meeting i: They'll be surrounded by several veterans who joined the Clippers in the off-season, including 12-year pro Dorell Wright, 11-year pros Brandon Bass and Raymond Felton, eight-year pro Marreese Speights, who left Golden State, and seven-year pro Alan Anderson. "This feels like the perfect storm with guys who want to win," said Crawford, who won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award for the third time last season. "It not about anything individual, according to Guelph Mercury. It all about winning." Rookies Brice Johnson of North Carolina and Diamond Stone of Maryland will try to fight their way off the bench under Doc Rivers, not known for playing newcomers much. "We got a lot of new guys," Redick said. "Our first meeting I only recognized like six guys in there. DeAndre Jordan, fresh off helping the U.S. win gold at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford also are back, with the team opting to keep its core group together. It about getting everyone acclimated to how we play. Wesley Johnson, Luc Mbah a Moute and Austin Rivers are back, too. "We're one of the better teams and now we have to back that up on the floor," the elder Rivers said at the team media day. We're going to be one of the best teams in the league." Paul Pierce said Monday he is returning for this 19th and final NBA season. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

post-season series: I don't look at it that way." The Mavericks have made the playoffs all but one season since the constant turnover started after owner Mark Cuban chose salary cap flexibility over keeping a few key players when a new labour agreement was reached six months after his team won the title in 2011, according to The Waterloo Record. But Dallas still hasn't won a post-season series since beating Miami in six games in those NBA Finals. It fresh every year. "Really, that wasn't meant to be a joke," he added. "If you view it as a negative, there a pretty good chance it going to be a negative. Repeated efforts to land big names in free agency failed, which this year led to the additions of Barnes and Bogut from 2015 champion Golden State after the Warriors lured Kevin Durant from Oklahoma City and had to unload both starters to make cap room for the four-time NBA scoring champion. Over his four seasons with the Warriors, he was always a role player behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. "It going to be bigger expectations and I'm going to have a larger role on this team," Barnes said. "I feel like we have a lot of pieces this year, either coming back off injury, guys who are motivated, have a lot to prove. Barnes headlines the group of newcomers because he'll be a top option on offence after signing a four-year, $94 million max contract. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

prove-it contract: And that just what the 28-year-old former first-round draft pick intends to do — on and off the court."Sometimes, an experience, you have to grow from it," Lawson said Monday at the Kings' media day. "I think I've grown a lot and I'm just ready to move forward, according to Brandon Sun. I heard a GM said, 'I think he lost a step. Following a tumultuous year in which he was arrested twice for DUI and entered alcohol rehab, lost his starting job with the Houston Rockets and spent the final 13 games of the season mostly coming off the bench in Indiana, the veteran point guard is in Sacramento on a one-year prove-it contract. He can't shoot anymore.' I've got a lot to prove and I got a chip on my shoulder to prove it."Lawson joins a crowded depth chart at point guard that includes holdover Darren Collison along with newcomers Garrett Temple and Jordan Farmar. Coach Dave Joerger, who takes over the Kings after spending the last three seasons in Memphis, made it clear he got high expectations for Lawson."I'm counting on Ty to be a pro," Joerger said. "It an important year for him. With Collison facing a likely NBA suspension following his conviction on a misdemeanour domestic abuse charge stemming from an incident in May, Lawson is projected as the season-opening starter. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

refugee families: Harrison is a member of St, according to Guelph Mercury. Andrew Presbyterian Church, which has partnered with the First Baptist Church of Guelph and Knox Presbyterian Church to bring a family of Syrian refugees to Guelph. We have all of this furniture that we're going to have to put together, Joanne Harrison said with a laugh. We can take a little bit larger family because we've got the three groups, Harrison said, explaining that together the three church groups have collected enough donations to sponsor a family of from eight to 13 people. But that didn't stop the group from applying to Ikea Canada for support when they heard earlier this year the company was offering donations of home furnishings for refugee families to the charitable organizations sponsoring them. The groups connected through the Guelph Refugee Forum last fall, and almost a year later they still know nothing about the family that will be coming. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trump: False, according to Brandon Sun. As debate moderator Lester Holt correctly noted, Trump has regularly raised the same doubts about Obama citizenship even after the president, in an attempt to end the discussion, released his birth certificate. ."Was it a birth certificate You tell me," Trump said in a 2012 interview."He was perhaps born in Kenya. Trump claimed he dropped the issue after Obama made his birth certificate public in 2011. Very simple, OK " Trump said in 2014."Who knows about Obama," Trump said in January 2016. No one in Clinton camp publicly questioned Obama citizenship, and when Clinton got wind of smears about Obama roots or religion, she either rejected or ignored them.EDITOR'S NOTE _ A look at the veracity of claims by political figures Trump claim that Hillary Clinton loyalists started the false rumour about Obama citizenship also doesn't hold up to scrutiny, as the AP and other news outlets have noted. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

