sponsors: Syrian refugee sponsorship 'blitz' ends with thousands of arrivals still months away Refugee sponsors frustrated by delays hold 'emergency meeting' The current offer only applies to a small section of privately sponsored Syrian refugees — those on the government Blended Visa Office-Referred list — for which the government and private sponsors split the costs, according to CBC. Since March, about 140 Syrian BVOR cases have been delayed. If you know the people, you're not going to give up on them." The government has been under increasing pressure to respond to the complaints of private sponsors still waiting for refugees to arrive. The government made non-travel-ready cases available to sponsorship groups to meet the "overwhelming interest in BVOR sponsorship during the Syrian resettlement initiative." Sponsors were warned at the time that their refugee families still had to be screened. "Some of these cases are currently on hold pending security/criminality and/or medical checks," said Lindsay Wemp of the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, in an email. We hope they find their way to Canada' The government has promised to bring over the refugees who have been replaced as government-assisted refugees if their cases are eventually approved. The new refugees will have already passed their medical and security screening. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

toronto area: Friesen says those lessons include expanded children programming, a more efficient housing support system and better measures to accommodate large families, according to Vancouver Observer. Mario Calla of COSTI Immigrant Services in the Toronto area says having months of preparation time, as opposed to just weeks, will also make a big difference. Chris Friesen of the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia says welcoming tens of thousands of people so quickly and with such little notice taught useful lessons and fostered valuable partnerships that will help smooth the process later this year. Immigration Canada has brought in 19,000 government-assisted refugees so far this year. That means 6,000 more are slated to arrive by the end of December in order for the federal government to meet its target of welcoming 25,000 government-assisted Syrian refugees in 2016. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visitors visas: According to Baird, the number of children ineligible for free public school in the province ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand, according to CTV. To be eligible, children would have to become landed immigrants. Some people have been here for three, four, five years and for one reason or another, they have a visitor visa temporarily or they have a series of visitors visas while they're waiting to get another status, but it doesn't give them access to free schooling, Education Across Borders spokesperson Steve Baird told CTV Montreal. In order to enroll in a Quebec public school as a non-landed immigrant, families would have to pay $5,657 a year for each primary student and $7,075 a year for each secondary student. There almost nowhere in Europe, in the States also, where kids can't access school regardless of their immigration status. The right to education is something that tends to be guaranteed in most countries, Baird said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

knife attacks: By Shawn Pogatchnik Associated Press Sun., Aug. 28, 2016 London police arrested more than 100 people amid sporadic violence Sunday at the annual Notting Hill Carnival, an annual celebration of Caribbean culture in the British capital that often includes trouble on the sidelines, according to Toronto Star. The Metropolitan Police reported at least four knife attacks during the opening day of the two-day festival in west London. The Notting Hill Carnival, which has taken place annually since 1964, is expected to attract over a million people. It said four males aged 15 to 20 were wounded, with one 15-year-old boy hospitalized in critical condition. react-text: 151 The two-day event, started by members of the Afro-Caribbean community, sees costumed performers take to the streets in a parade and dozens of sound systems set up around the Notting Hill streets. /react-text Sunday festivities included a colourful child-oriented parade through west London that attracted tens of thousands of revelers, many of whom danced in the streets to the sound of steel drums and reggae bands. Medical beds were deployed at roadsides in some locations. Scores of paramedics were on hand to provide MASH-style units for carnival-goers injured or unwell from alcohol or drugs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

local-born canadians: Likewise, immigrants or local-born Canadians could be involved in crime, according to Huffington Post Canada. Some of the most horrible crimes in Canada were committed by local-born white males. I have no doubt that we will see crimes committed by refugees in the future. Should we worry about their presence in our community Many, if not most, of the so-called terrorist acts, which include gunmen killing innocents at school or in public venues, were not instigated by Islamic extremism. Whether you are talking about the terrorist acts in Germany, or the three cases in Canada , or the third case which was recently dismissed by the B.C. Supreme Court, the people who committed or were alleged to have committed the terrible crimes were all suffering from mental illness. The common causes are mental illness or psychological reaction to bully. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

