alison clancey: Police, perplexingly, think that this is a trust-building exercise, said Alison Clancey, executive director of SWAN Vancouver Society, an organization that supports migrant and immigrant women in the sex trade, according to Globe and Mail. It's using deception and manipulation to get women to come to hotel rooms, and for some reason, they think sex workers will be grateful. As well, some sex workers who have been targeted in these operations have described the events as frightening and traumatic. But that's just not the case. Police did not respond to a request for comment from The Globe and Mail. SWAN Vancouver Society is among 24 signatories of an open letter sent to B.C. RCMP on Thursday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

brampton resident: David Cooper / Toronto Star file photo By Peter Criscione Brampton Guardian Thu., July 6, 2017 Mayor Linda Jeffrey is urging a fellow city council member to seek diversity training for an email he wrote that says newcomers to Canada should learn the values of white people, according to Toronto Star. I find it disheartening to hear such insensitive language being used by a member of my council, said Jeffrey, responding to an email exchange between Regional Councillor John Sprovieri and a Brampton resident, which contains derogatory and racially charged language. I hope that the newcomers will learn the values of the white people so that Brampton and Canada will continue to be a favourite destination for people who want a better and peaceful lifestyle. Responding to Sheila Jacobson, the author of the email headed with the subject line Why are WHITE PEOPLE still planning Brampton's future Sprovieri stated that white people of Canada had created a great system where everyone is welcome and can live peacefully together. In an interview, Sprovieri said his comments, which have garnered widespread media attention and ignited outrage in the community and on social media, may have been poorly communicated, but are not entirely wrong. I hope that the newcomers will learn the values of the white people, so that Brampton and Canada will continue to be a favourite destination for people who want a better and peaceful lifestyle. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

chris lyles: Johnson, playing in his 11th CFL season, has taken on a leadership role with newcomers like Chris Lyles, who plays on the wide side with Johnson, according to CTV. I'm dealing with the young guys, trying to help those guys become better pros, Johnson said. Now in his second stint with the club, Johnson has become the veteran taking Saskatchewan's rookie defensive backs under his wing. The 33-year-old got his CFL start with the Regina club in 2007, when Davis was a regular in the Riders' secondary. Guys like Eddie Davis helped me get across that hump. Johnson saw his first game action in the team's final two regular season games that year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

i love: Unfortunately, while reciting a list of provinces and territories that embrace that diversity, he managed to skip over Alberta, although the province was named in the prepared text, according to Globe and Mail. Oops. Enthusiastic, confident, hyperbolic there were tens of thousands of spectators on the grounds of Parliament Hill, not the hundreds of thousands he alluded to respectful of the Indigenous roots that long predate Confederation, and thrilled by the multicultural achievement of this diverse, tolerant, country. Later, as he introduced Canada's two new astronauts, Mr. I got excited somewhere over the Rockies, adding Alberta, I love you. Trudeau began Let me just start by saying I'm a little embarrassed. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dreamstime tns: The initiative is long overdue, but to be effective, it must be broader, backed with adequate enforcement, significant penalties for those who break the law, and further conditions for payment transparency, according to Toronto Star. Sunshine rules only do so much. Dreamstime / TNS By Trudo Lemmens and Paul D. Thacker Fri., July 7, 2017 Ontario's Minister of Health Eric Hoskins recently announced the government may oblige the pharmaceutical industry to disclose all payments to physicians. We must examine the damage done by industry-related financial conflicts of interests on health care, and restore integrity that wins back the public's trust. Studies find that financial ties between doctors and industry lead to over-diagnosis of disease a process called disease mongering and over-prescription.A recent analysis even found that the more money a doctor receives, the more likely that physician is to prescribe expensive brand name drugs. Physician sunshine rules address problems that have been extensively examined. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

election integrity: Yet he has repeatedly claimed that 3 million to 5 million people voted illegally for Hillary Clinton, a number that, if true, would mean that he also won the popular vote, according to Rabble. The problem is, it's not true. He lost massively, by over 2.8 million votes, but he won the Electoral College, and thus the presidency. So, in order to bolster his fantastical claims, Trump announced on May 11 that he was launching the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity to investigate fraudulent voting. On June 28, Kobach sent a letter to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a sweeping request for voter rolls with details about every voter in the country name, address, Social Security number, party affiliation, voting history, military status and more. He named Kansas' controversial and fiercely anti-immigrant Secretary of State Kris Kobach as the commission's vice chairperson. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

