rakhine state: Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled across the border in what the United Nations has called textbook ethnic cleansing, according to CTV. The ambassador, Thurain Thant Zin, denied reports of human rights abuses in Rakhine by the military and told reporters in Tokyo that his government was providing humanitarian aid to all affected by the violence. Myanmar security forces responded to Rohingya militant attacks with a broad crackdown in August in Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh. To say the Myanmar military conducted those illegal acts is untrue and cannot be true, he said. The ambassador said the government is prepared to help resettle all who have fled. The Myanmar government protests the use of such terms as ethnic cleansing and genocide, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

year: Refugee lawyers representing the more than 12,000 men, women and children who have crossed from New York this year at the informal crossing on Roxham Rd., near the Quebec town of have heard stories of profiling, but it wasn't until a client of Toronto lawyer Clifford McCarten was given his own questionnaire last month seemingly by mistake that there was proof of the practice.RCMP spokesperson Annie Delisle told the Star Wednesday that these questions were part of an interview guide that was used by officers in Quebec, according to Toronto Star. Due to the high volume of irregular migrants in Quebec, an interview guide was developed as an operation tool to streamline processing and provide consistency in the RCMP's preliminary risk assessments, Delisle wrote in an email to the Star. The 41 questions appear to specifically target Muslims, as no other religious practices are mentioned, nor terrorist groups with non-Muslim members. Article Continued Below The RCMP questionnaire Answers from the questionnaire were entered into RCMP databases, Delisle wrote. Scott Bardsley, spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, told the Star Wednesday afternoon that the RCMP has suspended use of that version of the guide. That information could then be shared with the Canada Border Services Agency or other security partners in accordance with Canadian legislation, she wrote. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

safety training: Their company, Cloud HSE, offers health and safety training plus risk management services, according to CBC. But rampant unemployment in a neighbourhood with large numbers of refugees, newer immigrants and Indigenous residents forced them into an unexpected role. Last year, Ahmed Hussein and Oways Sandouka opened a new office at 107th Avenue and 112th Street. Suddenly we became, basically, accidental social workers, said Hussein. Many have been unemployed for months, if not years. It went from the training to 'Please get me a job.' In downtown Edmonton, Rogers Place marks dividing line between 'different worlds'Tackling homelessness a major issue in Edmonton's Ward 6 council race Edmonton gains 4,000 jobs in September as jobless rate falls Since then, Hussein has volunteered his time searching for jobs and calling companies on behalf of those turning up desperate for work. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

strip mall: Though the interior is dated, with light green and red walls, bright fluorescent ceiling lights, and tables and chairs that are likely older than the restaurant itself, traditional Chinese art and d cor add a more personal element, according to The Chronicle Herald. The Christmas decor on the door is cheery, if not odd. Situated in the suburban sprawl of Clayton Park, 9 Nine is one of several restaurants in a strip mall on Parkland Drive. But to be honest, we come for the food, not the decor. A. BAKER - 9 Nine Chinese Restaurant, located on Parkland Drive in Clayton Park, is tucked into a strip mall. On our most recent visit, the place is buzzing on a Sunday night with but a few empty tables. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

taylor: Elsewhere, the rousing wail of bagpipes can be heard coming from speakers at punter Colton Schmidt's stall, according to Toronto Star. Jarring as it might sound, it's music to Taylor's ears. In one corner, receiver Jordan Matthews is freestyle rapping amid a circle of teammates. To him, the din represents how comfortable players are in sharing their individual voices and how quickly the Buffalo Bills have shown signs of forming a tight bond following an off-season roster purge under new coach Sean McDermott. I think on the field it shows. I think coach has created an environment where he lets us be ourselves, Taylor said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

