Maureen MacDonald: UPDATED 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, according to The Chronicle Herald. Maureen MacDonald released the audited fiscal statements for 2012-13 on Wednesday, saying the numbers show the provinces finances are in a much better place than they were four years ago and Nova Scotias finance minister did her best to paint a rosy picture of the provinces finances despite the debt hitting an all-time high. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Paul Ashworth: The government on Wednesday sharply revised down its estimate of growth in the January-March quarter to a 1.1 per cent annual rate from a previously estimated 1.8 per cent rate, according to 660 News. The April-June growth figure indicates that the recovery is gaining momentum, Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, said in a note to clients and WASHINGTON The U.S. economy grew from April through June at an annual rate of 1.7 per cent a sluggish pace but stronger than in the previous quarter. Businesses spent more, and the federal government cut less, offsetting weaker spending by consumers. Though growth remains weak, the pickup last quarter supports forecasts that the economy will accelerate the rest of the year. Economists think businesses will step up investment, job growth will fuel more consumer spending and the drag from government cuts will fade. If so, the Federal Reserve could scale back its stimulus later this year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Federal Reserve: Instead, it dropped hints that it might need to maintain its $85 billion a month in bond purchases, which have helped keep long-term borrowing rates ultra-low, according to Times Colonist. Slightly downgraded its assessment of economic growth from "moderate" to "modest." WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve stopped short of signalling any timetable Wednesday for slowing its bond buying. In a statement after a two-day policy meeting the Fed: (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

OTTAWA Canadian universities: OTTAWA Canadian universities say they are being hamstrung by a law that was intended to clamp down on immigration scammers, according to The Chronicle Herald. Though the bill was passed two years ago, it was only in May that universities received the final edict that it also applies to them. That means university staff cannot advise international students on matters like applying for a visa, work permit or permanent residence and Bill C-35 was first titled the Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act. It banned unauthorized people from acting as immigration consultants to prey on people looking for a way into Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Ontario Human Rights Commission: What about a Zamboni driver, someone asked. That was quickly laughed out of contention. There are ice rinks from Dubai to Durban, according to The Star. As the game went on, the entries became far-fetched. What about an entomologist studying an indigenous beetle on a unique rock formation somewhere in the Canadian Shield? Everybody rolled their eyes and The staff at the Ontario Human Rights Commission held a joking contest to see if anyone could come up with a job that genuinely requires Canadian experience. What about a regulator administering an arcane branch of Canadian law? Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall had a five-word answer: Knowledge of Canadian law required. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Keith Alexander: Army Gen. Keith Alexander has been unapologetic during recent public appearances about the NSA collecting "metadata" to, in his words, "connect the dots" and "go after bad guys who ... hide amongst us to kill our people." Related Items Articles US government argues for continued surveillance power but prepares for changes to NSA work , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Alexander has said his agency's ability to dip into what he characterized as a "virtual lockbox" and compare collected email and telephone data helped thwart 54 plots against targets in the United States and some 20 other countries. LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The head of the U.S. National Security Agency has faced Congress and presidents in the past, and isn't expected to budge from the position that his mission is to stop terrorists and that his agency's surveillance program is critical, even amid a room full of hackers Wednesday at a conference in Las Vegas. "Our job is to stop them without impacting your civil liberties and privacy," Alexander told a July 18 audience at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. "We don't want another 9-11." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

U.S. Federal Reserve: TORONTO The Toronto stock market was lower on the last trading day of July as losses in mining stocks helped eclipse early gains on positive earnings news and the U.S. Federal Reserve offered no clues as to when it might start to wind down a key bit of stimulus, according to The Chronicle Herald. The loonie was ahead 0.3 of a cent to 97.37 cents US as the greenback further weakened following the Fed announcement mid-afternoon. However, bond yields were little changed with the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury at 2.65 per cent and The S P/TSX composite index declined 16.05 points to 12,565.7 as the U.S. Federal Reserve ended its two-day meeting on interest rates with by saying it would carry on with its monthly $85 billion of bond purchases and that rates will remain unchanged near zero. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Treasury Board president Tony Clement: It's the third move made by the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers this week in its attempt to pressure the government to enter arbitration and settle a contract dispute, according to CBC. The labour relations board complaint comes after PAFSO and Treasury Board president Tony Clement failed to agree on sending the matter to an arbitrator, an option first proposed by the union on July 18. The government wanted to impose six conditions on the arbitration process and the union said they were so "paralyzing" it couldn't accept all of them and Striking foreign service workers are accusing the federal government of bargaining in bad faith and have filed a complaint with the Public Service Labour Relations Board. On Monday, foreign service officers at Canada's 15 busiest visa processing centres abroad walked off the job and on Tuesday, employees in Ottawa held a demonstration outside Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Lon Snowden: Speaking to the state-owned Rossiya 24 channel in footage broadcast Wednesday, Lon Snowden of Allentown, Pennsylvania, thanked the Kremlin for the "courage" shown in keeping his son safe, according to Times Colonist. The younger Snowden has been stuck in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since arriving from Hong Kong on June 23. Russia is considering his request for temporary asylum, which he submitted on July 16 and MOSCOW - The father of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden told Russian television that he is grateful to President Vladimir Putin and his government for protecting his son. Addressing his son, Lon Snowden said that "your family is well and we love you." He added that "I hope to see you soon, but most of all I want you to be safe." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

U.S. Federal Reserve: The loonie was up 0.17 of a cent to 97.24 cents US as the American currency weakened ahead of the end of a two-day meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve on interest rates, according to 660 News. Statistics Canada reported that gross domestic product grew by 0.2 per cent. Economists had looked for a 0.3 per cent rise from April and TORONTO The Canadian dollar shook off early losses late Wednesday morning despite data showing the economy performed weaker than expected during May. There has been much speculation surrounding the Fed over the last two months, since chairman Ben Bernanke first mentioned that the central bank could start to taper its US$85 billion of monthly bond purchases later this year if economic conditions warrant. This key piece of economic stimulus is credited with keeping long term rates low and fuelling a strong rally on markets. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.