Tag: Fund

Posted on

Poilievre says he would launch $44B lawsuit against Big Pharma to fund drug addiction treatment

Poilievre says he would launch B lawsuit against Big Pharma to fund drug addiction treatment

Asked whether he intends to alter the current rules around supervised consumption sites, Poilievre would only say ‘the existing overall system has failed’

The Canadian Press

Stephanie Taylor

Published Mar 14, 2023  •  Last updated 2 days ago  •  3 minute read

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during an announcement and news conference in New Westminster, B.C., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during an announcement and news conference in New Westminster, B.C., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Photo by Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday that if he became prime minister, he would sue pharmaceutical companies as a way to fund drug treatment — but he wouldn’t say what he would do about sites where users can consume drugs under supervision.

Poilievre made the pledge during a stop in Metro Vancouver, a region of the country he has routinely criticized for its approach to the opioid crisis. He once called Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood “hell on earth.”

The Tory leader has said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the NDP-led provincial government are both contributing to the problem in British Columbia by offering a safe supply of drugs to some users and decriminalizing small amounts of certain illicit substances.

He has panned such measures as being part of a “failed experiment.”

During a video on the topic of harm reduction filmed in front of a tent encampment in Vancouver last November, Poilievre posed a question that would become the centrepiece of his Conservative message: “Do you ever feel like everything’s broken in Canada?”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Poilievre has pledged to end the provision of a safer supply of drugs and disallow decriminalization. The positions earned swift condemnation from political opponents and drug policy experts, who say the measures are needed to mitigate a toxic drug supply that has led to thousands of preventable overdoses and deaths.

Poilievre reiterated his position on Tuesday.

“I don’t believe in flooding our communities with more and more taxpayer-funded drugs,” he said.

Instead, he said he would focus on providing users with more recovery and treatment options.

He said that to pay for those, he would launch a $44 billion lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the prescription drugs that many users are addicted to, as well as join an existing class-action suit that B.C. has launched.

“Those programs are going to cost a lot of money. It’s worth the money, but who should pay?”

Poilievre also said he believes in distributing medications that ease the symptoms of drug withdrawal and overdose antidotes such as naloxone.

Asked Tuesday whether he intends to alter the current rules around supervised consumption sites — where users can bring drugs to inject or inhale under the watch of staff — the Conservative leader would only say that “the existing overall system has failed.”

The federal government currently funds safe supply programs at 20 centres across the country.

Supervised consumption sites are more common. Some offer supply programs, but many do not.

In addition to supervision, the sites typically offer services such as drug testing and clean needles. They also help users connect with various support services, including housing help. To operate, providers require a federal exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Federal Conservatives have had long-standing concerns over such sites, and former prime minister Stephen Harper’s government took issue with their expansion during his time in office, citing their perceived effect on public safety.

In 2013, Harper’s government ushered in legislation titled the “Respect for Communities Act,” which stipulated that organizations looking to open such facilities had to meet a set of strict criteria in order for their applications to be considered.

After the Liberals came to power in 2015, Trudeau’s government passed a bill that reduced the criteria projects needed to meet to eight, down from 26. By 2020, Ottawa reported that 39 such sites were operating.

Poilievre frequently points to Alberta’s United Conservative government as having a treatment-focused approach to addictions that is worth emulating.

Former premier Jason Kenney had spoken out against supervised consumption sites and assembled a panel to probe their impact on crime, property values and safety.

The government moved some of the sites, pointing to such concerns. But according to Health Canada, five still operate in the province — three in Edmonton, one in Calgary and one in Grand Prairie, Alta. The government does not list any safe supply projects in the province.

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Join the Conversation

Posted on

Poilievre vows to sue drug makers over opioid crisis to fund addiction treatment – National

Poilievre vows to sue drug makers over opioid crisis to fund addiction treatment – National

Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre mentioned Tuesday that if he turned primary minister, he would sue pharmaceutical corporations as a way to fund drug remedy — but he wouldn’t say what he would do about websites wherever customers can eat medicine less than supervision.

Poilievre designed the pledge during a stop in Metro Vancouver, a location of the region he has routinely criticized for its tactic to the opioid disaster. He a short while ago termed Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood “hell on earth.”

The Tory leader has stated that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the NDP-led provincial govt are both equally contributing to the challenge in British Columbia by supplying a secure supply of prescription drugs to some users and decriminalizing tiny amounts of specific illicit substances.

He has panned these kinds of measures as becoming component of a “failed experiment.”

