Insight Vacations: The sun sets on historic Ashford Castle Hotel and Country Estate in County Mayo, according to Toronto Star. Enjoying an Insight Vacation flourish of freshly baked scones with homemade jam at a café along the route. Insight Vacations tour director Michael Doughty leads his group of guests through Kilkenny, Ireland. By Emma Yardley Special to the Star Fri., June 3, 2016 IRELAND — This country calls to Canadian visitors for many reasons: its traditional music, its bucolic landscape and its dry stout. The first record of the Irish in Canada dates back to 1536, when Cork fishermen sailed to Newfoundland. But there another defining characteristic of the two countries' relationship — the movement of the Irish people. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Ottawa: Hosted by the Catholic Centre for Immigrants, this event is a fantastic opportunity for you, your friends and your family to show support for Ottawa newcomers, according to CBC. The Community Cup event started in Ottawa in 2005 as a small soccer tournament for new immigrants with the objective to connect newcomers to non-newcomers, create friendships, and to celebrate Ottawa welcoming community. Brewer Park, 100 Brewer Way On Sunday, June 26, join CBC Ottawa for the 12th annual Community Cup. Over the years it has developed into a full blown community festival with over 2,000 visitors. Be sure to drop by the CBC tent where you can "Spin to Win" some great CBC summer prizes! (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: Cameron stuck mainly to economic themes in answering almost every question, suggesting that leaving the EU would damage the country economy, raise prices and result in job losses, according to Globe and Mail. I am genuinely worried about what would happen if we leave, he told the audience, adding later: Let us not roll the dice on our future. Another questioner, James Dexter, asked: Do you regret the personal damage that your scaremongering campaign has done to your reputation and legacy Mr. But during a question session with Sky TV journalist Faisal Islam, Mr. Yes, of course there are frustrations. Cameron acknowledged the EU can be frustrating at times. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

language classes: So a difficult decision had to be made, said Mario Calla, the executive director of Costi, which settles government-assisted refugees in Toronto, according to CBC. Rather than scale back the number of classes altogether, they decided to just stop offering their 27 federally-funded courses over the summer. "Our hands are tied," Calla said. "It a compromise situation." I cannot wait to go to school': Syrian kids start class in B.CSyrian refugees in B.C. face long waits for English courses Federal funding for language classes is tied to the number of immigrants agencies served the year before. Settlement agencies told a House of Commons committee Thursday that while the federal government did top up their budgets to deal with the influx of over 25,000 Syrians in a matter of three months, the money isn't going far enough. The base funding for 2016-2017 did not take into account the surge in Syrian refugees, who proved eager to access programs. Well-intentioned policies' "Usually the women get cheated in that process because child minding isn't available." In Vancouver, there are over 800 new immigrants on wait lists for language classes, said Karen Shortt, the president of the Vancouver Community College Faculty Association. While Costi is trying to link Syrians up with provincial courses and other programs, that doesn't cover all the bases, Calla said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: He lives with ALS, and had to use computer software to deliver his speech, according to Globe and Mail. He said that he believes Canadians are ready to ensure that our national anthem reflects the nation and the people that we really are in this 21st century. Perhaps they would have said: You have controversies over the national anthem and not the location of mass unmarked graves I definitely picked the right country! Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger arrived at the House of Commons last month by ambulance to support Bill C-210, his private member bill that would change the English-language lyrics of O Canada from all thy sons command to all of us command. Pretty simple, you'd think. But to certain historical essentialists – the ones who prefer things as they were more than a century ago, when my great-grandmothers were at home, voteless, cursing the butter churn – this smacks of political correctness. Pretty reasonable, too, a change of a couple of words that very few people ever sing, except on the rare occasions they're at a ball game or a graduation ceremony. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: After a series of mediations, the parties agreed Thursday to set out terms to, within 18 months, develop and revise policies, procedures and training for interaction with trans people, from searches to detention, in conjunction with the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the trans community, according to Toronto Star. I feel a mix of emotions. By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Fri., June 3, 2016 Toronto police and the province have settled a human rights complaint lodged by a transsexual man who was arrested, placed in a women jail and forced to put on women undergarments and a prison gown. I'm pleased with the remedy we got. I will never forget the humiliation. Everything was dealt with and there a willingness on their part to make changes and involve the community in doing so, said the complainant, Boyd Kodak. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network: The incident occurred at an Ottawa news conference, according to Metro News. Foreign Minister Wang Yi blasted a journalist from the web outlet IPolitics who asked about China human rights record, calling the question Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says restoring indigenous languages is key to preventing youth suicides in First Nation communities but stopped short of promising to recognize them as official languages. Trudeau says freedom of the press is something that is very important to him and it the media role to ask tough questions. He told a town hall organized by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network in Winnipeg that languages are at the core of indigenous culture and identity. Senators have voted to adopt the legislation, known as Bill C-14, in principle and to send it to the Senate committee on legal and constitutional affairs. He said communities that do a better job of teaching their own language and culture see big drops in suicide rates.__ASSISTED DEATH BILL WON' There now no way the federal government is going to meet Monday Supreme Court deadline to enact legislation on doctor-assisted dying. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Radical Action: This year marks the 66th anniversary of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program , the agricultural stream of Canada Temporary Foreign Workers Program . With the federal review of the TFWP set to end on June 15, Radical Action with Migrants in Agriculture , a group that advocates and provides support for migrant workers in Okanagan Valley, is demanding immediate reform of the program. "In 50 years this program hasn't changed, hasn't been reformed, according to Rabble. We're still seeing the same issues as when it was created. Chip in to keep stories like these coming. We're calling for serious overhaul including status upon arrival for all migrants," RAMA co-founder and organizer Elise Hjalmarson told rabble in a telephone interview. Closed work permits SAWP began bringing Jamaican migrants to Canada as seasonal labourers in the agricultural sector in 1966, under a Caribbean Commonwealth agreement. RAMA demands also include provincial health care upon arrival, stricter regulation of compliance with workplace safety standards, and legal protections for injured migrants facing deportation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

family: CTV has withheld the family last name because they fear for their relatives still in Syria, according to CTV. We were very happy in Syria and everything was okay and then this happened and everybody has been spread out, said Miryam. A family of Syrian refugees - 12-year old Miryam, her two brothers and aunt Safaa - came to Winnipeg two months ago. On top of learning English and adjusting to a new culture, Miryam is on the mend. She was badly burned all over her body. In January 2015, a bomb blew up Miryam house in Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Toronto real estate prices: Toronto Real Estate Board figures released Friday, showed home sales rose 10.6 per cent in May, compared to the same month last year, according to Toronto Star. Board officials blame the shortage of listings - 6.4 per cent or 1,230 fewer last month compared to May 2015 - for driving prices up 15.7 per cent from the same period last year. By Tess Kalinowski Real Estate Reporter Fri., June 3, 2016 Toronto real estate prices continue to climb amid fresh calls for more protections against the possibility of rising interest rates. Toronto home prices increased $64,262 on average to $782,051, compared to the same period last year. Article Continued Below The latest statistics come only days after the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development called on Ottawa to further tighten mortgage lending rules. Region-wide, the average was $751,908, up from $739,082 in April. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

freedom of press: Trudeau says freedom of the press is something that is very important to him and it the media role to ask tough questions, according to Brandon Sun. The incident occurred at an Ottawa news conference. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Highlights from the news file for Friday, June 3:__ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada has expressed its "dissatisfaction" with China after the Chinese foreign minister publicly berated a Canadian journalist earlier this week. Foreign Minister Wang Yi blasted a journalist from the web outlet IPolitics who asked about China human rights record, calling the question Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says restoring indigenous languages is key to preventing youth suicides in First Nation communities but stopped short of promising to recognize them as official languages. He said communities that do a better job of teaching their own language and culture see big drops in suicide rates.__ASSISTED DEATH BILL WON' There now no way the federal government is going to meet Monday Supreme Court deadline to enact legislation on doctor-assisted dying. He told a town hall organized by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network in Winnipeg that languages are at the core of indigenous culture and identity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Chris Friesen: In Swahili: Karibu, according to Vancouver Courier. In Somali: Soo Dhowaada. In Spanish: Bienvenidos. And so on. Amid the cobblestones in the old part of that city were various sayings, all lit up for pedestrians to see. The translation of each is "welcome." The idea for what amounts to be both an art piece and a large, strategically placed concrete welcome mat was inspired by a similar installation Chris Friesen saw on a trip to a public plaza in Geneva. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Trabelsi: In a federal court decision last week it was revealed that the lawyer for Trabelsi could not reach his client and that had no idea where he is, according to CTV. Trabelsi and his family came to Canada in January 2011 as the 23-year-long regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ended in a popular uprising. Belhassen Trabelsi, brother-in-law of Tunisia former dictator arrived in Montreal more than five years ago but was due to be deported Tuesday. He previously applied for - and was granted - permanent residency status but the Canadian government later revoked that status and froze the billionaire assets, since Trabelsi and his family are accused of stealing billions in state finances. In the past had refused to show up at immigration hearings claiming he feared for his safety. Ottawa ordered Trablesi deported but he spent years fighting that order, also losing his refugee hearing last year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Carnoustie: Getting into the Masters, whether as player or fan, according to Hamilton Spectator. Daunting major-championship venues like Carnoustie or Bethpage Black — or better yet, fearsome Oakmont, host of the 2016 U.S. Open. The 230-yard forced carry over water, a herculean task for most beginners. Then there making a go of a pipe-dream five-star seaside links course, wedged between a hardscrabble former mining town and the pitiless Gulf of St. And then building another one right next door. Lawrence, on a remote edge of eastern Canada that three hours from the nearest major airport. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs: In New York City, five men has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution and reselling of fake designer perfumes that may be loaded with urine, antifreeze and "other unpleasant, flammable or dangerous chemicals that burn when applied to the skin." Great, according to Huffington Post Canada. Conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "Operation Bad Odor" , cracked down on the scheme to peddle counterfeit perfumes, which included Daisy by Marc Jacobs, Chanel No. 5, Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue and Gucci Guilty . The gang involved, who would falsely trademarked high-end perfume packaging, had been knowingly selling the fragrances to wholesalers in up to six states and e-commerce sites. Gross, but true — if it counterfeit. I'm so excited to announce that I am the face of the new Chanel No. 5 L'EAU! ❤️ @chanelofficial #newchanel5A photo posted by Lily-Rose Depp on May 23, 2016 at 3:05am PDT Confiscating roughly 10,000 boxes of icky perfumes with "deceptive packing" that were originally imported generic fragrances from China, enforcement charged the five men with conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, trafficking in counterfeit goods, trafficking in counterfeit packaging, and smuggling goods. Lessoned learned here, folks When it comes to beauty products, please make sure you're purchasing them from legitimate sources, whether it be online or in stores. What does this mean That urine may be the factor behind their 30 years behind bars. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Syrian refugees: Among the hires are a number of newly arrived Syrian refugees, aboriginals, and youth with disabilities, although the exact breakdown of those figures is not immediately available, according to The Chronicle Herald. The government had pledged in the budget to add $339 million over three years to the summer jobs program to double the number of placements each year for students working at not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. The federal government says it has approved more than 7,000 additional jobs for the Canada Summer Jobs program on top of the 70,000 planned for 2016. Applications from small businesses to hire summer students through the government program was up almost one-third from last year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released the figures Thursday at the Children Hospital of Eastern Ontario, which plans to hire 20 students to help with its research wing. In all, there will be 13,373 students working at small businesses this summer, a four-fold increase from last year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

St John s-Ravenscourt School: Alicia Essig, a high school student in Matt Henderson class at St, according to CBC. John's-Ravenscourt School, won the $1,000 prize with this essay. The 2016 Glassen High School Ethics Essay Competition, sponsored annually by the CBC and the University of Manitoba Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics and the Department of Philosophy, asked students what Canada should do about this challenge. The United Nations report Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized Countries for 2014 put Canada at the bottom of a Top 15 list of industrialized refugee-receiving countries. While the number of Syrians exposed to these appalling circumstances continues to increase, Canada must decide whether or not to take action. Since the Syrian civil war started in 2011, more than 4 million people have fled the country and more than half of the country population has been displaced by violence, danger, conflict and persecution. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Immigration: What changes, if any, does Canada want to make to its current 'managed migration,' asked the 23-page study, titled Medium-Term Policy: Balanced Immigration and stamped for internal discussion only, according to Metro News. To what extent is the current overall immigration level appropriate and/or necessary With major changes made in the last decade under the former Conservative government, legal and immigration experts are calling on Immigration Minister John McCallum to have a national conversation on the future of Canadian immigration. The report by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada also points to the challenge of reconfiguring an immigrant-selection system in a rapidly changing labour market where a growing number of jobs are temporary and there increasing mismatch of available skills and the skills in demand. Ottawa must take a step back to do a review of the whole immigration program and reach a national consensus in moving our country forward as a nation-building exercise rather than as an economic imperative, said Debbie Douglas of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. It the right time to take a look at what is working and what is not working in the system. The Liberals have good political instincts and like to be seen as doing more on the immigration front. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

changing labour market: The report by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada also points to the challenge of reconfiguring an immigrant-selection system in a rapidly changing labour market where a growing number of jobs are temporary and there increasing mismatch of available skills and the skills in demand, according to Toronto Star. What changes, if any, does Canada want to make to its current 'managed migration,' asked the 23-page study, titled Medium-Term Policy: Balanced Immigration and stamped for internal discussion only. By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Thu., June 2, 2016 With 35 per cent of male newcomers returning home and a growing middle class in developing countries less inclined to migrate, an internal government review is calling the future of Canadian immigration into question. To what extent is the current overall immigration level appropriate and/or necessary With major changes made in the last decade under the former Conservative government, legal and immigration experts are calling on Immigration Minister John McCallum to have a national conversation on the future of Canadian immigration. Article Continued Below The Liberals have good political instincts and like to be seen as doing more on the immigration front. Ottawa must take a step back to do a review of the whole immigration program and reach a national consensus in moving our country forward as a nation-building exercise rather than as an economic imperative, said Debbie Douglas of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Daily Show: One segment of the interview, called "Sorry Not Sorry," was posted to You Tube on Tuesday, according to Huffington Post Canada. In the clip, "Daily Show" correspondent Hasan Minhaj gives the prime minister several topics to which he must be sorry, or, well, not sorry. Five years after he unleashed it to the world, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized for his infamous goatee. "The Daily Show" aired an interview with Trudeau in May focused on Canada intake of Syrian refugees. Trudeau had no apologies for Drake or Drake on "Degrassi." But for that goatee "The Daily Show's" Hasan Minhaj interviewed Trudeau about his government refugee plan, as well as other topics including his goatee and Nickelback. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. In another segment, titled "Get Ready to Look Like S**t," Minhaj predicts Trudeau will look like "busted Russell Crowe" at the end of his leadership. There was just no call for that," Trudeau says. "I look like my own evil twin." The prime minister then defends himself, saying that it was for Movember, a fundraising drive in November encouraging men to grow out their moustaches to raise money for prostate cancer research. "Yeah, Movember responsible for this," Minhaj says, pointing to Trudeau moustache. "I said I was sorry," Trudeau says, cutting him off. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

language classes: So a difficult decision had to be made, said Mario Calla, the executive director of Costi, which settles government-assisted refugees in Toronto, according to CTV. Rather than scale back the number of classes altogether, they decided to just stop offering their 27 federally-funded courses over the summer. "Our hands are tied," Calla said. "It a compromise situation." Federal funding for language classes is tied to the number of immigrants agencies served the year before. Settlement agencies told a House of Commons committee Thursday that while the federal government did top up their budgets to deal with the influx of over 25,000 Syrians in a matter of three months, the money isn't going far enough. The base funding for 2016-2017 did not take into account the surge in Syrian refugees, who proved eager to access programs. They've cut 200 spots from their program because they lost federal funding. While Costi is trying to link Syrians up with provincial courses and other programs, that doesn't cover all the bases, Calla said. "Usually the women get cheated in that process because child minding isn't available." In Vancouver, there are over 800 new immigrants on wait lists for language classes, said Karen Shortt, the president of the Vancouver Community College Faculty Association. