immigrantscanada.com

Independent topical source of current affairs, opinion and issues, featuring stories making news in Canada from immigrants, newcomers, minorities & ethnic communities' point of view and interests.

january art: Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park. rom.on.ca, according to NOW Magazine. Black Enslavement In Upper Canada Exhibition runs to Sep 9. Thursday, January 26Art, Honour, And Ridicule Asafo Flags From Southern Ghana Exhibition runs to Feb 27. Peel Art Gallery, Museum Archives, 9 Wellington E Brampton . 905-451-4931. Free. Grey Matter Screening of the 2011 Rwandan film directed by Kivu Ruhorahoza. 7 30 pm. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

population: The population projections show immigration will alter the country's cultural landscape under all scenarios Statistics Canada explored as part of an ongoing project to map out Canada's future as the nation turns 150 years old, according to National Observer. The upward trend in the number of immigrants to Canada would also have an effect on the languages spoken at home. The numbers released Wednesday are a far cry from the country's first census of the population in 1871 four years after Confederation when 16.1 per cent of the 3.7 million people in Canada were born abroad, with Britain, the United States and Germany as the most likely countries of origin. In Quebec, the percentage of people who claim French as their mother tongue is expected to drop to between 69 and 72 per cent in 2036, down from 79 per cent in 2011. The share of those who speak English at home in Quebec, on the other hand, will rise three or four points to the 16 or 17 per cent range due in part to the tendency of new immigrants to favour English over French when choosing a new language. Across Canada, the percentage of francophones is also expected to drop to between 17 and 18 per cent from 21.3 per cent in 2011. ; In Quebec, while the overall number of people who speak French at home even if it isn't their mother tongue is expected to grow, their share as a percentage of the population will fall to about 75 per cent from 81.6 per cent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

protection athens: Portugal has offered to take in several hundred of the 2,500 Yazidi refugees living in Greece, arguing that their mistreated community merits special protection, according to Brandon Sun. Athens has rejected the offer, worried that other countries might start cherry-picking asylum applications based on religion or ethnicity. Now, the Yazidi whose faith is older than Christianity are at the centre of a new European dilemma. Does that make the Yazidis victims of discrimination or nondiscrimination It's a question that could be keeping some of them in limbo. Yazidis, she noted, were targeted for slaughter by Islamic State militants at home and face ongoing harassment from fellow Iraqis stranded in migrant camps. Ana Gomes, a European Parliament member from Portugal who has been an outspoken advocate of the resettlement proposal, says Greek concerns are misplaced. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trans canada: Keystone, a project designed to ship Canadian crude to the United States, was halted in late 2015 by former president Barack Obama over environmental concerns, but Trump has invited Trans Canada, the pipeline's proponent, to resubmit its application to the State Department, according to Guelph Mercury. He also ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review and approve construction and easement requests for Dakota Access a pipeline that ignited pushback among indigenous people throughout North America. The new president signed executive orders Tuesday on two highly contentious pipelines the cross-border Keystone XL and the Dakota Access line, a project which triggered months of protests in North Dakota last year. Last December, Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant army secretary for civil works, declined to allow the pipeline to be built under Lake Oahe and said alternate routes need to be considered. Dakota Access could threaten the neighbouring Standing Rock Sioux's drinking water supply, Bellegarde said Wednesday, noting his organization supported efforts last year to identify alternate routes for the line and provided support for the protests. The 3.8 billion project would bring North Dakota crude through South Dakota and Iowa to an existing pipeline in Illinois. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

