telephone interview: The Canada Border Services Agency says 566 immigrants used the same addresses between 2008 and 2015 -- the siblings' Sherwood Motel and Ping Zhong's Charlottetown home, according to CTV. Nearly all were granted permanent residency. Siblings Ping Zhong and Yi Zhong allegedly counselled business immigrants seeking permanent residency to provide residential addresses in P.E.I. though they didn't really live there, as required under the province's immigration system. Seven cases were chosen for prosecution, said Colin Murchison, a CBSA director of investigations in an interview Tuesday. That doesn't mean that we wouldn't ever lay other charges depending on what new evidence presents itself, Murchison said in a telephone interview. The CBSA charged Ping Zhong, 60, with three counts of aiding and abetting misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and five counts against her 58-year-old brother. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

idea: As soon as we come up with a really great idea, someone with really deep pockets comes up from the States or somewhere else in the world and says, 'Oh great, I am going to incorporate that into my platform, ' he said, according to CTV. We just need to have a little more swagger as a country, a little more of an ability to promote and demonstrate how awesome we are. Speaking at e-commerce giant Shopify Inc.'s annual conference in Toronto on Tuesday, he praised Canada's entrepreneurs, but lamented how susceptible their innovations are to overseas investors. We don't often do that. Trudeau said he has seen a lot of funding flowing to Canada from Silicon Valley, where major American technology companies have built their businesses, but we need to do a better job of generating that capital here. We don't do that enough. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nazi germany: In one of his first moves after parliament elected him as prime minister, Pashinian announced he would visit Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday, according to Toronto Star. He said the self-declared government there must be a part of any talks to end the long-standing frozen conflict. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian faces an array of challenges, including a parliament dominated by the party he denounced as corrupt and how to resolve the volatile question of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan under the control of ethnic Armenian forces. Although Armenian leaders traditionally visit the region on May 9, the date on which many ex-Soviet countries mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, Pashinian's trip is likely to provoke resentment from Azerbaijan. Article Continued Below What is this Initial naivete, ignorance of the subject, the bravado of the victor or maybe all of these together he later said of Pashinian's announcement. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hikmet Hajieyv issued a statement insisting the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is currently occupied, has always been an integral part of Azerbaijan. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visitor visas: Coming across the border in a way that tries to circumvent the law or defy proper procedure is no free ticket to Canada, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters, according to Toronto Star. After Haitians in 2017, it appears Nigerians armed with valid U.S. visitor visas are the latest group to come across at Roxham Road in Hemmingford, not far from the Lacolle border crossing at the Quebec-New York border. Three senior federal ministers delivered a blunt reminder to them Monday that entering Canada illegally is not a free pass into the country. Hussen said he plans to travel to Nigeria soon but noted the federal government has sent three immigration officers to Lagos. Goodale said all of the country's international obligations are being met in dealing with asylum. react-empty 148 They must prove they need Canada's protection to keep them safe, he said. Article Continued Below Canada has been working closely with the United States over the abuse of U.S. visas by Nigerians whose ultimate goal is to get to Canada within weeks of arriving. react-text 139 Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen is pushing to refresh the Safe Third Country agreement. /react-text Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS It's becoming apparent to us that they've obtained these visas to come to Canada to make asylum claims, Hussen said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bid: An independent human rights report commissioned by the bid warned there could be some potential discrimination in relation to travel restrictions for some citizens from certain states, according to Toronto Star. Read more Trump threatens to withhold support from countries who don't back U.S. World Cup bid Article Continued Below Ottawa backs North American 2026 FIFA World Cup bid, pledges 5 million if it wins Canada, Mexico, U.S. seem afraid' they won't win joint 2026 World Cup bid, Blatter says The report was submitted to FIFA in March as part of bidding requirements but the U.S has offered fresh assurances to world football's governing body around the bearing of immigration policies on the World Cup. react-empty 142 All eligible athletes, officials and fans from all countries around the world would be able to enter the United States without discrimination, the U.S. government told FIFA in a letter last week. The North American bid has faced questions about the impact of attempts by U.S. President Donald Trump to implement a ban on travel to the U.S. by residents of six majority-Muslim countries. The letter was to be cited in a speech in Brussels on Tuesday by Mexico Football Federation President Decio de Maria during an appearance with his U.S. and Canadian counterparts. Our three governments have provided the strong guarantees we need, including so that entry will be safe, reliable and convenient for every player and every fan, De Maria told the International Sports Press Association Congress. The three countries are jointly bidding to take on Morocco in the June 13 vote by the FIFA Congress. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

