Canada Archives - National Times

19 Aug

101+ Canadian Organizations Urge Ottawa to Support Dr. Mohan Bhagwat’s Proposed Visit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada, due process, Immigration, Mark Carney, Mohan Bhagwat, RSS

OTTAWA/CALGARY (Rajeev Sharma): More than 101 Canadian community, cultural, religious and advocacy organizations have signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior federal ministers, urging the Government of Canada to uphold due process, religious freedom and equal treatment in considering the proposed visit of Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak (chief) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Carney, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, says Bhagwat’s proposed visit is of significant interest to members of Canada’s Hindu community. The signatories argue that any…

19 Aug

Questions Raised Over RCMP Protection Provided to Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau During Travel

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada Politics, Justin Trudeau, Katy Perry, RCMP, security detail, VIP protection

CALGARY (Rajeev Sharma) — Questions have been raised in media reports about the scope and potential public cost of RCMP protective services provided to former prime minister Justin Trudeau, including during some of his international travel. The claims were reported by TVA Nouvelles, which cited three unnamed sources regarding RCMP personnel assigned to protect Trudeau. The report also discussed travel involving Trudeau and singer Katy Perry, with whom he has been publicly linked. National Times has not independently verified the claims made by the unnamed sources. The TVA report quoted former RCMP deputy commissioner Pierre-Yves Bourduas, who discussed the operational…

19 Aug

CBSA Officers Spotted at International Student Protest in Edmonton’s Mill Woods

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlbertaCanada, CBSA, Edmonton, Immigration, International Students, Mill Woods, PGWP, work permit

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers were reportedly observed at an ongoing protest involving international students and graduates in Edmonton’s Mill Woods area, where participants have been raising concerns about immigration and post-graduation work permit (PGWP) decisions. The demonstration has drawn attention from international graduates who say they are concerned about cases involving denied or cancelled Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs). Protesters have been calling for greater clarity, transparency and consideration of the circumstances affecting graduates who say their immigration and employment plans have been disrupted. The presence of CBSA officers at the protest site has added another…

19 Aug

Paramhansa Swami Vishwananda to Bring Two Sacred Days of Spirituality and Devotion to Calgary

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingCalgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Calgary is set to host two special spiritual gatherings featuring Paramahamsa Swami Vishwananda on September 13 and 14, 2026. The Darshan Blessing will take place on Sunday, September 13, from 4 to 9 p.m. at Shepard Community Hall, 10800 84 Street SE. The evening will include personal blessings, devotional kirtan, inspirational talks, and vegan/vegetarian food. On Monday, September 14, from 6 to 10 p.m., the Ganesh Chaturthi & Bhajan Jamming event will be held at the New Indo-Canadian Centre, Bay 8, 30 Avenue NE, Calgary. The program will feature live bhajan jamming, sacred rituals, inspirational talks and…

19 Aug

RCMP Warn Two Canadian Sikh Activists of Potential Threats to Their Lives

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingRCMP

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian authorities have issued security warnings to two Sikh separatist activists, informing them that police have received intelligence indicating a potential threat to their lives, according to reports in Canadian media. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) sent “duty to warn” notices to Inderjeet Singh Gosal, based in Caledon, Ontario, and Manjinder Singh of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Both men are associated with efforts advocating the creation of an independent Sikh state in India. Gosal reportedly received the notification on August 14 after being contacted by the RCMP. The police communication is understood to have described the threat…

18 Aug

Threatening Call Targeting Calgary Gurudwara Sparks Concern; Police Investigating Amid Rising Community Tensions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingCalgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A reported threatening phone call targeting the Dashmesh Culture Centre in Calgary has prompted concern within the local Sikh community, with Calgary Police Service investigating the circumstances surrounding the communication. According to the Gurudwara committee, a call received on Saturday allegedly included a threat that a group of approximately 75 people would come to the Gurudwara and attempt to damage or demolish the building. The committee also alleges that the call contained racially offensive comments. The allegations have not been independently verified, and the identity and intentions of the caller have not been established. Gurudwara Chairman said…

18 Aug

Alberta Hails Ottawa’s EV Mandate Reversal as “Victory” for Consumers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter have welcomed the federal government’s decision to scrap its electric vehicle mandate, calling the move a significant win for Albertans and a reversal of a policy the province had strongly opposed. In a joint statement, Smith and Hunter said Alberta had consistently argued that the federal EV policy would raise costs for consumers and businesses while placing additional pressure on provincial electricity infrastructure. The Alberta government had previously identified the federal EV mandate among nine federal laws and policies it considered harmful to the province’s…

18 Aug

Alberta Cracks Down on Illegal Lenders After Guilty Pleas and Fines

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A major investigation into illegal lending practices targeting consumers in Alberta has resulted in several guilty pleas, financial penalties and court-imposed restrictions, following allegations of excessive interest rates, harassment and intimidation. The province’s Consumer Investigations Unit (CIU) began probing the activities in 2025 after receiving complaints from consumers. Investigators found that some Quebec-based businesses were presenting themselves as legitimate lenders while allegedly offering loans at unlawful rates and using aggressive methods to recover money from borrowers. Authorities also uncovered the use of Telephony Denial of Service (TDoS) attacks. The technique was allegedly used to flood telephone systems…

16 Aug

Alberta Welcomes Ontario Court Ruling on Bike Lanes, Says Minister

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta government has welcomed a recent Ontario Court of Appeal ruling concerning bike lanes, saying the decision reinforces the authority of elected governments to determine transportation policies in the public interest. Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen said the ruling supports the principle that governments can make changes to transportation infrastructure according to the needs of their communities. In a statement issued Saturday, Dreeshen said the court's decision was a positive development for elected governments and argued that there is no constitutional entitlement to a bike lane. The minister said Alberta's transportation policies would…

15 Aug

Alberta Welcomes Oil Producers’ Backing for Proposed West Coast Pipeline

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean has welcomed a commitment from oil producers to support the development of a proposed pipeline linking Alberta’s energy sector with Canada’s west coast. Jean issued the statement after the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (EPAC) wrote to the federal government on August 14, outlining the expected participation of its members in the proposed project. According to the minister, EPAC indicated that a significant number of its upstream oil-producing companies are expected to commit volumes to the pipeline. The association represents producers responsible for more than 40 per cent of…