Page 48 - Canada

Montana to Ohio: Smoke from Canadian wildfires creates unhealthy conditions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency posted air quality alerts for several states stretching from Montana to Ohio on Sunday because of smoke blowing in from Canadian wildfires. Air Quality alerts are in place for much of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern High Plains, the National Weather Service said. This is due to the lingering thick concentration of Canadian wildfire smoke over these regions. While the concentration of smoke in the atmosphere should begin to wain by Monday, there is still enough smoke to support unhealthy air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of these regions into the start of the upcoming week. The U.S. EPA's AirNow air quality page rated the air in Chicago as unhealthy as of 9 a.m. CDT Sunday. And in Michigan, state environmental officials said the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advised people in the state to check the Air Quality Index regularly to decide if they should

Infosys' US arm expands to Canada, opens 10,000-sq ft digital centre

IT company Infosys on Thursday said it has set up a new subsidiary in Canada under its US arm Infosys Public Services. Headquartered in Ottawa, Infosys Public Services Canada will span over 10,000 square feet. "Infosys Public Services (IPS), a North America-based company of Infosys, today announced the opening of its new subsidiary, Infosys Public Services Canada, Inc headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario with local offices in Mississauga ON, Calgary AB, and Burnaby BC," the company said in a statement. The expansion follows a series of Infosys' investments in the Canada. IPS Canada aims to work with local universities and technical colleges to recruit talent, it added. "This IPS Canada announcement is the latest development in a series of investments made by Infosys which has expanded the employee count to over 7,000 with a commitment to increase to 8,000 employees by 2024," the statement said. IPS Canada will help modernize public sector service delivery for new and existing federal

Snakes in backyard: Indian-origin MP in Canada slams Khalistani posters

An Indian-origin MP in Canada has slammed the provocative pro-Khalistani posters labelling some senior Indian diplomats as "killers" and warned that the "snakes in our backyard are raising their heads and hissing." Chandra Arya, a Liberal Party politician, who hails from Karnataka, also underlined that it was only a question of time when they would bite to kill, an apparent reference to the growing menace posed by Khalistan supporters in Canada. Tweeting a poster announcing the so-called 'Khalistan Freedom Rally' on July 8, Arya, who represents the Nepean constituency in Ontario province, said: "Khalistanis in Canada continue to reach (a) new low in abusing our Charter of Rights and Freedom by promoting violence and hate." "Emboldened by non-criticism from elected officials of a recent Brampton parade portraying and celebrating the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, they are now openly calling for violence against India diplomats," Arya ...

India summons Canadian envoy over pro-Khalistani activities in Canada

India summons Canadian envoy over pro-Khalistani activities in Canada

(Eds: Updating with fresh inputs)

New Delhi, Jul 4( PTI) India summoned the Canadian envoy and issued a demarche over the increasing activities by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

The summoning of the Canadian high commissioner came following pro-Khalistani groups releasing some posters with names of certain Indian diplomats.

It is learnt that India has also asked the Canadian authorities to take appropriate measures in view of planned protests by pro-Khalistan groups outside Indian missions in Canada on July 8.

The Canadian high commissioner was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday and was issued a demarche, the people cited above said while referring to the release of the posters and the planned protests.

The people said India has also raised with the US the atta

India summons Canadian High Commissioner on poster by Khalistan supporters

Khalistan extremists are planning to take out a protest march to Indian embassies in Toronto and Vancouver on July 8

Extremist Khalistani ideology not good for India or partner countries: EAM

The "radical, extremist" Khalistani thinking is not good for India or its partner countries like the US, the UK, Canada and Australia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a BJP outreach campaign, Jaishankar said the government will raise the issue of pro-Khalistan posters that were part of a rally held recently in Canada. "We have requested our partner countries like Canada, US, UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to the Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor them nor our relations," minister said. "We will raise the issue of posters with those government. I think it would have already been done by now," he added. A photo of 1985 Air India airplane bombing accused Talwinder Parmar was seen in a pro-Khalistan rally in Canada, seeking to glorify him.

Canada PR: Express Entry invites for skilled STEM newcomers on 5 July

Canada has introduced a new stream under its Express Entry immigration pathway to prioritise skilled newcomers with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) experience.