housing opponents: Diversity is our strength, according to Vancouver Courier. Welcome ToCanada. Members of the Parti Quebecois have for months accused Justin Trudeau of helping to spark the current refugee crisis with a January 2017 tweet welcoming newcomers.article continues below Trending Stories Mom tracks down stroller thief with the help of social media North Delta plastic surgeon found in contempt of court orders Hector Bremner remains defiant, will seek re-election in October Marpole modular housing opponents want to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada The prime minister wrote on Twitter at the time, To those fleeing persecution, terror and war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. The PQ's Catherine Fournier and Carole Poirier say the message gave false hope to people around the world who assumed Canada would welcome them regardless of whether they fit the legal definition of a refugee. They also add that all refugee applicants should do so through the normal process. They're calling on Trudeau to send out another tweet, this time telling people who cross the border irregularly they will not be given a free pass into Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

identity: Police said three main suspects two Germans and a Russian were arrested in Hamburg late Monday, according to Vancouver Courier. The gang, comprising at least eight people, also includes Ukrainians. Federal police say the gang is suspected of helping mostly Moldovans enter Germany and work there illegally, using fake Romanian identity documents.article continues below Trending Stories Mom tracks down stroller thief with the help of social media North Delta plastic surgeon found in contempt of court orders Hector Bremner remains defiant, will seek re-election in October Marpole modular housing opponents want to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada In a statement Tuesday, police said 800 officers searched 21 offices and homes in Hamburg and Bremen, Lower Saxony and Saxony Anhalt states. At least 35 illegal immigrants were found at premises in Hamburg. Read Related Topics ul ul ul ul 2018 Vancouver Courier According to the police statement, some of the suspects in Saxony-Anhalt had ties to the far-right Reich Citizens movement. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration system: Nearly all were granted permanent residency, according to Vancouver Courier. Seven cases were chosen for prosecution, said Colin Murchison, a CBSA director of investigations in an interview Tuesday. Siblings Ping Zhong and Yi Zhong allegedly counselled business immigrants seeking permanent residency to provide residential addresses in P.E.I. though they didn't really live there, as required under the province's immigration system.article continues below Trending Stories Mom tracks down stroller thief with the help of social media North Delta plastic surgeon found in contempt of court orders Hector Bremner remains defiant, will seek re-election in October Marpole modular housing opponents want to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada The Canada Border Services Agency says 566 immigrants used the same addresses between 2008 and 2015 the siblings' Sherwood Motel and Ping Zhong's Charlottetown home. The CBSA charged Ping Zhong, 60, with three counts of aiding and abetting misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and five counts against her 58-year-old brother. Nine thick files of search warrants contain investigators' descriptions of how they monitored the immigrants being picked up at the Charlottetown airport. That doesn't mean that we wouldn't ever lay other charges depending on what new evidence presents itself, Murchison said in a telephone interview. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cell donor: Because of genetics, people from similar ethnic backgrounds are more likely to be a stem-cell match, according to Toronto Star. The event aimed to find Bille a stem cell donor, although it was open to people of every ethnic background. Edmontonians, a majority of them of Vietnamese or Chinese descent, were gathered around tables registering themselves to become stem cell donors at the swabbing event organized by sisters of Bille Nguyen, a 25-year-old with subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. I'm just amazed, said Susan Nguyen, Bille's sister. The Nguyen family has been campaigning for more people from ethnic minorities to register as stem cell donors after their own brother's diagnosis. I can't believe our message has reached this many people. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

firearms bill: Bissonnette, 28, pleaded guilty in March to six charges of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder, according to CTV. Bissonnette began his January 2017 rampage with a .223-calibre Small Arms VZ58 Sporter rifle, which is legal, along with two illegal 30-cartridge magazines. In a Monday letter to Trudeau, more than 75 people express dismay that the Liberal government's firearms bill does not ban assault rifles like the one carried by mosque shooter Alexandre Bissonnette. When the rifle jammed on the first shot, he turned to a handgun and five 10-bullet magazines. What kind of society allows a single individual to have so much destructive, lethal power at their disposal the letter says. The letter asks how much worse the carnage could have been had Bissonnette's rifle been working. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

