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Canadian city lights up for India

In solidarity with India in fighting Covid-19 pandemic, Brampton illuminated its city hall with the Indian Tricolour, reports Asian Lite News

Authorities in Canada’s Ontario province dispatched 3,000 locally made ventilators to New Delhi, even as the Indian-dominated city of Brampton illuminated its city hall with the Tricolour in solidarity with the people of India.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his economic development minister Victor Fedeli joined Indian consul general Apoorva Srivastava and others in flagging off the shipment to India on Thursday.

The Indian Red Cross will receive the ventilators, e700 Transport, which have been manufactured by O-Two Medical Technologies based in Brampton.

India

The ventilators have been donated in response to requests from the High Commissioner to Canada and the Consul General in Toronto.

“Today, I joined Minister Victor Fedeli, as well as Vikram Khurana, Paul Winters, and Apoorva Srivastava to send 3,000 Ontario-made ventilators to our friends in India,” the Premier tweeted.

Also Read – #OXYGENFRIENDSHIP: India Thanks World For The Support

“I’ve spoken many times about the #OntarioSpirit and I am very proud to help our friends in need.”

Ford said: “We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of India during these difficult times. Our government will keep working closely with His Excellency, Ajay Bisaria, High Commissioner of India, and Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General of India to Toronto, and stand ready to assist further with India’s urgent needs, for as long as we are able to. We are all in this together and we will all overcome this together.”

In solidarity with India, Brampton illuminated its city hall with the Indian Tricolour.

“Brampton City Hall was illuminated last night with the tricolours of India to show our solidarity with the people of India given the recent adversity with Covid-19,” Mayor Patrick Brown said.

Indo-Canadians make up about a quarter of the city’s population of over 600,000.

Also Read – Asian Lite, SAJDA, IAHV join hands to save lives in India

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Canada lends helping hand to India

Medical supplies from Canada(Twitter)

The Canadian armed forces will provide airlifting support to transport these supplies to India….reports Asian Lite News

Canada has announced that it is sending up to 25,000 vials of Remdesivir and up to 350 ventilators from its National Emergency Strategic Stockpile to help respond to the critical situation across India.

This support, announced on Wednesday, complements Canada’s work with its international partners to respond to the needs caused by the pandemic and to help save lives.

The Canada government is also providing support through UNICEF’s response to the pandemic in India with the urgent provisioning of 1,450 oxygen concentrators. The funds for these operations come partly from the $230 million contribution to the therapeutics pillar of the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, announced in December 2020.

Medical supplies from Canada(Twitter)

This support is in addition to Canada’s $10 million support to the Canadian Red Cross Society, which is supporting the Indian Red Cross Society’s procurement of essential supplies and medicines.

The supplies identified for this donation will not compromise the continued efforts of the Covid-19 response at home in Canada.

The Canadian armed forces will provide airlifting support to transport these supplies to India.

Also read:Canada busts int’l drug racket with links to India, US

“Canada continues to stand in solidarity with the people of India. We must all unite in this hour of need and work together in the global fight against this virus that is devastating lives across the globe,” said an official statement quoting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marc Garneau.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is a global challenge and has reminded countries around the world that we are better off with each other’s help. That’s why the Canadian armed forces will support and transfer supplies to our friends in India to help defeat Covid-19. Throughout this pandemic and into the future, Canada will continue to be there for its allies in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Canada’s Indian-origin Minister of National Defence, Harjit S. Sajjan.

Medical supplies from Canada(Twitter)

Minister of International Development, Karina Gould, added, “If there was ever a time for countries to support one another, it is right now. Canadians have always showed solidarity in times of crisis, and by sending these supplies, we will be helping the frontline workers carry out their life-saving work.”

The Canadian armed forces deployed a CC-150 Polaris aircraft from 8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, on May 5 to deliver the vials of Remdesivir (brand name Veklury) and 50 ventilators that are ready for shipment to India.

Remdesivir is used in the treatment of patients with severe symptoms of Covid-19. Twenty-five thousand vials are equivalent to more than 4,000 courses of treatment.

Also read:Canada bans flights from India

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Trudeau gets first dose of AstraZeneca jab

The Canadian leader arrived at an Ottawa pharmacy with his wife Sophie, took off his shirt in front of cameras, and told the masked woman giving out jabs that he was eager to receive it…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received a first dose of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, seeking to reassure Canadians it is safe despite very rare but serious blood clots in a handful of cases among millions vaccinated.

The Canadian leader arrived at an Ottawa pharmacy with his wife Sophie, took off his shirt in front of cameras, and told the masked woman giving out jabs that he was eager to receive it.

Each of Canada’s 10 provinces is responsible for rollouts of vaccines procured by the federal government. Most recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged 40-45 years, but on Friday a government health advisory board said people as young as 30 could safely take it.