barry: At 7 50, a commotion was heard outside one of the entrances to the prayer room, according to National Observer. There, two distant cousins, Mamadou Tanou Barry and Ibrahima Barry, were the first to be shot by a gunman, who then walked inside the room and continued his killing spree. The centre is housed in a modern glass and steel office building, located on the corner of a busy thoroughfare. It was all over in a few minutes - with six men dead and 19 wounded. In the minds of some, this deadly attack raised a question while CSIS and the RCMP have spent years and vast sums spying on and often harassing Muslims, environmentalists, Indigenous and social justice activists, have they been overlooking a far more dangerous threat from the extreme right After all, prior to the attack, Bissonnette was not even on the police's radar. The suspect arrested was 27-year-old Universit Laval student Alexandre Bissonnette, who is alleged to have been influenced by far-right and perhaps alt-right ideas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

muslim women: Toronto immigration lawyer Clifford McCarten said he obtained a copy of the document from a client seeking refugee status, who had been given the three-page, 41-question document by mistake, according to National Observer. He was shocked by the questions, said McCarten, who provided a copy to The Canadian Press. Among other things, the questionnaire asked opinions about religious practice, head coverings associated with Muslim women and terrorist groups with mainly Muslim members. The man was originally from a Muslim country, he added. What is your opinion of this subject How would you feel if your boss was a woman How do you feel about women who do not wear the hijab says the questionnaire, which also asked the same question about other head and body coverings, including the dupatta, niqab, chador and burka.A spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the government found out on Tuesday about the existence of the questionnaire from a stakeholder who takes an interest in the work of the department. Canada is a very liberal country that believes in freedom of religious practice and equality between men and women. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

oilers i: Vancouver politics can be a lot like a holiday meal, where you hope to avoid that button-bursting extra helping, according to Vancouver Courier. Just as you would wish to not overeat, Vancouverites have long aimed to strike an equilibrium between local government politics and the party holding power in Victoria.article continues below Trending StoriesRCMP investigating fatality at UBCHaving too many veterans is causing headaches for both the Canucks and CometsI Watched This Game Canucks 3, Oilers 2I Watched This Game Canucks 2, Senators 3 SO related Saturday's byelection is Vision Vancouver's to lose Byelection favours A, B, C and D candidates Vancouver votes A look at council candidates running in Oct. 14 byelection Vancouver votes A look at school board candidates running in Oct. 14 byelection It is referred to as the yin-yang theory of Vancouver politics, and it has been in evidence for the past few decades. And, as is often the case, there was that additional serving of casserole that I quickly wished I had not eaten. For example, as the B.C. Liberals held power in the provincial capital of Victoria, Vancouver has been mainly governed by left-leaning parties such as COPE and Vision Vancouver. The fact that provincial governments shifted to the right when councils tilted left, or vice versa, could not be chalked up to some master plan cooked up in a back room. Whereas, during the 1990s when the B.C. NDP ran the province, the right-leaning Non-Partisan Association NPA held majority control over city council, school board and park board. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

party leader: I forget about it, then I realize I'm walking around Ottawa because I'm the leader of a national party, according to NOW Magazine. It's been a dream-like ride since Ontario MPP Jagmeet Singh walked away with the leadership of the federal NDP October 1. There are moments where I'm hit by the immensity of the position. In the days since, there has been a barrage of media interviews and his first meeting as party leader with the NDP caucus in Ottawa. Everything for me feels like it happened a long time ago, says Singh during a disarming 30-minute interview with NOW over the phone from the nation's capital. That's when it hit him, what he calls, the moment that spoke to me about how much has been achieved. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sikh constituency: In the past decade, the image of the exoticized turbaned Sikh man has become more recognized as attractive, according to NOW Magazine. Actor and model Waris Ahluwalia appeared in the 2013 Gap Make Love campaign and has appeared in more than one Wes Anderson film. But Singh's campaign for NDP leader relied too heavily on capturing cool to benefit a party struggling to maintain a left-leaning voice while appealing to a broad base of voters rather than his achievements as an MPP, which are demonstrably lacking. It is within this context that Singh's image and style have catapulted him to the spotlight. He spoke to a younger generation and, without a doubt, a larger audience than his predominantly Sikh constituency of Bramalea-Gore-Malton. Canadian media couldn't get enough of the photogenic Sikh politician on his road to party leader amongst a sea of white faces and candidates.I first became aware of Singh while working at a community health centre in Malton during his campaign for MPP in 2014. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

