Go Green

TORONTO, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oceana Canada is celebrating a significant milestone in the fight to end Canada’s contribution to the global plastic pollution crisis, following today’s federal government announcement banning six categories of the most commonly found plastics polluting Canada’s shorelines and oceans.

The ban will gradually eliminate the Canadian production and export of plastic bags, cutlery, stir sticks, six-pack rings, straws and some takeout containers. This is a meaningful contribution to Canada’s commitment to ban harmful single-use plastics and hold companies responsible for doing their part to reduce plastic waste. The announcement also positions Canada as a global leader in efforts to reduce single-use plastics.

Canadian plastic manufacturers will have until the end of 2022 to halt production of the newly banned plastics and until the end of 2023 to stop selling them. The ban also ends the export of banned plastics by 2025, making Canada the second country ever to do so. The final ban also closes technical loopholes from its previous draft that would have allowed more durable single-use plastic options to replace items of common use, such as cutlery and checkout bags.

“Today’s announcement ensures that Canada is embarking on a true transition away from unnecessary single-use plastics; this victory means that billions of plastic items each year that otherwise could have threatened sea life like whales and turtles will no longer be adding to the global plastic disaster,” said Anthony Merante, Plastics Campaigner at Oceana Canada. “We will continue working with Canadians and the government to ensure more unnecessary single-use plastics are added to the list of banned items moving forward.”

Since 2019, Oceana Canada has been advocating to reduce plastic pollution, meeting with decision makers, publishing reports on the state of plastic and putting forward science-based recommendations to achieve zero plastic waste. Combined, the elements banned today will remove 33 billion units of single-use plastics from the total waste entering the oceans every year.

Oceana Canada’s latest market research shows that 90 per cent of people across Canada support a ban on single-use plastics and two-thirds want to see the proposed ban expanded to include more harmful plastic products. To date, more than 160,000 Canadians have signed Oceana Canada’s petition calling on the federal government to enact a strong ban on single-use plastics. For more information, please visit www.oceana.ca/Plastics.

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more at www.oceana.ca

Media contacts: Angela Pinzon, Pilot PMR, angela.pinzon@pilotpmr.com, 647-295-0517; Alex Mangiola, Pilot PMR, alex.mangiola@pilotpmr.com, 416-460-3575; Lesley Wilmot, Oceana Canada, lwilmot@oceana.ca, 647-535-6326. Media assets are available here.

CN is building the premier railway of the 21st century by investing in Quebec

MONTREAL, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today plans to invest approximately C$335 million in Quebec in 2022. This includes investments in technology, rolling stock units and company-wide decarbonization initiatives, as well as network improvements. These investments will power sustainable growth and ensure the continued safe movement of goods in Quebec and everywhere on CN’s transcontinental network.

“We continue to make significant investments in our network, technology, and capacity. We are building the premier railroad of the 21st century to do even more for our customers, railroaders, shareholders, and the communities in which we operate.”

• Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer of CN

“At a time when the resilience of our supply chains is more important than ever, investing in our rail transportation system ensures essential goods can reach Canadians on time. Railways play an important role in growing our economy, and I am pleased to see CN taking this important step to strengthen our rail networks. Today’s announcement will help improve the fluidity of our rail network against the unprecedented disruptions to service we have seen in the last two years, and is good news for Canadians.

• The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Government of Canada

“For over 100 years, CN has been at the heart of the development of Quebec companies. We note that the $335 million in investments announced also include a portion for decarbonization initiatives and for bolstering the safety of their railway infrastructure, which we applaud. For the FCCQ and the network of chambers of commerce, this improved access to responsible freight transportation services is critical to encouraging the transition to new ESG business practices.”

• Charles Milliard, President and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec

Maintenance program highlights include:

• Replacing 27 miles of rail;
• Installing more than 118,000 new railroad ties;
• Rebuilding 38 road crossing surfaces; and
• Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

Quebec in numbers:

• Capital investments: more than $2.2 billion in the last five years
• Employees: approximately 3,330
• Railroad route miles operated: 2,044
• Community partnerships: $2 million in 2021
• Local spending: $1.7 billion in 2021
• Cash taxes paid: $89 million in 2021

Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements included in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “assumes,” “outlook,” “plans,” “targets,” or other similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Contacts:

Media	Investment Community
Mathieu Gaudreault	Paul Butcher
Senior Advisor	Vice-President
Media Relations	Investor Relations
514-399-7956 media@cn.ca	(514) 399-0052 investor.relations@cn.ca

TORONTO, June 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oceana Canada is joining the Honourable Karina Gould, Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, for the announcement of new measures to beat plastic pollution in Canada. Similar announcement events will be held in Quebec City, QC, Bedford, NS, Winnipeg, MB, and Vancouver, BC.

TORONTO EVENT DETAILS:

DATE	Monday, June 20, 2022
TIME	10:00 a.m. ET
LOCATION	Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada (88 Bremner Blvd, Toronto), main entrance, in front of the iconic, three-story-tall Giant Plastic Tap installation by Canadian artist and activist Benjamin Von Wong.
LIVESTREAM	To attend this press conference remotely (via Zoom webinar), media representatives are asked to register by contacting Environment and Climate Change Canada at media@ec.gc.ca.
AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT	Kim Elmslie, Campaign Director and Anthony Merante, Plastics Campaigner, Oceana Canada
MORE	Read more about Oceana Canada’s call on the government for a strong ban on single-use plastics here.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Angela Pinzon, Pilot PMR, angela.pinzon@pilotpmr.com, 647-295-0517; Alex Mangiola, Pilot PMR, alex.mangiola@pilotpmr.com, 416-460-3575; or Lesley Wilmot, Oceana Canada, lwilmot@oceana.ca, 647-535-6326.

