minimum wage: Nine per cent of Ontario workers earned the minimum wage in 2011, up from 4.3 per cent in 2003, a Toronto policy research organization said in a report released Tuesday, according to CTV. "We had a real hollowing out of jobs in the middle of the labour market... the loss of those middle-income jobs, a lot of it attributable to the loss of manufacturing jobs, is one factor," she said and TORONTO -- Major shifts in the economy have pushed more of Ontario's workforce into minimum-wage jobs -- more than double the share from nearly a decade ago, a new study shows. "When we think back to what happened in the economy between 2003 and 2011, there's been a lot of big changes," said the report's author, Sheila Block. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird: Maldives President Mohamed Waheed wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to complain about Baird's conduct during recent Commonwealth meetings in New York, according to Huffington Post. The remarks pertained to "domestic politics in the Maldives," according to the statement, but Baird's exact words remain unclear and OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is in hot water with the Maldives. In a statement posted on the Maldives president's website, Waheed alleges Baird made "inappropriate and derogatory remarks" and "posed several harshly worded questions" to his acting foreign minister. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Senator Don Plett: Senator Don Plett told HuffPost he hopes the Senate will adopt clearer rules so senators aren't unfairly forced to pay back thousands of dollars worth of expenses that Senate staff have already approved. In a candid conversation, Plett said he's spent money prudently, tried to record everything and hopes there aren't any improper claims, according to Huffington Post. Plett is among several Conservative senators who told HuffPost they hope the Senate enacts changes this fall. The proposed reforms could include making the chamber more transparent, sending a tough message to senators who break the rules and ensuring the rules are clear for everybody and OTTAWA A Conservative senator says it's possible a review of his expenses by the auditor general could turn up a few genuine errors in his own spending. "But it is only realistic to think that over the years some senators, like some of our colleagues in the House of Commons, have made some minor mistakes. Honest mistakes, but mistakes," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Chris Pereira: During his final year of high school, Pereira rushed to meet the programs requirements, even taking university-level math courses at night. But a low grade forced him to retake a math course after graduating, according to The Star. The deleterious impact of the so-called victory lap is laid out in a new report, released Tuesday by the Lets Talk Science organization, sponsored by biopharmaceutical company Amgen and Chris Pereira realized too late that he needed specific high school math classes to get into Ryersons Urban Planning program. Hes not alone in needing remedial high school courses. Each year, tens of thousands of students in Ontario return to high school because they need more math and science to get into their chosen job or post-secondary studies. That delays their entry into the workforce and ultimately costs the Canadian economy millions. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Royal Canadian Legion: The Royal Canadian Legion is describing the government's position as "reprehensible.", according to Huffington Post. The Legion and other veterans groups have scoffed at the argument and OTTAWA - The Conservative government is facing a revolt among veterans groups for claiming it is not bound by the promises of previous governments in the care of wounded soldiers. The government, which intends to defend against a class-action lawsuit by veterans of the war in Afghanistan, says it's unfair to bind current and future governments to promises that date back to the First World War. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

corporate income tax revenues: OTTAWA - Canada had bigger budget deficits in July and in the April-July period than it did in the same periods last year due to a sharp drop in corporate income tax revenues, which the government said would be reversed in August, according to Reuters. Revenues from corporate income taxes plunged 73.7 percent in July, down C$1.3 billion, "reflecting timing issues which lowered July revenues but are expected to raise August revenues," the government said and By Louise Egan The federal budget deficit widened to C$1.98 billion $1.92 billion in July, compared with a shortfall of C$1.35 billion in July 2012, the Department of Finance said on Friday in a monthly report. The government ran a C$158 million surplus in the month of June. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Allison Janney: But Allison Janney isnt one of them, according to The Chronicle Herald. Since then shes capably popped up in small, but memorable ways, like her turn as the cougar-y lush in last summers coming-of-age flick The Way Way Back and I have some concerns about the new sitcom Mom. I have long had a crush on her, sparked when she confidently strode down the halls of the West Wing as the tough but compassionate C.J. Cregg, press secretary for the Bartlett administration. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

LAMPEDUSA, Italy: LAMPEDUSA, Italy - Divers searched rough waters off the coast of Sicily on Sunday for the bodies of hundreds of migrants whose dream of escaping violence, poverty and oppression for a new life in Europe ended when their boat caught fire and sank. , according to Reuters. The coastguard said 70 corpses had been brought to the surface on Sunday, despite 28-mile-per-hour gusts of wind and a meter-high swell. Authorities searched for bodies in and around the sunken boat, which was carrying mainly Eritreans and Somalis. By Steve Scherer About 500 migrants were packed onto the boat, which capsized just a kilometer from their destination on Thursday, according to survivors. The Italian authorities say 181 bodies have been recovered and more than a hundred are still missing. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Parkdale Public School: Who knew this wave of Roma students would reverse just four years later, emptying classrooms, laying off teachers and leaving a community heartsick at the loss?, according to The Star. This is a story of love and loss, said Principal Susan Yun. Parkdale Public School, at the heart of the Roma influx, has seen its pool of 297 Roma students 18 months ago drop to 54 this fall, just as all the schools outreach was starting to pay off with these reluctant young scholars and their parents and They came in waves; sudden, boisterous, defiant, exuberant waves of children from an almost mythic culture who filled the schools of Parkdale with a challenge beyond any they had faced before. Its a rare case of Canadian schools working hard to embrace newcomers who couldnt stay. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Margaret Atwood: National anthem slights immigrants, according to The Chronicle Herald. The subject of revising the words to O Canada has surfaced again, this time regarding the offensive to some women, including Margaret Atwood word sons and (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.