things: A former immigrant herself, she felt as though the migration narrative was often thrust upon her and would become the main point of focus with people she met, according to CBC. Syrian refugee children enjoy an art-filled day in Richmond Canadian arts organizations offer hope, healing for Syrian refugees "They have so many things to talk about, not just their experiences of migration," Alani told On The Coast Jeremy Allingham. "I spent my whole life moving from place to place and I always felt stuck always talking about those experiences and stuck in the frameworks imposed on me." "There so many things that are always imposed on you. Curator Shawk Alani wanted to give kids the opportunity to tell their stories their way through photography. It took me a really long time to get to a place where I could be really comfortable saying, 'I want to talk about something else.'" She put together the exhibit Capturing Our Stories: An Exhibition of Syrian Children Photography at the Interurban Art Gallery so people could see there was more to these kids than the traumatic way they came to Canada. They see the world in a very positive and happy way' Twelve-year-old Barfin Shaiko is one of the artists in the exhibit. Left to right: Meego Yassin, Shawk Alani, Nawar Tamawi, the instructors and curators behind the exhibit. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

survey question: Leitch asks whether Ottawa should screen immigrants for 'anti-Canadian values' "Screening potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values that include intolerance towards other religions, cultures and sexual orientations, violent and/or misogynist behaviour and/or a lack of acceptance of our Canadian tradition of personal and economic freedoms is a policy proposal that I feel very strongly about." The survey raised eyebrows within Conservative ranks as the party works to encourage immigration to Canada, with at least one Tory strategist calling on Leitch to leave the leadership race, according to The Chronicle Herald. Leadership rival Michael Chong denounced the survey question as "the worst of dog-whistle politics." "This suggestion, that some immigrants are "anti-Canadian," does not represent our Conservative party or our Canada," Chong wrote on his campaign Facebook page. "In order to win in 2019 we need to build a modern and inclusive Conservative party that focuses squarely on pocketbook issues that matter to Canadians and not on issues that pit one Canadian against another." But Leitch said such issues need to be debated, no matter how difficult. "Oftentimes, debating and discussing these complex policies requires tough conversations," she said. "I am committed to having these conversations, to debating theses issues and I invite Canadians to give their feedback. "Canadians can expect to hear more, not less from me, on this topic in the coming months." The question, contained in a survey sent to people who signed up for news from the Leitch campaign, reads: "Should the Canadian government screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants " The survey also sought opinions and gauged support for a range of other issues, including the legalization of recreational marijuana, electoral reform and tax cuts for businesses. Leitch made no apologies in issuing a statement in defence of the survey, taking it one step further in saying she feels strongly about weeding out people who want to come to Canada if they are intolerant or don't accept Canadian traditions. "In my bid to become the prime minister of Canada, I will be putting forward policies that will make Canada safer, stronger and that will enhance a unified Canadian identity," she said. The screening for values question gave the governing Liberals reason to wade into the Opposition party leadership contest. But Virani said he hasn't heard similar comments during dozens of town hall meetings he and McCallum have held around the country. "The sentiments we're hearing about immigration are how can we address our economic needs, how can we ensure that communities are sustainable," he said. Shortly after announcing her candidacy for leadership, Leitch expressed regret for supporting a controversial 2015 Conservative election campaign promise to establish a tip line for so-called "barbaric cultural practices," aimed at helping the RCMP enforce a law aimed at cracking down on forced marriages and keeping polygamists out of Canada. "I took that at face value," said Arif Virani, parliamentary secretary to Immigration Minister John McCallum. "Now she wavering and going back to a type of politics that really one would have thought that her and the Conservative party would be leaving behind rather than accentuating." Leitch campaign manager Nick Kouvalis said Thursday the survey was based on subjects Leitch had been hearing about from Conservatives during her travels across Canada over the summer. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tragedy thrust: On Sept. 2, 2015, the Port Coquitlam woman life was forever changed because of the drowning deaths of her nephews, Alan, 3, and Ghalib, 5, and their mother in the Aegean Sea while fleeing to Greece, according to Toronto Star. The tragedy thrust her into a new role: appealing to the Canadian conscience over the long-standing refugee crisis. By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Thu., Sept. 1, 2016 A year ago, Tima Kurdi was just a suburban mother, a hardworking immigrant in British Columbia who had knocked on many doors in a helpless effort to bring over her siblings and their families from war-torn Syria. Overnight, Kurdi was thrust into the spotlight, becoming a spokeswoman for millions of Syrian refugees to people in Canada and around the world shaken by the image of tiny Alan lying facedown and lifeless on a Turkish beach. Just weeks later, the new Liberal government swiftly opened Canada door to thousands of Syrian refugees, and community sponsorship groups sprang up to embrace them. The plea she and other Syrian Canadians had been making for years to politicians was finally heard. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tragedy thrust: The tragedy thrust her into a new role: appealing to the Canadian conscience over the long-standing refugee crisis, according to Hamilton Spectator. Overnight, Kurdi was thrust into the spotlight, becoming a spokesperson for millions of Syrian refugees to people in Canada and around the world shaken by the image of tiny Alan lying facedown and lifeless on a Turkish beach. On Sept. 2, 2015, the Port Coquitlam woman life was forever changed because of the drowning deaths of her nephews, Alan, 3, and Ghalib, 5, and their mother in the Aegean Sea while fleeing to Greece. The plea she and other Syrian Canadians had been making for years to politicians was finally heard. It the power from God to wake up the world to help the suffering people," added Kurdi, who until then had been unsuccessful in bringing her two brothers — Abdullah, Alan father, and Mohammad, to Canada. Just weeks later, the new Liberal government swiftly opened Canada door to thousands of Syrian refugees, and community sponsorship groups sprang up to embrace them. "I would never have imagined that after that image of Alan, something would happen for the better," reflected Kurdi, who came to Canada in 1992 and lives in Port Coquitlam with husband, Rocco Logozzo, and their 23-year-old son, also named Alan. "It was very hard and emotional for me with the reality we live it, that it took a tragedy until somebody would take action. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

