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.

asian country: It was recorded Tuesday, and it underscores how little has changed in the Southeast Asian country since the party led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and longtime opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi won elections a year and a half ago, according to The Chronicle Herald. Just look at these chains. But this moment, captured on video by a local news organization, the Democratic Voice of Burma, was not from another era. This is what we get for being journalists, said Lawi Weng, one of three reporters detained by the military on June 26 for covering a drug-burning ceremony organized by an ethnic rebel group in the northeast. The reporters each face three years in prison for violating the nation's Unlawful Associations Act, which was designed to punish people who associate with or assist illegal groups in this case, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, one of more than a dozen small rebel armies that control patches of territory in the north and east. How can we say this is democracy Weng asked before entering a police van headed back to jail after a brief court hearing in Shan state's Hsipaw township. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

semester example: Chu has a degree in psychology from Bryn Mawr College, as well as graduate degrees from the University of California, Davis, and Harvard, according to Globe and Mail. In a response to the publication of her reviews, Chu wrote that she had learned a lot this semester about the power of words and about the accountability that we owe one another. June Chu, who resigned as a dean at Yale in June because of controversy over Yelp reviews, including one in which she labelled a Japanese restaurant as perfect for white trash. My question is, just this semester Example two, from Canadian Twitter The May debacle of several senior media leaders chortling about kicking in money to fund a cultural appropriation prize. Let's not argue whether the media moguls were meaner and more immature than the online mob that told them their conduct was gross, but rather focus on what other, savvier users of the service wondered Do they not know we can see them It was rather bewildering that long-time journalists devoted to the written word didn't realize they were creating a shameful, very permanent record. In the aftermath, some of these powerful figures found their careers derailed, while others scrambled to distribute apologies, both inside and outside their organizations. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian soil: When they stepped foot on Canadian soil several months ago, these Syrian refugees were embarking on new lives, according to CTV. Now, they're embarking on new careers, embracing their country and a whole new way of life. Fifteen of them, all Syrians, all part of Algonquin College's first class of Culinary and Job Skills for Newcomers to Canada. For Samir Massoud, this is a proud moment, as he dons his graduation gown. I came from Syria on July 26th, he says, in surprisingly good English, The situation there was terrible. It is the fulfillment of a dream that started almost exactly one year ago, when he and his family came to Canada from Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dream massoud: On Wednesday, he and his wife graduated from a unique program at Algonquin College that will get them a step closer to this dream, according to Metro News. Massoud was valedictorian. After spending years working at a five-star hotel in Syria and then managing clubs in Lebanon, he had dreams of opening his own business in Ottawa. I learn so many things in this class. It was entirely paid for by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, including tuition, uniform, licence fees and equipment like knives. You know Canada gave us, for the newcomers, so many good things, he said. function set Cookie related path / ; Related Some Syrian refugees paid sponsors to come to Canada, study reveals Calgary man helps to reunite a family of Syrian refugees at the border Actor Kal Penn raises over 600K for Syrian refugees in name of Internet troll Massoud and Shalgin were among 15 Syrian refugees to participate in the 13-week Kitchen Skills for New Canadians certificate program. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

