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.

border agents: The upshot, Will said, was that the deportation took "exponentially longer" than should have been the case. "It should have taken no more than a year for the CBSA to have deported Mr, according to Hamilton Spectator. Brown," Will told Superior Court Justice Alfred O'Marra. "It was cruel and unusual to detain Mr. In seeking compensation for Alvin Brown, lawyer Jared Will accused Canada Border Services Agency of negligence in removing his client from Canada. Brown, who had mental health issues, for nearly five years." Brown, 40, a father of six who suffers from schizophrenia, came to Canada as a child more than three decades ago. He was released from criminal custody in early 2011 but border agents detained him months later for violating release conditions. The government stripped him of his permanent residency after a series of convictions, most drug and weapons related. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

business: The Tichnov family says they can understand the challenges of starting a new business in a new country and say not being timid and making personal connections is key to success, according to CBC. Syrian entrepreneurs in Moncton cautioned to take it slow "Find the right people who will answer your questions," said co-owner Stanislav Tichnov. "We talked with interpreters who told us what to do, what licences we had to get." Yana Tichnov says her business that houses dozens of dogs started off with a single puppy. But now their Lovely Doggy House boarding and grooming business in Fredericton regularly houses dozens of dogs and is in the process of expanding once again. The dog daycare, groomer, and boarder business is always bursting at the seams with playful pooches, due in part to the family not being able to say no to dogs. "We didn't start out by saying we wanted a business," said Yana Tichnov. "It started from scratch. And because we love dogs, we bought another puppy." The Tichnov then started dog-sitting for neighbours. We just bought one puppy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada: The upshot, Will said, was that the deportation took "exponentially longer" than should have been the case. "It should have taken no more than a year for the CBSA to have deported Mr, according to CBC. Brown," Will told Superior Court Justice Alfred O'Marra. "It was cruel and unusual to detain Mr. In seeking compensation for Alvin Brown, lawyer Jared Will accused Canada Border Services Agency of negligence in removing his client from Canada. Brown, who had mental health issues, for nearly five years." Immigration detention faces rare legal challenge today in provincial court Immigration detainees on hunger strike demand meeting with Goodale Federal government reviewing immigration detention process after string of deaths​ Brown, 40, a father of six who suffers from schizophrenia, came to Canada as a child more than three decades ago. He was released from criminal custody in early 2011 but border agents detained him months later for violating release conditions. The government stripped him of his permanent residency after a series of convictions, most of them drug and weapons related. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian press: By Colin Perkel The Canadian Press Wed., Sept. 7, 2016 A mentally ill man finally deported to Jamaica on Wednesday deserves compensation because his five years in immigration detention violated his rights and was inhumane and illegal, his lawyer told an Ontario court in Toronto, according to Toronto Star. In seeking compensation for Alvin Brown, lawyer Jared Will accused the Canada Border Services Agency of negligence in removing his client from Canada. He was deported to his native Jamaica on Wednesday. The upshot, Will said, was that the deportation took exponentially longer than should have been the case. Brown, Will told Superior Court Justice Alfred O'Marra. It should have taken no more than a year for the CBSA to have deported Mr. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

farm workers: The group Justice for Migrant Workers is heading to Ottawa to make that demand, and it started its caravan in Windsor on Monday, according to CTV. Gabriel Allahdua has travelled from St. Those who support the program have started a campaign, asking the federal government to grant immigration status to workers when they land in Canada. Lucia to Canada over the past four years to be a migrant worker. Allahdua says it really disheartening to see the very important sector of our society, the people who harvest our fruits and vegetables, are denied those rights in a country that preaches human rights to all." Organizers say more than 30,000 farm workers come to Canada each year, through the program. This year, he is volunteering his time with the group to improve conditions for migrant workers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