years right: The average waiting time to get into a course is about six months, and in some cases, the wait can stretch for years, according to CTV. Right now our wait list is about 108 students, said Mita Basu, who runs an in-home tutor program through the government program. Only 5,433 Syrian refugees have enrolled in federally funded language courses out of more than 30,000 who arrived in Canada since last November. There a wait time of about two years. Mohamad Al Mugharbel arrived in Canada with his parents seven months ago. With limited ability to communicate, some Syrian families feel they are struggling to adapt to their new lives in Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

michael chong: Leadership rival Michael Chong denounced the survey question as "the worst of dog-whistle politics.""This suggestion, that some immigrants are "anti-Canadian," does not represent our Conservative party or our Canada," Chong wrote on his campaign Facebook page."In order to win in 2019 we need to build a modern and inclusive Conservative party that focuses squarely on pocketbook issues that matter to Canadians and not on issues that pit one Canadian against another."But Leitch said such issues need to be debated, no matter how difficult."Oftentimes, debating and discussing these complex policies requires tough conversations," she said. "I am committed to having these conversations, to debating theses issues and I invite Canadians to give their feedback."Canadians can expect to hear more, not less from me, on this topic in the coming months."The question, contained in a survey sent to people who signed up for news from the Leitch campaign, reads: "Should the Canadian government screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants "The survey also sought opinions and gauged support for a range of other issues, including the legalization of recreational marijuana, electoral reform and tax cuts for businesses, according to Brandon Sun. The screening for values question gave the governing Liberals reason to wade into the Opposition party leadership contest. Leitch made no apologies in issuing a statement in defence of the survey, taking it one step further in saying she feels strongly about weeding out people who want to come to Canada if they are intolerant or don't accept Canadian traditions."In my bid to become the prime minister of Canada, I will be putting forward policies that will make Canada safer, stronger and that will enhance a unified Canadian identity," she said."Screening potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values that include intolerance towards other religions, cultures and sexual orientations, violent and/or misogynist behaviour and/or a lack of acceptance of our Canadian tradition of personal and economic freedoms is a policy proposal that I feel very strongly about."The survey raised eyebrows within Conservative ranks as the party works to encourage immigration to Canada, with at least one Tory strategist calling on Leitch to leave the leadership race. Shortly after announcing her candidacy for leadership, Leitch expressed regret for supporting a controversial 2015 Conservative election campaign promise to establish a tip line for so-called "barbaric cultural practices," aimed at helping the RCMP enforce a law aimed at cracking down on forced marriages and keeping polygamists out of Canada."I took that at face value," said Arif Virani, parliamentary secretary to Immigration Minister John McCallum."Now she wavering and going back to a type of politics that really one would have thought that her and the Conservative party would be leaving behind rather than accentuating."Leitch campaign manager Nick Kouvalis said Thursday the survey was based on subjects Leitch had been hearing about from Conservatives during her travels across Canada over the summer. Follow @tpedwell on Twitter But Virani said he hasn't heard similar comments during dozens of town hall meetings he and McCallum have held around the country."The sentiments we're hearing about immigration are how can we address our economic needs, how can we ensure that communities are sustainable," he said.U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for would-be immigrants to undergo what he calls "extreme vetting" to determine their stance on things like gender equality and religious freedom."It that kind of politics that we don't need in Canada," said Virani. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