birthplace information: She said her mother, who fled Afghanistan with her daughters when Monsef was 11, didn't think it mattered where the minister was born since she was still legally considered an Afghan citizen, according to Huffington Post Canada. Monsef has said she will have to correct her birthplace information on her passport. The democratic institutions minister revealed last week that she was born in Iran, not Afghanistan as she'd long believed. Maryam Monsef citizenship could be revoked without a hearing. And if the misrepresentation was on her permanent residence and refugee applications, she could even be deported, said Waldman, part of a group that launched a constitutional challenge of the law Monday. If Monsef birthplace was misrepresented on her citizenship application as well, that would be grounds for revocation of citizenship, regardless of whether it was an innocent mistake or the fault of her mother, said immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

birthplace information: She said her mother, who fled Afghanistan with her daughters when Monsef was 11, didn't think it mattered where the minister was born since she was still legally considered an Afghan citizen, according to Hamilton Spectator. Monsef has said she will have to correct her birthplace information on her passport. The democratic institutions minister revealed last week that she was born in Iran, not Afghanistan as she'd long believed. If Monsef birthplace was misrepresented on her citizenship application as well, that would be grounds for revocation of citizenship, regardless of whether it was an innocent mistake or the fault of her mother, said immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman. The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association argue that the law, known as Bill C-24, is procedurally unfair and a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And if the misrepresentation was on her permanent residence and refugee applications, she could even be deported, said Waldman, part of a group that launched a constitutional challenge of the law Monday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian history: We know we look different — sometimes, not even like our parents, according to Huffington Post Canada. Some of us don't know about our parents' cultures or speak the languages, yet, there often a desire for others to categorize us as belonging to one culture or the other. Many second-gen Canadians — individuals born to at least one immigrant parent — who are mixed particularly find that latter question the toughest to answer. Why isn't it enough to say we're Canadian We were born and raised in Canada, we grew up eating "Canadian food", watching Canadian shows, and learning Canadian history. As part of the Huffington Post Canada Born And Raised series, some of our editors of mixed backgrounds revealed how they respond to questions about their identities. But because there is a struggle to define what it means to be Canadian, it can get more complex with other identities in the mix. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

citizen festival: Interspersing performances from some of the world most sought-after artists with rapid speeches and videos, the fifth edition of the festival put a special focus on solidarity with refugees amid the mass exodus from war-ravaged Syria, according to CTV. Electronic duo Major Lazer kicked off the more than six-hour festival that also brought out leading pop singers Demi Lovato, Ellie Goulding and Rihanna -- who noted to the crowd that she herself migrated from Barbados. The Global Citizen Festival, broadcast live from the vast lawn of New York Central Park, distributes tickets to fans who commit to petitions and other actions aimed at ending extreme poverty. Metallica played one of the band few shows ahead of the metal icons' upcoming album, ripping through five of their most classic tunes at a decibel level rarely heard in the halls of international diplomacy. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder teamed up separately with Yusuf and with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, with whom he sang a two-guitar version of Patti Smith "People Have the Power." Vedder, long outspoken in his left-leaning politics, made veiled criticism of US presidential contender Donald Trump, saying that election-season "bigotry" would not endure in "this modern world of communication and acceptance." "This is one last gasp -- they know that these are antiquated ideals that are going away." Rapper Kendrick Lamar put on the festival most extensive set, culminating in an energetic "Alright," his unofficial anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement. - Humanizing refugees - In one of the evening more unlikely stars, a six-year-old New York boy named Alex took the stage, waving with precocious grace. Yusuf, the folk rocker known as Cat Stevens before his conversion to Islam, appealed to the crowd to ensure that no one is "stigmatized" on account of identity. "This globe is big enough for everybody to share," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

freaky friday: Boynukalin says media were not told about Lohan visit ahead of time to avoid creating a spectacle and he didn't specify when it took place, according to Brandon Sun. He said, "The important thing is that a Hollywood star take this matter seriously and bring it to the world stage."Boynukalin says the star of such films as "Mean Girls" and "Freaky Friday" was moved by the hospital, which employs only Syrian doctors and treats refugees, and offered to volunteer there. The Anadolu agency reported Monday that the 30-year-old actress was accompanied by Turkey youth and sports deputy minister, Abdurrahim Boynukalin. Lohan also gave gifts to the refugee family. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

