stephanie levitz: One of the options on the table, multiple sources have told The Canadian Press, is rejigging the historic Immigration and Refugee Board, and giving some of its authority over to the Immigration Department itself, according to Toronto Star. But those advocating for the government to do something before backlogs threaten the integrity of the system say they are running up against a Liberal government seeming to have lost interest in spending any more money or political capital to help asylum seekers. PATRICK DOYLE / THE CANADIAN PRESS By Stephanie Levitz The Canadian Press Mon., May 15, 2017 OTTAWA A Liberal election promise to overhaul the way asylum claims are handled has been postponed indefinitely despite rising numbers of people seeking refuge in Canada putting the system at risk, The Canadian Press has learned. Read more Number of asylum claims from Mexico drop in April since visa lift Article Continued Below Manitoba, feds at odds over refugee funding amid influx of asylum seekers The starting point is the designated country of origins system, which determines how fast asylum claims are heard based on where they are from a system that should, in theory, help weed out unfounded claims faster. Elements of the program have already been struck down by the Federal Court. react-empty 157 The Liberals had been on the cusp of doing away with it, going even farther than their original promise to use an expert panel to determine which countries belonged on that list. Internal evaluations have shown that hasn't quite worked, and the system has drawn the ire of refugee advocates for creating a two-tier approach that includes unworkable timelines for hearing cases and their appeals. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

telecommunications commission: The process could result in the regulator denying permission for closing a station, said a CRTC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, according to Metro News. However, there are no guarantees that a station earmarked for going off the air would remain open, the official acknowledged. Station owners will have to give 120 days notice of an intended closure, during which time the regulator will open the proposed shutdown to public hearings, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said in issuing five-year licence renewals for the major TV conglomerates. This is essentially something that is a safety net of some sort to ensure that we receive advice and that we be in a position to actually consult Canadians by our usual means, the official said, noting that none of the broadcasters appearing before the regulator in the last year proposed station closures. However, it wasn't clear how public concerns over a proposed shutdown would be weighted against a TV group's financial pressures. The public would be consulted through open hearings and social media if a closure were to be proposed, the regulator said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

term newfie: Now, a McMaster University sociologist in Hamilton is trying to get to the bottom of the term Newfie, and explore attitudes surrounding the divisive moniker, according to CBC. James Baker is a native Newfoundlander, and researched attitudes about the word's use for a paper, as a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the university. For others, it's a deplorable insult that's no better than calling someone a moron. Tom Mulcair apologizes for 1996 Newfie comment Come From Away gets standing ovation at Toronto opening Baker went into it with some baggage, telling CBC News that he always found the term offensive, but tried to not let that influence his approach. For his research, Baker studied historic accounts of the word, and interviewed 30 post-secondary students in Newfoundland about their feelings on it. It always used to make my skin crawl when someone would use it in a negative manner, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vietnam war: Subscribe here, according to CBC. Canadian literary star Kim Th y wants Canada to welcome more refugees from Syria, the way it welcomed her family four decades ago. You can hear a full feature interview with Governor General award-winning which brings you conversations with people who make up modern Montreal. Maybe Canadians forget how great they are, but they welcomed 60,000 Vietnamese in two years, Th y told CBC Montreal's new podcast Montreapolis in a wide-ranging interview. Canada has accepted 38,000 Syrian refugees since November 2015. Montreapolis Inside the lives of 8 people making modern Montreal Th y came to Quebec as part of the wave of Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s, fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

washington-based foundation: And when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the White House on Tuesday, the most he and President Donald Trump may be able to do is agree to disagree, and move on, according to The Chronicle Herald. The Turks see this as a crisis in the relationship, said Jonathan Schanzer at the Washington-based Foundation for Defence of Democracies. The Turks are fiercely opposed to the U.S. plans, seeing the Kurdish fighters as terrorists. The challenge is hardly new. Past administrations have sought a delicate balance. Long before Trump took office, U.S. presidents have grappled with the fragility of partnering with Turkey's government and the Kurds to carry out a Middle East agenda. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

asylum claims: But those advocating for action before backlogs threaten the integrity of the system say they are up against a government which seems to have lost interest in spending more money or political capital to help asylum seekers, according to Brandon Sun. The starting point is the designated country of origin system, which determines how quickly asylum claims are heard based on where they are from a system that should, in theory, weed out unfounded claims faster. One of the options on the table, multiple sources have told The Canadian Press, is rejigging the historic Immigration and Refugee Board and handing some of its authority to the Immigration Department. Internal evaluations have shown that hasn't quite worked and the system has drawn the ire of refugee advocates for creating a two-tier approach that includes unworkable timelines for hearing cases and their appeals. But a planned January roll-out was postponed after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and the subsequent Liberal cabinet shuffle that brought a new immigration minister. The Liberals had been on the cusp of doing away with it, going even farther than their original promise to use an expert panel to determine which countries belonged on that list. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

