Volume 17 Issue #11 November 2023 |
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Keeping Canada’s Interest First and Foremost in our Hearts |
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Hello friends,
As most of you already know, there is a new leadership team at CIF. Change is a constant in a dynamic process, and in an organization like CIF, it is also an agent for reenergizing and rejuvenation. The new Board has been tasked with the big responsibility of continuing the work so efficiently carried on by a very talented and dedicated leadership for the past 16 years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my immediate predecessor, Satish Thakkar and his fellow Board members for their exemplary work on the Canada-India file. I also want to name the other past Chairs of CIF, Surjit Babra, Ramesh Chotai, Barj Dhahan, Lucky Lakshmanan, Ajit Someshwar and Anil Shah and thank them and their team for building a strong foundation for CIF. They leave us big shoes to fill, but we will give all we have to live up to your expectations.
There is a saying which I really like - Don’t just change, transform. Human beings are wired for transformation. Our most extraordinary quality as a species is the ability to learn and adapt to nearly any situation. Our brains search for patterns, anticipate threats, and problem-solve so we can thrive wherever we find ourselves. It is what enables us to live in extreme cold and extreme heat, to make miraculous advances in technology to better ourselves continuously, and to ponder the meaning of our existence. This is our time as a community, society and as a country to transform ourselves.
But it all starts with “I.” Individual transformation is an internal shift that brings us in alignment with our highest potential. It is at the heart of every major aspect of our lives. It affects how we see and relate to the world and how we understand our place in it. It is time we all start thinking about what we are giving to this beautiful country Canada we call home and what goodwill and goodness we are carrying from back home. In my tenure, I would love to reach out to each one of you in this transformational shift and making sure we grow together. Together we will wear our heart on our sleeves – “Canada First.” (Read more)
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CIF Presents $50,000 Cheque to The Fields Institute, Toronto |
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Toronto, Nov. 16, 2023: Following the announcement made during the recent CIF Global Indian Award gala, Canada India Foundation presented a cheque of $50,000 (fifty thousand) to The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. Fields Institute is an independent non-profit with ties to twenty Ontario universities including the University of Toronto where it is located.
Ritesh Malik, Chair of CIF, presented the cheque to Dr. V. Kumar Murty in the presence of noted academicians and Award Sponsors. Malik said, “This is a unique honour for us to be associated with one of the world’s foremost research institutes. We thank Ms. Sudha Murty for making this happen. Her choice of Fields Institute fits so perfectly with her long-standing campaign to strengthen girls’ education and empowerment.”
Satish Thakkar, Immediate Past Chair CIF said that “The endowment created in the name of CIF-Sudha Murty will offer financial aid to deserving girl students from India or Indo Canadian community who wish to pursue research in mathematics or related fields”. Sudha Murty, Founder of Infosys Foundation and a humanitarian, was the recipient of the 2023 CIF Global Indian award. Ms. Murty had expressed her wish to donate the entire sum to The Fields Institute. Ms. Murty has often talked about her own early struggles as a pioneering engineering student in India and pointed to the need for incentivizing STEM studies for girls. (Read more)
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Diwali Celebrations at Parliament Hill |
08 November 2023 (Ottawa): Canada India Foundation partnered with Overseas Friends of India Canada for the Diwali Celebrations at the Parliament Hill on 8 November 2023. CIF Chair Mr. Satish Thakkar in his remarks said that “CIF is supporting this event since it was started by Late Hon. Deepak Obhrai, Member of Parliament, Calgary.” A number of other member of parliaments were also participated in the celebrations. Chief Guest of the Event Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Official opposition appreciated the Hindu Community as hard working, intellectual and peaceful. He also congratulated the Indo Canadian community on the eve of Diwali. |
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Meeting with MP Marie – France Lalonde |
08 November 2023 (Ottawa):
CIF Delegation held meeting with Ms. Marie – France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, Government of Canada. She was delighted to know the CIF work. She said that India is a major player in the Canada’s Indo Pacific Strategy. Canada will continue its efforts to build trade and commerce relations with India.
