Two more Catholic churches have been destroyed by fires in Canada.&nbsp;The two churches were located in indigenous communities in Western Canadian region of British Columbia. The incident follows grim discoveries of nearly 1,000 unmarked graves,&nbsp;at former church-run indigenous residential schools in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

T Ann's Catholic Church on the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and the&nbsp;Chopaka&nbsp;Catholic Church in the Lower Similkameen Indian Band are believed to have been set ablaze less than an hour apart in the early morning hours of Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sergeant Jason Bayda of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement, "Both churches have been destroyed. (fires&nbsp;are) suspicious, and (authorities) are looking to determine any possible connection to the church fires in both Penticton and Oliver."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two other Catholic Churches had been destroyed in fires a week ago, on the day which Canada marks as the National Indigenous People's Day. No arrests have been made so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The destruction of the four Churches comes at a testing time for Canada's indigenous peoples. The community is still struggling with the discovery of nearly a thousand bodies of indigenous children in mass graves at Church-run residential schools in Canada.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The remains of 215 schoolchildren were discovered at a former residential school in Kamloops last month. While ground-penetrating radar mapping also helped locate 751 more unmarked graves at another school in&nbsp;Marieval&nbsp;this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau&nbsp;apologised&nbsp;for the&nbsp;'harmful'&nbsp;government policy of indigenous assimilation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A truth and reconciliation commission concluded Canada had committed&nbsp;'cultural genocide'.&nbsp;

The Canadian government's indigenous assimilation policy operated between 1831&nbsp;and&nbsp;1996.&nbsp;The policy backed residential schools run by the Catholic Church&nbsp;where&nbsp;over 150,000 indigenous children were forcefully enrolled.&nbsp;

Around&nbsp;4,000 children died of disease and neglect as&nbsp;many indigenous children were physically&nbsp;and&nbsp;sexually assaulted in these schools.&nbsp;Many indigenous children were&nbsp;also&nbsp;never reintegrated in their communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trudeau has urged the Pope to come to Canada&nbsp;and&nbsp;apologise&nbsp;for the Church's role in running these indigenous residential schools.

The Canadian Prime Minister said, "I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to impress upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on&nbsp;our&nbsp;soil. I know that the Catholic church leadership is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Pope Francis stopped short of a direct apology but said he was pained by the discovery of the remains of 215 children and called for respect for the rights and cultures of native people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two more Catholic churches have been destroyed by fires in Canada. The two churches were located in indigenous communities in Western Canadian region of British Columbia.

Two more Catholic churches have been destroyed by fires in Canada. The two churches were located in indigenous communities in Western Canadian region of British Columbia. The incident follows grim discoveries of nearly 1,000 unmarked graves, at former church-run indigenous residential schools in the country. T Ann's Catholic Church on the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and the Chopaka Catholic Church in the Lower Similkameen Indian Band are believed to have been set ablaze less than an hour apart in the early morning hours of Saturday. Sergeant Jason Bayda of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement, "Both churches have been destroyed. (fires are) suspicious, and (authorities) are looking to determine any possible connection to the church fires in both Penticton and Oliver." Two other Catholic Churches had been destroyed in fires a week ago, on the day which Canada marks as the National Indigenous People's Day. No arrests have been made so far. The destruction of the four Churches comes at a testing time for Canada's indigenous peoples. The community is still struggling with the discovery of nearly a thousand bodies of indigenous children in mass graves at Church-run residential schools in Canada. The remains of 215 schoolchildren were discovered at a former residential school in Kamloops last month. While ground-penetrating radar mapping also helped locate 751 more unmarked graves at another school in Marieval this week. On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised for the 'harmful' government policy of indigenous assimilation. A truth and reconciliation commission concluded Canada had committed 'cultural genocide'. The Canadian government's indigenous assimilation policy operated between 1831 and 1996. The policy backed residential schools run by the Catholic Church where over 150,000 indigenous children were forcefully enrolled. Around 4,000 children died of disease and neglect as many indigenous children were physically and sexually assaulted in these schools. Many indigenous children were also never reintegrated in their communities. Trudeau has urged the Pope to come to Canada and apologise for the Church's role in running these indigenous residential schools. The Canadian Prime Minister said, "I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to impress upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on our soil. I know that the Catholic church leadership is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken." Earlier this month, Pope Francis stopped short of a direct apology but said he was pained by the discovery of the remains of 215 children and called for respect for the rights and cultures of native people.

Two more Catholic churches destroyed by fires in Canada 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised Friday for "harmful government policies" and did not rule out a criminal probe after hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered at a former indigenous residential school in western Canada.

The public mea culpa for the policy of indigenous assimilation and other historical wrongs comes one day after the Cowessess First Nation said it had found at least 751 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan province. It was the second such discovery in less than a month.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-unmarked-graves-found-at-another-indigenous-school-in-canada-393533">Hundreds of unmarked graves found at another Indigenous school in Canada</a>&nbsp;

"This was an incredibly harmful government policy that was Canada's reality for many, many decades and Canadians today are horrified and ashamed of how our country behaved, about a policy that ripped kids from their homes, from their communities, from their culture and their language and forced assimilation upon them," Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa.

"To the members of the Cowessess community and Treaty Four communities, we are sorry," he said. "It was something that we cannot undo in the past, but we can pledge ourselves every day to fix it in the present and into the future."

The graves&nbsp;some of which may at one time have been marked were found through ground-penetrating radar mapping.

Excavations at the Marieval school, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) east of the provincial capital Regina, began at the end of May, after the discovery of the remains of 215 schoolchildren at another former indigenous residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/remains-of-215-children-of-kamloops-indian-residential-school-discovered-387995">Remains of 215 children of Kamloops Indian Residential School discovered</a>

Since the grim find in Kamloops, searches have also started at other such former boarding schools across Canada, with government help.

Nearly Can$5 million (US$4 million) would be made available to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which represents 74 tribes in Saskatchewan, to search for more burial sites in the province, Trudeau said Friday.

'What happened'&nbsp;

Pressed about whether a criminal probe demanded by indigenous leaders was warranted, Trudeau said: "I think people want to properly understand what happened."

"We are open to taking whatever steps are necessary to learn the truth," he added in French, and to "ensure that there are consequences for organizations, institutions, and perhaps in some cases individuals."

The FSIN, the former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Murray Sinclair, and others have called for an independent investigation to determine if any crimes occurred at the schools.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-canadas-cultural-genocide-unearthed-388867/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Until the 1990s, some 150,000 Indian, Metis and Inuit children were forcibly enrolled in 139 of these residential schools across Canada, where they were isolated from their families, language and culture.

Many were subjected to ill-treatment and sexual abuse, and more than 4,000 died of disease and neglect in the schools, according to a commission of inquiry that concluded Canada had committed "cultural genocide."

Today those experiences are blamed for a high incidence of poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, as well as high suicide rates, in indigenous communities.

Trudeau said he has asked Pope Francis to come to Canada and apologize for abuses at the government-funded, Catholic church-run schools.

