immigrantscanada.com

Independent topical source of current affairs, opinion and issues, featuring stories making news in Canada from immigrants, newcomers, minorities & ethnic communities' point of view and interests.

anada post: Both sides said late Monday that they would continue to negotiate with the help of a special mediator into Tuesday, according to Brandon Sun. Canada Post has been bargaining with its employees for more than nine months, but both sides were far apart as of late last week on key issues including pension changes and pay scales.———NEB CANCELS OPENING DAY OF ENERGY EAST HEARINGSProtesters forced the cancellation on Monday of the first day of hearings in Montreal into Trans Canada Energy East Pipeline project with police making three arrests. Trudeau has called the weeklong trip an opportunity to do a bit of a "reset" of a relationship that he said was hot and cold under the previous Harper government.———CANADA POST, CUPW AGREE TO NEW EXTENSIONCanada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have agreed to extend mediation by another 24 hours. The National Energy Board said it was also postponing today session because of what it called a "violent disruption." The board said it would release details today on how it will proceed with the Montreal hearings.———SECOND PROGRESS REPORT ON SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN MILITARY TO BE RELEASEDChief of Defence Staff will release the second progress report addressing sexual misconduct in the Canadian military. Jonathan Vance said the new sexual misconduct response centre fielded more than 100 complaints of sexual assault or harassment since it opened in September, resulting in eight DETENTION FACES LEGAL CHALLENGEA Jamaican man gets a rare chance today to ask a Superior Court in Toronto to look at whether his ongoing immigration detention is justified. When its first progress report was released in February in February, Gen. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

asian country: Trudeau made the pitch during the first event of his week-long visit to China, where he aims to improve Canada gloomy growth prospects by deepening business ties with the rapidly growing Asian country.___30 The Canadian Armed Forces says it is making progress in the fight against sexual misconduct in the ranks, but much more work needs to be done, according to Brandon Sun. In an update Tuesday, the military said it completed 51 investigations into inappropriate sexual behaviour between April and July. The prime minister tried to sell China on the idea that strengthening its connection to Canada would ease international concerns about the stunning rise of the economic superpower. As a result, 30 people had received "career-impacting" punishments ranging from fines to outright dismissal from the forces. The province is the first jurisdiction in Canada to allow leave as a way to seek medical attention, relocate to a safe place, attend court hearings, seek counselling and benefit from other services that are difficult to access outside weekday hours. Three more were referred to civilian authorities while the perpetrators in four cases could not be identified.___FEDS WATCHING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MEASURES IN MANITOBA, The federal government is paying close attention to Manitoba legislation that allows a combination of paid and unpaid leave from the workplace for victims of domestic violence, according to a memo prepared for Labour Minister Mary Ann Mihychuk. (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 Metro News. 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.

auto races: For many Torontonians the Canadian International Air Show is, at best, a nuisance, according to Huffington Post Canada. I have yet to encounter a neighbour who lives in an affected community with an even remotely positive opinion of warplanes making low altitude passes for days on end. Yet this weekend thousands of our neighbours will be exposed to trauma in a spectacle many of us would do away with in the first place. The organizers realize this. We understand that the noise generated may be a concern."The air show is nothing like a charity bike ride. According to their website, "Like all events such as auto races, walks, marathons, bicycle rides for charity the air show may be seen as disruptive by some while being anticipated and enjoyed by others. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada: Drawing from his own journey of settlement, he helps others better understand the road to success in Canada, according to Hamilton Spectator. In turn, clients trust Butera and find inspiration. Butera moved to Canada from Rwanda and he can relate to the clients' experiences. Butera is the best person for the job. More than half of the francophone college Hamilton employees are immigrants, coming from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Rwanda, China, Venezuela, Mexico, France and many other countries. And that is what Collège Boréal looks for when recruiting staff. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

china canada: While his father spoke of the U.S. as the elephant Canada had to sleep with, the younger Trudeau must face a new global pachyderm, according to CBC. Canola dispute looms with China Canada wants more Chinese immigrants "Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant," then prime minister Pierre Trudeau said in 1969 to the Washington press. "No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt." A transformed beast Since then, while the United States continues to be the most important elephant in our lives, a new one has appeared. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travels to China this week in advance of the G20 meeting in Hangzhou, he must deal with a country, and a leader, of vast and growing strength. Canada then prime minister Pierre Trudeau shakes hands with Mao Zedong on Oct. 13, 1973. The China that the government of Trudeau père recognized in 1970 and that he visited in 1973 has transformed into a much more potent beast. They met at Chungnanhai while Trudeau was on an official visit to China. (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 Hamilton Spectator. 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.

jerry wu: Jerry Wu is the manager of the Settlement Workers in Schools program and helped the youth ambassadors facilitate Monday NOW B.C. event. "For the parents, they feel much more comfortable because they are newcomers and the culture of their schools is very different from ours, according to CBC. Here, the parents are partners of the education with the schools," said Wu. More than 500 students registered for the orientation this year according to Jerry Wu, manager of the Settlement Workers in Schools program, who says the event offers families a chance to get familiar with the way classes are run. The event itself was organized by secondary students from around the Lower Mainland and was held at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary school in Vancouver. She says her experience with the program helped her make friends with other Persian students before the official start of the school year. Many of this year volunteers are youth who participated in the program when they first arrived in Canada, including Hiva Rahnema, who moved from Iran just last year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

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.