refugee life: From enrolling in ESL classes and buying a cellphone or a computer to navigating public transit or visiting a museum, the needs seemed endless, according to Metro News. Almawi had an even more pressing issue He was having heart complications and needed access to a specialist for treatments. Safe from constant fighting in their native town of Homs, Syria, and away from the hardships of refugee life in Lebanon and Turkey, the family faced a multitude of challenges after arriving in Canada this September and trying to find their footing. Thanks to Together Project, a new local initiative matching government-assisted refugees with Canadian families to help with assimilation, most of these needs have been met. It like I m back in my own home now, Almawi said this week as he interacted with his three grandchildren in Thorncliffe Park apartment. I am happy and thankful. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

state lawmaker: The city has vowed to protect cardholders personal records and might even delete them using a kind of self-destruct provision that allows for the information to be destroyed at the end of the year, according to Metro News. At least one state lawmaker has criticized that idea, saying it could make it impossible to trace people if they have obtained cards fraudulently. But since Donald Trump was elected president, city officials are instead fielding questions about whether the cards could put those same people at greater risk of being deported. Some immigrants take comfort in the city stance, while acknowledging they are still wary. It did cause me considerable concern, because they have my information, also the information of my son, the 53-year-old Mexico native said through an interpreter. Alberto Saldivia got his IDNYC card this year after spending 15 years in the country without legal authorization. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

teachers: The school district has more than 57,000 students, according to CTV. It is unclear how many teachers have used the plan outlined by a Mission High School teacher, but it appears to have the tacit support of city education officials. The union that represents city teachers posted the plan on its website and distributed it via an email newsletter to its more than 6,000 members. School district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe said the plan is optional and not part of the official curriculum. San Francisco schools serve diverse populations and teachers are encouraged to include multiple perspectives in lessons, she said. Educators are entrusted to create lessons that reflect the California standards, support students social and emotional well-being and foster inclusive and safe school communities, she said in a statement that neither praised nor rebuked the lesson plan. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

treasury board: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, also known as UNRWA, lost its ongoing Canadian funding in 2010 amid allegations it was tied too closely to Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by Canada and others, according to Hamilton Spectator. Vic Toews, who was president of the federal Treasury Board at the time, reportedly said in 2010 that federal funding for the Palestinian Authority was not being reduced, but rather redirected in accordance with Canadian values. International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau made the announcement at a news conference and also during question period in the House of Commons news that was greeted by cries of shame from the opposition benches. The government did provide 14 million in emergency food support to UNRWA in 2012. An additional 5 million is being provided in response to the agency appeal for help for those impacted by the crisis in Syria and its environs. Bibeau said 20 million will go support education, health and social services for millions of vulnerable Palestinian refugees, as well as urgent humanitarian assistance. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visa restrictions: They expressed concerns about the president-elect trade proposals and anti-immigration stance which some fear could result in visa restrictions that would make it harder and costlier for them to hire foreign IT workers, according to The Chronicle Herald. Each year, tens of thousands of foreigners with specialized skills, such as coders, are granted temporary H-1B visas to work in the United States. In an open letter sent during the campaign, senior executives at some of America top tech companies called Trump a disaster for innovation. While the industry has sought increased numbers of visas, Trump has offered mixed signals as he seeks to protect domestic employment. Together, these changes could increase Canada drawing power for those no longer able or willing to enter the U.S., said Patrick Hopf, president of Montreal-based Source Knowledge, a firm that builds technology to track the success of advertising works for digital videos. Meanwhile, the Trudeau government is changing its immigration-selection system as of Saturday to make it easier for international students and some high-skilled foreign workers to become permanent residents. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pringle support: In early October, a number of past and present police board members and other experts expressed serious concerns to NOW that Pringle support for Leitch could undermine public trust in the board ability to tackle crucial issues involving the policing of racialized communities and that such actions could constitute a breach of the board members code of conduct, according to NOW Magazine. Shortly after these reports, it turns out, Pringle pulled back from the campaign. Toronto Police Services Board chair Andy Pringle has quietly stepped away from his role as a key fundraiser for Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidate Kellie Leitch, who since September has campaigned on a xenophobic proposal to screen all immigrants, refugees and visitors to Canada for their ostensible compatibility with Canadian values. Since your articles, I basically have said that if there gonna be concern about this, my first responsibility is to the job I m doing at the Transformational Task Force of the police, Pringle told NOW late last week. So as long as I m chair of the Transformational Task Force, I m gonna be staying away from any form of partisan politics, Pringle said, adding for clarity So not helping, not supporting anybody point of view, not helping any candidate, not raising money for anybody. The task force, which he co-chairs with chief Mark Saunders, is set to report next month on a modernization of policing in Toronto, with an eye to reining in costs and adopting a more community-centric approach. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