adoption application: We found out about Opal in August of last year and have been doing the paper chase for her until now, said Georgina Walker from a hotel room in New Delhi, India, according to CTV. We applied for citizenship in January. The family had been looking to adopt for nearly three years and, in the summer of 2016, they fell for a little girl from Bhopal, India. Walker says Indian officials did not object to the adoption application but the family's dealings with Canadian Immigration were frustrating from the get-go. They said Yeah, sorry. After seeking an update from Canadian Immigration on Opal's citizenship application, officials told the family there had been an error. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

carmen fortino: The company said the move to modernize and automate its network will mean the loss of about 180 full-time and 100 part-time positions, according to Toronto Star. In our industry we're always looking at ways to become more efficient to lower pricing, but we have been talking about this for three years since I joined the company and well before anybody said anything about minimum wage, Carmen Fortino, division head at Metro Ontario, said. The Montreal-based company said it will eliminate about 280 jobs starting in 2021 as part of a 400-million overhaul of its Ontario distribution network. Read more Metro grocery chain looking at automation to offset higher Ontario minimum wage Article Continued Below The announcement follows comments by Metro in August that it would study automation as it looked to cut costs in the face of the Ontario government's plan to raise the minimum wage next year. It said the existing Ontario distribution network dates back to the 1960s and no longer meets the needs of its business. react-empty 155 We see a lot of opportunities in the province and we wanted to make sure that we were going to be in a position to be able to grow but support our stores in a cost-efficient manner and add some flexibility to the way that we service our stores, Fortino said. Metro has six distribution centres in Ontario including four in Toronto and two in Ottawa that employ a total of more than 1,500 workers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ban abortion: A lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice, Peter Phipps, said at a hearing Wednesday that the government might propose having Jane Doe's case heard in Texas or Washington, D.C. Brigitte Amiri, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU, said the group hadn't decided its next step, but would continue to fight for the girl's right to an abortion, according to Metro News. A first-year law student understands that it is unconstitutional for the government to ban abortion, she said. The ruling allows the girl's attorneys to file a new lawsuit seeking the same order in another federal court district. The legal claim is pretty straightforward. The girl may be up to 14 weeks' pregnant, Rochelle Garza, a lawyer appointed to represent the girl's legal interests, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The ACLU says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is refusing to let the girl be taken for an abortion. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

economy minister: Environmental case against Bill Boyd adjourned, pleas expected soon Earlier this summer, a CBC investigation found the former minister was pitching an irrigation project to would-be Chinese immigrants, saying an investment could help them gain permanent citizenship in Canada, according to CBC. The minister came under fire after it was revealed land Boyd farmed was being watered by the company he was promoting. The former economy minister is charged with three counts under the Environmental Management and Protection Act and one count under the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act. Irrigation equipment from Chinese immigration scheme would water land farmed by Bill Boyd Bill Boyd promoting immigration scheme that would benefit company he's involved in One count alleges Boyd cultivated an area of native grassland near Eston, Sask., between April 1 and May 3. Irrigation equipment on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River on Oct.10, 2017 on land near Eston. The other counts allege that between June 15 and July 15 he altered the configuration of the bed, bank or boundary of the South Saskatchewan River near Eston; displaced, added or removed material from the riverbed; and removed vegetation from its bank. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

