Liberal MNA Lawrence Bergman: I don't remember a more serious comment by a head of state in Quebec in the recent years. What basically she's doing and she hasn't denied yet, as far as I know, is she's establishing a link between multiculturalism and terrorist acts or riots between communities, he said. Part pep rally, part working group, Liberal supporters and more than a half a dozen Liberal MNAs exchanged ideas and concerns at a pair of gatherings in Montreal and Sorel Saturday. We've lost so many jobs here in Quebec that's also a preoccupation of my constituents, said Liberal MNA Lawrence Bergman, who represents the D'Arcy-McGee riding, according to CTV. Liberal, the word means to defend freedom, like Mr. Couillard just said, and right now freedom is under attack, said Liberal supporter Felipe Morales and Liberal leader Philippe Couillard did not shy away from the hot-button debate on the PQ's proposed Charter of Quebec Values at a weekend Liberal gathering. On Friday, Couillard demanded an apology from Premier Pauline Marois after she was quoted in Le Devoir saying multiculturalism has pushed people to violence in the United Kingdom. He reiterated that point Saturday. We were talking about ethics and governance, which is a big issue. They want the party to be more open, said Karin Marks, a Liberal supporter and the former mayor of Westmount. Some think the premier's statements on so-called Quebec values may attract more people to the Liberal party. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

employment program: The non-profit society PEERS was forced to close its centre and cancel an employment program after years of complicated funding restructuring that included a new fee-for-service model. The new billing system required that PEERS provide detailed personal information for its services, even though the society worked to support sex workers unconditionally and protect their confidentiality. , according to Times Colonist. Mungall and Esquimalt-Royal Roads MLA Maurine Karagianis sent a letter to Don McRae, minister of social development and social innovation, this week, urging him to meet with PEERS to come up with a solution. The recent closing of a drop-in centre that provided safe, non-judgmental services for sex trade workers in Victoria might be the first casualty among specialized employment programs struggling to fit into a rigid new provincial case management system, critics warn. The extra administrative work and loss of privacy has raised concerns in the employment services sector that other programs for vulnerable groups might have to close, said Michelle Mungall, the MLA for Nelson-Creston and opposition critic for social development. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Labor Party: CANBERRA, Australia - A new government prepared to take control of Australia on Sunday, with policies to cut pledges in foreign aid and to wind back greenhouse gas reduction measures in an effort to balance the nation's books. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Abbott's conservative Liberal party-led coalition won a crushing victory at elections Saturday against the centre-left Labor Party, which had ruled for six years, including during the turbulent global financial crisis. Australian voters line up to cast their votes at a polling booth in Brisbane, Australia Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Australians voted Saturday in a national election that is expected to see the Labor Party ousted from government after six years in power. AP Photo/Tertius Pickard Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott also plans to visit Indonesia soon in part to discuss controversial plans to curb the number of asylum seekers reaching Australian shores in Indonesian fishing boats. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Statistics Canada: OTTAWA -- More people working part-time helped Canada's economy grind out 59,000 jobs in August, Statistics Canada reported Friday, about triple what most economists had expected. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The better-than-expected gains offset a small uptick in workforce participation, bringing the national jobless rate to 7.1 per cent in August from 7.2 per cent the previous month. Galit Rodan / The Canadian Press Unifor president Jerry Dias says the economy is being built on part-time jobs. CP Related Items Articles Unemployment drop misleads The consensus had called for the economy to have created about 20,000 jobs in August. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Henri Brun: But Laval University law professor Henri Brun said he had no illusions when he was working on the so-called charter of Quebec values last spring that its release would be explosive in the province and cause tremors across Canada, according to The Star. The expectation is that Premier Pauline Marois government will seek to prevent anyone who draws a salary from government funds from wearing religious symbols in the workplace, including police officers, judges, bureaucrats, nurses, teachers, daycare workers and doctors. The broad outlines of the governments position are to be revealed this week and MONTREAL Quebecs proposed ban on public employees wearing religious symbols is legally defensible, necessary for the good functioning of the province and even wise in the face of the provinces immigration levels, says the renowned constitutional scholar who helped the Parti Qu b cois draft the controversial bill. It was foreseeable, Brun said in an interview with the Star . In any case, the government and Democratic Institutions Minister Bernard Drainville were aware that it would be starting an antagonistic debate between the Anglo-Canadians and the Franco-Qu b cois. As early as April we were aware of that. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Saint Mary: The Halifax-based university drew intense fire after a video was posted online showing students repeating the chant that included "Saint Mary's boys, we like them young" and "Y is for your sister U is for underage, N is for no consent." readers, SMU alumni react to frosh week sex chant Saint Mary's frosh sex chant sparks review Is it time for Frosh Week to grow up? Frosh week sexual assault reported at York campus, according to CBC. "It is a Saint Mary's student association event. We co-ordinate with them. They show us the schedule. It is clearly their event," said Proctor. "But that does not take away any responsibility from us from the university's point of view." A disgraceful chant about underage non-consensual sex led by student organizers at Saint Mary's University is raising questions about whether student unions should be in charge of frosh week activities. Student representatives oversee orientation week at Saint Mary's, a common practice across the country, while university administrators serve more in a "consultative" role, said university spokesman Steve Proctor. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Federation of Students: Statistics 101: A look at some of the facts and figures surrounding post-secondary education costs, according to Winnipeg Free Press. -- A recent BMO study found Canadian grads will end up about $26,297 in debt and JOE BRYKSA / Bilan Arte, head of the Canadian Federation of Students -Manitoba, says an arts degree has value beyond career prospects. Quick facts -- Cost of education in Canada is rising by about four per cent a year, Statistics Canada data indicate. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Region of Waterloo International Airport: Under the deal, Montreal-based chartered flight company Nolinor Aviation will fly out of Waterloo Region three times a week starting September 19 to the Qikiqtani Region on Baffin Island in Nunavut, according to CBC. Based on three round-trip flights per week, landing fees, per passenger fees, fuel surcharges and employee parking, the airport estimates it will earn approximately $400,000 in extra revenue in 2014 and The Region of Waterloo International Airport says its annual revenue will go up by about 12 per cent after it signs a proposed deal with an airline that will charter passengers and cargo to the far north for a Toronto-based mining company. That could increase to a possible 14 flights a week, said Chris Wood, general manager of the airport. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Quebec Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard: Quebec Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard says he was astonished when he read the remarks by Marois in a newspaper interview and asserts they are unworthy of a head of government, according to 660 News. Marois told Montreal Le Devoir that Englands multiculturalism policy had led to people beating each other up and setting off bombs and MONTREAL Premier Pauline Marois is being urged to apologize for comments she made blaming multiculturalism for social unrest and bombs in Britain. I almost could not believe it, an incredulous Couillard said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday. I had to read it two or three times to be sure. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd: Despite the lack of overwhelming enthusiasm for opposition leader Tony Abbott, he seemed on track to guide his Liberal Party-led coalition to a victory, with opinion polls giving the party a commanding lead over the ruling Labor Party, according to CBC. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was once widely beloved by the public, becoming the nation's most popular leader in three decades when he took on the top job in 2007. Now, his party is facing the prospect of an end to its six years in power and a long stretch of conservative rule amid deep voter frustration over years of party instability and bickering, and widespread hatred of a carbon tax on major polluters and Australians headed to the polls on Saturday in an election that pits a ruling party marred by infighting and a much-maligned carbon tax against a conservative opposition led by a man who has never been particularly popular and has long been polarizing. Polling booths opened at 8 a.m. Saturday in eastern Australia and were set to close 10 hours later, with western states voting another two hours beyond that due to time zones. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd came to power in June after Julia Gillard's resignation. Tertius Pickard/Associated Press (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.