immigrantscanada.com

Independent topical source of current affairs, opinion and issues, featuring stories making news in Canada from immigrants, newcomers, minorities & ethnic communities' point of view and interests.

american citizens: Trump did not refer to specific representatives in his latest tirade, but the targets were widely taken by U.S. media outlets to be Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts all of whom are American citizens, according to National Observer. So interesting to see Progressive Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world if they even have a functioning government at all now loudly...... Donald J. Trump real Donald Trump July 14, 2019 I think Canadians and indeed people around the world know exactly what I think about those particular comments. But Trudeau missed an opportunity to directly label the Twitter outburst by Trump as racist, as his NDP counterpart did, after Trump falsely tweeted on Sunday progressive' Democrat Congresswomen should go back to the supposedly foreign countries they all came from. That is not how we do things in Canada. The diversity of our country is actually one of our greatest strengths, and a source of tremendous resilience and pride for Canadians, and we will continue to defend that. A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian, Trudeau said at a press conference in Petawawa, Ont., alongside NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

intelligence bulletin: Now, we're also adding a weekly round-up to bring you a condensed version of the week in disinformation-related news, according to National Observer. This edition includes a fake intelligence bulletin planted by Russia, a network of inauthentic accounts removed from Twitter for mass-tweeting about a controversial smart city project, an anti-social media summit at the White House and a Twitter outage that sparked hours of conspiracy theories. Through the Election Integrity Reporting Project, we're publishing exclusive investigations, in-depth analyses, fact-checks and breaking news, spanning topics from climate change to hate groups to fake social media accounts and beyond. Russia planted conspiracy theory about slain Democratic staffer Seth Rich In the summer of 2016, a soon-to-be viral conspiracy theory started circulating on forums like Reddit and 4chan, claiming that the murder of Democratic National Committee DNC staffer Seth Rich was not the result of a botched robbery, after all, but was actually carried out by a contract killer working for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Now, nearly three years after the conspiracy theory emerged, we may finally know where it came from. The baseless conspiracy theory eventually made its way from the fringes of the internet all the way into the White House, marking the beginning of what would become a defining feature of the Trump presidency. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

english crown: Despite it being an annual tradition on Poldark for a person of rank to corner a reluctant Ross by the syllabub and force a position of power on him, that was a turn up for the books, according to Rabble. Unless you've read the books, in which case it wasn't. See related Poldark series 4 recap what happened last time A definitive ranking of the top 30 baked goods in Poldark episodes Poldark series 4 episode 8 review Poldark series 5 BBC release date, trailer, plot, cast and moreA spy for the English crown! Fancy that. Those who've read other books may recognise the name Edward Despard, a genuine chap of history whose exploits explain why Dwight was so keen for his pal to steer clear. You may as well put Despard in a Demelza wig and dip him in honey. Tell Ross Poldark that someone's too dangerous Oh, Dwight. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

television station: Demonstrators returned Sunday to the privately run Tacoma Northwest Detention Center, KOMO-TV reported, according to CTV. The demonstrators were protesting the facility and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement roundups that were supposed to begin Sunday. Willem Van Spronsen, 69, was found dead Saturday after four police officers arrived and opened fire. There were about 100 people gathered outside the centre, the television station reported. The detention centre has also held immigration-seeking parents separated from their children under President Donald Trump's zero tolerance policy, an effort meant to deter illegal immigration. The facility holds migrants pending deportation proceedings. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

facebook accounts: Duclos was just one minister who had his photo and information mimicked on social media, according to CTV. Rural Economic Development Minister Bernadette Jordan, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and Liberal MP Anthony Rota were also targeted, their offices confirmed to CTV News. We are aware of these instances in recent weeks that have affected MPs across party lines, and we continue to remain vigilant, said Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos' office in a statement e-mailed to CTV News. The Conservative party confirmed that roughly a dozen Tory MPs have also flagged fake Facebook accounts using their names. A government source familiar with the matter also confirmed that in one case, a minister's likeness was used in a conversation that mentioned money although the fake account did not explicitly ask for funds. Simon Jeffries, a spokesperson for the Conservatives, said the accounts were reported to Facebook and swiftly taken down. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ilhan omar: And what's best for America, apparently, isn't standing up to Donald Trump; no, it's ensuring four freshman congresswomen don't get ideas above their station, according to Rabble. It's ensuring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in particular, knows her place. She knows what's best for America. Ocasio-Cortez sued by rightwing critics for blocking them on Twitter Read more There have been long-running tensions between Pelosi and the so-called Squad of new progressive congresswomen, which consists of Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley. All these people have their public whatever and their Twitter world, but they didn't have any following, Pelosi told the Times, referring to a border funding bill the Squad opposed. Things escalated sharply over the weekend, when Pelosi decided it would be a good idea to demean her colleagues in the New York Times. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

