the Dominion of Canada: Confederation in 1867 brought four governments together to create the Dominion of Canada, according to The Chronicle Herald. As the country has grown, additional provinces and territories created, the principle of the Senate being a protector of provincial issues has continued by maintaining the regional distribution in this chamber and Abolition: Why axe a valuable asset? Yet the provinces creating the union had concerns over the strong federal government they were creating. How could it protect their provincial interests? The answer was the creation of a second chamber: the Senate. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Curtis Rutt: My continued employment there is intolerable, Rutt, 55, wrote to the department this week, according to The Star. I think it is deplorable the amount of public money squandered by this police service to prosecute me for simply requesting a long-needed overhaul on how police services are provided to our community, Rutt wrote in his letter of resignation and Orangeville police whistleblower Sgt. Curtis Rutt has resigned from the towns police department after a disciplinary hearing that dragged on for more than two years and cost taxpayers a reported $1 million. He has been on paid suspension for the past two years, although no public complaint was made against him. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Parti Quebecois: We believe that a majority of Quebecois would admit that a total ban on wearing religious symbols applied to all employees of the State, no matter the nature of their position, is abusive, wrote the co-presidents of a government commission on reasonable accommodation, a term that has made the improbable leap into popular Quebec usage, according to The Star. Five years later, the governing Parti Quebecois hopes to put the issue to rest once and for all with one of the most extreme fixes ever envisaged for a problem whose very existence is still being debated. If you receive a salary from the provincial government, and if you are obliged or inclined to wear your religion literally upon your sleeve, it promises to be the ultimate ultimatum: choose your job or your faith, because you cant have both and MONTREAL It was just a few lines in a 300-page study about Quebecs accommodations for religious minorities, but philosopher Charles Taylor and historian G rard Bouchard proved that having a big brain does not make one an accurate predictor of public opinion. Their words were written in 2008, after orthodox Jews in Montreal requested that the glass of a downtown YMCA be frosted lest their tempted children see the carnal outfits of exercisers. That demand for change triggered an existential crisis about Quebecs values, tolerance that has ebbed and flowed but has never really gone away. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Philippe Couillard: He suggested Friday that the government spend more time trying to get Quebecers back to work, citing the most recent economic numbers that indicate that the Quebec unemployment rate has crept up from 7.9 to 8.2 percent and that 30,000 jobs were lost in the process, according to CTV. Couillard argued that a strong economy is an essential component to the successful integration of newcomers and Liberal leader Philippe Couillard is accusing the minority-governing PQ of contriving the ongoing secularism debate as a method of hiding from its poor economic record since taking power. The Parti Quebecois continues its policy of division, literally manufacturing a crisis to change the subject, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: It took a little longer than some critics wanted, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has done the right thing in vowing to protect minority rights in Quebec, where the Parti Qu b cois is planning to restrict freedoms guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Mr. Harper at first refused to wade into the controversy, fearing the separatist government would frame the issue as a battle with Ottawa over provincial rights. DALE CUMMINGS / Related Items Articles Harper steps cautiously in Quebec charter row It's not clear how far PQ leader Pauline Marois will go in eliminating certain religious rights, but her plan to create a secular society could involve banning religious symbols and clothing in the civil service, including schools, hospitals and daycares. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Dominion Steel Plant: The opening of the Dominion Steel Plant in 1901 brought many people to the area, from as far away as Italy and Poland, as well as from the African Nova Scotian community, according to CTV. The steel plant was the big draw. There was work, a new life here for these people. Turned out to be an absolute wonderful place to be, says Simon Gillis of the Whitney Pier Historical Museum and For nearly a century, the Sydney Steel Plant played an enormous role in the lives of the people of Sydney, N.S. The Whitney Pier Historical Museum is filled with photos, files and artifacts that showcase the history of the multicultural community. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Syria: Trudeau said Friday he was pleased to hear the Conservative government is not contemplating military intervention following an alleged chemical weapons attack by the Syrian regime that the United States says killed at least 1,400 people. Related Items Articles Russia, Canada want G20 focus on economy despite shadow of Syrian crisis Obama says no final decision on Syria, but considering 'limited, narrow' action A look at Syria developments around the world amid threat of strike targeting Assad regime Kerry: UN has nothing to add on intelligence of Syria chemical weapons attack Spectre of past Iraq intervention looms as Obama deliberates Syrian question US: 'High confidence' of Syrian chemical weapons attack that killed more than 1,400 Kerry lays out Syria evidence, says Assad regime planned for 3 days for chemical attack Rally at CMHR to oppose military involvement in Syria Obama edges toward strike on Syria as US alleges far higher death toll from chemical attack , according to Winnipeg Free Press. "I've very worried about the Syrian people," he said before meeting people at a park in downtown Halifax. HALIFAX - Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says Canada should be doing more to admit refugees from the bloody conflict in Syria. The death toll since the conflict began has topped 100,000 and the United Nations says more than six million Syrians have had to flee their homes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

property tax: 1 I m very proud today that Torontos tax increase over the last three years is lower than any North American city, according to The Star. But is Toronto actually the very best on the continent? No. Windsor, Ontario has frozen taxes for five years . San Antonio, Texas did not increase property tax rates at all in 2011, 2012 or 2013 after reducing them in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and Mayor Rob Ford touted his fiscal and economic record in a speech to a high-end mens fitness club on Wednesday. He ll likely repeat many of the same claims during his 2014 election campaign but some of them are not accurate. Heres a fact-check of 11 of the things he said. Toronto's property tax increases under Ford no increase in 2011, 2.5 per cent in 2012, 2 per cent in 2013 are certainly lower than the increases in the vast majority of major Canadian and American municipalities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Stephen Harper: Justin Trudeau: 'second-class citizens' ANDREW VAUGHAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS , according to Winnipeg Free Press. It was a tale of two reactions, featuring Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, as each leader Thursday made headline-grabbing remarks about the controversial Charter of Quebec Values. They did so in contrasting styles. Stephen Harper: 'not our business' FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS Related Items Articles Harper takes aim Enlarge Image The prime minister dipped a tentative toe in the rocky waters of Quebec identity politics, but the opposition leader who wants to replace him dove right in. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

State John Kerry: The two leaders are both of the view that the focus of the meeting should be about stimulating more world economic and job growth, and agree on a number of the ways to accomplish that. Related Items Articles Canada should accept more Syrian refugees: Trudeau , according to Winnipeg Free Press. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said his government had "high confidence" that the Syrian regime carried out a chemical weapons attack against its own people last week. The Obama administration released an unclassified intelligence assessment to back up its assertion. OTTAWA - Canada may have sharp words for Russia over its stance on Syria, but when it comes to next week's G20 summit, Stephen Harper and Vladimir Putin appear to be on the same page. That might seem a considerable feat the leaders of the world's top military powers all happen to be part of the G20, too. They'll be assembled in St. Petersburg in front of the international media at the same time the U.S. might be leading a strike against Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.