Alberta Premier Daniel Smith is enjoying new experiences and sights during a week-long trip to Asia. In the meantime, Smith, who traveled on the Hayabusa high-speed train in Tokyo, is wishing Alberta had one like it. If there was a similar train in the province, Smith said in an ex-post that the distances between cities would be much shorter. If there was a high-speed train, Smith said that passengers could get between Edmonton and Calgary in under an hour.

Smith shared in the X-Post that he traveled on the Hayabusa high-speed train, which travels from Tokyo to Sapporo at 320 kilometers per hour, as part of his Asian trip.

The premier added that he hopes to complete the Alberta government's passenger rail master plan by the summer. The main goal of Smith's Asian trip is to develop the province's energy and agricultural markets. Daniel Smith will also visit Japan and South Korea as part of the week-long trip.

 

 

Shares of the company plunged ahead of Tesla's first quarter results. Experts warned that the company could face a major crisis along with revenue. Concerns about the company were reflected in the market. Elon Musk's political interests have led to widespread criticism among ordinary people. Elon Musk's actions as part of the Trump administration and the uncertainty surrounding the launch of a low-cost electric vehicle have all contributed to the decline in Tesla shares.

Musk should step back from the controversial walls in the efficiency department and refocus on car manufacturing, said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. Experts said that Tesla is facing a crisis as its first-quarter results are set to be released on Tuesday. Tesla is Musk and Musk is Tesla. The damage Musk's actions have done to the Tesla brand is enormous. Experts say this will be clear if you talk to customers in the US, Europe and Asia. Tesla shares were down 6 percent at 9:56 am on Monday. The sentiment against Musk has led to a slowdown in the company's global sales. Therefore, the stock has fallen by about 44 percent this year.

 

 

As incidents of violence against healthcare workers rise across the country, Canadian hospitals are gearing up to defend themselves with AI systems. An AI weapon detection system has been installed at the London Health Sciences Centre. The Ontario health network began using an artificial intelligence-based system at University Hospital on April 15. The next one will be installed at Victoria Hospital on May 6.

The Health Sciences Centre head David Musij said the idea of installing AI weapon detectors had been under discussion since last May. But he said the decision to implement it was made suddenly after an incident in December when a man with a gun was driven into the hospital.
Anyone entering the emergency department will be monitored by the detector. Unlike a regular metal detector, the AI can detect weapons such as knives and guns. .
You don't have to take out your mobile phone or keys, you don't have to take off your belt or shoes. However, it will recognize the shape, size, and metal of the knife, while ignoring the mobile phone, keys, etc.

 

 

Elections Canada allows voters to mark their ballots with a pencil or pen. Some posts on social media have suggested that only pencils should be used on ballots. However, some posts have also called for the use of pens to prevent ballot tampering. Following this, Elections Canada has clarified that pencils and pens can be used on ballots.

Elections Canada has clarified on its website that the claim that marking a ballot with a pencil can fade or be erased, and therefore the vote will not be counted, is false. The law requires that polling officials provide voters with black lead pencils. However, the agency says that if necessary, a pen or any other writing instrument can be used. The ink in the pens can dry out or bleed. This can render the ballot paper unusable. That is why they use pencils, Elections Canada said. Ballots are only opened when it is time to count on election day. All ballots are counted by election staff. The counting of votes is conducted in the presence of witnesses representing the candidates, according to the Elections Canada website.

 

 

Is Canada becoming a global hub for organized crime? Several recent events point to this. The problem first emerged during the Conservative government of Stephen Harper. It then rapidly increased under Justin Trudeau's Liberals.
"Glorious" has been a synonym for mobsters in Canada for the past two decades.
The lack of tough punishment and ineffective government measures have fueled such crimes.