progressives omar: Justice Democrats is backing primary challengers to eight-term Rep, according to Rabble. Henry Cuellar D-Texas a Hispanic Caucus member, and 10-term Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Progressive groups slam House Democratic leadership's 'escalating attacks' on progressives Omar 'We never need to ask for permission or wait for an invitation to lead' Ocasio-Cortez's racism charge shows Pelosi at risk of being devoured by the revolution MORE D-N.Y. of trying to oust lawmakers of color, specifically African American lawmakers. Wm. Yvette Clarke Yvette Diane Clarke The Hill's Morning Report Trump retreats on census citizenship question CBC lawmakers rip Justice Democrats for targeting black lawmakers for primaries The Hill's Morning Report - Democratic debates Miami nice or spice MORE D-N.Y. Joyce Beatty Joyce Birdson Beatty The Hill's Morning Report Trump retreats on census citizenship question CBC lawmakers rip Justice Democrats for targeting black lawmakers for primaries The Hill's 12 30 Report Pelosi looks to tamp down Dem infighting MORE D-Ohio Emanuel Cleaver D-Mo. and Anthony Brown Anthony Gregory Brown The Hill's Morning Report Trump retreats on census citizenship question CBC lawmakers rip Justice Democrats for targeting black lawmakers for primaries Overnight Defense Trump says he doesn't need exit strategy with Iran McConnell open to vote on Iran war authorization Senate panel advances bill to restrict emergency arms sales MORE D-Md. . Brown said the group has been making calls in his district, actively trying to recruit a challenger to run against him something that Justice Democrats denies. Lacy Clay William Lacy Lacy Clay Ocasio-Cortez's racism charge shows Pelosi at risk of being devoured by the revolution New York Democrat on Ocasio-Cortez, other progressives 'Primaries go two ways' Racial politics roil Democratic Party MORE D-Mo. a member of the Congressional Black Caucus CBC . The insurgent group also made noise this year about challenging Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries Hakeem Sekou Jeffries Racial politics roil Democratic Party The Hill's Morning Report Trump retreats on census citizenship question CBC lawmakers rip Justice Democrats for targeting black lawmakers for primaries MORE D-N.Y. a CBC member seen as the heir apparent to Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi Social media summit highlights partisan approaches on tech Ocasio-Cortez's racism charge shows Pelosi at risk of being devoured by the revolution New York Democrat on Ocasio-Cortez, other progressives 'Primaries go two ways' MORE D-Calif. .ADVERTISEMENT And CBC leaders are fretting that Justice Democrats may target other black lawmakers in the coming weeks and months, including Reps. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

somali official: At least 26 people were killed in the attack, which a Somali official said started with a suicide car bomb before gunmen stormed the Asasey Hotel, according to CTV. Somalia's al-Shabab Islamic rebels claimed responsibility for the attack. Nalayeh and her husband, Farid Jama Suleiman, were killed after gunmen stormed a hotel in the port city of Kismayo on Friday, according to Mogadishu-based independent radio station Radio Dalsan. The official says those killed include one Canadian, one Briton, two Americans, three Kenyans and three Tanzanians. Canada condemns this terrorist attack and bombing in Somalia, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said in a statement. Fifty-six people, including two Chinese, were also injured in the attack. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

census respondents: Still, the decision was clearly a reversal, according to CTV. The Supreme Court had blocked his effort by disputing his administration's rationale for demanding that census respondents declare whether or not they were citizens. Not only didn't I back down, I backed up because anybody else would have given this up a long time ago, Trump told reporters Friday, one day after directing federal agencies to try to compile the citizenship information using existing databases. Trump had said last week that he was very seriously considering an executive order to try to force the question. The president said he would sign an executive order directing every federal department and agency to provide the Commerce Department with all records pertaining to the number of citizens and noncitizens in the country. But the government has begun the lengthy and expensive process of printing the census questionnaire without it, and such a move would surely have drawn an immediate legal challenge. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

