ontario council: As the Star's Social Justice reporter, Laurie Monsebraaten frequently receives press releases highlighting the findings of recent studies or surveys concerning inequality and poverty, according to Toronto Star. Such reports, from groups such as the United Way, the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, can contain data on the shocking disparities between the richest and poorest of Canada's citizenry, the challenges facing newcomers, or the lack of affordable child care in the GTA, to name just a few topics. This week, we focus on how Social Justice Reporter Laurie Monsebraaten works to highlight issues affecting disadvantaged and vulnerable citizens. While data is important for establishing the scope of inequality that exists in our society, numbers presented on their own only tell part of the story. You do that by telling stories that help readers see the face of bad policy or the impact of bad policy, and who could be helped by fixing that policy, says Monsebraaten, who has been covering social justice issues for the Star for most of her career. The challenge facing reporters, says Monsebraaten, is putting a human face on reports, policies or laws so that readers of all stripes understand how people are affected. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pnp deposits: EXCLUSIVE P.E.I. withholds 18M in PNP deposits from immigrant investorsP.E.I. deficit for 2016-17 closes at 1.3M She started wondering about the province's business immigration system and whether it really retains immigrants or creates lasting jobs, according to CBC. How do we have a system that encourages this Where's the oversight to our provincial immigration nominee program she asked, standing at her second-floor window overlooking University Avenue, near the city's downtown. She was excited to have newcomers open up shop around her, but watched in disappointment as their companies including a Chinese children's book store, a porcelain shop, a store that sold reproductions of art and a baked goods store closed over the last two-and-a-half years. From my window, I could see four storefronts which began to be these turnover businesses, which were legitimate businesses, but weren't conducting much business. It's a system the provincial Liberal government says is diversifying the Island's population and economy, but its critics say has evolved into a side-door route to larger Canadian cities, while filling the province's coffers with forfeited deposits from failed or abandoned ventures. Wealthy applicants will work the system' Locally, such businesses set up under the 100 per cent ownership stream in the provincial nominee program are known simply as PNP companies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

reporters thursday: It would appear from the most recent announcements from Homeland Security that they are factoring that into the decision making, according to CBC. Goodale made the remarks after meeting with the federal task force that is mapping out a contingency plan to deal with the influx of people illegally crossing the border into Canada. The United States needs to be cognizant of the fact that when they take certain steps within their jurisdiction, those steps have consequences elsewhere, Goodale told reporters Thursday. It was the group's sixth meeting, and comes as the spike in summer crossings begins to slow down. '1102667331687', 'playlist Selector' 'container Selector' ' container93654272', 'ciid' 'caffeine14417196' ; Goodale on processing asylum-seekers2 15 Officials say the number of irregular crossings has decreased to about 60 a day, from what had swelled to 250 in the warmer months. MPs and embassy staff have been meeting with diaspora, community groups, lawyers and government officials to explain how Canada's immigration system works and to send the message that crossing outside a legal border point is not a free ticket into the country. The decline comes as the federal government continues an outreach and public awareness campaign to try to correct misinformation spreading on social media that Canada has an open door to migrants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

toronto song: Those are the singer-songwriter's first words in People City Toronto's Lost Anthem, a new short documentary about a Toronto song that has been nearly lost to history, according to Toronto Star. People City was commissioned in 1972 by Moses Znaimer as the theme song for his then-fledgling television station, Citytv, then on Channel 79. I don't know what happened. The original film that went along with the song, a kind of civic music video before there were music videos, captures Toronto in its peak 1970s' macram glory, celebrating the multicultural place it had rapidly become. Despite its initial prominence, the song slipped into obscurity as Citytv switched to a more rock n' roll sound for their theme songs, and as the documentary explains, efforts to get Toronto city council to adopt the song officially failed. It was used by Citytv to sign off too; these were the days before 24-hour television, and stations would stop broadcasting sometime after midnight, usually saying goodnight with O Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

university avenue: She started wondering about the province's business immigration system -- and whether it really keeps immigrants or creates lasting jobs, according to CTV. How do we have a system that encourages this Where's the oversight to our provincial immigration nominee program she asks, standing at her second-floor window overlooking University Avenue, near the city's downtown. She was excited to have newcomers open up shop around her, but watched in disappointment as their companies -- including a Chinese children's book store, a porcelain shop, a store that sold reproductions of art, and a baked goods store -- closed over the last two-and-a-half years. From my window, I could see four storefronts which began to be these turnover businesses, which were legitimate businesses, but weren't conducting much business. It's a system the provincial Liberal government says is diversifying the Island's population and economy, but its critics say has evolved into a side-door route to larger Canadian cities, while filling the province's coffers with forfeited deposits from failed or abandoned ventures. Locally, such businesses set up under the 100 per cent ownership stream in the provincial nominee program are known simply as PNP companies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