grant money: The Justice Department said it was reviewing policies of the jurisdictions to determine whether they should lose some federal grant money for failing to prove they are adhering to federal immigration law, according to The Chronicle Herald. The cities include New York, Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia, which said in its letter to the department that the city was adhering to the law even while refusing to collect information on residents' immigration statuses. In a strongly worded statement, the department said some of the 10 jurisdictions under scrutiny insist they are compliant with the law while still defiantly refusing to co-operate with efforts to detain and deport immigrants living in the country illegally. Also on the list are two states California and Connecticut along with Miami-Dade County in Florida; Cook County in Illinois; Milwaukee County in Wisconsin; and Clark County in Nevada. The cities disagreed with that assessment, saying their rules comport with the specific section of federal law that bars municipalities from forcing local officials to keep certain information from federal immigration authorities. The locales were singled out last year by the department's inspector general for having rules that hinder the ability of local law enforcement to communicate with federal officials about the immigration status of people they have detained. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration official: Isabel Martinez, 33, appeared before Gwinnett County Magistrate Court Judge Michael Thorpe a day after police said she stabbed the five to death and seriously injured another child at her home, according to CTV. The surviving 9-year-old girl remained hospitalized with serious injuries. Also, an immigration official said the woman, who is from Mexico, entered the U.S. illegally. Before the hearing began, Martinez sat with other inmates and posed for cameras -- smiling, giving the thumbs up, putting her hands in a prayer position and spreading her arms out wide. Ma'am, I'm going to caution you to cut out the display for the cameras, he said. As Thorpe listed the charges -- five counts of malice murder, five counts of murder and six counts of aggravated assault -- Martinez smiled, shook her head no and wagged her finger at him. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

iwk foundation: This award has very special meaning to me as an immigrant to this great country a country that I truly love, said Gillivan, who came from Ireland in 1982 and became a Canadian citizen in 1987, according to The Chronicle Herald. To me, Canada is a complex and colourful mosaic of people and nations blending together under one red maple leaf flag while upholding the traditions and cultures of their homelands, Gillivan said in a press release. Jennifer Gillivan, CEO of the IWK Foundation, was named to the annual list at a recent gala in Toronto. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

john cunningham: The 38-year old electrical contractor had been in custody since he was arrested at his home on June 16, according to The Chronicle Herald. Federal immigration officials have said Cunningham represented an enforcement priority because he overstayed a 90-day visa by more than a decade. John Cunningham returned to Ireland on Wednesday night, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed on Thursday. His significant overstay was cause and reason enough, ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls said last week. Cunningham was subject to mandatory detention and wasn't entitled to a hearing under the terms of the visa. Someone who overstays a visitor visa is flagrantly violating the granted benefit. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nenshi: We had a rough couple of years in Calgary, Nenshi said as he prepared to ride on horseback through downtown, according to CTV. Today really is a day for us to all celebrate and to really celebrate community. This year is special. Nenshi said he's seeing a lot more optimism, noting Alberta added 41,000 jobs over the past year and the provincial government this week committed 1.53 billion to a major light rail transit expansion in Calgary. Certainly we're uncertain about the future, but things are better than they've been and I think most people feel that right now. I wouldn't say it's unbridled optimism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rohingya: The Rohingya face severe discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and were the targets of violence in Rakhine in 2012 that killed hundreds and drove about 140,000 people predominantly Rohingya from their homes to displacement camps, where most remain, according to Metro News. The Rohingya have long been denied citizenship, freedom of movement and basic rights in Myanmar, where they are often seen as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, although many have lived in the area for generations. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi spoke in Bangkok after an official visit to Myanmar. The Muslim community, the Rohingya community suffers from a set of rules and regulations that contributes to their marginalization, Grandi said at a news conference. He said that in addition to providing the Rohingya with more freedom of movement and social services, The Rakhine state where both communities coexist must see more development. To this you must add the general situation of poverty and underdevelopment that affects everybody in the state of Rakhine. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

upstairs floors: There are very few signs of an UNHCR office on Michalakopoulou, according to Rabble. No inscriptions are visible neither outside nor inside the building. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR office -- located in-between a supermarket and a bank on Michalakopoulou street, in a large, imposing building, with massive glass doors, marble-like white and grey floor tiles and four elevators to the upstairs floors, carefully guarded by security officers who assertively inform strangers that a scheduled meeting is needed for entering the UNHCR -- gives little respite from the heat. The only indications are a white van parked at the corner of Michalakopoulou and Leof. They are hiding from the people. Vasileos Alexandrou, where some people are sleeping on the back seats, a couple of dark-skinned women holding their babies in their arms, and the formally-dressed, somehow fashionable UNHCR workers continually walking in and out of the building. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

