Jerry Dias: The Canadian Auto Workers union and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada have merged to form a new group called Unifor, according to Huffington Post. Unifor is here because its time to stop playing defence and its time we started to play offence," said Dias in his fiery inaugural address. "Its time to stop reacting and its time to start setting the agenda and TORONTO - Jerry Dias hopes to use his new position as president of Canada's newest and largest private sector union to turn the tide for Canada's labour movement. Dias was elected with about 87 per cent support at the new union's founding convention in Toronto on Saturday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin: Speaking for the first time about the suspected chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21, Putin also questioned whether Syrian government troops should be held responsible. He said it would make no sense for them to carry out such a devastating attack while they were on the offensive, according to 660 News. The United States said Friday that the attack in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus, the Syrian capital, killed 1,429 people, including more than 400 children and MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin urged President Barack Obama on Saturday not to rush into a decision on striking Syria, but to consider whether strikes would help end the violence and be worth the civilian casualties they would inevitably cause. In such conditions, to give a trump card to those who are calling for foreign military intervention is foolish nonsense, Putin said. It defies all logic. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Obama: But administration officials, in a briefing for reporters, say Obama's trip is less a visit to Russia than a trip to the Group of 20 economic summit being held there, according to Times Colonist. Obama will meet privately with foreign counterparts while at the G-20. But no meeting is scheduled with Putin and WASHINGTON - The Obama administration says President Barack Obama can work constructively with Russia when he visits St. Petersburg next week despite many policy differences between Moscow and Washington. It is a reflection of the tense U.S.-Russian relationship, which has deteriorated since Obama cancelled a summit in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia granted asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. (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, according to CTV. 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 and 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.

Former Quebec premier Bernard Landry: The proposed "Charter of Quebec values" will not be tabled for a couple more weeks, but a leaked draft suggests that workers in the public sector would face restrictions on wearing religious garb like crosses, kippas, turbans and hijabs, according to CBC. "When you change country, you change country. And you have to get first the language, then the culture, and integrate. That's the way to cultivate brotherhood and friendship between citizens," Landry says and Former Quebec premier Bernard Landry says he's seen too much "Quebec bashing" in English media over the Parti Qu b cois government's proposal to bring in a so-called secularism charter, and he is urging people to wait to see the provincial legislation before judging the plan. Landry told 's As It Happens that Quebec welcomes immigrants but wants them to integrate. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Alison Redford: She is also to host a brunch during the city's pride festivities to raise funds for a camp for sexual and gender minority youth, according to Huffington Post. Redford tweeted recently that she is "pleased'' to be attending the parade and CALGARY - Alison Redford will become the first Alberta premier to march in a gay pride parade when she acts as grand marshal for Calgary's event on Sunday. Organizers say more than 150 community and government representatives are expected to be at the brunch. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Fast-food workers: NEW YORK, N.Y. - Fast-food workers and their supporters beat drums, blew whistles and chanted slogans Thursday on picket lines in dozens of U.S. cities, marking the largest protests yet in their quest for higher wages. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Thursday's walkouts and protests reached about 60 cities, including New York, Chicago and Detroit, organizers said. But the turnout varied significantly. Some targeted restaurants were temporarily unable to do business because they had too few employees, and others seemingly operated normally. Lea Noel gets support from a passerby as she and other demonstrators protest low wages outside a Church's Chicken fast food restaurant, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, in Atlanta. Fast-food protests were under way Thursday in U.S. cities including New York, Chicago and Detroit, with organizers expecting the biggest national walkouts yet in a demand for higher wages. AP Photo/John Amis The nationwide day of demonstrations came after similar actions organized by unions and community groups over the past several months. Workers are calling for the right to unionize without interference from employers and for pay of $15 an hour. That's more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, or $15,000 a year for full-time employees. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

House prices: House prices rose 0.6 percent this month from July, in line with economists' forecasts, after a revised 0.9 percent rise in July, Nationwide said. , according to Reuters. But in the three months to August, compared with the three months to the end of July - which many consider a better gauge of the underlying trend - prices rose by 1.4 percent, its strongest pace since mid-2010. LONDON - British house prices rose strongly for a fourth consecutive month in August, mortgage lender Nationwide said on Friday, citing a recovery in the economy and government measures onto help people on the property ladder. The annual rate slowed to 3.5 percent from 3.9 percent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Claudette Tardif: On March 24, 2005, at the request of Prime Minister Paul Martin, I was asked to serve in the Senate. There were nine of us appointed that day: Retired General Rom o Dallaire, Claudette Tardif, Nancy Ruth, Elaine McCoy, Art Eggleton, Lillian Dyck, Bob Peterson, Grant Mitchell and myself, according to The Chronicle Herald. Each of the senators with whom I was appointed that day was chosen because they provide Canadians with a unique combination of expertise and experience, and deep connections to groups and communities whose voices have not always been heard and Two of our number were longstanding Progressive Conservatives and one a member of the NDP. Rom o Dallaires continuing contribution to Canada and the international community is widely recognized. Claudette Tardif came to the Senate as a strong advocate for minorities, informed by a lifetime working for the rights of minority francophone communities in Alberta. Lillian Dyck is a scientist who was a professor in the Neuropsychiatry Research Unit of the University of Saskatchewan. She is a proud member of the Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

white supremacist: Across a gravel intersection between two abandoned buildings, he envisions a park -- perhaps with a swimming pool -- dedicated to a neo-Nazi and white supremacist activist. He pictures the town decorated with fluttering flags and banners bearing the swastika -- the symbol of Nazism, according to CTV. Cobb, 61, a self-described white supremacist who has dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship and lived in the Vancouver area for a time, has purchased about a dozen lots in the community about 60 miles southwest of Bismarck. Over the past year he's invited other white supremacists to move there and help him to transform the town of 16 people into a white enclave. No one has come and LEITH, N.D. -- In a tree-fringed grassy lot with a lone picnic bench in the tiny North Dakota farming town of Leith, Craig Cobb sees the perfect venue for a white power music festival. "They would have to be approved by the town council, of course," Cobb said, gazing out over Leith's sparse downtown from his overgrown, weed-infested front yard. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.