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.

house: One big move came from Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, who on Tuesday gave up his job as Opposition House leader. "My consultations about a possible run for the Conservative leadership have been very encouraging and I would like to continue to explore the feasibility of such an endeavour," the Saskatchewan MP said in an email statement, according to The Chronicle Herald. The former Speaker of the House of Commons is expected to officially declare his candidacy in the coming weeks. The news this week that former cabinet minister Peter Mac Kay has officially decided not to join the race has cleared the way for other hopefuls — and more precisely, their potential campaign teams and financial donors — to start making their own intentions known, even if most political observers did not consider his decision a surprise. "I would suspect that now, nobody is waiting for anybody else to enter, so you need to signal your intentions sooner, rather than later," said Conservative strategist Tim Powers. O'Toole, a bilingual MP from Ontario who is reconsidering his earlier decision to stay out of the race, said he wants to use his time in Halifax to make sure that the support he has received from his colleagues is widespread among the 97 MPs and 41 senators that make up the Conservative caucus. "I would be running as a unifier and I have to make sure that I have that support throughout the caucus," O'Toole said in an interview Monday. Quebec MP Maxime Bernier announced the endorsement of four Conservatives from Atlantic Canada, including Nova Scotia Sen. Conservative MP Lisa Raitt has said she has made up her mind and she is expected to make an announcement some time this month. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

industry insiders: While more familiar meats like beef and pork account for up to 90 per cent of sales at Sanagan Meat Locker, the remainder comes from people seeking so-called exotic meats like wild boar, according to Metro News. Game birds are popular, too."When in season, we'll have things ... like pheasants and partridges and squabs, wild turkey," Sanagan says. He divvies it up into chops and other cuts, selling it to adventurous eaters who wander into the Kensington Market store. Though exotic meat consumption is not well tracked, demand for it appears to be rising and some industry insiders and watchers say that likely to continue as foodie culture grows. The firm doesn't have consumption estimates for meats like ostrich, zebra or bison. In Canada, consumption of less traditional meats like horse, venison, camel, rabbit and game grew an average of 10.6 per cent a year between 2010 and 2015, according to estimates from market research firm Euromonitor numbers exclude some meats many would consider exotic, like buffalo and guinea fowl, which fall under different categories it tracks. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

leadership campaign: My family is my No. 1 priority, said Mac Kay, who has two small children, Kian, 3 and Valentia, 11 months, with his wife, human rights activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam, according to The Chronicle Herald. While the opportunity is exciting and the reward compelling, I feel it would be asking too much of them to jump back into politics right now and the heat of a leadership campaign with all that it entails, said Mac Kay, 50, who did not seek re-election in 2015 and is now a partner at a Toronto law firm. After much soul-searching, advice from trusted friends and weighing of the impact on my young family, I have decided not to seek the leadership of the party, the former cabinet minister from Nova Scotia said in a statement Monday. I am full of admiration for those who will seek the leadership and I stand ready to work with whoever the new leader will be, Mac Kay said. One of them is Kevin O'Leary, the celebrity businessman who was compared to Donald Trump when he started musing about joining the Conservative leadership race earlier this year. The decision by Mac Kay now makes it possible for others who were waiting for his choice to prepare in earnest for their own potential bids. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

international-aid event: But Bono, who will meet Trudeau this weekend at an international-aid event, said while he recognizes the UN recommended spending objective is a difficult goal — he hopes the prime minister doesn't push it aside, according to Hamilton Spectator. The UN target challenges countries to dedicate at least 0.7 per cent of their gross national income to foreign aid. In an exclusive interview with The Canadian Press, the Irish rock star praised Canada for showing an openness to the world at a time when many countries have been retreating deeper into isolation. Canada, however, was well below that mark last year when it committed 0.28 per cent of its GNI to development assistance, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. "I would ask the prime minister not to let go of it and I think for Canada to have it as a kind of light ... have it as a kind of beacon of hope," Bono, a longtime crusader in the battle against AIDS and extreme poverty, said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. "Not just for the people whose lives depend on those Canadian dollars, but actually for Canada itself to have that place in the world. "I think that a wonderful aspiration." Bono will appear alongside Trudeau, Microsoft Bill Gates and actress Danai Gurira at an event Saturday in Montreal, where the prime minister will also host a conference for the replenishment of the Global Fund. Trudeau has committed $785 million from Canada over two years to the Global Fund — a 20-per-cent increase. "We're always looking for more," Bono said of Canada pledge, before adding he believes Canadians will give broad support to such a cause as long as they believe their money is well spent. "I think that Canadians are, in a way, quite unromantic in their idealism. It an international partnership focused on eradicating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