exercise groups: It's not only academic; we want change to develop programs, services and social policy to make it easier for aging immigrants to participate in civic activities, Tong said, mentioning voting, volunteering and public exercise groups as activities Asian immigrants may be discouraged from participating in, according to Metro News. Tong is focused on immigrants from China, India and the Philippines, the three countries that have sent the most newcomers to Canada over the last five years. Hongmei Tong, an assistant professor at Mac Ewan's school of social work, is conducting focus groups with elderly immigrants from Asia who face isolation and social exclusion due to their age and inability to speak fluent English. She wants to determine how aging Asian immigrants view civic participation and what kinds of barriers they face in integrating into Canadian society. Betty Wills, CEO of the Edmonton Chinatown Care Centre, said language barriers mean challenges in accessing healthcare, social services, public transportation and city services such as the library. We also want to know whether other factors such as cultural, political or societal affect their participation, she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hearing stories: Because her father had been a judge with the previous government, Chen says her family had to leave everything behind, according to CBC. She remembers hearing stories about life back in China from her family. The Chinese Civil war had just ended, and members of the government with the Republic of China fled to Taiwan as the Communist Party of China took control of the country. They missed their home, talking maybe one day to go back, but they never got to see that day, she says. Supplied Chen met her husband while he was studying at a Taiwanese university. Chen was born in China, but grew up in Taiwan after her family moved when she was only 3 months old. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

labour struggles: Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region, according to Rabble. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia Photo Taung Paw Refugee Camp for displaced Rohingya Mahi also talks about some of the possible ways forward to resolve this humanitarian and political crisis. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

love boat: I was in that position too many times, Boyd recalled Wednesday after writing a social media post in support of the women who have spoken up against Weinstein, according to CTV. Thank goodness I was strong enough to say no, but I did lose all kinds of opportunities. The five-time Juno Award winner says she encountered powerful entertainment leaders in the 1970s and 1980s who pressured her to trade sex for a chance at fame. She said she likely missed out on a chance to appear on the TV series The Love Boat and perform at the White House with Frank Sinatra because she wouldn't have sex with a man involved in both projects. She decided to return to Toronto instead of forging a career in Los Angeles because the price became too evident. A role alongside actress Nastassja Kinski was also dangled as bait by a screenwriter who wanted to see her audition in his hotel suite, Boyd recalled. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

official perez: He pleaded guilty in July to receiving a bribe while a public official, according to Metro News. Perez was a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer when he determined in April a woman he was interviewing was lying about her marriage. Federal court records show 34-year-old Jovany Perez was sentenced in Miami last week. Perez offered to help the woman but not in his office. She refused. They met in a restaurant parking lot, where authorities say Perez fondled her and suggested they have sex. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

passports saleem: He finally attained some of that long-awaited recognition in exile - with an official identification card issued not by Myanmar, but by the Bangladesh Department of Immigration and Passports, according to CTV. Saleem, a Rohingya Muslim who lived in northern Myanmar, is one of more than half a million members of the minority ethnic group who have fled across the border to Bangladesh since late August after their homes were set ablaze by security forces and Buddhist mobs. But at no time in his 30 years of life did the government ever recognize him as a citizen. Most people in Myanmar see the Rohingya as foreigners, even though most were born there. The cards identify the refugees as Myanmar Nationals. Bangladeshi authorities are now carrying out the immense task of registering the newly arrived refugees and issuing laminated identification cards that list their name, age, and place of birth. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bay: We feel like it's very important to test our model in cities across the province, which may have very different characteristics, Hill said, according to CBC. Some of the challenges that refugee newcomers face in Thunder Bay may be quite different than the challenges that they face, say, in downtown Toronto. The Together Project which launched in Toronto about nine months ago is expanding into northwestern Ontario, and hopes to have volunteers working with refugee families in Thunder Bay by the spring, director Anna Hill said. Ontario volunteers needed for refugee 'welcome wagon' The Together Project has partnered with the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, Hill said, and the two groups are working together to find and train volunteers in the Lakehead. Volunteers are currently being recruited in Thunder Bay, Hill said. Volunteers aren't financially responsible for the refugee families they work with, and would help them navigate everything from health care and employment to education and culture. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