calendar year: By The Associated Press' count, more than 100,000 Chinese have spent at least 24 billion in the last decade to buy residency through investment visa programs, according to Brandon Sun. The AP obtained the numbers of Chinese visa recipients from programs in 13 countries. And there's no bigger market for many of them than China. To estimate total investments, the AP multiplied the yearly number of Chinese investors, excluding family members, by the minimum investment required by each country. The annual investment totals were converted into dollars based on the average exchange rate for that calendar year. Most of the countries in AP's survey did not provide an official estimate of Chinese investment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

onsulting firms: And as China gets wealthier, millions of families have the means to purchase a new life elsewhere, according to Brandon Sun. Their demand has transformed a once obscure market for immigration by investment. China's middle and upper classes are demanding better schools, cleaner air and a more secure life for their children. To study China's impact, the Associated Press collected statistics from 13 countries that offer citizenship or permanent residency for a price. CHINA'S FAVORITE PROGRAMSConsulting firms in China's biggest cities hawk investor visa programs in weekly sessions at hotels and on social media. Here's a look at AP's analysis of the market, by the numbers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

telecommunications commission: The process could result in the regulator denying permission for closing a station, said a CRTC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, according to Brandon Sun. However, there are no guarantees that a station earmarked for going off the air would remain open, the official acknowledged. Station owners will have to give 120 days notice of an intended closure, during which time the regulator will open the proposed shutdown to public hearings, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said in issuing five-year licence renewals for the major TV conglomerates. This is essentially something that is a safety net of some sort to ensure that we receive advice and that we be in a position to actually consult Canadians by our usual means, the official said, noting that none of the broadcasters appearing before the regulator in the last year proposed station closures. However, it wasn't clear how public concerns over a proposed shutdown would be weighted against a TV group's financial pressures. The public would be consulted through open hearings and social media if a closure were to be proposed, the regulator said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

buddhist community: Buddha's birthday is very significant for the whole world, Reverend Uttam Barua, the Buddhist monk at Regina's Laos Temple, told CBC Radio's Saskatchewan Weekend, according to CBC. Barua said that from time to time, people need to be reminded of Buddha's teachings of forgiveness, understanding, non-violence and harmony. Buddha yes, the Buddha is turning 2560 and members of the city's Buddhist community are throwing a party. Last year was the first time Buddha's birthday was celebrated in Regina. Govendor, who was born and raised as a Hindu, left home at a young age and considered himself a lost soul. I was still lost' Curious what a birthday party for Buddha would be like Head down to the Orr Centre Sunday evening to find out Facebook/ Buddhist Centre of Regina Krishnasamy Govender, executive director with the Buddhist Centre of Regina, helped Barua organize the event, after the pair launched meditation classes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

citizens hope: The beauty pageant this year includes five women who immigrated to the U.S. at a young age and now as citizens hope to represent the nation on a global stage, according to CTV. The women from Florida, North Dakota, Hawaii, Connecticut and New Jersey told The Associated Press this week they have faced challenges and opportunities as immigrants. A new Miss USA will be crowned Sunday during the two-hour event taking place in Las Vegas for the second year in a row. As Miss USA, I would love to be able to be that inspiration for our immigrant community, said Linnette De Los Santos, who emigrated with her family from the Dominican Republic when she was 5. The contestants' remarks stand in stark contrast to the scandal that enveloped the pageant in 2015, when then-part owner and now U.S. President Donald Trump offended Hispanics when he made anti-immigrant remarks in announcing his bid for the White House. If I would have stopped following my dreams and working hard towards what I wanted, I wouldn't be sitting here as Miss Florida USA or in law school ready to become an immigration attorney. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald: However, that respect was built from different vantage points, according to Hamilton Spectator. Price was a college teammate of Donald's at Pittsburgh for three seasons, watching him dominate the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference up close. Tanzel Smart and Ejuan Price share the same admiration for Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Smart was just starting his collegiate career at Tulane as Donald was closing his out by receiving multiple national awards and honours. It's crazy because I was a college player the same time he was, Smart said. Now, the defensive tackle Smart and outside linebacker Price hope to carve out successful NFL careers with the Rams by using Donald as a role model and resource. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

