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Drew Yewchuk

@drewyewchuk.bsky.social
328 followers 101 following 286 posts

Phd student researching government information management, public interest lawyer, advocate for access to government information laws, cold war history enthusiast.

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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Nagwan Al-Guneid @nagwanyyc.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
It has been an honour of a lifetime to represent the constituents of the beautiful riding of Calgary-Glenmore. I am proud of everything we have accomplished together, and grateful to everyone who has walked through this journey with me. See my full statement below. #yycglenmore
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
This grotesque strategy makes a mockery of law. I cannot think of a way to remain professional and express how this makes me feel about the Edmonton Police Service. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Edmonton Police Service asks court to order homeless man to pay $8,400 before proceeding with lawsuit | CBC News
A man experiencing homelessness who is suing the Edmonton Police Service is facing a new hurdle after EPS applied for an order requiring him to pay $8,400 in security for costs.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Checking e-mails.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Danielle Smith plans to attack the free market for not producing enough methane gas. Amazing.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Orlagh O’Kelly @orlaghokelly.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art... @theglobeandmail.com It’s not removing duplication when you’re removing the only federal assessment process for fossil fuel, data centres and the province doesn’t order any assessment. It’s not one process it’s none
theglobeandmail.com
Ottawa moves to reduce duplication in approval process for some large energy projects
The changes would clear hurdles to oil sands extraction, some pipelines and transmission lines
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The AER Issued an abandonment order to MAGA Energy Ltd., because MAGA didn't comply with the suspension order from April. Ordinarily, these orders push the licensee into a bankruptcy or restructuring process within a couple months. www.aer.ca/about-aer/me...
aer.ca
Announcement – September 9, 2026
The Alberta Energy Regulator (the AER) has issued an Abandonment and reclamation Order to MAGA Energy Ltd. (MAGA) requiring the abandonment of MAGA’s wells, facilities and pipelines.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Jeremy Appel 🍉 @readtheorchard.org · 08/09/2026
NEW: A group of rural Alberta landowners is teaming up with environmental law charity Ecojustice to challenge the Alberta Energy Regulator's underfunded orphan well levy in court. open.substack.com/pub/theorcha...
open.substack.com
Landowners take AER to court for underfunded orphan well cleanup
The regulator increased its orphan well levy to almost $155 million this year, which represents just a fraction of the nearly $1.7 billion and growing cost of closing the wells.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
I think Fort Chip made the right choice. I would be concerned that this 'community engagement' are an attempt to check the box for consultation while bypassing MCFN's actual government structure. Can it hurt just to hear Suncor out? Yeah - it might. indigenousinsider.substack.com/p/uninvited-...
indigenousinsider.substack.com
Uninvited: How Fort Chipewyan Sent Suncor Packing in a Day
Suncor pitched “treated” tailings water for the Athabasca River. Fort Chipewyan wasn’t having it.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Refusing to disclose the authors of a key document due to fear of fear of "cancel culture" and claiming the public is "leery of experts" anyway doesn't inspire trust. 1 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
The document claims 45 Albertans in fields including banking and currency, law, international trade, First Nations and policing contributed to the preparation and review of the package. 

However, the identities of those individuals were not made public. 

Wilson said confidentiality was put in place to ensure contributors don’t face “cancel culture" or harassment.

“The report will speak for itself. And Canadians, and many people in the world, are growing leery of the ‘experts say’ stuff anyway,” Wilson told CBC News. “People will be able to evaluate it.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Markham Hislop @markhamhislop.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
How oil became Alberta’s identity, power and grievance Our first freelance news story from former CP reporter Bob Weber. Watch for my interview w/Bob coming this afternoon. #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli energi.media/alberta/albe...
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Celeste Trianon @celeste.lgbt · 23/08/2026
Today, I’m taking the time to remember barbara findlay, K.C., who passed away yesterday. She was a pioneer for queer equality all across Canada. From Sheridan v. Sanctuary Investments to A.B. v. C.D., she kept fighting on, defending trans people decades before “Woke 1” became a thing. 📸: me
Photo of barbara findlay and Celeste presenting at a conference.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
A rare and encouraging win for prison justice. Interesting for administrative law in general is the consideration of the 'adequate alternative remedy principle' that has allowed shabby appeal tribunals to act as obstacles to obtaining effective judicial remedies (see paras 113-135 of the decision)
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Amusing line from a recent OIPC decision (FOIP2026-26) where a public body tried to redact basic information as tactically important.