release hearing: The hearing before Justice Alfred O'Marra — regardless of whether Brown is put on a plane — will see his lawyers press for damages of $1,500 for each day of his lengthy incarceration, if the court finds any of it to have been unlawful, according to The Waterloo Record. The federal government maintains the release hearing cannot give rise to damages and Brown would need to sue in civil court if he believes he deserves compensation. If Jamaica fails to issue Alvin Brown a travel document as has happened before, the "habeas corpus" hearing in Ontario Superior Court is expected to resume within hours of his scheduled departure on the morning of Sept. 7. Brown law counsel disagree. "It not in the public interest to have this go through the courts twice with basically the same evidence," immigration consultant Mac Donald Scott, one of Brown legal team, said on Thursday. He was released from criminal custody in early 2011 but border agents detained him months later for violating release conditions. Brown, 40, a father of six who arrived in Canada 33 years ago and became a permanent resident a year later, was deemed inadmissible after 17 convictions, most drug and weapons related. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alan kurdi: Alan Kurdi died while trying to escape the Syrian civil war. "I think Alan picture in our minds has kind of faded into the background," said Rouba Alfattal, a professor of Middle East and Arab politics at the University of Ottawa, according to Huffington Post Canada. Alfattal said heightened security concerns stemming in large part from increased terrorist attacks across Europe are partly to blame for the West waning reluctance to accommodate refugees displaced by the conflict. "We have been desensitized, unfortunately," she said. "I feel people have forgotten about Syria." But while Kurdi photograph may have had little in the way of a lasting impact on Syria, observers say his image had a disproportionately powerful impact in Canada. Friday, Sept. 2, marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Alan Kurdi, a two-year-old Syrian boy immortalized in a chilling photograph that captured the price all too often paid by those struggling to escape the years-long civil war. Catherine Dauvergne, dean of the University of British Columbia law school and a specialist in refugee and immigration law, said the photo affected last fall federal election. "I feel people have forgotten about Syria." "I think the important amount of attention that news story got probably pushed the refugee issue up into the public prominence and linked it to the election in a more direct way than had previously been happening," she said. The newly elected government eventually made good on the pledge, though several months later than expected. The promise to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 became a key plank of the Liberal party platform. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