"I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to impress upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology, but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on Canadian soil," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trudeau-says-pope-should-apologise-on-canadian-soil-for-churchs-role-in-residential-schools-394067">Trudeau says Pope should apologise on Canadian soil for church's role in residential schools</a>

The Catholic church's leadership, he said, "is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken."

In the meantime, the Missionary of Oblates of Mary&nbsp;Immaculate, the religious order that operated 48 indigenous residential schools in Canada, including those in Kamloops and Marieval, is committed to disclosing all historical documents in its possession to help shed light on the student deaths.

"We remain deeply sorry for our involvement in residential schools and the harms they brought to indigenous peoples and communities," the group said in a statement.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised Friday for "harmful government policies" and did not rule out a criminal probe after hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered at a former indigenous residential school in western Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised Friday for "harmful government policies" and did not rule out a criminal probe after hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered at a former indigenous residential school in western Canada. The public mea culpa for the policy of indigenous assimilation and other historical wrongs comes one day after the Cowessess First Nation said it had found at least 751 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan province. It was the second such discovery in less than a month. Also read | Hundreds of unmarked graves found at another Indigenous school in Canada "This was an incredibly harmful government policy that was Canada's reality for many, many decades and Canadians today are horrified and ashamed of how our country behaved, about a policy that ripped kids from their homes, from their communities, from their culture and their language and forced assimilation upon them," Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa. "To the members of the Cowessess community and Treaty Four communities, we are sorry," he said. "It was something that we cannot undo in the past, but we can pledge ourselves every day to fix it in the present and into the future." The graves some of which may at one time have been marked were found through ground-penetrating radar mapping. Excavations at the Marieval school, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) east of the provincial capital Regina, began at the end of May, after the discovery of the remains of 215 schoolchildren at another former indigenous residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. Also read | Remains of 215 children of Kamloops Indian Residential School discovered Since the grim find in Kamloops, searches have also started at other such former boarding schools across Canada, with government help. Nearly Can$5 million (US$4 million) would be made available to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which represents 74 tribes in Saskatchewan, to search for more burial sites in the province, Trudeau said Friday. 'What happened' Pressed about whether a criminal probe demanded by indigenous leaders was warranted, Trudeau said: "I think people want to properly understand what happened." "We are open to taking whatever steps are necessary to learn the truth," he added in French, and to "ensure that there are consequences for organizations, institutions, and perhaps in some cases individuals." The FSIN, the former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Murray Sinclair, and others have called for an independent investigation to determine if any crimes occurred at the schools. Until the 1990s, some 150,000 Indian, Metis and Inuit children were forcibly enrolled in 139 of these residential schools across Canada, where they were isolated from their families, language and culture. Many were subjected to ill-treatment and sexual abuse, and more than 4,000 died of disease and neglect in the schools, according to a commission of inquiry that concluded Canada had committed "cultural genocide." Today those experiences are blamed for a high incidence of poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, as well as high suicide rates, in indigenous communities. Trudeau said he has asked Pope Francis to come to Canada and apologize for abuses at the government-funded, Catholic church-run schools. "I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to impress upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology, but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on Canadian soil," he said. Also read | Trudeau says Pope should apologise on Canadian soil for church's role in residential schools The Catholic church's leadership, he said, "is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken." In the meantime, the Missionary of Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the religious order that operated 48 indigenous residential schools in Canada, including those in Kamloops and Marieval, is committed to disclosing all historical documents in its possession to help shed light on the student deaths. "We remain deeply sorry for our involvement in residential schools and the harms they brought to indigenous peoples and communities," the group said in a statement.

Trudeau doesn't rule out criminal probe of indigenous school graves

The discovery of mass graves in Canada has put the spotlight on the shameful past of several other countries. Time & again western nations have had to confront the horrors of racial cleansing & mass graves. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: The most shocking discoveries of mass graves

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, he has asked the pope to come to Canada to apologise for the Catholic Church's role running residential schools for indigenous children, after nearly 1,000 bodies were found in two mass graves. 
 
"I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to press upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on Canadian soil," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. 
 
"I know that the Catholic church leadership is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken." 
 
Cowessess First Nation said on Thursday some 751 unmarked graves had been found at the site of Marieval Residential School in Saskatchewan, just weeks after 215 unmarked graves were discovered at a former school in British Columbia. 
 
The residential school system, which operated between 1831 and 1996, removed about 150,000 indigenous children from their families and brought them to Christian residential schools, mostly Catholic, run on behalf of the federal government. 
 
A federal commission's report found the residential school system enacted cultural genocide on Canada's indigenous people. 
 
"I have heard directly from many Catholics across this country who want to see the church play a positive role in this," Trudeau added. 
 
Earlier this month, Pope Francis stopped short of a direct apology but said he was pained by the discovery of the remains of 215 children and called for respect for the rights and cultures of native peoples. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, he has asked the pope to come to Canada to apologise for the Catholic Church's role running residential schools for indigenous children, after nearly 1,000 bodies were found in two mass graves.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, he has asked the pope to come to Canada to apologise for the Catholic Church's role running residential schools for indigenous children, after nearly 1,000 bodies were found in two mass graves. "I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to press upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on Canadian soil," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. "I know that the Catholic church leadership is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken." Cowessess First Nation said on Thursday some 751 unmarked graves had been found at the site of Marieval Residential School in Saskatchewan, just weeks after 215 unmarked graves were discovered at a former school in British Columbia. The residential school system, which operated between 1831 and 1996, removed about 150,000 indigenous children from their families and brought them to Christian residential schools, mostly Catholic, run on behalf of the federal government. A federal commission's report found the residential school system enacted cultural genocide on Canada's indigenous people. "I have heard directly from many Catholics across this country who want to see the church play a positive role in this," Trudeau added. Earlier this month, Pope Francis stopped short of a direct apology but said he was pained by the discovery of the remains of 215 children and called for respect for the rights and cultures of native peoples. (With inputs from agencies)

Trudeau says Pope should apologise on Canadian soil for church's role in residential schools

After remains of 215 children were found in Canada's British Columbia, 751 unmarked graves have been unearthed in Saskatchewan. It is one of the largest burial sites found till date. Palki Sharma tells you how Canada is being forced to face one of the darkest chapters in its history.

Gravitas: Canada unearths its brutal history

Canada said on Thursday it had found no evidence that Iran's downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane last year had been premeditated, and condemned what it called the incompetence and recklessness of those responsible.

Iran has admitted it shot down the airliner shortly after takeoff from Tehran in January 2020, killing 176 people, and blamed a "disastrous mistake" by forces on high alert during a confrontation with the United States. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-led-group-of-nations-demands-reparations-from-iran-for-ukraine-flights-downing-389281">Also read: Canada-led group of nations demands reparations from Iran for Ukraine flight's downing</a> 
 
A special Canadian forensic team charged with examining all available information about the incident, including classified intelligence, said it had "found no evidence that Iranian officials ordered the shoot-down or that it was premeditated".