[paragraph 85] While there is information about weapons employed by police services in the records, I am unable to say it is technical information. The information is about the weapons generally and not about specific models. The Public Body characterizes the information as
“tactical”; however, the information itself is silent as to how police officers could use the weapons tactically or to gain an advantage. The information about the Taser consists of basic facts about how Tasers work; the same or more detailed information can be found on Wikipedia
and the manufacturer’s website. The information is comparable to a statement such as “guns fire bullets.” I am unable to find that the information severed by the Public Body is sufficiently specialized to be characterized as “technical information”. I find that section 20(1)(l) does not apply to the information the Public Body severed from the records.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
New Post: Democracy Watch and its Implications for the Practice of Channeling Limited Judicial Supervision to Appellate Courts ablawg.ca/2026/08/10...…appellate-courts/
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I have to dig into what happened with the economics of natural gas since 2014. Something doesn't make sense to me about "continued low natural gas prices" when many of the largest gas producers are tangled in huge export limiting wars - from a non-expert understanding of economics, that should...
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
A great history of the big promises of carbon capture and the equally big failures of carbon capture technology to achieve much of anything.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Tammy Schirle 🇨🇦 @tammyschirle.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
In the June 2026 issue of CPP/Adp: Constitutional Limits on the Design of Canadian Federal Climate Change Policy by Andrew Leach @aleach.ca utppublishing.com/doi/10.3138/...
utppublishing.com
Constitutional Limits on the Design of Canadian Federal Climate Change Policy | Canadian Public Policy
Les gaz à effet de serre représentent un enjeu politique pressant au Canada et dans le monde. Le Canada a pris des engagements internationaux pour réduire ses émissions de 40 % à 45 % sous les taux de 2005 d'ici 2030. Si le Canada n'atteint pas ses ... Greenhouse gases (GHGs) represent a pressing policy challenge for Canada and for the world. Canada has made international commitments to reduce emissions to 40–45% below 2005 levels by 2030. If Canada is to meet its targets, it will need more—or more ...
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A good (although legally complex) post from Nigel on three unsuccessful Alberta government attempts to collect royalties owed by oil and gas co's in insolvency proceedings. The Alberta government seems to be losing out on significant royalties when oil and gas co's file for insolvency.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
A former reclamation scientist who worked on the oilsands, (Robert Vassov) put out a series on the oilsands mine reclamation problems. It provides an interesting perspective: looking at the engineering and corporate management problems. (1/2) robertvassov.substack.com/p/reclaiming...
robertvassov.substack.com
Reclaiming Alberta's Oil Sands Part 1: The Cost
Proven reclamation on the uplands, and what a hectare of forest actually takes to rebuild.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Canadian satire outlet @the-goose-media.bsky.social produces a great two-minute recap of the Mark Carney-Danielle Smith oil pipeline announcement. 👇 youtube.com/shorts/2sCuj...
youtube.com
Canada’s 🇨🇦 Dumb New Pipeline
YouTube video by The Goose
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
There's an arrest warrant now for Wentao Yang. He played a confusing role in the Sequoia, Alphabow, and Long Run Exploration bankruptcies and is therefore sort of an important figure in the history of Alberta's orphan well problem. But I thought he left Canada by 2020, so this seems much too late.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
New Post: Canada's Evolving Right to Shelter: Region of Waterloo v Named Respondents & Persons Unknown ablawg.ca/2026/07/10...