anti-canadian values: It sought opinions and gauged support for a variety of positions and issues, including electoral reform, corporate tax cuts and the legalization and regulation of marijuana for recreational use, according to CTV. The question reads: "Should the Canadian government screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants " Some of the other questions are fairly straightforward, such as those asking whether the federal government should retain or eliminate the supply management system for farm products such as eggs and dairy, summarizing the common arguments for and against. The question comes in a survey on a number of issues which was emailed to people who signed up for news from her campaign. Some are more provocative, such as the one about screening immigrants. The Leitch survey does not define anti-Canadian values, or otherwise declare where the candidate stands on the issue. U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for would-be immigrants to undergo what he called "extreme vetting" to determine their stance on things like religious freedom, gender equality and LGBTQ rights. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian college: She been building her life here for over 12 years, and now it all up in the air, said her daughter Nargis Hannah, according to Metro News. Yakobi and her two daughters moved to Toronto in 2003 as she fled an abusive relationship in the United Arab Emirates. Gyulzar Julia Yakobi, a teacher at the Canadian College of Educators, has been denied the right to return to Canada and stripped off her permanent resident status. She has travelled to Russia several times, but had been in Canada since September 2013, her family says. But there was a catch: Her permanent resident card had expired in December, and she hadn't renewed it before travelling. That was until July when Yakobi went to Moscow to seek medical treatment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dave beninger: Dave Beninger, a social media political commentator, launched his petition calling on the province to defund the two schools, Meadows Baptist Academy and Harvest Baptist Academy, according to CBC. Human rights advocate Dave Beninger launched a petition to defund the Independent Baptist Christian Education Society. "This petition was started out of a concern for schools that accept public money but are showing that they refuse to accept public rules," said Beninger. David Swann and others to urge Education Minister David Eggen to withdraw the board funding, and set off duelling online petitions. He said Coldwell has repeatedly shown publicly he incapable of providing a safe space for students in his care. "There is a concern here why a gentleman like this should be allowed to run an organization receiving public money and unwilling to follow the public rules that we as a society have decided on to keep children safe," said Beninger. Ng said she found it disturbing that Swann would suggest defunding the schools for non-compliance with guidelines "the minister of education clearly said were not legally binding." Theresa Ng counter petition defends the current funding model as a way to preserve educational choice. Freedom of choice In response, blogger and parent Theresa Ng created a counter petition defending the current funding model as a way to preserve "authentic education choice" and meet the needs of families in a multicultural, pluralistic province. "Freedom of choice is meaningless if all 'choices' are forced to be the same," said Ng. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sept: The Labour Temple on Church Street, circa 1964, according to Toronto Star. The Labour Day parade in Toronto on Sept. 5, 1967. A crowd of rescue workers surround shaft as a body is brought up in the Hogg Hollow tunnel disaster on March 18, 1960. The Labour Day parade in Toronto on Sept. 3, 1973. By Janice Bradbeer Special to the Star Thu., Sept. 1, 2016 It a colourful reminder of a dark day in labour history. The caption on this Sept. 4, 1976 photo reads: Toronto laborers, celebrating their union 75th anniversary, paraded in 1890s costumes in the 1969 Labor Day march to the CNE. The Ex has been presenting of Labor Day celebrations since 1901. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

gender equality: The question reads: "Should the Canadian government screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants "Some of the other questions are fairly straightforward, such as whether the federal government should retain the supply management system for farm products such as eggs and dairy, summarizing the common arguments for and against, according to Metro News. Others are more provocative, such as the one about screening immigrants.U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for would-be immigrants to undergo what he calls "extreme vetting" to determine their stance on things like religious freedom, gender equality and LGBTQ rights. It seeks opinions and gauges support for a variety of positions and issues, including electoral reform, corporate tax cuts and the legalization and regulation of marijuana for recreational use. The Leitch survey does not spell out what is meant by "anti-Canadian values," nor otherwise declare where Leitch herself stands on the issue. Kouvalis did say more than 8,000 people had responded to the survey since Tuesday and that it was based on subjects Leitch had been hearing about from Conservatives during her travels across Canada since launching her leadership bid this spring. Neither did her campaign manager Nick Kouvalis, who said Thursday he would not comment on the substance of the survey. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

housing market: Unless you think 90 per cent of Vancouverites are xenophobic or racist, then you'll realize that this claim is silly, according to Globe and Mail. The issue is that the local housing market has become disconnected from the local labour market, largely due to the influence of foreign capital, and people don't like that. Concern about foreign capital is xenophobic or racist:Ninety per cent of Vancouverites support the recent foreign-buyer tax. That concern cuts across all groups – the concern is with the foreign money, not the foreign people. Rising prices are all about low interest rates: Interest rates are low across the developed world, but only in a small minority of cities do we see housing prices galloping ahead of income levels on a long-term basis. And yes, there are straightforward policies to address the impact of capital, without targeting people. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

john hernandez: He greets a visitor to the southern tip of California and, upon learning he Canadian, Hernandez cracks a quip about the border -- not the one nearby that everyone talking about in the presidential election, but the other one, way up north. "You gonna build a wall there too " the retired state employee says upon encountering a Canadian reporter outside a cemetery in Holtville, Calif., a few kilometres from Mexico. "No Canada not gonna have to build a wall and pay for it yourselves " He being sarcastic, according to CTV. He knows the answer to both questions is no. John Hernandez offers an example of the genre. Like many here, he noticed that only one of America neighbours has become an issue in this election -- and it not the one closest to the North Pole. "People know the disparity," he said. "Mexicans are treated differently." This tale of two disparately discussed neighbours has experienced its dramatic climax with Donald Trump flying into Mexico City on a public-relations mission Wednesday, followed by an evening speech where he doubled-down on his hardline approach of deporting millions, building a wall, and forcing Mexico to pay for it. It the story of the campaign. Trump delivered a one hour, 15-minute speech about border security without mentioning Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