crisis: The cards would be topped up monthly, with payments dependent on the size and needs of the families, according to Brandon Sun. The program has been billed as the EU largest humanitarian program."I am here today in person to demonstrate that the EU stands with Turkey, "said EU Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides at the program launch."An unprecedented crisis requires an unprecedented response," Stylianides said. "We are launching a ground-breaking humanitarian program to respond to this crisis."The program is part of an agreement the EU has with Turkey to provide a total of 3 billion euros in 2016 and 2017 to help Turkey support Syrian migrants. The refugees, living outside of camps, are to receive debit cards that will allow them to buy their own food and pay for other basic needs. The EU has also agreed to fast track membership talks and ease visa restrictions for Turkish citizens travelling to Europe in return for Turkey co-operation in stopping migrants heading to Europe. Turkey has criticized the EU for alleged delays in the disbursement of the funds and the fact that the money is not being sent to Turkey directly to spend on the refugees."We welcome the EU ... support," said Omer Celik, the Turkish minister in charge of EU affairs. "But we have criticisms concerning the way this support is being transferred to Turkey. However, plans to loosen visa rules came to a standstill after Turkey balked at the EU demand that it relax its anti-terrorism laws. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

freaky friday: Boynukalin says media were not told about Lohan visit ahead of time to avoid creating a spectacle and he didn't specify when it took place, according to CTV. He said, "The important thing is that a Hollywood star take this matter seriously and bring it to the world stage." Boynukalin says the star of such films as "Mean Girls" and "Freaky Friday" was moved by the hospital, which employs only Syrian doctors and treats refugees, and offered to volunteer there. The Anadolu agency reported Monday that the 30-year-old actress was accompanied by Turkey youth and sports deputy minister, Abdurrahim Boynukalin. Lohan also gave gifts to the refugee family. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

crisis: The cards would be topped up monthly, with payments dependent on the size and needs of the families, according to Metro News. The program has been billed as the EU largest humanitarian program."I am here today in person to demonstrate that the EU stands with Turkey, "said EU Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides at the program launch."An unprecedented crisis requires an unprecedented response," Stylianides said. "We are launching a ground-breaking humanitarian program to respond to this crisis."The program is part of an agreement the EU has with Turkey to provide a total of 3 billion euros in 2016 and 2017 to help Turkey support Syrian migrants. The refugees, living outside of camps, are to receive debit cards that will allow them to buy their own food and pay for other basic needs. The EU has also agreed to fast track membership talks and ease visa restrictions for Turkish citizens travelling to Europe in return for Turkey co-operation in stopping migrants heading to Europe. Turkey has criticized the EU for alleged delays in the disbursement of the funds and the fact that the money is not being sent to Turkey directly to spend on the refugees."We welcome the EU ... support," said Omer Celik, the Turkish minister in charge of EU affairs. "But we have criticisms concerning the way this support is being transferred to Turkey. However, plans to loosen visa rules came to a standstill after Turkey balked at the EU demand that it relax its anti-terrorism laws. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

culture: So the director of the small but award-winning Circlesnake Productions was inspired to help Syrian refugees experience Canadian culture by offering free tickets to his company three upcoming productions, according to Toronto Star. Even when I moved from Ottawa to Victoria, which is so nowhere near that degree of change, I was so lonely, he says. By Carly Maga Theatre Critic Mon., Sept. 26, 2016 Although he knows it can't compare to the upheaval experienced by a refugee from a war-torn country, Alec Toller has known the loneliness of moving from one place to another. There a really warm sense of welcoming that I think is something that the arts can do really well; to bring people into the culture we have. In Toronto, that includes smaller outfits like Nightwood Theatre and Coleman-Lemieux & Compagnie, and big ones like the Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet of Canada. Across Canada, 68 companies are offering complimentary tickets to Syrian newcomers to any production or event until March 31, 2017 as part of a Canada Council for the Arts initiative. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

i couldn: But why Halifax It not like the city is famous for its long list of job openings, according to The Chronicle Herald. And no one, especially Italians and Africans, ever moved to the Maritimes for the weather, right Explains Mabota-Calvert, In Italy, you have the best food and history. And when it comes to building a business and raising a family, Halifax is Mabota-Calvert quick and easy pick over all three of those places — as well as the northern England city of Leeds, where she also lived for half a year. But it very difficult to integrate . Tradition is very strong there and people don't always like change, she says. They aren't racist, just ignorant. For example, I couldn't eat with my Italian boyfriend in public, because I was black. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

