Canada

Physicians Condemn Proposed Alberta Bill Restricting Medical Assistance in Dying

Physicians Condemn Proposed Alberta Bill Restricting Medical Assistance in Dying

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): A group of Alberta physicians and healthcare providers has issued a sharp rebuke of the provincial government’s proposed Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act. In a public letter and interviews on Monday, March 30, 2026, medical professionals argued that the legislation which seeks to impose stricter limits on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) than current federal laws undermine patient autonomy and places clinicians in "ethically untenable positions." Dr. Dionne Walsh, a palliative care physician and signatory of the letter, stated that the bill’s restrictive measures fail to recognize the complexity of suffering,…
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Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau to Retire Following French-Language Controversy

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau to Retire Following French-Language Controversy

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Air Canada announced on Monday, March 30, 2026, that President and CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of this year. The decision follows a week of intense national backlash after Rousseau released an English-only video message of condolence following the fatal crash of Air Canada Express Flight 8646 at New York's LaGuardia Airport on March 22. The controversy was further fueled by the fact that the flight originated in Montreal and one of the two pilots killed, Captain Antoine Forest, was a francophone from Quebec. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had…
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Power, Pressure & Policy Shift: Canada’s Bill C-12 Redefines Immigration Landscape

Power, Pressure & Policy Shift: Canada’s Bill C-12 Redefines Immigration Landscape

Ottawa (National Times Bureau): Canada’s immigration system is entering a new and controversial chapter with the passage of Bill C-12, a law that significantly expands federal authority while tightening key pathways for newcomers and asylum seekers. Framed by the government as a necessary modernization, the legislation is being viewed by critics as a power shift that could reshape how immigration decisions are made and who gets to stay. At the heart of the bill is a major structural change: the federal government now has the authority to pause, cancel, or terminate immigration and visa applications if deemed to be in…
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B.C. Court Dismisses Negligence Claim After $580K Condo Fraud Attempt Blocked

B.C. Court Dismisses Negligence Claim After $580K Condo Fraud Attempt Blocked

Kelowna ( Rajeev Sharma): A sophisticated real estate fraud attempt involving a condominium at Big White Ski Resort was foiled in the final stages of closing, preventing a potential loss of $580,000, according to a recent British Columbia Supreme Court ruling. Unknown individuals, posing as the legitimate property owners, attempted to complete the sale through a fully remote transaction. The deal was halted when a conveyancing lawyer was unable to verify the identities of the purported sellers, stopping the transfer of funds before completion. In a civil lawsuit filed by the legitimate owners and prospective buyers, Realtor Gary Turner and…
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Costco Coming to Saddleridge with New Gas Station

Costco Coming to Saddleridge with New Gas Station

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Costco Wholesale Canada is set to expand in northeast Calgary with a new warehouse and gas station in the Saddleridge area. The site, located near the Saddleridge Bottle Depot, has been secured and is currently in the early planning stages. The upcoming Costco will offer bulk groceries, household items, and membership-only merchandise, along with a popular gas station providing competitive fuel prices for members. The project is expected to create new jobs and enhance retail options for the growing community. However, exact timelines and construction dates have not yet been announced. Residents and local businesses are eagerly…
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Winnipeg Police Seize $24,000 in Drugs After Stopping Wrong-Way Driver

Winnipeg Police Seize $24,000 in Drugs After Stopping Wrong-Way Driver

Winnipeg (Rajeev Sharma): Winnipeg police arrested a 35-year-old man after observing a vehicle travelling the wrong way in the St. Matthews neighbourhood. Officers spotted the vehicle in the 400 block of Sherbrook Street and conducted a traffic stop. Upon identifying the driver, police discovered he was wanted on existing warrants for being unlawfully at large and a parole suspension. Further investigation at the scene indicated the driver was impaired by drugs or alcohol. A subsequent search of the vehicle and the individual yielded a significant quantity of illicit substances with a total estimated street value of approximately $24,560. The seizure…
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Premier Danielle Smith Affirms ‘Alberta Stays’ Amid MLA’s Push for Separation Referendum

Premier Danielle Smith Affirms ‘Alberta Stays’ Amid MLA’s Push for Separation Referendum

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith clarified her stance on the province's future within Confederation on Saturday, March 28, 2026, stating that her vision for "a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada" means the province will not leave. Speaking on her weekly radio program, Your Province, Your Premier, Smith responded to recent comments made by UCP MLA Jason Stephan, who published an op-ed in The Western Standard inviting Albertans to sign a formal separation petition. While Stephan argued that a referendum would hold Ottawa accountable and allow "truth to prevail," Smith emphasized that both her caucus and the provincial…
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Two Snowmobilers Rescued After Falling Through Thinning Ice on Georgian Bay

Two Snowmobilers Rescued After Falling Through Thinning Ice on Georgian Bay

Tay Township, Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Emergency crews in Tay Township, Ontario, successfully executed a dramatic ice rescue late Friday evening, March 27, 2026, after a snowmobile crashed through the ice on Georgian Bay. Southern Georgian Bay OPP received a distress call just before 10:00 PM reporting that a sled had gone through the ice several hundred metres offshore near Robin’s Point Road. Two snowmobiles were reportedly travelling together when one broke through the rapidly thinning surface, causing both riders to plunge into the frigid water. The riders' survival was credited largely to their use of survival flotation suits, which kept…
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Canada Enacts Stricter Asylum Framework, Sparking Debate Over Refugee Protections

Canada Enacts Stricter Asylum Framework, Sparking Debate Over Refugee Protections

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The government of Canada has introduced sweeping changes to its asylum system with the implementation of a new law aimed at tightening border controls and accelerating refugee claim procedures. The legislation, known as Bill C-12 or the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, officially came into force after receiving royal assent on March 26, 2026. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the law introduces stricter eligibility criteria for asylum seekers, faster processing timelines, expanded data-sharing powers among government agencies, and increased authority for officials over immigration-related documents. One of the most significant provisions targets delayed…
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Medical Licence of Toronto Psychiatrist Revoked Over Profiteering from 1,400 Fake COVID Exemptions

Medical Licence of Toronto Psychiatrist Revoked Over Profiteering from 1,400 Fake COVID Exemptions

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal has officially revoked the medical licence of Toronto psychiatrist Dr. Celeste Jean Thirlwell following a disciplinary hearing regarding her professional conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a decision released on February 11, 2026, the tribunal found that Dr. Thirlwell issued 1,425 medical exemption letters for vaccinations, masking, and testing requirements over a brief three-month window in late 2021. The tribunal concluded that she acted for personal profit, charging first-time patients $300 per letter while bypassing the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The investigation revealed a highly organized, "word-of-mouth" operation where…
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