In a report, the team added: "This in no way absolves Iran of its responsibility for the death of 176 innocent people". The dead included 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents.

Ottawa has repeatedly complained that Iran's official explanation did not answer many important questions about the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752.

"Iranian civilian and military authorities bear full and complete responsibility. Flight PS752 was shot down due to their recklessness, incompetence, and wanton disregard for human life," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote in the report.

"Senior regime officials made the decisions that led to this tragedy, and the world must not allow them to hide with impunity behind a handful of low-ranking scapegoats."

In March, Iran's civil aviation body blamed the crash on a misaligned radar and an error by an air defence operator. Iran has indicted 10 officials.

"In the context of military operations, a misalignment of this nature should have been detected," the report concludes, adding that Iran has failed to provide a "credible explanation" as to why the aircraft was targeted.

Canada and other countries are seeking reparations for victims' families. Canada does not have formal diplomatic relations with Iran, making the process lengthy and complex.

Canada said on Thursday it had found no evidence that Iran's downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane last year had been premeditated, and condemned what it called the incompetence and recklessness of those responsible.

Canada said on Thursday it had found no evidence that Iran's downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane last year had been premeditated, and condemned what it called the incompetence and recklessness of those responsible. Iran has admitted it shot down the airliner shortly after takeoff from Tehran in January 2020, killing 176 people, and blamed a "disastrous mistake" by forces on high alert during a confrontation with the United States. Also read: Canada-led group of nations demands reparations from Iran for Ukraine flight's downing A special Canadian forensic team charged with examining all available information about the incident, including classified intelligence, said it had "found no evidence that Iranian officials ordered the shoot-down or that it was premeditated". In a report, the team added: "This in no way absolves Iran of its responsibility for the death of 176 innocent people". The dead included 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. Ottawa has repeatedly complained that Iran's official explanation did not answer many important questions about the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752. "Iranian civilian and military authorities bear full and complete responsibility. Flight PS752 was shot down due to their recklessness, incompetence, and wanton disregard for human life," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote in the report. "Senior regime officials made the decisions that led to this tragedy, and the world must not allow them to hide with impunity behind a handful of low-ranking scapegoats." In March, Iran's civil aviation body blamed the crash on a misaligned radar and an error by an air defence operator. Iran has indicted 10 officials. "In the context of military operations, a misalignment of this nature should have been detected," the report concludes, adding that Iran has failed to provide a "credible explanation" as to why the aircraft was targeted. Canada and other countries are seeking reparations for victims' families. Canada does not have formal diplomatic relations with Iran, making the process lengthy and complex.

Canada finds ‘no evidence’ Iran's downing of airliner was premeditated

More than 750 unmarked graves have been found near a former Catholic boarding school for indigenous children in western Canada.

Canada shaken by discovery of 751 unmarked graves

Canada's Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that will open the way to legalise betting on single games or sporting events, which is currently illegal except for on horse racing. 
 
The vote sent gambling shares higher as it is seen helping them win back customers from offshore websites and US&nbsp;casinos. 
 
After the bill receives royal ascent from the chief justice of the Supreme Court in coming days, it will be up to each of Canada's provinces and territories to decide how to implement legal betting on sports events. 
 
Some provinces have said they would move quickly to get the rules in place. Previously, parlays or combinations of two or more bets into a single wager were the only legal way to bet on sports in Canada.

Canada's Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that will open the way to legalise betting on single games or sporting events, which is currently illegal except for on horse racing.

Canada's Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that will open the way to legalise betting on single games or sporting events, which is currently illegal except for on horse racing. The vote sent gambling shares higher as it is seen helping them win back customers from offshore websites and US casinos. After the bill receives royal ascent from the chief justice of the Supreme Court in coming days, it will be up to each of Canada's provinces and territories to decide how to implement legal betting on sports events. Some provinces have said they would move quickly to get the rules in place. Previously, parlays or combinations of two or more bets into a single wager were the only legal way to bet on sports in Canada.

Canada's Senate vote opens way for single event betting

Federal police said Monday that they were investigating "suspicious" fires that destroyed two Catholic churches built around 1910 in indigenous communities in western Canada.

The Sacred Heart Church on Penticton Indian Band lands and St. Gregory's Church on Osoyoos Indian Band lands in the Oliver area of British Columbia province, went up in flames at around the same time, between 1 am and 3 am local time.

Their destruction comes weeks after unmarked graves of 215 children were found in nearby Kamloops at one of many boarding schools set up a century ago to forcibly assimilate Canada's indigenous peoples.

The discovery at the Kamloops Indian Residential School shocked Canadians, and renewed calls for Pope Francis to apologize for abuses at the schools run by the church on behalf of the federal government.

Sergeant Jason Bayda said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the two fires. "Both churches burned to the ground and police are treating the fires as suspicious," he said.

Although too early to conclude arson, he added, "We are sensitive to the recent events" in Kamloops.

Earlier, Bob Graham, chief of the volunteer fire department in Oliver, British Columbia, told public broadcaster CBC, "We believe by looking at the scene and the surroundings, that there was a liquid accelerant used."&nbsp;

"Early indications are that it was set," he said of the St. Gregory's Church blaze, adding that the wooden church was completely gutted.

Forty kilometers (25 miles) north, Chief Greg Gabriel of the Penticton Indian Band said investigators were sifting through blackened rubble and reviewing surveillance footage for clues about what sparked the Sacred Heart Church fire.

"It's hoped that they will find something that they can use to determine the cause and maybe who's responsible," he told CBC.

Some 150,000 indigenous, Inuit and Metis youngsters were taken from their communities and enrolled at Canada's residential schools, where students were physically and sexually abused by headmasters and teachers who stripped them of their culture and language.

Today those experiences are blamed for a high incidence of poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, as well as high suicide rates, in Canada's indigenous communities.

"There's a lot of anger in every indigenous community across Canada after those 215 innocent children's graves were discovered," Gabriel commented.

"I'm not saying this may be the cause of our church going up in flames," he said, "But there's a lot of anger."

Federal police said Monday that they were investigating "suspicious" fires that destroyed two Catholic churches built around 1910 in indigenous communities in western Canada.