years: The numbers released Wednesday are a far cry from the country's first census of the population in 1871 four years after Confederation when 16.1 per cent of the 3.7 million people in Canada were born abroad, with Britain, the United States and Germany as the most likely countries of origin, according to Brandon Sun. The population projections show immigration will alter the country's cultural landscape under all scenarios Statistics Canada explored as part of an ongoing project to map out Canada's future as the nation turns 150 years old. It suggests the proportion of immigrants in Canada's population could reach 30 per cent in 2036 compared to 20.7 per cent in 2011 and a further 20 per cent of the population would be the child of an immigrant, up from the 17.5 per cent recorded in 2011. The upward trend in the number of immigrants to Canada would also have an effect on the languages spoken at home. Across Canada, the percentage of francophones is also expected to drop to between 17 and 18 per cent from 21.3 per cent in 2011. In Quebec, the percentage of people who claim French as their mother tongue is expected to drop to between 69 and 72 per cent in 2036, down from 79 per cent in 2011. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

adrian wyld: In an exclusive interview with the Star, John McCallum praised last week's speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping that promoted global markets as being in line with Canada's views, calling it an excellent speech that was open-minded and internationalist, according to Toronto Star. In doing so, the former federal immigration and citizenship minister underscored a stark contrast in the economic and trade policies of Canada and the U.S. under the Trudeau and Trump governments. Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS By Tonda Mac Charles Ottawa Bureau reporter Mon., Jan. 23, 2017 OTTAWA Canada is a long way from a free trade deal with China but is about to embark on exploratory talks because it believes openness to global trade, not protectionism, is the way to go, says Justin Trudeau's newly named ambassador to Beijing. McCallum was in Ottawa for briefings before taking up his diplomatic post in early March. Trump fulfilled his long-standing campaign promise to kill the TPP as one of his first orders of business, with his press secretary Sean Spicer portraying it as a lopsided deal that favours China or other countries at the expense of American interests. He spoke hours after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to quit the Asia-Pacific free trade deal known as the trans-Pacific Partnership TPP and reiterated his determination to renegotiate or quit the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian activities: I think the parents stayed awake more than the kids that day, scouting commissioner El Hajj said, according to Metro News. But overall they saw the benefits for the program, and the kids talked about it for days. The parents texted me at 2 o'clock. Since last June, the trilingual scouts group at Saints Peter and Paul Melkite Catholic Church has been helping Arabic-speaking newcomers try out Canadian activities, through a mix of sports, outings and spirituality. Most come from Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. Since September, the troop's 51 scouts and 20 volunteers meet each Saturday, running activities in English, French and Arabic. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

diversity numbers: Despite loudly touted efforts to hire more blacks, Latinos and women, especially in technical and leadership positions, diversity numbers at the largest tech companies are barely budging, according to CTV. In 2014, 2 per cent of Googlers were black and 3 per cent were Hispanic, numbers that have not changed since. But when it comes to racial and gender diversity, its leading companies are no trailblazers. The picture is similar at Facebook and Twitter . Microsoft is slightly more racially diverse though not when it comes to gender and Apple even more so, though still not reflective of the U.S. population. Women, meanwhile, make up less than a third of the workforce at many companies -- even less in engineering and other technical jobs. Amazon is more racially diverse still, although it counts a large, lower-wage warehouse workforce in its totals. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

go-to phrase: It's placed in different spots in the locker room, it's on the walls around the team facility, and the coach himself repeats it often Do your job, according to Hamilton Spectator. Perhaps no other unit for the Patriots has embodied Belichick's go-to phrase more than his defence this season. There's a mantra that players quickly come to learn when they play for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. And if New England hopes to capture its fifth Super Bowl, no other group will be relied on more as the Patriots face an Atlanta Falcons offence that has scored a combined 80 points through two playoff games. Oh yeah, definitely. Defensive back Duron Harmon, who had a huge touchdown-saving tackle in the second quarter of the Patriots' 36-17 AFC championship game win over Pittsburgh on Sunday, said that even in their tightknit world they couldn't help but notice the criticism that surrounded the defence earlier this season. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jim stenson: The reporter, Jim Stenson, asked Spicer when Trump would follow through on campaign promises about immigration, according to Hamilton Spectator. Ingraham, a conservative radio host, was among those the new president considered to serve as his press secretary. Tuesday's briefing was another indication of how press relations have changed with the onset of a new administration in Washington. She was given a prominent speaking role at the Republican convention last summer. Its home page Tuesday featured a story about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady calling Trump to congratulate him on becoming president; one that questioned the purpose of last weekend's women's march; and another in which Fox News' Sean Hannity condemned Trump officials who had leaked information to the press. Lifezette features a mix of conservative politics, lifestyle and consumer articles and videos. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