highest-earning actors: The list shows that the BBC pays 96 on-air personalities at least 150,000 or 246,000 a year more than Britain's prime minister, according to Toronto Star. The broadcaster's best-paid star, radio host Chris Evans, earns more than 2.2 million, or 3.6 million. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP/GETTY IMAGES By Jill Lawless The Associated Press Wed., July 19, 2017 LONDON The publicly funded BBC was forced to publish the names and salaries of its highest-earning actors and presenters Wednesday, unleashing a national debate about fame, gender, race and the use of taxpayers' money. The BBC was compelled by Britain's government to publish the salaries of on-air talent, which had previously been secret. The salaries were published in bands, rather than as exact figures. The information is sensitive because the BBC is funded directly by taxpayers, through a 147 about 230 annual levy on every household that owns a television or watches the BBC online. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mark sherman: U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson ordered the government to allow in refugees formally working with a resettlement agency in the United States, according to Toronto Star. Watson also vastly expanded the family relations that refugees and visitors can use to get into the country. Andres Kudacki / AP By Mark Sherman The Associated Press Wed., July 19, 2017 WASHINGTON The Supreme Court says the Trump administration can strictly enforce its ban on refugees, but at the same time is leaving in place a weakened travel ban that includes grandparents among relatives who can help visitors from six mostly Muslim countries get into the U.S. The justices acted Wednesday on the administration's appeal of a federal judge's ruling last week. The high court blocked Watson's order as it applies to refugees for now, but not the expanded list of relatives. It's not clear how quickly that will happen. The justices said the federal appeals court in San Francisco should now consider the appeal. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pounds: The broadcaster's best-paid star, radio host Chris Evans, earns more than 2.2 million pounds 2.9 million . The BBC was compelled by Britain's government to publish the salaries of on-air talent, which had previously been secret, according to The Chronicle Herald. The information is sensitive because the BBC is funded directly by taxpayers, through a 147-pound about 190 annual levy on every household that owns a television or watches the BBC online. The list shows that the BBC pays 96 on-air personalities at least 150,000 pounds 195,000 a year meaning most earn more than the prime minister, who gets 150,000 pounds. The salaries were published in bands, rather than as exact figures. Match of the Day soccer host Gary Lineker receives between 1.75 million pounds and 1.8 million pounds, while talk-show host Graham Norton is paid between 850,000 pounds and 900,000 pounds. Evans, who fronts a daily radio breakfast show, gets between 2.2 million pounds and 2.25 million pounds. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rights activists: Amr Nabil / AP By Mohamed Fahmy Wed., July 19, 2017 A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian, according to Toronto Star. These words from the mouth of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau summarize his tenure built on diversity, inclusion, and the rule of law guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. An Egyptian court that week sentenced three Al-Jazeera English journalists to three years in prison, the last twist in a long-running trial criticized worldwide by press freedom advocates and human rights activists. Trudeau said those powerful words when he was referring to the potential changes in Canada's Citizenship Act after Bill C-6 finally passed by the Senate with amendments that could become a law reversing parts of the draconian Bill-C24 ratified by the former Conservative most Canadians busy with their careers and families may not be so engaged with the details of Bill-C24, especially that it relates to dual citizens. Article Continued Below Prime Minister Harper's passage of this bill immediately encompassed the true meaning of a second-class citizen.I was the perfect candidate after the Egyptian judge trying me and my former Al Jazeera colleagues unfairly sentenced us to seven years in a maximum-security prison. Revisiting controversial clauses of this bill is not only essential but also a fulfilment of yet another promise made by the Liberals during the electoral race.I was in Egypt in June 2015 unfairly being re-tried for allegedly belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood group designated as terrorists when the controversial provision of Bill C-24 came into effect, permitting the government to revoke Canadian citizenships from dual citizens who are convicted of terrorism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

san francisco: Watson also vastly expanded the family relations that refugees and visitors can use to get into the country, according to CTV. The high court blocked Watson's order as it applies to refugees for now, but not the expanded list of relatives. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson ordered the government to allow in refugees formally working with a resettlement agency in the United States. The justices said the federal appeals court in San Francisco should now consider the appeal. In the meantime, though, up to 24,000 refugees who already have been assigned to a charity or religious organization in the U.S. will not be able to use that connection to get into the country. It's not clear how quickly that will happen. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian roster: Larin played for Canada in a friendly against Curacao last month but got into trouble upon his return to Orlando, where he plays for the city's Major League Soccer club, according to Globe and Mail. Larin was arrested after driving the wrong way on an Orlando street and was given a misdemeanour DUI alcohol or drugs charge after he failed a sobriety test. I just think I can bring a different piece and help the team by scoring goals. Larin was left off the Canadian roster for the group stage and also missed some time with Orlando City SC to undergo MLS' Substance Abuse and Behavioural Health Program. But for now the focus is the Gold Cup, ands Larin adds to a team that advanced that from a group including Costa Rica, Honduras and Gold Cup newcomers French Guiana. The legal matters are still to be sorted out. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vip area: On Sunday night, the group arrived at the VIP entrance after pre-purchasing a birds eve view sky suite' for 5,657.40, according to CTV. We went through all the trouble of the planning beforehand to make sure we all head down there together, said Greg Yee. The actual cost was 5,657.40 A group of twenty people organized a night in a sky suite at the Cowboys tent for the Fetty Wap and Big Sean concert on the final night of the Calgary Stampede but they allege racial profiling prevented them from setting foot inside the door. All proceed to take cabs down there, go to the VIP area to get our wristbands to get granted access. Their first response was basically just management has the right to refuse access. Then we find out, before even getting to the line, approaching the line that we're told that we're not allowed in. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

year arizona: Students in the Tucson Unified School District, which offered the Mexican-American course, launched protests and then sued, saying the law was too broad and infringed on their First Amendment rights, according to Metro News. The courts have upheld most of the law but are determining whether it was enacted with the intent to be discriminatory. Lawmakers dismantled the programs in a measure that passed in 2010, the same year Arizona approved its landmark immigration law known as SB1070. Tom Horne, a Republican and former state attorney general, testified at trial Tuesday that his battle against the program began in part after he visited a Tucson high school to watch an aide rebut prior statements by guest speaker Dolores Huerta, a well-known national labour and civil rights activist, that Republicans hate Latinos. The plaintiffs' attorney, Jim Quinn, questioned Horne about how he could come to conclusions about the program if he never visited a classroom. Some students taped their mouths and turned their back to Horne's aide, later walking out of the event with their fists in the air, which is a pretty extremist thing to do, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