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more at www.oceana.ca. Twitter: @OceanaCAN #EndThePlasticDisaster #CanadaPlasticBan

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6766645f-4097-4ec6-a64d-7ceef62ffb62

OKLAHOMA CITY, June 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Multi-disciplinary investment firm Echo Investment Capital is celebrating the passage of The Oklahoma Research and Development Act, a piece of legislation that creates a grant program designed to attract research and development companies to the state. The act, which offers matching grants to cover up to 50% of the cost of each project (up to $100,000), is designed to further diversify the economy in the state of Oklahoma, bringing new jobs, increased opportunities for students, researchers, and professional staff, exposure to new technologies, and growth in private investment.

The bill, which was signed into law by Governor Stitt at the end of May and goes into effect on November 1, 2022, will create a grant program through the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). Eligible companies are ones that operate in aerospace and autonomous systems, life sciences, or energy diversification and partner with an Oklahoma-based research university or nonprofit research institution.

Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, was the principal House author of the bill, and Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika carried it in the Senate.

“Echo is proud to support this legislation,” said Christian Kanady, founder and CEO of Echo Investment Capital, whose investments span across the life sciences, entertainment, real estate, and energy industries. “We believe it will make Oklahoma an increasingly attractive locale for global innovators to ideate, design, and test new products which will grow Oklahoma’s economy. Companies from all across the country are beginning to discover what Oklahomans already know — that the state is the ideal place for research and development due to our cost-effective space, integrated ideas and systems, and engaged workforce.”

ABOUT ECHO
Echo Investment Capital is an Oklahoma City-based investment firm with a multi-disciplinary team of strategic investors and operators funding innovation and cutting-edge companies across industries. Echo connects often-overlooked infrastructure with globally sourced ideas, talent and capital to build a better, bolder future for the community and the world. By bringing together forward-looking ideas and sophisticated capital, Echo aims to generate exceptional returns and differentiated value for investors and its portfolio.
www.echoinvestmentcap.com

For media inquiries:

Dawn Kamerling
The Press House
dawn@thepresshouse.com
www.thepresshouse.com

New benefits include surgery support and LGBTQ+-specific provider search assistance

KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an effort to more fully support LGBTQ+ associates, H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), has added to and enhanced its robust associate health and wellbeing offerings. These benefits offer support for associates searching for culturally competent providers, and covers transition procedures for transgender associates through the medical plan.

The goal is to make sure associates feel affirmed and supported both inside and outside the workplace. This is especially relevant during Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual, and other identities (LGBTQ+) Pride Month — or simply Pride Month — in the U.S.

As part of the process to increase equity for the LGBTQ+ community, H&R Block reviewed its medical and prescription benefits and compared those to the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) standards of care. While the company was well aligned with these standards as of last year, the enhancements ensure that the company is now fully aligned with WPATH.

“We care about our associates at Block and want to support them and their families with any needs they may have,” said Tiffany Monroe, H&R Block’s Chief People and Culture Officer. “We strive to provide programs that help create better outcomes for our associates, both mentally and physically.”

The company has also added the Inclusive Care program, available to qualifying associates and eligible dependents through the company’s Anthem medical plan, which acts as a concierge and support program for those in the LGBTQ+ community. It helps connect them with culturally competent providers who are more knowledgeable about the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. This resource can also guide patients through the complexities of gender transition procedures and ensure the care team is aligned on the appropriate treatment plans.

In addition, earlier this year, H&R Block implemented a combined $30,000 lifetime maximum benefit for eligible associates to provide infertility, surrogacy or adoption support. H&R Block also provides a working parent and pregnancy support program through Cleo, to support regular associates through any path to parenthood and from any family type, through baby’s first year. Mental health benefits include an enhanced mental health support program through Lyra for regular associates and their families, offering greater access to therapists, coaching and holistic mental health services.

Additional Commitments to Inclusivity

• Member of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and awarded the top score of 100 on the 2022 HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, leading to the company being named a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” in the United States for the third consecutive year
• In March 2022, H&R Block joined an effort as a corporate signatory on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) letter about legislative practices.
• H&R Block allows associates to use a name other than their birth name within HR systems (Workday)
• The company offers several associate-led Belonging Groups, which are spaces that foster the culture of belonging and are a place where all associates can cultivate connections. The LGBTQ+ Belonging Group, COLORS, stands for “Community Organizing for LGBTQ+ Opportunity, Resources, and Support”, and is made up of hundreds of LGBTQ+ internal employees and allies.

About H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation services, financial products, and small business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with human expertise and care as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time and also be better with money using its mobile banking app, Spruce. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small-business owners thrive with innovative products like Wave Money, a mobile-first, small-business bank account and bookkeeping solution, that manages bookkeeping automatically. For more information, visit H&R Block News or follow @HRBlockNews on Twitter.

CONTACT: For Further Information: 


Media Relations:   Angela Davied, (816) 854-5798, angela.davied@hrblock.com