kellie leitch: One of them is Kevin O'Leary, the celebrity businessman who was compared to Donald Trump when he started musing about joining the Conservative leadership race earlier this year, according to CTV. On Monday, O'Leary was highly critical of Kellie Leitch for proposing a Canadian values test for potential immigrants and refugees. "I'm writing her off," O'Leary said Monday in an interview with The Canadian Press. "That is totally un-Canadian. The decision by Mac Kay now makes it possible for others who were waiting for his choice to prepare in earnest for their own potential bids. That is not how we work. His brash style, self-professed love for making money and appearances on reality TV drew comparisons to the U.S. Republican presidential nominee when O'Leary started grabbing headlines earlier this year by trashing the economic record of Alberta NDP Premier Rachel Notley, then saying he would like to become a Conservative prime minister and run government like a business. I wouldn't be here if that kind of mandate existed," said O'Leary, who is of Lebanese-Irish origin. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sector forum: Trudeau will attend the UN General Assembly Sept. 19 and 20, along with Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion, International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and Immigration Minister John McCallum. "While in New York, the Prime Minister and the Canadian delegation will also promote diversity, human rights, the need for gender equality, and efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," the release said, according to CTV. Trudeau also plans to deliver a keynote address to the 2016 United Nations Private Sector Forum. Trudeau will also attend the Refugee and Migration Summit, hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and co-host U.S. President Barack Obama Leaders' Summit on Refugees, the release says. Trudeau focus in the coming days is largely on the world outside of Canada. That evening, Trudeau and Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood USA, are to headline a reception with the theme of Global Progress. On Thursday, he and London, U.K. Mayor Saddiq Khan will participate in a panel on the future of progressive politics. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

meats: While more familiar meats like beef and pork account for up to 90 per cent of sales at Sanagan Meat Locker, the remainder comes from people seeking so-called exotic meats like wild boar, according to CBC. Game birds are popular, too. He divvies it up into chops and other cuts, selling it to adventurous eaters who wander into the Kensington Market store. High-end dog food a growing trend "When in season, we'll have things ... like pheasants and partridges and squabs, wild turkey," Sanagan says. Growing market In Canada, consumption of less traditional meats like horse, venison, camel, rabbit and game grew an average of 10.6 per cent a year between 2010 and 2015, according to estimates from market research firm Euromonitor International. Though exotic meat consumption is not well tracked, demand for it appears to be rising and some industry insiders and watchers say that likely to continue as foodie culture grows. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

monday emergency: To start, there aren't enough Arabic translators to meet the demand, so community service providers and volunteers from the local Arab community offer informal and formal support to help fill the gap, the report said, according to Hamilton Spectator. There is also a need for more Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada classes, according to community service agencies. A report presented to councillors at Monday emergency and community services committee meeting identified language and skills development as one area where challenges exist. In addition, some newcomers have trouble getting to and from these classes and finding child care while they attend. For most, the housing allowance will end between December and April, according to the report. As for housing, all government-assisted Syrian refugees who came to Hamilton have found a place to live, but there is concern that once the allowance from the federal government ends, some of these families could lose their current spots. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ontario mp: In a statement Monday, the former cabinet minister said he wanted to spend more time with his young family and carry on with his career at a Toronto law firm, according to CTV. Caucus members heading into the meeting praised Mac Kay, saying they were sad he was not entering the race. "It a bit of a loss because he would have been an outstanding candidate and I think he would have had a very good chance to win," Ontario MP Peter Van Loan said. Ambrose made the comments Tuesday at the party caucus summer retreat in Halifax, where senators and MPs will lay out the party priorities for the coming parliamentary session while managing the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring of leadership hopefuls. "We all understand the importance of speaking with one united voice," she told Tories. "We know that drama drives ratings, that those outside our party will do everything they can to separate us into separate camps. "We've been there before, a long, long time ago, and we have no intention of going back there." Her appeal came a day after Mac Kay, a Nova Scotia native and frontrunner, announced he would not run for leader. Ambrose call for unity comes amid controversy around leadership hopeful Kellie Leitch proposal that the federal government screen potential immigrants and refugees for their views on what she is calling "Canadian values." The idea ignited an otherwise sleepy contest earlier this month, prompting some of her rivals now assembled in Halifax to denounce it. People need to know there already screening for our immigration program and security is a key part of that," he said going into the meeting. "If people want to have some debates on whether that should go further ... that what a race is all about." When asked about Leitch comments, Ontario MP Tony Clement would only say, "I think it great when we debate issues in our party, but we will have to come together once the leadership race is over." Ontario MP Michael Chong, who is running for the leadership himself, has accused Leitch of engaging in "dog-whistle politics." Even Ambrose distanced herself from the idea, sparking a rebuke from Leitch. Ontario MP Erin O'Toole, who is considering a leadership bid, said caucus members will be discussing the issue of immigration with provincial Progressive Conservative leaders from the region, which has a chronic problem with outmigration. "We're going to have a debate on a lot of these. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vet newcomers: How will she do this By protecting us from immigrants, of course, according to Huffington Post Canada. Leitch proposal to vet newcomers for what she calls "anti-Canadian values" has been subject of many articles and conversations over the past few weeks. The Conservative leadership candidate said she'll protect Canadian women from people who "believe that women are property, that they can be beaten and bought or sold." She said she wants to protect gay men and lesbians from people who believe they "should be stoned," she told The Canadian Press this week. She vehemently denies that it is intolerant, or that it singles out Muslims and South Asian people. In our country, a woman is murdered by her intimate partner every six days. When a Canadian Press reporter suggested that views on violence against women and LGBTQ rights vary widely even within Canada, she said that was trivializing the issue. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

