jobs: Several studies have documented that precarious, non-standard jobs are rapidly growing in Canada, and that this trend negatively affects a substantial proportion of Canadians, according to The Star. Two reports released by the Income Security, Race and Health ISRH community-based research team in Toronto provide powerful qualitative evidence about the damaging consequences of precarious jobs. These reports Working Rough, Living Poor and Where are the Good Jobs? can be downloaded from: www.accessalliance.ca . The ISRH team focused on racialized Canadians because they are more affected by the growth in precarious employment and In the name of free market policies, Canada has seen a downward push on wages and a rise in unstable, temporary and unsafe jobs. These types of jobs are broadly referred to as precarious work or non-standard employment since they are marked by limited or no stability, benefits and protection. A recently released report by United Way Toronto and McMaster University, Its More Than Poverty , found that 40 per cent of workers in the Greater Toronto Area-Hamilton region are in precarious types of employment. The Law Commission of Ontarios recent report, Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work , has documented how lax employment standards and occupational health and safety regulations are making an increasing number of workers more vulnerable to bad working conditions and exploitation. Research also shows that immigrants, racialized people visible minorities and women tend to be overrepresented in these types of jobs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nova Scotia: In 2011, there were 3,905 farms in Nova Scotia an increase of 2.9 per cent from the 2006 census, according to The Chronicle Herald. The farm gate value of agricultural products in Nova Scotia in 2011 was $595 million, supporting a food industry valued at $2.3 billion and Agriculture directly employs more than 5,800 Nova Scotians and another 10,500 work in the industry beyond the farm gate. Taking into account the 58,000 other Nova Scotians who work in the food service sector, farms and food businesses provide employment for about 13 per cent of Nova Scotias work force. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Avalon Waterways: CRUISING THE RIVERS OF FRANCE If you ve ever gone on a day trip to several vineyards in the Niagara region, you ll know its wise to have a designated driver at your disposal. So it only makes sense that you d do the same thing if you were touring the wine country of France, according to The Star. Thats what my wife, Pamela, and I have just done, thanks to Avalon Waterways and their splendid 10-day river cruise through France, from Paris down through Burgundy and Provence to the C te d Azur and Richard Ouzounian, s theatre critic and a frequent contributor to Star Travel, files this report from the oh-so-lovely Burgundy wine region of France... Of course, if you really want to do it in style, why not make it a designated captain, with a well-trained crew and a luxuriously-equipped ship at your command? (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Gene Simmons: For one thing, there was this childhood obsession with astronauts. For another, his image was less likely to cause nightmares compared to demonic, blood-spitting bandmate Gene Simmons. Cut me some slack, I was nine when Destroyer came out, according to The Chronicle Herald. Cut to 30 years after Frehleys initial departure from the band and Kiss remains a worldwide phenomenon and In my days as a young private in the Kiss Army, my favourite commanding officer had to be Ace Frehley, the mysterious Space Ace guitarist of the greasepaint-covered rock act. Plus there were some great songs credited to the silver lame-clad rock alien, like Shock Me, Rocket Ride and, the only hit from those ill-fated 1978 Kiss solo albums, New York Groove. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Pau Gasol: Knees allowing, he wants to be the dominant player of old who helped Bryant Co. win NBA titles in 2009 and 2010, according to Globe and Mail. Lakers guard Steve Nash to practise with Inter Milan With Dwight Howard gone and Kobe Bryant injured, Pau Gasol is looking to reassert himself as a leader of the Los Angeles Lakers. I think I have the most uncertain period behind me, Gasol told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The team has suffered a lot of changes, but as far as me, I am back in the position of a lot of responsibility, which I like, and I m just going to focus on getting healthy. More Related to this Story (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Robert Fotti: On April 10, 1977 Robert Fotti ran a red light in Winnipeg. He collided with the motorcycle of 42-year-old Gordon Hochman and his 17-year-old son, Stewart, killing them both, according to CBC. Fotti, who had an extensive record of traffic violations, was charged with dangerous driving, and in 1978, was found not guilty. The Crown appealed the decision and won. Fotti then took his case to the Supreme Court of Canada, which upheld the conviction and After more than 30 years on the run, a fugitive may be heading back to Manitoba. Hochmans wife, Marlene, and other son, Larry, were on a motorcycle close behind and witnessed the aftermath of the crash. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Burnley Rocky Jones: Jones, a high-profile Halifax lawyer who focused on racial equality and labour law, died Monday in hospital following a heart attack in his home. He was 71, according to CTV. Rev. Rhonda Britton of Cornwallis Street Baptist Church in Halifax said Jones was a human rights crusader and a champion of Nova Scotia's black community and HALIFAX -- Burnley Rocky Jones had a smile that could light up a room, a leadership style that inspired a generation of young black people in Nova Scotia and enough political grit and charisma that he was once considered a threat to national security. A co-founder of the Black United Front of Nova Scotia and the National Black Coalition of Canada, Jones was named to the Order of Nova Scotia in 2010. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Barack Obama: WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama's latest public comments on TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline have highlighted the wildly divergent job estimates associated with the project while raising concerns among American proponents that he's preparing to reject it. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. But a U.S. Chamber of Commerce official said Tuesday that Obama's public comments about the pipeline over the past few weeks suggest he might be setting the stage to delay a decision on Keystone XL even further. President Barack Obama reacts to a reporters question about the Palestinian and Israeli peace talks as he walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 30, 2013, for Andrews Air Force Base, Md., prior to traveling to Chattanooga, Tenn. to speak about middle class policy speech at a Amazon fulfillment center. AP Photo/Evan Vucci The White House hasn't responded to queries about where the president got his paltry estimate of 2,000 potential jobs during a recent interview with the New York Times. A spokesman said simply that Obama's remarks prove he is trying to "drain the politics" from the Keystone XL debate. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Chrystia Freeland Liberal: Chrystia Freeland Liberal and Jennifer Hollett NDP , if they can win the nominations for their respective parties, hope to replace as MP former Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae, who has announced hes vacating the seat by the end of July, according to CBC. So far, no one has announced an intention to seek the Conservative nomination in Toronto Centre and The upcoming federal byelection in Toronto Centre is shaping up as a battle between two media stars who are both political neophytes, but highly accomplished in the worlds of journalism and social media. The diverse downtown Toronto riding would be a prize for either the NDP, seeking to shore up its increasingly orange-tinted section of Canada's largest city, or for the Liberals, who need not just to hold on to the riding but show that their new leader Justin Trudeau is a magnet for successful candidates. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

consumer confidence index: The Conference Board, a New York-based private research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 80.3 in July. That's down from a reading of 82.1 in June, which was revised slightly higher and the best reading since January 2008, according to Times Colonist. "Overall, indications are that the economy is strengthening and may even gain some momentum in the months ahead," said Lynn Franco, an economist for the Conference Board that oversees the consumer confidence survey and WASHINGTON - Americans' confidence in the economy fell only slightly in July but stayed close to a 5 1/2-year high, a sign that consumers should continue to help drive growth in the coming months. Despite the slight drop in July, confidence remains well above year-ago levels. And consumers are more optimistic about the current job market. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.