“As Ontario has invited people 40 and over to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in pharmacies, it is now our turn,” Trudeau, 49, earlier told a news conference.

Justin Trudeau takes jab(Twitter)
Also read:Canada busts int’l drug racket with links to India, US

His wife Sophie contracted the novel coronavirus in March 2020, forcing the prime minister to self-isolate at the time in his Ottawa residence.

“It is a relief to know that this simple gesture helps to protect oneself, but especially to protect those we love around us,” Trudeau said.

“So, if it is also your turn, I invite you to make an appointment as soon as possible,” he added.

The Canadian leader also reiterated Thursday evening on Twitter: “The best vaccine for you is the first one offered to you.”

Just over 1.1 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, one of four approved for use in Canada, have been administered in this country.

Only four cases of blood clots associated with low platelets have been reported in Canada in people who received it, but all have recovered, according to Health Canada.

Distrust of the AstraZeneca vaccine has led many countries to set age limits for its use, or even to suspend its use.

Also read:Canada bans flights from India

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Canada bans flights from India

The ban which takes effect at 11.30 p.m. (0330 GMT Friday), does not affect cargo flights…reports Asian Lite News

Canada’s government said that it would temporarily bar passenger flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days starting on Thursday as part of stricter measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The center-left Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acted after prominent right-leaning politicians complained Ottawa had not done enough to combat the third wave of infections ripping through Canada, the Geo TV reported.

Also read:Covid surge: India on UK’s red list

The ban, which takes effect at 11.30 p.m. (0330 GMT Friday), does not affect cargo flights.

India on Thursday recorded the world’s highest daily tally of 314,835 Covid-19 infections amid fears about the ability of crumbling health services to cope.

Canadian Health Minister Patty Hajdu said that while Indian citizens accounted for 20 per cent of all international arrivals, they represented over 50 per cent of the positive tests conducted by Canadian airport officials.

“By eliminating direct travel from these countries, public health experts will have the time to evaluate the ongoing epidemiology of that region and to reassess the situation,” she told a news conference.

The conservative premiers of Ontario and Quebec – the most populous of Canada’s 10 provinces – wrote to Trudeau earlier on Thursday urging him to crack down on international travel.

Health worker collect swab sample testing for Covid-19 at CP in new Delhi on Monday March 22, 2021.(Photo:Wasim Sarvar/IANS)

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said that Canada would not hesitate to bar flights from other nations if needed.

Britain said earlier that India would be added to its “red-list” of locations from which most travel is banned due to a high number of Covid-19 cases.

In addition, France is imposing a 10-day quarantine for travelers from Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and India, while the UAE has suspended all flights from India.

Also read:More travel miseries as UAE suspends flights from India

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Canada busts int’l drug racket with links to India, US

Twenty-five of those arrested are Punjabi men from the Indian-dominated city of Brampton on the outskirts of Toronto…reports Asian Lite News.

An Indo-Canadian drug racket with links to the US and India has been busted with the arrest of 33 persons, who were charged with over 130 criminal offences, officials said.

Ten kg of cocaine, 8 kg of ketamine, 3 kg of heroin, 2.5 kg of opium, 48 firearms and $730,000 in Canadian currency have been seized under the ‘Operation Cheetah’.

Among the 33, 27 were arrested and charged in the Greater Toronto Area, with 19 of them hailing from the town of Brampton. Of these, 23 are of Punjabi origin. One suspect, Gurbinder Sooch, remains at large.

The arrests and drug seizure come after the year-long ‘Operation Cheetah’ culminated in raids last week, which were carried out by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the US Drug Enforcement Administration and regional police forces in Ontario, British Columbia and California, resulting in the arrest of 33 people.

Twenty-five of those arrested are Punjabi men from the Indian-dominated city of Brampton on the outskirts of Toronto.

They have been identified as Parshotem Malhi, 54, Rupinder Dhillion, 37, Sanveer Singh, 25, Haripal Nagra, 45, Pritpal Singh, 56, Harkiran Singh, 33, Lakhpreet Brar, 29, Balwinder Dhaliwal, 60, Sukhmanpreet Singh, 23, Khushal Bhinder, 36, Prabhjeet Mundian, 34, Vansh Arora, 24, Simranjeet Narang, 28, Gaganpreet Gill, 28, Sukjit Dhaliwal, 47, Harjot Singh, 31, and Sukhjit Dhugga, 35.

Gurbinder Sooch, 41, with no fixed address, has also been arrested.

These men smuggled cocaine, ketamine, heroin and opium into Canada and distributed them through their underground network.

They face various criminal offences, including conspiracies to import banned substances, drug smuggling, and possession of property obtained by crime.

The York Regional Police said that some of the drugs were found at “kids indoor playground”.

