cl: Suzanne Cl ment, Montreal actress and jurist at the Marrakech Film Festival // Source Christine Lee And it's under this hazy spell that I meet Montreal actress Suzanne Cl ment, who has made a name for herself in French cinema as an award winning actress in Lawrence Anyways and I Killed My Mother, according to Huffington Post Canada. Cl ment was invited as a member of the festival's jury, which awarded top honors to Chinese filmmakers, including the Grand Prix to Chinese feature The Donor. It's opening night at the Marrakech International Film Festival, a week-long celebration of global cinema patroned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI that beckons you to tumble down the rabbit hole. I ask Cl ment why she agreed to do the festival, and for her way it was a way to reconnect with Morocco, a country that conjures fond memories of camping out in the Sahara desert while gazing at stars. Indeed, Morocco has taken steps to become one of the more progressive and stable Muslim countries in the region, following the Arab Spring of 2011, King Mohammed VI announced constitutional reforms to transfer more power to parliament. It was also a way to give back to what she called a liberal North African country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

anglican church: Paul's Cathedral, an Anglican church, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said, according to The Chronicle Herald. He said they had been plotting the attack for three weeks. The suspects were inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbourne's iconic Flinders Street train station, neighbouring Federation Square, a fashionable bar and restaurant precinct, and St. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was one of the most substantial plots that have been disrupted over the last several years. A manhunt is underway for the person behind that attack, which prompted increases in security around the world. The arrests came after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

border town: There was a lot of shooting outside, my aunt Judy remembers, according to CTV. It felt like we were in the war. It was the final leg of a journey that began five weeks earlier, under much less festive circumstances As choppers circled overhead and gunfire rang out on the streets of Budapest in early November, her family parents Olga and Imre and her nine-year-old sister Judy -- made arrangements to leave the country. One morning at dawn, they packed some belongings in bags, left their apartment at 56 Akacfa Street and headed to the train station. They managed to make it to a border town while evading detection by Russian soldiers and Hungarian secret police and other possible informants lurking about. Their destination, as it was for thousands fleeing the violence spurred by the Hungarian Revolution, was Austria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian forces: They claim they were subjected to verbal taunts, racial epithets and insults to family members including one incident in which someone threw bananas at a black member's spouse on the base in Esquimalt, B.C. The suit, filed by Marc Frenette, Wallace Fowler and Jean-Pierre Robillard on Dec. 14, accuses superior officers of brushing off the behaviour by silencing the wrongs and urging some members not to file complaints, according to Metro News. From top to bottom, the Canadian Forces has failed to protect racial minorities and aboriginal people from racism within the ranks, the 31-page document states. The former members have filed a proposed class action lawsuit against the military in Federal Court in Halifax. Derogatory slurs, racial harassment and violent threats are tolerated or ignored .... Victims of racism within the Canadian Forces are forced into isolation, subjected to further trauma and, in many cases, catapulted toward early release. He alleges that led to racial slurs, rejected requests for leave and training, physical abuse and insults about his heritage. Frenette, a 39-year-old from Ontario, claims his career in aircraft maintenance with the Snowbirds 431 squadron was going well until colleagues in Moose Jaw, Sask., discovered he is aboriginal. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

christmas dinner: The idea was about giving back to the city that's made them feel so welcome and sharing similarities rather than differences, said organizer Rita Khanchet Kallas, according to CBC. When I hear this word for the first time, 'homeless', I think it describes people who lose their home, and we already as Syrian newcomers we lost our home. They hosted a special Christmas dinner near the Calgary Drop-In Centre Thursday evening with dozens of homeless Calgarians lining up for a taste of Syria, breaking down barriers with food and some small talk. Organizer Rita Khanchet Kallas says Syrian newcomers to Calgary wanted to return some of the goodwill they've received themselves since arriving in Calgary over the past year. We have to take care of each other, she said. Dan McGarvey/CBC We have to pay back, we would like to pay back. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