kurdi photograph: Alfattal said heightened security concerns stemming in large part from increased terrorist attacks across Europe are partly to blame for the West waning reluctance to accommodate refugees displaced by the conflict. "We have been desensitized, unfortunately," she said. "I feel people have forgotten about Syria." But while Kurdi photograph may have had little in the way of a lasting impact on Syria, observers say his image had a disproportionately powerful impact in Canada, according to The Chronicle Herald. Catherine Dauvergne, dean of the University of British Columbia law school and a specialist in refugee and immigration law, said the photo affected last fall federal election. "I think the important amount of attention that news story got probably pushed the refugee issue up into the public prominence and linked it to the election in a more direct way than had previously been happening," she said. Friday, Sept. 2, marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Alan Kurdi, a two-year-old Syrian boy immortalized in a chilling photograph that captured the price all too often paid by those struggling to escape the years-long civil war. "I think Alan picture in our minds has kind of faded into the background," said Rouba Alfattal, a professor of Middle East and Arab politics at the University of Ottawa. The promise to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 became a key plank of the Liberal party platform. But as time passes the urgency to help is ebbing, Dauvergne said, "not because the situation itself is not as urgent, but because it hard to feel that urgency for a long time." Some argue that while Kurdi photo created a moral impulse in the West to take action, one of its negative impacts may have been that it focused excessive attention on refugee resettlement and distracted from addressing the core issue of stopping the fighting. "You can resettle refugees over and over again, but if you don't stop the conflict, that going to continue," said Kyle Matthews, senior deputy director of an institute at Concordia University that focuses on genocide and human rights studies. "There been a lot of humanitarian chest-thumping, that we accept refugees, but we haven't gone to the core of the problem, which is stopping the Syrian conflict." Kurdi aunt, Tima Kurdi of Coquitlam, B.C., recently said as much when she lamented how the image of a dust-covered Syrian child pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building might garner support for continued fighting instead of concentrating attention on ending hostilities. The newly elected government eventually made good on the pledge, though several months later than expected. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

media fawn: Related: 'Lick your screens': China press, social media fawn over 'celebrity' Trudeau Related: Trudeau in China: Focus shifts to human rights after ambassador rebuke to Beijing But there are no shortcuts, in the form of goodwill from foreign trips or anything else, to breaking through, according to Globe and Mail. Based on conversations with party organizers who have worked on the ground in Chinese communities, the reality is more an array of complex factors that the Liberals will have to work hard to change. It one the Liberals need to break, as the country largest immigrant population – 1.5 million and growing – could yet be the difference in a close election. Underscoring the nuance is a key distinction between families who came from Hong Kong, mostly through to the 1980s, and those who have come from mainland China in the past couple of decades. While that may have helped the Liberals at least significantly narrow the gap from 2011 in a riding like Richmond Centre, where many of the Chinese-Canadian voters have Hong Kong roots, it of little consolation since even there those voters are increasingly being overwhelmed by waves of mainland emigrants. The general consensus is that the Liberals tended to do better with the former and the Conservatives with the latter in last year vote. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

opinions: The question comes in a survey that was emailed to people who signed up for news from her campaign, according to Toronto Star. It seeks opinions and gauges support for a variety of positions and issues, including electoral reform, corporate tax cuts and the legalization and regulation of marijuana for recreational use. By The Canadian Press Thu., Sept. 1, 2016 OTTAWA—Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch wants to know what her supporters think about vetting would-be immigrants and refugees for anti-Canadian values. The question reads: Should the Canadian government screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants Some of the other questions are fairly straightforward, such as whether the federal government should retain the supply management system for farm products such as eggs and dairy, summarizing the common arguments for and against. Article Continued Below U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for would-be immigrants to undergo what he calls extreme vetting to determine their stance on things like religious freedom, gender equality and LGBTQ rights. Others are more provocative, such as the one about screening immigrants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