Browse a lot more:

Poilievre defends safe source criticisms, suggests packages ‘perpetuating’ addiction

Tale continues under advertisement

During a video clip on the subject of damage reduction filmed in front of a tent encampment in Vancouver last November, Poilievre posed a question that would turn into the centrepiece of his Conservative concept: “Do you at any time experience like everything’s broken in Canada?”

Poilievre has pledged to finish the provision of a safer provide of medicines and disallow decriminalization. The positions attained swift condemnation from political opponents and drug plan professionals, who say the measures are needed to mitigate a toxic drug source that has led to countless numbers of preventable overdoses and deaths.

Poilievre reiterated his placement on Tuesday.

“I never consider in flooding our communities with a lot more and much more taxpayer-funded medications,” he reported.


Click to play video: 'Advocates fighting opioid crisis want Parliament hill flag lowered'


Advocates battling opioid crisis want Parliament hill flag reduced


Instead, he reported he would concentrate on supplying consumers with far more restoration and remedy alternatives.

Tale carries on below advertisement

He explained that to pay back for those, he would launch a $44 billion lawsuit in opposition to the pharmaceutical organizations that manufacture the prescription medications that a lot of buyers are addicted to,as properly as join an present class-motion accommodate that B.C. has released.

“Those packages are going to price tag a lot of dollars. It’s well worth the income, but who should really pay back?”

Poilievre also mentioned he believes in distributing medications that ease the symptoms of drug withdrawal and overdose antidotes these as naloxone.

Study a lot more:

Is safe and sound supply for opioid use helpful? Here’s what the industry experts, facts say

Requested Tuesday regardless of whether he intends to alter the recent regulations about supervised intake websites — wherever buyers can carry medications to inject or inhale below the watch of staff — the Conservative leader would only say that “the present overall system has unsuccessful.”

The federal governing administration presently cash protected offer programs at 20 centres throughout the state.

Trending Now

  • Anti-LGBTQ2 protests are on the rise in Canada: What is heading on?

  • Zellers comeback: When and wherever you can store at the price cut retailer yet again

Supervised intake web pages are much more frequent. Some offer you supply systems, but lots of do not.

In addition to supervision, the web pages commonly provide companies this sort of as drug screening and clear needles. They also assistance people hook up with several guidance solutions, such as housing assist. To run, providers have to have a federal exemption to the Controlled Medicines and Substances Act.

Story carries on down below ad

Federal Conservatives have experienced extended-standing issues above such web-sites, and former primary minister Stephen Harper’s government took challenge with their enlargement all through his time in business office, citing their perceived result on community safety.


Click to play video: 'B.C. to decriminalize possession of some hard drugs amid opioid crisis'


B.C. to decriminalize possession of some hard drugs amid opioid crisis


In 2013, Harper’s federal government ushered in laws titled the “Respect for Communities Act,” which stipulated that organizations looking to open these types of facilities experienced to satisfy a set of strict requirements in purchase for their purposes to be regarded as.

Immediately after the Liberals arrived to ability in 2015, Trudeau’s federal government handed a bill that reduced the conditions initiatives wanted to meet up with to eight, down from 26. By 2020, Ottawa claimed that 39 such internet sites were being functioning.

Poilievre usually factors to Alberta’s United Conservative govt as getting a therapy-concentrated technique to addictions that is well worth emulating.

Former premier Jason Kenney had spoken out towards supervised usage sites and assembled a panel to probe their effects on criminal offense, residence values and safety.

Tale continues down below ad

The federal government moved some of the websites, pointing to such worries. But in accordance to Health and fitness Canada, five however run in the province — 3 in Edmonton, 1 in Calgary and one in Grand Prairie, Alta. The governing administration does not checklist any harmless supply projects in the province.

&copy 2023 The Canadian Push

Posted on

Vegas ‘life coach’ accused of running Ponzi scheme to fund gambling addiction

Vegas ‘life coach’ accused of running Ponzi scheme to fund gambling addiction

A Las Vegas, Nevada male is accused of running a Ponzi scheme the place, in its place of investing revenue in the inventory sector, he wagered thousands and thousands of pounds at casinos, investing tens of thousands of dollars a working day.

On Dec. 13, Las Vegas Metro law enforcement arrested Rodney Buckle, 65, on a warrant for quite a few fraud-similar fees, including securities fraud and theft, documents confirmed.

Buckle’s codefendant, Warisra Stevens, pleaded responsible past 12 months to securities fraud and theft conspiracy fees, records confirmed. A choose sentenced Stevens to a least of 19 months in prison.

