International Human Rights Day: This year, its also been declared a "Day Affirming Human Rights and Religious Diversity of All Canadians." , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The multi-faith, multicultural event is being held to support human rights and religious freedom in the wake of Quebecs Charter of Values. Bill 60 would prohibit Quebec public employees, including those who do business with government, from wearing religious clothing of choice. On Dec. 10, people of goodwill around the world mark International Human Rights Day. In Winnipeg, religious and non-religious demonstrators will rally in the foyer of the Manitoba legislative building Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in a show of support. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nelson Mandelas: Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that the world had lost one of its great moral leaders and statesmen, according to CTV. Nelson Mandelas enduring legacy for his country, and the world, is the example he set through his own long walk to freedom. With grace and humility, he modelled how peoples can transform their own times and in doing so, their own lives and Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum have weighed in on the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela. One of the worlds most beloved leaders, Mandela died Thursday at the age of 95. Despite his long years of captivity, Mr. Mandela left prison with a heart closed to calls for a settling of scores. Instead, he was filled by a longing for truth and reconciliation, and for an understanding between all peoples, Harper said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Doug Eyford: Doug Eyford was appointed in March, in the midst of tense federal review hearings for Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline through British Columbia. With a federal review panel report expected within the coming weeks -- if not days -- the report released Thursday was blunt, according to CTV. The report highlighted the economic opportunities and hurdles for aboriginal communities in energy development in oil and gas and VANCOUVER -- The federal government must build trust with First Nations communities and address issues outside of billion-dollar projects if they hope to forge ahead with energy developments, says a report from Ottawa's special envoy dispatched to help resolve an impasse over major oil and gas developments in the West. "There has not been a constructive dialogue about energy projects," Eyford wrote. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canada Border Services Agency: The privacy commissioner is also taking the Canada Border Services Agency to task for leaving profiles of listed people on the Internet too long and failing to assess the privacy implications of the program in advance, according to CTV. But the watchdog makes several recommendations for bringing the program fully in line with the privacy law -- all of which the border agency has agreed to act on and OTTAWA -- The federal privacy watchdog says Canada's border agency broke the law by labelling people on its highly touted "wanted" list as war criminals -- a potentially misleading tag the agency failed to justify. The commissioner found the overall thrust of the "Wanted by the CBSA" program -- since expanded by the border agency -- is consistent with the agency's responsibility to enforce immigration and refugee law by removing people who shouldn't be in Canada, and therefore permissible under the Privacy Act. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Bank of Canada: TORONTO - The Canadian dollar closed higher Thursday amid a string of solid U.S. economic news this week and rising oil prices. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The Canadian currency had sunk a quarter of a cent Wednesday to its lowest level since May 2010 after the Bank of Canada left rates unchanged and left markets with the impression that rate hikes were still a long way off. Canadian dollars loonies are pictured in Vancouver, Sept. 22, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward The loonie was up a third of a cent to 93.98 cents US as the greenback lost value against a variety of currencies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Bank of Montreal: The S P/TSX composite index fell 99.7 points to 13,319.87 with losses spread over most sectors. Traders are also cautious ahead of economic data later in the week that could give a better idea of where the Federal Reserve is headed in cutting back on stimulus measures, according to Times Colonist. That beat forecasts of $1.58 a share but Barclays observed that "BMO reported a $121-million gain in Wealth Management that is not recurring and will not likely be treated as core earnings in the market." TORONTO - The Toronto stock market closed sharply lower Tuesday as investors reacted negatively to the latest earnings report from the Bank of Montreal and pushed other financial stocks lower ahead of reports from all the big banks this week. Bank of Montreals TSX:BMO annual net profit hit a record $4.2 billion in 2013. That included $1.088 billion of net income in the fourth quarter, which was up one per cent from a year earlier. Its adjusted net income fell two per cent from a year ago to $1.102 billion or $1.64 a share. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Allan Gregg: Taken in the aftermath of last week's four federal byelections, The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey indicates Liberal support is at 34 per cent, down slightly from the 37 per cent recorded the week before, according to Huffington Post. Pollster Allan Gregg says the latest numbers not only reinforce the split byelection results last Monday, but demonstrate a significant shift is underway in terms of both the Conservatives and Liberals and OTTAWA - The battle lines for the next election could very well be taking shape as a new poll suggests Justin Trudeau's Liberals have solidified their lead over the governing Conservatives. The Conservatives are hovering at a consist 26 per cent, while New Democrats putter along at 24 per cent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Bank of Canada: The loonie was down 0.23 of a cent to 93.75 cents US a day before the Bank of Canada's next interest rate announcement. Markets generally aren't looking to the central bank to move up rates until 2015, according to Huffington Post. Traders looked to economic data coming out later in the week that could give a better idea of where the Federal Reserve is headed in cutting back on stimulus measures and TORONTO - The Canadian dollar continued to drift downward Tuesday morning to multi-year lows amid mixed commodity prices and a heavy slate of economic data in Canada and the U.S. this week. The currency closed below 94 cents US on Monday for the first time since the end of August 2010. Tuesday's intraday low as of midday was 93.69 cents US, which matched a level set on Aug. 31, 2010. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canada: The "trick" side of this announcement is that it is essentially the same number as for the previous five years of the Harper government. There is tinkering within the total as the sub categories are marginally adjusted, but the overall effect is about the same. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. We are left with a controlled growth strategy for now and perhaps a population maintenance strategy in the longer term as we look down the road to a time when deaths will significantly exceed births as the population ages. Why doesn't Canada return to the strategy that once helped build this nation -- allowing the sponsoring here of family members, as permanent and not temporary, immigrants? Each year around Halloween, Canada's Citizenship and Immigration minister is required by law to present to Parliament his immigration plan for the coming year. This is a good news event, a "treat," and on Oct. 28, Minister Chris Alexander announced the target for 2014 would be in the range of 240,000-265,000 immigrants. As is becoming apparent to many Canadians, the demand to immigrate here far exceeds the annual spaces allowed. Yet immigration policy within the context of Canada's future seems still to be something that our political parties approach gingerly, if at all. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Heritage Department: OTTAWA - Proposed logos for Canada's 150th birthday are getting decidedly mixed reviews from the first Canadians to see them, with some complaining one looks too much like a hockey puck and another is too Disneyland. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Those are the impressions of nine focus groups in Chilliwack, B.C., Mississauga, Ont., and Montreal to proposed logos that the Canadian Heritage Department is shopping around to prepare for the 2017 anniversary of Confederation. Proposed logos for Canada's 150th birthday are shown in a handout photo. The logos are getting decidedly mixed reviews from the first Canadians to see them, with some complaining one looks too much like a hockey puck and another is too Disneyland.There were also complaints about a military theme conjured by a badge-like logo, while another retro design was slammed as too boring ??? and it looked like a doily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canadian Heritage There were also complaints about a military theme conjured by a badge-like logo, while another retro design was slammed as too boring. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.