Officers seized drugs valued at approximately $2.3 million and including 10 kg of cocaine, 8 kg of ketamine, 3 kg of heroin and 2.5 kg of opium. Investigators also seized 48 firearms and $730,000 in Canadian currency. Most of the weapons were seized from Caledon. Police say the guns were lawfully possessed by a person who now faces charges.

Cocaine and other drugs smuggled into Canada come from California and are brought in by the truckers. A few months back, a Punjabi trucker named Amanpreet Sandhu from Calgary was arrested while smuggling drugs worth over $28 million – a record in Canada.
India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had shared vital inputs with Canada and the US in the last two years over the racket being run from Canadian soil. The Indian agencies had, in different operations in the last three years, found drugs were transported to Canada from Punjab in vessels, electronic machines and even in holy books.

In one case, the NCB had traced smuggling of cocaine to Punjab from Canada for local use as well as further trafficking to Delhi and Goa. Sources said that the follow-up probe would lead to the arrest of a number of international smugglers based out of Canada, Italy and Australia who were wanted by security agencies in India.

Also Read-Covid variants drive new surge in Canada

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Covid variants drive new surge in Canada

As of Saturday afternoon, Canada reported 5,986 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the cumulative total to 1,051,246, including 23,282 deaths…reports Asian Lite News

The rapid spread of more contagious Covid-19 variants is believed to have driven a devastating third wave in Canada.

As of Saturday afternoon, a total of 30,108 variant of concern cases have been reported across Canada, including 28,624 B.1.1.7 variants, 1,133 P.1 variants and 351 B.1.351 variants, according to CTV.

As of Saturday afternoon, Canada reported 5,986 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the cumulative total to 1,051,246, including 23,282 deaths, according to CTV.

“Although B.1.1.7, which is now confirmed in all provinces and two territories, continues to account for the majority of variants of concern in Canada and has likely replaced the original virus in some areas, there has been a concerning rise in P.1 cases in recent weeks,” Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said in a statement on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Early evidence suggests that the P.1 variant may reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, making it even more important to control its spread,” Tam added in the statement.

The number of confirmed variant cases in Canada has skyrocketed in recent weeks, rising from about 2,000 a month ago to over 30,000 as of Saturday afternoon and counting, with more than 90 per cent of those being the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in Britain.

The P1 variant first discovered in Brazil is also on the rise in Canada, with cases increasing to more than 1,100 as of Saturday afternoon, mostly in the populous provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta.

Also read:Canada becomes first to approve four vaccines

Meanwhile, the B.1.351 variant first found in South Africa is also picking up steam, with more than 350 cases identified in the country.

“The race between the vaccine and the variants is at a critical point,” Tam said. “It is clear that we need stronger control to combat variants of concern that are driving rapid epidemic growth in many areas of the country.”

Younger Canadians are being impacted harder in the third wave, Tam said, with infection rates highest among those aged 20 to 39 and a rise in the number of hospitalizations and ICU admissions in those under 60.

The fact is Canada’s third wave of Covid-19 is showing no signs of slowing down as the vaccine rollout gradually ramps up, meaning Canadians need to buckle down until more of us get a shot, Canadian experts said.

They added that Canada’s slower vaccine rollout means our third wave could last into June.

Altogether, 7,569,321 vaccine doses have been administered as of Friday, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Also read:US, Canada condemn China’s retaliatory sanctions

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Covid variant cases shoot up in Canada

Health experts in Canada have already warned of a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic after variants of the virus were reported across the country

As variant cases increase, overall Covid-19 numbers have dropped steadily in Canada….reports Asian Lite News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJrl_HsYMNo

Canada confirmed 868 Covid-19 mutant infections as of Tuesday, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada on Wednesday.

Out of the 868 cases, 827 were B.1.1.7 variants, 40 B.1.351 variants and one P.1. All provinces in the country have detected cases of variants of concern.

“Some variants are considered ‘variants of concern’ because they spread more easily, some may cause more severe illness, or current vaccines may be less effective against them,” Theresa Tam, chief public health officer of Canada, said in a statement on Wednesday.

However, as variant cases increase, overall Covid-19 numbers have dropped steadily in Canada.

Tam said Canada continues to see a decline in Covid-19 activity, overall. “Currently, there are 30,677 active cases across the country. The latest national-level data show a seven-day average of 2,956 new cases daily (February 17-23).”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Canada reported a cumulative total of 854,181 Covid-19 cases and 21,789 deaths, according to media reports.

Some parts of the country that have seen notable declines in cases have recently moved to reopen non-essential businesses and lift lockdowns in the face of fast-spreading variants, despite public health officials cautioning against doing so.

Much like the first and second waves of the Covid-19 pandemic in Canada, the situation varies greatly across the country for a number of different reasons ranging from geographic and demographic to political.