anti-pipeline slogans: Canada relationship with China under the Harper government was at times inconsistent, many experts say, according to Brandon Sun. Chinese ambassador Luo Zhaohui acknowledged China has had warmer connections with Canada Liberal-led governments.___ Protesters chanting anti-pipeline slogans forced the cancellation Monday of the first day of hearings in Montreal into Trans Canada Energy East project. Trudeau said last week that he hopes the visit provides the opportunity to "reset" the relationship between the two countries. The head of the hearings for the National Energy Board said the federal regulatory body will try to resume proceedings Tuesday. Two men aged 35 and 44 were charged with assaulting a police officer and with obstruction of justice, while a 29-year-old woman was charged with obstruction of justice.___ E-commerce giant eBay urged Canadian businesses Monday to write to the prime minister and demand a legislated end to the labour dispute at Canada Post as a threatened work disruption was once again put on hold. Police made three arrests. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

chris friesen: Immigration Canada pledged to bring in 25,000 government-assisted refugees this calendar year, according to The Waterloo Record. About 6,000 are still to come. Canada is on the cusp of receiving another surge of Syrians in order to meet its ambitious refugee admissions target by the end of 2016, though government officials are mum on the details around timing. Chris Friesen of British Columbia Immigrant Services Society was unequivocal about the progress made since last year and whether Canada is more prepared to handle the upcoming arrivals. "Oh, God, yes. Friesen said those lessons include expanded orientation, more education around tracking down permanent housing and better measures to accommodate large families. Absolutely," Friesen said in an interview Monday, laughing heartily. "We're in a much better situation." Experience from the first phase, combined with a longer lead-up time, means the many lessons learned can be put into practice in preparation for the fall, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian press: Twice in 2015 — first in March, then again in July as the refugee crisis escalated — federal bureaucrats proposed exempting Syrians and Iraqis from a rule requiring them to have official UN refugee status in order to be sponsored by small groups of people to come to Canada, according to Toronto Star. On both occasions, the recommendation as described in documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act was rejected by then-immigration minister Chris Alexander. By Stephanie Levitz The Canadian Press Sun., Aug. 28, 2016 OTTAWA—In spite of relentless pressure to help Syrians flee the perils of civil war, Canada former Conservative government twice rejected a proposal last year to make it easier for Canadians to sponsor them, newly disclosed documents show. The Conservatives eventually agreed to the change, but not until September, when the original policy became linked to the story of Alan Kurdi — the 3-year-old Syrian boy whose tragic drowning galvanized global sympathy for the Syrian refugee crisis.A memo, entitled Public policy to facilitate the sponsorship of Syrian and Iraqi refugees by groups of five and community sponsors, was first sent to Alexander on March 17, 2015. As a result, such so-called groups of five could only sponsor people who carried an official refugee designation the United Nations or the host country. Article Continued Below The issue was a 2012 rule change put in place by the Conservatives that made it nearly impossible for informal groups without sponsorship agreements with the government to bring refugees to Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald trump: A few dozen others slip through, he figures, according to Metro News. Evidence lies in the sand, in the discarded bits of cloth desert-walkers place under their shoes to hide their footprints. His team catches a dozen migrants crossing here illegally each day, he says. The conversation turns to Donald Trump. He doubts it. He asked whether Trump proposed border wall would halt the flow of migrants crossing through California Yuha Desert. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alan kurdi: On both occasions, the recommendation as described in documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act was rejected by then-immigration minister Chris Alexander, according to CTV. The Conservatives eventually agreed to the change, but not until September, when the original policy became linked to the story of Alan Kurdi - the three-year-old Syrian boy whose tragic drowning galvanized global sympathy for the Syrian refugee crisis. Twice in 2015 - first in March, then again in July as the refugee crisis escalated - federal bureaucrats proposed exempting Syrians and Iraqis from a rule requiring them to have official UN refugee status in order to be sponsored by small groups of people to come to Canada. A memo, entitled "Public policy to facilitate the sponsorship of Syrian and Iraqi refugees by groups of five and community sponsors," was first sent to Alexander on March 17, 2015. As a result, such so-called "groups of five" could only sponsor people who carried an official refugee designation the United Nations or the host country. The issue was a 2012 rule change put in place by the Conservatives that made it nearly impossible for informal groups without sponsorship agreements with the government to bring refugees to Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada: Canada does not want a permanent underclass of non-citizen labourers, according to Globe and Mail. Canada is not Qatar. As a result, the Conservatives rightly changed the rules, and rolled the program back. As much as possible, employees should be Canadians or people who have the ability to become Canadians, vested with full legal rights and the ability to leave an abusive employer. It understandable why many employers want this. The Trudeau government has been under pressure to loosen the TFW program tighter rules, and ditch many of the restrictions the Harper government put in place. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant status: Sara, a mother of three, said she brought her family to Canada from Algeria three years ago, according to CTV. Still waiting for her landed immigrant status to come through, her children were forced to stay at home. As many as several thousand unlanded immigrants are not eligible to attend free public school in Quebec. My children were never accepted into school, she said. While Sara has finally received her paperwork, she wasn't alone in her battle, said Education Across Borders spokesperson Steve Baird. I was told I would have to pay and I don't have $20,000. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration department: It was a complete shock, said Funk, who has lived in Canada almost her entire life after moving here from Mexico with her family in 1980 when she was 2 months old, according to Toronto Star. The Squamish, B.C., woman is now virtually stateless after being caught in a citizenship snafu that has affected an unknown number of other lost Canadians. It felt like somebody just kicked me in the stomach. Unbeknown to Funk, Canada changed its Citizenship Act in 1977, requiring those born outside the country to a foreign-born Canadian parent — between Feb. 15, 1977 and April 16, 1981 — to reapply for citizenship before their 28th birthday. In fact, she didn't even learn she was stateless until earlier this year when she called the immigration department to inquire about a replacement citizenship card she'd applied for when she misplaced the original months before. Funk, now 36, didn't find out about this requirement until years after she'd unknowingly been stripped of her citizenship. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration stance: You'd need to get rid of all the ladders in Mexico, he says, according to Globe and Mail. If you build a bigger wall, they build bigger ladders... They've got fine engineers in Mexico, I have no doubt. There already a wall across almost one-third of the border — people still get over. Trump is now wrestling with difficult realities for his immigration plan. His new attempt to soften his message for a general-election audience risks fracturing his own base, which was largely built on his immigration stance. Some are political. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

