC

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