A citizenship and immigration of Canada application form is shown. (Radio-Canada)
Amy Verma’s business depends solely on the goodwill between India and Canada.
But that relationship has soured since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood in the House of Commons last week and accused the Indian government of being involved in the killing of prominent Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia back in June.
India not only decried the claim, it suspended visa service for Canadians. Canada has issued a travel advisory for India warning of “negative sentiments” toward Canadians and protests.
Verma offers immigration services involving both countries at her Windsor office. Her company is called Earnest Immigration and Citizenship Services Inc.
Verma says she’s seen an immediate impact on her business and fears possible long-term damage.
With tensions running high between the countries, Verma says she’s been forced to halt expanding her business into India — something that’s been in the works for months, and set to take place in October.
“It’s not just that most of us will have a Canadian passport and citizenship … and maybe can get e-visas for travel — but even if we do, we are now questioning ourselves, if this is the right time to go and promote Canada,” questioned Verma. “Certainly not. We just kind of want it to die down a bit and then see what we can do about it.”
Windsor Morning7:35Immigration
The soured relationship between Canada and India continues to impact people living in Windsor. We hear about how it’s impacting local businesses that offer immigration services involving both countries.
Verma spoke with Windsor Morning host Nav Nanwa about her situation and her feelings surrounding the turmoil between India and Canada.
Here is part of that conversation.
When you heard the prime minister’s accusation against India, did you know right then and there that there’d be a fallout impacting you and your business?
Yes, I did. Coming from India, I understood this was diplomacy at its lowest because it’s right or wrong, it’s not for us to decide.
But this was probably not the right time to put it out in the public domain.
Coming from an immigration consultancy, we do immigration services for Canada. My worry was not the temporary restrictions. My worry was the greater concern regarding this sentiment regarding Canada.
Canada being a destination of choice for most Indians, that sentiment is kind of just going south for now.
Amy Verma runs an immigration consultancy office in Windsor, Ont. and was in the process of opening one in India when tensions with Canada mounted. (Amy Verma)
Tell me a bit more about the immediate impact this has had on your immigration service.
We were supposed to travel in the first week of October to open our Indian operations and this brick and mortar space. We were planning for it for months.
My team was travelling from Canada for the inauguration.
We had business meetings set up … we had consultations lined up. The stage was set, employers hired. I had a team hired already on payroll.
We were to be there to inaugurate it and do it in person. And now we’ve had to put that off for an indefinite period of time.
India may be softening its stance on Canadian allegations of assassination
There are signs that India may be softening its stance on the allegations that Indian agents were behind the assassination of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., in June. There have been several instances of Indian officials saying they were open to discussions with Canada, possibly due to pressure from the U.S. and other western governments.
What are you hearing directly from some of those partners that you were dealing with, whether it be the employees that you hired or some of the agencies that you were working with in India?
They’re confused, to say the least.
They don’t want to believe the news … but they have their reasons to worry.
In any business deal, there’s a lot at stake and they cannot put things off indefinitely.
We are receiving reactions of frustration, confusion and just wanting more clarity on what we are really going from here.
It’s just more confusion than clarity at this point.– Amy Verma
Are you hearing from many other immigration companies within the area about similar concerns or similar issues that maybe they’re going through?
Yes, mostly the clients.
They have panicked as well because the day this was announced, I am sure everyone would have faced this in the business. Our phone went crazy. We had phone calls coming in from Vietnam, Philippines, India — we serve all countries … Indian nationals across the globe, not just India.
People were concerned whether this is a threat to Indians, whether this is a threat to a minority group.
It’s just more confusion than clarity at this point.
If you were to be in India right now, would you feel safe?
To be honest, I don’t know, because if someone were to ask me my nationality, then I would be scared because right now I hold a Canadian passport.
But if no one talks about my passport and citizenship, I would be safe.
But I come from a Sikh community, so maybe this rings closer to home, right? I am more scared in terms of where this would go from here. So yes and no. Both what I would say.
WATCH | India may be softening its stance on Canadian allegations of assassination:
Consequences of rising tension with India
India is telling its citizens to exercise caution when travelling to Canada while some Canadian industries worry about the economic fallout from Justin Trudeau’s accusation that the Indian government was behind the killing of a Sikh activist in British Columbia.
And your kids are Canadian citizens. I’m assuming they would have come with you?
Yes.
How are they sort of understanding the situation that’s going on right now?
Yeah, it’s difficult now.
It’s not one of the preferred conversations we want to have at the dining table.