inquiry hearings: Quebec's immigration minister has since cancelled those inquiry hearings and replaced them with a forum validating diversity and the fight against discrimination, which will take place on Dec. 5 in Quebec City, according to National Observer. But the far-right groups still have a bone to pick with the government of Premier Philippe Couillard, whom they believe is treating the Quebec's people with contempt. The inquiry, they argued at the time, amounted to putting Quebecers on trial. They argue that the province should go further in its legislation banning face-coverings to protect secularism as well as do more to control what they describe as illegal immigration in Quebec. Never again will Quebec be controlled by religions, there is no turning back, wrote one of the leaders La Meute, Sylvain Maikan, on Facebook on Friday, in a French language post that was shared more than 100 times. The protests coincide with the Quebec Liberal Party convention ahead of next year's provincial elections. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vancouver: The park board operates 13 concession stands at parks and beaches across the city, with services provided by 10 different operators.article continues below Trending Stories Fentanyl dealer says demand for deadly drug is driving Vancouver market Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysis 15.5 million Vancouver home likely a teardown City unveils big moves' to help Vancouver renters In addition to a move to establish more consistency and branding between the different operations, staff reported on some proposed changes, including a pilot project testing alcohol sales at English Bay and Third Beach, according to Vancouver Courier. In public consultation, which included an online survey, interviews and focus groups, 79 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the sale of alcoholic beverages at concession stands, 16 per cent noted they disagreed or strongly disagreed, and five per cent didn't agreed or disagreed. Park board commissioners received an update this week on the board's concession strategy. Staff told commissioners that, if it goes ahead, the project would include a limited selection of local beer and wine at the two locations. Other proposed changes for 2018 include offering new menu options, such as pizza, wraps, barbecue, salads and ethnic food choices, while ensuring traditional beach concession favourites remain; improving the overall aesthetic of the front counter experience; and implementing a service quality monitoring program. The proposal will come back to commissioners for final approval before going ahead. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

yasmin ullah: We thought realistically we wouldn't be able to raise more than 5,000 but for five weeks' worth of work that was a good amount, according to Vancouver Courier. The pair started organizing and selling tickets for an event, which took place earlier this month, with entertainment and keynote speeches from a Rohingya refugee, Yasmin Ullah, who now lives in Vancouver, as well as a representative from Doctors Without Borders. Sabrina Meherally and Tasleem Dhanji initially set out to raise 5,000 to donate to Doctors Without Borders, specifically to aid Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar into Bangladesh.article continues below Trending Stories Fentanyl dealer says demand for deadly drug is driving Vancouver market 15.5 million Vancouver home likely a teardown City unveils big moves' to help Vancouver renters East Van neighbourhood rallies against proposed demolition of Templeton pool When we first started we were planning this on a zero-dollar budget, we wanted to do it within a five-week period of time, Dhanji said. The cause quickly took off. And the donations continued to stream in at the event. With people already making donations when they purchased tickets to the event, the pair surpassed their initial goal before the day of the event. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

axworthy: A lot of these guys like to fly off to Bangkok and get a new suit or something, according to The Chronicle Herald. I'm not being facetious, Axworthy said in an interview. We're talking about targeting specific people, particularly in the military, said Axworthy, the chair of the Canadian-based World Refugee Council, which is working with the UN to reform the global refugee system. A restricted-travel sanction would be very effective for a lot of the elites in Myanmar. The current Liberal government, which has dispatched special envoy Bob Rae and International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau to the region, suggested Thursday it was open to the idea. Axworthy, a former Liberal foreign affairs minister under Jean Chretien, called on Canada to lead a diplomatic push for sanctions through its diplomats at the UN and in missions across Asia. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