But even provinces and territories in the country that have had fewer Covid-19 cases are still at high risk of devastating outbreaks, overwhelmed health-care systems and severe outcomes for vulnerable populations if variants spread rapidly.

Tam said Newfoundland and Labrador province is a cautionary tale for the rest of Canada, where an outbreak of the B.1.1.7 variant led to a spike in new cases in the community during a time when public health measures were less stringent.

Also read:Canada warned of 3rd pandemic wave

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Canada warned of 3rd pandemic wave

As of February 13, Canada reported 429 cases of the UK B.1.1.7 variant, 28 cases of the South African B.1.351 variant, and one of the P.1 Brazilian strain…reports Asian Lite News

Health experts in Canada have warned of a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic after variants of the virus were reported across nine provinces.

As of February 13, Canada reported 429 cases of the UK B.1.1.7 variant, 28 cases of the South African B.1.351 variant, and one of the P.1 Brazilian strain, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Although it is normal for variants to emerge as viruses continuously evolve, some variants are considered ‘variants of concern’ because they spread more easily, some may cause more severe illness, or current vaccines may be less effective against them,” Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said in a statement on Saturday.

“This is why we need to maintain the strictest vigilance in our public health measures and individual practices. This will help to prevent these variants from re-accelerating the epidemic and making it much more difficult to control,” Tam added.

Canada has so far reported a total of 823,048 Covid-19 cases and 21,213 deaths.

Ontario confirmed 1,300 new cases and 19 more deaths on Saturday.

The province’s seven-day average for the number of cases recorded is now 1,167, down from 1,479 one week ago.

Saturday’s case count brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 284,887, including deaths and recoveries.

A total of 164,307 people in Ontario have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and are now fully vaccinated against the disease.

Meanwhile, Quebec reported 1,049 new cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 275,880.

The province also confirmed 33 additional deaths, raising fatalities to 10,201.

To date, 290,953 doses of vaccine have been administered in the province

Also read:Trump acquitted in second Senate impeachment

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Indo-Canada Chamber lauds India’s vaccine offer to Canada

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) and many other Indo-Canadian organisations have welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise to provide Covid-19 vaccine to Canada…writes Gurmukh Singh.

Modi made this promise to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau who called him on Wednesday to discuss various issues, including the pandemic, the economic recovery and climate change.

In a tweet, Modi said that he “assured him (Trudeau) that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada”.

Trudeau is facing a public backlash because of the lack of the availability of vaccines as both Pfizer and Moderna have either cut or delayed shipments to Canada which has got only 1.1 million doses so far.

Indo-Canadian trade bodies welcomed the initiative by Trudeau to call Modi in the wake of the setback to bilateral relations after Trudeau issued a statement in December in support of the farmers’ stir in India.

Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Calling it a big development in bilateral ties, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce President Vijay Thomas said: “India’s promise to deliver Covid vaccine to Canada is welcome news in the wake of some recent headwinds in our relationship. A big barrier has been broken.”

Thomas said the phone discussion between the two Prime Minister could be the beginning of a new partnership.

“Sometimes politics leads to a better trade relationship, but better trade too can lead to a better political relationship. This development will help remove all irritants between our two countries.”

vaccine jabs

Shiv Bhasker, President of the Ottawa-based Overseas Friends of India and Canada (OFIC) said: “This is an excellent development. Any irritants caused by recent Canadian statements about the farmers’ stir in India can now be smoothed out. India is a big market for Canadian goods, agriculture, urea, aerospace parts, water technology, and we should focus on trade rather than issue statements on India’s internal affairs.”

Winnipeg businessman Hemant Shah, who has worked for four decades on India-Canada trade, said: “Trudeau has done the right thing by calling Modi. It has taken decades, efforts, and taxpayers’ money to build our bilateral trade relationship with India. We must not harm it with negative statements.”

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Trudeau seeks vaccine aid from Modi

Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, requesting for Covid-19 vaccines, which India has generously gifted to 20 countries under its vaccine diplomacy.

An official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said that Trudeau informed Modi about Canada’s requirement for Covid-19 vaccines from India. Modi on his part assured the Canadian PM that India would do its best to support Canada’s vaccination efforts, just as it had done for many other countries already.

Expressing his appreciation, Trudeau said that if the world manages to conquer Covid-19, it would be significantly because of India’s tremendous pharmaceutical capacity, and Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in sharing this capacity with the rest of the world. The Indian Prime Minister thanked Trudeau for his sentiments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLkCYvtmXFg

The two leaders also reiterated the common perspective shared by India and Canada on many important geo-political issues. They agreed to continue the close collaboration between both the countries in fighting global challenges like climate change and the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The leaders looked forward to meeting each other in various important international fora later this year, and continue their discussions on all issues of mutual interest.

Also Read-‘India committed to maintain peaceful situation in the border’