Buckle, who ran firms called “Rodd United, “Rodd U,” and “Rodd One particular,” referred to as himself a “life coach and money advisor,” investigators with the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office environment wrote in documents the KLAS-Tv set investigators obtained. He was not certified with the condition or federal authorities, investigators stated.

The business enterprise was situated in close proximity to Flamingo Highway and Arville Street, files explained. An on-line posting about the business, acknowledged in the publish as Rodd College, claimed “Rodd College is a membership-based social club furnishing a system for study and speaking about topics ranging from current occasions to the inventory marketplace.”

“Buckle offered steering and suggestions on [stock accounts], other stock investments and sporting activities betting,” investigators mentioned. “Buckle guaranteed investors weekly return on shares and sports activities betting ranging from a 1{35112b74ca1a6bc4decb6697edde3f9edcc1b44915f2ccb9995df8df6b4364bc} return to 52{35112b74ca1a6bc4decb6697edde3f9edcc1b44915f2ccb9995df8df6b4364bc}.”

At very first, Buckle took dollars from buyers with checks. He then switched to a hard cash-only model, investigators claimed.

“Investors mentioned that Buckle showed them a spreadsheet on his computer system listing their identify, and the amount of money they invested with him,” investigators mentioned, “The financial investment quantities ranged from anything at all to $100 to about $700,000.”

Point out investigators said Buckle then informed his traders he wanted much more income “to develop a ‘waterfall’ impact in purchase to generate ‘new’ cash for investments,” they wrote in courtroom files. Buyers took out financial loans, refinanced their residences and opened up credit score cards in buy to pay back Buckle with the belief that they would receive their certain returns.”

The investigator said she started off her investigation when a couple complained to the point out that they experienced not acquired a return on their investment. In 2015, Buckle promised the pair a 50{35112b74ca1a6bc4decb6697edde3f9edcc1b44915f2ccb9995df8df6b4364bc} return on “bets he would area on their behalf,” the investigators claimed.

In 2017, immediately after expending tens of 1000’s of bucks, the pair requested Buckle for some of the income back owing to a modern cancer diagnosis and other payments, the investigators mentioned.

The pair also discovered the Securities and Trade Commission had issued a judgment from Buckle in 1999, purchasing him to pay back $3 million in restitution. The submitting promises Buckle “had marketed around $3 million value of unregistered securities even though making false and deceptive representations to traders.”

The SEC filing consists of a corporation called Maven Enterprises, files mentioned. Officers with the SEC wrote in files that Buckle lived in Las Vegas and “claims to be a professional gambler.”

Stevens, determined in paperwork as Buckle’s girlfriend, told investigators Buckle took out virtually $25,000 every single week “for own use and gambling,” paperwork claimed. “Stevens mentioned that Buckle funded her way of living and compensated her charges. Stevens mentioned that the total business was a Ponzi plan.”

Stevens told investigators she believed the cash was applied to fund Buckle’s gambling habit, investigators stated. A different individual instructed investigators Buckle “would gamble wherever from $5,000 to $20,000 on a everyday basis.”

Investigators later on identified Buckle placed $2.4 million worth of wagers at the sports activities book at the Westgate Hotel and Casino exactly where he misplaced $76,000. The on line casino inevitably banned Buckle, investigators claimed.

Buckle also experienced wagered $440,000 at the South Point on line casino and shed $434,000, investigators reported.

In 2017, state investigators raided Buckle’s home, seizing electronics and gaming tickets, among other merchandise. A warrant for Buckle’s and Stevens’ arrest was issued in December 2019. It was unclear what led up to the 3-yr lag for the arrest, though it appeared that Buckle self-surrendered.

A choose purchased Buckle held without having bail. He was owing in court in January.

Posted on

TikTokers Say Low Creator Fund Pay Is Affecting Their Mental Health

TikTokers Say Low Creator Fund Pay Is Affecting Their Mental Health
  • Quite a few TikTokers are battling to make trusted earnings from the app’s Creator Fund.
  • Some claimed the reduced payouts were being so demoralizing they dropped out of the program completely.
  • “It manufactured me not want to produce written content any more,” just one creator claimed of the software.

In April of 2021, a single of Kevin Yatsushiro’s TikToks, which showed him changing out the switches in his keyboard, went viral.

It obtained 3 million sights with top rated responses expressing it was the to start with longform TikTok they viewed through to the pretty conclusion.

Yatsushiro, 30, who is far better recognised as @itskiwicvlt, a gaming and anime temperament on the application, anticipated at least a modest economic windfall. But he only noticed $12.50 compensated by TikTok’s Creator Fund for that video.