Canada has become a hub for organized crime, said Antonio Nicaso, a Queen's University professor and renowned organized crime expert. He added that Canada has become a place where organized crime can thrive. Over the past two decades, even the meaning of the term "organized crime" has changed. In the past, Canadians thought of mobsters as Italian gangsters. But that's not the case today.
Canada has become a global hub for money laundering, with between $45 billion and $113 billion a year flowing through real estate, big banks and casinos.
That money is used to finance the production, sale and other crimes of fentanyl.
Despite the low death rate among gangsters, corruption is rampant in Canada, said Nicasso. For organized crime to grow, it must have affected institutions, honest businesses, politicians and police. Now, Nicasso explains, it has affected every sector. There are several reasons why Canada is so popular with criminals, Nicasso says. Low risk and high reward are all contributing factors. Experts say a lax legal system and an apathetic government all exacerbate the problems

 

 

Alberta wants to get rid of bike lanes. The province's two major cities are being asked to remove bike lanes from major roads. But there has already been a backlash against the move.

Minister Devin Drieschen says bike lanes are causing traffic congestion and hindering the construction of infrastructure needed for Alberta's growing population. The minister said he is trying to remove many obstacles to fulfill the government's goal of developing road networks. The provinces are investing money in projects to add and expand roads to meet the growth goals we are aiming for in the province. "We want to make sure municipalities do the same," the minister said in an interview. The minister made the comments after posting a video and a letter on social media explaining his request to Edmonton councillors. He also called for the cancellation of a multi-year plan to build bicycle lanes along a few blocks of 132 Avenue on Edmonton's north side.

 

 

Parties in Canada are making every effort to secure votes in the election. The campaign is trying to woo ethnic votes. The ads asking for votes range from various foreign languages to Punjabi. Parties are trying to attract voters in their preferred languages using multilingual and multi-platform strategies. Communities in affluent areas such as the 905 belt in British Columbia and Ontario are being targeted more.

This is a unique election and the biggest feature this time is the very short timeframe and the huge cost of online campaigns, says Harneet Singh, managing principal of EOK Consults. Various parties have already spent $5.6 million on social media ads alone. The Punjabi community in Canada, which numbers more than a million, is a crucial influence in BC, Ontario’s 905 region, Calgary and Edmonton. Historically, the Liberal Party has had the strongest support among immigrant South Asian communities. But this election marks a change. The Conservative Party of Canada has spent a lot of money on Punjabi-language ads. The ads address pressing community concerns such as robbery, crime, and vehicle theft.

 

 

Ontario is reeling from a measles outbreak. More than 100 new cases have been reported, bringing the province's total to 925, Public Health Ontario said. The province has reported 109 confirmed cases of measles in the past week. Of those infected, 69 are in hospital. Four of them are in intensive care, the health department said. In Northwestern Ontario, measles has mostly affected unvaccinated infants, children and teenagers.

In addition to Ontario, cases have been increasing in Alberta since March. As of Wednesday, Alberta had 83 confirmed cases.

 

 

California Governor Invites Canadians to Visit California. Gavin Newsom has urged Canadians to visit California amid ongoing concerns about U.S.-Canada relations. He announced the launch of a campaign targeting Canadians in a video posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday.

In the video post, Newsom said he wanted to send a message to our Canadian friends to come back to a state that saw two million Canadians visit last year. He also said the U.S. approach to Canada has changed. "You know who's causing the problems. But don't let that affect your travel plans," Newsom said without naming US President Donald Trump. He was referring to Trump's repeated threats to add Canada as the 51st state. The Trump administration's tariffs on Canadian goods and services, coupled with border security measures and unnecessary security checks, are all deterring Canadians from traveling to the United States.

 

 

While demand is picking up in other Canadian cities, the Greater Toronto condo market continues to slump. Experts say that is unlikely to change anytime soon. According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, about 1,400 condo sales were made across the GTA last month. That is a 23.5 per cent decline compared to March 2024.

Last year, lower borrowing costs have generally boosted the housing market. But with so many projects ready for delivery in Greater Toronto, buyers are unable to make good offers. This is causing problems. Real estate observers are describing 2024 as a record year for condo completions in the region. This has led to a sharp mismatch between available inventory and the number of buyers. Compounding the problem, the board said that condo sales fell by a fifth in the first three months of this year compared to the first quarter of last year.

 

 

The Canadian government has announced financial aid for businesses struggling in the tariff war between Canada and the United States. Automobile companies that manufacture vehicles in Canada will be exempt from the federal government's retaliatory tariffs, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said. But the minister said there will be limits on the number of tariff-free vehicles that are assembled in the United States and allowed to be imported into Canada.

