drug testing: Scott Walker asked President-elect Donald Trump in a letter delivered Tuesday to give his state more authority in determining how many refugees can come from countries with ties to terrorism, according to Metro News. Walker also asked for help to allow the state to proceed with drug testing for some food stamp recipients and legalize the hunting of grey wolves. Wisconsin Gov. The requests are among several that Walker, a Republican who challenged Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, makes in the letter. It also wasn't immediately clear how quickly Trump could move to address his concerns given that some of what Walker wants has been blocked in court or would require law changes. Walker offered few details on what he wanted Trump to do. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jovita carranza: On Tuesday, the president-elect was set to field potential hires -- including a candidate for Veterans Affairs secretary, his most vital unfilled Cabinet position -- at the Palm Beach estate where he is spending the holidays, according to CTV. Luis Quinonez, who runs a company with military and health care ties, is said to be under consideration for VA secretary. Authorities in both countries were still investigating Monday when Trump issued a pair of statements condemning the attacks, the same day the Electoral College formally awarded him the presidency. Trump is also considering Jovita Carranza, who worked in President George W. Bush's administration, as his choice for U.S. trade representative. With just a handful of Cabinet posts to fill, Trump is facing some criticism for a lack of diversity in his senior team, which currently includes no Hispanics. Carranza served as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration under Bush. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

lebanon today: Perhaps you have expressed your outrage or shook your head in disbelief, according to Toronto Star. But there is something that Canadians can do to respond. ABDALRHMAN ISMAIL / REUTERS By Bree Akesson Tues., Dec. 20, 2016 You may feel helpless watching the horrors in Aleppo unfold on your television screen and across social media over the last several days. Due to the ongoing violence in cities such as Aleppo, millions of Syrians have fled and are living in neighbouring countries, such as Lebanon. But life for Syrian families living in Lebanon continue to struggle with unemployment, limited access to education, and discrimination from local residents. In fact, one-in-four people living in Lebanon today is a refugee. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

official body: A rapid influx of refugees from Syria has catapulted Lebanon from the 69th largest refugee-hosting country to the third largest within the past five years, according to Huffington Post Canada. The country also hosts a large proportion of the world's Palestinian refugee population, comprising nearly 10% of the country's population. This number is staggering, yet not entirely unbelievable given the protracted and emerging conflicts in the Middle East. In mid-November 2016, the Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada's Minister of International Development, announced a pledge of 20 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency UNRWA the official body mandated to deliver basic services to Palestinian refugees in a number of settings, including Lebanon. A health research project funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre IDRC is showing how digital technologies - such as mobile phones and netbooks - can help to close the access and quality-of-service gaps for Palestinians in refugee camps and other vulnerable populations in Lebanon. These funds will support increased access to education, health and social services. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

somali immigrants: Reuters By Franziska Scheven Associated Press Mon., Dec. 19, 2016 ZURICH A gunman dressed in black stormed into the prayer hall of a mosque frequented by Somali immigrants and opened fire, wounding three people before fleeing, a Zurich police spokesman said Monday, according to Toronto Star. Police, who rushed to the scene in a central neighbourhood known for trendy caf s and the city's red-light district, were also investigating a possible connection to the discovery of a corpse at nearby Gessner bridge over the Sihl River, police spokesperson Marco Bisa said. Police say at least three people were injured. Authorities weren't considering the attack as terrorism, he said. The unknown person fired several shots and fled from the building, Bisa told reporters near the mosque, which was cordoned off by police. Police also said it was too early to determine whether there might be any link to an incident in Berlin also on Monday, where a truck rammed into a Christmas market, killing at least nine people. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sri minister: Once assembled, the steel-and-wire frame should stand 98 metres 320 feet high more than 40 metres 131 feet taller than the current record-holder, according to Metro News. Organizers said they wanted the tree to help promote ethnic and religious harmony in the Buddhist-majority South Asian island nation. Hundreds of port workers and volunteers were scrambling Tuesday to build the enormous tree on a popular beachside promenade in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital. This is just to show the world that we can live as one country, one nation, said the former cricket player Arjuna Ranatunga, now Sri Lanka's minister of ports and shipping. In recent years, Sri Lanka's reputation as an inclusive multicultural country has suffered amid complaints by minority Christian and Muslim communities of state-sponsored discrimination, as well as allegations of widespread abuses against minority ethnic Tamils both during and after the country's civil war against Tamil rebels, which ended in 2009. Sri Lanka has issues regarding religion, caste and race, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tareq ibrahim: Tareq Ibrahim knows that all too well, according to CBC. Ibrahim, his wife and two sons arrived in Kitchener on Sept. 21, 2015. But Syrian refugees looking for good employment are facing even greater challenges. People needing food hampers not turned away due to Syrian refugees Syrian refugees won't be left homeless in KW as federal financial support ends Lack of 'Canadian experience' an obstacle to immigrant employment He has only had two months of paid work this year and although he is actively looking for work, he has not landed a steady job. Ibrahim is fluent in English, so language hasn't been a barrier, but he has been told unofficially that he needs more experience in Canada before Canadian companies will hire him. The biggest issue and biggest challenge we're facing when job hunting is a Canadian experience, which is a hidden requirement of all the employers, Ibrahim told The Morning Edition host Craig Norris Tuesday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