perception vs: Expenses 101: Liberals get painful lesson in perception vs. reality Gerald Butts and Katie Telford to return $65K in 'unreasonable' expenses Trudeau Liberals spent $1.1M to move political staff A spokesperson for Immigration Minister John McCallum said Monday that Bernard Derible, the minister director of issues management, first came to Ottawa as a contract employee in the fall of 2015, according to CBC. The hotel costs for the months of November and December were covered by taxpayers as a part of the terms of his contract. Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel confronted the government during question period, pressing the Liberals to "come clean" on the expenses front. "We've just learned that it appears the immigration minister hid the cost of moving a senior Liberal staffer to Ottawa from Thailand," Rempel said. "In an official response to Parliament the immigration minister said no such expenses existed, but moments ago we received documents that tell us otherwise." "Are there any other Liberal ministers that want to come clean with these expenses " she asked. After two months Derible was offered a full-time position. Half his flight was also covered. "The original contract was for temporary work, and did not necessitate 'moving/relocation' expenses," a statement from McCallum office read. "Under the terms of the original contract, the flight from his residence in Bangkok along with temporary accommodation and a monthly fee were agreed upon." Early Tuesday, McCallum office contacted CBC News to further explain that Deribe came urgently to Ottawa to assist with the refugee resettlement effort. "He did not claim any expenses to relocate his family from Thailand to Ottawa," Camielle Edwards wrote. He continued to live in a hotel until he moved himself and his family into a home he bought in February, but picked up the bill for his remaining hotel stay himself, according to the spokesperson. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

institutions minister: She said her mother, who fled Afghanistan with her daughters when Monsef was 11, didn't think it mattered where the minister was born since she was still legally considered an Afghan citizen, according to CTV. Monsef has said she will have to correct her birthplace information on her passport. The democratic institutions minister revealed last week that she was born in Iran, not Afghanistan as she'd long believed. If Monsef birthplace was misrepresented on her refugee claim and was relevant to the ruling on her case, her citizenship could be revoked, regardless of whether it was an innocent mistake or the fault of her mother, said immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman. The minister office did not respond to a question about the place of birth recorded on Monsef citizenship, permanent residency and refugee applications, saying in a statement only that the minister "is committed to addressing this matter and has stated she will work to resolve it." The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association argue that the citizenship revocation law, known as Bill C-24, is procedurally unfair and a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She could even be deported, said Waldman, part of a group that launched a constitutional challenge of the law Monday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

institutions minister: The democratic institutions minister revealed last week that she was born in Iran, not Afghanistan as she'd long believed, according to Toronto Star. She said her mother, who fled Afghanistan with her daughters when Monsef was 11, didn't think it mattered where the minister was born since she was still legally considered an Afghan citizen. By Joan Bryden The Canadian Press Mon., Sept. 26, 2016 OTTAWA—Maryam Monsef could be stripped of her citizenship without a hearing under a law the Liberals denounced while in opposition but which they've been enforcing aggressively since taking power, civil liberties and refugee lawyers say. Monsef has said she will have to correct her birthplace information on her passport. She could even be deported, said Waldman, part of a group that launched a constitutional challenge of the law Monday. If Monsef birthplace was misrepresented on her refugee claim and was relevant to the ruling on her case, her citizenship could be revoked, regardless of whether it was an innocent mistake or the fault of her mother, said immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

kate middleton: Prime Minister Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau greeted the royal couple at the entrance of the newly opened welcome centre before they walked in together, according to Metro News. Jennifer Gauthier/Metro The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge flew into Vancouver on a floatplane Sept 25, 2016. Prince William and Kate Middleton paid a visit to the Immigrant Services Society Welcome Centre in East Vancouver after first greeting the adoring crowds at Jack Poole Plaza and dropping by the Sheway Pregnancy Outreach Program in the Downtown Eastside Sunday morning. Prince William asked us where we were from and heard about our experience and then he welcomed us into Canada, said Alaa Almahameed, who arrived in Canada in August with his wife and two young daughters as a Syrian refugee. Related stories:Royal visit: Prince William and Kate meet Syrian refugee families What the Royal couple saw during their visit to Vancouver Royals visit 'unique' harm reduction mothering program in Vancouver Jennifer Gauthier/Metro Syrian refugees Yossra Almahameed, Alaa Almahameed, and their daughters Reemas and Reetaj sit next to Mohammad Alsaleh who translated their words to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It was the greatest experience, he told Metro, with the help of ISS of BC resettlement counsellor Mohammed Alsaleh. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

