Progressive Conservatives: Mark Parents Nov. 14 online opinion piece in which he explains the death of Red Toryism reminded me of the famous quote attributed to Mark Twain: Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated, according to The Chronicle Herald. One of the reasons why I voted in favour of the merger between the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance almost 10 years ago along with Scott Brison and many others at the national convention regional meeting Mr. Parent described is that the founding principles of the new Conservative party were nearly identical to that of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and As fellow Progressive Conservatives who worked together albeit in different roles in John Hamms government, Mark Parent and I agree on more things than we disagree. I therefore hope he will accept this different point of view in the respectful spirit I am expressing it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation: In a report released Monday , the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the EI system is being used by Ottawa as a cash cow, according to The Chronicle Herald. And he says that surplus is expected to rise to $4.2 billion this year and OTTAWA A taxpayer group says Canadas employment insurance system is broken and needs to be replaced. Federation director Gregory Thomas says the federal government collected $3.3 billion more in EI revenues last year than it paid out in benefits. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Bashar Assads: The death of Abdul-Qadir Saleh, founder of the Tawhid Brigade, followed advances by President Bashar Assads troops against rebels on two key fronts: the capture of a string of opposition-held suburbs south of Damascus and the taking of two towns and a military base outside the northern city of Aleppo, according to The Star. Syrian government gaining ground in war, ahead of proposed peace talks BEIRUT The leader of one of Syrias most prominent rebel units died early Monday of wounds sustained during a strike by government forces last week, his group said, dealing another blow to fighters reeling from a series of recent battlefield losses. MORE ON THESTAR.COM (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Conservative Party: It's no secret that Kenney has spent the last few years courting Toronto-area ethnic communities on behalf of the Conservative Party, first as the minister of multiculturalism and then as immigration minister. , according to Huffington Post. The CBC News analysis of Elections Canada records reveals that more than $93,000 more than 60 per cent of those donations came from Chinese-Canadians in Toronto. Most of the donations came in clusters around a single date, suggesting they were contributed through fundraising events. Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney's Calgary riding association has raked in almost $145,000 from Ontario since 2007, a CBC News analysis reveals. His outreach efforts have been credited as a key factor behind the big blue wave that swept away many of those former Liberal fortresses in 2011. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation: In a report released today, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the EI system is being used by Ottawa as a cash cow, according to CTV. And he says that surplus is expected to rise to $4.2 billion this year and OTTAWA -- A taxpayer group says Canada's employment insurance system is broken and needs to be replaced. Federation director Gregory Thomas says the federal government collected $3.3 billion more in EI revenues last year than it paid out in benefits. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Justin Trudeau: Conservative MP Kelly Block used a member's statement to critique Trudeau, just before question period in the House of Commons Monday , according to Huffington Post. Block brought up a quote from Trudeau made in a television interview 14 years ago when he mused about Quebecers being "better". At the very same hour Toronto City Council debated a move to strip Mayor Rob Ford of his powers because of his crack use, the Conservatives continued to lambaste Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau for his stance on marijuana. Members' statements, which occupy the first 15 minutes of the question period hour, are often used by MPs to honour people in their ridings or mark local events. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Tawhid Brigade: BEIRUT - The leader of one of Syria's most prominent rebel units died early Monday of wounds sustained during a strike by government forces last week, his group said, dealing another blow to fighters reeling from a series of recent battlefield losses. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. An ongoing offensive meanwhile is driving hundreds of refugees into neighbouring Lebanon, as government forces seek to dislodge rebels from a mountainous area that stretches north of the Syrian capital. A total of 6,000 have crossed to a Lebanese border town over the last three days, the U.N. says. In this Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Tawhid Brigade, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Abdul-Qadir Saleh, left, the chief commander of the Tawhid Brigade, the main rebel outfit in Aleppo province, speaks to his fighters ahead of an attack on government troops, in Aleppo, Syria. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said Friday that a government airstrike the previous night in northern Syria killed a senior rebel figure and wounded two commanders and the spokesman of the Tawhid Brigade. According to the Observatory, the chief commander of the brigade, Abdul-Qadir Saleh, was wounded while the brigade's financial officer, Abu Tayeb, was killed. AP Photo/Tawhid Brigade The death of Abdul-Qadir Saleh, founder of the Tawhid Brigade, followed advances by President Bashar Assad's troops against rebels on two key fronts: the capture of a string of opposition-held suburbs south of Damascus and the taking of two towns and a military base outside the northern city of Aleppo. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Australian Broadcasting Corp: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's family and inner circle were targeted for electronic surveillance by Australia's Defense Signals Directorate DSD , the Guardian Australia and Australian Broadcasting Corp reported, citing a top secret document from 2009. , according to Reuters. Australian media last month reported that Australian embassies across Asia were part of the U.S.-led electronic surveillance operation, according to leaked Snowden documents. SYDNEY - Australia's spy agencies attempted to listen in on the mobile phone conversations of Indonesia's president and targeted the mobile phones of his wife and senior ministers, Australian media reported on Monday, citing documents leaked by NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The revelation may further strain ties between the neighbors after earlier reports that Australia's embassy in the country had been used as part of a U.S.-led surveillance network to spy on Indonesia, prompting a stern rebuke from Jakarta. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nicolas Zambrano: "I would never do so because it would go against my principles. ... No one has paid me, nor would I accept that," said Nicolas Zambrano, according to Times Colonist. In February 2011, Zambrano issued an $18 billion judgment against Chevron in a lawsuit brought on behalf of 30,000 Amazon rainforest residents for environmental damage caused by Texaco during its 1972-1990 operation of an oil consortium in the rainforest. Chevron later bought Texaco and NEW YORK, N.Y. - In an epic legal battle pitting Amazon rainforest tribes against energy giant Chevron, a former Ecuadorean judge claims another judge there took a $500,000 bribe. The second judge, however, says it's all a lie. The unusual and at times, bizarre clash of judicial brethren has played out at a high-stakes trial in federal court in New York City that will decide whether a multibillion-dollar judgment in Ecuador against Chevron should be enforced in the United States. Zambrano, for reasons unclear, at one point wore a red knit cap, overcoat, scarf and gloves while on the witness stand. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Abigail Fulton: The job fairs were organized by the B.C. Construction Association and drew about 800 people in Belfast Oct. 31 and about 2,000 others in Dublin Nov. 2, said Abigail Fulton, vice-president of the B.C. Construction Association, according to Huffington Post. "These are highly skilled positions, in specific trades where there are critical shortages, and these people, for the most part, particularly in B.C., are coming in as permanent residents," said Fulton and VANCOUVER - Western Canadian construction companies that are struggling to hire highly skilled workers will be offering jobs to almost 500 skilled Irish trades people, following a recruitment drive in Dublin and Belfast. Looking to hire were 28 companies mostly from B.C. and Saskatchewan, although two came from Alberta, added Fulton. A college and two construction associations also set up booths at the event. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.