What company is this? Links? Is this in the Portland area? Does this include the CMP connection cost,.or is this just purely your electricty rate?

The process itself is not that hard, it just had all kinds of eligibility conditions attached to it based on when you graduated, where you graduated, and what type of degree you obtained. Now the only stipulation is that you live in Maine full time and have a degree from a recognized university/college. Doesn't matter, when, where, or what degree type.

We will be taking advantage of this..I'm glad they finally simplified this.

Seems like a lot of opportunity for abuse by shady employers.

Does that happen if you work at a restaurant, and say, it's a slow week and tips are scant? The owner would bump up your hourly pay from 6$ to 13$?

The Whole tipping wage thing is bizarre, does any other country do this (at least other countries where tipping is customary)? How can something that is so based in local culture (not laws), have a solid wage limit? Could I as a business owner, just say hey guess what we will allow our customers to tip now, so your salary is 6.90 (as ridiculous as that would be)? Or is it enshrined somewhere that this is solely for restaurant workers?

Ya not illegal, just very morally questionable, if not reprehensible.

Really? The largest oil refinery in Canada is in Saint John, New Brunswick, about an hour from Maine. 80% of it gasoline is exported to the USA. Does Maine see none of that?

They do have discretion and they don't always properly check (it can also depend on how long ago your offences were, as they may not be readily available to them). Also the deemed rehabilitation (where you are automatically considered rehabilitated after 10 years) will still be considered for old offences before they changed the law in 2018. Flying in is usually better as they are more hesitant to turn you around as they have to get the airlines involved (the airline has to pay for your return flight if you are denied entry). But don't freak out if they bring you in for secondary screening, and just answer them truthfully and fully, they always prefer that, and it shows you're not hiding anything and not a menace. When you are driving up, they have no hesitation in turning you around since you just turn your car round, it's a lot less screening for them, and they are in their rights to do it.

No problem, If you think you will ever need to go to Canada since your record goes back over 30 years ago, you can apply for rehabilitation with the Canadian Border Services. This can be done by mail through a Canadian embassy, or you can actually submit it at a land border crossing (they can process it in a few weeks rather than a few months like the embassy). It costs $200 Canadian (about $150 USD) to apply, along with their requested docs. Once you are granted it, it is good forever so you can enter Canada freely after that. It's a money grab no doubt, and in my opinion Canada is over zealous in this regard, Canada could seriously devote these resources elsewhere (like gun smugglers for example). However, you should have few issues visiting other countries (tourist) as your passport will not show your criminal record like it would for Canadian border officials, but it is always good to do a bit of research before you book a flight. Best wishes.

Sadly, it is a straight up ban (as there is no way they could enforce preventing you from driving), even if you are married to a Canadian, have a job offer from a Canadian company, anything. It used to be after 10 years you were considered "deemed rehabilitated" and a CBSA officer could permit you entry, but that has since been amended, and a DUI in Canada now has a potential max sentence of 10 years in prison, thus it is considered a serious offence, and the only way to overcome it is is to apply for rehabilitation through a Canadian consulate or at a port of entry after 10 years have passed. If 10 years have not passed you can apply for a TRP (temp residency permit), which may allow you to enter Canada for a fixed period of time, but you must have compelling reasons (so no casual visits). This is neither cheap, quick or easy in either scenario.

International travel may prove difficult going forward (he/she may not care, but it is something to consider). Canada, for example, bans all individuals with an OUI (especially since Canada can see all American's criminal histories, especially since 2014). Many other countries have similar laws.

I always wondered why they don't use the term "medically staffed beds" to avoid this confusion. So many people think "beds" just means furniture and they will be magically staffed by nurses and doctors.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a good portion of the power comes from new Brunswick. Right now the kwh rate in new Brunswick is 9¢ a kwh (USD). Now cmp is saying they have to raise the rates to 17¢ kwh. Why is new Brunswick paying half of what mainers are when their power is coming from the same sources?

