month period: Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard said Thursday an Arabic-speaking case worker will be hired in the coming weeks as her department readies for an expected influx of Syrians requiring income assistance, according to Brandon Sun. Bernard said she expects an initial group to begin seeking help in January, as federal sponsorship support for refugees expires after a 12-month period. About 1,300 Syrian refugees have come to Nova Scotia since last December, sponsored both federally and privately, with more expected to arrive before January. We have French-speaking case workers, we have Mikmaq-speaking case workers, Bernard said. She said there are always strains on the income assistance budget, but the department has the capacity to provide the needed help. Were trying to be pro-active it much easier for people to come seek services from government if there someone there that can speak their language. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sector need: A growing labour gap in agriculture is being driven by a combination of circumstances, including an aging workforce, large seasonal fluctuations in employment, the rural location of many operations, and negative perceptions about working in the sector, said the study, Sowing the Seeds of Growth, according to The Waterloo Record. Simply paying Canadians more to work in the sector or buying more machines may not be possible and will not eliminate the sector need for TFWs temporary foreign workers . The report came on the eve of a soon-to-come announcement by Ottawa to overhaul its temporary foreign workers program. Labour shortages within the sector have already doubled over the past decade and are expected to double again by 2025, reaching 113,800 unfilled jobs, the Conference Board of Canada said in a study released Thursday. Currently, migrant workers account for 12 per cent of Canada agricultural workforce, filling about three-quarters of the sector labour gap, said the study. In 2015, the sector accounted for 58 per cent of the number of positive labour market impact assessments a review by federal officials to ensure there a labour shortage and the hiring of the migrant workers will not take jobs away from Canadians. Twenty years ago, only five per cent of the farm workers were brought in from other countries. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

telephone interview: Xavier Becerra said hours after he was appointed by Gov, according to Brandon Sun. Jerry Brown. If you want to take on a forward-leaning state that is prepared to defend its rights and interests, then come at us, U.S. Rep. Becerra, 58, said he was stunned to be selected by the Democratic governor to succeed newly elected U.S. Sen. But he said he pledged during his telephone interview with the governor to build on some of the issues that Brown hopes to preserve as part of his record when he is termed out of office in two years. Kamala Harris. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tuesday arrest: Rafid al-Nassar, 41, was arrested after New Glasgow Regional Police received a complaint from staff at the Westside Medical Centre, according to The Waterloo Record. The incident happened in the staff washroom, and the complaint came from staff members, Const. Dr. Ken Mac Donald said Wednesday. They seized electronic devices and ... as of this time, police identified all the persons in the recordings, Mac Donald said. The force major crime unit investigated the allegations for nine months before Tuesday arrest, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visit castro: The life story of few political figures rivals that of Fidel Castro, the outsized Cuban revolutionary and former president who died last Friday, November 25, age 90, according to NOW Magazine. I can think of one in the modern era - Nelson Mandela. Part 1. Indeed, Mandela first trip outside South Africa after his release from prison was to visit Castro in Cuba. Remembrances and eulogies focused on Castro the dictator and Castro the murderous tyrant, not Castro the internationalist. But most conservative commentators and politicians both here and stateside werent inclined to reach too far back into the Cuban leader life to offer an opinion on his death. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

art gallery: Jones arrived at the Art Gallery of Ontario as part of the Broadbent Institute 2016 Progress Gala, according to Rabble. His heartfelt and insightful election night commentary consoled millions of viewers shell-shocked by Trump victory. The former Obama White House adviser and CNN political pundit has seen his notoriety skyrocket since the U.S. presidential election. Most notably, Jones labelled Trump victory a whitelash, in part, bringing the ongoing racial tensions in the United States into focus with sobering clarity. The majority of incidents reported were anti-immigrant 136 anti-Black 89 and anti-LGBT 43 . While squeezed between an armchair and several other eager reporters, I managed to ask Van Jones what he had to say to community activists and citizens affected by the surge in hate crimes following Trump win. Between November 9 the morning after the election and November 14, the Southern Poverty Law Centre collected 437 reports of hateful intimidation and harassment with many referring directly to the Trump campaign and its slogans. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

