Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

10 Jan

Ontario Sues Keel Digital Solutions for Over $25 Million, Alleges Fraud in Skills Development Fund

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingOntario

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): The Ontario government has launched a lawsuit against Keel Digital Solutions and its subsidiary Get A-Head Inc., accusing the company of inflating student counselling figures and seeking to recover more than $25 million in public funds. The legal action, filed Wednesday in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, claims that between 2022 and 2025, the company submitted misleading reports that resulted in substantial overpayments under a student mental health program. According to the lawsuit, Keel reported far higher numbers of counselling sessions than were actually delivered. The province alleges that the company counted sessions with non-students, mock…

09 Jan

Freeland Resigns from Parliament, Narrowing Liberals’ Margin in Minority House

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanadian Parliament, Chrystia Freeland resignation, Liberal Minority Government, Mark Carney

Ottawa, January 10, 2026: Former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland formally vacated her seat in the House of Commons on Friday, temporarily reducing the Liberal government’s strength at a time when it is operating just short of a parliamentary majority. Freeland’s resignation comes amid an already shifting balance in the Commons. When Parliament rose for the winter break in December, the Liberals had gained ground after former Conservative MP Michael Ma crossed the floor to join the governing party on the final sitting day. His move followed an earlier defection by Chris d’Entremont in November, bringing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government…

09 Jan

B.C. Court Rules Woman Fit for Trial Despite Claim That Jesus Will Act as Her Lawyer

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia court, fitness to stand trial, religious delusions

Agassiz, B.C.: A British Columbia court has ruled that a woman who told a court-appointed psychiatrist that Jesus Christ would be her lawyer is fit to stand trial, rejecting the Crown’s argument that her religious beliefs made her incapable of participating in legal proceedings. Denise Angela Norris faces a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm in connection with an incident in Agassiz, B.C., last June, during which she allegedly fired a weapon in an interaction with police. The Crown sought a ruling that Norris was unfit to stand trial, citing psychosis accompanied by religious delusions and arguing that she…

09 Jan

Canadian Dollar Holds Near Monthly Low as Global Tensions and Jobs Data Weigh on Sentiment

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanadian dollar, commodity currencies, loonie, US dollar

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian dollar traded largely flat against its US counterpart on Thursday, hovering near a one-month low as rising geopolitical uncertainty pressured commodity-linked currencies and investors waited for key domestic employment data. The loonie was last seen at 1.3865 per US dollar, or 72.12 US cents, after touching its weakest intraday level since December 5 at 1.3888. Market analysts attributed the muted movement to a broader shift in risk sentiment. With global tensions increasing, investors have been trimming exposure to risk-sensitive currencies such as the Canadian dollar. Canada’s heavy reliance on commodities, particularly oil, has added to…

09 Jan

Canada, Brazil Call for Venezuelan-Led Transition After US Seizure of Maduro

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada Brazil talks, Lula da Silva, Mark Carney, Venezuela crisis

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the unfolding situation in Venezuela, with both leaders expressing support for a peaceful, negotiated and Venezuelan-led transition that respects the country’s democratic will. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Carney and Lula agreed that any resolution to the crisis must be driven by Venezuelans themselves and must adhere strictly to international law and the principle of national sovereignty. Their discussion came days after the US military conducted a raid in Venezuela, seizing ousted leader Nicolás Maduro…

09 Jan

Canada’s Job Growth Slows in December as Unemployment Rises to 6.8%

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada jobs data, Statistics Canada, unemployment rate Canada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada’s labour market showed signs of cooling in December as the country added only 8,200 net new jobs, following three months of strong gains, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.8 per cent, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Friday. The increase in unemployment came as more people entered the labour force in search of work. The figures contrasted with market expectations, as analysts surveyed by Reuters had predicted a loss of around 5,000 jobs and an unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent. Following the data release, the Canadian dollar weakened slightly, trading at 72.05…

09 Jan

Delhi-NCR endures cold wave as rain and fog lower temperatures further

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir Quality, New Delhi, Pollution, Rain, Weather

National Times Bureau :- Parts of Delhi, Noida and Gurugram experienced rainfall on Friday, intensifying the already harsh cold wave in the region. Delhi recorded its lowest temperature of the season at 4.6°C early in the morning. Despite the rain, thick fog continued to cover the Delhi-NCR area, reducing visibility and adding to the winter chill, according to morning reports. The rain followed a day when the city recorded a low of 5.8°C on Thursday, the third-lowest this winter. Observations at Safdarjung showed temperatures 1.1°C below the seasonal average. Maximum temperatures also remained below normal across the city, keeping the daytime…

09 Jan

Ontario Premier Ties Any China Trade Flexibility to Local EV Manufacturing

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingOntario

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Ontario Premier Doug Ford has drawn a firm line on Canada’s electric vehicle policy toward China, saying the only scenario in which tariffs should be reconsidered is if Chinese automakers commit to building vehicles in Ontario and employing unionised Canadian workers. Ford made the remarks Thursday while speaking at a separate news event, days before Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to travel to Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese leadership. The upcoming visit will mark the first time a Canadian prime minister has travelled to China since 2017 and comes at a moment when Ottawa is…

08 Jan

Health Canada Reviews Generic Semaglutide Drugs, Raising Hopes for Lower-Cost Ozempic and Wegovy in Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadageneric semaglutide, Ozempic alternatives, Wegovy Canada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Health Canada is reviewing nine submissions for generic versions of popular weight-loss and diabetes medications, a move that could eventually reduce treatment costs for Canadians. The applications are for generic forms of semaglutide, the active ingredient used in Novo Nordisk’s branded drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, which are approved in Canada for diabetes management and weight loss. Semaglutide belongs to the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class of medications that work by mimicking a natural gut hormone to control blood sugar levels, slow digestion and increase feelings of fullness. While effective, the drugs can cause side effects such as nausea,…

08 Jan

Fort McMurray Man Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash Near Airport

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaAirport Road closure, Fort McMurray crash, Highway 63 accident

Fort McMurray (Rajeev Sharma): A man from Fort McMurray was killed in a multi-vehicle collision on Wednesday evening near the Fort McMurray International Airport, police said. The fatal crash occurred on Highway 63 close to Airport Road. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The RCMP did not disclose the exact number of vehicles or individuals involved in the incident. According to police, all other people involved in the crash sustained injuries of varying severity but are expected to survive. Emergency services responded promptly, and the injured were provided medical assistance. The cause of the collision remains under investigation,…