“When I saw these a low quantity of income generated, it genuinely designed me experience much less about myself,” he informed Insider. “It was a huge blow to my psychological health and fitness … it made me not want to create content any longer.”

Many substantial-profile creators, like Hank Eco-friendly and MrBeast, have publicly criticized TikTok for lower payouts from its Creator Fund, by way of which it pledged in 2020 to shell out out $1 billion.

But Yatsushiro, who has designed an audience of more than 586,000 followers on TikTok, took it a action further more. Past year, he resolved to pull out of the Creator Fund totally. He also took a total-time work at a huge company undertaking non-social-media perform. Now, he only posts when he feels like it.

He is not the only a person to rethink his participation in the Creator Fund. Other TikTokers like Yutsushiro advised Insider that they felt demoralized by their reduced payouts, with some stating they’d like to make no income from TikTok at all.

‘You’ll have people with thousands and thousands of sights on a online video acquiring 20 to 30 bucks off of it’

Alicia Trautwein has approximately 93,000 TikTok followers, but she’s been publishing much more to Instagram and even Pinterest these days.

“Pinterest and Instagram fork out out additional than TikTok,” she mentioned of their direct monetization packages, like Instagram’s Reels Bonuses. “Suitable now, on Pinterest, I conveniently make $1,000 to $2,000 extra [per month], and on Instagram I’d say it really is $4,000 to $5,000 far more [per month].” 

“TikTok has by no means experienced a excellent Creator Fund,” she mentioned. “You will have persons with millions of sights on a video finding 20 to 30 bucks off of it.” Trautwein spends her time on TikTok for the local community, she extra.

The most Trautwein has manufactured in a thirty day period from TikTok’s fund was about $10 from a solitary online video that gained 1.8 million sights in October of 2020. Insider has reviewed documentation to validate this and other payouts cited in this tale.

Nikki Apostolou, a entire body positivity TikToker with 145,000 followers, posts at minimum 3 movies a working day. She’s experienced a several viral hits that have garnered 2 to 3 million views each individual, but she does not sense her earnings price the do the job she puts in. In actuality, she feels like she’s burning out.

“Even with viral TikToks I even now only get $20 to $30 on an normal month,” Apostolou explained to Insider. “It mentally takes a toll … It helps make me issue and question myself and it commences to make you sense like your self worth is that Creator Fund. I sometimes feel like a road performer with actual expertise entertaining for pennies.”

She has not very seriously regarded quitting TikTok or pulling out of the Creator Fund due to the fact, as she place it, “each individual penny counts.”

But other individuals have. For instance, 26-calendar year-previous Yazid Sulliman (@YaziDoe), like Yatsushiro, informed Insider he pulled out of the Creator Fund simply because he was not creating enough from the software.

Creators want transparency and a much more regular pay rate from TikTok

Trautwein and Yatsushiro both stated they’d flagged these problems to their TikTok community administrators, along with ideas for how to make the Creator Fund a much more aggressive and safe software.

One principal recommendation they had was for TikTok to standardize its prices, which would far more carefully tie their earnings to the benefit generated. Quite a few creators pointed to YouTube as a superior product for this. Although YouTube payouts can fluctuate dependent on things like wherever the audience sights from, creators get 55{35112b74ca1a6bc4decb6697edde3f9edcc1b44915f2ccb9995df8df6b4364bc} of the cash compensated by advertisers. TikTok payouts, in distinction, count on a assortment of unnamed aspects and are also not specifically tied to revenue the system is making.

Currently, a lot of TikTokers said the most worthwhile way for them to make cash off their accounts was by getting brand name promotions. Creators can established their own fees centered on their follower depend, engagement, and attain, and be able to negotiate their pay back with several brand names.

“I hope that TikTok can grow to be improved knowledgeable of the total mental wellbeing of their creators when it will come to monetization,” Yatsushiro mentioned of the Creator Fund. “We might like to know how TikTok assigns us a monetary worth per view and how they make that determination. In the long run, if we understood how these choices have been built, possibly it could enable us very best choose how to cater our latest material strategies to accommodate generating additional dollars and solidifying a vocation as a material creator.”

When requested for remark, a TikTok spokesperson stated in a assertion that the organization understood “how crucial it is that our creators are appreciated for their work and appear to our creator group for useful comments to superior provide their wants.” The assertion also pointed to the other techniques creators can make revenue on the platform like its Live Subscription, Branded Mission, TikTok Pulse, and the Creator Portal.