Ottawa (Canada), Apr. 2 : Several Canadian lawmakers and the general public have expressed growing outrage over a controversial legislation in Afghanistan that would restrict the rights of minority Shia women and make it illegal for them to refuse sex to their husbands. The proposed law would also make it illegal for a Shia woman to leave her house without her husband''s permission.

The proposed Shia family law has cast a shadow over an international conference in Europe on Afghanistan''s future.

According to the Globe and Mail, Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay said he would use this week''s NATO summit to put "direct" pressure on his Afghan counterpart to abandon the legislation.

Ottawa  - Canada allows hunters in this year's seal hunt to kill 338,200 animals that is 55,000 seals more than in 2008, the fisheries minister said late Friday.

Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea said the quota was fixed after scientists' advice "to ensure the seal population is maintained," Canada's CTV channel said.

Animal rights organizations were dismayed over the Canadian government's decision to raise the quota for the annual hunt, which draws international criticism.

Ottawa, Mar 12 : An Ottawa man, convicted of building bomb components will become today the first person to be sentenced under Canada''s post-9/11 terrorism laws. The landmark case of Mohammed Momin Khawaja would be resolved today in a downtown Ottawa courtroom.

Khawaja could be sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted last fall on five counts of financing and facilitating terrorism as well as two lesser Criminal Code offences.

This Thursday the Ottawa Hospital announced the launch of the Emergency Department Reporting System at www. ontariowaittimes. com.

The local hospitals have also welcomed other provincial initiatives including the Wait Times Strategy, the Aging at Home Strategy, Tele-Health and Health-Care Connect, in an attempt to strengthen emergency wait time performance.

"Our government is creating an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability in hospital emergency care with the public reporting of time spent in the ER," said Health and Long-Term Care Minister David Caplan.

The dimpled beauty Preity Zinta has been nominated for a ‘Genie Award’ in the “Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” group for her riveting performance in Deepa Mehta’s ‘Heaven On Earth’.

Due credit goes to the pretty Preity who gave her consent to play unconventional character unlikely of her bubbly image. She has been seen experimenting with her acting skills recently as she endorsed the eloquent yet significant characters in ‘The Last Lear’, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Heaven On Earth’.

The Awards will be held on April 4 at Ottawa in Canada.

Ottawa (Canada), Feb. 13 : Canada''s Industry Minister Tony Clement will be visiting India between February 14 and 19.

According to a media release issued by the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, Clement will be travelling to New Delhi and Mumbai.

While in India, Clement will meet with senior government officials and representatives from the business community to promote commerce, tourism and investment.