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: Jean-François Lisée wouldn't push for sovereignty in first PQ mandate ​He suggests a new policy that wouldn't impose new constraints but instead provide guidelines for the integration of new immigrants. "We say 'this is us,' but this isn't just us, the francophone majority — it us together," Lisée told Radio-Canada. "We want, if you're a part of us and live here, for you to be in line with that." Lisée referred to the proposal in French as "concordance culturelle," which roughly translates as "cultural alignment." The new policy would set conditions for immigrants to accept the French language, Quebec culture and history, equality between men and women and secularism, according to CBC. It would also focus on aid, dialogue, the search for social justice and engagement in democracy. Lisée said the current system of multiculturalism doesn't focus enough on the efforts immigrants should make when they arrive. Yolande James, CBC Montreal political analyst, said Lisée proposal is meant to address concerns about new immigrants. "It all depends on how he executes this but the message is clear: who is he speaking to when he releases this idea today " she said on Daybreak. "He speaking to the francophone community, a lot of people in the regions who are concerned." We don't want to meet halfway' Lisée says that newcomers would know very well that they have the responsibility to integrate and adapt to Quebec society if there are conditions in place. "We don't want to meet halfway," Lisée said. "Equality between men and women is a very good example. I want them to go the whole way." Lisée wants to see the principles integrated in a Quebec constitution, drawn up by a committee. I don't want to meet halfway with people who believe women aren't equal to men. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: I face more of a struggle on my daily commute to work than I did picking my way through the debris and razed homes of the south section, according to Globe and Mail. Over the mounds of mud and rubble and past what still stands – the water stations and the school – are the makeshift homes of the thousands of refugees who haven't yet been moved, or returned out of desperation to their war-torn countries or tried their luck as a transport truck stowaway. It surprisingly easy to access. It was grey and dismal, as the end of March usually is, 8 C and windy – painfully uncomfortable for those with barely a roof over their head. I could help them with their English, in the small school that stands alone in the remains of the south camp. By the second day in camp, I'd found my niche, the one thing I could do that might make a difference in their lives. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

House of Commons: Order this photo By Stephanie Levitz The Canadian Press Thu., June 2, 2016 OTTAWA—Syrians enrolled in language classes in Toronto are being told school is out for summer, thanks to federal funding shortages that are also seeing Syrians turned away from classes in Vancouver, according to Toronto Star. Settlement agencies told a House of Commons committee Thursday that while the federal government did top up their budgets to deal with the influx of over 25,000 Syrians in a matter of three months, the money isn't going far enough. Settlement agencies told a House of Commons committee on Thursday that the federal budget did not take into account the surge in Syrian refugees and the money isn't going far enough. So a difficult decision had to be made, said Mario Calla, the executive director of Costi, which settles government-assisted refugees in Toronto. Our hands are tied, Calla said. Rather than scale back the number of classes altogether, they decided to just stop offering their 27 federally-funded courses over the summer. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: I guess you have to take the good and the bad, and if you just get negative and/or positive reactions to your work, I don't think you can grow as a filmmaker, according to Globe and Mail. The Waiting Room made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, but it only now being released. How do you view the filmmaker-critic relationship, then It part of the process. How do you deal with the weight of the film over those months Well, the film has been travelling at festivals, so I've been going along with it, to seven or eight cities. The international press, for instance, seem to like it more than the local press in Toronto, who seem way more split. It been great to get a reaction from different audiences, and in different countries. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Dofasco Centre for Arts: Google to the rescue, according to Hamilton Spectator. According to the omniscient Dr. For the remaining 99.99971% of the planet seven billion-plus population, it Dr. G., "Sentima" means "fearless." Some online dictionaries go a bit further, saying that it an adjective meaning "bold," "courageous," "undaunted." And that good to know because "Sentima" was fearlessly chosen by the senior choristers in Zimfira Poloz Ilumini as the title of their concert this Saturday night in the Dofasco Centre for the Arts. This year, Poloz says that they've created a story about tension in the world. "The choristers chose this theme as a response to various world issues to examine how, in their position of privilege as youth in a safe country, they can help and be well-informed. For a few years running, it been a tradition that choristers in their final year with Ilumini would put their heads together and design a framework around which to produce the choir season finale. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.