election debate: The event was a spark-free yawner, more of a toe-in-the-water test drive for the pending campaign than a full-fledged election debate. Had the election already been called as I suspect organizers were expecting when they chose the date the atmosphere may have been far different, according to The Chronicle Herald. Meanwhile, the spinners and whiners had a chance to see their favourite leader in action, with observers getting an idea of where the campaign messaging will be headed once the official writ is dropped and There was a super-sized serving of politicians, candidates, party loyalists, flacks and hacks at the Halifax Chamber of Commerces Face-to-Face Chat with Nova Scotias three party leaders on Wednesday. With a lengthy list of pre-election funding announcements already unveiled, its getting down to decision time for Premier Darrell Dexter and the governing NDP party. They have just about shot their bolt of pre-campaign ammunition and need to either get the show on the road, or stand down in favour of a later election. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

morning constitutional: Read me a story, Daddy, she said. , according to Times Colonist. We re going for our morning constitutional, she declared. Her mother explained that back home, she would take her out for their afternoon constitutional. A few months ago, Zara handed me an old childrens storybook, of which only the covers remained. What story, sweetie? The one in my imagination. Which is not the only five-syllable word in her vocabulary. At the cottage two years ago, when she had just turned two, I was putting her in her stroller for our morning walk down to the bridge. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Joan Crawfords: Schools in: Phones away, Editorial Aug. 24, according to The Star. This smacks of parents not knowing where to draw the line and continuously lobbying on behalf of their lovely children. Joan Crawfords daughter has surely done a great disservice to parents who have a hard time choking the word no from their mouths. Afraid that your loving children will threaten to move out? Wait until they are 28 and living in your basement and Re: Schools in: Phones away, Editorial Aug. 24 I am amazed whenever I read anything to do with this debate: to cell or not to cell. A level playing field is important in schools. Some kids and even some schools dont have the same resources as others. And where do you draw the line? Oh the poor first graders dont have the same privileges as the sixth graders! It makes me wonder if they ve replaced fluoride with crack in our water. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

fast-food industry: Similar protests organized by unions and community groups over the past several months have brought considerable media attention to a staple of the fast-food industry -- the so-called "McJobs" that are known for their low pay and limited prospects. But it's not clear what impact, if any, they will have on business, according to CTV. The lack of awareness among some illustrates the challenge workers face. Participating workers, who are asking for $15 an hour and the right to unionize, still represent a tiny fraction of the industry. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, which works out to about $15,000 a year for full-time employees and NEW YORK -- Fast-food protests are underway in cities including New York, Chicago and Detroit, with organizers expecting the biggest national walkouts yet in a demand for higher wages. In New York, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn joined about 300 to 400 workers and supporters in a march before flooding inside a McDonald's near the Empire State Building on Thursday morning. Shortly after the demonstration, however, the restaurant seemed to be operating normally and a few customers said they hadn't heard of the movement. The same was true at a McDonald's a few blocks away. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Justin Trudeau: It was a tale of two reactions, featuring Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau, as each leader Thursday made headline-grabbing remarks about the controversial Charter of Quebec Values. They did so in very contrasting styles, according to 660 News. He promised to keep an eye on the eventual policy to ensure minority rights were protected. But, in the meantime, he cited two reasons for withholding comment and The prime minister dipped a tentative toe in the rocky waters of Quebec identity politics. The opposition leader who wants to replace him, meanwhile, dove right in. Harper trod warily. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Premier Darrell Dexter: Premier Darrell Dexter is now among the politicians this week who have answered whether they have smoked marijuana, according to The Chronicle Herald. Like every other person I knew back in the 70s when I went to university, some of whom are actually in this room, I would have tried it, the same as other people at that time, he said after a cabinet meeting and UPDATED 3:43 p.m. Thursday Yes, Dexter said, back in university. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: The prime minister said he wanted to comment cautiously for now because the Parti Quebecois government has not even made its plan public yet, according to Huffington Post. "We know that the separatist government in Quebec would love to pick fights with Ottawa," Harper told a Toronto news conference and TORONTO - Prime Minister Stephen Harper has treaded carefully into the emotional debate over Quebec's values charter with a promise Thursday to protect minority rights. He also expressed reluctance to get sucked into a fight on the PQ's chosen battlefield. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Opaskwayak Cree Nation: As a kid, I particularly despised the itchy nature of stooking square bales, despite the fact they were a critical part of raising cattle on what was one of the northernmost Angus ranches in all of Canada, on Opaskwayak Cree Nation near The Pas. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Long before contact with European settlers, many First Nations people in North America were natural horticulturalists who not only harvested wild rice and grew potatoes and corn as staples for their families, but used their bounty as goods of trade far beyond our modern borders. As the days begin to shorten and the nights to cool off, a sense of nostalgia always overtakes me as I think back to the days of my youth working on our family ranch and the rush to get more work completed than there were hours in a day. Today, I look back on those days with pride -- not just for the contribution I made to our ranch but because I was part of an agrarian journey that was not as uncommon among First Nations people as you might expect. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Syria: The United States and Britain, with the political backing of Canada and other allies, appear on the verge of launching military action in Syria for the first time since the start of that country's civil war. Related Items Articles Syrian opposition calls for weapons from Canada; Harper says no military mission PM Harper: No Canadian military mission planned for Syria at present Britain's Cameron loses Syria war vote; America's ally will sit out any potential attack French military preparing for 'thought-out and proportionate' Syria operation Assad vows to defend Syria against possible Western strikes; UN chemical probe nears end AP sources: In spite of Obama's assertion, intelligence on weapons use in Syria no sure thing , according to Winnipeg Free Press. As talk of military intervention escalated this week, concern also grew among Syrian Canadians about how international strikes against Syria will impact civilians, says a spokesman for the Syrian Association of Ottawa. OTTAWA - A group representing Syrian Canadians says Syrians living in this country are divided over the prospect of military intervention in Syria following a deadly chemical attack. Most recent arrivals to Canada from Syria have relatives and friends still living in their homeland, where continuing battles have killed more than 100,000 people, devastated towns and sent tens of thousands fleeing into refugee camps. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Statistics Canada: The Commerce Department said second-quarter growth was sharply higher than the initial 1.7 per cent rate it reported last month. And the growth this spring was more than double the 1.1 per cent rate from January through March, according to The Star. Meanwhile, Statistics Canada said Canadas current account deficit increased $1.1 billion, to $14.6 billion, in the second quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis and WASHINGTON The U.S. economy grew at a 2.5 per cent annual rate from April through June, much faster than previously estimated. The steep revision was largely because U.S. companies exported more goods and imports declined. The improvement in the trade deficit helped offset weaker government spending. Total imports of goods advanced $1.4 billion to $121.3 billion in the second quarter, while total exports of goods edged up $0.2 billion to $118.2 billion. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.