court hearing: The issue for the court is whether people the government has detained while it is considering deporting them can make their case to a judge that they should be released, according to Metro News. The case pits the Obama administration against immigration advocates, and the court hearing comes as President-elect Donald Trump has said he will step up deportations. The justices heard argument in a class-action lawsuit brought by immigrants whove spent long periods in custody, including many who are legal residents of the United States or are seeking asylum. Even as the current administration has pushed for comprehensive immigration reform and tried to help longtime U.S. residents who are in the country illegally, it has moved aggressively to deport more recent immigrants and those who have been convicted of crimes. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for the immigrants, including Mexican immigrant Alejandro Rodriguez, who was detained for more than three years without a bond hearing. The number of people in detention awaiting deportation has ballooned to more than 40,000, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the immigrants in the Supreme Court. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

emad english: Young brains inhale language, are enriched by it, like oxygen, according to Hamilton Spectator. Mohammed is in kindergarten at Earl Kitchener and adapting Emad is searching for the word; he has the meaning as fast as Canadian life can throw down stuff for the youngster to adapt to. Emad English is admirable he almost finished his ESL levels his son even better. Emad, his sons, Mohammad and Yousself, and his wife, Kothar, were among dozens of mostly Syrian refugees and yet as many representatives of sponsor groups, municipal government, settlement and other help organizations, gathered at City Hall for a great celebration. Emad was a hydro-electric engineer in Syria, Kothar an ob-gyn doctor. It was to thank the community for its welcome and inclusiveness, including the refugees themselves, who are already enriching the city. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

employment opportunities: Percy Downe told The Huffington Post Canada he is concerned the federal government is admitting too many foreign youth through the International Experience Canada IEC program and suppressing wages and opportunities at home, according to Huffington Post Canada. Last year, approximately 31,000 more foreign young workers arrived in Canada to work than the number of Canadian youth who went abroad for employment opportunities with the program. With the youth unemployment rate almost double the national average, P.E.I. Sen. Despite this, Statistics Canada reports 13 per cent of young people or 365,000 young Canadians aged 15 to 24 can t find a job. IEC would be a wonderful program if Canada had low youth unemployment, the senator told Huff Post. Are we too much of a boy scout Downe asked rhetorically. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

health issues: They continue to face many challenges, committee member Sireen El-Nashar told her colleagues during her presentation at city hall, according to CBC. Even riding the bus can be tough with no Arabic translation. Surrey has taken in more Syrian government-assisted refugees than any other municipality in the province and keeping up with the demand for services has been difficult. El-Nashar says it been hard for many to learn English and find work. Fitting In El-Nashar told the committee it challenging for many refugees to get help for medical and mental health issues because they dont speak much English. She says new programs are needed to help people get on their feet in their new country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ice data: It was the third in-custody death for the immigration agency nationwide since October 1, according to Metro News. Fifteen migrants have died at the Eloy Detention Center since 2004, ICE data shows. The 36-year-old woman died at a hospital near the Eloy Detention Center, which is among the largest immigrant lockups in the country and currently has 1,473 detainees, just shy of its capacity of 1,500.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Monday that Raquel Calderon de Hildago died Sunday after suffering a series of seizures. This summer, the centre became the epicenter of a large measles outbreak after some facility workers refused to get vaccinated. But unfortunately this administration and the prison operator are not held accountable and so we see again someone life being lost, said Carlos Garcia, the executive director of Puente Arizona, an advocacy group for immigrants. For us it disappointing because this death, like the others, could have been prevented. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

licence: Kamara, who worked as a driver for a living in Sierra Leone, moved to Salmon Arm in 2014 to be reunited with his Canadian wife, according to CBC. For three months he was able to drive in Canada using his African driver licence. Moses Kamara finally got his driver licence after failing the B.C. written test seven times over the past two years, only to have his car stolen days later. When it expired, he started the process of getting his B.C. driver licence. I sat the written exam eight times to get my licence, he said. But that didnt go all that smoothly, he explained in an interview withCBC Radio One Daybreak South. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