san francisco: Criticized, ostracized, and he'll go it all alone if need be, according to Hamilton Spectator. The quarterback realizes he might be treated poorly in some road cities, and he ready for that, too, saying he not overly concerned about his safety, but "if something happens that only proving my point." "I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed," Kaepernick said Sunday at his locker. "To me this is something that has to change. He knows he could be cut by San Francisco for this stand. When there significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it supposed to, I'll stand." Two days after he refused to stand for the "The Star Spangled Banner" before the 49ers' pre-season loss to the Packers, Kaepernick insists whatever the consequences, he will know "I did what right." He said he hasn't heard from the National Football League or anyone else about his actions — and it won't matter if he does. "No one tried to quiet me and, to be honest, it not something I'm going to be quiet about," he said. "I'm going to speak the truth when I'm asked about it. This isn't for publicity or anything like that. This isn't for look. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

water: During the Second World War, many fliers died after ditching at sea because they were disoriented underwater and couldn't escape from the cockpit, according to Globe and Mail. So Lieutenant Kaneb, of the U.S. Navy, led a team of engineers to build a survival-training device: They came up with a simulated aircraft cockpit on rails perched at a 45-degree angle above a pool of deep water. His biggest claim to fame, however, is his wartime invention of the Dilbert Dunker, a gizmo designed to save the lives of U.S. air crews. A trainee would be strapped into the cockpit and then the Dilbert Dunker would be released, dunking the student under water. To add to the challenge, the cockpit would invert upon hitting the water. The trainee had to struggle to get out. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alan kurdi: On both occasions, the recommendation as described in documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act was rejected by then-immigration minister Chris Alexander, according to The Waterloo Record. The Conservatives eventually agreed to the change, but not until September, when the original policy became linked to the story of Alan Kurdi - the three-year-old Syrian boy whose tragic drowning galvanized global sympathy for the Syrian refugee crisis. Twice in 2015 - first in March, then again in July as the refugee crisis escalated - federal bureaucrats proposed exempting Syrians and Iraqis from a rule requiring them to have official UN refugee status in order to be sponsored by small groups of people to come to Canada. A memo, entitled "Public policy to facilitate the sponsorship of Syrian and Iraqi refugees by groups of five and community sponsors," was first sent to Alexander on March 17, 2015. As a result, such so-called "groups of five" could only sponsor people who carried an official refugee designation the United Nations or the host country. The issue was a 2012 rule change put in place by the Conservatives that made it nearly impossible for informal groups without sponsorship agreements with the government to bring refugees to Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald trump: A few dozen others slip through, he figures, according to The Waterloo Record. Evidence lies in the sand, in the discarded bits of cloth desert-walkers place under their shoes to hide their footprints. His team catches a dozen migrants crossing here illegally each day, he says. The conversation turns to Donald Trump. He doubts it. He asked whether Trump proposed border wall would halt the flow of migrants crossing through California Yuha Desert. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrians iraqis: On both occasions, the recommendation as described in documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act was rejected by then-immigration minister Chris Alexander, according to Brandon Sun. The Conservatives eventually agreed to the change, but not until September, when the original policy became linked to the story of Alan Kurdi - the three-year-old Syrian boy whose tragic drowning galvanized global sympathy for the Syrian refugee crisis.A memo, entitled "Public policy to facilitate the sponsorship of Syrian and Iraqi refugees by groups of five and community sponsors," was first sent to Alexander on March 17, 2015. Twice in 2015 - first in March, then again in July as the refugee crisis escalated - federal bureaucrats proposed exempting Syrians and Iraqis from a rule requiring them to have official UN refugee status in order to be sponsored by small groups of people to come to Canada. The issue was a 2012 rule change put in place by the Conservatives that made it nearly impossible for informal groups without sponsorship agreements with the government to bring refugees to Canada. Applications from non-registered refugees were harder to vet and took longer, gumming up the sponsorship system, according to government materials published at the time, which is partly why the change was made. As a result, such so-called "groups of five" could only sponsor people who carried an official refugee designation the United Nations or the host country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

week: Silhouetted in fire light, the former refugees danced in the traditional styles of their home countries, according to CBC. These 50 people began their journeys to Jasper National Park this week from all points on the compass — from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Liberia and South Sudan. Accompanied by guitar and bongo drums, a blend of voices sang in French, Swahili, Arabic and English. Most are newcomers to Canada, and most have never been camping before. Many of the campers have lived in Edmonton for less than six months. The annual trip, now in it fourth year, is called Learning To Camp. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

