Skilled Workers Dept: Mired in a four-year recession and with an unemployment rate of 14 per cent, the economy of the former "Celtic Tiger" is bleak for Irish workers, many of whom are highly skilled and only too willing to emigrate to find work, according to Vancouver Sun. Little wonder, then, that Premier Brad Wall, Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris, and 27 provincial employers were in Ireland a few days ago to recruit workers at international job fairs in Dublin and Cork and at first glance, it's not hard to see why Ireland has worked its charm on the Saskatchewan government and provincial employers eager to lure skilled workers to Canada's hottest economy. This province could certainly use some new hands - in recent weeks we've heard about the urgent need for skilled construction workers, senior engineers, electricians, heavy duty mechanics, doctors, nurses and other health-care workers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Breivik Dept: The indictment unveiled Wednesday against confessed killer and rightist extremist Anders Behring Breivik describes the horror unleashed on a political youth camp on July 22 with gruesome detail, according to CTV. Breivik, 33, has confessed to the shooting massacre on Utoya island and a bombing that killed eight people in Oslo on the same day, but denies criminal guilt. In pretrial hearings, he has portrayed the victims as "traitors" for embracing immigration policies he claims will result in an Islamic colonization of Norway and oSLO, Norway Exactly 100 people were shot, some of them up to eight times, before the gunman surrendered to police. Of the 69 people killed, 56 were shot in the head. One drowned and another fell off a cliff in desperate attempts to flee the mayhem. "Panic and mortal fear in children, youth and adults arose during the shooting, further intensified by the fact that there were limited possibilities of escape or hiding," prosecutors said in a 19-page document charging Breivik with terrorism and premeditated murder. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Immigration And Refugee Protection Act Dept: Thayakaran Markandu faces one charge of organizing entry into Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in connection to the arrival of the MV Sun Sea on Vancouver Island in August 2010, according to CTV. "Obtaining enough evidence to have Mr. Markandu charged is an important step in holding those responsible for perpetrating this human smuggling scheme accountable, and demonstrates the dedication of border integrity investigators," RCMP Supt. Derek Simmonds of the B.C. Federal Border Integrity Program said in a release and a Sri Lankan national has been charged with organizing the voyage of a ship that brought 492 Tamil asylum seekers to B.C. nearly two years ago. A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Markandu's arrest, but Mounties believe he is living abroad. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties of life in prison and a $1 million fine. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Sarkozy Dept: Hostilities started in earnest when President Nicolas Sarkozy launched his campaign on Feb. 16, drawing gasps with a stump speech accusing Socialist front-runner Fran ois Hollande of "lying from morning to night.", according to Montreal Gazette. While Sarkozy has accused Hollande of trying to sound like "Thatcher internationally and Mitterrand in France," referring to the former British and French leaders, a Hollande aide has likened Sarkozy to "a cross between Silvio Berlusconi and Vladimir Putin." From snide one-liners on Twitter to eggs hurled at a caf sheltering the president, the French election campaign has taken a nasty turn, which has left many voters yearning for quieter days - and some decrying a lack of substance in debates. The tone has grown sharper as a motley crew of fringe candidates, struggling to make themselves heard above the front-runners, compete for attention on online news outlets, three 24-hour news channels and in a torrent of Twitter posts. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mounties Dept: Thayakaran Markandu has been charged with organizing illegal entry into Canada, the Mounties announced Wednesday. The charge relates to the MV Sun Sea, which arrived in August 2010 carrying 492 Tamil migrants, according to CBC. "We believe he's not inside Canada, so we're working with our international partners to have the warrant executed in an effort to bring him to justice," Pound said in an interview. 'No Canadian thinks it's acceptable to abuse our immigration system for financial gain through the despicable crime of human smuggling.' Public Safety Minister Vic Toews RCMP have launched an international manhunt for the first person charged in connection with a ship that brought hundreds of Tamil migrants to Canada's West Coast a year and a half ago. Markandu, who court records indicate was born in 1972, is currently believed to be living abroad, although the Mounties haven't confirmed where, said Sgt. Duncan Pound. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Economic Immigration Dept: The Tory majority on the committee also wants the government to make skilled workers the priority, particularly the 300,000-strong backlog in applications received prior to 2008, according to Montreal Gazette. "We know that immigration can and will be part of the solution to our economic needs. That's why we think it's important that the government act decisively and quickly to deal with the backlog, especially the backlogs in the economic immigration categories." Though divided along party lines, a House of Commons committee ultimately wants the federal government to consider more caps on applications for immigration in order to tackle a backlog that's now reached nearly 1 million, according to a report tabled Tuesday. "We believe the government's primary focus should be on jobs and growth to drive our economy," said Rick Dykstra, parliamentary secretary to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Duncan Pound Dept: VANCOUVER - Mounties have launched an international manhunt for the first person charged in connection with a ship that brought hundreds of Tamil migrants to Canada's West Coast a year and a half ago, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Markandu, who was born in 1972 according to court records, is currently believed to be living abroad, although Mounties haven't confirmed where, said Sgt. Duncan Pound and the MV Sun Sea is escorted past Fisgard Lighthouse and into CFB Esquimalt in Colwood, B.C.,Friday, Aug. 13, 2010. The suspect Tamil migrant boat is believed to be holding as many as 500 refugees with unknown numbers of women and children. Thayakaran Markandu has been charged with organizing illegal entry into Canada, the RCMP announced Wednesday. The charge relates to the MV Sun Sea, which arrived in August 2010 carrying 492 Tamil migrants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Minister Of Immigration Jason Kenney Dept: OTTAWA - Major changes to the immigration system could include erasing a massive backlog of applications, the minister in charge said Wednesday, according to Winnipeg Free Press. "We must have transformational change to move to an immigration program that works for Canada and for newcomers," he said in a speech to the Economic Club of Canada and minister of Immigration Jason Kenney delivers a speech to the Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said all options are on the table when it comes to modernizing the process of bringing in would-be immigrants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Crowded Street Dept: It was not necessary to kill Michael Eligon. Police have more than enough in their fattened budget to train officers in using a baton, or a rake, stick or anything nearby on that crowded street, to either disarm or otherwise isolate the clearly bewildered man wielding scissors in each hand, according to The Star. Take away their guns and reduce their budget, then train them to really serve and protect. Field only police officers who don t panic when a troubled Michael Scissorhands approaches and re: Michael Eligon vigil calls for a better way,' March 4 Was there anywhere behind Mr. Eligon that didn t include citizens watching when three shots were fired at him? Was there a hurry to subdue Mr. Eligon at the cost of his life? (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Immigration System Dept: That s one option on the table as Ottawa seeks to make its immigration system more nimble in matching newcomers with jobs, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Wednesday, according to The Star. Prime Minister Stephen Harper used a January speech at an economic forum in Davos, Switzerland, to signal that immigration reforms are on the way this year and oTTAWA The federal government is looking at simply erasing the backlog of potential newcomers as it looks to dramatically overhaul an immigration system criticized as plodding and rigid. It s time for some frank discussion of the need for transformational change in our immigration programs so that we select the newcomers who will fill the job shortages that exist, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.