Statistics Canada: OTTAWA The Canadian economy seems to have fallen into a hole in June, but not for the reasons many had expected, according to The Chronicle Herald. On top of a 1.3 per cent pull-back in manufacturing volumes, Junes economic data is shaping up to be one of the weakest months since the 2008-09 recession and Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that wholesale trade plunged a massive 2.8 per cent in June to $48.8 billion, reversing the gains posted the previous two months. Wholesale trade also fell 2.9 per cent in volumes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sixth straight quarter: Penney's 2Q results show some signs of life , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The beleaguered department store chain on Tuesday reported its sixth straight quarter of big losses and steep revenue drops as it continued to face challenges related to a botched turnaround plan spearheaded by its ousted CEO Ron Johnson. NEW YORK AP The worst may be over at J.C. Penney Co. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

religious symbols: The government is preparing to introduce long-awaited legislation that would restrict religious symbols in numerous places, according to CTV. It appears the PQ hopes to cash in at the ballot box by championing a position on secularism that polls have suggested has considerable support in the province and MONTREAL -- Quebec has launched its next debate on minority accommodation -- and this one could make the erstwhile soccer-turban ban look like a leisurely stroll on the pitch. A media report Tuesday with leaked details of the Parti Quebecois government's "Charter of Quebec Values" says the proposed policy will prohibit public employees from donning Sikh, Jewish and Muslim headwear in the workplace. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Ted Cruz: WASHINGTON - Sen. Ted Cruz, seemingly eyeing a presidential run in 2016, calls his renunciation of Canadian citizenship no big deal, even though questions about candidates' birthplaces have flared in recent elections. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Cruz, a Texas Republican and tea party favourite, was born in Canada, to a Cuban father and U.S.-born mother. His mother's status has allowed him to be a citizen of both the United States and Canada, but he said Tuesday in Houston, "I believe it makes sense for me to be only an American." File-Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas , speaks during the family leadership summit in Ames, Iowa Saturday Aug. 10, 2013. Cruz said Monday Aug. 19, 2013, that he will renounce his Canadian citizenship. The Texas Republican and tea party favorite announced his plans Monday night in a statement. The move comes in the wake of a report by The Dallas Morning News that Cruz holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship. Cruz released his birth certificate amid concerns that being born in Canada could derail a possible presidential run by the tea party firebrand. AP Photo/Justin Hayworth, File Controversy still dogs President Barack Obama from some quarters despite proof he was born in Hawaii. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police: Delegates at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police annual meeting have passed a resolution that says officers need more enforcement options to deal with people caught with pot, according to CTV. "There's a cost to a lot of the enforcement that we do," Chu said Tuesday at the meeting in Winnipeg and WINNIPEG -- Canada's top cops say handing out tickets for illegal possession of small amounts of marijuana could be more efficient than laying criminal charges. Association president Jim Chu, who is chief constable of the Vancouver Police Service, said having the option of writing tickets to penalize pot users caught with less than 30 grams of the drug would reduce policing and court costs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Vancouver Police Service: Delegates to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police annual meeting have passed a resolution that says officers need more "enforcement options" to deal with people caught with pot, according to CTV. Chu, who is chief constable of the Vancouver Police Service, also points out that a conviction results in a criminal record that places barriers on future travel, employment and citizenship and WINNIPEG -- Police chiefs meeting in Winnipeg say handing out tickets for illegal possession of marijuana may be more efficient than laying criminal charges. Association president Jim Chu says in a release that criminal charges place a significant burden on police and court resources. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

foreign service officers: The officers' union, the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers, organized the demonstration outside the citizenship and immigration department. The lunchtime demonstration was held a day ahead of a hearing at the public service labour relations board that was triggered by a bad-faith bargaining complaint from the union, according to CBC. They wrote examples of activities they do in their day-to-day jobs. One in Warsaw wrote: "facilitated shipment of humanitarian goods from Canada to neighbouring country" and "preparing to launch the anti-homophobia clip we did with a local NGO." Canada's striking foreign service officers are holding a rally in downtown Ottawa today and are taking to Twitter around the world to raise awareness about their jobs and their contract dispute with the government. In addition to Tuesday's rally, foreign service officers posted abroad are participating in a 24-hour Twitter campaign to "illustrate the importance of the foreign service in safeguarding Canada's national security, building its economy, shaping its future diversity and workforce, and protecting and promoting the values that Canadians hold dear," according to the union. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Alberta workers: Wage increases in Alberta next year will be lower than initial projections for 2013, according to a survey conducted by the Hay Group, according to Huffington Post. Canadian employees can expect to have an average salary increase of 2.6 per cent, with the oil and gas sector yielding the highest increases and Alberta workers may get a smaller paycheque than they expected next year. The province will still rank third highest in Canada, with Newfoundland and Labrador four per cent , Saskatchewan 3.4 per cent and Alberta 3.2 per cent leading the country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Dallas Morning News: The Texas Republican and Tea Party favourite announced his plans Monday night in a statement. The move comes in the wake of a report by The Dallas Morning News that Cruz holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship, according to CBC. The 42-year-old gave a copy of the document to The Dallas Morning News, which posted a picture of it online Monday. It shows Cruz's birth in Calgary on Dec. 22, 1970, while listing his mother, Eleanor Elizabeth Wilson, as having been born in Delaware and his father, Rafael Bienvenido Cruz, as a native of Cuba. 'Nothing against Canada, but I'm an American by birth and as a U.S. Senator, I believe I should be only an American.' Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said Monday that he will renounce his Canadian citizenship. Cruz released his birth certificate amid concerns that being born in Canada could derail a possible presidential run by the Tea Party firebrand. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau: The federal government would first have to soften current drug legislation, which it has shown no interest in doing. The issue of marijuana has put the Conservative government at odds with opposition leaders, including Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who in July said he supported the outright legalization of the drug. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. opinion Wente: What has Trudeau been smoking and Canadas police chiefs say they want to end the practice of criminally charging every person found with small amounts of marijuana, voting to give officers the option of issuing tickets akin to the ones people receive for driving infractions or jaywalking. B.C. pot decriminalization effort proceeds to petition stage (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.