Federal police said Monday that they were investigating "suspicious" fires that destroyed two Catholic churches built around 1910 in indigenous communities in western Canada. The Sacred Heart Church on Penticton Indian Band lands and St. Gregory's Church on Osoyoos Indian Band lands in the Oliver area of British Columbia province, went up in flames at around the same time, between 1 am and 3 am local time. Their destruction comes weeks after unmarked graves of 215 children were found in nearby Kamloops at one of many boarding schools set up a century ago to forcibly assimilate Canada's indigenous peoples. The discovery at the Kamloops Indian Residential School shocked Canadians, and renewed calls for Pope Francis to apologize for abuses at the schools run by the church on behalf of the federal government. Sergeant Jason Bayda said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the two fires. "Both churches burned to the ground and police are treating the fires as suspicious," he said. Although too early to conclude arson, he added, "We are sensitive to the recent events" in Kamloops. Earlier, Bob Graham, chief of the volunteer fire department in Oliver, British Columbia, told public broadcaster CBC, "We believe by looking at the scene and the surroundings, that there was a liquid accelerant used." "Early indications are that it was set," he said of the St. Gregory's Church blaze, adding that the wooden church was completely gutted. Forty kilometers (25 miles) north, Chief Greg Gabriel of the Penticton Indian Band said investigators were sifting through blackened rubble and reviewing surveillance footage for clues about what sparked the Sacred Heart Church fire. "It's hoped that they will find something that they can use to determine the cause and maybe who's responsible," he told CBC. Some 150,000 indigenous, Inuit and Metis youngsters were taken from their communities and enrolled at Canada's residential schools, where students were physically and sexually abused by headmasters and teachers who stripped them of their culture and language. Today those experiences are blamed for a high incidence of poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, as well as high suicide rates, in Canada's indigenous communities. "There's a lot of anger in every indigenous community across Canada after those 215 innocent children's graves were discovered," Gabriel commented. "I'm not saying this may be the cause of our church going up in flames," he said, "But there's a lot of anger."

'Suspicious fires': Two century-old churches go up in flames in Canada indigenous communities

Canada will admit more refugees and their families this year as part of its effort to tackle a global crisis, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday. 
 
He said Canada will take nearly double the number of protected persons, defined as people, who have applied for and been granted refugee status after arriving in the country, as well as their immediate families abroad. The new target is 45,000, up from 23,500. 
 
Mendicino also said the government plans to spend an additional C$3 million ($2.4 million) over two years for refugee sponsorship and modestly expand a programme blending refugee resettlement with economic immigration. His announcement comes ahead of ahead of World Refugee Day on Sunday. 
 
"We hope to be able to facilitate their travel, obviously taking into consideration ongoing travel restrictions," Mendicino said, referring to refugees' family members. 
 
Canada aims to resettle 36,000 refugees this year - distinct from protected persons in that resettled refugees are referred directly to Canada by an agency like the UNHCR and have refugee status on arrival. Mendicino has said Canada may accept Central American migrants to help the United States, which is struggling to deal with an increase. 
 
The backlog of immigration applications for the family members of protected persons had been increasing before the pandemic and nearly doubled to 21,372 in January, 2021 from 11,177 in January, 2018, according to government data. 
 
Even as Canada prepares to accept more refugees, it has sought to prevent asylum-seekers from coming into the country via its land border - either through its Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States or through a COVID-19 policy being contested in court. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Canada will admit more refugees and their families this year as part of its effort to tackle a global crisis, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday.

Canada will admit more refugees and their families this year as part of its effort to tackle a global crisis, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday. He said Canada will take nearly double the number of protected persons, defined as people, who have applied for and been granted refugee status after arriving in the country, as well as their immediate families abroad. The new target is 45,000, up from 23,500. Mendicino also said the government plans to spend an additional C$3 million ($2.4 million) over two years for refugee sponsorship and modestly expand a programme blending refugee resettlement with economic immigration. His announcement comes ahead of ahead of World Refugee Day on Sunday. "We hope to be able to facilitate their travel, obviously taking into consideration ongoing travel restrictions," Mendicino said, referring to refugees' family members. Canada aims to resettle 36,000 refugees this year - distinct from protected persons in that resettled refugees are referred directly to Canada by an agency like the UNHCR and have refugee status on arrival. Mendicino has said Canada may accept Central American migrants to help the United States, which is struggling to deal with an increase. The backlog of immigration applications for the family members of protected persons had been increasing before the pandemic and nearly doubled to 21,372 in January, 2021 from 11,177 in January, 2018, according to government data. Even as Canada prepares to accept more refugees, it has sought to prevent asylum-seekers from coming into the country via its land border - either through its Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States or through a COVID-19 policy being contested in court. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada vows to nearly double intake of 'protected persons' as refugee family backlog grows

Canada is extending a ban on non-essential travel with the United States and the rest of the world until July 21, officials said on Friday, prompting frustration from businesses and US&nbsp;legislators. 
 
Canada is under pressure from companies and the tourism industry to ease the ban, which was imposed in March 2020 to help contain spread of the coronavirus and has been renewed on a monthly basis ever since. 
 
But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood firm, saying the border would stay largely shut until 75% of Canadians had received the first of a two-dose coronavirus vaccine and 20% had been given both shots. 
 
Although Trudeau said Canada had basically achieved the first target, official data released after he spoke showed 73.4% had received their first shot. Only 5.5% of the eligible population has had both shots. 
 
"Even a fully vaccinated individual can pass on COVID-19 to someone, who is not vaccinated," Trudeau told reporters, saying Canada needed to avoid 'any further massive waves'. 
 
The extended border closure comes as the western province of Alberta unveiled plans to fully reopen on July 1, lifting virtually all remaining public health restrictions, after 70% of eligible Albertans received their first vaccination dose. 
 
The travel ban does not affect trade in goods but Statistics Canada said total exports of services in 2020 compared with 2019 fell by 17.7% and imports of services plunged by 24.0%, in part due to the border restrictions. Travel and transportation services were particularly hard hit. 
 
"The inability of the US and Canadian governments to reach an agreement on alleviating border restrictions ... is simply unacceptable," said US&nbsp;Representatives Brian Higgins and Bill Huizenga, co-chairs of the Canada-US&nbsp;Interparliamentary Group. 
 
The United States is Canada's largest trading partner. 
 
Harley Finkelstein, president of Canadian e-commerce company Shopify Inc, tweeted that the extended border closure was the wrong decision. "We need to open the border for fully vaccinated travellers immediately," he wrote. 
 
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce - a national group that advocates for businesses - lamented what it said was Ottawa's excessive caution. 
 
"All of the science would say we should be moving ahead to reopen the border. We don't even have a plan at this point," said Perrin Beatty, the group's president and chief executive. 
 
Ottawa will reveal on Monday how it plans to start easing measures for fully vaccinated Canadians. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Canada is extending a ban on non-essential travel with the United States and the rest of the world until July 21, officials said on Friday, prompting frustration from businesses and US legislators.