decision-making ability: The civilian board that oversees the force the chief's boss passed a motion last year asking her to suspend the practice, no matter what it's called, according to Globe and Mail. She told the board no. Now it is simply the collection of identifying information. Chief Evans, one of just a handful of female police leaders in Canada, says she was hired for her decision-making ability. The dispute over carding has sparked a wider debate over whether the Peel force is in step with the times and the community it serves. And, though her 289,000-a-year contract is up for renewal next October, she is not one for backing down. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dumpster fire: There was a lot in 2016 to break our hearts, test our resolve -- even turn our understanding of the world as we know it upside down, according to Rabble. Fortunately, rabble's columnists were there, every step of the way, to bring perspective to everything -- the good, the bad, and the dumpster fire -- that happened in 2016. It was a challenging year for progressives and everyone working for a better world. Here, we look back at the year that was through the eyes of our columnists, who brought their collective wisdom and insight to the year's events. For a complete selection of our columns, check out our columns section. From the fight against C-51, to climate justice, to electoral reform, to shudder the rise of Trump, rabble.ca columnists examined the issues that mattered to you. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bonner: I expect the church to stand on their moral high ground, Bonner told KUTV in Salt Lake City, according to Brandon Sun. Related Items Articles Rockettes' owners say attendance at inauguration is a choice An online petition calling on the group to reconsider has thousands of signatures. Former choir member John Bonner, for one, said he was shocked and upset when he heard the news. Erika Munson, co-founder of the pro-LGBT rights group Mormons Building Bridges, said the performance will be seen as the faith's official stamp of approval for Trump. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledged that the response to the announcement has been mixed, though church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement that the appearance is a demonstration of support for the office rather than party affiliations or politics. She told KUER-FM that she and other Mormons are feeling huge disappointment, sadness and anger over this. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian forces: They claim they were subjected to verbal taunts, racial epithets and insults to family members including one incident in which someone threw bananas at a black member's spouse on the base in Esquimalt, B.C. The suit, filed by Marc Frenette, Wallace Fowler and Jean-Pierre Robillard on Dec. 14, accuses superior officers of brushing off the behaviour by silencing the wrongs and urging some members not to file complaints, according to Brandon Sun. From top to bottom, the Canadian Forces has failed to protect racial minorities and aboriginal people from racism within the ranks, the 31-page document states. The former members have filed a proposed class action lawsuit against the military in Federal Court in Halifax. Derogatory slurs, racial harassment and violent threats are tolerated or ignored .... Victims of racism within the Canadian Forces are forced into isolation, subjected to further trauma and, in many cases, catapulted toward early release. He alleges that led to racial slurs, rejected requests for leave and training, physical abuse and insults about his heritage. Frenette, a 39-year-old from Ontario, claims his career in aircraft maintenance with the Snowbirds 431 squadron was going well until colleagues in Moose Jaw, Sask., discovered he is aboriginal. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

championship team: But then the challenges of recruiting to BYU kicked in and all three went on Mormon church missions at different times, according to Guelph Mercury. That left Rose waiting for this season, hoping none of them changed their minds and trying to recruit other elite players who knew the Lone Peak trio would be returning. The program struck recruiting gold when it landed the major pieces from the 2012-13 Lone Peak High School national championship team four-star recruits Nick Emery, Eric Mika and T.J. Haws. The crew is finally in Provo together, starting for the Cougars and facing high expectations after years of anticipation. Sometimes you wonder if you made the right decisions in your recruiting process, but I'm glad we got all three of these guys. Our patience has paid off, Rose said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

erika munson: I expect the church to stand on their moral high ground, Bonner told KUTV in Salt Lake City, according to The Chronicle Herald. An online petition calling on the group to reconsider has thousands of signatures. Former choir member John Bonner, for one, said he was shocked and upset when he heard the news. Erika Munson, co-founder of the pro-LGBT rights group Mormons Building Bridges, said the performance will be seen as the faith's official stamp of approval for Trump. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledged that the response to the announcement has been mixed, though church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement that the appearance is a demonstration of support for the office rather than party affiliations or politics. She told KUER-FM that she and other Mormons are feeling huge disappointment, sadness and anger over this. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

friday morning: Paul's Cathedral, an Anglican church, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said, according to Hamilton Spectator. He said they had been plotting the attack for three weeks. The suspects were inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbourne's iconic Flinders Street train station, neighbouring Federation Square, a fashionable bar and restaurant precinct, and St. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was one of the most substantial plots that have been disrupted over the last several years. Two of seven people initially arrested in raids Thursday night and Friday morning in Melbourne a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were released without being charged, police said. The arrests came after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people and prompting increases in security around the world. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