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
DeSmog @desmog.com · 11/06/2026
❗️ AI for All or AI for fossil fuels? Internal government documents show that one of the 'top public policy benefits to Canada' of data centres is providing new markets to gas companies.
buff.ly
Mark Carney Advisor Says AI Data Centres ‘Provide Markets’ For Gas
Boosting energy production is one of the top ‘public policy benefits to Canada’ of data centres, internal Privy Council document explains.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Completely separate from the environmental and climate change argument, there is good evidence that betting on oil and gas investments beyond 2030 is a financial mistake.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
I just got a successful Alberta Information Commissioner decision (ORDER FOIP2026-24) - technically a win - but it relates to a request from 2021 and allows government another try to reprocess the records. Probably a tactical victory and a strategic defeat.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
AER noncompliance dashboard shows 103 noncompliances with the 2025 Annual Mandatory Closure Spend Quota, meaning the small amount of required closure work was not done (of the company forgot to file their paperwork). Mostly small co's, but two mid-sized ones: Battle River and Axiom.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
I am consistently surprised that there is no movement, or even discussion, about changing the name 'Alberta'. The province is named for a British Royal who was boring at best with trivial connections to the province. There are better names laying around: 'Athabasca' - even keeps 'AB'.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The Alphabow bankruptcy took a turn for the weird years ago, and it just keeps getting weirder. The bankruptcy monitor is now seemingly alleging someone absconded with funds belonging to the Alphabow - although they want more time to investigate. www.ksvadvisory.com/docs/default...
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Corb's petition was a legislative petition. We don't need a referendum. Just commit to passing The Act to Prohibit Coal Mining on the Eastern Slopes. Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be. #abpoli #ableg
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
A just-published article from me and Professor Jocelyn Stacey at UBC, describing the troubled system for climate change disaster information in B.C. specifically and Canada generally. www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/...
facetsjournal.com
The management of information on climate change-related disasters in British Columbia
Canadians now experience climate change-amplified disasters, such as floods, fires, and extreme heat. Networks of laws and regulation, unbeknownst to researchers in most disciplines as well as much of...
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Courtney Theriault @ctheriault.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
"If she messes with the question, we're gonna be on the streets with pitchforks." As Corb Lund says his anti-coal petition has hit its signature goal, he's asking Premier Smith to stick to her word on a coal referendum- argues coal CEOs aren't telling the truth podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/c...
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Alberta's Orphan Well Association has updated their inventory numbers following the influx of sites from Long Run Exploration. There are now 7,887 orphan sites for decommissioning and reclamation, and 9,117 orphan sites for reclamation.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
The Goose 🇨🇦 @the-goose-media.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
This is The Goose’s most ambitious project yet. A one hour deep-dive into the financial crisis at the heart of Alberta’s economy and the captured regulator that let it happen. Alberta's $320 Billion Time Bomb 💣 | The Goose Media 🇨🇦 youtu.be/37qKJLuOcKY
youtu.be
Alberta's $320 Billion Time Bomb 💣 | The Goose Media 🇨🇦
YouTube video by The Goose
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
On May 15th, 2026 the AER issued an environmental protection order to Prairie Mines and Royalty ULC relating to the discharge of sediment from the Coal Valley Mine into the Lovett River beginning on May 7th. www1.aer.ca/complianceda...
www1.aer.ca
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
My thoughts on Carney's 'balance' of environment and oil and gas. All the environmental stuff is fake. The CCUS project only does anything so long as oilseeds are continually produced (and CCUS hardly works). The higher carbon price by 2040 and net-zero by 2050 are way outside Carney's term (1/2)
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
A note on Alberta's Orphan Well Association stats: The OWA website figure (5,030 sites for decommissioning) has not been updated since the beginning of April.(www.orphanwell.ca/inventory/in...) If they follow their normal practice, I expect updated OWA numbers by May 13th or sooner.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
The Conversation Canada @ca.theconversation.com · 04/05/2026
Canada’s fragmented electronic health records harm patients and cost taxpayers billions: New research
theconversation.com
Canada’s fragmented electronic health records harm patients and cost taxpayers billions: New research
Canada needs to establish clear accountability for health data oversight and co-ordination of electronic health records.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Ominous. I get the sense this summer is going to kill in Vancouver because of runaway climate change and the El Niño cycle. If you can, prepare for serious heat and possible power shortages. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Vancouver breaks temperature record last set in 1898 amid hot weather across B.C. | CBC News
Environment Canada says Vancouver's high temperature on Monday reached 23.9 C, easily breaking the record of 22.2 C set in 1898.