Canada is extending a ban on non-essential travel with the United States and the rest of the world until July 21, officials said on Friday, prompting frustration from businesses and US legislators. Canada is under pressure from companies and the tourism industry to ease the ban, which was imposed in March 2020 to help contain spread of the coronavirus and has been renewed on a monthly basis ever since. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood firm, saying the border would stay largely shut until 75% of Canadians had received the first of a two-dose coronavirus vaccine and 20% had been given both shots. Although Trudeau said Canada had basically achieved the first target, official data released after he spoke showed 73.4% had received their first shot. Only 5.5% of the eligible population has had both shots. "Even a fully vaccinated individual can pass on COVID-19 to someone, who is not vaccinated," Trudeau told reporters, saying Canada needed to avoid 'any further massive waves'. The extended border closure comes as the western province of Alberta unveiled plans to fully reopen on July 1, lifting virtually all remaining public health restrictions, after 70% of eligible Albertans received their first vaccination dose. The travel ban does not affect trade in goods but Statistics Canada said total exports of services in 2020 compared with 2019 fell by 17.7% and imports of services plunged by 24.0%, in part due to the border restrictions. Travel and transportation services were particularly hard hit. "The inability of the US and Canadian governments to reach an agreement on alleviating border restrictions ... is simply unacceptable," said US Representatives Brian Higgins and Bill Huizenga, co-chairs of the Canada-US Interparliamentary Group. The United States is Canada's largest trading partner. Harley Finkelstein, president of Canadian e-commerce company Shopify Inc, tweeted that the extended border closure was the wrong decision. "We need to open the border for fully vaccinated travellers immediately," he wrote. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce - a national group that advocates for businesses - lamented what it said was Ottawa's excessive caution. "All of the science would say we should be moving ahead to reopen the border. We don't even have a plan at this point," said Perrin Beatty, the group's president and chief executive. Ottawa will reveal on Monday how it plans to start easing measures for fully vaccinated Canadians. (With inputs from agencies)

Businesses, US legislators fume as Canada extends travel ban; Trudeau stands firm

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday nominated first judge of colour to country's Supreme Court. Canada's Supreme Court has only ever had white justices in it 146 years of existence.

Prime Minister Trudeau has nominated Mahmud Jamal to the Supreme Court. Jamal has been a judge on Ontario's court of appeal since 2019. He trained as a lawyer and appeared before Supreme Court in 35 appeals addressing a range of civil, constitutional, criminal and regulatory issues.

"He'll be a valuable asset to the Supreme Court - and that's why, today, I'm announcing his historic nomination to our country's highest court," Trudeau said on Twitter.

Trudeau has frequently said there is a need to address systemic racism in Canada.

Jamal was born in 1967 in Nairobi, he emigrated with his family to Britain &nbsp;in 1969 where he said he was "taunted and harassed because of my name, religion, or the color of my skin."

<img alt="Jamal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e25e2ff8-99a9-41b5-a46e-b5066a419100" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2021-06-18T142549Z_1_LYNXNPEH5H0UY_RTROPTP_3_CANADA-POLITICS-JUDGE.JPG" />

In 1981 the family moved to Canada, where his "experiences exposed me to some of the challenges and aspirations of immigrants, religious minorities, and racialized persons," he said in a document submitted to support his candidacy.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-discovery-of-childrens-remains-canada-announces-search-for-unmarked-indigenous-graves-391735">After discovery of children's remains, Canada announces search for unmarked indigenous graves</a>

Canada is a multicultural country, with more than 22% of the population comprised of minorities and another 5% aboriginal, according to the latest census.

"We know people are facing systemic discrimination, unconscious bias and anti-black racism every single day," Trudeau said last year.

Jamal will replace Justice Rosalie Abella, who is due to retire from the nine-person court on July 1.

(With inputs from agencies)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday nominated first judge of colour to country's Supreme Court. Canada's Supreme Court has only ever had white justices in it 146 years of existence.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday nominated first judge of colour to country's Supreme Court. Canada's Supreme Court has only ever had white justices in it 146 years of existence. Prime Minister Trudeau has nominated Mahmud Jamal to the Supreme Court. Jamal has been a judge on Ontario's court of appeal since 2019. He trained as a lawyer and appeared before Supreme Court in 35 appeals addressing a range of civil, constitutional, criminal and regulatory issues. "He'll be a valuable asset to the Supreme Court - and that's why, today, I'm announcing his historic nomination to our country's highest court," Trudeau said on Twitter. Trudeau has frequently said there is a need to address systemic racism in Canada. Jamal was born in 1967 in Nairobi, he emigrated with his family to Britain in 1969 where he said he was "taunted and harassed because of my name, religion, or the color of my skin." In 1981 the family moved to Canada, where his "experiences exposed me to some of the challenges and aspirations of immigrants, religious minorities, and racialized persons," he said in a document submitted to support his candidacy. Also Read | After discovery of children's remains, Canada announces search for unmarked indigenous graves Canada is a multicultural country, with more than 22% of the population comprised of minorities and another 5% aboriginal, according to the latest census. "We know people are facing systemic discrimination, unconscious bias and anti-black racism every single day," Trudeau said last year. Jamal will replace Justice Rosalie Abella, who is due to retire from the nine-person court on July 1. (With inputs from agencies)

Canadian PM Trudeau nominates first judge of colour to Supreme Court

Pakistan's Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed lashed out at the Sindh government over unauthorised constructions and encroachments on public spaces and said that the provincial government is being run from Canada. Daily Times reported that while hearing of a case relating to the construction of a tower on Shahrah-e-Faisal, the chief justice remarked that one Younus Memon was running the affairs of provincial government from Canada.

"If you can`t clean a nullah, how can you run a province," asked Chief Justice, irked at the Sindh government for not paying attention to Karachi`s civic issues.

"There is a building control authority, [but you can] give [them] money and do whatever you like. There is no government in Sindh," observed the judge.

The court also asked the advocate general of Sindh what the provincial government will do to ensure these practice are kept in check. The top judge said that a parliamentary form of government is a strong one but reiterated that when such was the state of affairs that a provincial government cannot clean a nullah (watercourse), how will it run an entire province.

"We gave the orders to clean the nullah over a year ago yet there seems to be a new excuse every day," he said.The chief justice spoke about the city`s main artery, Shahrah-e-Faisal, saying that it has never declined in width but has only grown.

"The service roads on both sides have encroached, it further reported.Justice Gulzar noted and said Rs 2.6 trillion were allocated for an education project that was started in 2014 and was finished in 2017. He also observed that Rs 1.5 trillion have been set aside for reverse osmosis plants yet people in Tharparkar are dying of thirst.He said authorities should decide what to do about the city`s civic issues and added that when authorities pass budgets, they allocate funds for themselves, not for the welfare of the people.

He also slammed the railways ministry and secretary of Pakistan Railways over frequent accidents and poor functioning of railways and urged the Prime Minister to take steps to improve the railways and also look into the recent irresponsible statement of the railways minister, who said he was willing to resign if it would cover the losses and casualties in the Ghotki train accident.

The court was hearing civil miscellaneous applications (CMAs) filed against the apex court`s decisions on a petition seeking its intervention to get the amenity plots vacated from `land mafia and political parties` in the city.

Pakistan's Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed lashed out at the Sindh government over unauthorised constructions and encroachments on public spaces and said that the provincial government is being run from Canada.

