Small Business Maxime Bernier: As the spending scandal continues to rock Ottawa, the idea of a nation-wide vote on Senate abolition is floating around after comments made earlier this week by Minister of State for Small Business Maxime Bernier, according to CTV. Specifically, Bernier said he would like the Conservatives to put forth the question to all Canadians next spring and Conservative ministers seem to be divided when it comes to the idea of a referendum on abolishing Canadas senate. In an interview with Quebec-based newspaper La Presse on Friday, Bernier suggested it was time to ask Canadians what to do with the Senate: reform it or abolish it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Stora Enso: The investment comes on top of the 350 million euros it spent on converting an old paper mill, bought from paper maker Stora Enso in 2009, into one of its centres serving customers in Europe and worldwide. It started operations in 2011, and currently employs some 125 people in Hamina, 150 kilometres 95 miles east of Helsinki, according to Times Colonist. The company says the expansion will employ up to 800 engineering and construction workers at the plant and that new, permanent jobs will be created once the extension opens and HELSINKI - Google is investing 450 million euros $608 million to expand a data centre in southern Finland as part of Europe-wide development plans totalling hundreds of millions of euros. Google Inc. says the Hamina centre is one of its most advanced and efficient, with a high-tech cooling system that uses seawater from the Baltic Sea to reduce energy usage and help keep computers running smoothly. In 2015, the plant will be primarily powered by wind energy and there are plans to meet future energy needs with "100% renewable energy." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

the Senate: MPs and a handful of senators are returning to Ottawa from Calgary after wrapping up a two-day biennial policy convention that just might have added another chapter or two to the saga however, according to Huffington Post. "I hope that the Senate makes a decision on that motion as soon as possible and I do hope that we can make some lemonade from the lemon of this whole issue by re-energizing efforts for fundamental Senate reform through democratization." OTTAWA - Conservatives are hoping a vote to suspend three errant senators without pay this week might help turn the page on a scandal that has jammed their political momentum for months. "Honestly, what most of our MPs are hearing from constituents is that they're sick of the whole story and the issue, they want to see something decisive done in terms of accountability and then to move on," Employment Minister Jason Kenney said in a weekend interview. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: WASHINGTON - The White House and the leaders of the congressional intelligence committees are rejecting former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden's plea for clemency. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. "He should return to the U.S. and face justice," Pfeiffer said when pressed about whether clemency was being discussed. In this image made from TV taken in Sept. 2013 and made available by Rossia 24 TV channel and distributed on Friday Nov. 1, 2013, former National Security Agency systems analyst Edward Snowden looks at a photographer on a boat during a trip on the Moscow River in Moscow, Russia, with the Christ the Savior Cathedral in the background. Edward Snowden is calling for international help to persuade the U.S. to drop its espionage charges against him, according to a letter a German lawmaker released Friday after he met the American in Moscow. AP Photo/LifeNews via Rossia 24 TV channel TV OUT "Mr. Snowden violated U.S. law," White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer said Sunday about the former systems-analyst-turned-fugitive who has temporary asylum in Russia. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Dan Pfeiffer: Mr. Snowden violated U.S. law, White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer said Sunday about the former systems-analyst-turned-fugitive who has temporary asylum in Russia, according to 660 News. Snowden made the plea in a letter given to a German politician and released Friday. In his one-page typed letter, he asks for clemency for charges over allegedly leaking classified information about the NSA to the news media. Speaking the truth is not a crime, Snowden wrote and WASHINGTON The White House and the leaders of the congressional intelligence committees are rejecting former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowdens plea for clemency. He should return to the U.S. and face justice, Pfeiffer said when pressed about whether clemency was being discussed. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Colin Boyd Shafer: He is snapping portraits of people from 190 countries that now make Toronto their home, according to The Star. Shafer, originally from Kitchener-Waterloo, returned to Canada after finishing a masters degree in political economy, violence conflict and development at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, earlier this year. It was in London that he came up with the idea for the Cosmopolis Toronto project and Colin Boyd Shafer, a 30-year-old photographer and teacher, wants to demonstrate how diverse and multicultural Toronto is, one photograph at a time. His project, called Cosmopolis Toronto , has its own website and is available for viewing through social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Funded by crowdsourcing on Indiegogo , the photography project is tentatively scheduled to be on display at the Toronto Centre for the Arts in North York for a month, starting in January. There are also plans to publish the photographs in a book. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Denis Coderre: Coderre won in an election that he dominated in the polls, despite a few surprises from challengers, the resignation of one of his high-profile candidates and the quick-gaining popularity of political newcomer, lawyer M lanie Joly. , according to Huffington Post. However, the trio saw their own standings change throughout the campaign. Ct , who led a coalition that included Louise Harels Vision candidates, was initially considered a front runner but saw his numbers slip early in the campaign. The CBC-Radio-Canada decision desk is projecting Denis Coderre will win the Montreal mayor race. Joly, Projet Montr als Richard Bergeron and Coalition Montr als Marcel Ct failed to gain the ground needed to overtake the man whose political experience and recognition factor helped keep him ahead of the pack. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Denis Coderre: MONTREAL - The stewardship of a scandal-afflicted city has now been entrusted to Denis Coderre, the back-slapping political populist who was elected Sunday as mayor of Montreal. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The former minister and party organizer for the federal Liberals held a five-percentage-point edge in his first attempt at municipal politics. A woman walks past City Hall in Montreal, Februray 19, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes Coderre's knack for grabbing attention has followed him from the federal arena, where he was a perennial purveyor of high-publicity causes who built a huge online following, in part by live-tweeting Montreal Canadiens games. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

purchasing managers' index: Data compiler Markit said its final purchasing managers' index fell to 49.1 in October after climbing to 49.8 in September, just below the 50 point line dividing expansions in activity from contractions. , according to Reuters. The final reading missed an initial flash figure and the consensus forecast of analysts, which both came in at 49.4. PARIS - French manufacturing activity shrank for the 20th month in a row in October, and at a faster pace, as new orders saw their sharpest drop since June due to poor demand, a survey showed on Monday. Export orders were the one positive note in October, rising for the third time in the past four months and at the fastest rate since May 2011. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Fairfax Financial: The S P/TSX composite index rose 24.27 points to 13,361.73 led by gains in beaten-down mining stocks, according to The Star. BlackBerry shares tumbled $1.34 or 16.56 per cent to $6.75, its lowest level in a decade, after Fairfax Financial said it will lead a group that will inject $1 billion U.S. into the smartphone company. BlackBerry will stay as a public company and The Toronto stock market registered a minor gain Monday amid a huge plunge in BlackBerry shares after its largest shareholder said it wont be taking the tech company private. U.S. indexes also racked up small gains as traders hoped that a heavy slate of economic data coming out this week will offer some clues about when the Federal Reserve will start to wind up stimulus that has supported a strong rally on stock markets. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.