In addition, he said that a six-month temporary tariff exemption will be provided for US raw materials in a way that does not hinder the manufacturing, processing and packaging of products.

 

 

Canada has reportedly denied 2.35 million temporary visa applications. This was announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). With the increase in immigration, there was a lot of pressure on sectors such as housing, infrastructure, and health care. It is indicated that the denial of 2.35 million temporary visa applications was part of the decision to make immigration procedures more stringent.

1.95 million visitor visa applications were denied in 2024. This was an increase of 40 percent compared to 2023. In addition, 290,317 study permit applications and 115,549 work permit applications were denied. Many visitors were found to be staying in Canada for longer than the permitted period. Immigration officials are now scrutinizing applications with unclear intentions. It was recently discovered that about 50,000 students who arrived as students are not studying. This is why study permits have been limited.

There is a demand for foreign workers in sectors such as tourism, health and construction. But in order to maintain balance, the government is issuing visas to very few people in this category. So far this year, more than two million applications have been considered in various categories.

 

 

A former church in a rural area in Southeast Edmonton is for sale. The listing says the church is suitable for business, residential, etc. The church is located at #3 22106 South Cooking Lake Road, just off Highway 14, about 10 minutes from the Edmonton city limits. The church was built in 1975 and has been active for prayers and other activities. The sale price for the 1,800-square-foot church is set at $249,900.

Although it was used as a church, Strathcona County has given priority to future commercial use of the building. The church is permitted to be converted into any type of use, including a wellness studio, cafe, or boutique retail space. It can also be converted into residential space, subject to county approval. Visit the listing on the Realtor page for more information.

 

 

While demand is picking up in other Canadian cities, the Greater Toronto condo market continues to slump. Experts say that is unlikely to change anytime soon. According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, about 1,400 condo sales were made across the GTA last month. That is a 23.5 per cent decline compared to March 2024.

Last year, lower borrowing costs have generally boosted the housing market. But with so many projects ready for delivery in Greater Toronto, buyers are unable to make good offers. This is causing problems. Real estate observers are describing 2024 as a record year for condo completions in the region. This has led to a sharp mismatch between available inventory and the number of buyers. Compounding the problem, the board said that condo sales fell by a fifth in the first three months of this year compared to the first quarter of last year.

 

 

Washington: The Trump administration has warned foreign nationals staying in the United States for more than 30 days. The Department of Homeland Security has said that foreign nationals staying in the US must register with the government or face fines and imprisonment. The government has come up with a new order after Donald Trump's administration introduced major restrictions on immigration policies after it came into effect.

Leave the country immediately, or deport yourself, the Department of Homeland Security posted on Exel, tagging President Trump's office and Homeland Security Secretary Krishi Noyam. Meanwhile, the decision will not directly affect those living in the US on visas such as H-1B or student permits.

Meanwhile, the new policy indicates that strict action will be taken to prevent foreign nationals from staying in the US without clear documents. . If an H-1B visa holder loses their job and does not leave the country within the specified period, they may face action. Therefore, there is a concern that students and H-1B visa holders will be covered by the new US directive.

 

 

Robots are being used for heart surgery in Toronto. The city's St. Michael's Hospital performed the first robot-assisted heart surgery. Experts say the use of robots, including in heart surgery, will pave the way for better outcomes for patients in the future.

The robot was used for the heart surgery of 60-year-old Ferenc Jacob. Doctors said Jacob is doing well after the surgery. More hospitals are starting to use robots for hip and knee replacements, spine surgeries, hysterectomies, etc. Robotic surgery involves only small incisions. In addition, many people choose robotic surgery for the reasons of less pain, less risk of infection, and a much faster recovery.

Jacob is the first patient in the Greater Toronto Area to undergo robotic heart surgery. Jacob said the benefits of robotic surgery outweigh the risks. The da Vinci robot, along with a team of trained cardiac surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists, performed the surgery on March 26. It was the first robotic heart surgery of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area and one of five performed across Canada.

 

 

 

Officials are warning people to be vigilant as bears are more likely to enter residential areas during the spring and summer months. Alberta Forestry and Parks and Public Safety and Emergency Services are advising people spending time in forests and outdoors during the holidays to take necessary safety precautions.