What is new Brunswick doing to keep energy prices down that Maine is not? Can we emulate that?

Better yet, newfoundland time, just to mix things up a bit.

Exporting is leaving the country. Not a transfer wholly within the USA between two American citizens. In this situation one party is a foreign national with no means or desire to wait for exportation with all the costs and background checks that entails. That's the crime, knowing they would smuggle them across the border, especially in a place like houlton, which isn't exactly a firearm import/export hub, and the Canadian had no status in the usa and this is a situation where am American cannot sell or give a firearm to them. Which is the issue presented in the article, and what law enforcement believed happened. This is the RCMP conclusion, and I'm inclined to believe them, and I think the victims deserve some kind of answer and action.

Ya never said it was all Maine weapons. Some serious balls were dropped in Canada hence the commission, and some extreme law changes. Canada and Nova Scotia acted on it and made changes, and they are still.imvesotgotng and calling people to testify . But that's half the battle, the American border is proving a difficult issue. Having some support by federal and state governments would be appreciated, but it is becoming more and more apparent there is little will or care. Sadly.

I didn't bring up any of the gun laws or rules. That was brought up by yourself. I made no desire to change these things, I was asking about the lack of care or interest in a mass shooting that involved the state. I made no push to educate on the culture of guns from the outset, I made no complaints, and in all honesty got some serious interest and true good faith answers (and not the tongue and cheek absolutism, others provided). Anyway, have a good day. I recommend if you don't want to go down rabbit holes, don't bring up unrelated questions. Focus is a virtue

Not incorrect, and not exportation. Totally different thing. It in the article. Sorry.

In the U.S., it is illegal for an American to transfer, sell, trade, give, transport or deliver a firearm to someone they know is not a U.S. resident, which includes Canadian tourists. Anyone found in violation may face fines or up to 10 years in prison, depending on the details of the offence. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/924

I would say the USA has some radical thoughts on "freedom", especially when it comes to guns. I take my info from the many indexes presented all over the world. Much more dynamic than the simple bipolar spectrum of what I can have or own without restriction, which Americans have a tendency to over amplify in their political debates. It's a give and take and I don't think simply relaxed laws protect freedom. It's a balance, of which the USA is currently lopsided. This is why the USA ranks quite low on most freedom indexes within the developed world. Anyway, waaaay off topic.

It's strange, because gun background checks would give people the right to be free of gun violence. It's always about perspective

I've lived in Maine for many years and interacted with population as well. I remember when people thought the same as yourself when it came to Gay marriage and legal pot, and this things changed rather quickly (and sadly can change back). Ya never know, the USA is a weird place sometimes.

Dang that was a slim margin to be sure. 51/48. looks like another one might be ready to go.

True. However everyone in Maine hates tourists until they are gone. I recall businesses going under in droves due to Covid (Canadian border closures, less American tourists due to mandates etc.). Mainers seemed to love tourists then, when it hit them where it hurts, their wallets.

It's illegal to gift or sell firearms to a foreign national/non-resident in the USA. The shooter bought, and was gifted guns. He also stole improperly stored guns (improperly stored guns can be a crime in Maine). I'm just going off what we know and the RCMP and police in Nova Scotia, were not content with the results provided to them by US authorities (the the feds or Maine), as outlined in the article. I'm inclined to believe them, since they are trying to get answers and justice for victims.

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"A senior RCMP officer, Supt. Darren Campbell, told the commission he was dissatisfied with the force's investigation of Wortman's firearms.

"In terms of those that assisted him, I would say for me, personally, I'm not satisfied that we've been able to conclude what I believe the expectations of survivors and victim families would expect and personally, me as a police officer and investigator, what I would wish to accomplish, in terms of the provision of firearms. That is the outstanding element for me," Campbell said.

A CBC News investigation earlier this year found Americans who helped Wortman obtain firearms may have violated U.S. law, but no one has been charged."