reince priebus: As the new chief of staff, Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chair, is not the worst possible choice, according to The Waterloo Record. But the president-elect also has chosen Steve Bannon as chief strategist and senior counsellor. Take the first big announcements on filling jobs at the White House. By announcing the two appointments together, Trump is suggesting the two may have comparable clout. Bannon is a longtime professional bigot, as documented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, among others. Thus, Bannon is about to become one of the most influential people in the country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

i m: I donated 100 to Planned Parenthood this morning because I honestly felt like there was nothing else I could do, according to NOW Magazine. That being said, I wanted to share that I had one of the most weirdly charged, hottest and sexiest orgasms. To say I m disappointed, horrified, scared and mad about the election is woefully insufficient. A little buzzed dealing with those election results and sad, my boyfriend and I turned to each other for consolation. As that orange blowhard spewed more bullshit about being our president, I rode my boyfriend big, beautiful dick until I came. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, we were fucking as Trump came on the TV to give his acceptance speech. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

treasury board: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, also known as UNRWA, lost its ongoing Canadian funding in 2010 amid allegations it was tied too closely to Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by Canada and others, according to Brandon Sun. Vic Toews, who was president of the federal Treasury Board at the time, reportedly said in 2010 that federal funding for the Palestinian Authority was not being reduced, but rather redirected in accordance with Canadian values. International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau made the announcement at a news conference and also during question period in the House of Commons news that was greeted by cries of shame from the opposition benches. The government did provide 14 million in emergency food support to UNRWA in 2012. An additional 5 million is being provided in response to the agency appeal for help for those impacted by the crisis in Syria and its environs. Bibeau said 20 million will go support education, health and social services for millions of vulnerable Palestinian refugees, as well as urgent humanitarian assistance. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visa restrictions: They expressed concerns about the president-elect trade proposals and anti-immigration stance which some fear could result in visa restrictions that would make it harder and costlier for them to hire foreign IT workers, according to Brandon Sun. Each year, tens of thousands of foreigners with specialized skills, such as coders, are granted temporary H-1B visas to work in the United States. In an open letter sent during the campaign, senior executives at some of America top tech companies called Trump a disaster for innovation. While the industry has sought increased numbers of visas, Trump has offered mixed signals as he seeks to protect domestic employment. Together, these changes could increase Canada drawing power for those no longer able or willing to enter the U.S., said Patrick Hopf, president of Montreal-based Source Knowledge, a firm that builds technology to track the success of advertising works for digital videos. Meanwhile, the Trudeau government is changing its immigration-selection system as of Saturday to make it easier for international students and some high-skilled foreign workers to become permanent residents. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

campaign trail: Absolutely, I would do that, she said, according to Hamilton Spectator. A day later, she took it back, but the American people didnt. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire was asked during a debate whether she considers Trump a role model for kids. Instead, knowing the venom Trump spewed on the campaign trail about minorities and women, Americans still voted him into the highest office in the land. Last week, we found out exactly what that means. Now, like it or not, the crude New York is a de facto role model for children. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

city mexico: Christian Torres / The Associated Press By Mark Stevenson Associated Press Tues., Nov. 15, 2016 MEXICO CITY Mexico is starting to seriously contemplate the possibility that millions of its migrants could be deported, and the picture is not pretty, according to Toronto Star. Under proposals put forward by president-elect Donald Trump, Mexico could see millions of people streaming back with no jobs available; the country might lose some of the billions of dollars in remittances sent home annually; and some jobless deportees could swell the ranks of drug cartels, sparking more violence. Under immigration proposals put forward by Trump, the country could face a devastating financial situation. Gov. At least a million Guerrero residents live in the United States, many without proper documents, and the state is already reeling from drug gang violence and poverty. Hector Astudillo of the southern state of Guerrero considered the possible scenario over the weekend. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

coup attempt: Rumeysa Hanci says she has not been able to speak to her husband since he was allowed a phone call shortly after he was detained, according to The Chronicle Herald. I just want him to be safe there and to come home as soon as possible, she said from Toronto, where she is staying with family. Davud Hanci, who has Canadian and Turkish citizenship, was arrested in July shortly after a failed coup attempt. I love him so much and I miss him so much. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion raised consular cases, including Hanci situation, on a phone call last week with his Turkish counterpart, said spokeswoman Chantal Gagnon. She said Canadian government officials have not been able to see him. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