azraq camp: The camp is home to some 40,000 Syrians, including about 8,000 who live in an area cut off from the other residents as they wait, often for months, to undergo additional security vetting, according to Metro News. The Italian team of two chefs and two students from a cooking school in the town of Sorrento guided a dozen Syrian women in preparing potato gnocchi with Mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. Thursday's lesson, part of the global Italian Cuisine Week, was held in the fenced-in Azraq camp in a remote area of northern Jordan. For dessert, they made jam-filled pie. Refugee Ahlam al-Taybani said she will pass on her new skill to family and friends. The food was made with items from the camp grocery and served to a larger group of camp residents. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

brain hemorrhage: He had been hospitalized in late September with liver failure caused by cirrhosis and had received a transplant Oct. 6, according to Turkey's Anadolu news agency, which announced the death, according to Toronto Star. On Nov. 11, he had surgery for a brain hemorrhage. He was 50. Suleymanoglu, who stood about 4 feet 10 inches and competed as a featherweight, was internationally known by the time he competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. With flag-waving Turks cheering him in the wrestling auditorium in Seoul, Suleymanoglu pronounced soo-lay-MAHN-oo-loo won his first Olympic gold medal. Not only had he set more than 20 world records; he had also defected from Bulgaria, where he and his family were oppressed ethnic Turks, to Turkey, which celebrated him as a national hero. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

home state: Statistics released this week show that of the 298 Haitian cases that had been heard by the end of October, only 29 were granted protection, according to Metro News. Refugee status means that you have nowhere to go, you can not be protected by your home state, the prime minister said. Trudeau, speaking at an event in Charlottetown, pointed to the case of 6,300 Haitians who have crossed illegally into Canada from the U.S. in recent months to request asylum. It's not just a question of, 'I'm looking for an economic future, so I want to come to Canada.' The Immigration and Refugee Board is working its way through more than 14,000 cases lodged by people who've crossed illegally into Canada from the U.S. since February. Haitians make up the majority of claims. So far, they've heard 1,572 and the overall acceptance rate is about 60 per cent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration officials: Everybody's gone, according to CTV. Everybody got on the buses, they packed their bags and they moved over, Kakas said. Police Chief Superintendent Dominic Kakas said police and immigration officials removed all 378 men from the male-only camp on Manus Island over two days and took them by bus to residences in the nearby town of Lorengau. Refugee advocates say officials used force and destroyed asylum seekers' belongings to make them leave Manus. Water, power and food supplies ended when the Manus camp ended officially closed on Oct. 31, based on the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court's ruling last year that Australia's policy of housing asylum seekers there was unconstitutional. Video was released of officials in the camp wielding what appeared to be wooden sticks. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ministry: In addition, many who do enroll later drop out without any follow-up, with a drop-out rate of 18 per cent between 2012 and 2017 and 31 per cent leaving the advanced courses in 2016-17, according to CTV. More scathingly, the report found that many of those who do complete the course are unable to function on a daily basis in French. According to the report, only one third of immigrants registered for free French courses offered by the Ministry of Immigration between 2010 and 2013. According to 2015 data, only 9 per cent of immigrants reached the oral language independence threshold set by the ministry. The language independence threshold is the minimum threshold necessary to enter the workforce or undertake post-secondary studies, according to the ministry. Reading and writing scores fared worse, with just 3.7 per cent passing in reading comprehension and 5.3 per cent in writing. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

number: The province says close to 15 per cent of Manitobans are 65 years and older and that number will increase by 43 per cent over the next 20 years, according to CTV. It's a provincial outlook that translates into a need to fill about 24,000 job openings each year. The number comes from projected job growth and the number of people retiring or dying. But where will the people to fill the positions come from The Manitoba government says more than 20 per cent will come from immigration. But while the federal government has pledged to take in hundreds of thousands more newcomers in the years to come, Citizenship and Immigration Canada says it cannot predict where they will settle. In 2016, 16,820 immigrants came to Manitoba. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