facebook group: The founder, Mika Ranta, is a white supremacist who has been convicted in the past with assault, according to Finnish broacaster YLE. Members of the group blame "Islamist intruders" for increases in crime and carry signs with slogans like "Migrants not welcome," Reuters reported, according to Huffington Post Canada. Members of Soldiers of Odin meet in Edmonton in August. Soldiers of Odin was founded in Finland in response to an increase in the number of refugees seeking asylum. Soldiers of Odin Canada claims that it is an "neighbourhood watch" organization with "no racist agenda." A Vice reporter who infiltrated the Edmonton chapter private Facebook group found a number of disturbing anti-Islamic comments. Edmonton police say so far they have received no complaints, and have no reason to believe the group is involved in any criminal activity, according to CBC. The outlet reported that local chapters have sprung up in B.C. and Ontario this year. Some members appeared to praise the arson of a mosque, commenting on an article about it with "Good work" and "Hopefully it was full. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

goad others: Conservative strategist Jason Lietaer said forcing a response is no doubt part of Leitch plan."They are throwing a wedge down and trying to get everybody else on the other side of the issue," Lietaer said Wednesday, according to Metro News. The attempts to goad others were made obvious late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, when Leitch campaign manager Nick Kouvalis issued a series of tweets pushing her rivals to make their views known, or criticizing the positions of those who have already done so. Some other leadership hopefuls — as well as interim leader Rona Ambrose — have been come out against the idea to various degrees over the past week, and discussions are likely to continue behind closed doors at the Conservative caucus retreat next week in Halifax, where the nascent race to replace former prime minister Stephen Harper is expected to start picking up steam. Kouvalis declined to comment. Quebec MP Maxime Bernier said he agrees there are Canadian values, but ensuring immigrants have economic opportunities that will help them integrate into society is a better way to promote them. Ontario MP Michael Chong was the first to weigh in last week, accusing Leitch of engaging in "dog-whistle politics:" the use of code words that go unheard or unremarked by most people but which convey a particular — usually nasty, racially tinged — message to a target audience. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

language barriers: Graeme Smiley told CBC News, according to Huffington Post Canada. The Syrian Soccer Sons team is made up of boys aged 10 to 19 who practice a few times each week. "... what we have in common is a love of the game." Some of the players were sitting in refugee camps just a few months ago. Language barriers didn't stop Calgary police officers and Syrian refugees from facing off in a friendly soccer match on Monday. "It is kind of a welcome to Canada and a discussion of how, in this case, what we have in common is a love of the game," Sgt. This is not a field of soccer, said Sam Nammoura of the Calgary Syrian Refugee Support Group to Global News. Members of the Syrian Soccer Sons practice in advance of Monday soccer game in Calgary. This is a field of dreams. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

naz ali: But Naz is unlike many students heading back to school, according to CBC. Naz was only 18 months old when her mother and father, Karwan Kahil, fled to Iraq from Syria in 2012. Wednesday marks the first day of Grade 1 for her six-year-old, Naz Ali. They spent four years in Iraq before settling in Winnipeg on June 6. Naz Ali waits in line to go into her first day of Grade 1 at Princess Margaret School CBC tagged along with Naz family as the little girl got ready for her first day at Princess Margaret School in East Kildonan. The six-year-old attended a British school in Iraq for several terms but this will be her first full year of school in Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

questionnaire emailed: The Ontario Conservative MP is standing by her controversial suggestion that immigration and refugee applicants be screened for what she referred to as anti-Canadian values, an idea her campaign floated in a questionnaire emailed to potential supporters last week, according to Huffington Post Canada. It generated a lot of reaction, including some from her own caucus, especially since Leitch had previously expressed regret for her role in promoting a controversial Conservative election campaign promise last year to establish a tip line for so-called "barbaric cultural practices," including forced marriage. Kellie Leitch responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on April 27, 2015. It also drew parallels to politics below the border, where 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. "Look, I understand the compulsion to try and paint this discussion on Canadian values in that light. She said she looks forward to hearing what Conservatives and other Canadians think of these issues throughout the campaign. I do get that, but I don't think it fair and I don't think it right," Leitch said. "Are you saying to me that we can ask someone about their income, but we can't ask them if they believe in equality of women "— Tory leadership candidate Kellie Leitch She said she believes in a "unified Canadian identity" that includes equality of opportunity, hard work, giving back to the community, equality of men and women, as well tolerance for all religions, cultures and sexual orientations and the rejection of violence as a way to solve problems. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