Bears are more likely to attack humans when they emerge from the woods in search of food during the spring. With food sources scarce at the start of the season, bears will approach trails, roads, campsites and residential areas during this period. Foraging bears will look for food in garbage cans. Therefore, officials also warned that garbage cans should be kept safe.

Officials are advising backcountry hikers, hikers, campers and fishermen to be aware of bears and take precautions. The best time for bear activities is from May to October. If you see bears or encounter other dangerous situations, you can report them to the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Service at 1-800-642-3800, officials said.

 

 

Canada warns travelers heading to the US. The government is warning travelers to expect more questions and actions from officials at the US border. Many travelers have to face some kind of difficulty. The warning is in this context.

Border officials have the authority to block electronic items, including phones and laptops. Therefore, the government is warning to take precautions. Officials say that to avoid leaking personal information and other data, such devices should be avoided. If you do carry them, it is recommended to avoid personal data and use a temporary burner instead of a mobile phone. If you have to carry a phone or laptop, the authorities say that it is enough to upload sensitive information to a cloud storage service that uses end-to-end encryption and then delete the originals from the device.

Some immigration lawyers say that Canadian citizens should expect more questioning. Many are concerned that US Customs and Border Protection will be able to clear the way under President Donald Trump's rule changes. The border has been beefed up with increased security and investigations.

 

 

Refugee arrivals in Quebec surge after U.S. revokes immigration status. The new report comes amid concerns that the Trump administration’s immigration policies are driving up the number of immigrants entering Canada.

Border officials say there has been a steady increase in the number of people seeking asylum in Canada through the main border crossing south of Montreal. Many people whose legal stay in the United States is about to expire are also arriving at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacol crossing. Data from the Canada Border Services Agency shows that the number of refugee applications through here has been increasing since the beginning of the year. 1,356 applications were received in March and 557 applications were received in April through last Saturday. The surge in asylum applications in Canada comes as the temporary status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the United States is about to expire.

Since the election of US President Donald Trump in November, the number of potential refugees arriving in Canada has increased, says Franz André, a spokesman for a Montreal-based group that helps immigrants. A large number of those crossing the Quebec border into Canada are Haitian immigrants. They have come to Canada because their legal stay in the United States is about to expire, Franz André said.

 

 

 

California: An anonymous worker was working a regular shift at a Walmart in California on Monday when he received a notification on his phone. It was an email from the US Department of Homeland Security.

"It is time for you to leave the United States," the email began. "DHS is now exercising its discretion to terminate your asylum immediately."

At the end of the Biden administration, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) became the primary method by which asylum seekers could enter the United States at ports of entry.

As part of a broader move to revoke the temporary legal status of immigrants who entered the United States under a legal authority known as humanitarian asylum during the Biden administration, the Trump administration is telling some immigrants who entered the U.S. using the CBP One mobile app to leave immediately. They are among the more than 936,000 immigrants who used the app to schedule appointments at ports of entry.

“This CBP rescission is a promise to the American people to secure our borders and protect our national security,” the DHS press team said in an emailed statement.

The Department of Homeland Security says it has sent formal notices of termination to some immigrants who were allowed to enter the U.S. through the CBP One app -- although DHS has not said how many immigrants received those notices.

According to a termination notice seen by NPR, which was rebranded and relaunched by the Trump administration as CBP Home, DHS is now encouraging immigrants to report their departure through the same mobile app.

The notice, sent this week, warns that immigrants whose paroles are terminated will lose their work authorization and could be subject to criminal prosecution, fines, and removal from the U.S., although this is an exception for those who “otherwise have a lawful basis to remain here.”

 

 

Measles cases are on the rise in Alberta. 43 cases have been reported. Authorities are urging the public to be vigilant. The majority of cases have been reported in Two Hills. As of Tuesday afternoon, 21 of the 43 reported measles cases are in the Central Zone. Seven new cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours.