Canada invites 500 healthcare workers through its Express Entry draw

Canada has invited 500 healthcare workers to immigrate under its first occupation-specific draw, aiming to bring additional focus on sectors facing major labour shortages. The draw, announced by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser on Wednesday, took the number of ITAs (Invitation to Apply) issued through its flagship Express Entry system in 2023 to 60,249, a press release by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship said. It was the first Express Entry draw pre-announced by Canada, and featured a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 476, ten points lower than the 10th all-programme draw of 2023 on Tuesday, the press release said. The new draws target candidates with strong French language ability, the press release said. On Tuesday, Canada announced a new open work-permit stream to allow 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the US to come and work in the country, a move that could benefit thousands of Indian tech professionals. Taking to Twitter to announce the draw, Fr

Canada seems to be driven by vote-bank politics: EAM on Khalistan issue

Canada's response to the Khalistani issue appeared to be constrained by its "vote bank compulsions" and India will have to respond if the activities impinge on its national security and integrity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. In an interactive session at an event, he also said that the Khalistani issue has impacted the ties between the two countries in many ways in the last few years. India has been asking Canada against giving space to pro-Khalistani separatists and extremists elements. "For us how Canada has dealt with the Khalistani issue has been a long-standing concern. Because very frankly, they seem to be driven by vote-bank politics," Jaishankar said. "Their responses have all been, to the best of my understanding, actually constrained by what they regard as vote bank compulsions," he said. The external affairs minister said it made it clear to Canada that if the activities there impinge on India's national security, it will respond. "We made

Canada announces new work permit for 10,000 H-1B visa holders from US

Canada has announced a new open work-permit stream to allow 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the US to come and work in the country, a move that could benefit thousands of Indian tech professionals. Canada is hoping to become a world leader in a variety of emerging technologies and it hopes to attract professionals affected by massive layoffs by US tech giants. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. By July 16, the Canadian government will create an open work-permit stream to allow 10,000 American H-1B visa holders to come and work in Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser said on Tuesday. In its news release, the ministry said the programme will also provide for study or work permits for their family members. We're

Titan submersible disaster probes face tricky test of criminal liability

The US Coast Guard announced that it will pursue its highest level of investigation after a search and rescue mission turned up debris of the submersible on the ocean floor near the Titanic wreck

Canadian govt to create open work-permit stream for US H-1B visa holders

In an official release, Canada's Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship said the program will also provide for study or work permits for the family members of H-1B visa holders

US, Canada start to determine how Titanic-bound submersible imploded

Authorities from the U.S. and Canada began the process of investigating the cause of the fatal Titan submersible implosion even as they grappled with questions of who was responsible for determining how the tragedy unfolded. A formal inquiry has not yet been launched because maritime agencies are still busy searching the area where the vessel was destroyed, killing all five people aboard, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday. Debris was located about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater, several hundred feet away from the Titanic wreckage it was on its way to explore. The U.S. Coast Guard led the initial search and rescue mission, which was a massive international effort that likely cost millions of dollars. It was not entirely clear Friday who would have the authority to lead what is sure to be a complex investigation involving several countries. OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned and operated the Titan, is based in the U.S. but the submersible was registered in the ...

Canada-based pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar shot dead

India's one of the most wanted terrorists, who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead by two unknown men in the parking lot of Surrey Gurudwara Sahib, Brampton.

Pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Nijjar shot dead in Canada's Surrey

Canada-based pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the Punjabi-dominated Surrey city of British Columbia province

People protest against Trudeau outside High Commission over Khalistan issue

Pradhan of Gramin Vikas Samiti, Bacchu Singh, who led the protest told ANI that they collected here to protest against those demanding for Khalistan

NIA to probe attacks by Khalistanis on Indian missions in US, Canada

The attackers used the wooden butts of Khalistan flags, which they had been waving earlier, to smash the glass doors and windows of the Consulate

15 people, mostly seniors, killed in highway crash in Canada, says official

A bus carrying mostly seniors collided with a semi-trailer truck at a highway intersection in a rural part of the province of Manitoba on Thursday, killing 15 people and injuring 10 more, Canadian police said. Rob Hill, Commanding Officer of the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the bus was carrying 25 people and authorities are deploying all their resources in the province to the scene. Ten people were taken to hospitals. TV broadcasters aired images of what looked like a large van or bus smoldering in a ditch near a transport truck with a smashed engine on a road. The pavement was littered with debris broken glass, a large bumper and what looked like a walking aid. Seven blue and yellow tarps were stretched out. Ambulance helicopters have been dispatched to the scene from Winnipeg and Regina. The news from Carberry, Manitoba is incredibly tragic. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted. I'm sending my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones today, and

Genuine students victimised by fraud won't face deportation: Canadian Min

We recognise the immense contributions that international students make to our country, and we are committed to providing a path to Canada that is honest and transparent

Canada working to ensure students facing deportation have chance to stay

The Canadian government is developing a process to ensure that a large number of Indian students facing the prospect of deportation on charges of obtaining visas using fake admission letters will get an opportunity to prove that they were taken advantage of, immigration minister Sean Fraser has said. The Indian students, mostly from Punjab, face deportation from Canada after the authorities here found their admission offer letters to educational institutions fake. The matter came to light in March when these students applied for permanent residency in Canada. Responding to a question in Parliament on Monday, Fraser, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser asserted that the "innocent students, who are the victims of fraud", would be allowed to "prove that they were taken advantage of." The government will provide an "appropriate remedy" for them, he said while noting that many students were "dealing with serious mental health concerns with the uncertainty th