justice network: I think it's important to establish an aboriginal justice network, she told the publication, according to Globe and Mail. Naiomi Metallic, a teacher specialized in indigenous law at Dalhousie's Schulich law school, says the appointments are being greeted with delight among advocates for greater indigenous and black representation in the legal system. In 1994, Justice Benton told the aboriginal publication Windspeaker she had made a series of fruitless job applications to firms around Atlantic Canada, with some partners telling her they felt her knowledge of aboriginal law wouldn't be an asset. I'm elated We've been saying in the media there needs to be more diverse appointments and it appears that hasn't fallen on deaf ears, she said. She is the third black judge in the province's lower and superior courts. Justice van der Hoek, from Windsor, has practised law for 19 years and also worked with Nova Scotia Legal Aid in Windsor and Halifax after graduating from Dalhousie Law School. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

childhood arrivals: I have you in my arms, my girl. ... You found me still alive, according to Brandon Sun. Alcala's mother left her with Bello at age 2 when she went to seek a better life in the United States. My little girl, I hugged you so much, Petra Bello Suarez tearfully told her now 23-year-old granddaughter. A year later, the little girl joined her mother and for two decades Alcala's undocumented status prevented her from returning to Mexico. Alcala burst out of the shadows. Then she became one of the hundreds of thousands protected from deportation under an Obama administration program known as DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which gave work permits to immigrants brought to the U.S as children and living in the country illegally. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cracks spiderweb: It is the model and only home in an Orange County, California, subdivision that was started but abandoned on George's arrest for fraud, according to The Waterloo Record. A fake chateau, the house stands forlorn on a muddy plot. The Bluth patriarch, George, is a real estate developer, and his dysfunctional adult children move into a house he built. Its construction is shoddy Viewers see cracks spiderweb across the interior walls, and pieces of trim fall off at random. He asks his teenage son about choosing a name for it. Michael, the responsible Bluth sibling, tries in vain to finish the development. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

election fraud: He believes what he believes, based on the information he was provided, Spicer said, according to Guelph Mercury. But he would not detail what information he was referring to, citing only a 2008 study that called for updating voter rolls but did not conclude there has been pervasive election fraud. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the president does believe that he lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton only because of widespread illegal ballots. Spicer, who spent several years at the Republican National Committee before joining the White House, would not say whether he shared the president's belief. Trump first raised the prospect of illegal voting during the transition. He also sidestepped questions about whether the White House would investigate the voter fraud allegations, saying only, Anything is possible. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

go-to phrase: It's placed in different spots in the locker room, it's on the walls around the team facility, and the coach himself repeats it often Do your job, according to The Waterloo Record. Perhaps no other unit for the Patriots has embodied Belichick's go-to phrase more than his defence this season. There's a mantra that players quickly come to learn when they play for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. And if New England hopes to capture its fifth Super Bowl, no other group will be relied on more as the Patriots face an Atlanta Falcons offence that has scored a combined 80 points through two playoff games. Oh yeah, definitely. Defensive back Duron Harmon, who had a huge touchdown-saving tackle in the second quarter of the Patriots' 36-17 AFC championship game win over Pittsburgh on Sunday, said that even in their tightknit world they couldn't help but notice the criticism that surrounded the defence earlier this season. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