industry insiders: While more familiar meats like beef and pork account for up to 90 per cent of sales at Sanagan Meat Locker, the remainder comes from people seeking so-called exotic meats like wild boar, according to Brandon Sun. Game birds are popular, too."When in season, we'll have things ... like pheasants and partridges and squabs, wild turkey," Sanagan says. He divvies it up into chops and other cuts, selling it to adventurous eaters who wander into the Kensington Market store. Though exotic meat consumption is not well tracked, demand for it appears to be rising and some industry insiders and watchers say that likely to continue as foodie culture grows. The firm doesn't have consumption estimates for meats like ostrich, zebra or bison. In Canada, consumption of less traditional meats like horse, venison, camel, rabbit and game grew an average of 10.6 per cent a year between 2010 and 2015, according to estimates from market research firm Euromonitor numbers exclude some meats many would consider exotic, like buffalo and guinea fowl, which fall under different categories it tracks. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

snow cones: Excited kids zigzagged through the crowd, hopped up on cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn, according to The Waterloo Record. But the celebrations, marked by a diverse local Muslim community that has roots in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and beyond, had an especially Syrian touch this year — a deliberate attempt to welcome the region 1,200 new Canadian Syrian refugees. With bouncy castles, a kids' train, rock climbing, basketball battles and games of bean bag toss, the Eid celebrations had a carnival atmosphere. For many of them, this would be their first or second Eid celebration in Canada. "If you're standing at Homer Watson and Ottawa, you wouldn't even know it Eid. When Syrian folk dance group A'rada took the stage, the crowd danced and clapped and pulled out their phones to record the performance. So we hoped this would help them feel a little bit of 'back home' in their new country," said Faisal Raja, a spokesperson for this year festivities. "If you're a newer person, and not quite integrated, you could feel quite lonely for the holiday." Organizers brought in Canadian-Syrian acts to complement other performers in the daylong variety show — which included standup comedy, trivia, a reptile show, songs by Ilyas Mao, a Canadian singer of Somali heritage, and Fatima Attia, a spoken-word artist from Wilfrid Laurier University. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

house: One big move came from Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, who on Tuesday gave up his job as Opposition House leader. "My consultations about a possible run for the Conservative leadership have been very encouraging and I would like to continue to explore the feasibility of such an endeavour," the Saskatchewan MP said in an email statement, according to Guelph Mercury. The former Speaker of the House of Commons is expected to officially declare his candidacy in the coming weeks. The news this week that former cabinet minister Peter Mac Kay has officially decided not to join the race has cleared the way for other hopefuls — and more precisely, their potential campaign teams and financial donors — to start making their own intentions known, even if most political observers did not consider his decision a surprise. "I would suspect that now, nobody is waiting for anybody else to enter, so you need to signal your intentions sooner, rather than later," said Conservative strategist Tim Powers. O'Toole, a bilingual MP from Ontario who is reconsidering his earlier decision to stay out of the race, said he wants to use his time in Halifax to make sure that the support he has received from his colleagues is widespread among the 97 MPs and 41 senators that make up the Conservative caucus. "I would be running as a unifier and I have to make sure that I have that support throughout the caucus," O'Toole said in an interview Monday. Quebec MP Maxime Bernier announced the endorsement of four Conservatives from Atlantic Canada, including Nova Scotia Sen. Conservative MP Lisa Raitt has said she has made up her mind and she is expected to make an announcement some time this month. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

