Canada Archives - Page 19 of 33

19 Jul

B.C. Minister Apologizes After Reinstating Drug Funding for Girl With Rare Disease Amid Committee Resignations

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada

Victoria, B.C. (Richa Walia): Four members of British Columbia's Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases Committee have resigned following the provincial government's decision to override their recommendation and reinstate funding for a life-extending drug for a 10-year-old girl suffering from a rare illness. Health Minister Josie Osborne publicly apologized on Friday to the family of Charleigh Pollock, the only known person in B.C. with Batten disease — a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that causes seizures, blindness, and progressive loss of motor skills. The treatment, Brineura, costs approximately $1 million annually. The government’s reversal of a controversial decision to stop funding Brineura came…

19 Jul

India and Canada Make Strides to Rebuild Diplomatic Ties: MEA

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada, India, MEA

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India and Canada are taking concrete steps to mend their strained relationship, with both nations actively working towards reinstating their High Commissioners, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had a "constructive discussion" on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada last month. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to revitalizing bilateral ties and laid the groundwork for restoring full diplomatic engagement. "We had the meeting at the Prime Minister level in…

19 Jul

Mounting Complaints Against BLS International: The Sole Provider of Indian Consular Services in Canada Faces Scrutiny

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBLS International, Canada

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): BLS International, the only agency authorized by the Indian consulate to handle visa, passport, and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) services in Canada, is under fire for alleged unethical practices, overcharging, and customer mistreatment. For many, like Prashant Vashista, BLS represents more than bureaucracy — it’s a painful memory. Two years ago, following his mother’s death, Vashista rushed to BLS’s Brampton centre seeking emergency visas for himself and his family. Despite collecting the documents in person, he says he was forced to pay $135 in courier charges — a service he never requested. “I was in dire…

18 Jul

High Commission of India in Ottawa Issues Advisory Against Scam Calls Targeting Indian Nationals in Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The High Commission of India in Ottawa has issued a public advisory warning Indian nationals and individuals of Indian origin in Canada about a surge in scam and spoofed telephone calls, emails, and communications impersonating Indian diplomatic officials. According to the advisory, these fraudulent communications often claim to involve issues related to Canadian visas, immigration status, job offers, or alleged criminal activities. The scammers demand payments or repayments of application fees and sometimes threaten individuals with legal action. Shockingly, some impostors have falsely presented themselves as officials from the High Commission of India, or from the Consulates…

18 Jul

Canada to begin issuing invitations for Parents and Grandparents Program from July 28

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Starting July 28, 2025, IRCC will invite 17,860 potential sponsors from the 2020 intake for the Parents and Grandparents Program, aiming to accept 10,000 complete applications. This program enables eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency. Those not selected can consider the Super Visa, which allows extended stays in Canada.The Canadian government will begin issuing invitations to sponsor under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) starting July 28, 2025, according to an official statement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This move will allow Canadian citizens and permanent…

18 Jul

Calgary Police Investigate Early Morning Shooting in Redstone Neighborhood

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCalgary, Canada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Calgary Police Service (CPS) is presently investigating an early morning shooting in the Redstone neighborhood of northeast Calgary. Multiple gunshots were reported in the early hours of Thursday. According to CPS, officers responded to the 100 block of Red Sky Green N.E. at approximately 3:04 a.m. following reports of gunfire. Preliminary investigation indicates that several shots were fired at a parked vehicle, fortunately resulting in no reported injuries. Police have confirmed that there is no ongoing risk to public safety.Throughout the morning, officers remained at the scene, gathering evidence and speaking with potential witnesses. Investigators have…

17 Jul

Canada Imposes New Tariffs to Shield Domestic Steel Industry from Global Pressure

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada, Mark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): In a bold move to protect Canada’s domestic steel sector from global trade disruptions and unfair pricing practices, Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday announced a sweeping series of tariffs and trade safeguards, signaling a more aggressive stance on imports. The centrepiece of the new strategy is a tariff rate quota targeting countries with which Canada has free trade agreements, excluding the United States. Imports from these countries that exceed 2024 volume levels will be hit with a 50% tariff, a measure designed to deter trade diversion and stabilize domestic production. In addition, steel imports containing material…

17 Jul

PM Mark Carney to Address First Nations at Bill C-5 Summit Amid Mounting Concerns Over Major Projects Law

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada, Mark Carney

Gatineau, Quebec (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with First Nations leaders Thursday during a critical summit in Gatineau, Quebec, where he will face growing scrutiny over the recently passed Bill C-5 — legislation that enables expedited approval for infrastructure projects deemed nationally significant, including pipelines, mines, and ports. The two-day summit, held at the Canadian Museum of History, began on Wednesday and is intended to ease tensions and clarify the federal government’s position on Indigenous consultation in major project development. However, First Nations leaders have voiced strong objections, claiming that their constitutional rights are being…

15 Jul

Alberta News: Pathways to end gender-based violence

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingAlberta, Canada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government is launching the Community Pathways to Justice grant to support survivors of gender-based violence. A responsive justice system is essential to ensuring survivors of gender-based violence are supported, and people committing these crimes are held to account. To support survivors of gender-based violence, Alberta’s government is launching a new grant program to strengthen support services across the province. Through the Community Pathways to Justice grant, $1.25 million in one-time funding will be made available to help community-based organizations and Indigenous communities enhance access to justice and provide survivor-centered services. This initiative is part of Alberta’s…

13 Jul

Danielle Smith Defends Alberta’s School Library Policy, Says ‘Pornography is a Problem’ for Youth

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingAlberta, Canada

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Premier Danielle Smith has doubled down on her government’s controversial decision to remove sexually explicit material from Alberta school libraries, saying the move is necessary to protect children from being exposed to inappropriate content. Speaking on her province-wide radio show, Your Province, Your Premier, Smith responded to criticism suggesting education funding and classroom overcrowding should take precedence over library book content. Smith acknowledged the importance of broader education concerns but insisted that shielding young children from pornographic material is also a vital issue. “Pornography is a problem for young adults,” she said. “If I can’t describe some…