fashion accessory: You don't need a car to get to many of these destinations, as GO Transit's Milton Line and local busses will help you get around, according to NOW Magazine. To make the most of your visit, plan out a day-long combination of an activity, dinner and a show. A short drive to Mississauga offers access to numerous activities for groups, couples and solo adventurers including world-class concert venues and noteworthy restaurants that are well worth the trip. Shopping Most Torontonians have probably heard of Square One Mall, which features over 320 shops including anchor stores like Holt Renfrew, Zara and The Bay, but there are also neighbourhoods in Mississauga that are great for browsing or hunting down a new fashion accessory. Port Credit lines the shore of Lake Ontario and has its own walkable shopping district, with local businesses like Cabin Goods and Grooming barbershop and Ric's Recollections vinyl store. Located alongside the Credit River, Streetsville has a quaint, historic village feel to it and plays host to annual festivals and events like Mississauga's Santa Claus Parade and the Bread and Honey Festival. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

opera atelier: I've just met four of the fiercest opera lovers in the city and they're all who knew under 40, according to NOW Magazine. No, they're not aspiring singers themselves, and none of them works in the performing arts as a day job. If you think opera is an elitist art form attended solely by monocle-sporting one percenters, think again. But they'll be going to every production at the Canadian Opera Company including the just-opened Arabella and L'elisir D'amore sometimes more than once, as well as shows by Opera Atelier, Against the Grain and Tapestry.A couple of them even plan their vacations around opera. In fact, it was a tweet by Hayden listing performances he planned on seeing not just in Toronto but in Philadelphia, NYC, Chicago, Montreal, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and San Francisco that first opened my eyes to young opera fandom. Three years ago, I went to Europe for the first time and saw 28 operas in 28 days in seven different countries, says Dylan Hayden, a marketing specialist in the entertainment industry. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

stories: There was pain and laughter, challenge and purpose, recovery and loss in these stories, according to Vancouver Courier. They always ended with statements like We survived and we had some good times in the midst of our pain. I remember sitting around a coal fire with my parents and grandparents hearing stories of the war and how that war affected their lives and well-being. We pray that you will not have to go through what we did. .article continues below Trending StoriesI Watched This Game Canucks 3, Oilers 2Having too many veterans is causing headaches for both the Canucks and CometsRCMP investigating fatality at UBCI Watched This Game Canucks 2, Senators 3 SO As I travel around these islands, I am constantly amazed at the stories I hear and experience - stories of journeys and of healing, of pain and separation; stories of joy and liberation; stories of faith and stories of traditions; stories that are new and stories that are ancient; stories of the First Peoples; and stories of settlers, refugees, tourists and visitors. The new stories are about a chance to begin again with opportunities to reach out in generosity and kindness. There is presence in these stories which transforms and changes, a presence that sustains and nurtures, challenges and comforts, and brings hope and peace. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

address-based sampling: The original sample was drawn from respondents selected randomly from NORC's National Frame based on address-based sampling and recruited by mail, email, telephone and face-to-face interviews.NORC interviews participants over the phone if they don't have internet access, according to Metro News. With a probability basis and coverage of people who can't access the internet, surveys using Ameri Speak are nationally were conducted in English and Spanish. It is based on online and telephone interviews of 1,150 adults who are members of NORC's nationally representative Ameri Speak panel. As is done routinely in surveys, results were weighted, or adjusted, to ensure that responses accurately reflect the population's makeup by factors such as age, sex, race, education, region and phone use. The poll includes a total of 337 black respondents, who were sampled at a higher rate than their proportion of the population for purposes of analysis. No more than 1 time in 20 should chance variations in the sample cause the results to vary by more than plus or minus 4.1 percentage points from the answers that would be obtained if all adults in the U.S. were polled. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

amare gebru: Gebru, a native of Ethiopia, has had his landed immigrant status since 2006 but isn't a Canadian citizen, according to CTV. That means a sentence greater than six months could result in deportation. Amare Gebru, 44, was found guilty in June of plotting the murder of his former business partner back in 2012. While the crown is seeking a six year sentence, Gebru's lawyer is asking for a five month and 29 day term in hopes of keeping the Ethiopian in Canada. This guy may face jail but even worse than that. According to Gebru's supporters he is considered a political rebel in his home country and could face even greater punishment if sent back. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.