: The central bank, Poloz added, weighed in on the long-running issue this week after seeing evidence these markets were fuelled by "self-reinforcing" expectations among prospective buyers and lenders that the current skyward price trajectory would continue, according to CTV. Trudeau tells Hot housing sector 'a real drag' on Canada economy "You have to admit the possibility that the price could actually decline in these circumstances," Poloz told a news conference in Ottawa after the release of the bank semi-annual assessment on the state of Canada financial stability. "But we're not predicting that or anything. "We're just saying the risk that that could happen, whatever number it is, is growing as we sit here." The document noted year-over-year house price growth in the greater Vancouver area hit 30 per cent last month, up from 15 per cent in December. Governor Stephen Poloz cautioned that climbing real estate prices have outpaced local economic fundamentals like job creation, immigration and income growth. In Toronto, prices increased by 15 per cent, compared to 10 per cent six months ago. While the probability of a trigger, such as a severe recession, remains low, the bank said the severity of such an event has increased since its December assessment. Vulnerabilities linked to greater imbalances in regional housing markets and the continued rise of household debt were higher than they were six months ago, the bank said in its latest financial system review. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

industrial kitchen: My dad came here as an immigrant from a war-torn country as well and Calgary has given us everything we have here, he said, according to Metro News. We want to give back, we want to help build them up as they build their new futures. Omar, owner of Cedar Deli, has recently opened his industrial kitchen up to two Syrian refugees who have started their own businesses—and on top of that, he hired one of them to work for him, too. Syrian Cuisine Made With Love, a catering company run by newcomer Rita Khanchet will now be cooked out of Cedar Deli, as well as the traditional Arabic pastries made by newcomer Xoshnav Hasaf, who will also be using his talents as a baker for the deli. Hasaf, who worked as a professional pastry chef back home in Syria said he grateful for the opportunities Omar has given him. When you have someone who talented, knows what he doing and just needs an opportunity, why not open the door for them and see if they can build off that, said Omar. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

military housing: Transportation was cheaper than expected, temporary military housing was never used and neither was a contingency fund, Immigration Minister John McCallum told a House of Commons committee in explaining the cost savings. "The reason we spent dramatically less than we said we would is because we were dramatically efficient," he said, according to CTV. The budget set out for the program last November was $678 million spread over six years. Bringing in 25,000 people between November and the end of February cost $319 million, with the biggest costs being transporting and welcoming them, figures released by the Immigration Department show. It was divided up into five phases -- the first three focused on the identification, processing and transportation of refugees. Those phases are over and figures released Thursday estimate $108.5 million was spent. The maximum budget for those three streams was $188 million. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

natural death: The amendment, passed late Wednesday, knocks out the central pillar underpinning the government proposed new law as assisted dying, according to Metro News. It deletes the requirement that only those whose natural death is "reasonably foreseeable" should be eligible to seek medical help to end their lives. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says the Senate amendment upsets the delicate balance the government has struck in Bill C-14 between respecting personal autonomy and protecting the vulnerable. And it replaces the bill restrictive eligibility standard with the more permissive criteria set out in last year landmark Supreme Court ruling, which struck down the ban on medically assisted dying."The amendment that was passed last night is a significant one," Wilson-Raybould said Thursday."It will broaden the regime of medical assistance in dying in this country and we have sought to ensure that we, at every step, find the right balance that is required for such a turn in direction."Health Minister Jane Philpott said she personally concerned the amendment would mean people suffering strictly from mental illnesses would be eligible for assisted dying — a group specifically excluded in Bill C-14."We stand by the cohesiveness, the integrity of the piece of legislation that we put forward, that strikes that balance that we believe is necessary, that has had broad public support, that has been supported in a vote in the House of Commons," Philpott said.C-14 would allow assisted dying only for consenting adults "in an advance stage of irreversible decline' from a serious and "incurable" disease, illness or disability and for whom a natural death is "reasonably foreseeable."That more restrictive than the Supreme Court directive that medical assistance in dying should be available to clearly consenting, competent adults with "grievous and irremediable" medical conditions that are causing enduring suffering that they find intolerable. It up to the House of Commons to determine whether to accept or reject amendments from the upper house. The ministers did not explicitly say the government will formally reject the amendment, which is just the first of many the Senate is expected to pass. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