veteran musician: I just remember that as a moment where you could no longer ignore the injustice and the anger that was behind that, said 64-year-old Was, a veteran musician, producer and president of Blue Note Records, according to Metro News. Things were just in your face you couldn't just go about your business anymore. He'd already been turned on to the power of protest music, but the unrest that enveloped 25 city blocks and claimed 43 lives was another turning point altogether. Was brings those realities into leading the 10th Detroit All-Star Revue on July 15 at Orchestra Hall. This year's revue sets out to commemorate Detroit's history of musical rebellion on the eve of the riot's 50th anniversary. The concert is part of the 25th Concert of Colors a free, multi-day festival celebrating the musical and ethnic diversity of the city. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

way things: I am afraid the way things are at this point we will need additional resources ... because there is a limit to how much you can stretch one person's time, Dion said in an interview with CBC News, according to CBC. He said it's essentially impossible to close the gap using existing resources. Mario Dion insists the IRB has become more efficient in dealing with cases, but it's not enough. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen recently announced a review of the asylum system, but he's offered no guarantee of additional funding. They are a group of about 5,500 people who have yet to have their asylum claims heard. The bulk of the backlog is made up of Canada's so-called legacy refugees. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

asylum: Others arrived as young adults and are now parents, according to Toronto Star. Many have not seen their families back home for five or six years. NICHOLAS KEUNG / Toronto Star By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Thu., July 6, 2017 Some came to Canada for asylum as children and are now finishing high school. On Thursday, these forgotten refugees who have been waiting for an asylum hearing since 2012, held a silent protest in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board headquarters in Toronto, hoping to be heard by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. We are tired of waiting. It took courage for them to come forward, as many still have loved ones back home facing persecution while others fear repercussions by Canadian officials and the public for demanding rights and justice, said protest organizer David Mateo Camelo, a refugee claimant from Colombia. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

business favours: However, local media quoted the deputy national police chief, Syafruddin, as saying on Thursday that there appeared to be no criminal offence involved and the case should be dropped, according to The Chronicle Herald. The nearly three-minute video entitled Ask Daddy for a Project a reference to children of politicians who seek business favours includes criticism of Indonesians who during recent sectarian tensions in the Muslim-majority nation declared they would refuse funeral rites for those who supported non-Muslims as leaders. Police plan to summon Kaesang Pangarep for questioning after receiving a complaint about a video uploaded to You Tube in May, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said Thursday. Rights groups have frequently called for Indonesia's draconian blasphemy law to be repealed. The former governor of Jakarta, a minority Christian, is serving a two-year prison sentence for blasphemy after being sentenced in May following months of protests against him by Islamic hardliners. It allows for sentences of up to five years in prison and is often used to attack minorities and political foes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ctv toronto: His older brother was one of approximately 30 C.W. Jefferys Collegiate students on the trip, according to CTV. The boys' family moved to Toronto from Guyana in September. Jeremiah Perry, 15, drowned Tuesday and his body was found Wednesday in Big Trout Lake. A student told CTV Toronto that Jeremiah was not wearing a life jacket when a group of kids went into the water to wash off after a couple of days in the bush. Something pulled me down, said Boran Balci, who says he was wearing a life jacket. There were supervisors nearby, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

diesel cars: French car manufacturers Peugeot, Citroen and Renault ranked first, second and third on a 2016 list of large car manufacturers with the lowest carbon emissions, the European Environment Agency EEA said, according to CTV. Hulot, a veteran environmental campaigner, was among several political newcomers to whom President Emmanuel Macron gave top jobs in his government. We are announcing an end to the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040, Hulot said, calling it a veritable revolution . Hulot acknowledged that reaching the target would be tough particularly for automakers, but said that France's car industry was well equipped to make the switch. Several European countries have announced plans to dramatically reduce the amount of polluting petrol and diesel cars on their roads in favour of cleaner hybrid or all-electric vehicles. In 2016, hybrid and electric cars accounted for 3.6 percent of new cars registered in Western Europe. Germany aims to put one million electric cars on the road by 2020. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

grant money: The Justice Department said it was reviewing policies of the jurisdictions to determine whether they should lose some federal grant money for failing to prove they are adhering to federal immigration law, according to Metro News. The cities include New York, Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia, which said in its letter to the department that the city was adhering to the law even while refusing to collect information on residents' immigration statuses. In a strongly worded statement, the department said some of the 10 jurisdictions under scrutiny insist they are compliant with the law while still defiantly refusing to co-operate with efforts to detain and deport immigrants living in the country illegally. Also on the list are two states California and Connecticut along with Miami-Dade County in Florida; Cook County in Illinois; Milwaukee County in Wisconsin; and Clark County in Nevada. The cities disagreed with that assessment, saying their rules comport with the specific section of federal law that bars municipalities from forcing local officials to keep certain information from federal immigration authorities. The locales were singled out last year by the department's inspector general for having rules that hinder the ability of local law enforcement to communicate with federal officials about the immigration status of people they have detained. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