industry insiders: While more familiar meats like beef and pork account for up to 90 per cent of sales at Sanagan Meat Locker, the remainder comes from people seeking so-called exotic meats like wild boar, according to The Waterloo Record. Game birds are popular, too. "When in season, we'll have things ... like pheasants and partridges and squabs, wild turkey," Sanagan says. He divvies it up into chops and other cuts, selling it to adventurous eaters who wander into the Kensington Market store. Though exotic meat consumption is not well tracked, demand for it appears to be rising and some industry insiders and watchers say that likely to continue as foodie culture grows. Euromonitor numbers exclude some meats many would consider exotic, like buffalo and guinea fowl, which fall under different categories it tracks. In Canada, consumption of less traditional meats like horse, venison, camel, rabbit and game grew an average of 10.6 per cent a year between 2010 and 2015, according to estimates from market research firm Euromonitor International. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

saskatchewan mp: One big move came from Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, who on Tuesday gave up his job as Opposition House leader."My consultations about a possible run for the Conservative leadership have been very encouraging and I would like to continue to explore the feasibility of such an endeavour," the Saskatchewan MP said in an email statement, according to Brandon Sun. The former Speaker of the House of Commons is expected to officially declare his candidacy in the coming weeks.O'Toole, a bilingual MP from Ontario who is reconsidering his earlier decision to stay out of the race, said he wants to use his time in Halifax to make sure that the support he has received from his colleagues is widespread among the 97 MPs and 41 senators that make up the Conservative caucus."I would be running as a unifier and I have to make sure that I have that support throughout the caucus," O'Toole said in an interview Monday. The news this week that former cabinet minister Peter Mac Kay has officially decided not to join the race has cleared the way for other hopefuls — and more precisely, their potential campaign teams and financial donors — to start making their own intentions known, even if most political observers did not consider his decision a surprise."I would suspect that now, nobody is waiting for anybody else to enter, so you need to signal your intentions sooner, rather than later," said Conservative strategist Tim Powers. Conservative MP Lisa Raitt has said she has made up her mind and she is expected to make an announcement some time this month. Stephen Greene. Quebec MP Maxime Bernier announced the endorsement of four Conservatives from Atlantic Canada, including Nova Scotia Sen. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

breathing thing: They can be a draw for tourists, but are often just a backdrop for locals, according to Hamilton Spectator. If you are an environmentalist, you might see them as a living, breathing thing in need of protection, but ask the average high school student and they'll roll their eyes like they would for any five-point answer on a geography test. For others they mean work. On their own, they are Ontario, Superior, Huron, Erie and Michigan. You can see them from space, but now a group of prominent Ontarians, helped along by the province lieutenant-governor, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, is looking to put them on the map — so to speak — with a campaign to brand the importance of the world largest freshwater ecosystem onto peoples' hearts and minds. "Why not The Amazon rainforest is the lungs of the planet. Together they are the Great Lakes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

anti-canadian values: In an interview Monday, McCallum defended the status quo, saying the federal government does a good job now of screening immigrants for security concerns and helping them prepare for their new life in Canada, according to Toronto Star. And he condemned Leitch immigration proposal, calling it Orwellian and dog-whistle politics. By Bruce Campion-Smith Ottawa Bureau Mon., Sept. 12, 2016 OTTAWA—A controversial proposal by Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch to screen immigrants for anti-Canadian values is dangerous and ignores processes that are already in place, Immigration Minister John McCallum says. I think it foments an anti-immigration sentiment which might be dormant but which is brought to the fore and it brings out those who now have a stronger pedestal for spouting anti-immigrant rhetoric, he told the Star. Article Continued Below The proposal has sparked widespread criticism, including some in her own party. Leitch, an Ontario MP in the running to lead the Conservative party, has stirred controversy with her idea that immigrants should be screened for what she says are anti-Canadian values. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadians: I think it very sad that these Conservative candidates are offering things that for a long time, Canadians have rejected, said McCallum, according to CTV. McCallum praised Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose, who on took a strong stance against Leitch proposal on last week Question Period. Speaking for the first time since Leitch proposal, McCallum told Evan Solomon, host of CTV Question Period, that Canadians aren't interested in having a debate of this nature. I respect Rona Ambrose because she did the unusual thing as interim leader to dump on this policy, McCallum said. I think Canadians are better than that. She understands it bad for her party, but it bad for Canada, for us to be going down this destructive route. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

