Census Data Dept: OTTAWA - The first tranche of fresh, new census data is coming out this week, and Ted Hildebrandt is giddy with anticipation, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The data provides invaluable information about affordable housing, immigrants, poverty, income levels, who lives alone, who works and who doesn't. But it's five years old, and Hildebrandt can hardly wait for a brand new set of numbers and the cover of the 2011 Census package is shown in Ottawa on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Fresh 2011 numbers coming out this week will rekindle Canada's centuries-old love affair with census. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick The director of social planning for Community Development Halton has been relying on the 2006 census data to figure out how to make Burlington, Ont., more receptive to seniors determining where they live, how quickly they're aging, and what kind of services are lacking at the community level. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Vaclav Havel Dept: The House of Commons paused after question period in Ottawa to praise the political playwright who helped peace-fully bring down the communist government of Czechoslovakia and became the first president of the Czech Republic, according to The Chronicle Herald. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, NDP foreign affairs critic Helene Laverdiere and interim Liberal leader Bob Rae all gave impassioned tributes about Havel and oTTAWA Some unidentified MPs blocked a tribute Monday to free speech icon Vaclav Havel by Green Leader Elizabeth May. Havel died in December. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Monsieur Lazhar Dept: But before Falardeau goes to the Oscars three weeks from now, his film is being shown at a special screening Monday night at the National Arts Centre, where he once worked as an usher. Monsieur Lazhar is the story of an Algerian immigrant who helps a middle-school class deal with the death of their teacher, according to CBC. Click on the video above to watch. Monsieur Lazhar has been nominated for the best foreign-language film at the 84th Academy Awards. Falardeau sat down with Ottawa's Sandra Abma to talk about the film and his journey from growing up in Hull to going to Hollywood. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Immigration Dept: The primary reason is a restructuring of Canadian immigration that gave more control to provincial governments. Ontario, for so long an irresistible magnet to highly educated skilled workers, was slow to adjust. The status quo had served it well. While provinces such as Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta jumped at the newly created provincial nominee program early in the decade, Ontario did little, according to Globe and Mail. While the number of immigrants remained constant at about 250,000 per year, Ontario s share shrank. The other provinces used the nominee program to gobble up applicants, such as tradespeople, who don t fare well in the points system for skilled-worker applications. As the skilled-worker stream declined, so did Ontario. Ontario s going to show declining growth, that s for sure, said Doug Norris, senior vice-president at Environics Analytics and a leading expert on the census. They ve pulled immigrants out of Ontario, and immigrants drive growth, so Ontario s going to be down. Ontario didn t use the nominee program very much because for a long time it thought it was getting the numbers and also the kinds of immigrants it wanted, said Leslie Seidle, research director for immigration at the Institute for Research on Public Policy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Office Jobs Dept: In other words, the United States has effectively reached peak office demand an assessment that should spark interest for commercial property market insiders in Canada, according to Globe and Mail. Our traditional idea of an office space and the idea that as the number of office jobs increase, it will lead to an increase in demand for office space, just doesn t hold any more. The experts agreed that, with the exception of a handful of core markets such as New York and San Francisco, the country s existing property supply likely already offers more than enough room for its white-collar workers. We don t need another office building, says Martha O Mara, a symposium panelist, lecturer at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and managing director of Cambridge, Mass.-based commercial property consulting firm Corporate Portfolio Analytics Inc. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

University Of Winnipeg Dept: This shouldn't hurt a bit. There won't be any invasive tests, and not much poking and prodding. They're just going to take your pulse, check your levels... look under the hood, so to speak. And you'll have your best friend by your side the whole time, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Aurora Family Therapy Centre, located at the University of Winnipeg, is once again offering free relationship checkups to Manitoba couples during Valentine's week and it's almost Valentine's Day and time for your annual checkup. Now open your relationship wide and say "Ahh." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Immigrant Experience Dept: And like the thousands who share their immigrant experience, the family s integration into Canadian life hasn t always been easy, according to CBC. Click here for more on our series examining the challenges facing immigrants in York Region and like thousands of immigrants who come to Canada every year, the Thanesh family came to Toronto hoping for a better life. Kiruba Thanesh and her husband who uses Thanesh as both a first and last name left behind good jobs when they departed their native Sri Lanka more than a year ago. Making the move with them were their two sons, aged 13 and nine. Great Expectations (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Deng Xiaoping Dept: In contrast to when Mao systematically tried to destabilize neighbours and spread communism, leadership since Deng Xiaoping has demonstrated a willingness to play according to Western rules. There s still work to be done, especially around intellectual property, cyber espionage and human rights. Yet, for the most part, China has behaved responsibly in the World Trade Organization, G20 and climate-change negotiations , according to Globe and Mail. Our geography, demography and resources give us cards to play. As Mr. Harper has learned, it s never easy dealing with the Middle Kingdom and its sensitivities. By focusing on people-to-people connections, we build trust that will serve our commercial interests and advance our ability to play constructive internationalism, especially in the critical Sino-American relationship and the miracle is not without warts. Social unrest is an abiding preoccupation of the Chinese leadership. The fear, as Mao Zedong put it, is that a single spark can start a prairie fire. Domestic stability is fundamental. This has led to celebrated confrontations with dissidents and over access to information. Canadians have a role to play in ensuring that the international system responds to the changing concert of powers and that China is accorded place, standing and respect in a new order built on peaceful, competitive dynamism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Vander Zalm Dept: The former judge and former premier -- the respected and honoured jurist Ted Hughes and the charismatic and populist politician William Vander Zalm -- their skin the colour of parchment, their ancient feud still vivid and sanguine, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Like aging boxers in their respective corners, they sat in B.C. Supreme Court facing one final round, one last heavyweight battle over reputation and history, prompted by the 2008 publication of Vander Zalm's self-penned vanity book, William Vander Zalm -- For The People, which sold fewer than 1,500 copies and vANCOUVER -- The old men sat at opposite ends of the front row in the courtroom public gallery, their wives beside them, nine empty seats and a 20-year-old grudge between. Not a glance would pass between the silver-haired paladins, let alone a word. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

President Bashar Assad Dept: NDP foreign affairs critic Helene Laverdiere urged the government to recall the envoy because she said it would send a strong message to Assad, who has waged a bloody 11-month crackdown in his country that has left thousands dead. A Syrian military offensive against people in the city of Homs has entered its third straight day, according to The Chronicle Herald. "It s not a question of cutting diplomatic ties completely," Laverdiere said Monday. "Our position does not go as far as that of the United States." OTTAWA The official Opposition wants Canada s ambassador recalled from Syria, but the government says he will stay in the besieged country to blast President Bashar Assad for his attacks on domestic dissenters. The Obama administration closed the U.S. embassy in Damascus on Monday and recalled all diplomatic staff. Britain recalled its ambassador to Syria and expressed its disgust over the situation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.