job interviews: Karajoul studied English at Aleppo University, before moving to Edmonton in July, according to Metro News. Today, he's enrolled in an employment program at the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, located in the city's north end. The 27-year-old refugee is learning first-aid and how to cope with job interviews basic skills he hopes will lead to work in plumbing. And he considers himself one of the luckier ones. It's hard for a lot of people I know. People who know English it's easier for them, said Karajoul, who speaks English fluently. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

obama administration: If President-elect Donald Trump now wants to introduce an expanded version of the program, he will have to start from scratch, according to Metro News. The post- 9-11 registration program for immigrant men arriving mainly from the Islamic world hasn't been enforced since 2011. Kobach and Trump met in Bedminster, N.J.A corrected version of the story is below Obama scraps registry for some immigrant men, mostly Muslims The Obama administration officially scraps the last vestiges of a U.S. registration system for Muslim immigrants By ALICIA A. CALDWELLAssociated Press The Obama administration on Thursday officially scrapped the last vestiges of a U.S. registration system for Muslim immigrants. Although it never prohibited travel for men and boys from the more than 20 affected countries, including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, Trump's suggestions about banning Muslim immigrants from the United States have led to fears that it could be reinstated and used for new and enhanced purposes. The registration program is not only obsolete, said Neema Hakim, spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, its use would divert limited personnel and resources from more effective measures. The decision to erase it from the books entirely marks one of President Barack Obama's last administrative actions on immigration and will at least slow any Trump effort to introduce even tougher requirements, as has been suggested by a top adviser. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

offer tickets: The Welcome Centre connected with the Vancouver Bach Choir as well as The Arts Club Theatre, which provided more than 30 tickets to its current production of Mary Poppins, according to Globe and Mail. I wonder what goes through their head when they go to a performance, says Natasha Klein, the Arts Club's director of education. The pilot initiative, announced earlier this year, invited arts organizations to apply for funding to offer tickets to refugees. We know we're going to go to the theatre and be entertained. But these families they don't know what to expect. We take it for granted. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

party leader: O'Leary has said for months that he is considering running for the political job, according to CTV. His exploratory committee is made up of high-profile Conservative activists and personalities, including former Ontario Premier Mike Harris and former Sen. In a video posted to his Facebook page Friday, O'Leary says the committee will help determine whether he is the right person to run for party leader. Marjorie LeBreton. In an interview with CTV News Channel after his announcement, O'Leary suggested it's only a matter of time before he throws his hat in the ring, as he waits for the number of Conservative leadership hopefuls to shrink. On his website, O'Leary is also directly asking Canadians whether he should officially run for the Tory leadership. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

patheos blog: From Castro's reign of terror, in which truth and individual rights were crushed under an apparatus of oppression, torture and death, to Orwell's world of 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World, according to Hamilton Spectator. What is he so afraid of First, he wants to stoke fear with attendant outrage against a Bill C-16, which is in second reading in the Senate, and is the latest attempt to add gender identity and gender expression to the Human Rights Code and the Criminal Code of Canada. Masson's article The Brave New World of Post-National Socialism Dec. 8, which originally appeared Nov. 30 on the Patheos blog Evangelical Pulpit is full of fearful imagery. He adds his voice to that of University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson in attempting to convince us that this would usher in a new regime of draconian restrictions on free speech, creating a situation in which refusal to use a person's requested gender pronoun would be criminalized as hate speech. In the past, whenever legislation of this type has been proposed, the so-called religious right has sought to whip up opposition using the Transgender Bathroom Panic ruse, in which transgender women are portrayed as being a Trojan horse that would allow male predators easy access to women's washrooms and change rooms. This is patently absurd. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

state: Paul's Cathedral, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said, according to CTV. The arrests came after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people. The suspects had been inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbourne's Flinders Street train station, neighbouring Federation Square and St. A manhunt is underway for the person behind that attack, which prompted increases in security around the world. Five men between the ages 21 and 26 remained in custody and would be charged later Friday with preparing a terrorist attack. Two of seven people initially arrested in raids Thursday night and Friday morning in Melbourne -- a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman -- were released without being charged, police said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