caley: Everything you need to know about presidential debates In debate between Clinton, Trump, moderators will be judged, too Caley compares that campaign of "fear" to the one run by the Conservatives in the last election, one he characterizes as having "pitted neighbour against neighbour," with its proposed barbaric cultural practices tip line, among other policy positions, according to CBC. He writes that Conservative leadership candidates Kellie Leitch, Tony Clement and Brad Trost, are trying to "stoke the same fears and anxieties." "This kind of negative, divisive politics builds walls between Canadians — and it shows us all how much is at stake," Caley said. "Let make sure that in Canada, positive politics isn't up for debate."​ Trudeau graces the world stage as Canada has a moment: Aaron Wherry How Kellie Leitch and Justin Trudeau are defining themselves on immigration Bill Gates says Trudeau approach to immigration, refugees good for business Another Liberal fundraising email sent over the weekend by party president Anna Gainey similarly sought to align some Conservative leadership contenders with Trump and presented the Liberals as a bulwark against this type of politics. "If the world recent experience has made one thing crystal clear, it that we all have a vital role to play in stopping this rhetoric from becoming reality," she wrote in an email titled "Anti-Canadian," a reference to Leitch proposal to screen prospective immigrants for troublesome values. Although the email does not refer to either of the U.S. candidates by name, it characterizes the U.S. campaign as a choice between opposing values — and leaves no doubt about which side the Liberal Party is on. "A fundamental choice will be on display tonight south of the border, when two U.S. presidential candidates go toe to toe in the first presidential debate — and many of the themes might be familiar to you. "Hope or fear Diversity or division Openness and inclusion, or turning our backs on the world " writes Braeden Caley, the director of communications for the Liberal Party, in the fundraising email to supporters. Leitch has sent out her own fundraising emails hitting back at the criticism lobbed at her for proposing the controversial measure and for posing for a Maclean magazine cover with the headline "Are You Canadian Enough " What a plan to screen immigrants says about the country—and the leadership hopeful who suggested it https://t.co/Dy5RV8TyuR @Macleans Mag "Do you know what has them so upset It is because I'm proudly holding a Canadian flag! That right, the self-hating Canadian elites can't stand the idea of a proud conservative standing up for Canada and Canadian values," Leitch said of critics. "First of all, because they don't believe there are such things as Canadian values, and secondly because they don't think our values are best in the world. The better angels of American nature' Trudeau has been asked explicitly about a Trump presidency, and why he hasn't gone to greater lengths to condemn Trump rhetoric about Muslims, Mexicans and other minorities. "I respect the American electoral process," Trudeau said in an interview with Rosemary Barton for CBC New Network Power & Politics in March. "I have faith in what Lincoln referred to as 'the better angels of American nature' and I am looking forward to who I am going to work with after Nov. 4." "The machinery of government and the depth and complexity of the relationship between our two countries goes far beyond any two personalities in office at any given time." NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has been critical of Trudeau for not condemning Trump. "I will not hesitate to point out the fact that Mr. Well I think that nonsense," she wrote to supporters. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

smiley toddler: I've told them of the smiley toddler, the language barrier and the fact that my family cares deeply for these people. "That so cool." "That awesome." These are some of the responses I've received, according to Huffington Post Canada. Probably generic, yes, and said without much thought, yes. Mama, Papa and seven little ones with one on the way. But as I knelt in prayer, crying desperately to my God for this family, I felt prompted to share my belief that there is NOTHING cool about the fact that my new neighbours are Syrian refugees. He slashes his hand across his throat. Papa is playing charades with us. "Syria" we understand through his Arabic as he vividly describes the explosions and the noise and the warfare. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

refugee crisis: The cards would be topped up monthly, with payments dependent on the size and needs of the families, according to The Waterloo Record. The project, to be launched by EU Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides in Ankara, said the program was "proof of the EU commitment to Turkey cover the challenge posed by the refugee crisis." "I am in Ankara for a specific reason: to launch the biggest, largest humanitarian project the EU has ever supported," Stylianides said before the launch. Up to a million refugees living outside of camps are to receive debit cards that will allow them to buy their own food and pay for housing, education and other needs. The program is to be administered by the World Food Program, with help of Turkish Red Crescent, the Turkish crisis management agency and the Turkish ministry for family and social policy. Turkey is home to an estimated 3 million refugees. The European Commission says safeguards are in place to ensure the money is correctly spent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

