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.

business insider: Now his Do Not Pay AI is tackling something even weightier asylum claims, according to Huffington Post Canada. The chatbot, which works through Facebook messenger, asks users questions to help them fill out an asylum application for the U.S., Canada or the U.K. There's this huge problem among immigration lawyers where the majority of their time is spent filling out forms rather than actually challenging the legal complexities of the case, Browder told Business Insider. Stanford University student Joshua Browder designed a robot lawyer in 2015 to help people appeal parking tickets, work out compensation for delayed or cancelled flights and even help people who are HIV positive navigate the legal system. Browder demonstrates how the robot lawyer works The 20-year-old, whose grandmother fled Austria during the Holocaust, understands the challenges refugees face. He programmed the AI to use simple language instead of complex legal jargon and is hoping to translate it into other languages, like Arabic and Spanish. I hope it will allow anyone to have a right to safety, regardless of the ability to afford a lawyer, he said in an interview with Mashable. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

centres: A movement against violence against women was beginning to cohere, according to Rabble. But much of this was invisible to the general public. Services like rape crisis centres, women's centres and daycare centres had begun to spread beyond the big cities. The media, for the first of many times, was proclaiming that women's liberation was dead. In this milieu, a group of women in Toronto decided to organize the first International Women's Day celebration in English Canada. And ideological differences within the movement became ever more present as socialist feminists, liberal feminists and radical feminists staked their claims to the various issues. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dominicans return: Lots of natural energy and excitement he'd never think to take those from the players on his Dominican Republic team, according to Hamilton Spectator. Managing the defending World Baseball Classic champions, Pena returned to Pirate City this week for the first time since 1986. Tony Pena got a flashback this week to what it was like to be a young Dominican baseball player in the United States. The five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner signed with Pittsburgh as an 18-year-old and played for the organization until he was 29. The Dominicans return a few stars from the 2013 team, which not only garnered attention for winning the tournament, but for the flash with which they did. He and the Dominicans were in Bradenton on Wednesday for a scrimmage against the Pirates, their last before travelling to Miami for their WBC opener Thursday against Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald election: They exchange phone numbers for a day they hope will never come, according to Metro News. Since Donald Trump's election as president, about 30 New York City residents have met regularly with dozens of Latino immigrants living in the country illegally, offering them their help and, in some cases, their homes. They teach one another English and Spanish. Many say that if the immigrants are detained or deported, they would be willing to take in their children. I may not have a lot of walls, but I can go buy one of those Ikea partition things and I can manage to find space on my floor for up to 10 people. I have enough space, said Ruth Silverberg, a college professor who shares a two-bedroom apartment in Staten Island with her grown son. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

greg janzen: JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Migrants from Somalia cross into Canada from the U.S. early in the morning on Feb. 26, according to Toronto Star. Many of the border-crossers at Emerson have passed through Minneapolis, home of a large Somali community. More than 200 people have walked across open fields and through ditches near Emerson since Jan. 1. John Woods / The Canadian Press By Steve Lambert The Canadian Press Wed., March 8, 2017 EMERSON, MAN. Nineteen asylum-seekers braved a fierce blizzard and whiteout conditions on the open prairie to cross into Canada near the Manitoba border community of Emerson, the area's reeve said Wednesday. Some heavy snow squalls, zero visibility, and these people are walking north straight into the wind, Greg Janzen said. It was not pretty out here. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

greg janzen: It was not pretty out here, according to Hamilton Spectator. Some heavy snow squalls, zero visibility, and these people are walking north straight into the wind, Greg Janzen said. Nineteen asylum-seekers braved a fierce blizzard and whiteout conditions on the open prairie to cross into Canada near the Manitoba border community of Emerson, the area's reeve said Wednesday. I think they walked almost right through Emerson without knowing they were here. Winds were gusting up to 80 kilometres an hour overnight, which created a wind chill of -28 C. Visibility was so poor, highways in the area were closed until early Wednesday morning. Two people were found Tuesday night, Janzen said, and the other 17 were discovered huddled together shortly after sunrise in a carport at an old golf course. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

language: It comes after a New York-based musician announced he was pulling out of the festival over immigration language in his contract, according to CTV. Word of the contract language caused swift reaction on social media and comes amid heightened fears of immigration crackdowns under President Donald Trump. SXSW announced the changes Tuesday ahead of the massive music, film and technology showcase starting later this week. SXSW organizers have said the clause about notifying appropriate U.S. immigration authorities had been a safeguard in case artists did something truly egregious, like starting a brawl or causing safety issues. SXSW says the language will be removed starting in 2018. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