britain ambassador: Less than two months from Inauguration Day, there are growing signs that Trump idea of what presidential may never sync up with past norms to the delight of some and dismay of others, according to Brandon Sun. The president-elect has kept up his habit of sending unfiltered tweets, directly challenged the First Amendment right to burn the flag and selected a flame-throwing outsider for a top adviser. I will be so presidential that youll call me and youll say, Donald, you have to stop that, it too much, he promised during a March television interview. He shown no hesitation to traffic in unsubstantiated rumours, has mixed dealings in business and government, and has flouted diplomatic conventions to make his own suggestion for who should be Britain ambassador to the U.S., a job that happens to already be filled. Trump search for Cabinet nominees has played out like a reality TV show, with a number of candidates engaged in unabashed self-promotion while their assets and liabilities are publicly debated by members of the president-elect own transition team. He picked numerous fights with individual journalists, disregarded past practices on press access and dabbled in the name-calling that was commonplace during his candidacy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hillary clinton: English philosopher John Locke defined progress as the social application of reason, according to The Waterloo Record. Like many of his age, he saw progress as a movement away from barbarism toward civilization. How, people wonder, could the U.S. electorate prefer The Donald, with all his defects, over Hillary Clinton, an experienced politician, feminist and champion of the modern progressive agenda Progressivism originated in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, during the Enlightenment. During the 20th century, progressives worked tirelessly to reform society, expanding the political, economic and social rights of the disenfranchised majority. Progressives championed the underdog, campaigning to eliminate what they saw as irrational discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity and more recently sexual orientation. That included empowering women, most working class men and minorities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

martin brenner: The skit starts with the show Susan Kent playing Leitch who also happens to be young psychic Eleven . She sits in a dim room with a Tim Horton cup in front of her. 22 Minutes star Mark Critch plays weird researcher dude Dr, according to Huffington Post Canada. Martin Brenner from Stranger Things. A new segment from the CBC comedy show, called Stranger People, imagines Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch Canadian values test set in the show spooky universe. Photo CBC Comedy/You Tube Im going to introduce you to someone and I need you to tell me if they have Canadian values, says comedian Mark Critch, who plays Stranger Things Dr. Letich, er, Eleven says she can do it, but admits she scared. Martin Brenner. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

miles: Border agents are empowered to check anyone within 100 miles of an international border, but the lawsuit says the agency considers the entire state of Michigan to be within 100 miles of the Canadian border or one of the Great Lakes, which function as international borders, according to Metro News. Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes, though Lake Michigan is not on the international border. The federal lawsuit filed by the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan seeks specifics of and justification for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies. Many parts of the state technically are more than 100 miles from Canada. Border officials declined comment, citing pending litigation, though federal authorities have said checkpoints elsewhere within the nation 100-mile border zone are crucial to catching human and drug smugglers who cross illegally into the U.S. Federal authorities say the checkpoints on highways and small roads north of the U.S.-Mexico border are vital to catching immigration violations. Under this interpretation CBP agents patrolling the border could potentially subject anyone in Michigan regardless of where he or she is within the state to warrantless detention and search, the lawsuit says. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

parliament house: Speaker Tony Smith adjourned the sitting after the first question for 40 minutes while security officers regained order, according to CTV. Another 20 protesters linked arms in a public area at the centre of Parliament House, demanding that Australia resettle refugees who attempt to reach its shores by boat. Around 30 demonstrators shouting from a public gallery drowned out the House of Representatives, where lawmakers had gathered for a combative, daily 90-minute session in which opposition legislators question government ministers about their portfolios. Security officers forced them into a lift and sent them to the building basement. Australia has deterred refugees from coming by boat from Indonesian ports by refusing to ever resettle them. We are here today because your policies are breaking our hearts, one protester said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

plundering canada: It goes on to make an uncited suggestion that immigrant families are not paying taxes, according to CTV. Where have our politicians been on this social injustice issue it reads. The latest unsolicited flyer accuses wealthy Chinese immigrants of plundering Canada by using the same social services as everyone else including schools, healthcare and infrastructure. Asked about the latest flyers on Wednesday, B.C. Premier Christy Clark said she appalled that anyone feels it acceptable to hand them out to people homes. It not what British Columbia about, and I think the way for us to stop it is for all of us to condemn it. I think it a disgrace, Clark said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

processing centres: The Trudeau government did no one any favours when it decided to save a few dollars by reducing staff levels at overseas processing centres in the spring, according to Toronto Star. All it did was alienate thousands of Canadians who donated time and money to sponsor Syrian refugees only to be put on hold, and more devastatingly extend and deepen the hardship and trauma of refugees themselves, making it that much harder for them to pick up and start again in our country. Like hundreds, if not thousands, of other groups across Canada, our east Toronto congregation which had our application accepted 10 months ago stands by helplessly as the family we have sponsored languishes, in poor heath, in Jordan. Michael Polanyi, Toronto Article Continued Below The Morning Headlines Newsletter Delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up react-empty 143 (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