This is a festive season in India. Most people go back home to celebrate with elders, family, extended family.
You find most people going towards India at this time.
Sometimes you don’t want to introduce the problem because it might be too much for their little minds.
They’re Indians by birth, but now Canadian by citizenship.
It’s difficult to go that path with them.
As you wait and see what happens with this situation. Are you pivoting your services in any way based on this waiting game that you’re currently in?
The best we could do, being in the business, was give more information out.
We’re making videos. We are in fact calling our existing clients, letting them know.
Telling them visas are being processed. Canada has not retaliated. Embassies are working, everything’s okay, we are safe. So would you be if you come to Canada.
Just trying to bring more positivity to the whole situation here.
Earnest Immigration and Citizenship Services Inc., is located on Erie Street South in Windsor, Ont. (Amy Verma)
What do you think the long-term implications will be for your business based on the fact that you’ve had to put things on hold?
It’s not very heartening to see what’s happening, but I have a feeling now that long term things would be better because Canada has been a destination of choice for many years now.
In fact, in 2022 we had tripled the number of people coming from India in the last 10 years.
I don’t see this doing permanent damage. But yes, temporary effects are great, but for long-term, I think it’s going to die down. It’s all going to be OK.
Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Tyson Philpot has announced he will be out for the rest of the CFL season.
The Delta, B.C., native posted the news on his Instagram page Thursday.
“To Be Continued. Shoutout my team, the fans of the CFL and the whole city of Montreal! I can’t wait to be back healthy and write this next chapter in 2025,” the statement read.
Philpot, 24, injured his foot in a 33-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Aug. 10 and was placed on the six-game injured list the next week.
The six-foot-one, 195-pound receiver had 58 receptions, 779 yards and five touchdowns in nine games for the league-leading Alouettes in his third season.
Philpot scored the game-winning touchdown in Montreal’s Grey Cup win last season to punctuate a six-reception, 63-yard performance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion for the third time in his NFL career, leaving his team’s game Thursday night against Buffalo after running into defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf.
Tagovailoa remained down for about two minutes before getting to his feet and walking to the sideline after the play in the third quarter. He made his way to the tunnel not long afterward, looking into the stands before smiling and departing toward the locker room.
The Dolphins needed almost no time before announcing it was a concussion. The team said he had two during the 2022 season, and Tagovailoa was diagnosed with another concussion when he was a college player at Alabama.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa would get “proper procedural evaluation” and “appropriate care” on Friday.
“The furthest thing from my mind is, ‘What is the timeline?’ We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are,” McDaniel said. “We’ll get more information tomorrow and take it day by day from here.”
Some players saw Tagovailoa in the locker room after the game and said they were encouraged. Tagovailoa spoke with some players and then went home after the game, McDaniel said.
“I have a lot of love for Tua, built a great relationship with him,” said quarterback Skylar Thompson, who replaced Tagovailoa after the injury. “You care about the person more than the player and everybody in the organization would say the same thing. Just really praying for Tua and hopefully everything will come out all right.”
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million extension before this season — a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL — and was the NFL’s leading passer in Week 1 this season. Tagovailoa left with the Dolphins trailing 31-10, and that was the final score.
“If you know Tua outside of football, you can’t help but feel for him,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said on Amazon following the game. “He’s a great football player but he’s an even greater human being. He’s one of the best humans on the planet. I’ve got a lot of love for him and I’m just praying for him and his family, hoping everything’s OK. But it’s tough, man. This game of football that we play, it’s got its highs and it’s got its lows — and this is one of the lows.”
Tagovailoa’s college years and first three NFL seasons were marred by injury, though he positioned himself for a big pay bump with an injury-free and productive 2023 as he led the Dolphins into the playoffs. He threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-best 4,624 yards last year.
When, or if, he can come back this season is anyone’s guess. Tagovailoa said in April 2023 that the concussions he had in the 2022 season left him contemplating his playing future. “I think I considered it for a time,” he said then, when asked if he considered stepping away from the game to protect himself.
McDaniel said it’s not his place to say if Tagovailoa should return to football. “He’ll be evaluated and we’ll have conversations and progress as appropriate,” McDaniel said.
Tagovailoa was hurt Thursday on a fourth-down keeper with about 4:30 left in the third. He went straight ahead into Hamlin and did not slide, leading with his right shoulder instead.
Hamlin was the player who suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a Monday night game in January 2023 at Cincinnati, causing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game that quickly lost significance in the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in front of a national television audience.