health care: Abortion Access Now P.E.I. happy about plans for Women's Wellness Centre This is something that women on P.E.I. have been protesting about and lobbying the government for for over 30 years, said Basiletti, according to CBC. We're pleased that women's health care needs are going to be looked after in a specialized way. Mari Basiletti pointed to the establishment of a women's health-care centre in Summerside, one which is performing on-Island abortions for the first time in decades, as a key step forward over the last year. Planned Parenthood under threat But Basiletti said women's health-care services are under threat in other parts of the world. In Canada, she said, women still face issues of violence and low pay. She noted Planned Parenthood has been defunded in parts of the world, and it is being talked about in the U.S. We need to stand up for all women, and globally women have a lot of issues, said Basiletti. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

muslim-majority countries: U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson on Wednesday granted the state's request to continue with the case and set a hearing for March 15 the day before Trump's revised ban is due to go into effect, according to Hamilton Spectator. The judge will also hear arguments from the state on a motion to impose a temporary restraining order that would prevent the ban from taking place until the lawsuit has been resolved. The amended suit was filed Tuesday, a day after Trump signed an executive order for the revised ban that will restrict travel by people from six Muslim-majority countries. The lawsuit says the revised travel ban will harm the Muslim population of Hawaii as well as schools and employers. The president's new order bars new visas for people from the six countries and temporarily shuts down America's refugee program, affecting would-be visitors and immigrants from Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya. The state's previous suit had been on hold while a nationwide injunction on the initial ban remained in place. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

russian point: Alongside Britain, Germany and the U.S., Canada will soon lead a NATO battlegroup that is supposed to defend Eastern Europe from Moscow, according to Rabble. About 450 Canadian troops are headed to Latvia while the three other NATO countries lead missions in Poland, Lithuania and Estonia. This training mission in the Ukraine is on top of 200 troops in Poland, a naval frigate in the Mediterranean and Black Sea and a half dozen CF-18 fighter jets on their way to locations near Russia's border. From the Russian point of view it must certainly look like NATO is massing troops at its border. In 2014 the right-wing nationalist Euro Maidan movement ousted Viktor Yanukovych who was oscillating between the European Union and Russia. Canada's military buildup in Eastern Europe is the direct outgrowth of a coup in Kiev. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sxsw i: It comes after New York-based musician Felix Walworth, who goes by the stage name Told Slant, announced he was pulling out of the festival over immigration language in his contract, according to CBC. After looking through this contract sent to me by sxsw I have decided to cancel Told Slant's performance at the festival Felixixix666 Can our first step toward coalition as artists with radical politics be to cancel all our official showcases at sxsw I'm serious just do it Felixixix666 Word of the contract language caused swift reaction on social media and comes amid heightened fears of immigration crackdowns under U.S. President Donald Trump. SXSW announced the changes Tuesday ahead of the massive music, film and technology showcase starting in Austin, Texas, later this week. After Walworth's original tweets, a petition and an open letter signed by musicians circulated online calling for SXSW to apologize, immediately drop the clause from its contract and cease any collusion with immigration officials that puts performers in danger. A petition and open letter had called for the festival to apologize, drop the clause from its contract 'and cease any collusion with immigration officials that puts performers in danger.' Jay Janner/Austin Press SXSW envelops Austin each year with hundreds of unofficial events around the city in addition to the official showcases that require festival credentials. Outrage over the SXSW contract language caused swift reaction on social media amid heightened fears of immigration crackdowns under U.S. President Donald Trump. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

thumb impression: Khan was scheduled to fly to Seattle where he would have a two hour layover before boarding an Emirates Airline flight to Dubai, according to CTV. From Dubai, Khan would fly to his final destination of Lahore, Pakistan. On Monday morning, Malik Khan arrived at Calgary International Airport three hours prior to his scheduled Alaskan Airlines flight. I was supposed to go to Pakistan for the first time in 12 years to attend the wedding of my niece and also I wanted to see my brother and sister who are over there, said Khan. I went to the U.S. Immigration and they took my thumb impression, my paperwork, my picture, everything, recalled Khan. After securing his boarding pass, Khan made his way to U.S. Customs and Immigration. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visa officers: It's a phony issue, as far as I'm concerned, to say that somehow immigrants don't have or don't develop the so-called values that the rest of us have, says Victor Satzewich, a sociology professor at the Hamilton university, according to CBC. Satzewich is the author of Points of Entry, which includes a behind-the-scenes look at how applications to enter Canada are processed, and how visa officers make decisions or exercise discretion. Despite having spoken to her on the phone to explain how she misunderstands his book, and having published an op-ed firing against her policy, he's wearily finding himself cited in a video that went viral last week. They are working incredibly hard to make ends meet. In an interview with CBC News, Satzewich said Leitch's plan doesn't make any sense, from a practical point of view, and she misunderstands the decision-making process of immigration officials. They want to have the same things that other Canadians want.'- Victor Satzewich Leitch, one of 14 people vying for the Conservative leadership, has cited the book in both her controversial campaign launch speech in November and in a viral video released on Feb. 26 while explaining her campaign's intention to screen all immigrants for anti-Canadian values. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