All but four of the 43 confirmed cases are in people under the age of 18. Measles, which was declared eradicated from Canada in 1998, is now making a comeback. Low vaccination rates have contributed to the rapid spread of the disease in recent months. Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the province's top doctors have urged the government to take more preventive measures to stop the spread. The Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association has blamed the government's inaction for the spread. The association called on the government to launch a vaccination program and take steps to make people more aware of the disease. There are indications that the disease is likely to be reported across Alberta, including Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort Vermilion and Lethbridge.

 

 

Canadian officials say Chinese interference targeted Mark Carney in election. The activity centered on Liberal leader Mark Carney was detected through the Chinese social media platform WeChat. It was supported by Beijing, Canadian officials monitoring foreign interference in federal elections said Monday.

It was launched by WeChat’s most popular news account, Yuli-Youmian. This account is closely linked to the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party. Officials from the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force announced this. The goal was to create a preconceived idea about Carney in the Canadian-Chinese community through articles and other means, and to spread it as much as possible through other WeChat accounts. As part of this, positive and negative information about Carney was released at the same time. While writing about Carney's position on the United States, he targeted his qualifications and experience. The task force had previously assessed that foreign powers such as China, Russia, and Iran could use AI-generated content, such as deepfakes, to disrupt federal elections and influence Canadian voters.

 

 

Statcan reports that Alberta has the highest increase in Canada's unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is 7.1%. The province lost 15,000 jobs in March. This brings the unemployment rate to 7.1 per cent, up 0.4 percentage points from February. Canada's unemployment rate rose to 6.7 per cent in March from 6.6 per cent in February.

Alberta has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country. The largest job losses in Alberta were in the manufacturing sector, which lost 11,000 jobs. Wholesale and retail trade fell by 9,200 compared to February. Meanwhile, the 33,000 Canadian jobs lost in March, the largest decline since January 2022, Statcan reports.
The impact of the tariffs imposed by the current US administration is deterring business owners from investing, said Stacey Wanchuk-Oleksi, CEO of Money Mentors. StatCan says more Canadians are likely to remain unemployed for longer, making the situation even more difficult for those who are long-term unemployed.

 

 

Edmonton home prices continue to rise as new inventory hits the market ahead of the busy season, according to a report from the Realtors Association of Edmonton. Home sales also reported a big increase. There were 2,494 residential sales in the Greater Edmonton Area (GEA) in March. This was a 36.9 per cent increase compared to February and a 1.3 per cent increase compared to March 2024.

New listings rose last month to 3,780. That's a 44.5 percent increase from February and a 7.5 percent increase from the same month last year. Overall inventory at GEA rose 16.6 percent last month. However, inventory levels are still 8.1 percent lower than last year.

 

 

Ontario Provincial Police Warns Against New Social Media Scam. The police were alerted to the scam after some citizens contacted them after seeing an online post about a missing police officer. It shows a photo of a female police officer named Katie Cunningham. The fake post says that authorities are seeking help to find her.

Ontario Provincial Police said that there is a real officer named Katie Cunningham. However, the police said that she has not gone missing and is working in Montana. Officials said that such scams have recently started in the US. Police say that such online posts should not be believed blindly. Police said that if a local police officer went missing, the local police themselves would have posted about it on social media. Therefore, it is advised to be vigilant against such scams.

 

 

Liberation Day.., the day when Trump said that he would impose tariffs on those countries at the same rate as he imposes tariffs on their products. Only a few hours are left for that crucial announcement. Trump's announcement is very important for India as it is one of the countries that imposes the highest tariffs on imports from the US. The average tariff imposed by India on the US is 9.5 percent. India exports the most to the US in pharma, diamonds, jewelry, automobiles, food products, etc. If tariffs are imposed on all these, India will lose $ 7 billion or Rs 60,000 crore annually. India exports almost twice as many products to the US as it imports from the US. Let's take a look at which sectors of India will be affected if the tariff is announced.

1. Gems and Jewelry

India is one of the largest exporters of gemstone jewelry to the US. If you want to import gold jewelry from the US to India, you have to pay a 20 percent duty. The US, on the other hand, currently charges only 5.5-7% duty on imports from India. India levies a 5% tax on cut and polished diamonds, while the US does not levy any duty on this. If the US imposes duties on Indian imports similar to the duties imposed by India on the US, it is likely to impose duties of 5% to 20% on gem and jewellery exports, which will be a setback for the sector that employs lakhs of workers. In the 2023-2024 financial year, India exported gems and jewellery worth $32.85 billion globally, of which 30.28% went to the US. This gem and jewellery is worth about Rs 86,000 crore.