return home: More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled from Myanmar into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when Burmese security forces began what they called clearance operations following an attack on 30 police posts by a group of Rohingya militants, according to CBC. Bangladesh officials said the repatriations will start within two months. Myanmar, also known as Burma, announced the agreement Thursday but didn't provide details on how many Rohingya refugees who have fled a brutal crackdown in the country's Rakhine state would be allowed to return home. A good thing in principle' Speaking to reporters from Bangladesh, where she also visited Rohingya refugee camps, Bibeau said the agreement was a good thing in principle. Myanmar, Bangladesh agree on terms for Rohingya's return Amid 'deep concern' for Rohingya refugees, Trudeau meets with Myanmar leader Suu Kyi Rae urged to pressure Myanmar's neighbours to stop military's attacks on Rohingya Presented just a day before the Myanmar military launched its latest crackdown, the report, by the former United Nations secretary general, recommended that the Myanmar government take concrete steps to end enforced segregation of Rohingya Muslims in the majority-Buddhist country and hold human rights abusers accountable. We haven't seen the terms of the agreement, but we hope we would see what was recommended in the Kofi Annan report that the rights of the refugees would be respected; that they would be going back voluntarily, Bibeau said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rohingya insurgents: Bangladesh said the repatriations are to begin within two months, according to Toronto Star. More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled from Burma into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when the army began what it called clearance operations following an attack on police posts by a group of Rohingya insurgents. Burma, also known as Myanmar, announced the agreement but provided no details on how many Rohingya refugees would be allowed to return home. Refugees arriving in Bangladesh said their homes were set on fire by soldiers and Buddhist mobs, and some reported being shot at by security forces. It said the pact follows a formula set in a 1992 repatriation agreement signed by the two nations after an earlier spasm of violence. The office of Burma civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the agreement on the return of displaced persons from Rakhine state was signed by Cabinet officials in Naypyitaw, Burma's capital. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

women minister: In September 2016, the Globe and Mail reported that Monsef, hailed by the Liberals as Canada's first Afghan-born MP, was actually born in Mashhad, Iran, a city about 200 kilometres away from the border with Afghanistan, according to The Chronicle Herald. At the time, Monsef said her parents fled Afghanistan as the security situation there deteriorated and that after her father was killed, her mother never discussed what the minister described as the unspeakable pain of those early years until media inquiries prompted Monsef to press her for details. Just like everybody else, I'm waiting my turn, the status of women minister said in an interview with The Canadian Press last week. She told us she did not think it mattered, Monsef said in a September 2016 statement. Monsef, who had listed her birthplace as Herat, Afghanistan, when she applied for a Canadian passport, promised she would take steps to fix the error. We were Afghan citizens, as we were born to Afghan parents, and under Iranian law, we would not be considered Iranian citizens despite being born in that country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rohingya insurgents: Bangladesh said the repatriations are to begin within two months, according to CBC. More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled from Myanmar into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when the army began clearance operations following an attack on police posts by a group of Rohingya insurgents. Myanmar announced the agreement on Thursday, but provided no details on how many Rohingya refugees would be allowed to return home or how soon that might happen. Rohingya subjected to 'dehumanizing apartheid' Amnesty International Human Rights Watch accuses Myanmar military of widespread rape The office of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the agreement on the return of displaced persons from Rakhine state was signed Thursday by cabinet officials in Naypyitaw, Myanmar's capital. Under that agreement, Rohingya were required to present residency documents, which few have, before being allowed to return to Myanmar. It said the pact follows a formula set in a 1992 repatriation agreement signed by the two nations after an earlier spasm of violence. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

single-dwelling units: In 2015, the city had at least 13,812 suites, and 2 per cent of those suites were listed on the city's suite registry as fully sanctioned, according to Metro News. From that original number, she was able to determine 67 per cent as being operated by absentee landlords. Kylee van der Poorten recently published her work in the Canadian Geographer, cracking tropes about the Calgary suite narrative using a combination of publicly available data sets to show where suites are hidden in the city, and who may own them. When it gets into the classic illegal suite narrative, she applied land use data along with census information about housing structure types to narrow down single-detached homes and further identify which ones had additional single-dwelling units. What we do through local law ... it shapes the housing market. These numbers, the remaining 13,534 units, she divvies up into the 73 per cent that exist in suite-permitted zones and 27 per cent in restricted zones. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vice president: The person who filled the need we were looking for was a gentleman we deemed to be very adept at process engineering, said Coles, according to CBC. Liberals look at making skilled immigrant loans pilot project permanent Employers learn details of program aimed at bringing skilled immigrants to Atlantic Canada The fact that he was a recent immigrant to P.E.I. was a bonus ... We didn't hire for diversity, we hired to fill a need. The vice president of architecture and engineering firm Coles Associates says what a potential employee can do for the company is more important than where they're from. They need skilled people' He's talking about Mursulin Abul, originally from Bangladesh. When you're dealing with detailed tax information, we want to make sure they have a good understanding in their own language.'- Doug Ezeard His decision had nothing to do with conditions in his home country he wanted to further his education. He moved to Canada in 2012. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