release hearing: The hearing before Justice Alfred O'Marra — regardless of whether Brown is put on a plane — will see his lawyers press for damages of $1,500 for each day of his lengthy incarceration, if the court finds any of it to have been unlawful, according to The Chronicle Herald. The federal government maintains the release hearing cannot give rise to damages and Brown would need to sue in civil court if he believes he deserves compensation. If Jamaica fails to issue Alvin Brown a travel document as has happened before, the "habeas corpus" hearing in Ontario Superior Court is expected to resume within hours of his scheduled departure on the morning of Sept. 7. Brown law counsel disagree. "It not in the public interest to have this go through the courts twice with basically the same evidence," immigration consultant Mac Donald Scott, one of Brown legal team, said on Thursday. He was released from criminal custody in early 2011 but border agents detained him months later for violating release conditions. Brown, 40, a father of six who arrived in Canada 33 years ago and became a permanent resident a year later, was deemed inadmissible after 17 convictions, most drug and weapons related. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

screening immigrants: The question reads: "Should the Canadian government screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants " Kellie Leitch tears up over role in barbaric cultural practices tip line How Conservative and NDP leadership contenders stack up on the money Some of the other questions are fairly straightforward, such as whether the federal government should retain the supply management system for farm products such as eggs and dairy, summarizing the common arguments for and against, according to CBC. Others are more provocative, such as the one about screening immigrants. It seeks opinions and gauges support for a variety of positions and issues, including electoral reform, corporate tax cuts and the legalization and regulation of marijuana for recreational use. U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for would-be immigrants to undergo what he calls "extreme vetting" to determine their stance on things like religious freedom, gender equality and LGBTQ rights. Neither did her campaign manager Nick Kouvalis, who said Thursday he would not comment on the substance of the survey. The Leitch survey does not spell out what is meant by "anti-Canadian values," nor otherwise declare where Leitch herself stands on the issue. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

state employee: He greets a visitor to the southern tip of California and, upon learning he Canadian, Hernandez cracks a quip about the border — not the one nearby that everyone talking about in the presidential election, but the other one, way up north, according to Huffington Post Canada. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to deliver an immigration policy speech during a campaign rally at the Phoenix Convention Center on Aug. 31, 2016, in Phoenix. "You gonna build a wall there too " the retired state employee says upon encountering a Canadian reporter outside a cemetery in Holtville, Calif., a few kilometres from Mexico. "No Canada not gonna have to build a wall and pay for it yourselves " He being sarcastic. John Hernandez offers an example of the genre. He knows the answer to both questions is no. Trump delivered a one hour, 15-minute speech about border security without mentioning Canada. Like many here, he noticed that only one of America neighbours has become an issue in this election — and it not the one closest to the North Pole. "People know the disparity," he said. "Mexicans are treated differently." Trump didn't mention Canada once in immigration speech This tale of two disparately discussed neighbours has experienced its dramatic climax with Donald Trump flying into Mexico City on a public-relations mission Wednesday, followed by an evening speech where he doubled-down on his hardline approach of deporting millions, building a wall, and forcing Mexico to pay for it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian couple: The Tri-Church Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Committee now faces a difficult decision -- continue holding out hope that the family will eventually arrive in Toronto, or sponsor a different Syrian family instead, according to CTV. That the stumbling block for us, Wes Denyer, the minister of the Rosedale Presbyterian Church, which is part of the committee, told CTVNews.ca. Months have passed, and the Syrian couple with two young children are still in Jordan. A number of sponsorship groups are facing similar dilemmas, due to delays in the processing of Syrian refugees under the Blended Visa Office-Referred, or BVOR, program. Denyer said the Tri-Church committee applied to sponsor a Syrian refugee family late last year, and learned of a match in January. The program matches refugees identified by the United Nations Refugee Agency with private sponsors in Canada, who split the costs of supporting a family with the federal government. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