washington state: With its policies, Donald Trump's government has declared open season on Muslims and immigrants, according to Metro News. The courts struck down the initial travel ban, yet the Trump administration has doubled down on its commitments. In fact, it is past due. Now the dangerous rhetoric and policy from the West Wing has filtered down to its citizenry. In Washington state Deep Rai, a Sikh man, was shot on his driveway on March 3 by a suspect who reportedly told him to go back to your country. Jewish community centres and cemeteries are receiving threats. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

working-age americans: But new immigrants will account for all the growth, according to CTV. Without them, the number of working-age Americans would drop to 166 million by 2035. Pew projects that the U.S. working-age 25-64 population will grow from 173 million in 2015 to 183 million in 2035. As Baby Boomers retire, the number of U.S.-born working-age adults with U.S.-born parents will account for a smaller share of working-age population 66 per cent in 2035, down from 74 per cent in 2015. Pew's projections are based on current rates of immigration and combine legal immigrants with those who enter the United States illegally. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

b.c .,: His brother Daniel Van Heest expressed his anger at judges and immigration officials who allowed the deportation to happen, according to Brandon Sun. He said his brother is now in the care of family in the Netherlands with the help of the Salvation Army. Len Van Heest of Courtenay, B.C., was deported to the Netherlands this week after a string of criminal convictions for uttering threats, mischief and assault that his lawyer says were linked to his mental illness. Needless to say his mental faculties have been stressed to the max, he said. Mentally ill people should never be deported. The system is skewed. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

blizzard: The reeve of Emerson, on the Manitoba-U.S. border, says 19 people crossed into Canada in a blizzard overnight Tuesday, according to Brandon Sun. If you've ever been in a Prairie blizzard, you know that is very, very risky, Goodale said Wednesday. The recent influx of asylum-seekers from the United States at remote border points often in desperately cold weather will be among the thorny issues on the agenda when new U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly visits Ottawa. Who organized this, this movement, and did they actually contemplate letting people out on a roadside in the middle of a Prairie blizzard I think we'll want to explore the factors that lead to that kind of potentially dangerous behaviour. I think in this first conversation, it will be very important to ensure that we've got a common fact base. Canada and the U.S. must come to an understanding of who the migrants are, how and why they are making these journeys and how the situation might evolve in the days and weeks ahead, Goodale said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald election: They exchange phone numbers for a day they hope will never come, according to Brandon Sun. Since Donald Trump's election as president, about 30 New York City residents have met regularly with dozens of Latino immigrants living in the country illegally, offering them their help and, in some cases, their homes. They teach one another English and Spanish. Many say that if the immigrants are detained or deported, they would be willing to take in their children. I may not have a lot of walls, but I can go buy one of those Ikea partition things and I can manage to find space on my floor for up to 10 people. I have enough space, said Ruth Silverberg, a college professor who shares a two-bedroom apartment in Staten Island with her grown son. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

aaron burr: Luwoye played the title role in the mega-hit musical Hamilton at the matinee and then suited up a few hours later to play Aaron Burr that evening, according to The Chronicle Herald. I knew that this would happen, at some point. It was a Wednesday and he certainly earned his salary that day. I was prepped and a little excited to do that. It was much more exhilarating than I'd imagined it would be. So it was one of those moments of just, 'Let's just go!' he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

basics: Topics include how to budget on an irregular income, raising financially fit kids, the basics of borrowing and money basics for newcomers, according to Hamilton Spectator. The workshops are being held at PATH's location at 31 King St. The sessions are being held daily, March 13 to 16, from 10 to 11 a.m. E., Suite 100. For more information and to register, call 905-528-6611. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

