Karen Zhou: Racialized worker pursues happiness, Dec. 7, 2013, according to The Star. Karen Zhou , Toronto Re: Racialized worker pursues happiness, Dec. 7, 2013 Canada often takes pride in our immigration policy but for each success story, there are dozens of stories that reveal the disappointing reality facing many newcomers, such as the one in this Atkinson series. This story of Richard Wang is heartbreaking but I do not agree with Michael Valpy that the real problem comes from the businesses and temp agencies offering them employment. These players are simply responding to demand in an overcrowded low-end labour market. They may not be beacons of hope for people desperate for work, but they are not the cause of unemployment and poverty among newcomers as this article implies. A more constructive dialogue would involve questioning a flawed government immigration policy that for too long has welcomed too many of the best and brightest immigrants without regard for our economys capacity to absorb an increasing number of highly qualified new entrants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canada Pension Plan: OTTAWA Advocates for enhancing the Canada Pension Plan say they are approaching the consensus required to press ahead with reform that would see both premiums and benefits rise in the future, according to The Chronicle Herald. Pressure has been growing since Prince Edward Islands Wes Sheridan released his modest proposal in early October to nearly double contributions over three years, resulting in a near-doubling of maximum annual benefits to $23,400 from the current $12,150 and Expansion of the pension plan will be the No. 1 item under consideration at the annual end-of-year meetings of federal and provincial finance ministers, which take place Sunday and Monday in Ottawa, and some see momentum building for an agreement in principle. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Teresa Armstrong: "In the last several weeks, we have lost more than 1,000 manufacturing jobs under this government's watch. The premier said she expected these closures, she said it would be unrealistic to have these closures and not have some negative impact," says Teresa Armstrong, MPP London-Fanshawe, according to CTV. Bicks closed two facilities in late 2012, Heinz announced plans to shutter its Leamington plant in November and Lance Bakeries in Cambridge and Kraft Foods in Oakville are also expected to close their plants and Still reeling from Tuesday's announcement from Kellogg's that the company will be shuttering its London operation in 2014, anger and confusion remains as workers and politicians wonder why so many manufacturing jobs are leaving Ontario. Kellogg's is just one of several food processors that have recently fled the area. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Pew Research Center: Those women remain as pessimistic as their mothers and grandmothers regarding gender equality in the workplace, according to the report released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center, according to Times Colonist. That widening gap is due in part to the many women who take time off or reduce their hours to start families. Other factors cited in the report are gender stereotyping, discrimination, weaker professional networks and women's hesitancy to aggressively push for raises and promotions, which together may account for 20 per cent to 40 per cent of the pay gap and WASHINGTON - About 75 per cent of young women believe the U.S. needs to do more to bring about equality in the workplace, a new study finds, despite a narrowing pay gap and steady employment gains for women at higher levels of business and government. The study finds that women under 32 now make 93 per cent of what young men earn, aided by women's higher rates of college completion. But the analysis of census and labour data also shows the gender pay gap will widen for women by their mid-30s, if the experience of the past three decades is a guide. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Miguel Salguiero: The modernization of the Halifax Shipyard is good news for his business, says Miguel Salguiero, co-owner of Omega Formwork Inc. of Mount Uniacke, according to The Chronicle Herald. Its a significant contract over a long period of time, Salguiero said in an interview Tuesday, although he declined to disclose financial details and Omega was among a number of local companies included in $28.5 million worth of shipyard modernization contracts announced Tuesday by Irving Shipbuilding . (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Adel Benhmuda: I dont want to blame, said Benhmuda, 46, as he stepped into the arrivals area at Pearson airport Monday evening with his wife and four sons, according to The Star. The familys nightmare is finally over, agreed his wife Aisha Benmatug, 42 and Adel Benhmuda and his family are home for the holidays. Its 13 years of hassle, but finally we are here, he beamed. I just want to forget everything ... Just keep it happy. And no time to blame anyone now. Just thank God we are here. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Kellogg: Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg said it would shutter the cereal-making facility by the end of 2014 and cut more than 500 full-time jobs on top of 110 layoffs announced last month , according to The Star. As with any project of this scope and one that impacts people, these are difficult decisions, Kellogg chief executive officer John Bryant said in a statement. As our employees and others would expect from Kellogg, we will help those who are impacted through their transitions and Southwestern Ontarios loss of manufacturing jobs continued Tuesday with Kellogg Co.s announcement that it will close a processing plant that has operated in London for more than 90 years. The move is part of overall restructuring the company is pursuing to rationalize operations by 2018 that will also see closure of a plant in Australia and the expansion of a Thailand facility. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

federal government: The federal government is soliciting public comment on the plan to introduce online travel applications as part of the sweeping perimeter security pact with the United States. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. U.S. citizens would be exempted from the new requirement. OTTAWA - Millions of visitors to Canada would be charged a new fee under a proposed electronic security screening plan. Foreign nationals who currently do not need a visa to visit Canada including people from Britain, France and many other countries would have to successfully apply for an electronic travel authorization before arriving by air. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Homer Mellen: This Christmas note written by London, ON native Homer Mellen in 1915 has become a huge hit online, thanks to its very simple requests:, according to Huffington Post. In it, he asks for a box of paints, a nine-cent reader and a schoolbag to put them in. Adorably, he also notes that if Santa has any nuts or toys or candy "to spare," he would appreciate those too and When you go through the family archives, it's easy to pass over the small pieces of paper that made up daily life for your ancestors. But one Nova Scotia family's crumpled note written in cursive is driving home the message of Christmas in a big way this year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nelson Mandela: HAVANA - It was the briefest of moments, just seconds, two presidents shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries amid a gaggle of world leaders together to honour the late Nelson Mandela. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. A single, cordial gesture is unlikely to wash away bad blood dating back to the Eisenhower administration. But in a year that has seen both sides take small steps at improving the relationship, the handshake stoked talk of further rapprochement. US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa, in the rain for a memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela, Tuesday Dec. 10, 2013. The handshake between the leaders of the two Cold War enemies came during a ceremony that's focused on Mandela's legacy of reconciliation. Hundreds of foreign dignitaries and world heads of states gather Tuesday with thousands of South African people to celebrate the life, and mark the death, of Nelson Mandela who has became a global symbol of reconciliation. AP Photo SOUTH AFRICA OUT Related Items Articles Obama hails "last great liberator" as powerful and humble alike pay tribute to Mandela Mandela's legacy left in our hands It would hardly have been noteworthy, except the men locking hands in Johannesburg were Barack Obama and Raul Castro, whose nations have been mired in Cold War antagonism for more than five decades. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.