North Kildonanan: They also stopped by the offices of politicians from all parties to get to know their elected members a little better, according to CTV. Minister Erna Braun grew up and lives in North Kildonanan. She went into politics after teaching home economics for 34 years and Manitobans off all ages were invited to take a tour and meet politicians today. The Legislative Building welcomed visitors for the annual open house. Multiculturalism and Literacy Minister Flor Marcelino served soup to her visitors. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Norm Kelly: Will he restore faith in City Hall? Is he bringing calm to the clam shell? What will he accomplish? , according to Huffington Post. As the crack video scandal began to envelop Ford, Kelly was one of the embattled mayors few defenders, even while other members of the executive committee called him to resign. A few months ago, Norm Kelly was a city councillor representing Scarborough Agincourt. Today he has many of the legislative powers of mayor, formally acting as deputy mayor. With less than a year left until a municipal election, Kelly is more than a placeholder for the next mayor of Toronto. Though he has only been deputy for three months - named so when Fords longtime deputy Doug Holyday made the jump to provincial politics in August - Kelly takes over backlogged committees and a city council still distracted by the international attention put on the mayor. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The RCMP: Grab the bucket; the nausea is going around, according to The Chronicle Herald. Lets review: In 2010, dozens of former or current MLAs were named on lists as having claimed improper or ineligible expenses. The RCMP launched investigations. Four men were charged and convicted; two of them spent time in jail and News that the cabinet of the defeated NDP government, by secret memo, handed out an extra $250,000 in taxpayers money to outgoing staff in the Premiers Office is a prime example of whats wrong with politics in Nova Scotia. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mandela: The outspoken Conservative MP was the sole parliamentarian to vote against making Mandela an honorary citizen in 2001, preventing the motion from passing unanimously, according to Huffington Post. "Nelson Mandela advocated violence and used violence to achieve his aims," he said. "It is very politically correct to go ahead and lionize him, but there are problems in South Africa today and we are glossing over these things." It appears Rob Anders still believes Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. Anders, a Canadian Alliance MP at the time, infamously labeled the anti-apartheid leader and former South African president "a terrorist and a Communist." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Corey Beals: Veteran fire department staffer Corey Beals is climbing the ladder of success at Halifax Regional Municipality, according to The Chronicle Herald. Along the way theres been post-secondary education, community work, marriage, parenthood, healthy living and professional development and Its a career ascent that was spawned in childhood, when he was a kid running after fire trucks near his North Preston home. It has evolved from being a volunteer firefighter to a department manager. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Liberals: The Liberals' lead has grown three points since the the previous poll from October. Among francophones, the PQ leads with 39 percent of the vote to the Liberals 28; CAQ has 21. When it came to the question of sovereignty, the Leger Marketing poll suggested support is dropping, especially among francophones. Only 33 percent of Quebecers would vote yes in a referendum in favour of sovereignty; 51 percent would vote no, and 13 percent were undecided, Among francophones, 41 percent would vote yes; 42 percent would vote no, and 15 percent were undecided, according to CTV. The PQ under Marois's leadership has adopted this very divisive policy which is deeply unpopular with multicultural people, some of whom actually, probably in the past, voted for the PQ and may even have voted yes in a referendum, he said and A new Leger Marketing poll conducted for Le Devoir suggests the Quebec Liberal Party is gaining in popularity among Quebec voters and also suggests support for Quebec independence is falling especially among francophone voters. According to the poll, the Liberal Party now sits five percentage points ahead of the PQ, with 37 per cent to the the PQ's 32 percent. The CAQ is third at 19 percent. The divisive debate over the Charter of Values could be behind the shifting political landscape, said Concordia University political scientist Harold Chorney. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mennonite Central Committee: More than three decades after she spent a summer microfilming the early records of Winnipeg relief and development agency Mennonite Central Committee, the stories that first intrigued Winnipegger Esther Epp-Tiessen about its origins are now available in a more accessible format. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. "I wrote it for supporters and potential supporters," she explains of the 328-page book, which details the beginnings and development of the non-profit organization, known in Winnipeg and beyond simply by its initials. Esther Epp-Tiessen and her book on the Mennonite Central Committee in Canada. JOE BRYKSA / Photo Store Epp-Tiessen's book, Mennonite Central Committee in Canada, will be officially launched at a history conference at the University of Winnipeg on Friday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. That's 50 years to the day the Canadian arm of the organization was founded in Winnipeg. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jean Chretien: The PMO says Harper will leave for Johannesburg on Sunday with a delegation that will include Jean Chretien, Kim Campbell and Brian Mulroney, according to Huffington Post. Former Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean is joining the Canadian dignitaries paying tribute and OTTAWA - The Prime Minister's Office says three former PMs have confirmed they will accompany Stephen Harper to South Africa to pay final respects to Nelson Mandela. Harper will attend a public memorial for Mandela on Tuesday in Johannesburg, as well as his lying in state in Pretoria on Wednesday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Todd Donohue: Welfare recipients in Manitoba get enough money for a bare-bones existence but they live far below several different poverty lines. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Living on social assistance Todd Donohue says welfare rates consistently fall short of the real cost of living, especially for housing. But instead of boosting overall welfare rates, the province should begin moving single parents and the disabled off welfare and into work as the best cure for chronic poverty. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nelson Mandela: Under current Canadian law, this iconic hero of South Africas liberation would be considered a terrorist, according to The Star. The extravagant eulogies that followed his death are well-deserved and Lost in the eulogies for Nelson Mandela is one inconvenient fact. To remember this is not to diminish Mandela. He peacefully transformed a desperately divided apartheid state into a more-or-less united country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.