economic fundamentals: Governor Stephen Poloz cautioned that those climbing real estate prices have outpaced local economic fundamentals like job creation, immigration and income growth, according to Brandon Sun. The central bank decision to weigh in this week on what has been a long-running concern came after it saw growing evidence those markets were fuelled by "self-reinforcing" expectations among prospective buyers and lenders, Poloz said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian WyldOTTAWA - The Bank of Canada delivered a warning Thursday that surging housing prices in the hot markets of Vancouver and Toronto are rising at an unsustainable clip. The bank concern is that people believe the price trajectory will continue to point skyward."You have to admit the possibility that the price could actually decline in these circumstances," Poloz told a news conference in Ottawa after the release of the bank semi-annual assessment on the state of Canada financial stability."But we're not predicting that or anything."We're just saying the risk that that could happen — whatever number it is — is growing as we sit here."The Bank of Canada document noted year-over-year house price growth in the greater Vancouver area hit 30 per cent last month, up from 15 per cent in December. Vulnerabilities linked to greater imbalances in regional housing markets and the continued rise of household debt were higher than they were six months ago, the bank said in its latest financial system review. In Toronto, the report said prices increased 15 per cent, compared to 10 per cent six months ago. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Emma Tseronis Doors: The festival includes Subterranean, a story written by Scarlet Fountain of how to pass time when you're stuck in a cave; Pawn by Keith Hazzard that looks at a man, a woman, their relationship and a pawn shop; and, the story of a young woman who meets a friendly but awkward business owner in London Fog, written by Emma Tseronis, according to CBC. Doors open at 7 p.m. The ACTOne Play Festival 7:30 p.m., Friday June 10 – Sunday, June 12 Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick St., Kitchener Three local writers have their plays performed all weekend. Registry Theatre website Guelph and District Multicultural Festival 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday, June 11 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Friday, June 10 12 p.m. – 11 p.m. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mac Donald: Mandarin newscast coming to P.E.I. He said the Mandarin-speaking employee will be able to help them with any questions they have about doing business on the Island. "What we are trying to do is break down any barriers or impediments," he said. "They are making large investments in the community and we just want to ensure their success." The employee hours at the visitor centre will be based on demand, but Mac Donald expects it be at least half a day a week, according to CBC. The Mandarin speaker starts June 17. Economic Development and Tourism Minister Heath Mac Donald said there have been more than a dozen immigrant business people who have recently bought properties in the Cavendish area. MORE P.E.I. NEWS Montague Garden of the Gulf museum suspends operationsMORE P.E.I. NEWS Stratford Sobeys becoming a Sobeys Extra (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

military housing: Cost savings were achieved because transportation was cheaper than expected, temporary military housing was never used and neither was a contingency fund, Immigration Minister John McCallum told a House of Commons committee, according to Huffington Post Canada. Immigration Minister John McCallum helps Syrian refugee Ramez with his glove at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Monday, February 29, 2016. "The reason we spent dramatically less than we said we would is because we were dramatically efficient," he said. Bringing in 25,000 people between November and the end of February cost $319 million, with the biggest costs being transporting and welcoming people to Canada, according to figures released by the Immigration Department. The original budget for the program was $678 million spread over six years. The maximum budget for those three streams was $188 million and figures released Thursday estimate $108.5 million has been spent so far. "The reason we spent dramatically less than we said we would is because we were dramatically efficient." But the lion share of the program budget — the cost to actually settle the refugees and provide income support, language training, job services and the like — remains to be spent. It was divided up into five phases — the first three focused on the identification, processing and transportation of refugees. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