2. Automobile sector
Trump had already announced a 25% tariff on auto imports. Tata Motors was the biggest setback in India due to President Trump's decision to impose duties on vehicles exported to the US. Although Tata does not directly export vehicles from India to the US, the US is a major market for Tata's subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover. The US accounts for 22 per cent of the company's total sales. Acer Motors also exports its two-wheeler Royal Enfield to the US. The decision has also hit Indian companies that export vehicle components to the US. Sona BLW Precision Forgings derives 66 per cent of its revenue from the US and Europe. Samvardhana Motherson International Limited is a company that exports components to major automakers like Tesla and Ford

3. Pharmaceuticals

In the pharmaceutical sector, India supplies 40 percent of the total generic drugs required by the US. India exported drugs and pharmaceuticals worth $8.7 billion to the US during 2023-24. If additional duties are imposed, it will affect companies like Gland Pharma, Aurobindo, Zydus Life, Lupin, Cipla, Sun Pharma and Torrent Pharma. Currently, the US does not impose any tariff on pharma imports from India, while India has imposed a 10 percent tariff on US pharma imports.

4. Electronics and Electrical Machinery

The tariffs will hit India's electronics sector, especially smartphone exports. The tariff hike is expected to range from 1.2 percent to 10.8 percent. Apple iPhones, which are assembled in India, account for more than 50 percent of India's electronics exports to the US. The tariff hike will increase their prices.
India manufactured $115 billion worth of electronics products last fiscal year. Of this, $52 billion is mobile phones.

5. Tech and IT Sector
Trump's tariff announcement is crucial for the country's leading IT companies with a presence in the US. Major IT firms including Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Persistent Systems operate in the US. Their shares have fallen by up to 5 percent. If the tariffs are lower than expected, their share value may recover.

6. Textiles
28 percent of India's textile exports go to the US. In the fiscal year 2024, garments worth $9.6 billion were exported from India. If Trump imposes tariffs, it is likely to affect this sector.

 

 

More than 390,000 people across Ontario are without power. It is expected to take several days to restore service. The region was hit by a severe snowstorm. Heavy snow has formed in parts of central and eastern Ontario, where rain has frozen down power lines and branches.

Hydro One says it will take several days to fully restore power to all customers. As of 10 a.m. Monday, more than 3,000 power outages were reported, affecting more than 390,000 customers. Contractors are working in challenging conditions to restore power, Hydro One said in a statement. The disruptions are being caused by frozen tree branches and branches. A second wave of snow is also possible. HydroOne says this could affect power lines and roads.

 

 

Gas prices are reportedly rising across Alberta days before the federal consumer carbon tax is set to expire. The provincial government has launched an investigation into the price hikes. Following similar increases last week, prices at many Calgary stations rose to $158.90 or more on Friday. The average price of a litre of regular unleaded gas in Calgary was $157.10 on Sunday, up from $143.90 in early March, according to GasBuddy.com. The report also said gas prices were as high as $139.90 at some Costco stations.

Premier Daniel Smith said he has instructed officials to conduct a review of price increases. Smith noted that he has not seen any significant changes that would require a change in wholesale prices.

 

 

 

Edmonton’s speed-on-green intersection cameras have been shut down, officials say. The cameras were turned off despite safety warnings from police and some city councillors. The speed cameras were shut down ahead of the new photo radar law approved by the Alberta UCP government that goes into effect on Tuesday. More than 300,000 tickets were issued to traffic violators annually through speed cameras.

The new photo radar law will go into effect on Tuesday, Transport Minister Devin Drieson announced. Nearly 70 per cent, or 1,500, of the photo radar sites across the province have been banned. The minister alleges that the photo radars are being used to issue fines and are not improving road safety. However, the minister said municipalities can apply for additional enforcement locations if they can demonstrate that they are necessary for safety. Controversy continues in Edmonton over the new photo radar law.