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Amanda Follett Hosgood @amandafollett.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
A bi-weekly meeting of several BC ministries, industry regulators and the RCMP's CRU-BC protest policing unit has been keeping tabs on "ongoing climate action initiatives and treaty negotiations," according to a January update. My latest for @thetyee.ca. thetyee.ca/News/2026/04...
thetyee.ca
BC’s Protest-Response Team Is Monitoring Treaty Negotiations, Internal Docs Show | The Tyee
The RCMP says the briefings are meant to provide ‘situational awareness.’ One climate advocate says it’s ‘deeply disturbing.’
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
CST Canada Coal had another mine wastewater problem on April 20, 2026. They have repeated infractions for excessive total suspended solids, and this one looks huge: "Daily TSS exceedance Limit is 350 mg/l lab results showed 3897 mg/l." No sign of AER enforcement on the compliance dashboard yet.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
"This time will be different, Carney says"
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ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
New Post: Bill 30, Expedited Project Approvals: Proponents Should Look Before They Leap ablawg.ca/2026/04/24...…before-they-leap/
ablawg.ca
Bill 30, Expedited Project Approvals: Proponents Should Look Before They Leap
By: Nigel Bankes and Drew Yewchuk Matters Commented On: (1) Bill 30: Expedited 120 Day Approvals Act, first reading, April 14, 2026, (2) Press Release, Faster Approvals for Major Projects, April 14…
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The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 24/04/2026
Four months ago, a Narwhal investigation revealed the Alberta Energy Regulator appeared to violate a ministerial order when approving MAGA Energy to acquire additional oil and gas wells. Yesterday, the regulator announced it has suspended the company’s operations. thenarwhal.ca/alberta-maga...
thenarwhal.ca
Alberta Energy Regulator suspends MAGA Energy | The Narwhal
The order comes just 18 months after the regulator approved the company’s takeover of 170 oil and gas wells
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
There was a brief discussion of orphan wells (actually wells, pipelines, and facilities, but often shortened to just ‘wells’) in the Alberta legislature on Wednesday. (docs.assembly.ab.ca/LADDAR_files..., see pages 1475-1476) I’ve got some notes on the discussion. [1]
docs.assembly.ab.ca
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Phillip Meintzer @phillipmeintzer.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on record in the legislature (on Wednesday April 15) saying that her government wants to artificially inflate the price of natural gas to keep struggling companies afloat - but wouldn't that mean ordinary Albertans paying MORE for their natural gas? #ABLeg #ABPoli
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
What on Earth is the CRA up to? Almost makes me wish I did tax law, but there's only so much time in life... www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
'Here we go again' after CRA pays out another bogus $5M income tax refund, agency insider says | CBC News
The Canada Revenue Agency has paid out another $5-million refund to a single taxpayer, this time to a B.C. businesswoman, despite what it now alleges was a bogus return that included "illogical" and "...
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
New Post: The Minority Report on Electoral Districts: Will the Law Protect Alberta from UCP Gerrymandering? ablawg.ca/2026/04/13...…p-gerrymandering/
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Bankes and Tienhaara provide great coverage of both the specific local question of Northback's Grassy Mountain lawsuit against Canada, and a general summary of the problem with Investor-state Dispute Settlement processes. Albertans should be aware of both.
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Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Lots more orphan wells! In case you thought Alberta was running out. www.aer.ca/about-aer/me...
aer.ca
News Release 2026-04-09
CALGARY – The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has turned over all remaining energy assets for Long Run Exploration Ltd. (Long Run) in Alberta to the Orphan Well Association (OWA) to complete closure wo...
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Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
MarketWire 📡 @marketwire.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
📰 #Finance "CALGARY, April 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has turned over all remaining energy assets for Long Run Exploration Ltd. (Long Run) in Alberta to the Orphan Well Association (OWA) to complete closure work. The company filed for receivership…"
financialpost.com
AER Designates Long Run Exploration Ltd.’s Sites to Orphan Well Association for Closure
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