week yakobi: Yakobi, 56, went to Moscow in July, with an expired permanent residency card, which is permissible when the traveller applies for a special travel document, according to CTV. But, when she tried to fly back to Toronto in August, she was told that the document had been denied, and that her residency had been revoked. Julia Yakobi, a permanent Canadian resident, said the Canadian government decision to revoke her status last month, has left her stranded in Moscow. Officials said it was because she had only spent 65 days in Canada over the past five years. However, last week Yakobi and her daughters Hannah and Ada told CTV Toronto that was an error -- she has been in Canada for more than 1,200 days in that period. In order to maintain their status, permanent residents must be in the country at least 730 days in that period. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

yakobi daughter: Yakobi attributed the mistake to a clerical error and said she had documents to back up her claim, but said the government refused to let her present them, according to Metro News. The family now says that CIC has agreed to reopen the file and give Yakobi 30 days to present her documents. Julia Yakobi had her request for a travel document denied and her status revoked last month after Citizenship and Immigration Canada concluded she had not spent long enough in Canada over the past five years.CIC said she had been in the country for 65 days over the past five years, while Yakobi says she has lived in Toronto continuously since 2014. Yakobi daughter says the news is welcome for the entire family."We are very grateful for this response," Hannah Yakobi said in an email. " really hope to have this error rectified soon, so that mom can return home to Toronto to be with her family and continue living her life as before."Yakobi travelled to Moscow to seek medical advice in July with an expired permanent residency card, a move that Citizenship and Immigration Canada allows but does not recommend. She and her family concede that travelling with out-of-date documentation was unwise, but CIC own guidelines make such arrangements possible."If you have been in Canada at least once during the past 365 days, you are entitled to a travel document to enable your return to Canada," reads a letter in which Yakobi request for such a document is declined based on residency requirements.CIC guidelines state that a person must spend at least 730 days in Canada during the five years prior to applying for a travel document. She applied for a travel document that would allow her to return to Canada, but was both denied the document and told she did not meet the criteria for permanent residency days before her scheduled flight home. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

yakobi days: CIC said she had been in the country for 65 days over the past five years, while Yakobi says she has lived in Toronto continuously since 2014, according to The Chronicle Herald. Yakobi attributed the mistake to a clerical error and said she had documents to back up her claim, but said the government refused to let her present them. Julia Yakobi had her request for a travel document denied and her status revoked last month after Citizenship and Immigration Canada concluded she had not spent long enough in Canada over the past five years. The family now says that CIC has agreed to reopen the file and give Yakobi 30 days to present her documents. She applied for a travel document that would allow her to return to Canada, but was both denied the document and told she did not meet the criteria for permanent residency days before her scheduled flight home. Yakobi daughter says the news is welcome for the entire family. "We are very grateful for this response," Hannah Yakobi said in an email. " really hope to have this error rectified soon, so that mom can return home to Toronto to be with her family and continue living her life as before." Yakobi travelled to Moscow to seek medical advice in July with an expired permanent residency card, a move that Citizenship and Immigration Canada allows but does not recommend. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

border agents: The upshot, Will said, was that the deportation took "exponentially longer" than should have been the case. "It should have taken no more than a year for the CBSA to have deported Mr, according to Guelph Mercury. Brown," Will told Superior Court Justice Alfred O'Marra. "It was cruel and unusual to detain Mr. In seeking compensation for Alvin Brown, lawyer Jared Will accused Canada Border Services Agency of negligence in removing his client from Canada. Brown, who had mental health issues, for nearly five years." Brown, 40, a father of six who suffers from schizophrenia, came to Canada as a child more than three decades ago. He was released from criminal custody in early 2011 but border agents detained him months later for violating release conditions. The government stripped him of his permanent residency after a series of convictions, most drug and weapons related. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