military housing: Transportation was cheaper than expected, temporary military housing was never used and neither was a contingency fund, Immigration Minister John McCallum told a House of Commons committee in explaining the cost savings."The reason we spent dramatically less than we said we would is because we were dramatically efficient," he said, according to Metro News. The budget set out for the program last November was $678 million spread over six years. Bringing in 25,000 people between November and the end of February cost $319 million, with the biggest costs being transporting and welcoming them, figures released by the Immigration Department show. It was divided up into five phases — the first three focused on the identification, processing and transportation of refugees. Those phases are over and figures released Thursday estimate $108.5 million was spent. The maximum budget for those three streams was $188 million. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canada Cost savings: Bringing in 25,000 people between November and the end of February cost $319 million, with the biggest costs being transporting and welcoming people to Canada, according to figures released by the Immigration Department, according to Toronto Star. Cost savings were achieved because transportation was cheaper than expected, temporary military housing was never used and neither was a contingency fund, Immigration Minister John McCallum told a House of Commons committee. By The Canadian Press Thu., June 9, 2016 OTTAWA—The first year of the Liberal government marquee program to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees came in about $136 million under budget, the government said Thursday. The reason we spent dramatically less than we said we would is because we were dramatically efficient, he said. It was divided up into five phases. The original budget for the program was $678 million spread over six years. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

text message: CRA spokesperson Randy Westerman said the organization doesn't ask for personal information by e-mail or text message, doesn't request payments through prepaid credit or gift cards, does not give taxpayer information to another person, unless that taxpayer authorizes it, send e-mails with a link, and ask taxpayers to divulge personal or financial information, or leave personal information in a voice message, according to CTV. Reports to police have indicated individuals received calls from people who claim to work for the CRA, the callers say the individual hasn't filed their taxes appropriately, and that they owe the government more money. Police said recently, a number of reports had come in over a telephone phishing scam that allegedly demanded an individual pay the Canada Revenue Agency with pre-purchased iTunes gift cards. Then, it alleged the target is threatened with an arrest warrant, jail time, and loss of immigration status and deportation. Police said retailers need to be aware of these scams, as the gift cards have been purchased at a number of retailers throughout Edmonton. At this point, the target is told to buy iTunes gift cards in a certain amount, and then provide the information on the back of the cards to the scammers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: The central bank, Poloz added, weighed in on the long-running issue this week after seeing evidence these markets were fuelled by "self-reinforcing" expectations among prospective buyers and lenders that the current skyward price trajectory would continue. "You have to admit the possibility that the price could actually decline in these circumstances," Poloz told a news conference in Ottawa after the release of the bank semi-annual assessment on the state of Canada financial stability. "But we're not predicting that or anything. "We're just saying the risk that that could happen, whatever number it is, is growing as we sit here." The document noted year-over-year house price growth in the greater Vancouver area hit 30 per cent last month, up from 15 per cent in December, according to Hamilton Spectator. In Toronto, prices increased by 15 per cent, compared to 10 per cent six months ago. Governor Stephen Poloz cautioned that climbing real estate prices have outpaced local economic fundamentals like job creation, immigration and income growth. Vulnerabilities linked to greater imbalances in regional housing markets and the continued rise of household debt were higher than they were six months ago, the bank said in its latest financial system review. Going forward, Poloz said the longer these risks prevail, the bigger impact they could have. "It not as though there been some sudden change or anything like that, but all of the evidence continues to accumulate," he said. While the probability of a trigger, such as a severe recession, remains low, the bank said the severity of such an event has increased since its December assessment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

