prime minister Jean Chretien: TORONTO - New citizens would be swearing an oath to Canada rather than to the Queen had former prime minister Jean Chretien not gotten cold feet at the last minute, his former citizenship minister said Friday. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. "I was very much of the belief that while we're a constitutional monarchy, we should be swearing an oath of allegiance to Canada," Marchi told The Canadian Press from Geneva. Michael McAteer is pictured in his Toronto home on Thursday, July 11, 2013. The former journalist, originally from Ireland, is one of three would-be citizens challenging the requirement to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young As three permanent residents and the federal government argued the issue in court, Sergio Marchi said he had been poised to scrap the pledge of allegiance to the Queen two decades ago. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Valerie Loveys: New Glasgow mom Valerie Loveys lost her home and ran up thousands of dollars of debt during her daughters battle with cancer, according to The Chronicle Herald. I had to weather so many storms all at once, Loveys recalled during an interview from her New Waterford apartment Friday afternoon and Her youngest daughter, Stephanie, was 18 when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Loveys immediately decided to stop working and focus on caring for her. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Strait Regional School Board: Over the past couple of years, as an outside observer close to the school review process, I have had a chance to ponder the actions of the Strait Regional School Board, the parents, and the provincial government with, at times, utter disbelief, utter amazement and utter disappointment at the behaviour exhibited by some, according to The Chronicle Herald. My daughter will attend Tamarac Education Centre for her first year in the fall. Her world is far different than the one in which I was educated. For her to have success in her chosen career, whatever that career may be, she will need to compete with people from Beijing, Moscow, London, and Christchurch. We must be able, with declining enrolment and funding, to offer world-class preparation to our children. No corner must be cut. No child can be shortchanged and The main focus of the school review process must be the future of our children. When I attended public school in the 1970s and 80s, I was being prepared to compete for employment with people from Sydney, Halifax, Moncton, etc. I received a wonderful education and a rock-solid foundation that has allowed me to be a lifelong learner. My education has never ended. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Ontario Superior Court: All maintain they oppose the oath on religious or conscientious grounds, saying pledging allegiance to Canada should be sufficient. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The oath requirement "effectively bars" the applicants from enjoying citizenship rights such as voting or obtaining a Canadian passport given their constitutionally protected beliefs, their application to Ontario Superior Court states. TORONTO -- Forcing would-be Canadians to pledge allegiance to the Queen before they can become citizens is discriminatory and a violation of their constitutional rights, three permanent residents are set to argue in court on Friday. The Citizenship Act requires applicants for citizenship to swear or affirm they will be "faithful and bear true allegiance to Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Calgary Zoo: The Assiniboine Park Zoo says its welcoming refugee critters from the flooded Calgary Zoo. Three cotton-top tamarins and two prehensile-tailed porcupines arriving in the next two weeks will be new animal species for the Winnipeg zoo. Its one of several zoos taking in animals from Calgary since it was hit hard by flooding in late June. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. One of the smallest primate species, the cotton-top tamarin can be easily recognized by the long white crest extending from its forehead to its shoulders. The prehensile-tailed porcupine is one of several tree-dwelling porcupines from Central and South America. A cotton-top Tamarin -- easily recognizable by the long white crest extending from its forehead to its shoulders -- keeps warm in front of a heat lamp at the Palm Beach Zoo in Florida. After arriving in Winnipeg, the animals will undergo the standard 30-day quarantine period at the Assiniboine Park Zoo prior to going on exhibit to the public. Visitors can expect to see the cotton-top tamarins and prehensile-tailed porcupines at the end of August. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Montana Democrat Senator Jon Tester: Montana Democrat Senator Jon Tester, who will chair a special field meeting of the U.S. Senate homeland security committee today focusing on the northern border, said cutting-edge technology, private partnerships and bilateral collaboration are key to closing potentially critical gaps especially at expansive unmanned stretches, according to CBC. Blue Rose is an in-ground perimeter defence and security system developed by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and based on fibre optic technology. According to an abstract summary prepared for Homeland Security, the system detects the sound and vibration of intruders, such as people and vehicles, moving near the sensor. System would detect, distinguish intruders A U.S. senator says a low-cost, high-tech cable sensor system could be planted along the Canada-U.S. border to boost security without impeding business. "I think theres some real opportunity to save money and get better border security," Tester told News. "I'm not talking drones here, I m talking low-level radar. I m talking things like Blue Rose technology, where you can lay a cable in the ground and determine whether a gopher runs over it, or a human being, or a horse." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowdens: Joshua Foust How Snowdens leaks will hurt the inner workings of Washington, according to Globe and Mail. South American bloc takes strong stance against U.S. on spying Video I ve been thinking a lot about Edward Snowdens time in Moscows Sheremetyevo International Airport, where some say he has been in the transit lounge since June 23. I like being in a transit lounge. I enjoy the extremely limited options there. Somehow, with all free will virtually suspended, it feels like the time is not really being deducted from ones life. A great deal of time, if you re Mr. Snowden. More Related to this Story Snowden prepared to stop leaking data for asylum in Russia: lawmaker (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Wei Hong Xie: However, an immigration officer at the Canadian visa post in Hong Kong said the cheat sheets found in his bag were proof that Liangs marriage to Wei Hong Xie of Toronto was a fraud and rejected the couples latest spousal sponsorship application, according to The Star. After another year of delay, Liang, a driver, and Xie, a restaurant worker, recently won the final round of the battle when the court dismissed the ministers request and After twice failing his immigration interviews due to nervousness, Hui Xin Liang on his third attempt brought with him notes prepared by his lawyer detailing his courtship with his Canadian wife. Last summer, the couple thought their ordeal was over when an Immigration and Refugee Board appeal tribunal overruled the officers decision. However, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney subsequently appealed the tribunals decision to the Federal Court of Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: In her first public comments on the matter, Pillay also called on all countries to respect the right for people to seek asylum, according to Reuters. "Snowden's case has shown the need to protect persons disclosing information on matters that have implications for human rights, as well as the importance of ensuring respect for the right to privacy," Pillay said in a statement and GENEVA - U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay gave guarded support for fugitive former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden on Friday, saying his case showed the need to protect people who uncovered abuses. Snowden, wanted by the United States for leaking details of its secret surveillance programs, said on Friday he would seek temporary asylum in Russia. Washington has pressed nations not to take him in or help him travel. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Conrad Black: A hearing has been set for Aug. 16, the OSC said in a notice late Friday. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. It's alleged they did not have approval for these payments, and had made misrepresentations about them through public disclosure. TORONTO - Ex-media baron Conrad Black and two former executives at Hollinger Inc. have been scheduled to appear before the Ontario Securities Commission, more than eight years after being accused of fraud. Black, John Boultbee and Peter Atkinson are accused of cheating shareholders and tax authorities in the U.S. and Canada, specifically, improperly diverting proceeds from the now-defunct media giant Hollinger International to themselves through "non-competition" payments. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.