john cunningham: The 38-year old electrical contractor had been in custody since he was arrested at his home on June 16, according to Metro News. Federal immigration officials have said Cunningham represented an enforcement priority because he overstayed a 90-day visa by more than a decade. John Cunningham returned to Ireland on Wednesday night, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed on Thursday. His significant overstay was cause and reason enough, ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls said last week. Cunningham was subject to mandatory detention and wasn't entitled to a hearing under the terms of the visa. Someone who overstays a visitor visa is flagrantly violating the granted benefit. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

journey home: In fact, they barely spoke, according to Rabble. So when she was sexually assaulted at the age of eight, she didn't know who to talk to. The daughter of Guatemalan refugees didn't know where her parents came from or why they fled. This documentary explores what Nati went through to heal and discover her own past. Carlos Tello is a freelance multimedia journalist based in Vancouver. The Long Journey Home was produced in 2016 by Carlos Tello and Aurora Tejeida. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

marijuana possession: DARRYL DYCK / The Canadian Press file photo Anthony Morgan, a human rights lawyer and community activist, says the federal government should set up an active mechanism to remove charges related to marijuana possession, post-legalization, according to Toronto Star. Jim Rankin / Toronto Star Order this photo Toronto lawyer Daniel Brown says the Toronto police TAVIS unit has criminalized a generation of young black males over marijuana, a substance that is on the verge of being legal. But Toronto police data from 2003-2013 shows very different rates of marijuana possession charges, according to a Star analysis. Jim Rankin / Toronto Star Order this photo Toronto lawyer Annamaria Enenajor says disproportionate criminal convictions for marijuana possession for Black Canadians are a legacy of racism. They've also been more likely to be detained for bail, the data shows. Jim Rankin / Toronto Star By Jim Rankin Feature reporter Sandro Contenta News Staff Reporters Andrew Bailey Data Analyst Thu., July 6, 2017 Black people with no history of criminal convictions have been three times more likely to be arrested by Toronto police for possession of small amounts of marijuana than white people with similar backgrounds, according to a Toronto Star analysis. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nicole winfield: Emilio Morenatti / The Associated Press By Nicole Winfield The Associated Press Thu., July 6, 2017 ROME European Union officials on Thursday reaffirmed the need to tackle Europe's migrant crisis in Libya and surrounding countries, amid continued resistance in Europe to welcome refugees, according to Toronto Star. Italy announced some 34 million in new investments aimed at preventing migrants from ever reaching or leaving Libya's lawless shores where smugglers operate. EU officials reaffirmed a controversial plan to tackle Europe's migrant crisis through measures aimed at preventing migrants from reaching or leaving Libya's shores. And EU interior ministers warned they might sanction migrants' home countries with visa restrictions if they refuse to take their people back when their European asylum bids fail. Amid mounting anti-immigrant sentiment across Europe, Italy has increased its complaints that it can no longer shoulder the burden of the migrant crisis alone. Europe's migration crisis was on the agenda at two meetings Thursday an informal EU-wide interior ministers meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, and a meeting in Rome of foreign ministers from Libya, surrounding African countries and selected European partners. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tshakapesh: He took his own life in May after being treated outside the province for solvent abuse, according to Metro News. Simeon Tshakapesh was among Innu leaders who signed an agreement with Premier Dwight Ball after a meeting on Wednesday. The move follows the death of Thunderheart Tshakapesh, the 16-year-old son of Simeon Tshakapesh, the deputy grand chief of the Innu Nation. They agreed to come up with terms of reference and inquiry leadership by July 31, 2017. The provincial and Innu leaders said they will ask the federal government to participate, with the hope that the inquiry will begin by Sept. 30, 2017. The inquiry will look at the treatment, experiences and outcomes of Innu in the child protection system, and to identify recommendations for change, according to the memorandum of understanding. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

drug violence: Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children fleeing gang and drug violence in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have entered the U.S. in recent years, according to Metro News. Federal officials place the vast majority of them with family in the U.S., who care for the minors while they attend school and while their cases go through the immigration court system. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said two laws passed by Congress did not end the right to a bond hearing for unaccompanied immigrant children who are detained by federal authorities. But the Department of Human Services has the authority to hold children in secure facilities if they pose a danger to themselves or others or have committed a crime. Immigration advocates estimate the size of the group in secure custody at several hundred children and say bond hearings allow them to understand why they are being held and challenge their detention. Some have spent months in detention. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.