kevin keefe: Looking to give local beer fans a choice beyond lager and draught Keefe's English-inspired beer styles brought a welcome variety in styles and flavours to the region, according to The Chronicle Herald. Beers like Best Bitter and Peculiar thrilled the local drinkers looking for a taste of Britain here at home, and were the first craft beers produced on the East Coast. When Kevin Keefe opened Granite Brewery in 1985, it was the first brewery to open in the province in decades. In the mid-1990s, Granite was joined by a trio of newcomers on the scene, with Garrison and Propeller opening in Halifax, and Paddy's Brewpub opening in Kentville. Their hard work and dedication has paid off, as they have both expanded their brewhouses to well beyond the size at which they opened 20 years ago. While Granite and Keefe had introduced Nova Scotians to local beer with flavour, this new wave of breweries still faced an uphill battle to convince bars and restaurants to hand over fridge and tap space, and re-introduce the public to these flavourful beers brewed in the province. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

kyle hightower: It's placed in different spots in the locker room, it's on the walls around the team facility, and the coach himself repeats it often Do your job, according to Toronto Star. Perhaps no other unit for the Patriots has embodied Belichick's go-to phrase more than his defence this season. Elsa / GETTY IMAGES By Kyle Hightower The Associated Press Mon., Jan. 23, 2017 FOXBOROUGH, MASS. There's a mantra that players quickly come to learn when they play for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. And if New England hopes to capture its fifth Super Bowl, no other group will be relied on more as the Patriots face an Atlanta Falcons offence that has scored a combined 80 points through two playoff games. Article Continued Below Oh yeah, definitely. Defensive back Duron Harmon, who had a huge touchdown-saving tackle in the second quarter of the Patriots' 36-17 AFC Championship Game win over Pittsburgh on Sunday, said that even in their tight-knit world they couldn't help but notice the criticism that surrounded the defence earlier this season. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

maelstrom: But even he was surprised at the staggering eight nominations the cerebral, thought-provoking story got, including for best picture and a directing nod for him, according to The Chronicle Herald. That's huge for me, because to be recognized by the academy members, by my peers, the people who are my colleagues, the filmmakers from America that means a lot, he said in a conference call with reporters. Momentum had been building for his Quebec-shot alien-invasion drama Arrival for several months and Villeneuve admitted he found himself caught in the maelstrom of this madness, believing his film would be recognized. It's a very tough, very intense competition. The Quebec director is up against some heavyweights with strong momentum Mel Gibson for Hacksaw Ridge, Damien Chazelle for La La Land, Kenneth Lonergan for Manchester by the Sea and Barry Jenkins for Moonlight. The competition was very strong this year with very strong filmmakers and a lot of strong newcomers and I'm very honoured to a part of that group. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nino haratischwili: At Canadian Stage, he's about to direct the English-language premiere of Liv Stein, a play by a young Georgian playwright named Nino Haratischwili, who lives in Hamburg and writes in German, according to Globe and Mail. One of the joys of Jocelyn's tenure at the head of Canadian Stage over the past seven seasons has been his introduction of artists such as Haratischwili to Toronto audiences. As 2017 begins, Jocelyn, sitting down for his first interview with The Globe and Mail since the Canstage SoWhite controversy, seems ready to move forward and is happy to be back in a rehearsal room. Unlike previous regimes, he's been a leader in producing international work first, rather than waiting for a script to first be given the stamp of approval in New York or London. As it turns out, Jocelyn connected strongly and personally with a script he calls a good old-fashioned play for which he has commissioned a translation by local German-speaking playwright and director Birgit Schreyer Duarte. In this case, Liv Stein came to Jocelyn's attention not during his own European travels, but via local actor Alon Nashman who, he says, had seen the play on holiday, not understood a word and yet felt it would be right up Canadian Stage's alley. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

