The Canadian government will stop awarding LMIA points for permanent residency (PR) under Express Entry starting in the spring of 2025. This was announced by Immigration Minister Mark Miller in a press release. Until now, there was a benefit of receiving an additional LMIA point, ranging from 50 to 200, to qualify for PR. However, due to reports of fraud within the system, the government has decided to withdraw this provision. When the new rules come into effect, they will directly affect candidates seeking PR in Canada through Express Entry, including those currently working temporarily in C

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to Australia has sparked controversy. Sunil Jakhar, the state president of the Punjab BJP, pointed out that while farmers are protesting and law and order in the state is deteriorating, the Chief Minister is preparing to travel to Australia to celebrate the New Year. Jakhar criticized CM Bhagwant Mann saying that he can campaign for votes, but can’t go to the aid of Dallewal who is fasting to death just 20 km from his residence. The Shiromani Akali Dal also took aim at the Chief Minister, questioning why, if Haryana can guarantee Minimum Support

U-S president-elect Donald Trump and those in his corner continue to send out strong messages about Canada.In a post on the social media platform X, Eric Trump shared a doctored photo of his father purchasing Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal on Amazon. Since winning the presidential election in November, Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the "51st state."On Trump's Truth Social platform, he's also repeatedly referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "governor" of Canada. Trump has also threatened 25 per cent tariffs against Canada, which has prompted discussions at both

An explosion at an armament factory in northwest Turkey left at least 12 dead and four injured Tuesday morning. The blast occurred in the capsule production facility of the factory located in the province of Balikesir, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu said the explosion collapsed the capsule production building and that the surrounding buildings sustained minor damage. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc wrote on social media platform X that four public prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the cause of the explosion.

British Columbia's forests ministry says more than 280 million trees were planted in the province this year. It says 13 different native tree species were chosen in its effort to preserve ecosystems and prioritize characteristics including resilience to climate change. The province says the reforestation efforts were focused on fire-damaged areas. It says that work was in addition to the work undertaken by forest tenure holders as part of their legal requirements to regenerate harvested areas. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says in a news release that 2024 has been "a banner year" for tree plant

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a hunger strike at the Khanauri border area of Punjab-Haryana over farmers' demands, is in critical condition. He has been fasting for the past 27 days. Meanwhile, Dr. Swaiman's team has raised concerns over the health report submitted by the Punjab government to the Supreme Court regarding Dallewal's condition. According to Dr. Swaiman, the Punjab government described Dallewal as completely healthy in its report to the Supreme Court. He questioned how someone who has not eaten for 27 days could be considered healthy, stating that even a child can understand t

The home flipping tax in British Columbia will come into effect on January 1, 2025. This tax targets individuals profiting from real estate speculation. The primary goal is to discourage investors from buying properties solely to resell them for a quick profit. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey stated that real estate speculators drive up housing prices, making it harder for others to afford homes, and this new measure aims to address that issue. Real estate speculators are defined as those who purchase property or land with the intent to sell it for a profit. According to the provincial governm

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will chair a meeting of the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations today, amid increasing calls for his resignation. A mid-day adjustment to Trudeau's itinerary was issued by the Prime Minister's Office and notes he will take part in the meeting virtually, though a specific time wasn't listed. It's been a chaotic week for the governing Liberals, starting with Chrystia Freeland's cabinet resignation just hours after she was set to table the fall economic statement. Freeland and new Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc have previously spoken with the media at the co

Ontario is experiencing a surge in measles cases, with the province's health officials reporting 37 cases, all linked to an outbreak in New Brunswick. Public Health Ontario has confirmed 11 of these cases, while 26 are considered probable. The agency stated that the outbreak began in October, and 28 of those affected are children or young adults. According to Public Health Ontario, all but two of the cases involve individuals who were not vaccinated. In a statement, Public Health Ontario noted that between 2013 and 2023, the province recorded 101 measles cases. No single year during this peri