albion: DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY Clad in glass and brightly-coloured vertical panels, the Albion Library stands out as a unique presence on the streetscape, according to Toronto Star. DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY By Christopher Hume Urban Issues and July 18, 2017 At a time when architecture seems little more than a desperate search for novelty, the appearance of a building such as the Albion Public Library offers reason for hope. DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY The new Albion Public Library in Etobicoke includes courtyards, gardens and spaces that are practical without being utilitarian and mean. This new structure is a powerful reminder of what architecture can be when designed with users in mind, not its creators' reputation. The result is that, like cities everywhere, much of Toronto is a degraded landscape of architectural failure. Only in an age of starchitecture, of buildings that see no further than themselves, of outlandishness and disconnection would such a distinction be necessary, but such is the tragedy or is it farce of contemporary architecture. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

australian greens: She made headlines around the world when she became the first woman to breastfeed her baby while passing a motion in parliamentary chamber, according to Globe and Mail. Members of the upper house of the Australian Federal Parliament are elected. A co-leader of the Australian Greens, she had been an advocate for environmental issues and gender equality. On Friday, Ms. Ms. Waters' fellow party co-leader, senator Scott Ludlam, had to step down after he learned that he still had dual citizenship with New Zealand. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bathroom bill: Frustrations ratcheted quickly in a likely sign of things to come over the next 30 days, during which Abbott says he will be establishing a list of who's with him and who's not, according to Metro News. Conservatives in the state Senate upended decades of precedent by swiftly advancing a regulatory bill that must pass before the Legislature can work on anti-abortion measures, school vouchers and defanging local ordinances in Texas' big and liberal cities. Greg Abbott began Tuesday with loud protests over a revived bathroom bill targeting transgender people, renewed hostilities about a crackdown on immigration and GOP infighting that could keep demands of influential social conservatives again out of reach. Democrats chafed at the break in protocol but only were able to stall it for about an hour. Most attention is on Texas' version of the bathroom bill that's similar to what North Carolina passed last year, only to partially repeal it following economic and political backlash. Later, in the sweltering heat outside the Texas Capitol, many joined protesters in denouncing Abbott's determination to pass 20 measures this summer that would nudge America's biggest red state even further rightward. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian citizenship: I have lived my life thinking that as a baby I was naturalized to be Australian and only Australian, and my parents told me that I had until age 21 to actively seek Canadian citizenship, according to CBC. At 21, I chose not to seek dual citizenship, and I have never even visited Canada since leaving at 11 months old, the statement read. Larissa Waters, who represented the Greens, said in a statement she was born in Winnipeg in 1977 to Australian parents who were briefly studying in Canada. It is with a heavy heart that I am resigning as Senator for Qld and Co-Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens. https //t.co/DuplaZPi2h larissawaters Waters, who was also a co-deputy leader of the party, looked into the status of her citizenship after another senator from the Greens resigned last week under the same circumstances. Australia's constitution states that a citizen of a foreign power is not eligible to be elected to Parliament. Scott Ludlam, also a co-deputy leader, had recently discovered he also had New Zealand citizenship. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

circuit court: He successfully sought a year later to change his status to lawful permanent resident, according to Metro News. He was living in south Florida in December 2013 when he got a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notification that said he was subject to deportation because he had committed two or more crimes involving moral turpitude. Roger Ricardo Alfaro, a U.S.-trained Contra rebel who fought to overthrow the leftist Sandinista government in Nicaragua in the 1980s, fled to the U.S. and was admitted on a tourist visa in 1981. When he challenged that, ICE added another charge, saying he had wilfully lied on his 1982 application to adjust his immigration status, according to a July 13 opinion from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. At some point in 1980, he and some other Contras were moving five Sandinista prisoners of war who were handcuffed and chained together when one of the other Contras killed one of the prisoners who tried to escape. The government said Alfaro had lied when he answered no to a question on the application that asked whether he'd ever been arrested, convicted, or confined to prison, the opinion says. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

constitution bars: Waters -- who came to prominence as the first woman to breastfeed in Australia's parliament -- is the second to resign after Sen, according to CTV. Scott Ludlam, who discovered he held dual citizenship with New Zealand, stepped down Both of the senators who have resigned have been members of the country's Green party. Larissa Waters, the co-deputy leader of the Greens party, resigned from the country's Senate after she discovered she held both Australian and Canadian citizenships. Australia's constitution bars dual citizens from eligibility for election. I left Canada as a baby, born to Australian parents studying and working briefly in Canada before they returned home, she wrote. In a statement posted to Facebook, Waters revealed that she was unaware that she held Canadian citizenship. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

