CanadaOct 13, 2023
Canada's foreign minister arrived in Israel to take stock of situation
Canada's foreign affairs minister has arrived in Tel Aviv as she visits Israel and Jordan to hold talks on the impacts of Hamas' attack on Israel and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.Global Affairs Canada says in a statement that Minister Mélanie Joly travelled to the Middle East through Greece, the destination of the first two airlifts of Canadians out of Israel.The statement says Joly will "reaffirm Canada's support for Israel and its right to defend itself in accordance with international law," while pushing forward collective efforts to ensure the swift passage of humanita
CanadaOct 12, 2023
Nijjar case: Officials of Canada and India in contact, refused to comment on the meeting of ministers
An Indian government representative says Indian and Canadian officials have been in contact ``at various levels'' following a confrontation over Canadian accusations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.The spokesperson for India's External Affairs Ministry, Arindam Bachi, declined, however, to confirm or deny media reports that the Indian and Canadian foreign ministers met in Washington two weeks ago.He reiterated that India remains determined to reduce Canada's diplomatic presence in the country.Bagchi didn't provide details of th
IndiaOct 12, 2023
Operation Ajay: First flight to evacuate 230 Indians from Israel
The war continued on Thursday for the sixth day since the attack by Hamas on Israel.Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that 230 Indians from Israel will return to the country tomorrow.External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that anyone who wants to come back to India can come.The first flight will depart under Operation Ajay.The first charter flight will arrive in Tel Aviv today.It will return to India tomorrow morning."We are in touch with India's representative office and embassy in Tel Aviv," Bagchi said.He said that there are about 18 thousand Indian
CanadaOct 12, 2023
Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is giving an initial $10 million in humanitarian assistance for urgent needs in Israel and the Gaza Strip.He also says the first airlift of 130 Canadians that left Tel Aviv earlier today has landed in Athens.The federal government said Wednesday that flights could begin leaving as early as today, with up to 150 passengers on board.Officials say around 700 Canadians in Israel have asked for help to leave the country since violence broke out on Saturday.Canada does not usually provide military air transportation when commercial flights are still operatin
CanadaOct 12, 2023
Canadian police forces upping local patrols in response to Israel-Hamas war
Some Canadian police forces say they are increasing local patrols in response to the Israel-Hamas war while offering assurances they have not received any credible threats.Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw says there have been no specific credible threats locally, but the war has shaken the feelings of peace and security in the city.He says police divisions have been directed to "ensure a high visibility presence," and increased patrols announced earlier this week have now been expanded to include cultural centres, synagogues, mosques, schools and other places of worship.Police in Ottawa, Vanc
CanadaOct 12, 2023
Single-payer pharmacare would cost billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO
The parliamentary budget officer says a single-payer universal drug plan would cost the federal and provincial governments $11.2 billion in the first year, and $13.4 billion in five years.The PBO's report released today provides an estimate for the cost of a pharmacare program between 2024-25 and 2027-28.It calculates the incremental cost of the program, taking into account current spending by governments on public drug plans as well as revenue that would be generated from co-pays under a pharmacare plan.The Liberals have promised to table pharmacare legislation this fall as part of the supply
CanadaOct 12, 2023
Canadian military flight leaves Tel Aviv with 130 people on board: Defence minister
Defence Minister Bill Blair says a Royal Canadian Air Force plane has left Tel Aviv with 130 people on board.The departures board at the airport shows that flight CFC 4169 left for Athens this afternoon local time.The federal government said Wednesday that flights could begin leaving as early as today, with up to 150 passengers on board.Officials say around 700 Canadians in Israel have asked for help to leave the country since violence broke out on Saturday.Canada does not usually provide military air transportation when commercial flights are still operating, but the government says people ha
CanadaOct 11, 2023
Jewish group says Ottawa woman killed in Israel
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa says a Canadian citizen living in Israel has died.CEO Andrea Freedman gave this information to the media on behalf of Adi Vital-Kaploun's family.Adi Vital-Kaploun was 33 years old.Freedman described Kaploun as a wonderful woman.She recently completed her master's degree in chemical engineering.She worked in cyber security.She held dual citizenship and considered herself a proud Israeli and Canadian.Today is the fifth day of the Israel-Hamas war in which 2150 people have died, including three Canadians.
AlbertaOct 11, 2023
Alberta MP George Chahal accuses premier of 'baseless,' 'ludicrous' statements on electricity
The fuse is lit for fireworks in Ottawa next week with a Liberal member of Parliament accusing Alberta's premier of making false claims.Calgary MP George Chahal says Danielle Smith is making "false," "baseless" and "ludicrous" statements about the federal Liberal government's plans to bring Canada's electricity grid to net-zero.He says Smith is playing on people's fears for purely partisan reasons and calls on her to release her United Conservative Party government's report on electricity.Chahal says that since the UCP took power in Alberta, electricity rates have increased fivefold.Smith has