semitic people: The conflict in Israel-Palestine has its roots in the scourge of anti-Semitism, or hatred of Jews, according to Rabble. Anti-Semitism is hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews. What required to understand it is a glance back at some history. A person who holds such views is called an anti-Semite. The use of the root word Semite in this expression gives the impression that anti-Semitism is directed against all Semitic people. Anti-Semitism is a form of racism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

steven sanderson: In 2002, after noticing that some students were unable to afford to play organized hockey, he created a program which gives kids free hockey equipment, according to CTV. The program continues to this day. Steven Sanderson is the head custodian at Pioneer Park Public School. A total of 19 medals will be awarded by Lt.-Gov. Other recipients with local ties include Tillsonburg George Klosler, a longtime director with the Oxford County Federation of Agriculture, and Jean Campbell of Drayton. Elizabeth Dowdeswell Thursday night at a ceremony at Queen Park. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tent doors: One of the key concerns is demonstrating in the middle of winter, which was the all too familiar cause of most Occupy camps shutting down as temperatures dropped, according to Rabble. In Occupy Toronto, the temperature began to drop day by day until we opened our tent doors to piles of drifting snow. See, on the one hand there was the judge who denied the Standing Rock Sioux tribe request for an injunction and therefore declared that the Dakota Access pipeline construction could legally proceed, and the other where the U.S. federal government then stepped in and temporarily halted the project. At first concern over our deteriorating weather conditions were simply whispers, and then became General Assembly GA items to discuss, and then through emergency meetings. And at that time in 2011, with so little time to prepare, and with so many grandiose ideas that turned out to be laughably impractical, we had to finally admit that no, the state didnt win out against us, it was winter that won. While Toronto did not lack in heart, we had very formidable odds stacked against us by Mother Nature, as winter camping is not only extremely expensive, but also particularly dangerous if not done right. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vancouver board: When a white person buys a house, we dont notice, according to The Chronicle Herald. When somebody of a different colour does, we do. Evan Siddall delivered a pointed speech on Wednesday to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, where he said housing should not become a wedge that divides newcomers from long-time residents. That not good economics, he said. The British Columbia government introduced a 15-per-cent tax on foreign buyers in July in response to those concerns. Vancouver skyrocketing housing prices have increasingly been blamed on foreign capital flowing from China. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

wilmot house: Close to 80 families have come through the house, their first stop in their new country, according to CBC. We used to have newcomers go to hotel when they first arrived when we picked them up at the airport wed bring them to hotel and now we bring them here, said Ljiljana Kalaba, who works with the resettlement team at the multicultural association. The association has been using it as lodging for new immigrants arriving in the city for nearly a year. Helping newcomers adjust At Wilmot House, she said they have amenities that help them adjust better than a hotel does, such as a kitchen and a place to do laundry. The dining table at Wilmot House seats 11. There are three bedrooms in the house and a long kitchen table with 11 chairs around it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

parliament house: Speaker Tony Smith adjourned the sitting after the first question for 40 minutes while security officers regained order, according to Brandon Sun. Another 20 protesters linked arms in a public area at the centre of Parliament House, demanding that Australia resettle refugees who attempt to reach its shores by boat. Around 30 demonstrators shouting from a public gallery drowned out the House of Representatives, where lawmakers had gathered for a combative, daily 90-minute session in which opposition legislators question government ministers about their portfolios. Security officers forced them into a lift and sent them to the building basement. Australia has deterred refugees from coming by boat from Indonesian ports by refusing to ever resettle them. We are here today because your policies are breaking our hearts, one protester said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

i hadnt: Her father started lecturing her in Arabic, and she pouted, according to National Observer. I can try to remove the photo. I looked at her father, Bassam, wondering if my story about her had brought negative attention, or violated a cultural code that I hadnt been aware of. Was there something wrong Was it against the rules Fatima grumbled something in Arabic, and her friend, a slightly older Syrian refugee, broke out in laughter. Earlier this year, when I was given the opportunity to report on Syrian refugees, I was moved by the significance of telling their stories.I mostly report on things without expressing my own views or personal observations. No, she telling you she wants her photo replaced because she a lot prettier than that! We all share a laugh, reflecting that teenage girls are teenage girls, no matter what the culture. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.