wash .,: Here's a look at what could change in Canada-U.S. relations once Canadians start lighting up legally, according to CTV. Border control Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer in Blaine, Wash., predicts a boom in his business after Canada legalizes marijuana -- though it's one he has a hard time feeling happy about. But when Justin Trudeau's government introduces legislation to legalize cannabis this spring, it could spark problems between Canada and the U.S., particularly since Donald Trump has indicated he will keep pot illegal at the federal level. Saunders represents Canadians who have been banned from entering the U.S. after admitting they have smoked marijuana in the past. He said many Canadians assume because eight states have legalized recreational cannabis, they're safe telling a U.S. border guard they've inhaled. Every year, he files as many as 30 costly waivers for people who've made this admission and hope to regain access. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

wash .,: A joint is rolled in San Francisco on Nov. 9, 2016, according to Huffington Post Canada. Photo Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP via CP Here's a look at what could change in Canada-U.S. relations once Canadians start lighting up legally. But when Justin Trudeau's government introduces legislation to legalize cannabis this spring, it could spark problems between Canada and the U.S., particularly since Donald Trump has indicated he will keep pot illegal at the federal level. Border control Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer in Blaine, Wash., predicts a boom in his business after Canada legalizes marijuana though it's one he has a hard time feeling happy about. Every year, he files as many as 30 costly waivers for people who've made this admission and hope to regain access. Saunders represents Canadians who have been banned from entering the U.S. after admitting they have smoked marijuana in the past. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

york page: She told the New York Post's Page Six I am deciding now if I will head back to do more work in refugee camps in Turkey and Antep during or after the New Year, according to Hamilton Spectator. The dates are not set. The 30-year-old actress spent time working with Syrian refugees in Turkey earlier this year and is planning to go back to the country to help those in need. It depends on how Turkey feels after the recent terrorist attack in Istanbul. And although Lindsay misses her family, who are based in New York, she is dedicated to helping others this holiday season. Not that any attack has or will ever stop me from helping those suffering, those who need our help the most. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

city officials: Like other law enforcement agencies around the country, the department has poor relations with minority communities, according to Brandon Sun. William Scott, a deputy chief with the Los Angeles Police Department, pledged at a San Francisco City Hall news conference on Tuesday to move the department forward by working with rank-and-file officers who may be leery of change. The 27-year police veteran's appointment comes at a critical time for the San Francisco Police Department, which faces a daunting list of reforms recommended by the Department of Justice. Change is always a challenge, particularly in this profession, and I think one of the biggest challenges will be just that change, Scott said, flanked by Mayor Ed Lee, police and elected city officials. Throughout the past year, activists have descended on the mayor's office and embarked on an extended hunger strike to protest police killings, including the shooting of Mario Woods, a black man, last December. Some things will change, some things have to change, but what I see is that there's an organization here that recognizes that and is willing to be open to that. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

islamic terrorists: Authorities in both countries were still investigating Monday when Trump issued a pair of statements condemning the attacks, according to The Waterloo Record. The White House had already described the episode in central Berlin, in which a truck rammed into shoppers at a Christmas market, as an apparent terrorist attack. Jumping ahead of investigators, President-elect Donald Trump is blaming Islamic terrorists for deadly violence in Turkey and Germany and vowing anew to eradicate their regional and global networks. Trump called the brazen shooting of Russia's ambassador to Turkey as he attended a photo exhibit a violation of all rules of civilized order. Turkish authorities identified the gunman as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a member of Ankara's riot police squad, and said he was later killed in a shootout with police. He added that a radical Islamic terrorist had assassinated the diplomat, Andrei Karlov. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sri minister: Once assembled, the steel-and-wire frame should stand 98 metres 320 feet high more than 40 metres 131 feet taller than the current record-holder, according to The Waterloo Record. Organizers said they wanted the tree to help promote ethnic and religious harmony in the Buddhist-majority South Asian island nation. Hundreds of port workers and volunteers were scrambling Tuesday to build the enormous tree on a popular beachside promenade in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital. This is just to show the world that we can live as one country, one nation, said the former cricket player Arjuna Ranatunga, now Sri Lanka's minister of ports and shipping. In recent years, Sri Lanka's reputation as an inclusive multicultural country has suffered amid complaints by minority Christian and Muslim communities of state-sponsored discrimination, as well as allegations of widespread abuses against minority ethnic Tamils both during and after the country's civil war against Tamil rebels, which ended in 2009. Sri Lanka has issues regarding religion, caste and race, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