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Meeting with Dr. Stephen Ellis, MP Nova Scotia |
08 Nov 2023: CIF Delegation held meeting with Dr. Stephen Ellis, Vice Chair of Standing Committee on Health. CIF briefed him of its efforts for the promotion of the Traditional Indian Health System Ayurveda along with Modern System. He appreciated the CIF work in this sector and said that he is keen to know more about the traditional medicines. CIF also gave him a concept note on the Ayurveda. |
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Meeting with Senator Hon. Leo Housakos, Hon. Michael MacDonald & MP Anna Roberts |
08 Nov 2023: CIF members met The Honourable Leo Housakos, Senator Quebec, Hon. Michael L. MacDonald, Senator – Nova Scotia and Member of Parliament Ms. Anna Roberts, Vaughan at the Parliament Building, Ottawa. Senator Housakos appreciated the CIF work in the challenging phase of Canada India relations. He said that both democracies with having strong people to people contacts will find solutions to their challenges soon. |
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Meeting with Indian High Commissioner H.E. Sanjay Verma |
08 Nov 2023: CIF members met H.E. Sanjay Verma, High Commissioner of India in Canada. CIF briefed his Excellency about the various initiatives taken by the foundation for re-building the relations between Canada and India. High commissioner Verma was also very positive on the latest developments between the two countries and hoped that trade and business will continue between the two countries. He was also very hopeful of looking forward to the stalled trade negotiation to get restarted sooner than later. |
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Diwali Celebrations - MP Chandra Arya |
05 Nov 2023: Mr. Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament hosted Diwali on parliament hill, Ottawa. He also raised the flag of Hindu sacred symbol Om on parliament hill. The event was supported by 67 Hindu and Indo-Canadian organizations across Canada. CIF Chair Mr. Satish Thakkar and National Convener Mr. Ritesh Malik attended the Diwali celebrations. |
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India restores e-visa services for Canadian nationals |
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India restored electronic visa services for Canadian nationals, an Indian foreign ministry official said Wednesday, two months after Canada alleged the South Asian nation was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The electronic visa was back in order on Wednesday, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to reporters. (Read more)
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India US 2+2 Dialogue Emphasizes Wide-ranging Partnership |
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At the recently concluded India-US 2+2 dialogue held in India, the US Representative, Tony Blinken and his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar discussed multiple partnerships in trade and investment, technology, and critical and emerging technologies. “There is one thing we learnt over the recent decades. When Indians and Americans study together, work together, and collaborate together, the possibilities for progress are infinite,” Blinken said (Read more)
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UK Designates India as ‘Safe State’ |
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The UK has introduced legislation that would designate India as a ‘safe state’. This would help UK authorities to reject baseless refugee claims from Indians and expedite their removal from the country. (Read more.)
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Virat Kohli Breaks Tendulkar’s All-time Record |
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Virat Kohli continued his record-breaking run in the Cricket World Cup 2023 edition in the semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Earlier, Kohli had equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI hundreds during his match-winning hundred against South Africa. (Read more.)
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Elon Musk Has a Son Named Chandrasekhar |
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Elon Musk has a ‘Chandrasekhar’ in his family. That is the middle name of his son from Canadian venture capitalist Shivon Alice Zilis. Musk named him as a homage to the renowned astrophysicist, late Professor S. Chandrasekhar, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1983. (Read more.)
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Record Number of Immigrants Are Leaving Canada |
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Between 2017 and 2019, a record number of immigrants left Canada seeking better opportunities elsewhere, according to a study by Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada. The study found that positive early experiences may be key to encouraging immigrants to stay and urged the federal government to make retaining newcomers a top priority. (Read more.)
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UK, India Reach Final Stages of FTA Negotiation |
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The UK-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations have reached final stages. Launched in January 2022, the process is expected to be completed by Diwali 2024. There are 26 chapters in the agreement, which include goods, services, investments and intellectual property rights. An investment treaty is also being negotiated as a separate agreement between India and the UK. (Read more.)
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Indian Billionaire’s AI Ambition |
An Indian billionaire might be the latest to join the world-wide race to develop and dominate the realm of Artificial Intelligence. Binny Bansal, who co-founded Flipkart, later sold to Walmart for US$16 billion, is reportedly working in stealth mode in Bengaluru to realize his ambition. (Read more.)
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Saudi Arabia Explores Investment in India’s Cricket League |
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Recent reports indicate that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is exploring the possibility of investing in Indian Premier League at a valuation of US$30 billion. IPL’s popularity has grown year over year as bidders last year pumped in US$6.2 billion for the right to telecast the tournaments. (Read more.)
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US Aviation Start-up to Offer Air-Taxis in India |
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US Company, Archer Aviation, has partnered with InterGlobe to start air-taxi operations in India by 2026. This will be their second venture abroad, after UAE. (Read more.)
sport with an estimated 2.5 billion fans worldwide." (Read more.)
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CIF Member Dr. Khurana gets IIT Alumni Award |
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CIF Board of Governor Member Dr. Indira Khurana awarded with "Distinguished Alumnus Award” by Indian Institutes of Technology Alumni Association (IITAC), at their Annual Gala on 28th August 2023 at the Hotel Radisson, Toronto Airport West, Mississauga.
Indira Khurana, Doctor of Integrative Medicine is the President and CEO of Laser Cosmetics and Pain Treatment Clinics located in the GTA, serving the community for over 20 years specializing in Pain, Addiction and Dermatological conditions.
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CIF Proud to partner with Canadian Blood Services |
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Canada India Foundation has partnered with Canadian Blood Services to help make a difference for patients in Canada. Join our team and help save lives.
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Sunita Vyas
National Convener
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Chetan Handa
National Co-convener
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Canada India Foundation
2939 Portland Drive, Suite #300
Oakville ON L6H 5S4, Ph: 289-291-0277
E-mail: info@canadaindiafoundation.com
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Disclaimer: This monthly e-newsletter is produced by the Canada India Foundation (CIF), a registered not-for-profit organisation with an aim to provide meaningful communication between its own board of governors and with a larger audience of policy makers and industry leaders. Views expressed by writers are their own and the CIF does not necessarily agree with them. We do not claim to provide any advice on any subject. Similarly, we are not liable for any misrepresentation or misleading claims made by an advertiser. Content provided in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. |
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