European Union: Officials also announced that migration would be on the agenda of the European leaders' summit Oct. 24-25 and would have a priority place in the 2014 EU agenda, which Greece and Italy will spearhead during their presidencies, according to Times Colonist. The European Union has long taken a back seat regarding border security and asylum policies, leaving the problem mainly to its member states. But last week's sinking of a smuggler's boat carrying 500 migrants came as a bitter wake-up call to European officials that more co-operation will be needed to avert further tragedies of that scale. That will include more assistance to the countries most affected by the influx of refugees from Africa, namely Italy, Greece and Spain and LAMPEDUSA, Italy - The head of the European Commission announced Wednesday during a visit to Lampedusa that Italy would receive an additional 30 million euros $40 million in EU funds to help settle and receive new refugees, after the sinking of a migrant boat off the Sicilian island killed at least 297 people. "The EU cannot accept that thousands of people die at its borders," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters after touring Lampedusa's migrant holding centre. "The challenges that Lampedusa and Italy are facing are European challenges." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

interest rates: Minutes of the Feds Sept. 17-18 meetings released Wednesday show that the Fed wrestled with the decision, even though the panel ended up voting 9-1 to keep the purchases at the current level of $85 billion a month. The bond purchases are intended to keep long-term interest rates low to encourage more borrowing and spending, according to 660 News. Still, some raised concerns that inaction would undermine the Feds effectiveness in communicating its next step. Many economists had predicted some reduction in the purchases. And some Fed members made comments ahead of the meeting that suggested such a move was likely and WASHINGTON Nearly every member of the Federal Reserve thought last month that the central bank should see more data before slowing its bond purchases. But worries about whether a delay would confuse markets made the decision a close call. According to the minutes, all members but one thought the Fed should see more evidence that the economys modest improvement could be sustained. And several noted weaker employment numbers, a rise in interest rates and potential threats from a budget impasse in Washington. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Janet Yellen: Yellen has supported the bond buying programs and was a driving force behind the strategy adopted in 2012 to commit the Central Bank to goals on inflation and unemployment with emphasis on policy to really encourage full employment in the economy. Given this position it is felt her withdraw of stimulus will be cautious, according to CTV. Many will be looking for clarity from her, after being blindsided when the Fed didnt begin the tapering process in September that left many scratching their heads and One of the worse kept secrets in Washington has now been confirmed Janet Yellen will be the next Chair of the Federal Reserve and will become the first female leader in its 100 year history. By all accounts she was the logical choice. She is experienced, even tempered, a noted economist and was widely favoured for the position. As well, her experience is timely given that she was on the Fed policy making committee the last time parts of the US bureaucracy was shut down and that was 17 years ago. Plus if you go back to 2007 and she was among the 1st to warn how severe the housing situation was becoming most assumed prices were going to be flat when she said what if they go down. Of course today we know how right she was. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: G. L. Peiris says Harper and Canada are alone in the boycott of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and that all other 53 countries of the group are attending, according to Huffington Post. Harper, who says the boycott is in protest of Sri Lanka's human rights abuses, is also threatening to yank Canadian funding to the Commonwealth, which at nearly $20 million annually makes Canada the second-largest financial supporter of the bloc and Sri Lanka's foreign minister says Prime Minister Stephen Harper is "totally isolated" in his decision to ditch the upcoming Commonwealth summit in Colombo, Agence France-Presse reports. "Canada is totally isolated in this situation because we have the overwhelming support of all other countries," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Sathi Aseervatham: Sathyapavan "Sathi" Aseervatham said he was held for a year without charge in a Sri Lankan prison, beaten with plastic pipes, and forced to go without food and water, according to an affidavit arranged by his Canadian lawyer, according to CTV. The affidavit is dated Oct. 29, 2012, and notarized by a Sri Lankan justice of the peace. Sathis lawyer, Gabriel Chand, said it was impossible to make it public while Sathi was alive because it would put his client at risk and A Tamil man who was charged with organizing a ship that brought about 500 migrants to Canada from Sri Lanka was brutally tortured after he was deported, according to a document obtained by News. My body was thirsty for water and when I asked for water they beat me, it reads. They blindfolded my eyes and I was locked in a small cage with my hands tied up behind my back and no clothes for many days. I could not count the days because it was dark and cold and I was fully naked." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

public servants: Virtually all growth in federal public service pay over the last 11 years has merely kept up with inflation, and additional hires comprised about half of the extra $7.8 billion in pay for public servants between 2001-02 and 2011-12, the report shows, according to 660 News. New Democrat critics were quick to jump on the findings as evidence that the Harper government unfairly targeted public servants in their austerity measures and OTTAWA The latest report by Canadas parliamentary budget office appears to put to rest the myth of fat-cat public servants collecting far larger pay packets than their counterparts in the private sector. Salaries accounted for about 47 per cent of the increase, the office says, but 96 per cent of that was just to keep pace with inflation only four per cent could be counted as real income gains over the 11-year period covered by the study. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