york page: She told the New York Post's Page Six I am deciding now if I will head back to do more work in refugee camps in Turkey and Antep during or after the New Year, according to The Waterloo Record. The dates are not set. The 30-year-old actress spent time working with Syrian refugees in Turkey earlier this year and is planning to go back to the country to help those in need. It depends on how Turkey feels after the recent terrorist attack in Istanbul. And although Lindsay misses her family, who are based in New York, she is dedicated to helping others this holiday season. Not that any attack has or will ever stop me from helping those suffering, those who need our help the most. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

abdi rahman: Rahman, who shares a house with his brother and two other men, said while his newfound skills are questioned, they're also appreciated, according to CBC. They ask me like, 'Did you make it ' Then they are like, 'We don't want to eat it.' But once they taste it Rahman said with a laugh, explaining they scarf down the dishes. While cutting up garlic for a stir-fry, Abdi Rahman said men don't cook much in Somalia, where he was born. Mary Jane's Cooking School, a registered charity located in the Wolseley area of Winnipeg, offers classes that tend to be aimed at community development. The goal is to teach four refugee men how to cook dishes that are typically eaten in Canada. This class, called Making Friends, Making Foods, is funded by the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

carbon pricing: It also saw the Conservatives find their feet in their new role as the Official Opposition as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government started to remake some of the previous government's policies, according to CTV. By the end of the year, though, the clouds started to gather fights with the premiers over health-care funding and carbon pricing, battles with British Columbians over pipeline approvals, and the possibility of a rebuke by Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson over fundraising made the end of 2016 decidedly less sunny for the Liberals. This year in politics saw the end to one federal leader's time in office - or at least the beginning of the end - and redemption for a beleaguered senator. Here are some of the year's biggest stories in Canadian politics Syrian refugees Nearly 360 communities across Canada have welcomed 36,393 refugees from Syria since November, 2015. But, while seeing the new Canadians learning to toboggan warmed hearts, they face a number of challenges, including learning English and finding jobs. Many of them arrived in January and February as the government went into overdrive to meet its own deadline. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

e-mailed schools: They students are the future, they are the young generation who can take action and make a change and we need them, according to Globe and Mail. I am doing it for free, I am not asking for anything because this is what my heart wants. Kurdi, who plans to focus her energy speaking to Canadian schools and universities. Planting the seed of hope in people's mind. Kurdi says she has e-mailed schools across the country about the idea and already has a couple events scheduled. Ms. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

front office: Viola's nomination by President-elect Donald Trump on Monday to be the next secretary of the Army means he will be giving up his roles as chairman and governor of the Panthers, pending his confirmation by the Senate, according to CTV. But the Panthers said the move -- which top team executives learned was coming late last week -- will not change the day-to-day hockey operations. He'll be otherwise occupied now. Zero effect on us, Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell said. There'll be no changes in positions, and nothing for the front office or management team. His ownership still stays with his family. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant parents: Many Canadians not just white, but those whose families migrated generations ago and are not separated themselves object to family reunification, according to Toronto Star. Why allow immigrant parents and grandparents to live in Canada at all Don't they just strain a system already groaning under the weight of an aging population These questions, often from those who espouse family values, are not just staggeringly lacking in empathy, they barrel down on double standards. RICK MADONIK / TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO By Shree Paradkar Columnist Mon., Dec. 19, 2016 In this season of sharing and caring, spare a thought for families ripped apart, not by unexpected tragedy, but by deliberate Canadian policies. What did stay-at-home Canadian parents or grandparents now using the health-care system contribute You could argue they didn't pay taxes in cash, but they raised and nurtured today's taxpayers, and that is priceless. They enhance Canada and thus the country's taxpayers without using any Canadian resources neither hospitals nor high schools. Article Continued Below Parents of immigrants contribute that, and more. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