goad others: Conservative strategist Jason Lietaer said forcing a response is no doubt part of Leitch plan. "They are throwing a wedge down and trying to get everybody else on the other side of the issue," Lietaer said Wednesday, according to The Waterloo Record. The attempts to goad others were made obvious late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, when Leitch campaign manager Nick Kouvalis issued a series of tweets pushing her rivals to make their views known, or criticizing the positions of those who have already done so. Some other leadership hopefuls — as well as interim leader Rona Ambrose — have been come out against the idea to various degrees over the past week, and discussions are likely to continue behind closed doors at the Conservative caucus retreat next week in Halifax, where the nascent race to replace former prime minister Stephen Harper is expected to start picking up steam. Kouvalis declined to comment. Quebec MP Maxime Bernier said he agrees there are Canadian values, but ensuring immigrants have economic opportunities that will help them integrate into society is a better way to promote them. Ontario MP Michael Chong was the first to weigh in last week, accusing Leitch of engaging in "dog-whistle politics:" the use of code words that go unheard or unremarked by most people but which convey a particular — usually nasty, racially tinged — message to a target audience. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

yakobi daughter: Yakobi attributed the mistake to a clerical error and said she had documents to back up her claim, but said the government refused to let her present them, according to Brandon Sun. The family now says that CIC has agreed to reopen the file and give Yakobi 30 days to present her documents. Julia Yakobi had her request for a travel document denied and her status revoked last month after Citizenship and Immigration Canada concluded she had not spent long enough in Canada over the past five years.CIC said she had been in the country for 65 days over the past five years, while Yakobi says she has lived in Toronto continuously since 2014. Yakobi daughter says the news is welcome for the entire family."We are very grateful for this response," Hannah Yakobi said in an email. " really hope to have this error rectified soon, so that mom can return home to Toronto to be with her family and continue living her life as before."Yakobi travelled to Moscow to seek medical advice in July with an expired permanent residency card, a move that Citizenship and Immigration Canada allows but does not recommend. She and her family concede that travelling with out-of-date documentation was unwise, but CIC own guidelines make such arrangements possible."If you have been in Canada at least once during the past 365 days, you are entitled to a travel document to enable your return to Canada," reads a letter in which Yakobi request for such a document is declined based on residency requirements.CIC guidelines state that a person must spend at least 730 days in Canada during the five years prior to applying for a travel document. She applied for a travel document that would allow her to return to Canada, but was both denied the document and told she did not meet the criteria for permanent residency days before her scheduled flight home. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

yakobi days: CIC said she had been in the country for 65 days over the past five years, while Yakobi says she has lived in Toronto continuously since 2014, according to The Waterloo Record. Yakobi attributed the mistake to a clerical error and said she had documents to back up her claim, but said the government refused to let her present them. Julia Yakobi had her request for a travel document denied and her status revoked last month after Citizenship and Immigration Canada concluded she had not spent long enough in Canada over the past five years. The family now says that CIC has agreed to reopen the file and give Yakobi 30 days to present her documents. She applied for a travel document that would allow her to return to Canada, but was both denied the document and told she did not meet the criteria for permanent residency days before her scheduled flight home. Yakobi daughter says the news is welcome for the entire family. "We are very grateful for this response," Hannah Yakobi said in an email. " really hope to have this error rectified soon, so that mom can return home to Toronto to be with her family and continue living her life as before." Yakobi travelled to Moscow to seek medical advice in July with an expired permanent residency card, a move that Citizenship and Immigration Canada allows but does not recommend. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