RBC Canadian Manufacturing Purchasing Managers: TORONTO - The pace of growth in the Canadian manufacturing sector accelerated in September to its highest level in over a year, helped by a jump in new orders and exports, data showed on Tuesday, according to Reuters. A reading above 50 shows growth in the sector and By Leah Schnurr The RBC Canadian Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' index PMI , a gauge of manufacturing business conditions, rose to a seasonally adjusted 54.2 last month from 52.1 in August, making for the highest level since June 2012. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tanning beds: The time lag doesnt trouble activists from the Canadian Cancer Society and others who are thrilled that MPPs unanimously passed the legislation making it illegal for anyone under 18 to use tanning beds, according to The Star. I wouldnt wish this experience on my worst enemy, added Neale, who was required to top up her tan several times a week as a condition of employment and was diagnosed with the potentially deadly cancer two months after quitting at age 20 and After years of delays, Ontario passed what is hailed as a life-saving teen tan ban Wednesday to cut down on the rising incidence of skin cancer but it could be months before the law takes effect. Knowing it will save lives means the world to me, said Kate Neale, a Belleville-area woman who worked and tanned in a salon in her late teens before developing melanoma and going through a host of treatments. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Xstrata Nickel: The former vice-president of corporate affairs at Xstrata Nickel will be listed in the Canadian Board Diversity Councils database, a tool to help directors find qualified women and visible minorities to fill board seats, according to 660 News. There are a lot of board members at the top 500 companies that will be retiring in the next five years, and I think its a great opportunity, says Dionne, who lives in Toronto and TORONTO After conquering the male-dominated mining industry, Dominique Dionne is hoping for a spot on one of the countrys top corporate boards. Now entering its second year, the Diversity 50 database is adding 50 new candidates, effectively doubling in size. Last year, six of its candidates were elected to board-level positions. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Crowne Pacific Development Corporation: Copyright 2013, according to Times Colonist and Plans are moving forward for the biggest development of new rental accommodation in Courtenay for decades. Crowne Pacific Development Corporation wants to build 94 two- and three-bedroom apartments on four adjacent lots between 3230 and 3280 Cliffe Avenue - land overlooking the estuary on the opposite side of Cliffe to Future Shop. City councillors last night passed first and second readings of the necessary rezoning bylaws to allow the project - to be called Acadia on the Walk - to go forward to a public hearing, to be held at City Hall on Monday, October 21 5 p.m. . Developer Brett Giese said it was a great site that was close to stores, recreational opportunities and public transit. He told council it was his intention to build two four-storey residential blocks, each of 47 self-contained suites and all equipped to high standards, including fitted kitchens with dishwashers and individual laundry appliances in each unit. Suites higher than ground level would all have balconies, many with views over the estuary; and in the landscaped grounds 124 parking stalls would be created to be accessed from the Anfield/Cliffe signaled intersection. Giese said the development of "clean, safe and affordable housing" was modeled on one his company had just completed at Campbell River, and despite its high quality the intention was to offer units at rents in the $900- $1100 a month range. To ensure the apartments remain as rental units, the company was willing to enter into a ten-year legal agreement with the City to guarantee they would only be for rent, and not available for sale. Councillors were unanimous in welcoming the idea of new rental accommodation, although Councillors Doug Hillian and Ronna-Rae Leonard said it would have been even better if there had been some one-bedroom units as well as two and three bedroom apartments. That, they said, would have made at least some smaller units affordable to more people. But Mayor Larry Jangula said he thought the plan was "a great idea, a great concept and something that's really needed." Most existing rental stock in town was 25 or more years old, he added, and he felt the rents being proposed for a brand new development with modern amenities were in the right ballpark. And Coun. Jon Ambler suggested affordability was not simply an issue of rent levels, important though they were. The location of the project meant that people wouldn't need to own a car, because they were within walking, cycling or a bus ride to a host of retail and employment opportunities. Those factors all helped contribute to affordability, he suggested. And Coun. Manno Theos said some people currently living in less expensive rental units might well be in a position - and have the desire - to move up the ladder, creating vacancies in older units helping broaden the availability at different rent levels. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.