industry: But Nayar says there a catch: they aren't being recognized by the music industry, according to CBC. And he says the issue is far more widespread. "Canada doesn't lack diversity in its musicians and artists. In the Lower Mainland South Asian community, for example, the Delhi 2 Dublin performer says there are genuine stars emerging. "There is such an unbelievable amount of talent," he said, adding that some performers are getting millions of views on You Tube. We lack it in our infrastructure — our music industry," he said in a recent Facebook post. The festival circuit Nayar says that just by taking a glance at the national festival circuit, the lack of diverse performers is troublesome. Tarun Nayar of Dehli 2 Dublin says the infrastructure behind the Canadian music industry contributes to a lack of diverse artists getting exposure. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ukrainian day: A citizenship ceremony was held in Saskatoon Saturday, with 30 people taking their oath of Canadian citizenship The event also held a citizenship ceremony on Saturday, another first for Ukrainian Day in the Park, according to CBC. Thirty people took the oath of Canadian citizenship at a mid-afternoon ceremony in front of thousands. It is just awesome." Province proclaims 2016 the year of Saskatchewan Ukrainians Along with the food, attendees were treated to an afternoon of music, dance, displays and more. More than 7,000 people walked through the gates and Prokopchuk estimated attendance would come close to the record-setting 10,000 mark that was set at the event 10th anniversary. Long lines for the various food and drink vendors at the 2016 Ukrainian Day in the Park in Saskatoon. "We seem to have gotten across the idea that we want to welcome everyone here and share our culture with you," Prokopchuk said. "When I see the dedication, the hundreds of hours the volunteers put in whether it is maintaining Ukrainian culture or helping in events like this, it makes one very proud to be part of that community," he added. "The Ukrainian culture is very, very strong here in Saskatchewan." Thirteen per cent of Saskatchewan residents can trace part of all of their ancestry to Ukraine, according to statistics released earlier this year by the provincial government. He attributed the event gaining popularity to an increased interest from city residents. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bob geraldine: When he was 15, he met Geraldine Davies on the school bus and the two became inseparable, according to Globe and Mail. They took up the hobby of caving – exploring underground caverns. Bob Gannicott passed on the bright side, winning a scholarship to a local grammar school, which led to university. One of the best places to do that was in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, near where they lived. We should have just gone ahead with it, but you felt you couldn't do that back then, Ms. Caving was one of the reasons he felt comfortable about working in mines, and why he started studying mining engineering at the University of Nottingham, said Geraldine . When Bob and Geraldine announced they wanted to marry, their parents forbade it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

funding announcement: A terrorist attack could happen, Goodale told The Huffington Post Canada Thursday in Saguenay, Que., where the Liberal caucus is meeting, according to Huffington Post Canada. It not in the category of likely, but neither is it unlikely. It medium. So, it is medium. Ralph Goodale makes a funding announcement during a visit to an immigration holding centre in Laval, Que., Aug. 15, 2016. The threat assessment is the same as it was in the fall of 2014, he noted. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mac: His mark on the country is indelible, in particular having brought us through a recession and brought us to balance in terms of government financing, he said, according to CTV. MacKay said he sees a sharp contrast between Harper weight and substance and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau style. Here what Peter Mac Kay, John Baird and Jason Kenney are saying: Peter Mac Kay, a possible leadership contender who served as Attorney General, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs until retiring last fall, told CTV News Channel Harper was a substantive leader. He was not really interested in photo ops, said Mac Kay. MacKay also noted Harper tremendous affection for his family, his great patriotism for his country … his love and respect for members of Canada armed forces. He was not a fan of social media or the optics that often are expected, he added. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

neighbouring villages: Turkey has intervened militarily into the region of northern Syria surrounding the town of Jarablus, according to Rabble. The intervention is being conducted in the name of "fighting ISIS" but is, in fact, a pre-emptive strike to prevent the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces from expanding their influence and territorial control across northern Syria. Chip in to keep stories like these coming. The intervention began with a show of artillery in the early morning of August 24, followed by Turkish tanks and other armoured equipment escorting irregular forces from Turkey across the border, through neighbouring villages and into Jarablus proper. The intervention coincides with a dizzying about-turn by Turkey from its longstanding "regime change"policy towards the government in Syria. Turkey wants to block the left-wing, Kurdish-led forces of the SDF from repeating in Jarablus their recent success in liberating from ISIS occupation the city of Manbij, located some 50 km south and east of Jarablus. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.