Sikh-Edmontonians highlight human rights concerns over India's Punjab crackdown
Protesters gather in front of Alberta's legislature raising awareness about human rights abuses in India's Punjab state (CTV News Edmonton/John Hanson).
Some members of Edmonton's Sikh community hosted a car rally through the city and then a march to the legislature grounds Saturday to raise awareness about human rights violations in India.
Motorists gathered at Mill Woods Town Centre and travelled west on 23 Avenue to Gateway Boulevard, where they proceeded north towards Kinsmen. From there, the demonstrators marched to the legislature holding signs and flags demanding action from the Indian government within the state of Punjab.
Last month, authorities there restricted communications and the size of gatherings as the search for Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh continues. According to international media reports, he recently led a violent storming of a police station.
"We are here because of the human rights violations happening in the Punjab," said organizer Gurnoor Singh. "We are here protesting to actually tell them what human rights are and what they are violating.
"Imagine in Alberta, Wifi gets cut, and there's no voice around the world to hear it," Singh added. "Everyone has rights."
Last Monday, Tim Uppal Edmonton Mill Woods MP, was one of several parliamentarians across party lines who voiced concerns about the Indian government's actions.
"As Canadian members of Parliament, we're trying to ensure that there is some safety for Canadians who are visiting there," Uppal said, who is also the deputy Conservative leader.
"We raised this as a concern. And the response was quite harsh — a number of threats in there as well, and by people who have a very large following."
Singh said he was proud to use his voice to raise awareness of what is happening to Sikhs in India.
"I'm not suppressed," Singh added. "I have freedom of speech right now. I can talk here."
"If I was in India right now, I would be probably arrested right now."
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'We're going to rebuild': Indigenous communities look to recover from devastating wildfires
The East Prairie Métis Settlement is one of several Indigenous communities that were hard-hit by the recent wildfires in Alberta. As the wildfire season rages on, residents and community officials are looking among the ruins, pondering how they’ll recover from all the losses.
Blue Jays pitcher 'truly sorry' for sharing anti-LGBTQ2S+ video
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Anthony Bass said he is 'truly sorry' for sharing a controversial anti-LGBTQ2S+ video on Instagram.
O'Toole says CSIS told him he was focus of Chinese misinformation, suppression effort
Conservative MP Erin O'Toole says Canada's spy agency has told him he was the target of Chinese interference intended to to discredit him and promote false narratives about his policies while party leader.
Alberta Premier Smith wants to 'reset' federal-provincial relationship while eyeing sovereignty act
Fresh off leading Alberta's United Conservative Party to a majority victory on Monday night, Premier Danielle Smith says she wants to 'reset' her relationship with the federal government, while readying to invoke the province's sovereignty act over emissions targets, if needed.
Low sexual satisfaction linked to memory decline later in life: study
Low sexual satisfaction in middle age could be linked to future memory decline, according to a new study.
New study finds Canadian women are more likely to adhere to social and democratic values than men
New data from the General Social Survey by Statistics Canada examined values across different Canadian demographics and found that Canadian women are more likely to closely adhere to most social and democratic values than Canadian men.
U.S. officer shoots at truck driver near N.B. border crossing
Traffic is back up and running through the border crossing between Woodstock, N.B., and Houlton, Maine, after a security scare Monday.
Human rights activist confirmed to be held in Chinese detention centre: family in Canada
Chinese authorities have confirmed that human rights activist Dong Guangping has been held in a Chinese detention centre since October of last year, according to the man's family in Canada.
Police identify engaged couple shot dead after dispute with landlord near Hamilton
A young couple shot and killed after a dispute with their landlord near Hamilton have been identified by police.
Calgary
-
Orange islands in a blue sea: Why Alberta's urban-rural political divide still exists
The electoral map has been recoloured, but Alberta's rural blue hasn't budged an inch.
-
Two Calgary ridings subject to automatic recounts: Elections Alberta
Calgary-Acadia and Calgary-Glenmore, both previously operated by the United Conservative Party are now painted in NDP orange by razor-thin margins.
-
'Somewhat shocked': Criminal lawyer questions use of force in deadly Calgary police pursuit
A prominent criminal lawyer is questioning the use of force in a deadly police pursuit in Calgary on Monday.
Saskatoon
-
Warman dad left shaken after alleged abduction attempt
A Warman father was left shaken after his daughter informed him of an apparent abduction attempt.
-
'We are stuck here': Saskatoon woman says she can't sell home due to nearby shelter
A Saskatoon homeowner says her proximity to a homeless shelter is the reason her house wouldn’t sell.
-
Saskatoon Bishop backs Catholic schools' stance on 'Rainbow Tent'
Saskatoon’s Roman Catholic diocese is defending the city’s Catholic school administrators in the wake of protests over an internal email that leaked on social media on Thursday.
Regina
-
1 dead following multi-vehicle crash on Highway 13 near Weyburn
A man is dead following a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 13 east of Weyburn.
-
More film options coming for Saskatchewan Science Centre's IMAX theatre
Saskatchewan's Science Centre was host to a giant delivery this week, promising to reinvigorate the province's largest film screen.
-
'It's needed': Hudson Bay hosts Safety Day in honour of late student
On Tuesday, Hudson Bay hosted a safety day in honour of a student who died in a workplace accident in 2014.
Atlantic
-
'For God's sake, stop burning': N.S. premier bans all activity in forests, urges residents to abide by burn ban
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has banned all activity in forests as of Tuesday, and says the wildfire damage is “extensive” and “heartbreaking.”
