Canada

Alberta Budget 2025: Increasing hospital capacity

Alberta Budget 2025: Increasing hospital capacity

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government is committed to enhancing health infrastructure to ensure that all Albertans have access to high-quality care when and where they need it. When designing health care infrastructure projects, it is common to include shelled (unfinished) and vacant spaces to accommodate future growth and adapt to changing needs and demand. All shelled and vacant space within Alberta’s health facilities will be identified and assessed to determine viable opportunities for future development. Strategically developing existing spaces is a cost-effective way to expand health care capacity faster, improving access to services and reducing wait times for patients across…
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Alberta News: Feeding families and children in need

Alberta News: Feeding families and children in need

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government remains committed to supporting Albertans facing the challenge of higher grocery bills. Since 2020, Alberta’s government has invested more than $31 million to help food banks and community organizations support Albertans in need. This funding has been crucial to meeting the challenge of food insecurity and helping put nutritious food on tables across the province. If passed, Budget 2025 would continue this important funding by providing an another $5 million in food security funding to help meet the needs of Alberta’s rapidly growing population. “No family should have to choose between buying groceries and paying…
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Alberta pushes back on illegal U.S. tariffs

Alberta pushes back on illegal U.S. tariffs

Calgary (National Times): Alberta’s government is implementing a proportionate, measured response to U.S. tariffs and taking decisive action on internal trade with free trade and mobility agreements.   As part of its non-tariff retaliatory measures, Alberta is altering its procurement practices to ensure Alberta’s government, as well as agencies, school boards, Crown corporations and Alberta municipalities, purchase their goods and services from Alberta companies, Canadian companies or countries with which Canada has a free trade agreement that is being honoured.   “I will always put the best interests of Alberta and Albertans first. These non-tariff actions are measured, proportionate and put…
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More tax relief on the way for Jasper

More tax relief on the way for Jasper

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Jasper residents and businesses are supported as the community recovers from last summer’s wildfire. Since the beginning of the wildfire, more than $178 million has been provided from across the provincial government to support Jasper residents and businesses as the community recovers and rebuilds. Budget 2025, if passed, further supports the province’s commitment to the recovery of the Municipality of Jasper by providing more than $3 million in additional revenue stabilization funding to help compensate for lower municipal revenues, reducing the burden on municipal taxpayers.  “As people visit and move back…
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Alberta’s border security plan advancing rapidly to stop illegal activity at US border

Alberta’s border security plan advancing rapidly to stop illegal activity at US border

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s border security plan is advancing rapidly with more measures in place to stop illegal activity at the Alberta-U.S. border. In December 2024, Alberta’s government announced a $29-million investment to create an Interdiction Patrol Team (IPT) within the Alberta Sheriffs to crack down on illegal cross-border activities threatening lives and livelihoods on both sides of the Alberta-Montana border. Alberta’s government recognizes the need for swift and decisive action that will curb drug trafficking and illegal border crossings to strengthen the province’s border security. The team’s first cohort has been deployed and hiring will continue until all 51…
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In Canada Problems of Punjabis increased , new rules implemented

In Canada Problems of Punjabis increased , new rules implemented

Canada ( Rajeev Sharma), March 5, 2025: The problems of Punjabis seem to be increasing. The rules related to visa in Canada have been made more strict, which will affect millions of people from all over India including Punjab. Mostly it will affect the students going to Canada on Study Visa. After the implementation of new strict rules, their permits are being cancelled. 35-40 percent of students who went to Canada on Study Visa are Indians, including a large number of Punjabis.  According to the new rules implemented in Canada, now border and immigration officers can cancel temporary residential visas…
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Ontario’s Ford Drops Starlink, Blocks U.S. Contracts in Trade War Reprisal

Ontario’s Ford Drops Starlink, Blocks U.S. Contracts in Trade War Reprisal

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): In a dramatic escalation of tensions sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade offensive, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has scrapped a Starlink contract with Elon Musk and prohibited all American companies from securing government work in the province. “The contract’s dead—it’s history,” Ford announced decisively. “We won’t do business with anyone aiding or cheering on economic warfare against our province and nation.” He laid the responsibility at Trump’s feet, stating, “This is on their president, plain and simple.” Trump’s trade war has now triggered a backlash that locks U.S. businesses out of Ontario, undermining claims of “winning”…
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Premier Danielle Smith issues statement following implementation of US tariffs

Premier Danielle Smith issues statement following implementation of US tariffs

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Days after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada, Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement following the implementation of U.S. tariffs. “The tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are an unjustifiable economic attack on Canadians and Albertans. They also represent a clear breach of the trade agreement signed by this same U.S. President during his first term. These tariffs will hurt the American people, driving up costs for fuel, food, vehicles, housing, and many other products. They will also cost hundreds of thousands of American and Canadian jobs. This policy is both foolish and…
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U.S. decision to impose tariffs on Canadian imports is “unjustified”: Mark Carney

U.S. decision to impose tariffs on Canadian imports is “unjustified”: Mark Carney

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Liberal MP George Chahal organized a public address in Calgary to endorse Mark Carney in his bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Carney, who previously served as Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has been actively engaging with Canadians on key issues, including Canada’s economic future and national challenges. During a media interview today, Carney addressed the topic of U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports, urging that any retaliatory measures be carefully crafted to prioritize the support of workers affected by these “unjustified” tariffs. He emphasized the need…
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AHS third-party investigation: DM McPherson

AHS third-party investigation: DM McPherson

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Deputy Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Christopher McPherson has issued the following statement on an independent third-party investigation into procurement and contracting processes used by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (AHS). “While serving as Acting Deputy Minister of Executive Council, Premier Danielle Smith asked me to establish a credible, independent, third-party investigation into the procurement processes used by the Government of Alberta and AHS and their outcomes. “I have informed Premier Smith that the Honourable Raymond E. Wyant, former Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba, will lead this investigation. I asked…
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