Pakistan's Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed lashed out at the Sindh government over unauthorised constructions and encroachments on public spaces and said that the provincial government is being run from Canada. Daily Times reported that while hearing of a case relating to the construction of a tower on Shahrah-e-Faisal, the chief justice remarked that one Younus Memon was running the affairs of provincial government from Canada. "If you can`t clean a nullah, how can you run a province," asked Chief Justice, irked at the Sindh government for not paying attention to Karachi`s civic issues. "There is a building control authority, [but you can] give [them] money and do whatever you like. There is no government in Sindh," observed the judge. The court also asked the advocate general of Sindh what the provincial government will do to ensure these practice are kept in check. The top judge said that a parliamentary form of government is a strong one but reiterated that when such was the state of affairs that a provincial government cannot clean a nullah (watercourse), how will it run an entire province. "We gave the orders to clean the nullah over a year ago yet there seems to be a new excuse every day," he said.The chief justice spoke about the city`s main artery, Shahrah-e-Faisal, saying that it has never declined in width but has only grown. "The service roads on both sides have encroached, it further reported.Justice Gulzar noted and said Rs 2.6 trillion were allocated for an education project that was started in 2014 and was finished in 2017. He also observed that Rs 1.5 trillion have been set aside for reverse osmosis plants yet people in Tharparkar are dying of thirst.He said authorities should decide what to do about the city`s civic issues and added that when authorities pass budgets, they allocate funds for themselves, not for the welfare of the people. He also slammed the railways ministry and secretary of Pakistan Railways over frequent accidents and poor functioning of railways and urged the Prime Minister to take steps to improve the railways and also look into the recent irresponsible statement of the railways minister, who said he was willing to resign if it would cover the losses and casualties in the Ghotki train accident. The court was hearing civil miscellaneous applications (CMAs) filed against the apex court`s decisions on a petition seeking its intervention to get the amenity plots vacated from `land mafia and political parties` in the city.

Pakistan's Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed says Sindh govt being run from Canada

US&nbsp;and Canadian officials are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss how to eventually lift pandemic-related border restrictions between the two countries, but no immediate action is expected, media reports said citing sources briefed on the matter. 
 
US&nbsp;and Canadian business leaders have voiced increasing concern about the ban on non-essential travel at land borders because of COVID-19 that was imposed in March 2020 and has been renewed on a monthly basis since. The measures, which also apply to the US-Mexico border, do not affect trade or other essential travel. 
 
The current restrictions are set to expire on June 21, but US&nbsp;and industry officials expect they will be extended again. 
 
On June 8, it was&nbsp;reported that the Biden administration was forming expert working groups with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and the United Kingdom to determine how best to safely restart travel after 15 months of pandemic restrictions. 
 
A meeting is expected to occur with Mexico later this week and meetings with the United Kingdom and EU are currently set for next week, but the timing could still shift, three people briefed on the meetings said. 
 
US&nbsp;restrictions prevent most non-US&nbsp;citizens, who have been in the United Kingdom, the 26 Schengen nations in Europe without border controls, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil within the last 14 days from traveling to the United States. 
 
It was previously reported that US&nbsp;and airline officials do not think US&nbsp;restrictions will be lifted until around July 4 at the earliest. 
 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday, he has spoken with US&nbsp;President Joe Biden about how to lift the restrictions, but made clear no breakthrough has been achieved. 
 
Two officials said the working groups are each expected to meet twice a month. 
 
Canada last week took a cautious first step, saying it was prepared to relax quarantine protocols for fully vaccinated citizens returning home starting in early July. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

US and Canadian officials are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss how to eventually lift pandemic-related border restrictions between the two countries, but no immediate action is expected, media reports said citing sources briefed on the matter.

US and Canadian officials are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss how to eventually lift pandemic-related border restrictions between the two countries, but no immediate action is expected, media reports said citing sources briefed on the matter. US and Canadian business leaders have voiced increasing concern about the ban on non-essential travel at land borders because of COVID-19 that was imposed in March 2020 and has been renewed on a monthly basis since. The measures, which also apply to the US-Mexico border, do not affect trade or other essential travel. The current restrictions are set to expire on June 21, but US and industry officials expect they will be extended again. On June 8, it was reported that the Biden administration was forming expert working groups with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and the United Kingdom to determine how best to safely restart travel after 15 months of pandemic restrictions. A meeting is expected to occur with Mexico later this week and meetings with the United Kingdom and EU are currently set for next week, but the timing could still shift, three people briefed on the meetings said. US restrictions prevent most non-US citizens, who have been in the United Kingdom, the 26 Schengen nations in Europe without border controls, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil within the last 14 days from traveling to the United States. It was previously reported that US and airline officials do not think US restrictions will be lifted until around July 4 at the earliest. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday, he has spoken with US President Joe Biden about how to lift the restrictions, but made clear no breakthrough has been achieved. Two officials said the working groups are each expected to meet twice a month. Canada last week took a cautious first step, saying it was prepared to relax quarantine protocols for fully vaccinated citizens returning home starting in early July. (With inputs from agencies)

US, Canada set to discuss lifting of border restrictions: Report

Ontario announced Tuesday Can$10 million (US$8 million) to search for and look after unmarked graves of indigenous residential school students in the Canadian province, after burials were discovered elsewhere in the country.

"Like all Ontarians, I was heartbroken by the tragic news that a burial site was found at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia," Ontario Premier Doug Ford told a news conference.

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"We grieve for the 215 children that lost their lives (in Kamloops), as well as their families and the communities that they were taken from," Ford said.

"This is a moment to recognize the painful legacy of Canada's residential school system, and of the damaging lasting effects it has had on survivors and indigenous communities."

The discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former residential school in&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;has reopened wounds for survivors of the system, they said, as the government pledged to spend previously promised money to search for more unmarked&nbsp;graves.

The Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc indigenous nation in British Columbia announced last week it had found the remains of 215 children, some as young as three, buried at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, once&nbsp;Canada's largest such school.

Between 1831 and 1996,&nbsp;Canada's residential school system forcibly separated about 150,000 children from their homes and subjected them to abuse, rape and malnutrition at schools across the country in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 called "cultural genocide."

Run by the government and church groups, the schools' stated aim was to assimilate indigenous children.

Amid growing outrage, the federal government said on Wednesday it will urgently disburse money promised two years ago to indigenous communities that want to search former school sites for the remains of children.

A truth and reconciliation commission has identified 17 former residential schools in Ontario, and 12 possible unmarked burial sites.

The British Columbia coroner is working with the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc tribe to identify the remains and causes of deaths of the 215 pupils at the Kamloops school, while pressure is mounting on the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who ran the school on behalf of the federal government to release their records.

Searches have also turned up more unmarked student gravesites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces.

In 2019, the government promised C$33.8 million ($28.1 million) over three years to support, among other things, locating the bodies of children who attended the schools. Of that, C$27.1 million has yet to be spent.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ontario announced Tuesday Can$10 million (US$8 million) to search for and look after unmarked graves of indigenous residential school students in the Canadian province, after burials were discovered elsewhere in the country.