Tagovailoa wound up on his back, both his hands in the air and Bills players immediately pointed at him as if to suggest there was an injury. Dolphins center Aaron Brewer quickly did the same, waving to the sideline.
Tagovailoa appeared to be making a fist with his right hand as he lay on the ground. It was movement consistent with something that is referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury.
Tagovailoa eventually got to his feet. McDaniel grabbed the side of his quarterback’s head and gave him a kiss on the cheek as Tagovailoa departed. Thompson came into the game to take Tagovailoa’s spot.
“I love Tua on and off the football field,” Bills edge Von Miller said. “I’m a huge fan of him. I can empathize and sympathize with him because I’ve been there. I wish him the best.”
Tagovailoa’s history with concussions — and how he has since worked to avoid them — is a huge part of the story of his career, and now comes to the forefront once again.
He had at least two concussions during the 2022 season. He was hurt in a Week 3 game against Buffalo and cleared concussion protocol, though he appeared disoriented on that play but returned to the game.
The NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that if a player shows possible concussion symptoms — including a lack of balance or stability — he must sit out the rest of the game.
Less than a week later, in a Thursday night game at Cincinnati, Tagovailoa was concussed on a scary hit that briefly knocked him unconscious and led to him being taken off the field on a stretcher.
His second known concussion of that season came in a December game against Green Bay, and he didn’t play for the rest of the 2022 season. After that, Tagovailoa began studying ways where he may be able to fall more safely and protect himself against further injury — including studying jiu-jitsu.
“I’m not worried about anything that’s out of my hands,” McDaniel said. “I’m just worried about the human being.”
NEW YORK (AP) — When her husband turns on the television to hear news about the upcoming presidential election, that’s often a signal for Lori Johnson Malveaux to leave the room.
It can get to be too much. Often, she’ll go to a TV in another room to watch a movie on the Hallmark Channel or BET. She craves something comforting and entertaining. And in that, she has company.
While about half of Americans say they are following political news “extremely” or “very” closely, about 6 in 10 say they need to limit how much information they consume about the government and politics to avoid feeling overloaded or fatigued, according to a new survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts.
Make no mistake: Malveaux plans to vote. She always does. “I just get to the point where I don’t want to hear the rhetoric,” she said.
The 54-year-old Democrat said she’s most bothered when she hears people on the news telling her that something she saw with her own eyes — like the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol — didn’t really happen.
“I feel like I’m being gaslit. That’s the way to put it,” she said.
Sometimes it feels like ‘a bombardment’
Caleb Pack, 23, a Republican from Ardmore, Oklahoma, who works in IT, tries to keep informed through the news feeds on his phone, which is stocked with a variety of sources, including CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press.
Yet sometimes, Pack says, it seems like a bombardment.
“It’s good to know what’s going on, but both sides are pulling a little bit extreme,” he said. “It just feels like it’s a conversation piece everywhere, and it’s hard to escape it.”
Media fatigue isn’t a new phenomenon. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in late 2019 found roughly two in three Americans felt worn out by the amount of news there is, about the same as in a poll taken in early 2018. During the 2016 presidential campaign, about 6 in 10 people felt overloaded by campaign news.
But it can be particularly acute with news related to politics. The AP-NORC/USAFacts poll found that half of Americans feel a need to limit their consumption of information related to crime or overseas conflicts, while only about 4 in 10 are limiting news about the economy and jobs.
It’s easy to understand, with television outlets like CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC full of political talk and a wide array of political news online, sometimes complicated by disinformation.
“There’s a glut of information,” said Richard Coffin, director of research and advocacy for USAFacts, “and people are having a hard time figuring out what is true or not.”
Women are more likely to feel they need to limit media
In the AP-NORC poll, about 6 in 10 men said they follow news about elections and politics at least “very” closely, compared to about half of women. For all types of news, not just politics, women are more likely than men to report the need to limit their media consumption, the survey found.
White adults are also more likely than Black or Hispanic adults to say they need to limit media consumption on politics, the poll found.
Kaleb Aravzo, 19, a Democrat, gets a baseline of news by listening to National Public Radio in the morning at home in Logan, Utah. Too much politics, particularly when he’s on social media sites like TikTok and Instagram, can trigger anxiety and depression.
“If it pops up on my page when I’m on social media,” he said, “I’ll just scroll past it.”
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Sanders reported from Washington. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder.
The AP poll of 1,019 adults was conducted July 29-August 8, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.