family operation: Similar operations occurred in 2016 under President Barack Obama and in 2017 under Trump, according to CTV. This family operation is nothing new, Albence told The Associated Press. Matthew Albence, the agency's acting director, said targets were on an accelerated docket of immigration court cases for predominantly Central Americans who recently arrived at the U.S. border in unprecedented numbers. It's part of our day-to-day operations. The operation will target people with final deportation orders on 10 major court dockets, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Miami. We're trying to surge some additional resources to deal with this glut of cases that came out of the accelerated docket, but after this operation is over, these cases are still going to be viable cases that we'll be out there investigating and pursuing. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

d-n.y .,: Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, according to Rabble. Ocasio-Cortez's claim she and other freshman progressives are being singled out as newly-elected women of color shows Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's latest disagreement is indicative of the Democratic Party's drastic shift to the left, according to Rep. Pelosi's, D-Calif. attempts to quell dissent within her ranks is not working, Cheney claimed Thursday on The Story. You have a situation where you have this very radical wing of the House Democrats, and the Speaker has attempted many times to keep everybody under control by, in the past, moving very far left. I think what you're watching is really the unraveling of the Democratic Party as we've known it in the past, she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

fellow democrats: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claiming the speaker has been disrespectful to several minority lawmakers, saying she has the backing of her caucus and defending her handling of the rabble-rousing freshman 'squad' that Ocasio-Cortez leads, according to Rabble. Notably, Pelosi all but confirmed that a warning she delivered to rank-and-file lawmakers a day earlier about using social media for attacks on fellow Democrats was prompted by Ocasio-Cortez's chief of staff. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood her ground Thursday in response to New York Democratic Rep. Asked about her ongoing spat with the New York lawmaker, Pelosi acknowledged how she recently addressed -- at the request of my members -- an offensive tweet that came out of one of the member's offices that compared centrist Democrats to segregationists. Our members took offense at that, Pelosi said, claiming her comments received a positive response. That tweet was authored and then deleted by Ocasio-Cortez' chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

james: Set in 1781 at the height of the struggle to abolish slavery, this pacy thriller centres around the discovery of a famed abolitionist's body, according to Rabble. It has come in for high praise from veterans of crime fiction says the New Statesman. Blood and Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson The year kicked off with a debut novel that had the tongues of critics wagging. Order now Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James Marlon James crashed onto the literary scene with his Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings in 2015. The first of three novels in James' Dark Star trilogy, Black Leopard, Red Wolf fuses mythology, fantasy, and African history into a sensual, psychological triumph, says Esquire. His second book is a sprawling, epic fantasy about a mercenary hired to find a missing child. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

