Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

25 Jan

Mark Carney charts packed global travel agenda in 2026 to expand Canada’s trade footprint

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingMark Carney

OTTAWA (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney is preparing for an exceptionally busy year of international travel as his government pushes to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States and broaden economic ties worldwide. Since taking office, Carney has already logged thousands of air miles aboard government aircraft, visiting countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His office says overseas engagement will remain central to his strategy of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade and attracting fresh foreign investment. In January alone, the prime minister made stops in France, China, Qatar, and Switzerland, signaling an aggressive start…

25 Jan

U.S. hunters penalized $27,500 for unlawful moose kills in remote Ontario wilderness

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingOntario

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Three American hunters have been handed significant fines and long-term hunting prohibitions in Ontario after conservation officers uncovered multiple illegal moose hunting incidents in a remote region of northwestern Ontario. According to Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the violations came to light following a targeted aerial patrol over the Skinner Lake area, located north of Pickle Lake, in late September 2023. The surveillance operation was launched amid growing concerns about unlawful activity at isolated hunting outposts. Investigators found that on September 29, two of the men — Zach Droessler and Ben Droessler — fatally shot a bull…

25 Jan

Fatal late-night collision in West Nipissing leaves one dead, four hospitalized

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingWest Nipissing

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): A serious two-vehicle crash in northern Ontario has claimed one life and sent four others to hospital, prompting an ongoing police investigation and temporary road closures in West Nipissing. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to the scene on Nipissing Street late Saturday night, shortly before midnight. Emergency responders arrived to find extensive damage involving two vehicles and multiple injured occupants. In a statement released Sunday, police confirmed that a 62-year-old woman from Sudbury, who was travelling as a passenger in one of the vehicles, died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts. Paramedics, along with air ambulance…

25 Jan

Ontario launches fast-track program to shorten waits for critical cancer treatments

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingOntario

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Cancer patients in Ontario are beginning to benefit from quicker access to advanced drug therapies as the provincial government rolls out a new initiative aimed at cutting lengthy approval delays for publicly funded medications. The Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments (FAST) program, introduced last year, is now being implemented across the province. Health officials say it is already helping patients obtain life-prolonging cancer drugs months earlier than the conventional approval pathway, which can stretch close to three years. Under the new system, six innovative treatments covering a range of cancers — including lung, prostate, leukemia, lymphoma, colorectal…

25 Jan

Major snowstorm expected to batter Toronto and eastern regions as deep freeze continues

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingToronto

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Large parts of Eastern Canada, including Toronto, are preparing for another round of severe winter weather, with meteorologists warning of intense snowfall, strong winds and continued bitter cold through Sunday. Environment Canada has forecast that Toronto could receive as much as 40 centimetres of snow over the course of the day, raising concerns about hazardous travel and widespread disruptions. An orange-level winter storm warning has been issued across much of the Greater Toronto Area, signalling the likelihood of significant impacts to daily life, infrastructure and public safety. According to the national weather agency, heavy snowfall combined with…

25 Jan

Canada rules out free trade pact with China amid tariff warning from Donald Trump

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingCanada, Mark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday clarified that Ottawa has no plans to pursue a formal free trade agreement with China, responding to sharp warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump over deepening economic ties between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney said recent discussions with Beijing were aimed at resolving trade imbalances and addressing market access challenges rather than forging a broader trade pact. He pointed to ongoing negotiations related to Chinese electric vehicles, agricultural commodities and seafood exports as part of efforts to stabilise bilateral commerce. Carney also underlined Canada’s obligations under…

25 Jan

Deep freeze grips Canada, straining power grids and grounding flights nationwide

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): A sweeping blast of Arctic air has tightened its grip across much of Canada, putting immense pressure on power utilities and disrupting air travel, as temperatures plunged to dangerous lows on Saturday. From the eastern seaboard to the Prairie provinces, communities braced for brutal wind chills and extreme cold, with meteorologists warning that some Prairie regions could experience conditions equivalent to –55°C. The prolonged cold spell has forced residents indoors and triggered emergency responses in several cities. In Ontario, frigid winds pushed “feels-like” temperatures in Toronto and Ottawa beyond –30°C, prompting municipalities to expand operations at warming…

25 Jan

Mark Carney urges Canadians to back homegrown industry after Donald Trump’s tariff warning

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingDonald Trump, Mark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on citizens to rally behind domestic producers and workers, unveiling a sweeping “Buy Canadian” drive just hours after US President Donald Trump threatened steep trade penalties over Ottawa’s growing engagement with China. In a video message shared online, Carney said the new policy reflects a strategic shift aimed at insulating Canada’s economy from mounting external pressures. He encouraged consumers, businesses and public institutions to prioritise Canadian-made goods and services, presenting the move as both an economic and national resilience measure. “With rising uncertainty in global markets, Canadians are choosing to…

25 Jan

Rescue teams brave subzero cold to save stranded family in British Columbia

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): A family of four was brought to safety after becoming stranded overnight in freezing conditions along a remote forest road in British Columbia’s Central Okanagan region, officials confirmed. Volunteers from Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) were mobilised in the early hours of January 24 following a distress call from the group, whose vehicle became immobilised on Bear Main Forest Service Road near Islaht Lake. The area, known for rugged terrain and limited connectivity, posed significant challenges for rescuers. According to COSAR, active logging operations had left the roadway coated in ice, making it treacherous to navigate.…

25 Jan

Winter storm disrupts air travel across Canada, leaving thousands stranded

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Trending

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Severe winter weather sweeping across large parts of Canada has thrown air travel into disarray, forcing airlines to cancel or delay hundreds of flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded at major airports. Operations were heavily affected at key hubs in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Halifax as bitter cold, strong winds and heavy snowfall created hazardous conditions for aircraft movements and ground handling. According to airport authorities and flight tracking data, more than 225 flights were cancelled while over 300 departures and arrivals faced delays through the day. Toronto Pearson International Airport recorded the highest number…