david friend: But she couldn't deny feeling a little disappointed, according to Toronto Star. Even though the casting of lauded British actress Jodie Whittaker is widely considered a step in the right direction for the show, Perez points out she's also another white heroine in a genre that has already embraced many. Joel Ryan / The Associated Press By David Friend The Canadian Press Tues., July 18, 2017 Doctor Who fan Melissa Perez was excited to hear one of her favourite TV series had picked a woman for the leading role. I see people talking about how we've come so far and how roles for women have improved so much. All the characters are white they're white women. And then I look at the examples they give, says Perez, who identifies as Afro-Latina and writes about Doctor Who for Black Girl Nerds, a website tackling the world of fandom. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant: Presented by Canadian Immigrant magazine and sponsored by RBC Royal Bank, this annual awards program celebrates the achievements of inspiring Canadian immigrants, according to The Chronicle Herald. This award has very special meaning to me as an immigrant to this great country a country that I truly love particularly as we prepare to celebrate its 150th birthday, said Gillivan. Gillivan received this prestigious award during the ninth annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards held in Toronto on June 27. It takes unimaginable courage to leave everything you know your family, your identity to come to a new land. Born and educated in Dublin, Ireland, Gillivan immigrated to Canada in 1982 and became a Canadian citizen in Ottawa in 1987. I am grateful that Canada has embraced me and my family. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

lightning rod: If I were a white person who lived in a tiny town, who suddenly had a group of scary brown people wanting to be buried in the woods nearby, I would be frightened too, according to Globe and Mail. After all, when it comes to haunting people, Muslims already have the sartorial edge, robes and all. Read more Quebec City Muslim community vows to continue fighting for rejected cemetery I get it. Some say this is a racist decision. And as usual, these days for Muslims, what is normally a non-issue became a lightning rod for controversy. Ironically, this started when six Muslim men were shot in Quebec City's Islamic Cultural Centre in January, which forced the community to look for a cemetery close to home. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

press briefing: Some 550,000 Hungarian Jews were killed in the Holocaust, according to CBC. At an earlier time, the government of Hungary made a mistake, moreover, committed a sin when it did not protect its citizens of Jewish heritage, Orban said during a press briefing after his meeting with Netanyahu in parliament. Orban said he told visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was aware of the difficult history behind us. Every Hungarian government has the duty to protect all of its citizens, regardless of their heritage. This is a sin because at the time we decided that instead of protecting the Jewish community, we chose collaboration with the Nazis, Orban continued. During World War II, Hungary did not comply with this moral and political requirement. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

right direction: Even though the casting of lauded British actress Jodie Whittaker is widely considered a step in the right direction for the show, Perez points out she's also another white heroine in a genre that has already embraced many, according to Metro News. I see people talking about how we've come so far and how roles for women have improved so much. But she couldn't deny feeling a little disappointed. And then I look at the examples they give, says Perez, who identifies as Afro-Latina and writes about Doctor Who for Black Girl Nerds, a website tackling the world of fandom. Science fiction and fantasy genres have no boundaries for storytelling and yet racial diversity among female leads is a line few writers or producers have crossed. All the characters are white they're white women. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

school student: Gorsuch was among three justices who said in June that Trump's ban on travellers from six mostly Muslim countries should be completely reinstated pending further arguments, according to The Chronicle Herald. He encouraged the new citizens to tolerate different points of view. Gorsuch was a late fill-in at the 9th Circuit conference for fellow Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy and took over what was supposed to be Kennedy's role of welcoming new U.S. citizens. Democracy depends on our willingness to hear and respect even those we disagree with strongly, Gorsuch said. With Gorsuch seated next to her, an Alaska high school student earlier in the day read her winning essay on the topic of Japanese internment a topic selected by the 9th Circuit. In a government by and for the people, we have to remember those with whom we disagree, even vehemently, still have the best interests of the country at heart. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

anti-tourism message: International arrivals and travel-related spending are up in 2017 compared with the same period in 2016, according to CTV. There might even be a Trump bump, says Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, a non-profit representing the travel industry. But those fears may have been premature. A few months ago, Dow and others warned that President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric and ban on travel from a handful of mostly Muslim countries could send an anti-tourism message. Right now we cannot identify a loss. But impending doom hasn't manifested itself, Dow said in an interview. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

army uniform: Rafeeq was eager as a teenager to translate for U.S. troops stationed in his hometown of Kirkuk in 2005, according to Toronto Star. He immigrated to Portland, Ore., to study seven years later, hoping to don an Army uniform after earning his graduate degree in civil engineering. State Department via Washington Post By Alex Horton The Washington Post Mon., July 17, 2017 Frustrated by delayed promises from the U.S. military for citizenship, and in fear of Daesh if he were deported back to Iraq, Ranj Rafeeq has given up the American Dream for a Canadian one. He signed an enlistment contract in January 2016, with a training date set in September. It was my dream to be a part of them, Rafeeq, now 29, said. I loved American soldiers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.