chad greenway: From start to finish, Greenway had quite the career, according to Hamilton Spectator. Proudly declaring he's healthy and happy and ready for retirement after 11 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings Greenway turned his time at the podium at a farewell news conference into a 25-minute thank-you to the people who influenced and supported him over the years. NFL players usually don't get to leave the game like Chad Greenway did. Former teammates Jim Kleinsasser and Ben Leber were among those in attendance, along with Vikings greats Carl Eller and Bud Grant. I wish I would've had him when he was younger, said Zimmer, who has been with the Vikings for three seasons. General manager Rick Spielman praised Greenway's exemplary citizenship off the field, and coach Mike Zimmer expressed his appreciation for being able to lean on Greenway's leadership to help sell his message in the locker room. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

county municipality: During the monthly meeting on Monday, Betty Ann Mac Quarrie said local politicians are having to look at ways of repopulating emptying rural areas, according to Metro News. She says the county municipality believes agricultural immigration needs to be part of the solution. The warden of Inverness County said she's concerned that Statistics Canada figures are showing a 4.3 per cent drop in residents of the western Cape Breton area since 2011, a loss of about 600 people. The southern portion of the municipality has seen an even sharper decline, losing over five per cent of its people. CIGO, Charlottetown Guardian In eastern Prince Edward Island, the Belfast Development Corp. recently endorsed a plan that aims to create an inventory of land that could be used to attract young families to the rural area. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

development secretary: In what appears to be an embarrassing pattern of missteps on race for the Trump administration, Carson told a room packed with hundreds of federal workers that the Africans captured, sold and transported to America against their will had the same hopes and dreams as early immigrants, according to Toronto Star. That's what America is about. The Associated Press By Tracy Jan Jose A. DelReal The Washington Post Tues., March 7, 2017 WASHINGTON Ben Carson compared slaves to immigrants seeking a better life in his first official address Monday as Housing and Urban Development secretary, setting off an uproar on social media. A land of dreams and opportunity. But they, too, had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons, great-granddaughters might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land. There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less, said Carson, speaking extemporaneously as he paced the room with a microphone. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

email: The email includes three examples of questions she wants asked of immigrants Are men and woman equal, and entitled to equal protection under the law Is it ever OK to coerce or use violence against an individual or a group who disagrees with your views Do you recognize that to have a good life in Canada you will need to work hard to provide for yourself and your family, and that you can't expect to have things you want given to you It is unclear if the email, which was first reported by iPolitics.ca, was sent to all Conservative Party members, or just subscribers to The Rebel.media, according to CBC. Leitch's campaign spokesman Michael Diamond said he would not be able to shed any more light on the email because he does not discuss strategy or tactics with the media. In a sponsored email sent to subscribers of the conservative website The Rebel.media, Kellie Leitch promises that if she becomes Conservative leader, and then prime minister, she would require each immigrant to Canada to be screened for Canadian values. Kellie Leitch says her supporters aren't racist for backing values test Trudeau 'Do you think Kellie Leitch should have her own party ' The cornerstone of Leitch's campaign to be the next leader of the federal Conservatives has so far been her pledge to redraft Canada's immigration policy. I believe that every single potential immigrant, without exception, should have a face-to-face interview with a trained immigration officer and asked questions to ascertain whether or not their values are consistent with our way of life, Leitch says in the email. Not only would her plan require each immigrant to be screened for anti-Canadian values, but everyone seeking to start a new life in Canada would have to undergo a face-to-face interview with an immigration official before being granted entry. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

eu law: The European Court of Justice ruled that allowing people to choose where to get international protection would undermine the EU system establishing which country should handle asylum applications, according to The Chronicle Herald. It said that EU law only lays out the procedures and conditions for issuing visas to transit through or stay on the territory of a member state for up to 90 days. The decision announced Tuesday came after a Belgian court in October ordered the government to give humanitarian visas to a family in war-torn Syria. But the Luxembourg-based court said member state courts remain free to rule on visas under national law. The government fears that granting visas would open the floodgates to more applications and believes that it should be responsible for such decisions and not the courts. Friends in Belgium had offered to lodge and feed the family, who lived in the besieged city of Aleppo and believed still to be in Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

fidesz party: In the eyes of Hungary's combative prime minister, Viktor Orban, an early supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, migrants are a Trojan horse of terrorism, putting his country under siege, according to CTV. He considers the migrants, many of whom are Muslims, as a threat to Europe's Christian identity and culture. Human rights groups said the decision was a flagrant violation of international law. According to rules adopted Tuesday by lawmakers from his governing Fidesz party and the far-right Jobbik party, all asylum-seekers will be detained at camps built from shipping containers on the border with Serbia until a final decision is made on their asylum requests. Police will also be allowed to expel to the Serbian side of the border fence any migrants who cannot prove their legal right to be in Hungary. Hungary intends to close all other refugee reception centres around the country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.