equity: However, not all provinces have equity policies and, even where they do exist, none have an enforcement mechanism, according to Globe and Mail. The guidelines also call for diverse representation on selection committees, training on unconscious biases, improving awareness of the CRCP diversity targets, candidate pools that include women, visible minorities, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, and a more active role for university equity officers. They highlight the multi-level policy environment, including university hiring policies, collective agreements and provincial equity policies. None of these guidelines are new. Since the CRCP launched in 2000, white men have received a disproportionate number of the chairs. And, despite longstanding knowledge of the diversity gaps, the government has permitted universities to delay compliance by two to three years. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant moms: Dunne has been a settlement worker at the Whistler Multicultural Network for the past four years, according to CBC. She told CBC's On The Coast host Stephen Quinn that she noticed a growing number of immigrants using the network's services and that there's a gap in the services available to them. That's why Andrea Dunne, an immigrant and parent herself, is launching a pilot program in Whistler called Parenting Across Cultures to help ease the burden for sleep-deprived immigrant parents and help them find a footing in the community. I noticed that if I went to a program that was already offered in Whistler, I didn't always come across a huge amount of immigrant moms even though I knew they were out there, Dunne said. Dunne said that many of these new arrivals are immigrants. Whistler task force looks to address 'serious' rental housing crunch Avenue 0 How U.S. asylum seekers are finding their way to British Columbia According to the latest census numbers, Whistler is the fastest growing community of its size in B.C., increasing more than 21 per cent since 2011. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration council: James Civic Centre to recognize shared journeys, while enjoying food, music, and cultural dancing, according to CTV. The appreciation party was put on by the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council. Refugees came together with their Canadian friends at the St. The organization encourages friendship by matching hosts with refugee families. They're very supportive, very helpful, very good people. One woman named Souad, from Syria, said the Canadians she has been paired with have helped her and her family. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

king arthur: The gritty reimaging of the Excalibur myth starring Charlie Hunnam as Arthur debuted in third place behind box office leader Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Snatched at No. 2, according to The Chronicle Herald. Warner Bros. was unsurprisingly disappointed at the poor showing for King Arthur but hopeful for the rest of its summer slate, including Wonder Woman and Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. Studio estimates on Sunday say director Guy Ritchie's King Arthur Legend of the Sword opened to a bleak 14.7 million from more than 3,700 locations against a costly 175 million production budget. Snatched surprised analysts by beating King Arthur on the charts. Marvel and Disney's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 collected 63 million and has earned 246.2 million domestically in just two weeks. The raunchy, R-rated Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn comedy from 20th Century Fox opened with 17.5 million. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mccullough: I love science, McCullough said after the Sunday event, according to The Chronicle Herald. I look at this as a great opportunity to ... get to experience worldwide culture, as well as just having the opportunity to be impacted by so many children, hopefully in the math and sciences. She said she wants to inspire children to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. McCullough bested 50 other contestants and will represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe contest. Last year, District of Columbia resident Deshauna Barber became the first-ever military member to win Miss USA. This year's top five finalists were asked questions that touched on the pros and cons of social media, women's rights and issues affecting teenagers. This was the second year in a row that the representative of the nation's capital won the Miss USA title. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

napoleonic pomp: Macron's presidency began with a visit to troops wounded in overseas combat a reminder of France's large global military presence and role in fighting extremists from Syria to Africa, according to Toronto Star. He's expected to name a prime minister imminently, and to show his commitment to reviving European unity. The Associated Press By Sylvie Corbet The Associated Press Sun., May 14, 2017 PARIS In ceremonies marked by youthful optimism and old-world Napoleonic pomp, Emmanuel Macron swept into office Sunday as France's new president pledging to fortify the European Union, redesign French politics and glue together his divided nation. Macron takes his first presidential trip Monday to Berlin to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel. Yoan Valat / AFP/Getty Images Macron, right, wore a dark suit that cost 491 U.S. while his wife, Brigitte, wore a lavender dress by French designer Nicolas Guesquiere. Read more In France, the far-right is defeated - for now Editorial Article Continued Below France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen looks ahead to parliamentary elections Emmanuel Macron, right, met with outgoing president Francois Hollande on Sunday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

price-gouging practices: It is a 40-kilometre ride to a new life, for which the going rate is 50 to 75 U.S. . But one cab driver was charging 100 to 300 in cash, depending on his mood, according to Hamilton Spectator. And his passengers were not in a position to complain. Migrants lacking legal status in the United States have been fleeing to Canada by taking buses to Plattsburgh, N.Y, and then hailing taxis to a country road that dead-ends in an unofficial border crossing. But after a two-month investigation into the price-gouging practices of several taxi companies ferrying passengers to the border in Champlain, the New York state attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, announced Wednesday that he had obtained a court order against Christopher Ray Crowningshield, the owner and operator of Northern Taxi. He must also post fares in the two taxis he operates, cannot charge more than 10 times the Plattsburgh maximum fare, 7.50, and must call the attorney general's office each time he picks up a passenger headed for Roxham Road. Crowningshield had to pay the state 2,500. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