Ontario announced Tuesday Can$10 million (US$8 million) to search for and look after unmarked graves of indigenous residential school students in the Canadian province, after burials were discovered elsewhere in the country. "Like all Ontarians, I was heartbroken by the tragic news that a burial site was found at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia," Ontario Premier Doug Ford told a news conference. "We grieve for the 215 children that lost their lives (in Kamloops), as well as their families and the communities that they were taken from," Ford said. "This is a moment to recognize the painful legacy of Canada's residential school system, and of the damaging lasting effects it has had on survivors and indigenous communities." The discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former residential school in Canada has reopened wounds for survivors of the system, they said, as the government pledged to spend previously promised money to search for more unmarked graves. The Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc indigenous nation in British Columbia announced last week it had found the remains of 215 children, some as young as three, buried at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, once Canada's largest such school. Between 1831 and 1996, Canada's residential school system forcibly separated about 150,000 children from their homes and subjected them to abuse, rape and malnutrition at schools across the country in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 called "cultural genocide." Run by the government and church groups, the schools' stated aim was to assimilate indigenous children. Amid growing outrage, the federal government said on Wednesday it will urgently disburse money promised two years ago to indigenous communities that want to search former school sites for the remains of children. A truth and reconciliation commission has identified 17 former residential schools in Ontario, and 12 possible unmarked burial sites. The British Columbia coroner is working with the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc tribe to identify the remains and causes of deaths of the 215 pupils at the Kamloops school, while pressure is mounting on the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who ran the school on behalf of the federal government to release their records. Searches have also turned up more unmarked student gravesites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces. In 2019, the government promised C$33.8 million ($28.1 million) over three years to support, among other things, locating the bodies of children who attended the schools. Of that, C$27.1 million has yet to be spent. (With inputs from agencies)

After discovery of children's remains, Canada announces search for unmarked indigenous graves

Veltman is accused of deliberately hitting five members of the Afzaal family with a pick-up truck while they were out for an evening walk on June 6.

Canada: Man faces terrorism charges in attack on Muslim family

Several hundred mourners joined a public funeral service on Saturday to bid farewell to a Canadian Muslim family run over and killed by a man in a pick-up truck on last Sunday in an attack the police said was driven by hate. 
 
The hour-long ceremony started after the four coffins draped in Canadian flags rolled into the compound of the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario, and ended with prayers and condolences offered by religious and community leaders. 
 
The four victims, spanning three generations, were killed when Nathaniel Veltman, 20, ran into them while they were out for an evening walk near their home in London, Ontario. A fifth family member, a nine-year-old boy, is recovering from his injuries in the hospital. 
 
Police have said the attack was premeditated and allege the family was targeted because of their Islamic faith. 
 
The funeral procession later proceeded for a private burial. 
 
"And the very fact their coffins are draped in the beautiful Canadian flag is an apt testimony of the fact that the entire Canadian nation stands with them," Raza Bashir Tarar High Commissioner for Pakistan to Canada told the gathering. 
 
The family moved to Canada from Pakistan some 14 years ago. 
 
The attack sparked outrage across Canada, with politicians from all sides condemning the crime, spurring growing calls to take action to curb hate crime and Islamophobia. The city of London, 200 km (120 miles) southwest of Toronto, has seen an outpouring of support in the aftermath of the attack. 
 
That has given some hope to the grieving community to look beyond the tragedy. 
 
"Irrespective of colour and creed, the expressions of raw emotion, the prayers, the quiet tears, the messages of comfort from people we know and from people that are complete strangers, it has been the first step towards finding a way to heal," Ali Islam, maternal uncle of Madiha Salman, one of the victims, told the gathering. 
 
Veltman, who returns to court on Monday, faces four charges of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder. 
 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the killings a 'terrorist attack' and vowed to clamp down on far-right groups and online hate. 
 
"I think we're emotionally exhausted," Imam Aarij Anwer told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp before the ceremony. "We're looking forward to having some closure on Saturday." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Several hundred mourners joined a public funeral service on Saturday to bid farewell to a Canadian Muslim family run over and killed by a man in a pick-up truck on last Sunday in an attack the police said was driven by hate.

Several hundred mourners joined a public funeral service on Saturday to bid farewell to a Canadian Muslim family run over and killed by a man in a pick-up truck on last Sunday in an attack the police said was driven by hate. The hour-long ceremony started after the four coffins draped in Canadian flags rolled into the compound of the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario, and ended with prayers and condolences offered by religious and community leaders. The four victims, spanning three generations, were killed when Nathaniel Veltman, 20, ran into them while they were out for an evening walk near their home in London, Ontario. A fifth family member, a nine-year-old boy, is recovering from his injuries in the hospital. Police have said the attack was premeditated and allege the family was targeted because of their Islamic faith. The funeral procession later proceeded for a private burial. "And the very fact their coffins are draped in the beautiful Canadian flag is an apt testimony of the fact that the entire Canadian nation stands with them," Raza Bashir Tarar High Commissioner for Pakistan to Canada told the gathering. The family moved to Canada from Pakistan some 14 years ago. The attack sparked outrage across Canada, with politicians from all sides condemning the crime, spurring growing calls to take action to curb hate crime and Islamophobia. The city of London, 200 km (120 miles) southwest of Toronto, has seen an outpouring of support in the aftermath of the attack. That has given some hope to the grieving community to look beyond the tragedy. "Irrespective of colour and creed, the expressions of raw emotion, the prayers, the quiet tears, the messages of comfort from people we know and from people that are complete strangers, it has been the first step towards finding a way to heal," Ali Islam, maternal uncle of Madiha Salman, one of the victims, told the gathering. Veltman, who returns to court on Monday, faces four charges of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the killings a 'terrorist attack' and vowed to clamp down on far-right groups and online hate. "I think we're emotionally exhausted," Imam Aarij Anwer told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp before the ceremony. "We're looking forward to having some closure on Saturday." (With inputs from agencies)

Muslim victims of truck attack given farewell with coffins draped in Canadian flags

Mass grave of 215 indigenous children found in Canada. Pope expresses 'sorrow', does not apologise for Catholic Church's heinous crime. Canada is guilty of cultural genocide against Indigenous peoples. We bring you heart-wrenching stories of survivors on WION Wideangle.

Canada's Cultural Genocide | WION Wideangle

The provincial capital of Canada's British Columbia has decided to cancel a virtual celebration of the national Canada Day holiday on July 1 after the discovery of unmarked graves of children at a now-defunct indigenous boarding school. 
 
The city council of Victoria voted on Thursday instead to air programming led by the local indigenous nation at a later date. Local indigenous leaders, who usually participate in Canada Day ceremonies declined after remains of 215 children were found at the former school in Kamloops, northern British Columbia. 
 
"They're grief-struck and reeling, as are many indigenous people across the country," Lisa Helps, mayor of Victoria, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday. 
 
Victoria will 'produce a broadcast to air later this summer guided by the Lekwungen people and featuring local artists, that explores what it means to be Canadian, in light of recent events," she said. 
 
The Songhees Nation, of which the Lekwungen people are members, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(With inputs from agencies)

The provincial capital of Canada's British Columbia has decided to cancel a virtual celebration of the national Canada Day holiday on July 1 after the discovery of unmarked graves of children at a now-defunct indigenous boarding school.