language training: Only $32.6 million in settlement funds was spent in 2015-2016, according to the figures, according to Globe and Mail. The budget is $377 million. But the lion share of the program budget — the cost to actually settle the refugees and provide income support, language training, job services and the like — remains to be spent. Refugee settlement agencies have been appearing before MPs for weeks detailing a laundry list of concerns about the settlement process, from women not being able to attend language classes because they can't find day care to struggles with securing long-term, affordable housing. Report Typo/Error As of May 29, 27,580 Syrians have arrived. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Liberals: By Jordan Press The Canadian Press Thu., June 9, 2016 OTTAWA—The name of a Quebec feminist icon which was attached to a national volunteer award first handed out more than 30 years ago under one Trudeau government, was restored Thursday under another Trudeau, according to Toronto Star. The Liberals returned the name of Therese Casgrain to the lifetime volunteer achievement award this year, six years after the previous Conservative government dropped her name from the award. The Liberals returned the name of Therese Casgrain to the lifetime volunteer achievement award this year, six years after the previous Conservative government dropped her name from the award. Casgrain was a campaigner for women voting rights, the first women to lead a Canadian political party and eventually a senator. The Harper government quietly dropped Casgrain name in 2010 and renamed the whole event as the Prime Minister Volunteer Awards. Pierre Trudeau appointed her to the Senate in 1970 and his government created the volunteer award in her name in 1982, one year after her death. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

police scrutiny: The Toronto police think the gang exists, and have used its alleged existence as an excuse to criminalize and harass the greater community, especially its large population of residents of Somali police scrutiny of black and Muslim people is sadly nothing new in Toronto, according to Toronto Star. Sometimes our media attempts to expose the prejudicial treatment but most reporting — through laziness, sensationalism, and ingrained ignorance — simply reinforces anti-black racism. By Desmond Cole Thu., June 9, 2016 Is there a gang operating out of several condo towers in northwest Toronto called the Dixon City Bloods The truth is that it doesn't really matter. The creators of a new VICE documentary recklessly entitled This is Dixon claim they wanted to find out if Dixon is really home to a gang. The film begins with narrator Suroosh Alvi telling viewers he spent his summers as a teenager living in Dixon. But their work amounts to a fool errand, a misguided mission to answer irrelevant question that has further demonized Dixon Somali community. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

natural death: The amendment, passed late Wednesday, knocks out the central pillar underpinning the government proposed new law as assisted dying, according to The Waterloo Record. It deletes the requirement that only those whose natural death is "reasonably foreseeable" should be eligible to seek medical help to end their lives. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says the Senate amendment upsets the delicate balance the government has struck in Bill C-14 between respecting personal autonomy and protecting the vulnerable. And it replaces the bill restrictive eligibility standard with the more permissive criteria set out in last year landmark Supreme Court ruling, which struck down the ban on medically assisted dying. "The amendment that was passed last night is a significant one," Wilson-Raybould said Thursday. "It will broaden the regime of medical assistance in dying in this country and we have sought to ensure that we, at every step, find the right balance that is required for such a turn in direction." Health Minister Jane Philpott said she personally concerned the amendment would mean people suffering strictly from mental illnesses would be eligible for assisted dying — a group specifically excluded in Bill C-14. "We stand by the cohesiveness, the integrity of the piece of legislation that we put forward, that strikes that balance that we believe is necessary, that has had broad public support, that has been supported in a vote in the House of Commons," Philpott said. The ministers did not explicitly say the government will formally reject the amendment, which is just the first of many the Senate is expected to pass. C-14 would allow assisted dying only for consenting adults "in an advance stage of irreversible decline' from a serious and "incurable" disease, illness or disability and for whom a natural death is "reasonably foreseeable." That more restrictive than the Supreme Court directive that medical assistance in dying should be available to clearly consenting, competent adults with "grievous and irremediable" medical conditions that are causing enduring suffering that they find intolerable. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

