Canada

BDC Unveils $50M Fund to Empower Women Entrepreneurs Amid Canada’s Succession Shift

BDC Unveils $50M Fund to Empower Women Entrepreneurs Amid Canada’s Succession Shift

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): As Canada braces for a generational shift in business ownership, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is stepping in with a $50 million initiative aimed at helping women entrepreneurs acquire established companies from retiring owners. The newly launched Thrive Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Fund, managed by BDC Capital, is designed to provide both capital and strategic support to women looking to purchase and scale existing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The move comes in response to what experts are calling a “succession tsunami” — the anticipated exit of tens of thousands of business owners over the…
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Public Safety Crisis Grips B.C. Communities as Local Leaders Prepare for Key Talks in Victoria

Public Safety Crisis Grips B.C. Communities as Local Leaders Prepare for Key Talks in Victoria

Victoria, B.C (Richa Walia): As mayors and councillors from across British Columbia gather in Victoria for the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention, the issue dominating conversations is not housing or infrastructure—but downtown disorder and rising concerns over public safety. From northern towns to coastal cities, municipal leaders say they’re grappling with the fallout of increasingly visible and complex social issues on their streets. The concerns range from drug use and mental health crises to repeat criminal activity and deteriorating public confidence in safety. In Smithers, the town has taken the unusual step of hiring private security to patrol…
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Australia, Canada, and UK Recognize Palestine, Call for End to Hamas

Australia, Canada, and UK Recognize Palestine, Call for End to Hamas

National Times Bureau (Rajeev Sharma): Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom jointly announced their recognition of the State of Palestine, reaffirming support for a two-state solution in the Middle East. The coordinated move, declared in separate statements by Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese, Mark Carney, and Keir Starmer, emphasized that the recognition was meant to revive hopes for peace and not to reward Hamas, which they urged must disband immediately.Albanese called the recognition a historic acknowledgment of the Palestinian people’s long-held aspirations for independence, while Carney cited Canada’s decades-long support for a two-state solution as the foundation of its decision. Starmer…
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Minister Nate Horner Issues Update on Teacher Bargaining Talks, Outlines Key Issues Remaining

Minister Nate Horner Issues Update on Teacher Bargaining Talks, Outlines Key Issues Remaining

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board, Nate Horner, has provided a public update on the status of ongoing negotiations between the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) and the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA). In a statement released Friday, Minister Horner confirmed that the two parties met earlier in the day at a resolution conference convened by the Alberta Labour Relations Board (LRB) to address an unfair labour practice complaint filed by TEBA against the ATA. Following the meeting, the LRB issued a consent order, signaling an agreement between both sides to resolve the complaint…
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Canada and Mexico Elevate Ties with New Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Joint Action Plan

Canada and Mexico Elevate Ties with New Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Joint Action Plan

Mexico City (Rajeev Sharma): In a landmark meeting held at the National Palace in Mexico City, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced the elevation of bilateral relations through the creation of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a new chapter in Canada–Mexico cooperation. Joined by cabinet members from both governments, the leaders emphasized their shared ambition to deepen collaboration, strengthen regional ties, and promote inclusive prosperity, particularly in light of ongoing global shifts. A Partnership for the Future The upgraded partnership reflects what both leaders described as a “forward-looking and dynamic relationship” aimed at navigating…
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Edmonton’s Festival City Spirit Shines with Government Support

Edmonton’s Festival City Spirit Shines with Government Support

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Edmonton once again lived up to its title of Canada’s Festival City this summer, as more than 20 festivals filled the streets and stages with music, art, theatre, and food. Thousands of visitors flocked to the city, contributing to the local economy while experiencing Alberta’s vibrant culture. To keep the momentum alive, Alberta’s government invested heavily in the festival season. More than $450,000 was provided through community grants to help cover programming, hosting, and equipment costs. In addition, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts supported local presenters with over $1 million in funding, benefitting major events like…
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SFJ Issues Fresh Threat, Plans ‘Siege’ at Indian Consulate in Vancouver

SFJ Issues Fresh Threat, Plans ‘Siege’ at Indian Consulate in Vancouver

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has once again escalated its campaign, declaring that it will “occupy” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Thursday. The group, which operates from the United States, appealed to members of the Indo-Canadian community to avoid visiting the consulate on that day. Alongside its announcement, SFJ circulated a poster portraying India’s new High Commissioner, Dinesh Patnaik, with a target mark on his image. The group alleged that Indian diplomatic offices in Canada were functioning as intelligence hubs, keeping tabs on supporters of the Khalistan Referendum. SFJ tied its latest move to Canadian…
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PM Mark Carney Pledges Support for Canola Growers, Meets Saskatchewan Leaders

PM Mark Carney Pledges Support for Canola Growers, Meets Saskatchewan Leaders

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening Canada’s agriculture sector, with a particular focus on canola producers. In a post shared on X, Carney said the federal government is working to “empower the hard-working farmers who provide world-class food to Canadians and our trading partners.” The statement followed a meeting in Ottawa with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and representatives from the canola industry. The discussions centered on long-term strategies to expand market opportunities, enhance competitiveness, and ensure stability for farmers facing global challenges. Carney extended his gratitude to Moe and industry stakeholders,…
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B.C. Misses Out on Initial Federal Housing Projects, Despite Surplus Land and Readiness

B.C. Misses Out on Initial Federal Housing Projects, Despite Surplus Land and Readiness

Vancouver (Richa Walia): British Columbia is notably absent from the federal government's first wave of housing construction on public land, prompting concern from the province’s housing minister, Christine Boyle, despite her support for the broader initiative. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced over the weekend that the federal government, through its newly launched Build Canada Homes agency, will begin construction of 4,000 housing units across six federal land sites. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to fast-track affordable housing by using underutilized government-owned land. However, none of the six projects announced are located in British Columbia — a province…
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“Build Canada Homes” Launched to Tackle National Housing Crisis with Unprecedented Federal Investment

“Build Canada Homes” Launched to Tackle National Housing Crisis with Unprecedented Federal Investment

Ottawa, ON (Rajeev Sharma): In a sweeping new move to address Canada's growing housing crisis, Prime Minister Mark Carney today unveiled Build Canada Homes, a landmark federal initiative aimed at massively increasing affordable housing supply through direct public intervention and partnerships with the private sector. With homeownership and rental costs soaring beyond reach for many Canadians — especially younger generations — and homelessness on the rise in major cities, the federal government is taking bold action to reverse decades of underbuilding and bureaucratic delays. “Too many Canadians are locked out of the housing market,” said Prime Minister Carney. “Build Canada…
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