celebrity businessman: Kevin O'Leary attends the 2016 Interbrand Breakthrough Brands Summit at New York Stock Exchange on July 27, 2016, according to Huffington Post Canada. The celebrity businessman drew comparisons to U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump when he started musing about joining the race earlier this year, as much for his brash personality as for his appearances on reality television, such as the CBC "Dragons' Den". But O'Leary has said he has nothing in common with the American politician when it comes to his views on foreign or social policy, especially when it comes to immigration. O'Leary, who is still deciding whether he wants to join the Conservative leadership race or endorse another contender, says her controversial proposal is un-Canadian. O'Leary, who is of Lebanese-Irish origins, says he would not be in Canada if Leitch idea was in place at the time. O'Leary says he plans to either declare his candidacy or throw his weight behind someone else by mid-November. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

children self-esteem: Often, the absence of this phrase is acutely felt by second-gen kids, according to Huffington Post Canada. Some immigrant parents don't say it because that not the way things are done in their culture of origin. Some second-generation Canadians — anyone with at least one parent who immigrated to the country — don't hear "I'm proud of you" from their parents, even though the wider Canadian culture encourages this expression as a way to nurture children self-esteem. Some parents literally don't have the wordsto express pride, while others never heard the words themselves from their own parents. The opportunity to hear "I'm proud of you" growing up may have passed, but it never too late for children to tell their parents how thankful they are for their hard work, perseverance and their bravery of starting over in a new country. But as second-gen Canadians who have come to terms with the power of this phrase and the value of acknowledgment, their children have a chance to flip the script. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

children: The children don't understand," said his wife, Geneviève Trottier, according to CBC. Ivorian man in Quebec accused of war crimes Trottier said their children, a four-year-old and three-year-old twins, are suffering from stomach aches and have been acting out in daycare. "At first, we lied. If deported, Abou Fofana will leave his Quebec-born wife and three young children behind in Trois-Rivières, 135 kilometres northeast of Montreal. "It definitely very difficult. We told them he was leaving on vacation to Africa," she said. His application for refugee status was rejected three years later, IRCC concluding that "there are serious reasons to think, beyond a simple suspicion, that Fofana has committed a war crime as a member of the rebel group, the Force nouvelles." Michele Torre, ex-convict, makes final plea to avoid deportation Fofana acknowledged he worked for that group as a carpenter in order to survive. However, the children kept asking why he was choosing to leave. "Finally, we opted for the truth." Carpenter or war criminal When Fofana came to Canada in 2008 seeking asylum, he identified himself as an artist and dancer, officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

evidentiary threshold: Clement said both measures would be subject to judicial review and require an "evidentiary threshold" be met. "I'm not proposing some kind of wanted list that is the figment of somebody imagination or without some kind of evidence," Clement said. "Clearly, that would not be acceptable in Canadian society." "The evidence is that more has to be done to identify these individuals who are a threat, to isolate them, to make sure the community is aware of them and then, of course, to use the judicial process to extract them from our society." Clement pointed to Aaron Driver as an example of someone openly sympathizing with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria who was not being monitored closely enough, according to CBC. In early August, Driver was killed in a police operation in Strathroy, Ont. after being deemed an "imminent" threat by RCMP. He was under a peace bond, but not required to wear GPS tracking device. The House: Clement says no to values test, yes to enhanced screening Kellie Leitch calls comparisons with Donald Trump unfair Clement also wants terrorist suspects to be on a published "wanted" list. The case raised questions about the effectiveness of peace bonds. He did not specify how long that detention would last under his proposal. Clement said people in a similar situation to Driver should be monitored 24 hours a day and incarcerated if necessary. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

haida gwaii: They will fly to Vancouver by float plane the following day for a civic welcome downtown at Jack Poole Plaza and a visit to a charity for addicted mothers on the city Downtown Eastside, according to CBC. No selfies with William and Kate: etiquette tips for the royal visit The Royal Family will then make stops in Kelowna, B.C., Whitehorse, Bella Bella and Haida Gwaii in B.C. before returning to Victoria for an official farewell in the Inner Harbour on Oct. 1. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with George, 3, and Charlotte, who turned one in May, will kick off their visit in Victoria with an official public welcome at the Legislature on Sept. 24. William and Kate last visited Canada in 2011 as newlyweds, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators throughout a nine-day tour, but this will be the first visit with their two young children. The royal itinerary: Sept 24: Travel with the Royal Canadian Air Force to Victoria Airport. Prince George and Princess Charlotte will accompany parents William and Kate on the visit to parts of Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