world care: As International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau toured the crisis border regions in Bangladesh, her parliamentary secretary announced in Ottawa the government will direct 50 million of its foreign aid over the next five years to pay for simple school meal programs in four troubled countries Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Syria, according to Toronto Star. The announcement was low-key. But what does it look like in action, and more important, does the world care This week, some of the answers to those questions came into clearer focus. The money isn't new, but comes from existing departmental funds, and will go to the United Nations World Food Program which provides nutritious school meals. Or the needs in Yemen where widespread hunger and malnutrition is the direct result of a Saudi blockade in retaliation against Houthi rebel strikes. Article Continued Below And yet, the decision to spend 50 million on school lunches seems curious, especially given the massive needs in Bangladesh where 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have flooded across the border. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

artists: We're not really supporting folks who have grown up with tons of privilege, for whom art might just be an interesting intellectual pursuit, explains creative director Jason Samilski, according to NOW Magazine. There's an urgency to the realities and identities of the artists we support, and when that art gets produced we see a really powerful result. The Margin of Eras Gallery launches its first exhibition on November 24 with 11 artists whose works span issues including Black masculinity, immigration and migrant work, mental health and economic marginalization. A specific curatorial theme hasn't been imposed on the inaugural show. The arts initiative provides funding, mentorship and exhibition opportunities for new-generation artists facing marginalization and systemic barriers. Instead, the artists are all CUE funding recipients, which ties their participation together. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

security situation: At the time, Monsef said her parents fled Afghanistan as the security situation there deteriorated and that after her father was killed, her mother never discussed what the minister described as the unspeakable pain of those early years until media inquiries prompted Monsef to press her for details, according to National Observer. She told us she did not think it mattered, Monsef said in a September 2016 statement. In September 2016, the Globe and Mail reported that Monsef, hailed by the Liberals as Canada's first Afghan-born MP, was actually born in Mashhad, Iran, a city about 200 kilometres away from the border with Afghanistan. We were Afghan citizens, as we were born to Afghan parents, and under Iranian law, we would not be considered Iranian citizens despite being born in that country. Since then, she has submitted documentation to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, but is still waiting for a resolution. Monsef, who had listed her birthplace as Herat, Afghanistan, when she applied for a Canadian passport, promised she would take steps to fix the error. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vancouver projects: But how much of the 40 billion the B.C. government will receive, and how much of it will be dedicated to Vancouver projects, remained unclear after Duclos declined to give specifics, according to Vancouver Courier. In fact, many of these details are not yet finalized, he said of the strategy which also promises a rent supplement program in 2020 that will deliver an average of 2,500 per year to 300,000 low-income households. The strategy also promises to improve the availability and quality of housing and ensure at least 25 per cent of funds go to projects for women, girls and their families.article continues below Trending Stories Fentanyl dealer says demand for deadly drug is driving Vancouver market Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysis 15.5 million Vancouver home likely a teardown False killer whale dies at Vancouver Aquariumrelated City of Vancouver identifies more neighbourhoods to house homeless18 per cent of Vancouverites living in substandard housing Analysis Less talk, more action needed in child poverty fight The federal government is back in housing and in a big way with more ambition, more money and a greater desire to collaborate, said Jean-Yves Duclos, the federal minister responsible for housing, at a news conference at the Woodward's building in the Downtown Eastside. Housing Minister Selina Robinson and Mayor Gregor Robertson joined Duclos Wednesday and welcomed the news of a national strategy to tackle affordability and homelessness. The NDP-led government promised in its election campaign earlier this year to build 114,000 rental and co-op homes over 10 years, and provide renters with an annual cheque for 400. Robinson told the Courier after the announcement that the B.C. government will work on a bi-lateral agreement with the federal government to finalize the province's portion of the funding. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

washington decision: With everything happening in our White House in Washington, D.C., I know many nations have questioned our nation's leadership on some very important issues and have questions whether my nation will remain a shining city on the hill, said Inslee, who is a Democrat, according to National Observer. Inslee drew a standing ovation when he mentioned Washington state's decision to join a lawsuit to prevent Trump's administration from deporting thousands of young immigrants brought to America as children and who live in the United States illegally, often referred to as dreamers. Jay Inslee said people are questioning whether the U.S. will continue providing leadership around the world as a result of Trump's presidency. They are not a danger, he said. Inslee is the first governor from Washington to address the legislature since 1984. They are dreamers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.