strategy: On Thursday, Singh led a bike tour of downtown Ottawa with several of his party's local candidates to highlight the need for better cycling infrastructure, according to CTV. NDP MP Gord Johns has a private member's bill before Parliament to establish a national cycling strategy that would commit Ottawa to set targets for expanding cycling infrastructure, encourage more Canadians to use bikes to get around and create a public-education campaign on cycling safety for cyclists and motorists. Singh now wants to bring his love for to Canadians everywhere with a national strategy to make cycling safer for everyone. A national cycling strategy was also a promise in Singh's 2017 run for the NDP leadership. We're determined to make it easier and safer to ride, Singh tweeted before embarking on the four-kilometre bike from an Ottawa bike store to the Parliamentary district. Singh says investing in transit and cycling infrastructure is not only helpful to reduce the amount of time Canadians spend stuck in traffic, it's also better for the environment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dna barcoding: The Life Scanner DNA species identification kit uses DNA barcoding and smartphone technology to identify what you're eating, what's in your garden, or in your home, according to CTV. So, if you think your meat contains something else, you can find out by scanning the product barcode, taking a picture, collecting a sample of what you want to identify and then mailing it to the lab at the University of Guelph. Researchers at the University of Guelph have developed a tool to detect food fraud that allows you to see if what you're eating is what it says it is. In about five to eight business days, the results are sent directly to an app on your smartphone. Because of inadequate labelling regulations, customers curious about food authenticity would need to buy the seafood or meat product first and send it for testing before knowing its full contents. It goes into the lab, we extract the DNA from the tissue and we sequence it and then we identify using algorithms and a massive database that's been collected over the last 15 years, Life Scanner founder Sujeevan Ratnasingham told CTV Kitchener. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ctv news: The men, wearing vests adorned with the symbols of the Northern Guard, surrounded Bernier with smiles on their faces, according to CTV. White supremacy and white nationalism undermine the fabric of our society, Carlene Variyan, a spokesperson for Goodale, said in a statement provided to CTV News in reaction to the photo. The statement comes after Bernier was photographed with people who appear to belong to an alleged hate group on Sunday in Calgary. For political leaders to court these views is a terrible mistake; we condemn Mr. A spokesperson for the PPC leader, Martin Masse, said Bernier does not know the people in this picture. Bernier's attempt to legitimize this type of hatred. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration agency: Lucia Ascencio of Venezuela had waited for three months in Nuevo Laredo with her husband and two young sons just for the chance to make her asylum petition in Laredo, Texas, according to CTV. She was stunned by her return to Mexico as they walked from the bridge carrying plastic bags containing a bottle of water, a bottle of juice and an orange. The 10 migrants crossed the border to seek U.S. asylum Monday and will now have to wait in Mexico as their applications are processed. We hadn't thought that they were going to send us back, she said. A spokeswoman with Mexico's immigration agency confirmed that the first group of 10 returned Tuesday under the program, which is formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols. Her family was given a date in September to return for the next step in their process. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alvaro bedoya: All three states -- which offer driving privileges to immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally -- agreed to the ICE requests, according to documents shared with The Associated Press on Monday and first reported by The Washington Post, according to CTV. States asked undocumented people to come out of the shadows to get licenses. Public records obtained by the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology provided the first proof that ICE had sought such scans, which were conducted in Utah, Vermont and Washington. Then ICE turns around and uses that to find them, Alvaro Bedoya, the centre's director, said Monday. During the course of an investigation, ICE has the ability to collaborate with external local, federal and international agencies to obtain information that may assist in case completion and prosecution efforts, Bourke said in a written response. ICE spokesman Matthew Bourke did not directly address written questions, including whether the agency used the scans to arrest or deport anyone. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

speech rule: It also bans hate speech on the basis of someone's race, gender and other categories, according to CTV. Tuesday's change broadens the hate speech rule to forbid likening entire religious groups to subhumans or vermin, without targeting a specific individual. The social network already bars hateful language directed at individual religious adherents. Twitter, along with You Tube and Facebook, has been under fire for the prevalence of harassment and hate on its service. The company says it may also ban similar language aimed at other groups such as those defined by gender, race and sexual orientation, but it has not done so yet, sparking criticism from civil rights groups. Twitter's latest update came after users wrote in thousands of responses when the company asked for suggestions on how to expand its hate speech policies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

executive chair: DeMarco has served as the longtime executive chair for the Environmental and Land Tribunal and as associate chair for the Conservation Review Board and Environmental Review Tribunal an independent and impartial body that makes decisions on environmental permits and assessments, and was recently recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme for its best practices, according to National Observer. It's a fantastic choice, said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence, who has known DeMarco for some 25 years. Environmentalists are applauding the appointment, noting that DeMarco brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that could serve him well, depending on how the environment office in the auditor general's office is allowed to function. I'm really happy he's filling that role. It shows that they are filling the position vacated by Dianne Saxe former environmental commissioner seriously, Gray added. I think everyone is interested in seeing the degree of independence and effectiveness the office will have now ... but having DeMarco there would bode well for the office. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ont .,: Wickens has posted periodic updates on his recovery following a horrific August crash during an Indy Car race at Pocono, according to CTV. He suffered a thoracic spinal fracture, spinal cord injury, neck fracture, tibia and fibula fractures to both legs, fractures in both hands, a fractured right forearm, fractured elbow, four fractured ribs and a pulmonary contusion. The 30-year-old driver for Guelph, Ont., announced the news Monday in a video on his Twitter feed. Wickens says he'll drive an Acura NSX with hand controls provided by Arrow, and he says he plans on going fast. I can't wait to get a helmet on and go around in an amazing car. I get to basically be pole position for the race, which is a blast, Wickens said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