virginia governor: What brings us together is that we are white, we are a people, we will not be replaced, Spencer said at the first of two rallies he led in the college town where he once attended the University of Virginia, according to Hamilton Spectator. At the second rally, dozens of torch-bearing protesters gathered in a city park in the evening and chanted You will not replace us and Russia is our friend, local television footage shows. Self-proclaimed white nationalist Richard Spencer led a large group carrying torches and chanting You will not replace us Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia, protesting plans to remove a Confederate monument that has played an outsize role in this year's race for Virginia governor. Spencer was not shown addressing that gathering, but he tweeted a photo of himself standing in the crowd carrying what appeared to be a bamboo tiki torch. About 10 minutes into it, an altercation between Spencer's group and counterprotesters drew police to the scene, and the crowd quickly dispersed, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported. The evening protest was short-lived. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

years tourists: But officials cracked down on the practice and started removing the locks in 2015 after one section of the Pont des Arts collapsed under the weight of thousands of locks, according to CTV. Hundreds of people took part in the auction at Credit Municipal de Paris in which 150 bunches of the locks -- mounted on displays of wood or recycled paving stones, or hanging from acrylic stands -- went under the hammer. For years tourists inscribed their initials on padlocks and hooked them to the railings of bridges, most famously the Pont des Arts near the Louvre, throwing the key into the River Seine to express their undying devotion. Fifteen sections of the original Pont des Arts railings mounted on wood were also auctioned. Another display with 22 locks went for 1,200 euros, one with 17 for 1,000. Most of the lots had been expected to go for 150 to 200 euros each 165- 220 but one set of locks fastened to a replica of the Eiffel Tower mounted on a display of recycled paving stone -- called the French Lover -- sold for 2,400 euros. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

austria: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks for all of us, says Ogelge, when asked why he voted to strengthen his powers, according to Brandon Sun. In Austria, in Turkey everywhere. But his heart is in his Turkish homeland and beats for its president, even as Europe's democracies raise the alarm over the Turkish leader's push toward one-man rule. Ogelge is far from alone. More than 70 per cent voted yes in Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium, and more than 60 per cent in Germany and France. While nearly half overall of those who voted last month opposed a referendum giving Erdogan more power, many of the 1.4 million votes cast in Europe tell a different story. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

king arthur: The gritty reimaging of the Excalibur myth starring Charlie Hunnam as Arthur debuted in third place behind box office leader Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Snatched at No. 2, according to Brandon Sun. Warner Bros. was unsurprisingly disappointed at the poor showing for King Arthur but hopeful for the rest of its summer slate, including Wonder Woman and Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. Studio estimates on Sunday say director Guy Ritchie's King Arthur Legend of the Sword opened to a bleak 14.7 million from more than 3,700 locations against a costly 175 million production budget. Snatched surprised analysts by beating King Arthur on the charts. Marvel and Disney's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 collected 63 million and has earned 246.2 million domestically in just two weeks. The raunchy, R-rated Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn comedy from 20th Century Fox opened with 17.5 million. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

camp: He jumped from the car and fled into the nearby Palestinian refugee camp, where the Lebanese army has no authority, according to Brandon Sun. But it was not long afterward that Dawoud, who once admired the radical groups that have sprouted in the camps in Lebanon, decided he was tired of running. Then 17, the Palestinian didn't wait for the soldier to find the weapons hidden in the trunk. That same year, in 2007, he surrendered to authorities and spent 14 hard months in jail. On Monday, Palestinians mark 69 years since hundreds of thousands of them were forced from their homes during the 1948 war that led to the creation of Israel. Although he was released without a conviction, he couldn't erase the biggest strike against him As a Palestinian in Lebanon, he is a stateless, second-class resident in the only country where he's ever lived. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mccullough: I love science, McCullough said after the Sunday event, according to Brandon Sun. I look at this as a great opportunity to ... get to experience worldwide culture, as well as just having the opportunity to be impacted by so many children, hopefully in the math and sciences. She said she wants to inspire children to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. McCullough bested 50 other contestants and will represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe contest. Last year, District of Columbia resident Deshauna Barber became the first-ever military member to win Miss USA. This year's top five finalists were asked questions that touched on the pros and cons of social media, women's rights and issues affecting teenagers. This was the second year in a row that the representative of the nation's capital won the Miss USA title. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

appropriation prize: So it doesn't take a genius to know that, if you're devoting an issue of your magazine to a celebration of Indigenous writers, you don't take the opportunity to encourage more white people to write about those subjects.I mean, as if we haven't had enough of that!Hal Niedzviecki paid the price, according to Rabble. This week he resigned as the editor of The Writers' Union of Canada's magazine, Write, after he wrote a piece called Winning the Appropriation Prize. More often, you do not. He said he didn't believe in cultural appropriation, and that writers he meant white writers should be encouraged to imagine other peoples, other cultures, other identities. The Writers' Union, which exists to promote the rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of all writers, had to apologize for its editor's defence of cultural appropriation. Many people -- including the writers published in his magazine thought it was insensitive and inappropriate. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.