Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

10 Jan

Alberta Launches Public Portal for Proposed BC Bitumen Pipeline

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta government has unveiled a new online platform to provide information on its proposed bitumen pipeline to northwest British Columbia, highlighting a commitment to transparency and public engagement. The website aims to clarify common misconceptions about the project, including rumors that construction has already started, that Alberta is fully funding the pipeline, or that a route has been finalized. In reality, the province has dedicated $14 million to early-stage planning and is seeking private-sector leadership alongside partnerships with Indigenous communities. Officials said the pipeline could transport up to one million barrels of crude per day to…

10 Jan

Alberta Premier Urges Ottawa to Fast-Track Major Energy Projects Amid Global Oil Shifts

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to accelerate federal approvals for major energy projects, calling for applications to be green-lit within six months rather than the current two-year target. In a letter shared publicly on Friday, Smith highlighted recent developments in Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and U.S. plans to boost Venezuelan oil production, as a key reason for speeding up Canadian approvals. “Renewed Venezuelan crude production will compete directly with Canadian heavy oil for limited refinery capacity,” Smith wrote, noting that delays could risk Canada’s market share and investment…

10 Jan

British Columbia Sees Above-Average Snow Levels as Winter Progresses

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia’s snow pack is off to a strong start this year, with levels slightly above the seasonal average, according to the province’s latest snow survey and water supply bulletin. Issued on January 9, the report indicates that the provincial snow pack stands at 107 per cent of normal levels for this time of year, compared with 87 per cent on January 1, 2025. Regional variations are significant. While the South Coast basin and Vancouver Island are below average—at 67 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively—the Central Coast, Similkameen, and Nechako regions are well above…

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…