Edward Snowden: Baird told The Canadian Press that Snowdens actions have compromised global security, according to 660 News. The U.S. wants to prosecute Snowden, who was granted temporary asylum in Russia. The move angered the Obama administration and has chilled relations between Moscow and Washington and OTTAWA National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden should abandon his bid for asylum in Brazil and surrender himself to the United States, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Wednesday. I think I probably agree with the Obama administration on this one, Baird said. I think hes done significant damage to national security, of the free world. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Immigration Minister Christine Melnick: Selinger told The Canadian Press he knew "early on" that former Immigration Minister Christine Melnick had likely misled the chamber in the spring of 2012, but he did not make that information public, according to CTV. Melnick -- who has since been dropped from cabinet -- told a legislative committee she wasn't behind the email at the time. She has repeatedly declined interview requests and WINNIPEG -- Manitoba's opposition parties are calling for an inquiry and the ousting of an NDP MLA from caucus after Premier Greg Selinger admitted he knew for months that a former cabinet minister misled the legislature. Manitoba's ombudsman found the assistant deputy minister of immigration was following Melnick's direction when he sent out a controversial email inviting immigration agencies to a politically charged debate in the provincial legislature. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: RIO DE JANEIRO - National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden wrote in a lengthy "open letter to the people of Brazil" that he's been inspired by the global debate ignited by his release of thousands of NSA documents and that the agency's culture of indiscriminate global espionage "is collapsing." , according to Winnipeg Free Press. He wrote that he'd be willing to help the South American nation investigate NSA spying on its soil, but could not fully participate in doing so without being granted political asylum, because the U.S. "government will continue to interfere with my ability to speak." David Miranda, the domestic partner of Brazil-based American journalist Glenn Greenwald, talks during an interview in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. Miranda has taken up the cause of persuading the Brazilian government to grant political asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. "Brazil is a big, strong country, I think one of the few nations in the world that could offer asylum to Edward Snowden," Miranda said. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo Related Items Articles NSA ruling clips surveillance state In the letter, Snowden commended the Brazilian government for its strong stand against U.S. spying. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Giusi Nicolini: The video, which aired Monday on state-run RAI television, showed a dozen male migrants who lined up in a warehouse, then stripped to be hosed down with a solution to treat scabies. One of the migrants told RAI that men and women had been disinfected this way a few days ago, according to Times Colonist. Politicians and refugee advocates denounced the incident, which the Lampedusa Mayor Giusi Nicolini said was reminiscent of a concentration camp and ROME - Italy's government on Tuesday promised an investigation into the treatment of migrants after a video was taken of naked refugees being hosed down and disinfected in cold weather at a holding centre on the southern island of Lampedusa. The video was particularly troubling since the government had promised to improve conditions at the overcrowded Lampedusa centre after more than 360 would-be refugees drowned offshore in October, a tragedy that cast worldwide attention on the plight of migrants trying to reach Europe and the conditions they find when they reach land. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Sean Rehaag: An exhaustive study into how refugee claims are handled in Canada has raised disturbing questions about both the fairness and quality of decisions that could be matters of life or death for thousands of people seeking asylum. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Mr. Rehaag's study, subtitled The Luck of the Draw, also exposed inconsistencies in dispositions from the Federal Court, which serves as an appeal court of last resort for claimants who were turned down by the refugee board. DALE CUMMINGS / The study by Osgoode Hall law Prof. Sean Rehaag found "vast disparities" in the decisions of different members of the Immigration and Refugee Board IRB , which is often the first official stop in the refugee-claim process for those who wash up on Canada's shores or who arrive by other means. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Bloc: First elected under the Bloc banner in 2006, the MP was ejected from the party in September for condemning the proposed Quebec charter of values, which would prevent provincial government workers from wearing visible religious signs such as veils and kippas at work. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Bloc Qu b cois leader resigns for health reasons Independent MP Maria Mourani has definitely turned her back on Quebec sovereignty, abandoning the ideals of the Bloc Qu b cois and stating that Canada offers the best protection for minority rights in her home province. LYSIANE GAGNON Liberals, NDP duke it out for Quebec (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli: A key to the Green Energy Act's success was the local content requirement of 50 per cent for wind projects and 60 per cent on solar. The high feed-in-tariff rate that the province guaranteed to wind and solar power producers could be justified because it was directly leading to new manufacturing in Ontario. , according to Hamilton Spectator. But in June, Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli said the province would comply with the decision. Local content quotas were cut by half or more. And this week the minister announced they will be removed altogether next year to reform the Green Energy Act in response to the WTO decision. The Ontario Green Energy Act was a creative effort to reduce the impacts of climate change and revitalize a faltering provincial economy. Though the Ontario government missed a self-imposed 2013 target of 50,000 new jobs, evidence shows the policy has attracted new manufacturing to the province while creating permanent employment in the renewable energy services sector. All of this was jeopardized by a World Trade Organization WTO decision last December, and upheld by the WTO appellate body this May, declaring that the local content requirement conflicts with international trade rules. It was a surprising decision to many, since government procurement policies are expressly exempted from the national treatment i.e. non-discrimination obligations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATT . (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: Baird said Snowdens actions have compromised global security, according to The Star. The U.S. wants to prosecute Snowden, who was granted temporary asylum in Russia. The move angered the Obama administration and has chilled relations between Moscow and Washington and OTTAWA National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden should abandon his bid for asylum in Brazil and surrender himself to the United States, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Wednesday. I think I probably agree with the Obama administration on this one, Baird said. I think hes done significant damage to national security, of the free world. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger: WINNIPEG - Manitoba's opposition parties are calling for an inquiry and the ousting of an NDP MLA from caucus after Premier Greg Selinger admitted he knew for months that a former cabinet minister misled the legislature. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Manitoba's ombudsman found the assistant deputy minister of immigration was following Melnick's direction when he sent out a controversial email inviting immigration agencies to a politically charged debate in the provincial legislature. Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger looks on at a press conference following the 2013 Council of the Federation fall meeting in Toronto, Friday November 15, 2013. Manitoba's opposition parties are calling for an inquiry after Premier Greg Selinger admitted he knew for months that a cabinet minister misled the legislature.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch Selinger told The Canadian Press he knew "early on" that former Immigration Minister Christine Melnick had likely misled the chamber in the spring of 2012, but he did not make that information public. Related Items Articles Tory leader calls on premier to 'come clean' Melnick done in by lie to legislature: premier (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nelson Mandela: They came through the frigid weather Sunday night, hundreds of sons and daughters of Africa, to pay tribute to a teacher who had brought the world a universal message of humanity. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Deji Salami centre dances with KB Fujumelody at an event celebrating the life of Nelson Mandela at the Ethiopian Cultural Centre on Sunday evening. JOHN WOODS / Photo Store Related Items Articles Cousin, friends: Fake signer at Mandela memorial was among a mob that burned 2 men to death Grief floods out at Mandela's burial Evans Coffie performs Sunday at the Ethiopian Cultural Centre, celebrating the life of Nelson Mandela. Photo Store It was standing room only at the second Mandela tribute this weekend, held at the Ethiopian Cultural Centre on Selkirk Avenue. Enlarge Image (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.