-
Wildfire, potential ammonia leak forces mandatory evacuation order in Bedford, N.S.
A wildfire is burning in the Hammonds Plains-area near Bedford, N.S.
-
'There is nothing left': 151 Halifax-area homes destroyed by wildfire
A wildfire in northwest Halifax has destroyed more than 150 homes and about 50 other structures, the municipality’s executive director of public safety said Tuesday at a news conference.
Toronto
-
Blue Jays pitcher 'truly sorry' for sharing anti-LGBTQ2S+ video
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Anthony Bass said he is 'truly sorry' for sharing a controversial anti-LGBTQ2S+ video on Instagram.
-
Police identify engaged couple shot dead after dispute with landlord near Hamilton
A young couple shot and killed after a dispute with their landlord near Hamilton have been identified by police.
-
21 deaths now linked to Kenneth Law's lethal products
The number of deaths connected to the products sold by a Mississauga, Ont. man charged with aiding and abetting suicide continues to climb, hitting at least 21 people, according to tracking by CTV News.
Montreal
-
Montreal soccer coach altercation sparks debate about equipping referees with body cameras
A recent altercation at a Montreal soccer game has people wondering whether referees should wear body cameras on the field.
-
Lone tenant in a $400-a-month apartment could hold up major Montreal condo project
Carla White is the only remaining tenant in her building, which is slated to be demolished to make room for a 176-unit condo project. But in order to move forward, the developer must reach an agreement with White -- and she says she won't leave until she's provided with a home that offers the long-term stability she needs to ensure she won't end up back on the streets.
-
Funding cuts put Quebec summer camps in jeopardy this year: ACQ
Some Quebec children may not be able to participate in summer camps this year because of funding cuts to a federal program, says the Quebec Camps Association (ACQ). Almost all summer camps have waitlists because they need more funds to hire more staff, it said Tuesday.
Ottawa
-
Federal government aiming to dispose of half of its office buildings with hybrid work here to stay
The federal government is planning to offload up to half of its office buildings across the country, citing the rise in remote and hybrid work.
-
Shopify faces class action over severance offered to recently laid off staff
A class-action lawsuit alleges Shopify Inc. reneged on a deal it offered some employees who were laid off in a recent round of cuts.
-
Here are the worst roads in Ottawa, according to CAA
Despite efforts from the city of Ottawa to make repairs, Carling Avenue reigns supreme as the worst road in Ottawa, and one of the worst in Ontario.
Kitchener
-
School bus driver killed in crash near Woodstock, Ont. remembered as 'a phenomenal man'
Elementary students are among those mourning the loss of a school bus driver killed in a double fatal crash near Woodstock, Ont.
-
'It’s devastating': Community in mourning after fatal crash in Oxford County
The Township of East-Zorra Tavistock and the surrounding community are in mourning after a fatal crash took the lives of a police officer and a bus driver.
-
Driver crashes through fences, shed and into a building in Kitchener
Waterloo regional police say officers and paramedics responded to a vehicle that drove through multiple Kitchener backyards and came to rest in a building.
Northern Ontario
-
9 active wildfires in northeastern Ontario, highway closed again
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is reporting nine active wildfires in northeastern Ontario on Monday.
-
'Home on native land:' A new push to change O Canada's lyrics
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie hopes the city will support calling on the federal government to change the lyrics of “O Canada.”
-
State of emergency in northern Ontario lakeside community due to rising water levels
Mitch and Donna Bujold moved to their Nellie Lake lot in 2018 for the lakefront view and access to the water, but in recent weeks, it seems the lake has been keen on accessing their property too.
Winnipeg
-
Priest charged in alleged sexual assault of 8-year-old girl on Manitoba First Nation
Manitoba RCMP have arrested a priest from a First Nation community who is accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl, and believe there may be more victims.
-
Tornado warning downgraded in Manitoba region; severe thunderstorm warnings remain
Environment and Climate Change Canada has downgraded a tornado warning for the R.M. of Brokenhead to a severe thunderstorm warning, as several other regions are dealing with severe weather Tuesday afternoon.
-
Man fatally stabbed on Burrows Avenue; homicide unit investigating
A 22-year-old man has died following an early morning stabbing in Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Vancouver
-
Surrey RCMP searching for 2 men who removed ankle monitors
Mounties in Surrey are trying to track down two men who removed their ankle monitors after being released on bail, saying both should be considered "armed and dangerous."
-
Motorcyclist dies after Surrey crash, RCMP say
One person has died after a crash in Surrey Tuesday afternoon, according to authorities.
-
'Group of youth' suspected in arsons at Port Moody sports complex
Police in Port Moody are asking the public for help tracking down "a group of youth" they say deliberately set several fires on an artificial turf field in the city last week.
Vancouver Island
-
Massive superyacht with helicopter pad docks in Victoria
A 62-metre superyacht has made B.C.'s capital its latest port of call.
-
Dozens of firefighters battling out-of-control blaze near Sayward, B.C.
Fifty-five firefighters have descended on the northern Vancouver Island village of Sayward, where an out-of-control wildfire exploded in size Monday night, becoming the largest fire of the season for British Columbia's coastal region.
-
Nanaimo woman, 19, wins U.K. cheese wheel race while unconscious
A young B.C. woman has quite the story to tell, or at least the parts she can remember, after winning a cheese wheel race in England, even after being knocked unconscious.