islamic terrorists: Authorities in both countries were still investigating Monday when Trump issued a pair of statements condemning the attacks, according to Hamilton Spectator. The White House had already described the episode in central Berlin, in which a truck rammed into shoppers at a Christmas market, as an apparent terrorist attack. Jumping ahead of investigators, President-elect Donald Trump is blaming Islamic terrorists for deadly violence in Turkey and Germany and vowing anew to eradicate their regional and global networks. Trump called the brazen shooting of Russia's ambassador to Turkey as he attended a photo exhibit a violation of all rules of civilized order. Turkish authorities identified the gunman as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a member of Ankara's riot police squad, and said he was later killed in a shootout with police. He added that a radical Islamic terrorist had assassinated the diplomat, Andrei Karlov. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

khans: For the Khans in 1978, that meant finding their way in a province that was predominantly Christian, anglophone, and more than 90 per cent white, according to Hamilton Spectator. I was an oddball, Khan, the imam and director of the Centre for Islamic Development, says with a laugh. Khan and his family immigrated to Canada's east coast from Pakistan, answering a call for families and well-educated foreigners interested in settling in less populated parts of the country under then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau. I had very good friends and they were mostly all Christians. Khan, who co-founded the mosque about 17 years ago, has watched that change over the last few decades, and has been part of a demographic shift that is slowly changing the complexion of a largely uniform province to include a richer mix of languages, religions and cultural practices. We had a very small pocket of Muslim communities and an even a smaller pocket of Arab communities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

los angeles: Advocates call it a matter of justice and smart economics, but some question whether it's a fair use of taxpayer money, according to The Chronicle Herald. Chicago has approved a 1.3 million legal fund. Tapping local government funds to represent immigrants in federal proceedings provides an early example of the type of pushback the Republican incoming president will receive in Democratic strongholds. Los Angeles elected officials said Monday they are working with private foundations to set up a 10 million fund, while some California state lawmakers have proposed spending tens of millions of dollars to provide lawyers to immigrants facing deportation. We need to be able to stand by people who are fearful, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a former White House chief of staff, said after the measure passed the City Council last week. New York is mulling a public-private legal fund, building on New York City's public defender program that's considered a national model. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

lottery system: However anyone who had planned on getting an application in for the Jan. 3 deadline has already spent hundreds and often thousands of dollars, as well as several months of preparation time, according to Toronto Star. This is all non-refundable money wasted. No doubt the actual change towards a lottery system is a move in the right direction as the prior system required significant expenditure on lawyers and couriers. The timing of the announcement of the change is therefore completely unfair. It seems only fair that these applicants be grandfathered and that the changed process be implemented starting in 2018. If this change was planned, would it not make sense to make an announcement a few weeks or months beforehand, rather than waiting till all the work has been already completed by individual applicants and sponsors Article Continued Below Parental sponsorship forms require original signatures from people residing in different parts of the world and translation of documents so it is unreasonable to expect that prospective applicants will have waiting till 17 days before applications are due. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

middle class: Without naming names, Rouhani said in a televised speech that some individuals do not like to hear about some of the articles and prefer to ignore Chapter 3 of the constitution, which secures the rights of the people, according to The Chronicle Herald. That part of the charter was approved in 1979 and is meant to support social and individual freedoms. Hassan Rouhani's remarks were apparently an attempt to appeal to the liberal-minded among the country's middle class ahead of Iran's May presidential elections. Rouhani spoke at the launch of a book compiling 120 legal articles on rights-related laws, codes and regulations in Iran, entitled Charter of Citizenship Rights. The Iranian president, who promised a more open society when he came to power in 2013, said the book was one of his dreams and acted as a voice from Iran in response to some Western countries that have criticized Tehran over rights abuses. Rouhani's government has backed the project. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

islamic center: On Twitter, the Zurich police department said Large operation after shooting at mosque in the Eisgasse, according to The Waterloo Record. Several injured. Police and ambulances swarmed to the scene near the city's rail station, blocked off a nearby road, and secured the Islamic Center. Perpetrator on the run. There were conflicting news reports about whether the shooting had taken place inside a prayer room itself, or outside. It said the situation was under control and the wounded had been taken to hospital. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

islamic terrorists: Authorities in both countries were still investigating Monday when Trump issued a pair of statements condemning the attacks, according to Guelph Mercury. The White House had already described the episode in central Berlin, in which a truck rammed into shoppers at a Christmas market, as an apparent terrorist attack. Jumping ahead of investigators, President-elect Donald Trump is blaming Islamic terrorists for deadly violence in Turkey and Germany and vowing anew to eradicate their regional and global networks. Trump called the brazen shooting of Russia's ambassador to Turkey as he attended a photo exhibit a violation of all rules of civilized order. Turkish authorities identified the gunman as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a member of Ankara's riot police squad, and said he was later killed in a shootout with police. He added that a radical Islamic terrorist had assassinated the diplomat, Andrei Karlov. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.