prospect: Trump first raised the prospect of illegal voting during the transition, according to Globe and Mail. Then, during a reception with lawmakers at the White House Monday evening, he again claimed that he'd lost the popular vote because 3 million to 5 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally had voted. He also sidestepped questions about whether the White House would investigate the voter fraud allegations, saying only, Anything is possible. That's according to a Democratic aide familiar with the exchange who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. Both Trump and Spicer made false comments over the weekend about the crowds who gathered for the inauguration. Trump's assertion appears to be part of a continuing pattern for him and his new administration in which falsehoods overshadow his outreach efforts. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tech companies: Despite loudly touted efforts to hire more blacks, Latinos and women, especially in technical and leadership positions, diversity numbers at the largest tech companies are barely budging, according to CBC. Want to increase workplace diversity Go in 'blind,' says entrepreneur In 2014, two per cent of Googlers were black and three per cent were Hispanic, numbers that have not changed since. But when it comes to racial and gender diversity, its leading companies are no trailblazers. The picture is similar at Facebook and Twitter. Amazon is more racially diverse still, although it counts a large, lower-wage warehouse workforce in its totals. Microsoft is slightly more racially diverse though not when it comes to gender and Apple even more so, though still not reflective of the U.S. population. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trump administration: The rebellion.I couldn't comprehend the swell of emotion, even as I felt it, according to Metro News. I watched the faces pass me by thousands of faces and wondered who they were, and where they came from. The sheer numbers of marchers, the global solidarity, the creativity, the humour, the anger, the joy. I loved them all, these strangers in solidarity, who put their bodies where their beliefs are, to quote Gloria Steinem in Washington. It cannot, the message was repeated, be only one instance of action. The next 1,459 days of the Trump administration will be 1,459 days of resistance, noted the feminist and civil rights activist Angela Davis, to the same crowd. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trump: This did not happen, according to Toronto Star. There were fewer than a dozen claims of voter fraud across the country. Reuters By Daniel Dale Washington Bureau Tues., Jan. 24, 2017 WASHINGTON Promoting yet another lie, the chief spokesman for U.S. President Donald Trump said Trump believes millions of illegal immigrants voted illegally in the presidential election. In a December legal filing arguing against a recount in Michigan, Trump's own lawyers wrote, All available evidence suggests that the 2016 general election was not tainted by fraud. He wrote on Twitter in November that he won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally, and he repeated the nonsensical claim in a private meeting with congressional leaders on Monday. Trump, though, is sensitive about the fact that Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton received more votes than him. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

women corinne: Premier Stephen McNeil said in an interview the two new judges will provide added perspectives from the black and indigenous population in a court system that needs to reflect the makeup of the general population, according to Huffington Post Canada. I believe this is a huge step forward. Legal aid lawyer Catherine Benton becomes only the third aboriginal judge in Nova Scotia, while Ronda van der Hoek, a public prosecutor, joins two other black women Corinne Sparks and Jean Whalen among the 73 full-time judges in the province. They have had distinguished careers in making sure minority voices are being heard, that Mi'kmaq rights are being protected, and their cultures will be reflected in the decisions they make,'' he said. Photo CP handout Benton is well known within legal circles as an advocate for racial and ethnic diversity in the courts, having pushed from the earliest days of her career for a stronger role for indigenous lawyers in the court system. Catherine BEnton and Ronda van der Hoek were appointed to provincial and family courts. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

women march: Not only did women march, they were joined by their families, friends and colleagues, according to Huffington Post Canada. Every race, gender and age could be seen peacefully walking side by side, carrying truly clever signs and posters. Women all over the world organized to let the new President of the U.S.A. and his government know that women's rights are human rights. Humour as well as anger were in evidence. Among the groups that I saw at the Toronto march was a contingent of elementary school teachers. And so was truth. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

gonzalez: He made seven starts as a rookie in 2015 and went 3-3 with a 7.92 ERA in 30 2-3 innings, according to The Waterloo Record. The trade was announced Tuesday. Gonzalez went 1-2 last year with a 5.60 ERA in 35 1-3 innings, all in relief for the Phillies. Gonzalez will compete for a spot in a deep and talented bullpen that could include newcomers Jeff Locke, Brad Ziegler and Junichi Tazawa. By The Associated Press (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.