maximum budget: The budget set out for the program last November was $678 million spread over six years, according to National Observer. It was divided up into five phases — the first three focused on the identification, processing and transportation of refugees. Transportation was cheaper than expected, temporary military housing was never used and neither was a contingency fund, Immigration Minister John McCallum told a House of Commons committee in explaining the cost savings."The reason we spent dramatically less than we said we would is because we were dramatically efficient," he said. The maximum budget for those three streams was $188 million. But the lion share of the budget — the cost to actually settle the refugees and provide income support, language training, job services and the like — remains to be spent. Those phases are over and figures released Thursday estimate $108.5 million was spent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jody Wilson-Raybould: Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says the Senate amendment upsets the delicate balance the government has struck in Bill C-14 between respecting personal autonomy and protecting the vulnerable, according to Brandon Sun. The amendment, passed late Wednesday, knocks out the central pillar underpinning the government proposed new law as assisted dying. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian WyldOTTAWA - The Trudeau government is insisting that medical assistance in dying should only be available to Canadians near death, showing no inclination to accept a Senate amendment to expand the right to those suffering from non-terminal conditions. It deletes the requirement that only those whose natural death is "reasonably foreseeable" should be eligible to seek medical help to end their lives. The ministers did not explicitly say the government will formally reject the amendment, which is just the first of many the Senate is expected to pass. And it replaces the bill restrictive eligibility standard with the more permissive criteria set out in last year landmark Supreme Court ruling, which struck down the ban on medically assisted dying."The amendment that was passed last night is a significant one," Wilson-Raybould said Thursday."It will broaden the regime of medical assistance in dying in this country and we have sought to ensure that we, at every step, find the right balance that is required for such a turn in direction."Health Minister Jane Philpott said she personally concerned the amendment would mean people suffering strictly from mental illnesses would be eligible for assisted dying — a group specifically excluded in Bill C-14."We stand by the cohesiveness, the integrity of the piece of legislation that we put forward, that strikes that balance that we believe is necessary, that has had broad public support, that has been supported in a vote in the House of Commons," Philpott said.C-14 would allow assisted dying only for consenting adults "in an advance stage of irreversible decline' from a serious and "incurable" disease, illness or disability and for whom a natural death is "reasonably foreseeable."That more restrictive than the Supreme Court directive that medical assistance in dying should be available to clearly consenting, competent adults with "grievous and irremediable" medical conditions that are causing enduring suffering that they find intolerable. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Federica Mogherini: He reiterated the message that Trudeau delivered on the British referendum. "The fact is that Canada enjoys a lot, its relationship with a strong UK in a strong EU." Dion echoed Trudeau suggestion that it would be difficult for Britain to replicate its own version of the Canada-EU free trade deal, known as CETA. "The prime minister made the point that it took for Canada five years to negotiate it," Dion said, according to Guelph Mercury. Mogherini refused to speculate on what would happen to CETA if the Brexit side prevailed. Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, arrived in Ottawa Wednesday night for meetings with Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion and his cabinet colleagues as British voters are poised to hold a referendum on June 23 on whether to leave the EU — what called a "Brexit." Last month, Trudeau told the Reuters news agency that he wants to see Britain remain as part of a united Europe, where it would enjoy greater prosperity. "I noticed that Prime Minister Trudeau sent a pretty powerful message underlying that whenever regions, countries, organizations stay united, they're stronger," Mogherini said on Parliament Hill prior to her evening meeting with Dion. "This is exactly the same message that we . . . like to hear in Europe." Dion was meeting his European Union counterpart as the two sides push towards the final ratification of their comprehensive free trade deal. In addition to trade, Dion and Mogherini were to discuss climate change, the Arctic, the migration crisis in Europe and the ongoing security challenges in Syria and Ukraine. Both parties expect the deal, which has been seven years in the making, to come into force in early 2017. The talks are part of the preparation for a larger Canada-EU leaders' summit to be held this fall, which is expected to announce ratification of the trade deal. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Twitter: It not Twitter or Facebook, but a merger of both of them – Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter but with added features and without the 140-character restriction associated with tweets, according to The Waterloo Record. The Waterloo Regional Police officer created the account on the popular Chinese social media site last year after getting the green light from Police Chief Bryan Larkin as a means to educate local Chinese newcomers about Canadian laws and promote a wider understanding on how police operate. David Chen has amassed nearly 4,000 followers on a social media site. It the only police Weibo account in Canada, said the 29-year-old Chen, who speaks and writes in Mandarin. "It a hub for Canadian Chinese residents and international students to ask questions," he said. "We are building a bridge from the police service to a culturally-specific social media community," said Chen, who was hired as a police officer in 2011. Chen said he tries to post daily and often multiple posts a week – all in Mandarin - about various aspects of Canadian law including domestic violence, traffic violations and how bylaws works. "A lot of them simply don't understand the law," he said. Chen uses the hashtag: Canadian Policetips and to date has had 2.6 million views on his hashtag. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Press: The policy is spelled out in a directive from Alberta Justice Department to police services in the province.———ONTARIO TO SPEND $8.3 BILLION ON CLIMATE CHANGEOntario action plan on climate change, expected to be released today, will include financial incentives to get cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks on the roads and to convince homeowners and businesses to lower their carbon footprints, according to Metro News. The plan, obtained by the Canadian Press, calls for government spending of $5.9 billion to $8.3 billion on climate change initiatives over the next five years.———GOVERNMENT URGED TO STOP IGNORING YAZIDIS. The government is being urged to rescue at least 400 Yazidi women who were raped and tortured by Islamic militants. People whose homes were destroyed will be allowed back, but they'll be escorted by a disaster response unit.———ALBERTA SAYS IT WON'T PROSECUTE MEDICALLY ASSISTED DEATHSAlberta says it will not prosecute any physician or member of a health care team involved in a physician assisted death that falls within the scope of the Supreme Court of Canada 2015 ruling on the issue. The group One Free World International says the Liberals are turning their backs on religious minorities who are often a direct target of warring factions in the region. The chief of staff to Immigration Minister John McCallum says they will take another look at the proposal and discuss it with the group in the next few days.———F35 MAKER SAYS IT JUST WANTS TO COMPETEThe company building the F35 fighter jet says all it wants is a chance to compete in an open and fair competition to be the contractor to provide the next generation of airplanes to Canada military. The group has a plan to bring them to Canada, but says the proposal is being ignored. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