giant netflix: At issue is everything from ridiculous and grotesque selfies on the red carpet to mean tweets by movie critics to sexual-harassment concerns to the existential fear that online giant Netflix is working to make traditional moviegoing extinct, according to Toronto Star. The selfie ban is perhaps the most visible of several moves by Cannes officials to bring more dignity and order to an annual event that sincerely wants to celebrate film but in recent years has found itself grappling with outside concerns which this year also include the MeToo and Times Up female empowerment movements, as the first Cannes fest in the post-Weinstein era unfolds. This grand cinema event on the French Riviera, unveiling its 71st edition on Tuesday, is feeling besieged by the modern world and it's fighting back, resisting some changes while embracing others. As more than 4,000 journalists began pouring into Cannes Monday, festival artistic director Thierry Fr maux took the unusual step of having an impromptu news conference to explain multiple changes this year to festival protocol. You don't come to Cannes to see yourselves, you come to see films and in a selfie people always look really ugly, Fr maux said. Article Continued Below The selfie ban on the red carpet outside the Palais des Festivals is necessary, he said, because camera-mad people have been holding up the procession, sometimes by tripping and falling on the carpet as they take their photos. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration officers: Coming across the border in a way that tries to circumvent the law or defy proper procedure is no free ticket to Canada, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters, according to The Chronicle Herald. After Haitians in 2017, it appears Nigerians armed with valid U.S. visitor visas are the latest group to come across at Roxham Road in Hemmingford, not far from the Lacolle border crossing at the Quebec-New York border. Three senior federal ministers delivered a blunt reminder to them Monday that entering Canada illegally is not a free pass into the country. Hussen said he plans to travel to Nigeria soon but noted the federal government has sent three immigration officers to Lagos. It's becoming apparent to us that they've obtained these visas to come to Canada to make asylum claims, Hussen said. Canada has been working closely with the United States over the abuse of U.S. visas by Nigerians whose ultimate goal is to get to Canada within weeks of arriving. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

land border: Under a pilot program launched last summer, the Canada Border Services Agency CBSA began to restrict flagpoling to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week at the Rainbow, Queenston-Lewiston and Peace bridges, according to Toronto Star. It has since expanded to the Lacolle and St-Armand ports of entry in Quebec. The move to limit the immigration services at the land border has wreaked havoc for temporary residents in Canada who try to immediately obtain or renew their status by briefly travelling to the United States and back a long-standing practice known as flagpoling, symbolizing applicants making a quick U-turn at flagpoles. This is unlawful because there is nothing in the law that authorizes CBSA to deny the processing of these applications for permits and landing documents, said Barbara Jo Caruso, chair of the Canadian Bar Association's immigration section. They have drugs and guns to deal with and immigration is one more thing. We appreciate that CBSA has 90 different legislations they need to adjudicate on. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

opposition parties: The party has advantages in Wednesday's election too, according to The Chronicle Herald. Opposition parties and activists have long complained they're unable to compete on equal terms. That year, the ruling National Front won 47 per cent of votes but 60 per cent of the seats in Parliament. Here are some reasons why RURAL SEATS ARE KEY Not every vote is equal. That means it takes fewer votes to elect a government lawmaker than it does to elect an opposition lawmaker. Multi-ethnic urban seats, which lean toward the opposition, generally have much higher numbers of voters than those dominated by rural majority Malays, who traditionally support the National Front. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

people: ISANS is open to people of all ages who are officially new to Canada and living in Nova Scotia, including temporary foreign workers, according to The Chronicle Herald. For decades, people have walked through the doors of ISANS often navigating a new language, new geography, new job market and a host of other hitches impeding settlement. A community where all can belong and grow is the vision of ISANS Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia . ISANS staff and volunteers serve this mission by welcoming newcomers to HRM and acquainting them with opportunities to make contacts and forge connections in their newfound communities. ISANS and its band of volunteers deliver programs to assist with settlement, learning English, starting a business or searching for employment. SupperNOVA, for example, is a potluck held in Clayton Park three to four times per year. According to Denise Scott, team lead for the volunteer program at ISANS, the organization offers a diverse and flexible lineup of volunteer jobs, all working with individuals and families new to Nova Scotia. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

prayers: I can see how some might feel exactly like they did 40 years ago, having to stand and recite the Lord's Prayers as a prerequisite to being allowed to learn about fractions, according to Rabble. Why Well, a closer parallel given your critique might be the Lord's Prayer recited by a group of people who otherwise have little interest in religious observance, and are just doing it because they know it's a way to look good to certain sections of public opinion. This is the most recent exchange between Magoo and myself I've edited my reply a bit for clarity ...I think the reason something like this is contentious -- and perhaps called tokenism -- is that it's a speech without any specific plan of action. Because it seems to me there are two objections to such compulsory recitals...1. It's a useless and superficial display of adherence to certain values.I think your criticism, in the above post, is closer to No 2. than to No. 1. It's an infringements on the rights of people who don't want to say the words.2. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