department policy: Beck says it is not the LAPD job to work in conjunction on deportation with Homeland Security, and that not going to change, according to Metro News. It has been department policy for decades not to initiate contact with someone solely to determine whether they are in the country legally. Beck told the Los Angeles Times http //lat.ms/2fc3QSY on Monday that his officers are not going to engage in law enforcement activities solely based on somebody immigration status. During Beck tenure he has avoided turning over people with questionable immigration status who are arrested for low-level crimes. Information from Los Angeles Times, http //www.latimes/ (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald trump: McCallum said the federal government was aware of a possible spike in asylum-seekers long before Donald Trump was elected president in the U.S. There would come a point where a visa could be reimposed, he said but would not specify what number of claims might trigger that, according to CBC. Canada retains its sovereignty on this issue. The visa lift is set to kick in Dec. 1. There comes a point where it would become unsustainable, but we are hoping that point will not arrive. Benefit outweighed risk Trump campaigned on promises to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and to swiftly deport undocumented workers and illegal residents. CBC News has learned officials at IRCC and other departments have held high-level meetings to discuss a potential flood of Mexican asylum-seekers due to both the visa lift and the result of the U.S. election. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant populations: Seattle has always been a welcoming city, Murray said Monday, according to CTV. The last thing I want is for us to start turning on our neighbours. New York City Bill de Blasio, Chicago Rahm Emanuel and Seattle Ed Murray are among those in sanctuary cities that have tried to soothe worried immigrant populations. In Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Jorge Elorza, the son of Guatemalan immigrants, said he would continue a longstanding policy of refusing to hold people charged with civil infractions for federal immigration officials. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck told the Los Angeles Times that he committed to a longtime policy of staying out of immigration issues. Newark, New Jersey Ras Baraka echoed that decision, calling Trump rhetoric on immigration scary. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant populations: New York Bill de Blasio, Chicago Rahm Emanuel and Seattle Ed Murray are among those in sanctuary cities who have tried to soothe immigrant populations worried about Trump agenda, according to Toronto Star. Seattle has always been a welcoming city, Murray said Monday. Jeff Chiu / The Associated Press By Gene Johnson Associated Press Tues., Nov. 15, 2016 SEATTLE Democratic mayors of major U.S. cities that have long had cool relationships with federal immigration officials say they ll do all they can to protect residents from deportation, despite president-elect Donald Trump vows to withhold potentially millions of dollars in taxpayer money if they don t co-operate. The last thing I want is for us to start turning on our neighbours. During the campaign, Trump gave an immigration speech in which he promised to end the sanctuary cities and said those that refuse to co-operate with federal authorities will not receive taxpayer dollars. In Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Jorge Elorza, the son of Guatemalan immigrants, said he d continue a long-standing city policy of refusing to hold people charged with civil infractions for federal immigration officials, and Newark Ras Baraka echoed that, calling Trump rhetoric on immigration scary. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration issues: Seattle has always been a welcoming city, Murray said Monday, according to The Chronicle Herald. The last thing I want is for us to start turning on our neighbours. New York City Bill de Blasio, Chicago Rahm Emanuel and Seattle Ed Murray are among those in sanctuary cities that have tried to soothe worried immigrant populations. In Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Jorge Elorza, the son of Guatemalan immigrants, said he would continue a longstanding policy of refusing to hold people charged with civil infractions for federal immigration officials. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck told the Los Angeles Times that he committed to a longtime policy of staying out of immigration issues. Newark, New Jersey Ras Baraka echoed that decision, calling Trump rhetoric on immigration scary. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration: Immigration Minister John McCallum speaks in the House of Commons on Nov. 15, according to Huffington Post Canada. Photo Adrian Wyld/CP Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel said the testimony revealed the government was advised about possible hazards with its rush to lift the restriction for Mexicans on Dec. 1. John McCallum faced questions in the House of Commons Tuesday over testimony a senior official from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada delivered at a parliamentary committee earlier in the day. The previous Tory government imposed the controversial visas in 2009 to stop thousands of false asylum claims. Why were the Liberals hiding them from Canadians and why did the Liberals blatantly ignore them McCallum shot back by saying that unlike the last government, Liberals are pleased to welcome Mexicans to Canada and foster stronger relations with the country. Canadians deserve to know this is really important what were these risks Rempel asked. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