air: The subjects of her film are former Tamil refugees who experienced aerial bombings in Sri Lanka before coming to Canada, according to Metro News. Many of them suffer from post-traumatic stress, Bastian said, and the air show can be triggering. The local filmmaker was on a mission to document real-time reactions from people observing the annual Canadian Air Show, which has recently drawn criticism for being traumatic to new immigrants. I think we take our safety here for granted. With thousands of Syrians and other refugees now calling Toronto home, the air show has come under fire for showing off military aircraft in a way that can be traumatic for those who have lived in war zones. Imagine what that entertainment show does to people who were hiding in trenches every day, she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian constitution: Bernier told a news conference in Ottawa that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should do away with a decree that gives the federation powers with regard to the commercialization of sap and maple syrup in provincial and international markets, according to CTV. The Quebec-based MP says the federal government shouldn't be worried about heeding his advice because the Constitution guarantees open trade among provinces. "I think the idea of acting to have the Canadian Constitution respected is important and Quebecers will understand it," Bernier said. "We cannot be timid, we need to be proud of the powers granted to us in the Constitution and act." Bernier was accompanied by producer Angele Grenier, who is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to hear her case. Currently, Quebec maple syrup industry is subject to a supply management system and to a federation that dictates market volume. The maple syrup federation is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars from her because she exported her syrup herself to Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. "In Quebec, I am stuck with this monopolistic system that deprives me of my rights," Grenier said. "If I lose in the Supreme Court, I lose everything. I will have nothing left." Bernier has previously promised to ease foreign ownership restrictions on airlines, privatize Canada major airports, deregulate the telecommunications industry, end supply management for the egg, chicken and dairy industries and privatize Canada Post. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

decision: Stay in Hamilton or return to London, according to Hamilton Spectator. Ultimately, the decision had to be mine, and mine alone. But for reasons too complex to write here, I felt myself at a crossroads and I had to make a lasting decision. In some ways, I knew that whatever I decided, I would have coulda-woulda-shoulda feelings. No turning back and no second chances. It was my own in-or-out referendum. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald trump: Article Continued Below Never have Americans had to choose between candidates with such low levels of trust, according to Toronto Star. Polls today show the two hopefuls in a virtual dead heat. Clinton now is distrusted by 56 per cent of voters compared to Donald Trump 63 per cent unfavourables. With both candidates being independently wealthy, I am sure this also raises issues for many over their sincerity in addressing the economic hardships so many Americans face today. Immigrants are expected to integrate and accept the values of the country they have chosen to live in and raise their families. Larry Comeau, Ottawa Without being a Donald Trump fan one can still see a glimmer of sanity in the fiery speech he delivered on immigration in Phoenix, AZ. Immigrants to Canada are welcome, but as Trump points out, their views about honour killings, gay rights, infant mutilations and rigid dress codes must be vetted. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hamilton ages: And it once was, according to Hamilton Spectator. Nearly half of the people in the Hamilton ages 65 and older were born outside Canada."But a huge majority of those people have been here for 40 years and don't feel like immigrants," said Sara Mayo, a social planner with Hamilton Social Planning and Research Council. With its rich tradition of Italian festivals, Portuguese bakeries and Asian restaurants, Hamilton seems like a city of immigrants. Look at the city entire population and just a quarter of all Hamiltonians are immigrants to Canada. By 2014-15, that number had been cut nearly in half to just over 2,000. That actually below the provincial average of 29 per cent, according to a new demographic analysis of the city produced by the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton."Hamilton hasn't been a strong attractor of immigrants in decades," said Mayo. "And now it being compounded because Ontario in general has fewer immigrants than it used to have."Immigrants are much more likely choosing to live in the west," she said. "Even Manitoba has seen big increases in immigration growth compared to Ontario."• • •In 1996-97, nearly 4,000 immigrants settled in Hamilton. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