The provincial capital of Canada's British Columbia has decided to cancel a virtual celebration of the national Canada Day holiday on July 1 after the discovery of unmarked graves of children at a now-defunct indigenous boarding school. The city council of Victoria voted on Thursday instead to air programming led by the local indigenous nation at a later date. Local indigenous leaders, who usually participate in Canada Day ceremonies declined after remains of 215 children were found at the former school in Kamloops, northern British Columbia. "They're grief-struck and reeling, as are many indigenous people across the country," Lisa Helps, mayor of Victoria, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday. Victoria will 'produce a broadcast to air later this summer guided by the Lekwungen people and featuring local artists, that explores what it means to be Canadian, in light of recent events," she said. The Songhees Nation, of which the Lekwungen people are members, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada's Victoria cancels national day celebration after discovery of unmarked burial site

Thousands of people marched on Friday in support of a Canadian Muslim family run over and killed by a man driving a pick-up truck on last Sunday in an attack the police described as a hate crime. 
 
The four victims, spanning three generations, were killed when Nathaniel Veltman, 20, ran into them while they were out for an evening walk near their home. A fifth family member, a 9-year-old boy, survived. 
 
People in London, Ontario marched about 7 kilometers (4.4 miles) from the spot where the family was struck down to a nearby mosque, the site close to where Veltman was arrested by police. 
 
Some carried placards with messages reading 'Hate has no home here', 'Love over hate'.&nbsp;Similar events were held in other cities in Ontario, Canada's most populous province. 
 
"The best part was not just the numbers ... but the diversity of the people coming from every single community in London, coming together for this cause," said 19-year-old college student Abdullah Al Jarad at the march. 
 
The attack sparked outrage across Canada, with politicians from all sides condemning the crime, spurring growing calls to take action to curb hate crime and Islamophobia. 
 
Veltman made a brief court appearance on Thursday and will return to court on Monday. He faces four charges of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder. 
 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the killings a 'terrorist attack' and vowed to clamp down on far-right groups and online hate. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of people marched on Friday in support of a Canadian Muslim family run over and killed by a man driving a pick-up truck on last Sunday in an attack the police described as a hate crime.

Thousands of people marched on Friday in support of a Canadian Muslim family run over and killed by a man driving a pick-up truck on last Sunday in an attack the police described as a hate crime. The four victims, spanning three generations, were killed when Nathaniel Veltman, 20, ran into them while they were out for an evening walk near their home. A fifth family member, a 9-year-old boy, survived. People in London, Ontario marched about 7 kilometers (4.4 miles) from the spot where the family was struck down to a nearby mosque, the site close to where Veltman was arrested by police. Some carried placards with messages reading 'Hate has no home here', 'Love over hate'. Similar events were held in other cities in Ontario, Canada's most populous province. "The best part was not just the numbers ... but the diversity of the people coming from every single community in London, coming together for this cause," said 19-year-old college student Abdullah Al Jarad at the march. The attack sparked outrage across Canada, with politicians from all sides condemning the crime, spurring growing calls to take action to curb hate crime and Islamophobia. Veltman made a brief court appearance on Thursday and will return to court on Monday. He faces four charges of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the killings a 'terrorist attack' and vowed to clamp down on far-right groups and online hate. (With inputs from agencies)

Thousands march in support of Muslim family killed in truck attack in Canada

G7 leaders are on Saturday set to agree on a joint declaration aimed at preventing another pandemic, as they resume wide-ranging talks at their first in-person summit in almost two years.

G7 leaders are on Saturday set to agree on a joint declaration aimed at preventing another pandemic, as they resume wide-ranging talks at their first in-person summit in almost two years. The group of leading economies -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States -- will also try to showcase Western democratic cohesion against a resurgent China and recalcitrant Russia. They will be joined by the leaders of Australia, South Africa, and South Korea, along with India taking part remotely, as the agenda broadens to foreign policy issues and climate change. The G7 is meeting face to face for the first time since 2019, at a beachside venue in Cornwall, southwest England, after the coronavirus led to the cancellation of last year's summit. The leaders opened the three-day summit Friday with expectations of a pledge to donate one billion vaccine doses to poor countries this year and next -- much too slow to end the crisis now, campaigners said. US President Joe Biden arrived with a message of solidarity and resolve in stark contrast to the isolationist stance of his predecessor Donald Trump. After the traditional family photo and an opening session on "building back better" from Covid-19, the leaders spent the evening at a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Cornwall's Eden Project. A renowned attraction showcasing the world's ecological riches, the site also hosted a G7 meeting with Prince Charles and 10 international business leaders to discuss ramping up sustainable growth. The G7 this weekend will also tackle climate change, and safeguarding global biodiversity, to lay the groundwork for the UN's pivotal COP26 environmental summit in Scotland in November. The leaders are debating a pledge to protect at least 30 percent of the world's land and oceans by 2030. Shared threats On Saturday's foreign policy agenda, this year's coup in Myanmar and crackdown on pro-democracy supporters in Belarus are expected to figure, alongside tensions with Russia and China. Most of the leaders will reconvene on Monday in Brussels for a NATO meeting, before Biden heads on to his first summit with President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, vowing to deliver a blunt message about Russian behavior. "I'll tell you (about it) after I've delivered it," Biden told reporters Friday. The G7 is expected to finalize the "Carbis Bay Declaration" comprising a series of commitments to prevent a repeat of the devastation wreaked by the coronavirus. "For the first time today, the world's leading democracies have come together to make sure that never again will we be caught unawares," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in remarks released ahead of the summit's second day. "That means learning lessons from the last 18 months and doing it differently next time around." Pandemic radar The declaration will be published Sunday alongside the G7's final communique, following a beachside barbecue on Saturday night. The collective steps include slashing the time taken to develop and license vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics for any future disease to under 100 days while reinforcing global surveillance networks. The leaders will vow to boost genomic sequencing capacity, and support reforms to strengthen the World Health Organization (WHO), according to Johnson's government, which like the US wants China to allow new access to WHO experts to determine how Covid-19 first emerged. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, criticized in some quarters for being too accommodating of China, welcomed the health pact. And he said the UN agency would examine a British proposal to create a "Global Pandemic Radar" to send early warnings of future outbreaks. "The world needs a stronger global surveillance system to detect new epidemic and pandemic risks," Tedros said. The G7 leaders are also expected to outline more help for developing nations to build up infrastructure, as a counterpoint to the debt-fuelled spending by China in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

G7 leaders agree on a joint declaration to stop future pandemics

Canada’s TC Energy has terminated the $9 billion Keystone XL pipeline project, months after U.S. President Joe Biden revoked a key permit in a blow to Canada’s oil sector.

Developer officially terminates Keystone XL pipeline project after Biden blocks permit

4 members of a Pakistani-origin Muslim family were killed and one was left injured after a pickup truck targeted them in an attack motivated by hate. The Canadian police called it a 'premeditated' attack.

Pakistani-origin Muslim family of 4 killed in 'premeditated' truck attack in Canada

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