international-aid event: But Bono, who will meet Trudeau this weekend at an international-aid event, said while he recognizes the UN recommended spending objective is a difficult goal — he hopes the prime minister doesn't push it aside, according to The Waterloo Record. The UN target challenges countries to dedicate at least 0.7 per cent of their gross national income to foreign aid. In an exclusive interview with The Canadian Press, the Irish rock star praised Canada for showing an openness to the world at a time when many countries have been retreating deeper into isolation. Canada, however, was well below that mark last year when it committed 0.28 per cent of its GNI to development assistance, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. "I would ask the prime minister not to let go of it and I think for Canada to have it as a kind of light ... have it as a kind of beacon of hope," Bono, a long-time crusader in the battle against AIDS and extreme poverty, said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. "Not just for the people whose lives depend on those Canadian dollars, but actually for Canada itself to have that place in the world. "I think that a wonderful aspiration." Bono will appear alongside Trudeau, Microsoft Bill Gates and actress Danai Gurira at an event Saturday in Montreal, where the prime minister will also host a conference for the replenishment of the Global Fund. Trudeau has committed $785 million from Canada over two years to the Global Fund — a 20-per-cent increase. "We're always looking for more," Bono said of Canada pledge, before adding he believes Canadians will give broad support to such a cause as long as they believe their money is well spent. "I think that Canadians are, in a way, quite unromantic in their idealism. It an international partnership focused on eradicating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

international-aid event: But Bono, who will meet Trudeau this weekend at an international-aid event, said while he recognizes the UN recommended spending objective is a difficult goal -- he hopes the prime minister doesn't push it aside, according to CTV. The UN target challenges countries to dedicate at least 0.7 per cent of their gross national income to foreign aid. In an exclusive interview with The Canadian Press, the Irish rock star praised Canada for showing an openness to the world at a time when many countries have been retreating deeper into isolation. Canada, however, was well below that mark last year when it committed 0.28 per cent of its GNI to development assistance, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. "I would ask the prime minister not to let go of it and I think for Canada to have it as a kind of light ... have it as a kind of beacon of hope," Bono, a long-time crusader in the battle against AIDS and extreme poverty, said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. "Not just for the people whose lives depend on those Canadian dollars, but actually for Canada itself to have that place in the world. "I think that a wonderful aspiration." Bono will appear alongside Trudeau, Microsoft Bill Gates and actress Danai Gurira at an event Saturday in Montreal, where the prime minister will also host a conference for the replenishment of the Global Fund. Trudeau has committed $785 million from Canada over two years to the Global Fund -- a 20-per-cent increase. "We're always looking for more," Bono said of Canada pledge, before adding he believes Canadians will give broad support to such a cause as long as they believe their money is well spent. "I think that Canadians are, in a way, quite unromantic in their idealism. It an international partnership focused on eradicating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

leadership candidates: But the nascent leadership race is expected to dominate discussions in the corridors of the downtown Halifax hotel as candidates seek support from their colleagues and those who have yet to declare get closer to making up their minds, according to The Chronicle Herald. Quebec MP Denis Lebel, the deputy Conservative caucus leader, said that while some leadership candidates have been taking strong positions, no one should think the race to replace former prime minister Stephen Harper is tearing them apart. "Our caucus is united, very united," Lebel said Monday. The Tories will spend two days discussing how to tackle the Liberals once everyone returns to Parliament Hill on Sept. 19, when they will push Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his handling of the economy, national security, defence and other areas where the Conservatives have traditionally seen their strength. One of those positions is a proposal from the leadership campaign of Kellie Leitch, who wants to see the federal government screen potential immigrants and refugees for their views on what she is calling "Canadian values", such as the equality of men and women and tolerance for all religions, cultures and sexual orientations. Conservative MP Michael Chong went so far as to accuse Leitch of engaging in "dog-whistle politics." Even interim leader Rona Ambrose distanced herself from the idea, sparking a rebuke from Leitch. "I'm disappointed that an interim leader would engage themselves in the leadership race," Leitch told CTV "Question Period" on Sunday. The controversial idea woke up an otherwise sleepy contest earlier this month, prompting many of her rivals to denounce it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.