gender equality: The question reads: "Should the Canadian government screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants "Some of the other questions are fairly straightforward, such as whether the federal government should retain the supply management system for farm products such as eggs and dairy, summarizing the common arguments for and against, according to Brandon Sun. Others are more provocative, such as the one about screening immigrants.U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for would-be immigrants to undergo what he calls "extreme vetting" to determine their stance on things like religious freedom, gender equality and LGBTQ rights. It seeks opinions and gauges support for a variety of positions and issues, including electoral reform, corporate tax cuts and the legalization and regulation of marijuana for recreational use. The Leitch survey does not spell out what is meant by "anti-Canadian values," nor otherwise declare where Leitch herself stands on the issue. Kouvalis did say more than 8,000 people had responded to the survey since Tuesday and that it was based on subjects Leitch had been hearing about from Conservatives during her travels across Canada since launching her leadership bid this spring. Neither did her campaign manager Nick Kouvalis, who said Thursday he would not comment on the substance of the survey. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mexico city: He knows the answer to both questions is no, according to National Observer. Like many here, he noticed that only one of America neighbours has become an issue in this election — and it not the one closest to the North Pole."People know the disparity," he said. "Mexicans are treated differently."This tale of two disparately discussed neighbours has experienced its dramatic climax with Donald Trump flying into Mexico City on a public-relations mission Wednesday, followed by an evening speech where he doubled-down on his hardline approach of deporting millions, building a wall, and forcing Mexico to pay for it. He greets a visitor to the southern tip of California and, upon learning he Canadian, Hernandez cracks a quip about the border — not the one nearby that everyone talking about in the presidential election, but the other one, way up north."You gonna build a wall there too " the retired state employee says upon encountering a Canadian reporter outside a cemetery in Holtville, Calif., a few kilometres from Mexico."No Canada not gonna have to build a wall and pay for it yourselves "He being sarcastic. Trump delivered a one hour, 15-minute speech about border security without mentioning Canada. Even when he raises an issue that seriously affects Canada, the northern neighbour an incidental bystander. It the story of the campaign. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

kurdi photograph: Alfattal said heightened security concerns stemming in large part from increased terrorist attacks across Europe are partly to blame for the West waning reluctance to accommodate refugees displaced by the conflict."We have been desensitized, unfortunately," she said. "I feel people have forgotten about Syria."But while Kurdi photograph may have had little in the way of a lasting impact on Syria, observers say his image had a disproportionately powerful impact in Canada, according to Brandon Sun. Catherine Dauvergne, dean of the University of British Columbia law school and a specialist in refugee and immigration law, said the photo affected last fall federal election."I think the important amount of attention that news story got probably pushed the refugee issue up into the public prominence and linked it to the election in a more direct way than had previously been happening," she said. Friday, Sept. 2, marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Alan Kurdi, a two-year-old Syrian boy immortalized in a chilling photograph that captured the price all too often paid by those struggling to escape the years-long civil war."I think Alan picture in our minds has kind of faded into the background," said Rouba Alfattal, a professor of Middle East and Arab politics at the University of Ottawa. The promise to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 became a key plank of the Liberal party platform. But as time passes the urgency to help is ebbing, Dauvergne said, "not because the situation itself is not as urgent, but because it hard to feel that urgency for a long time."Some argue that while Kurdi photo created a moral impulse in the West to take action, one of its negative impacts may have been that it focused excessive attention on refugee resettlement and distracted from addressing the core issue of stopping the fighting."You can resettle refugees over and over again, but if you don't stop the conflict, that going to continue," said Kyle Matthews, senior deputy director of an institute at Concordia University that focuses on genocide and human rights studies."There been a lot of humanitarian chest-thumping, that we accept refugees, but we haven't gone to the core of the problem, which is stopping the Syrian conflict."Kurdi aunt, Tima Kurdi of Coquitlam, B.C., recently said as much when she lamented how the image of a dust-covered Syrian child pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building might garner support for continued fighting instead of concentrating attention on ending hostilities. The newly elected government eventually made good on the pledge, though several months later than expected. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

release hearing: The hearing before Justice Alfred O'Marra — regardless of whether Brown is put on a plane — will see his lawyers press for damages of $1,500 for each day of his lengthy incarceration, if the court finds any of it to have been unlawful, according to Brandon Sun. The federal government maintains the release hearing cannot give rise to damages and Brown would need to sue in civil court if he believes he deserves compensation. If Jamaica fails to issue Alvin Brown a travel document as has happened before, the "habeas corpus" hearing in Ontario Superior Court is expected to resume within hours of his scheduled departure on the morning of Sept. 7. Brown law counsel disagree."It not in the public interest to have this go through the courts twice with basically the same evidence," immigration consultant Mac Donald Scott, one of Brown legal team, said on Thursday. He was released from criminal custody in early 2011 but border agents detained him months later for violating release conditions. Brown, 40, a father of six who arrived in Canada 33 years ago and became a permanent resident a year later, was deemed inadmissible after 17 convictions, most drug and weapons related. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.