horse-drawn carriages: After travelling along London Mall in horse-drawn carriages and assembling on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Saturday for their annual photo op, Her Majesty and Co., along with her loyal Canadian subjects, will surely be ready for a pot of tea and some dainty watercress sandwiches, according to Toronto Star. This dark leafy green from the mustard family with its dime-sized leaves and sturdy stems has been sought after for centuries for its peppery flavour and medicinal properties, particularly if your blood needs cleansing or you're in danger of contracting scurvy. By Cynthia David Special to The Star Wed., June 8, 2016 Bring on the pomp and circumstance, as the British prepare to officially celebrate Queen Elizabeth 90th birthday. More recently, watercress has been called The Healthiest Leafy Vegetable on the Planet. The feisty little green is fortified with more than 18 vitamins and minerals including potassium, Vitamin C and iron. Though author B&W Growers also happens to be the world largest watercress grower, the nutritional qualities of this aquatic plant are certainly impressive. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

physician assisted death: People whose homes were destroyed will be allowed back, but they'll be escorted by a disaster response unit.———ALBERTA SAYS IT WON'T PROSECUTE MEDICALLY ASSISTED DEATHSAlberta says it will not prosecute any physician or member of a health care team involved in a physician assisted death that falls within the scope of the Supreme Court of Canada 2015 ruling on the issue, according to Brandon Sun. The policy is spelled out in a directive from Alberta Justice Department to police services in the province.———ONTARIO TO SPEND $8.3 BILLION ON CLIMATE CHANGEOntario action plan on climate change, expected to be released today, will include financial incentives to get cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks on the roads and to convince homeowners and businesses to lower their carbon footprints. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Seven stories in the news today from The Canadian Press:———HARDEST-HIT FORT MCMURRAY AREAS OPEN FOR VISITResidents of three neighbourhoods most badly damaged by a Fort McMurray wildfire are expected to get a look at their homes — or what left of them — today. The plan, obtained by the Canadian Press, calls for government spending of $5.9 billion to $8.3 billion on climate change initiatives over the next five years.———GOVERNMENT URGED TO STOP IGNORING YAZIDIS. The government is being urged to rescue at least 400 Yazidi women who were raped and tortured by Islamic militants. The group has a plan to bring them to Canada, but says the proposal is being ignored. The group One Free World International says the Liberals are turning their backs on religious minorities who are often a direct target of warring factions in the region. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian travel documents: It just the latest example of federal efforts to zero in on lawbreakers using biometrics — physical identifiers such as images, fingerprints or iris scans, according to The Waterloo Record. The photo-matching idea emerged from concerns that people wanted by the Canada Border Services Agency might use fake names to obtain genuine Canadian travel documents from the Immigration Department passport program, say internal memos released under the Access to Information Act. "Genuine Canadian passports and other travel documents are of high value to persons who seek to establish false identities," says a memorandum of understanding between the border and immigration agencies. "Individuals who have outstanding immigration arrest warrants can evade detection by law enforcement by using false identities to travel, or to live within communities while retaining access to benefits and services." Moreover, fraudulently obtained travel documents can allow someone to slip across the border undetected, the memorandum says. The Liberal government might make the facial-recognition scheme permanent to help find and arrest people ineligible to remain in Canada due to involvement with terrorism, organized crime or human rights violations. These could include a passport, emergency travel document, refugee travel document or certificate of identity — a document issued to permanent residents of Canada who are not yet citizens. Fifteen matches turned up, prompting the border agency to pursue "appropriate enforcement action," said Esme Bailey, an agency spokeswoman. Initial encouraging tests led to a 2014 pilot project in which the border agency shared the photos and biographic information of 1,000 wanted individuals with a high-risk flag on their files to see if they had applied for — or even obtained — a Canadian travel document under a false identity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian travel documents: It just the latest example of federal efforts to zero in on lawbreakers using biometrics -- physical identifiers such as images, fingerprints or iris scans, according to CTV. The photo-matching idea emerged from concerns that people wanted by the Canada Border Services Agency might use fake names to obtain genuine Canadian travel documents from the Immigration Department passport program, say internal memos released under the Access to Information Act. "Genuine Canadian passports and other travel documents are of high value to persons who seek to establish false identities," says a memorandum of understanding between the border and immigration agencies. "Individuals who have outstanding immigration arrest warrants can evade detection by law enforcement by using false identities to travel, or to live within communities while retaining access to benefits and services." Moreover, fraudulently obtained travel documents can allow someone to slip across the border undetected, the memorandum says. The Liberal government might make the facial-recognition scheme permanent to help find and arrest people ineligible to remain in Canada due to involvement with terrorism, organized crime or human rights violations. These could include a passport, emergency travel document, refugee travel document or certificate of identity -- a document issued to permanent residents of Canada who are not yet citizens. Fifteen matches turned up, prompting the border agency to pursue "appropriate enforcement action," said Esme Bailey, an agency spokeswoman. Initial encouraging tests led to a 2014 pilot project in which the border agency shared the photos and biographic information of 1,000 wanted individuals with a high-risk flag on their files to see if they had applied for -- or even obtained -- a Canadian travel document under a false identity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

deep breathing technique: That is, until Alorfi learned a deep breathing technique at an innovative new program in Surrey to help Syrian refugees cope with past trauma. "When I remember the past, I use this method," he said, demonstrating by taking a long, slow inhale. "I do this trick to get over it." Alorfi and his family are among about 20 Syrian refugees participating in a five-week group session that deals with settlement issues "through a trauma lens," according to Corina Carroll, the manager of counselling services at Diversecity Community Resources Society, according to CBC. The program is funded by the United Way, and is a first step in alleviating what Carroll describes as a "huge gap" in serving Syrian refugees' mental health needs. Which is why the mere sight of a police station in his new home of Surrey left him struggling to breathe. A real policy problem' ISSofBC says that most Syrian refugees will be able to cope with their trauma without major interventions, and there no reason to believe that Alorfi and his family aren't in that category. Syrian refugees got a warm welcome when they arrived in Canada, including from political leaders such as Immigration Minister John McCallum, above, some are finding it hard to get by on the government funding they receive, which is about equivalent to social assistance. But advocates and settlement workers say there is inadequate federal and provincial funding to ensure refugees who need it, get ongoing mental health support. "We have a real policy problem in this country when it comes to refugee mental health," said Dylan Mazur, the executive director of the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.