press conference: The majority are from Nigeria, according to CTV. The government also issued a warning. An estimated 2,500 people crossed in April. Coming across the border in a way that seeks to circumvent our procedures is no free ticket to Canada, said Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, who was joined at a press conference in Montreal by Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen. The announcement comes at a time of mounting pressure from the federal Conservatives, Quebec's Liberal government and Toronto Mayor John Tory. All Canadian laws are and will continue to be enforced and all of our international obligations are and will continue to be respected, he added. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

lacolle border: After Haitians in 2017, it appears Nigerians armed with valid U.S. visitor visas are the latest group to come across at Roxham Road in Hemmingford, not far from the Lacolle border crossing at the Quebec-New York border, according to Vancouver Courier. Hussen said he plans to travel to Nigeria soon but noted the federal government has sent three immigration officers to Lagos. Three senior federal ministers delivered a blunt reminder to them Monday that entering Canada illegally is not a free pass into the country.article continues below Trending StoriesYVR aims to strengthen relationship with Musqueam through new role Burnaby groups protest pipeline bailout in front of Terry Beech's office Love story For 30 years, Hilary Jordan never gave up hope for brain-injured husband Updated Hector Bremner ousted as potential NPA mayoral candidate Coming across the border in a way that tries to circumvent the law or defy proper procedure is no free ticket to Canada, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters. Canada has been working closely with the United States over the abuse of U.S. visas by Nigerians whose ultimate goal is to get to Canada within weeks of arriving. Goodale said all of the country's international obligations are being met in dealing with asylum. It's becoming apparent to us that they've obtained these visas to come to Canada to make asylum claims, Hussen said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

party insiders: Kevin McCarthy's political rise often marvel at how he got here, according to Vancouver Courier. He's the not-so-serious guy who used to bop around town selling sandwiches and cars before dipping into politics. People watching Rep. He was considered likable and fun but hardly Bakersfield's star pupil. The Republican Party insiders who nurtured his career are proud, if a bit surprised. The rest of the country might be stunned, too, if Republicans win in November and McCarthy succeeds in his quest to become speaker of the House, next in line after the vice-president to the presidency.article continues below Trending StoriesYVR aims to strengthen relationship with Musqueam through new role Burnaby groups protest pipeline bailout in front of Terry Beech's office Love story For 30 years, Hilary Jordan never gave up hope for brain-injured husband Updated Hector Bremner ousted as potential NPA mayoral candidate Yet many in Bakersfield are musing that Kevin he's still just easygoing, uncomplicated Kevin here might actually pull off this ascent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ralph goodale: There are three federal visa officials already in Lagos, reaching out to locals to inform them of the risks of illegally crossing into Canada, according to National Observer. Coming across the border in a way that tries to circumvent the law or defy public procedure is no free ticket' to Canada, says Ralph Goodale. cdnpoli refugees Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said that the Nigerian migrants spend a few weeks in the United States before making their way to Canada with their U.S. tourist visas to claim asylum. Part of the plan is a visit this month by Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen to speak with officials in Nigeria, where the majority of migrants have been coming from lately. Hussen said that the government is trying to prevent this form of abuse of U.S. visas. The visas should not be used as a conduit to try to jump the border, said Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale. ; Quebec has received about 6,000 migrants since the start of this year alone, a threefold jump from the same period last year. He said Canadian officials are sharing information with their U.S. counterparts to investigate the growing number of claimants using tourist visas to enter Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