american drama: The American drama, based on the true story of a Planned Parenthood clinic director in Texas who becomes an anti-abortion speaker, will screen in 14 Cineplex theatres in Canada for a week beginning Friday, according to CTV. It will also screen in 10 Landmark Cinemas as well as some independent theatres in Canada, after a U.S. release that stirred up intense debate on both sides of the issue. Ellis Jacob, president and CEO of Cineplex, has released a statement that follows up comments the company made last week to The Canadian Press about the film's release. Jacob says showing controversial films on the big screen is not new to him, Cineplex or the industry as a whole, and he's confident the company made the right decision. When I immigrated to Canada back in 1969, one of the things that I loved, and still love, the most about living here was that we didn't shy away from our differences -- we embrace them, Jacob, who was born in India, said in the statement issued Monday. He adds it's important to remember that Canada is a country that values freedom of expression, and that audiences can decide whether or not they want to see the film. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

education provider: Visa delays, concerns over being shut out of research projects and safety fears have turned off Chinese students, according to several admissions consultancies and nearly a dozen parents and students interviewed by AFP. Rival education powerhouses such as Britain, Australia and Canada are the biggest beneficiaries, a survey by New Oriental China's biggest private education provider said, according to CTV. Japan and South Korea -- traditional study abroad destinations for the Chinese elite -- and parts of Europe, especially Germany and Scandinavian countries with strong engineering programs, have also seen an uptick in applications, the survey found. China accounts for nearly a third of foreign students on U.S. campuses who pour billions of dollars into the economy, but in March their numbers dropped for the first time in a decade. The chilling effect started mid-last year, after President Donald Trump's administration slashed the visa duration of students in science and technology fields from five years to one in some cases. Over one third of the roughly 360,000 Chinese students in the U.S. study in STEM fields -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- according to the Institute of International Education in New York. Now there's a lot of uncertainty on whether they can even finish their studies, said Gu Huini, founder of boutique college consultancy Zoom In. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

stephen plan: Perhaps there's a subtle distinction that escapes the uneducated layperson's eye, but can someone in Scheer's Conservative parliamentary caucus or Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's United Conservative Party explain the difference between Trudeau's restrictions on bitumen exports and Stephen Harper's plan for the same thing Oh, I know, any real Albertan believes Prime Minister Trudeau's bitumen export plan calls for our province's vast resources to be land-locked and the Canadian economy destroyed in the name of airy-fairy environmentalism while former Conservative prime minister Harper's plan was a wise blueprint for their prudent and environmentally friendly development to the benefit of all mankind, according to Rabble. Seriously, though, on closer examination -- which is not easy amid the current nearly hysterical state of political discourse in Alberta fostered by our recent provincial election -- it would appear there's not actually a lot of light between Trudeau's plan now and that of Harper back in the day. Notwithstanding a lack of persuasive evidence, the popularity of this refrain here in Alberta never seems to wane. Leastways, 11 odd years ago, in September 2008, the Reuters News Agency was mildly complaining that Harper's plan would ban exports of tar-like bitumen from Alberta's oilsands to countries that do not match Canada's efforts to cut carbon emissions. The environmentalists because they didn't feel it went far enough, especially with regards to Canada's own emissions, and the industry because it claimed it needed more time to study the details. Say what! According to Reuters, both the fossil fuel industry and environmentalists were perplexed by this Conservative Party of Canada policy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cbsa immigration: Immigration holding centres, sometimes jails The Canada Border Services Agency can detain foreign nationals and permanent residents under certain conditions -- including if they pose security risks or are unlikely to appear for immigration proceedings -- but must first consider all reasonable alternatives, according to CTV. The CBSA says the physical and mental health and well-being of detainees are key considerations. Here's a look at how Canada deals with immigration detainees. A person may be detained at a CBSA immigration holding centre in Toronto, Laval, Que., or Vancouver. The Toronto centre can hold up to 195 detainees, while the Laval one can house up to 109. In other regions, people may be held in provincial jails. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hong: Hong Kong has been riven by huge marches and sometimes disruptive protests for the past month, sparked by proposed changes to extradition laws that would have allowed suspects to be sent to the mainland to face trial, according to CTV. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam suspended the bill and apologized for how it was handled, but protesters want it to be formally withdrawn and for Lam to resign. Chanting Free Hong Kong and words of encouragement to their fellow citizens, wave after wave of demonstrators streamed by a shopping district popular with mainland visitors on a march to the high-speed railway station that connects the semi-autonomous Chinese territory to Guangdong and other mainland cities. Organizers said 230,000 people marched on Sunday, while police estimated the crowd at 56,000. We want to show them the true image and the message of Hong Kongers. We want to show our peaceful, graceful protest to the mainland visitors because the information is rather blocked in mainland, march organizer Ventus Lau said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.