isis genocide: Now, the government must develop a quick action plan that steps outside the traditional United Nations process, according to Huffington Post Canada. Two Yazidi women are showin in Mosul, Iraq on April 15, 2015. Last month, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a Conservative motion to provide assistance and asylum to survivors of ISIS genocide, mainly from within the Yazidi ethnic minority group. Photo Bram Janssen/AP via CP The Yazidi genocide survivors are currently trapped in high-conflict areas in Northern Iraq or waiting in refugee camps in Syria, Greece and Turkey. Liberal MP and committee chair Borys Wrzesnewskyj said Canada could chart a new process for the world by helping the most vulnerable victims of atrocities outside the UN regime. On Thursday, MPs on the citizenship and immigration committee will hear about the biggest challenges, first from Canadian officials who were dispatched to northern Iraq on a fact-finding mission, then from German officials about their own experience helping to rescue Yazidi refugees. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bottom one-third: Sixteen games into the season about one-fifth of the way through the Islanders are having trouble scoring goals and the losses are piling up, according to Guelph Mercury. With just one win in the last seven games 1-3-3 they are in last place in the Eastern Conference and their 40 goals ranks just above the bottom one-third in the conference and the league overall. Things havent been working out so well. I have not found the combinations to give us some offence, coach Jack Capuano said after the team was shut out for the first time this season Monday night. Our guys are well prepared for games. It on me to find guys to play with certain guys. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jd miller: TCU 2-0 has easily won its first two games under Dixon, who returned to Fort Worth after spending 17 seasons at Pittsburgh, including the last 13 as head coach, according to Hamilton Spectator. He won his debut three nights earlier, defeating NAIA St. JD Miller added 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Thomas by 18. I say some things, and I think they understand - and then I catch myself and recognize they havent been through it. Our guys are trying, but everything is new, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

kenyan government: Kenya government announced in May that Dadaab, with more than 280,000 residents, will be closed at the end of this month, saying the camp was creating security problems, according to Metro News. The Kenyan government is forcing Dadaab residents to go back to Somalia without adequate support, Amnesty said in its report. Some who voluntarily returned to Somalia from Dadaab camp told The Associated Press they are now facing hunger despite promises that they would be assisted. Its researchers visited Dadaab in August, where they interviewed 56 refugees individually and held group discussions. Kenyan government officials are telling them they must leave by the end of the month November or they will be forced to leave without any assistance, said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International deputy director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. The refugees are caught between a rock and a hard place. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

leitch: Neither can take an overtly political role because of their jobs Fox heads up the Institute for Research on Public Policy and Segal runs Massey College at the University of Toronto but both initially supported Leitch in her bid to be leader, according to CTV. Both are respected within the party and could influence the opinions of other Conservative members. Retired senator Hugh Segal and Graham Fox, who served as chief of staff to former prime minister Joe Clark, have both told Leitch and her campaign that they won t support her bid to be the party new leader. A spokesman for Leitch suggested she lost support due to pressure from outside the party. Kellie is not in this campaign for elites, she is in it for ordinary Canadians who overwhelmingly support her views. We fully anticipated that many party elites would succumb to the pressure of left wing organizations and the media, Bradley Breton wrote in an email to CTV News. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

omar rahimi: He went to Gordon Bell High School and played there, and then went on to play in the premier division for about eight years, according to CBC. The sport transformed his new life in Canada, he says. When Omar Rahimi an immigrant from Iraq arrived in Winnipeg in 2001, soccer was the first thing he pursued. Many of my good friends are from soccer. If not for soccer, I dont think I would be doing this good, he says, adding the sport also makes it easier to cope with stress. It was the best part of my transition. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rhode island: The last thing I want is for us to start turning on our neighbours . In Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Jorge Elorza, the son of Guatemalan immigrants, said he would continue a longstanding policy of refusing to hold people charged with civil infractions for federal immigration officials, according to Metro News. Newark, New Jersey Ras Baraka echoed that decision, calling Trump rhetoric on immigration scary. Seattle has always been a welcoming city, Murray said Monday. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck told the Los Angeles Times that he committed to a longtime policy of staying out of immigration issues. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser also said it would keep the status. Mayor Eric Garcetti has backed that up but stopped short of calling LA a sanctuary city because the term is Mayor Jim Kenney restored sanctuary status when he took office in January and said last week the city would protect its residents. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.