Francisco Rico-Martinez: Canada

Loly Rico Dept: That marked t of what Francisco Rico-Martinez, his wife Loly Rico and other refugee advocates vow will be a 31-week vigil to mourn the end of Canada s humanitarian tradition of welcoming asylum seekers in need of protection. It is just one of a string of grassroots protests being mounted in the GTA, according to The Star. Because of the current government s overhaul of the refugee system, refugees no longer have the same opportunity to escape precarious situations and rebuild their lives in Canada, he said and as busy commuters and shoppers hurried past the Dufferin Mall in the west end last Friday, a hardy group braved brisk winds to hoist a banner in the park across the street: Stop Bill C-31. Times are changing, said Rico-Martinez, who fled political persecution in El Salvador 22 years ago for the welcoming arms of Toronto, where the couple helped set up a refugee shelter. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.