Canada

Halford Says B.C. Conservative Leadership Contest Will Reset Party and Bring Unity

Halford Says B.C. Conservative Leadership Contest Will Reset Party and Bring Unity

Victoria (Rajeev Sharma): Trevor Halford says the upcoming leadership race for the Conservative Party of British Columbia will be an opportunity to clarify the party’s direction and restore cohesion after weeks of internal turmoil that briefly left the party with competing claims to its top job. Halford stepped into the role of interim leader on December 3 after the party’s board appointed him amid mounting tensions within caucus. Earlier that day, a majority of Conservative MLAs publicly withdrew their support from then-leader John Rustad, citing ongoing disputes that had affected fundraising and damaged the party’s public standing. The board later…
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Extended Waits for Tests and Specialists Common in Ontario, Survey Finds

Extended Waits for Tests and Specialists Common in Ontario, Survey Finds

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): A majority of Ontarians are facing prolonged delays when seeking diagnostic tests or specialist care, according to a new public opinion survey that highlights growing pressure on the province’s health-care system. The poll, conducted by Abacus Data and released on Tuesday, found that long wait times are the norm rather than the exception. About one-third of respondents said they waited longer than six months to see a specialist or undergo a diagnostic procedure, while another 37 per cent reported delays ranging from three to six months. These timelines stand in sharp contrast to provincial benchmarks. Ontario Health…
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Danielle Smith Defends Alberta Next Report Amid Criticism of Timing and Content

Danielle Smith Defends Alberta Next Report Amid Criticism of Timing and Content

ALBERTA (Rajeev Sharma): Premier Danielle Smith has pushed back against accusations that her government attempted to downplay the release of the Alberta Next report, insisting that the report’s Friday afternoon publication ahead of the Christmas holidays does not mean it is being ignored. The report, compiled by a Smith-appointed panel, examined Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa and made several high-profile recommendations, including the creation of a provincial pension plan to replace the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the eventual establishment of a provincial police force to succeed the RCMP. “Replacing the CPP with an Alberta plan is the most financially meaningful…
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Man Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Wife’s Death in Merritt, B.C.

Man Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Wife’s Death in Merritt, B.C.

MERRITT, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): A 49-year-old man has been charged with second-degree following the death of his wife in Merritt, British Columbia, according to the RCMP. Officers and paramedics responded to a residence in the city on Tuesday after reports of a woman suffering serious injuries. Pamela Jarvis, 45, was transported to a hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. RCMP said her husband, Christopher Bernard Jarvis, had fled the scene before police arrived but was apprehended a few hours later. He has been denied bail and will remain in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for January 6,…
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Carney Suppresses Laughter at Ford’s Praise for Ontario Anti-Tariff Ad

Carney Suppresses Laughter at Ford’s Praise for Ontario Anti-Tariff Ad

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): During a joint press conference, Prime Minister Mark Carney struggled to contain his amusement as Ontario Premier Doug Ford lauded his province’s controversial anti-tariff advertisement. Ford described the ad as “the best ad that’s ever been run,” claiming it had “12.4 billion views” and emphasizing that its goal was to raise awareness among the American public. He reiterated his stance against protectionism, stating, “We’re their number one customer, they’re our number one customer. We need to work together.” The advertisement, which aired in October, featured excerpts from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 radio address warning that…
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Freezing Cold Fails to Deter Audience as “AJEY: The Story of a Monk to CM of UP” Premieres in Calgary

Freezing Cold Fails to Deter Audience as “AJEY: The Story of a Monk to CM of UP” Premieres in Calgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Despite extreme cold weather, Calgary witnessed an overwhelming response to the special screening of AJEY: The Story of a Monk to CM of UP (Yogi Adityanath), a biographical film based on the life of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The film, written by noted author Shantanu Gupta, was screened at a special ticket rate of $10 and organized by Gopal Saini. Hundreds of viewers from the Indo-Canadian community attended the premiere, demonstrating strong enthusiasm and admiration for the subject of the film. The packed screening stood as a testament to the audience’s commitment, as many braved…
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Alberta Next Panel Recommends Referendums on Immigration and Provincial Pension Plan

Alberta Next Panel Recommends Referendums on Immigration and Provincial Pension Plan

Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta Next panel, tasked with exploring ways to increase provincial autonomy, has put forward seven key recommendations, including proposals for public referendums on major policy issues. The report was released Friday, following town hall consultations held in ten Alberta communities over the summer and fall. Chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, the 15-member panel focused on topics such as self-governance, a provincial pension plan, taxation, equalization payments, federal transfers, provincial policing, immigration, and constitutional reform. “Albertans were clear that for too long, decisions made outside this province have limited Alberta’s ability to grow our economy and chart…
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British Columbia Sets 2026 PNP Nomination Allocation, Falls Short of Request

British Columbia Sets 2026 PNP Nomination Allocation, Falls Short of Request

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia has become the first Canadian province to announce its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocation for 2026, revealing a total that is lower than what it had originally requested. The announcement was published on the BC PNP’s official updates page on December 18, 2025. For the upcoming year, the federal government has granted British Columbia 5,254 nomination spaces. While this represents a 31% increase over the initial 2025 allocation of 4,000 slots, it is fewer than the province ended 2025 with, after receiving additional nominations throughout the year: 1,254 extra slots in October and another…
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New York and Ontario Join Forces to Advance Nuclear Energy Technology

New York and Ontario Join Forces to Advance Nuclear Energy Technology

New York (Rajeev Sharma): New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a cross-border collaboration aimed at developing nuclear energy technology during a joint event at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. The initiative focuses on advancing small modular reactors (SMRs) and other nuclear innovations. Ontario Power Generation is currently working on SMRs at its Darlington facility, located roughly two hours north of Buffalo. Premier Ford highlighted the growing energy demand in Ontario, projecting an increase of up to 90% over the next 25 years. “We are expanding our nuclear capabilities, both with small modular reactors and large-scale…
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Power Restored Gradually After Powerful Windstorm Disrupts Life Across B.C.

Power Restored Gradually After Powerful Windstorm Disrupts Life Across B.C.

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): A powerful wind and rain system swept across British Columbia this week, cutting electricity to tens of thousands of homes, shutting down schools, and creating hazardous travel conditions across large parts of the province. According to B.C. Hydro, outages peaked early Wednesday, affecting roughly 120,000 customers, largely concentrated in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast regions. By mid-afternoon, crews had reduced that figure to about 30,000 as repair work continued throughout the day. Utility officials said the damage was worsened by weakened trees, many of which were compromised by years of drought and toppled easily under…
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