saudi arabia: He blamed a new electoral law and a performance that wasn't up to the standard, according to Vancouver Courier. Hariri would still have the largest Sunni bloc in parliament, facilitating his return as prime minister to form the next government. The initial results, which were carried by Lebanese media and are more or less expected to match the official count, show that Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a Sunni politician with close ties to Saudi Arabia, has lost at least five seats in Beirut, once considered his party's stronghold.article continues below Trending StoriesYVR aims to strengthen relationship with Musqueam through new role What's that smell Mysterious odour in Vancouver sparks complaints on social media Burnaby groups protest pipeline bailout in front of Terry Beech's office Love story For 30 years, Hilary Jordan never gave up hope for brain-injured husband Hariri told reporters that his Future Movement won 21 seats in Sunday's vote, a drop of 11 from what they got in the 2009 elections. My hand is extended to every Lebanese who participated in the elections to preserve stability and create jobs, Hariri said in a televised statement Monday. Hezbollah and its allies appear to have gained seats, giving another boost to Iran's allies in Lebanon and neighbouring Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown in recent years as it has provided crucial support to President Bashar Assad. He said he would continue to work closely with President Michel Aoun, who is allied with the rival, Hezbollah-led bloc. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dispersing.a squabble: The Radicals briefly gathered by the police cordons before dispersing.A squabble was reported with some liberal protesters who came to denounce Seselj, according to Toronto Star. Police later said they were searching for a man who punched a Liberal Democratic Party member. Dozens of policemen sealed off Hrtkovci, 40 kilometres northwest of Belgrade, blocking Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj and his supporters from reaching the village and rallying there. The UN war crimes court for the former Yugoslavia last month sentenced Seselj to 10 years in prison over his 1992 speech in Hrtkovci that resulted in the deportations of dozens of ethnic Croats from the village. He is also a lawmaker in the Serbian parliament. Article Continued Below Seselj remains free because he served his sentence while in custody during the trial. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

star investigation: The 26 members of the extended Mexican family three later withdrew their claims had their last hearing on Dec. 6, 2011, according to Toronto Star. McBean didn't deliver his decision on the family, who had settled in Toronto, until Oct. 14, 2015, the same day his government appointment expired. At the centre of the case was Immigration and Refugee Board member David McBean, who gained attention after a Star investigation in 2010 found the adjudicator had denied all of the 169 asylum cases he presided over between 2007 and 2010. Most asylum decisions are rendered within a year of claims being heard. A refugee board spokesperson said neither McBean nor the board could comment on the court decision.A few of members of the family have obtained their permanent resident status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, while some have pending humanitarian applications and could face removal from Canada. McBean is now a refugee appeal officer responsible for strategic advice and case management. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

access point: In an office overlooking some noisy road construction, three nurses based at the clinic talk about the challenges they face at Access Point providing health care to people who often aren't aware they can get medical assistance, according to Toronto Star. Recognizing that it's hard for someone who actually has OHIP to find a family doctor in this day and age, says Julia Murphy, acting manager for nursing and primary care initiatives at the clinic, it's absolutely crucial for people who might not know where to go, where to find a provider, who might not know that they're eligible for a service through community health centres. Sandwiched between a hydro corridor and a dense stand of aging apartment blocks, it's one of three Access Alliance facilities across Toronto, designed to serve refugees, recent immigrants and other communities that slip through the cracks of the public health system. The nurses at Access Point on Jane work with programs, such as a walk-in clinic for uninsured immigrants, and Health With Dignity, which works to help clients navigate the health-care system and manage their own medications and care when dealing with chronic conditions. We will have people coming into the non-insured walk-in clinic who have been in Canada for decades and have only just heard from a friend that it existed, Dalmacio says. As the co-ordinator of the non-insured walk-in clinic, Monika Dalmacio frequently sees the results of years of unattended medical conditions. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

al jazeera: The reality of Canada's unfair labour system enters the world stage with the international broadcast of Migrant Dreams on Al Jazeera's Witness which will, throughout the month of May, stream the documentary for free, according to The Chronicle Herald. Canada maintains its pristine international reputation partly by silencing the people who live the lie. This is the myth of Canada the Good, one that still prevails despite repeated truths to the contrary. Migrant Dreams asks questions about what Canadian values really look like by highlighting the voices of those who have long been ignored, marginalized or erased. The film opens a conversation about the relationship between labour, gender, sexuality, race, class and settlement otherwise known as immigration to Canada. At the centre of the documentary are migrant workers in farms across Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rohingya crisis: Those are two of the recommendations laid out in a report on the ongoing Rohingya crisis by Bob Rae, Canada's special envoy to Myanmar, according to CTV. Rae's report listed 17 recommendations for the Canadian government, including a larger humanitarian effort that would cost around 150 million a year and an willingness to welcome refugees. Global Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says the trip is also giving her a chance to hear first-hand what people in refugee camps have to say. Roughly 700,000 ethnic Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar since last year to escape what the United Nations has called ethnic cleansing. We shared Rae's report with many people here, and we plan to translate it both into Bengali and Rohingya so that people in Bangladesh and the Rohingya can read it in their own languages, said Freeland. Freeland made her comments Saturday from Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she has been meeting with government officials, aid groups and refugees on a four-day trip. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.