toll opponents: The primary left-wing complaint about tolling two Toronto highways is it will harm the poor, according to Rabble. One activist responded to my criticism of toll opponents by posting, some folks are so desperate for a war on the car they are willing to settle for a war on the poor disguised as such. There's no doubt tolls hurt poor people, but a car-dominated transportation system does far more damage and everyone who wants a more just society should support measures that help rid our over-heating planet of private automobiles. Another individual wrote on someone else's Facebook page It's almost embarrassing seeing people who think of themselves as progressive supporting policies that would disproportionately hit those with the least the most. To the extent lower income folks drive the Gardiner Expressway or Don Valley Parkway a 2 toll is obviously a greater burden though income-contingent tax rebates can remedy this . But driving and income are inversely correlated. It seems like the very definition of privileged, ivory towerism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

world leaders: The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union, according to Rabble. The conflict in Syria intensified further, with innocent civilians being the target of horrific violence in Aleppo and other parts of the country. Donald Trump won the 2016 U.S. presidential elections on a platform that critics say was based on xenophobia and making America great again. A coup attempt in Turkey, as well as multiple attacks in cities across the world added to these difficult times. This year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and world leaders signed onto the Paris climate agreement. Things in Canada didn't look any brighter. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

climate-change skeptic: Some members of his team are true believers, according to National Observer. His proposed education secretary, billionaire Betsy DeVos, promotes alternatives to public schools. Here's what the next U.S. administration looks like Quite conservative ; Trump is only occasionally a conservative. Conservative favourite Ben Carson would lead housing and urban policy. A climate-change skeptic will be leading climate policy as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. His pick for energy secretary, Rick Perry, once proposed eliminating his future department. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

flight risk: Boone was arrested without incident in Montreal on Thursday after eight years on the run, several months after police opened an investigation at the request of U.S. authorities, according to The Waterloo Record. In an email, board spokesman Christian Tessier said authorities considered Boone to be a flight risk with the means to go back underground if released. A spokesman for the board said John Robert Boone was calm but refused to answer questions from border services agents during a detention review hearing Friday afternoon. He will remain in detention at least until his next hearing, scheduled for Dec. 29. Boone, 73, spent more than a decade in prison after being convicted in the 1980s in what prosecutors called the largest domestic marijuana syndicate in American history. The U.S. Marshals Service said Thursday that authorities had been seeking Boone since they seized 2,400 marijuana plants on his Kentucky farm in 2008. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

friday morning: Paul's Cathedral, an Anglican church, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said, according to The Waterloo Record. He said they had been plotting the attack for three weeks. The suspects were inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbourne's iconic Flinders Street train station, neighbouring Federation Square, a fashionable bar and restaurant precinct, and St. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was one of the most substantial plots that have been disrupted over the last several years. Two of seven people initially arrested in raids Thursday night and Friday morning in Melbourne a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were released without being charged, police said. The arrests came after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people and prompting increases in security around the world. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

scrape food: A month ago, the Syrian immigrant was hired at Swiss Chalet Rotisserie and Grill on Ira Needles Boulevard as a dishwasher, according to The Waterloo Record. He works 15 hours a week. He smiles at servers as they scrape food off plates and pile the dirty dishes in bins for Al Zoobi to wash. He's a great addition, said operations manager Susan Scarff. He is wonderful. He is a hard worker. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

state: Paul's Cathedral, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said, according to Brandon Sun. The arrests came after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people. The suspects had been inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbourne's Flinders Street train station, neighbouring Federation Square and St. A manhunt is underway for the person behind that attack, which prompted increases in security around the world. Five men between the ages 21 and 26 remained in custody and would be charged later Friday with preparing a terrorist attack. Two of seven people initially arrested in raids Thursday night and Friday morning in Melbourne a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were released without being charged, police said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

campaign website: During the general election, he shifted his rhetoric to focus on temporarily halting immigration from an unspecified list of countries with ties to terrorism, though he did not disavow the Muslim ban, which is still prominently displayed on his campaign website, according to CTV. The president-elect, when asked Wednesday if the attack in Berlin would cause him to evaluate the proposed ban or a possible registry of Muslims in the United States, said, You know my plans. Trump proposed the Muslim ban during the Republican primary campaign, drawing sharp criticism from both parties. All along, I've been proven to be right, 100 per cent correct. A transition spokesman said later Wednesday that Trump's plans might upset those with their heads stuck in the politically correct sand. What's happening is disgraceful, said Trump, who deemed the violence an attack on humanity, and added, it's got to be stopped. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.