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.

Edward Snowden: The U.S. is attempting to extradite the admitted leaker of state secrets on espionage charges, but hasnt yet had any success, according to Globe and Mail. U.S. warns countries against Snowden travel Edward Snowden is on the run again after spending several weeks in hiding in Hong Kong. Mr. Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency, slipped out of Hong Kong and arrived in Russia on Sunday. The cat-and-mouse saga bordered on the absurd on Monday when a plane took off from Moscow to Havana full of journalists but without Mr. Snowden. More Related to this Story (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jennifer Stoddart: OTTAWA - Canada's privacy czar has singled out several federal departments for their lacklustre approach to data breaches, citing a need for better reporting, security and tracking protocols. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The analysis is based on departmental figures tabled in Parliament in April in response to a question from New Democrat MP Charlie Angus. The response indicated there were more than 3,000 data breaches over a 10-year period affecting about 725,000 Canadians. Privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart is shown in Ottawa on Nov. 25, 2010. Canada's privacy czar has singled out several federal departments for their lacklustre approach to data breaches, citing a need for better reporting, security and tracking protocols. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart's office has compiled a preliminary list of agencies with potentially worrisome patterns when it comes to the loss of Canadians' personal information. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Alberta Premier Alison Redford: Alberta Premier Alison Redford said that while Calgary, Canmore and High River are shifting into recovery mode, other communities such as Drumheller and Medicine Hat are bracing for their own ordeal. The government has examined river flows, rainfall and the flooding impact, and Ms. Redford says they have confirmed the floods of the last several days are the largest in Albertas history. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Calgary continues slow recovery after flooding Calgary and other devastated communities are starting a painstaking recovery after the worst flood in Albertas history, even as the southeast of the province braces for the arrival of the peak of surging waters early Monday. Albertas spirit emerges from the water (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino: Snowden's whereabouts remained a mystery and his application for Ecuadoran asylum was formally just under consideration. Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, nonetheless, made little effort to disguise his government's position. He told reporters in Hanoi that the choice Ecuador faced in hosting Snowden was "betraying the citizens of the world or betraying certain powerful elites in a specific country.", according to Times Colonist. Analysts said welcoming Snowden would sharply escalate Correa's policy of tweaking the United States while maintaining strong economic ties that have maintained healthy growth rates and fueled the president's wide popularity, over 60 per cent in recent polls. It would be a tempting but potentially dangerous play, they said, for a leader who appears to delight in slamming U.S. foreign policy but depends on Washington for nearly half Ecuador's foreign trade and QUITO, Ecuador - Ecuador's president and foreign minister declared Monday that national sovereignty and universal principles of human rights would govern their decision on granting asylum to Edward Snowden, powerful hints that the former National Security Agency contractor is welcome here despite potential repercussions from Washington. President Rafael Correa said on Twitter that "we will take the decision that we feel most suitable, with absolute sovereignty." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Chief Rose Laboucan: The company says that is not the average offer, and in fact is in the lower range of a wide array of agreements, but some aboriginal leaders says it's a far cry from the path out of poverty the company claims, according to CBC. Laboucan said the band sat down to negotiate with Calgary-based Enbridge but would not sign the equity agreement "for ethical reasons." The equity offer from Northern Gateway to aboriginal groups along the route of a controversial oil pipeline would amount to as little as $70,000 a year for some bands, according to one base offer obtained by The Canadian Press. "Only minimal economic benefits were offered," Chief Rose Laboucan, the six-term chief of the Driftpile Cree Nation northwest of Edmonton, told the federal panel assessing the project during final arguments about the controversial project. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Manitoba Immigration Minister Christine Melnick: photos by jessica burtnick / East Indian dancers perform at The Forks during Canadian Multiculturalism Day celebrations Saturday. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Manitoba Immigration Minister Christine Melnick introduced some of the ambassadors during a multicultural concert at The Forks Saturday. JESSICA BURTNICK / Christine Melnick greets MYMB members. Enlarge Image BY launching a group of youth ambassadors, the province hopes to help aboriginal youth and young immigrants feel they have every opportunity to succeed in Manitoba. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

initial reports: In all, 12 young people were taken, according to The Star. Despite initial reports, those who carried out the operation were not driving dark SUVs or disguised with masks both giveaways of gang-related activity in Mexico but arrived in unremarkable sedans, wearing casual clothing and The abduction took place in Mexico City, on a Sunday morning in May. One moment, they were here. A few minutes later, they were gone. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: Edward Snowden's passport was annulled before he left Hong Kong for Russia and while that could complicate his travel plans, the lack of a passport alone could not thwart his plans, the U.S. official said. If a senior official in another country or with an airline orders it, a country could overlook the withdrawn passport, the official said. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Snowden's allies said he was heading toward Ecuador, where the foreign minister said the government had received a request for asylum. WASHINGTON - The former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed information about highly classified surveillance programs has had his U.S. passport revoked, an official said Sunday. The U.S. official would only discuss the passport on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Abu Ahmed: With no land to farm, and only sporadic employment, Abu Ahmed had been struggling to feed his family. But now, he uses his roof to grow tomatoes, parsley, red cabbage and onions providing food while creating a lush green space overlooking the otherwise drab cityscape, according to The Star. Urban aquaponic farms like Abu Ahmeds where herbs and vegetables are grown without soil, in tubs filled with rocks and water from connected fish tanks have the potential to curb food insecurity in the cramped Gaza Strip and GAZA CITY On the roof of a six-storey apartment block, 51-year-old Abu Ahmed plucks heads of lettuce and vines of tomatoes from his garden. My father and my grandfather were farmers we were always farmers. But we have no land now, said Abu Ahmed, whose family are refugees from a village that is now inside Israel. Now, I love to work on this farm. The vegetables are much better than the ones in the market, and they are just upstairs from my home I can pick them anytime. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

South Saskatchewan River: The water flow in the South Saskatchewan River is projected to top 5,000 cubic metres per second on Monday. Similarly high flows in the river in 1995 caused widespread damage across southern Alberta, according to CTV. Approximately 10,000 people have been asked to leave the low-lying areas of the city as the South Saskatchewan River continued to rise over the weekend and Emergency crews in Medicine Hat have prepared for the worst as water levels in the citys major river continue to rise and are expected to peak Monday morning. Flooding on the Bow and Elbow Rivers devastated parts of Calgary on Thursday and Friday, and more than 20 communities in Alberta have been on alert after heavy rains. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.