immigrantscanada.com

Independent topical source of current affairs, opinion and issues, featuring stories making news in Canada from immigrants, newcomers, minorities & ethnic communities' point of view and interests.

Conrad Black Mulroney: In a sneak preview from the first episode of "theZoomer" a new current affairs show on VisionTV co-hosted by Conrad Black Mulroney calls the controversy "needless.", according to Huffington Post. Mulroney said the charter sends a "negative, inappropriate signal" to immigrant communities that are bringing prosperity to Canada and Former prime minister Brian Mulroney has joined the chorus of critics slamming Quebec's controversial values charter. "If you want to build a dynamic, inclusive society, you have all the instruments at hand," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Barack Obama: The loonie gained 0.32 of a cent to 97.16 cents US, according to CTV. But concerns have risen as Republicans in the House of Representatives continue to insist on changes to so-called Obamacare while President Barack Obama refuses to consider any deal linking his signature health-care legislation to routine legislation needed to fund the government and TORONTO -- The Canadian dollar closed higher amid fading hopes for a quick end to a partial U.S. government shutdown that was in its fourth day on Friday. Investors continue to hope the shutdown will be short-lived. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Cricket World Cup: War-weary Afghanistan reached its first Cricket World Cup on Friday by beating Kenya in the last match of a qualifying tournament, sparking scenes off mass jubilation across the country. The team, made up mainly of players who grew up playing the sport in refugee camps in Pakistan, beat Kenya by seven wickets in a dominating performance in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, according to 660 News. In Kabul, more than a thousand fans had gathered to watch the game on a giant screen, and the victory sent cheering Afghans out into the streets to celebrate and The players danced in unison in front of their jubilant fans, and ran across the pitch holding a giant Afghan flag. A thousand miles away in Kabul, the same flag waved everywhere among a sea of people celebrating a rare sporting triumph. This is a big day in my life, allrounder Mohammad Nabi said. Its a gift to a young Afghan generation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Diana Downtown: Dariq Smith, the manager of Diana Downtown, says he discovered the words "Did you bring your green card stenciled near the back door of the building yesterday morning, according to CTV. Smith believes the message is aimed at the restaurants visible minority employees and owner and A disturbing message spray painted on the wall of a Guelph restaurant is now being investigated as a hate crime. It kind of took my breath away the second I saw it. It stops you in your tracks, he says. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose: Talking to reporters following a meeting with her provincial and territorial counterparts on Friday, Ambrose indicated that her government is closely watching what happens to a bill on end-of-life care in Quebec, according to The Star. The debate over assisted suicide was reignited last month following the death of respected Toronto microbiologist Dr. Don Low from a brain tumour. A central figure in Canadas 2003 SARS crisis, Low made an impassioned deathbed video appeal to legalize dying with dignity and Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose says she cant predict the future on where the debate on legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Canada will go, but at this point her governments position is clearly against the idea. Quebec is going through the motions of discussion or debate in their legislature. Should that pass then obviously we will look to see what we do with that and if it does end up in court, then the courts will decide the jurisdiction, she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Stephen Bronfman: I think hes threatening to kill my dog, a friend of mine commented on top of an email he was forwarding from chief Liberal party fundraiser Stephen Bronfman, according to The Star. I m about to phone Justin, read the subject line in one of the final emails from Bronfman, as he evoked the prospect of a very disappointed Liberal leader, Justin Trudeau and The days leading up to the end of September were filled with a mad frenzy of fundraising emails from the federal opposition parties. Sure enough, Bronfmans emails were frequent, pointed and persistent. He started by telling Liberals they had only days to raise $300,000. When they reached that target, Bronfman said the goalposts had moved to $500,000 by Sept. 30. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

private donations: My respect is enormous sfor all the work and private donations made over three generations to the RBG, a 2,200-acre site in Burlington and Hamilton. It was hard not to notice, however, that the crowd of about 200 people was one of quite senior seniors. Where then, I asked, are the young people? Who is going to steward the public gardens the RBG and Toronto Botanical Gardens, at Lawrence Ave. and Leslie St., are the only two bonafide botanical gardens in the GTA; I am a fan, patron and supporter of both of the future and Any kid will run any errand for you if you ask at bedtime. I had the honour, this past summer, of addressing a distinguished group of volunteers and staff at the annual general meeting of the Royal Botanical Gardens. We are fortunate to have them digging in with both hands to make our community a better place. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mohammad Nabi: War-weary Afghanistan achieved a sports breakthrough Friday by qualifying for its first Cricket World Cup, according to The Chronicle Herald. This is a big day in my life, said Mohammad Nabi of the Afghan team. Its a gift to a young Afghan generation and The Afghans had to beat Kenya in the last match of the World Cricket League Championship, and won by seven wickets in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sovereign citizens: A group of men, who describe themselves as sovereign citizens and not bound by government, have been occupying provincial lands south of Grande Prairie since June and have refused eviction orders, prompting the RCMP to urge caution and for people to avoid confrontation with the group, the Edmonton Journal reports, according to Huffington Post. It appears they may have tried to build their own structure and may have taken over someone elses structure and Fears of gunplay surround the latest Freemen-on-the-Land incident being investigated by Alberta police. My understanding is that there was two of them, but there may be more people, said a department official, who asked to remain anonymous. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Diego Cardona: Under the current system, students in English Language Learning courses -- formerly known as English as a Second Language courses -- do not receive school credits for taking the class. , according to Huffington Post. Cardona, who is originally from Colombia and now attends Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, says it's a matter of fairness. A group of migrant youth are calling on the B.C. Ministry of Education to give students credit for learning English, the same way native English speakers get credit for learning a foreign language. Diego Cardona, 17, is a member of the Fresh Voices Youth Advisory Team, a group of migrant and refugee students who have started an online petition asking the B.C. Ministry of Education to change their current policy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.