home people: It is now six years since he stepped off a plane from China and Zhang had nothing but praise for the welcome he received in his new home, according to The Chronicle Herald. People here are very friendly. Now a proud Haligonian, Zhang works full time as a recruitment co-ordinator for the Edu Nova Co-operative Ltd., landing his job after completing a five-year recreation and management degree at Dalhousie in 2015. They're very accepting, especially from the point of view that I'm from a different country and different community. A welcome connection Now, Edu Nova is offering that same warm welcome Zhang enjoyed to every international student who chooses Nova Scotia — starting from the minute they land at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. I found Nova Scotia really welcoming to newcomers, said Zhang. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

leitch leitch: Ambrose says she against Leitch proposal to screen for 'anti-Canadian values'Screening immigrants for 'anti-Canadian values' will make Canada safer: Leitch Leitch asks whether Ottawa should screen immigrants for 'anti-Canadian values' It generated a lot of reaction, including some from her own caucus, especially since Leitch had previously expressed regret for her role in promoting a controversial Conservative election campaign promise last year to establish a tip line for so-called "barbaric cultural practices," including forced marriage, according to The Chronicle Herald. It also drew parallels to politics below the border, where 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. "Look, I understand the compulsion to try and paint this discussion on Canadian values in that light. The Ontario Conservative MP is standing by her controversial suggestion that immigration and refugee applicants be screened for what she referred to as anti-Canadian values, an idea her campaign floated in a questionnaire emailed to potential supporters last week. I do get that, but I don't think it fair and I don't think it right," Leitch said. She said she looks forward to hearing what Conservatives and other Canadians think of these issues throughout the campaign. She said she believes in a "unified Canadian identity" that includes equality of opportunity, hard work, giving back to the community, equality of men and women, as well tolerance for all religions, cultures and sexual orientations and the rejection of violence as a way to solve problems. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

migration experience: In narratives of migration experience from Beijing to Vancouver, we note that the trajectory of settlement very nearly reverses that assumed by scholars, the study says, according to Globe and Mail. Migrants tend to settle in and settle down with their families first, enjoying leisure time and making a home. All but a few newcomers said their move to Canada was not primarily about improved economic opportunities, the study indicated, contrary to what immigration researchers have always presumed is the main motivation for changing countries. Then they gradually begin to look for market work. The two note that some of their study subjects only found jobs as a way of trying to integrate into the community. Often times they take jobs as part of settling in and stabilizing their lives into a new routine, rather than the other way around. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

misogynist behaviour: Tory MP Maxime Bernier arrives to the offices of the Conservative Party on April 7, 2016 in Ottawa, according to Huffington Post Canada. It generated a lot of reaction among political observers, including Conservatives, especially since Leitch had previously expressed regret for promoting a controversial Conservative election campaign promise last year to set up a tip line for so-called "barbaric cultural practices." Leitch defended the provocative survey question, saying she feels strongly about screening out people who hold anti-Canadian values, including intolerance towards other religions, cultures and sexual orientations, violent and/or misogynist behaviour and a lack of acceptance of the "Canadian tradition of personal and economic freedoms." Bernier said he agrees with Leitch that Canadian values exist and he defined them as equality before the law and equality between men and women, as well as tolerance, freedom and respect. "The problem of radical Islam does not concern only immigrants but also people born in this country." "They are fundamental. The Conservative Quebec MP was responding to an idea floated last week by leadership rival Kellie Leitch, whose campaign asked supporters in an email questionnaire whether the federal government should screen potential immigrants and refugees for what it called anti-Canadian values. They are in line with Western society, and we must promote them in public policy," Bernier said. Bernier noted that Michael Zehaf Bibeau, the gunman who stormed Parliament Hill nearly two years ago after fatally shooting an honour guard at the nearby National War Memorial, was born in Canada. But he disagreed with the idea of vetting immigrants and not just because he does not believe it would work. "The problem of radical Islam does not concern only immigrants but also people born in this country," said Bernier. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.