Huronia Regional Centre: If we got caught talking, we had to get up with our pants down and walk around the play room with our pants down, recalled Marie Slark, 59, who spent nine years of her childhood at the Huronia Regional Centre, according to The Star. Slark, Seth and thousands of other former residents are alleging systemic neglect and abuse at the Orillia, Ont., facility, which the province operated for 133 years. Some say they were forced to work in the fields for no money and Humiliation and abuse were doled out almost daily at an Ontario institution for the developmentally disabled, punishment for infractions as minor as speaking out of turn, former residents allege in a class-action lawsuit against the provincial government. In other instances, children whose behaviour earned them a black mark were kicked and struck by their peers at staffs insistence, she and another plaintiff, Patricia Seth, said in an interview. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Aaron Alexis: After the gunman was also killed in a shootout with police, authorities warned there could be two other potential perpetrators still at large. But at a late-night news conference, Cathy Lanier, D.C.s police chief, said Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old one-time Navy reservist, acted alone, according to 660 News. In one of the most powerful cities on Earth, where security is of paramount concern, the notion of multiple perpetrators targeting a military institution raised the spectre of an orchestrated attack 12 years after al-Qaida terrorists commandeered a hijacked jetliner into the Pentagon and WASHINGTON The U.S. capital became the latest American city to grapple with sickly familiar scenes of chaos and bloodshed Monday when a former military man opened fire at the citys heavily guarded Navy Yard, killing 12 people. The FBI appealed to the public to come forward with information about Alexis, who was working as a military contractor after being discharged from the Navy two years ago. He was born in New York City but most recently resided in Fort Worth, Texas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Members of Parliament: Coincidentally, Monday also marks the day that Members of Parliament had agreed to kick off the 2013 fall session in Ottawa. After hearing from Canadians throughout the summer, New Democrat MPs were eager to debate the affairs of the country a still-struggling economy, stubbornly high household debt, youth employment and income inequality; the ongoing crisis in Syria; a grotesquely overdue plan to tackle climate change; Conservative ethical scandals; and serious challenges facing Canadas democracy, according to The Star. In so doing, the prime minister gave his tired government a month-long accountability holiday: no probing questions about misspending by Conservative and Liberal Senators or the ensuing cover-up. No need to explain how the government managed to more than double taxes on credit unions, by mistake. And no prying into the governments lack of commitment to democracy and Today Monday, Sept. 16 kicks off Canadas Democracy Week . Canadians, especially young Canadians, are being invited to celebrate our democracy and take action to improve it. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided he didnt want to hear from Canadians or their representatives. He ignored the democratic will of the majority of Parliamentarians who, in 2010, supported a motion from late NDP Leader Jack Layton that any prorogation longer than a week must be approved by the House of Commons. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jordan row: ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, JORDAN The aerial footage of the Zaatari camp near Syrias border with Jordan row upon dusty row of squat trailers and tents as far as the eye can see, like a desert version of Oz could become the iconic image of this war, along with photos of children gassed outside Damascus. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Indeed, there is a disconnect between the debate in Washington and the reality here on the ground. U.S. officials are discussing our intervention as if it were this dramatic crescendo to the conflict. A Syrian refugee boy stands in front of his family's makeshift home at Zaatari Syrian refugee camp, in Mafraq, Jordan, in August. More than 2 million Syrians have fled the country's two-and-a-half year conflict. Jordan hosts more than 554,000 refugees. While the images of the chemical attacks capture the inhumanity of this conflict, the aerial shots of the camp capture the scale. More than two million Syrians have fled the war, half of them children, making it the worlds worst refugee crisis since Rwandas 1994 genocide. Left unaddressed, the crisis risks destabilizing Syrias neighbors and disposing any hope of instilling peace and democracy in the region. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Tony Abbott: CANBERRA, Australia - Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott has rekindled the sexism accusations that have dogged his political career by naming only one woman Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to the 19-member Cabinet that will be sworn into government Wednesday. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Abbott, a 55-year-old former Roman Catholic seminarian, battled perceptions of sexism to lead his conservative coalition to an election victory Sept. 7. His government is likely to hold 90 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives. FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2013 file photo, Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott arrives on stage to deliver his victory speech in Australia's national election in Sydney. Prime Minister-elect Abbott has rekindled the sexism accusations that have dogged his political career by naming only one woman - Foreign Minister Julie Bishop - to the 19-member Cabinet that will be sworn into government Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013. AP Photo/Rob Griffith, Pool, File Six women are among the 42 executive members of government named by Abbott on Monday: Bishop, the deputy leader of the ruling Liberal Party, and five women who will serve in lower ministries or as parliamentary secretary. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Syrian refugees: AMMAN, Jordan A Jordanian official says the number of Syrian refugees crossing into the kingdom has jumped nearly tenfold last week to an average of 900 people per day, its highest level in months, according to The Chronicle Herald. Syrian families often move back and forth across the border multiple times as fighting ebbs and flows. Many find conditions in desert refugee camps to be only marginally better than their battle-scarred homes and Col. Zaher Abu-Shehab, who oversees refugee camps for the Jordanian government, says at the same time the number returning home has also surged, climbing to 600 per day. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Premier Pauline Marois: I would agree with Premier Pauline Marois that the type of integration practised in France and the United States is far better than the multiculturalism practised in the United Kingdom and Canada, according to The Star. I see the same issues on business trips to the U.K. where virtually entire towns are made up of isolated immigrant communities. While the French and U.S. integration model does not eliminate all the ghettos, at least they preach the objective of integration and as a result have a more cohesive society and The controversy concerning the proposed new Quebec law on banning religious symbols is part of the larger issue of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism in both the U.K. and Canada has led to ghettoization, poverty, many crimes that are not reported to the police and low levels of education in many of the communities. Many also discourage their children from integrating in the wider community. As a result you see very few minorities playing hockey or joining institutions such as the military. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott: CANBERRA - Australia's new conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott unveiled his first cabinet on Monday, appointing experienced lawmakers and promising a return to stable government after three years of often tumultuous minority center-left rule. , according to Reuters. Abbott's Deputy Liberal Party leader Julie Bishop will become foreign minister, and will be the only woman in his 20-member cabinet, although several women were promoted to junior ministries. By Rob Taylor Abbott, who won power in September7 elections pledging stronger economic management, made only minor changes to his opposition line-up, with Joe Hockey appointed treasurer, as expected, while Mathias Cormann becomes finance minister, shifting from his assistant treasury portfolio. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Ambassador Francisco Suarez: Ambassador Francisco Suarez told The Canadian Press in an exclusive interview that Mexico is so upset that if the issue isn't resolved by next year, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto might have to postpone a planned visit to Canada, according to Huffington Post. "We're now saying it's a major irritant," said Suarez, who assumed his new post in Ottawa three months ago and OTTAWA - The Mexican ambassador to Canada says his country is "really mad" at the Harper government for the continued imposition of a visa on its travellers here. That would cast a shadow over the festivities that Mexico and Canada are planning for 2014 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nigel Wright: OTTAWA - Forget the fact that the fall session of Parliament has been put off for a month: the federal Opposition is trying to hold the Conservative government's feet to the fire by holding a virtual daily question period. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Not surprisingly, the Senate scandal in particular, the $90,000 cheque former Harper chief of staff Nigel Wright gave to Mike Duffy to cover the senator's dubious expense claims figured prominently. With NDP MP Nathan Cullen left and Nycole Turmel right looking on, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair speaks with the media about the proroguation of parliament Monday September 16, 2013 in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld On Monday, the New Democrats kicked off their challenge to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet members to answer questions posed through social media. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.