golfer: He was an icon, according to The Waterloo Record. He was a legend. He was more than a golfer or even a great golfer. Arnold was someone who was a pioneer in his sport. Along the way, he had millions of adoring fans — Barbara and I among them. He took the game from one level to a higher level, virtually by himself. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

observer photos: They sped off in a massive hovercraft to cheers from the crowd, many of whom waved British flags, sported feathery fascinators, or raised their cell phones high into the air, hoping for the ultimate royal selfie, according to National Observer. In case you missed all the coverage, here the highlight reel of National Observer photos.1. They met newly-settled Syrian refugees, had scones and tea with some of the city most vulnerable populations, congratulated Canadian youth for their exceptional accomplishments, and thanked marine first responders for their service. Trying to squeeze through the crowds The line up to see Will and Kate in Vancouver infamous Downtown Eastside stretched the length of several city blocks, took up the entire width of the sidewalk, and spilled into the opposite side of East Hastings Street. They Tweeted, Snapchatted, and Instagrammed the proceedings, and a few lucky fans in the front even got to shake the royals' hands. Most waited for more than an hour in order to catch the couple enter Sheway Vancouver from their motorcade and watch them leave for their next destination. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

institutions minister: She said her mother, who fled Afghanistan with her daughters when Monsef was 11, didn't think it mattered where the minister was born since she was still legally considered an Afghan citizen, according to The Waterloo Record. Monsef has said she will have to correct her birthplace information on her passport. The democratic institutions minister revealed last week that she was born in Iran, not Afghanistan as she'd long believed. If Monsef birthplace was misrepresented on her refugee claim and was relevant to the ruling on her case, her citizenship could be revoked, regardless of whether it was an innocent mistake or the fault of her mother, said immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman. The minister office did not respond to a question about the place of birth recorded on Monsef citizenship, permanent residency and refugee applications, saying in a statement only that the minister "is committed to addressing this matter and has stated she will work to resolve it." The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association argue that the citizenship revocation law, known as Bill C-24, is procedurally unfair and a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She could even be deported, said Waldman, part of a group that launched a constitutional challenge of the law Monday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

task force: Kick It Out , English soccer anti-discrimination organization, said it was "perplexed" by FIFA decision, given the World Cup is being staged in 2018 in Russia "which is notorious for racism and abusive activities towards minorities." Jordanian federation president Prince Ali said he found it "incredibly worrying" that the task force was being scrapped given the "very real and apparent" discrimination problem that remains in soccer. "The fight against racism is far from over and the notion that the current FIFA leadership believes that the 'task force recommendations have been implemented' is shameful," said Prince Ali, a former FIFA presidential candidate and FIFA vice-president. "Now the idea that FIFA believes that it the right time to disband its anti-racism task force is ridiculous." Prince Ali believes the task force should have been empowered to work further with soccer authorities and governments to use the sport to tackle discrimination in wider society. "There is still so much work to do, and FIFA must show leadership, take responsibility for reform and be accountable if change isn't put into practice," Prince Ali said. "Transparency, trust, credibility and integrity are the values that should run through everything FIFA does, according to Guelph Mercury. Not tackling the plague of racism and discrimination properly is an absolute betrayal of those values." The task force was established in 2013 by then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter and headed by Jeffrey Webb, a vice-president of world soccer governing body until he was arrested in 2015 as part of the American investigation into soccer corruption. The Associated Press revealed Sunday that the anti-racism group was being dismantled after FIFA decided that its mission had been completed after three years. Webb, who pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, was replaced in September 2015 as task force chairman by Congolese federation president Constant Omari. "The reality, as with many programs within FIFA, is that the task force was never given real support since its conception and its role was more about FIFA image than actually tackling the issues," Prince Ali said. The Senegalese former United Nations official said her "presence here is a strong testimony that for FIFA, it is a zero tolerance policy" on discrimination and it is an inclusive organization. FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura fended off the criticism, insisting her organization remains committed to combatting discrimination in the world most popular sport. "The task force had a very specific mandate that to our knowledge it has fully fulfilled," Samoura said at the Soccer Ex convention. "Its recommendations have now been turned into a program and a strong one." Samoura was appointed in May as the organization first female and first African top administrator of world soccer governing body as part of the overhaul under Gianni Infantino. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.