trump opposition: Both girls arrived in the country as unaccompanied minors and are being held in federal shelters, though it is not known precisely where, according to The Chronicle Herald. The American Civil Liberties Union went to court on behalf of the two girls, as it did in the case of a third 17-year-old girl who was able to obtain an abortion in October following a high-profile court fight. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said the Republican administration can't prevent the 17-year-old girls from exercising their right to an abortion. The current controversy stems from the Trump administration's opposition to abortion and its decision to change the policy of the Obama administration concerning minors who are detained trying to enter the country. One teen is about 10 weeks pregnant, and the other is now about 22 weeks pregnant, Chutkan said. Earlier this year, the office in the Health and Human Services Department that oversees the shelters prohibited them from taking steps to facilitate an abortion without its direct approval. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rexall place: It's just a whole pile of memories, good times, said Bailey, who took her seat in the building which used to be known as Rexall Place for the last time on Sunday, according to CBC. With the Oilers now playing at Rogers Place the new arena which took over hosting duties for many of the other major events coming to the city the Coliseum is set to close at the end of the month. From her plastic chair, she watched Wayne Gretzky lead her favourite NHL team to Stanley Cup victory after Stanley Cup victory in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Final farewell To offer the public the chance to say a final farewell, Northlands opened up the facility on Sunday, partnering with the Candora Society to host a multicultural round dance. Martin Weaver/CBC Tim Reid, the president and CEO of Northlands, which operated the venue, said its the perfect way to end things. People prepare for a multicultural round dance at the Coliseum, the final event to be held at the 44-year-old venue. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian crisis: In 2013, Talal Al Do, an engineer who had just graduated from the University of Toronto, started working with UOSSM to introduce solar energy to the country's hospitals after Syria's crippled electricity system started causing problems with aid efforts, according to CTV. Parts of Syria that the government doesn't control relied entirely on diesel generators to keep their hospitals running. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations UOSSM is an international medical aid organization that was set up in 2012 to provide medical care for the Syrian crisis, and currently has 2,000 people working in the country. But Al Do says using diesel was troubling because armed groups like ISIL had seized the pipelines and were profiting from the sales of diesel. Where you actually procure diesel to sustain service, but at the same time you empower the forces that are sustaining the war. It created a very vicious cycle of the war economy, said Al Do. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trump visit: A formal motion passed by the borough's councillors vowed that Trump would not be welcome in Greenwich should the trip materialize, according to Toronto Star. The council expressed alarm at the decision of President Trump to retweet Islamophobic Propaganda and sadness at the President's bigoted attitude toward women and ethnic minorities. During a meeting last week, the Labour-held borough in southeast London called for the government to abandon plans for a Trump visit. Read more Trump to unveil America First' national security plan in bid to boost U.S. influence Article Continued Below 52 per cent of Americans think country worse off under Trump, poll finds Trump's administration is blocking 2 illegal immigrant teens from getting abortions lawsuit Denise Hyland, leader of the Greenwich council, said, On a daily basis, we work hand in hand with residents from all communities to ensure this borough is a peaceful and welcoming place that celebrates difference and diversity, but in the case of President Trump we are willing to make an exception. react-empty 163 She went on to say We are one of 32 London boroughs, all different, all individual but all home to people from across the world. It enriches our lives on a daily basis. This diversity strengthens our borough. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

wildfires funding: The emergency aid would provide 26 billion for community development block grants, which would help Florida, Texas and the Caribbean rebuild, along with Western states recovering from wildfires, according to The Chronicle Herald. There's funding for prevention of future flooding, highway repairs and help for small businesses. GOP leaders promised a vote this week on the measure, which would bring the total provided in response to this year's devastating round of hurricanes to more than 130 billion exceeding the cost to taxpayers of Hurricane Katrina. There's almost 28 billion for the government's chief disaster aid account, 4 billion of which could be used to help cash-strapped governments such as Puerto Rico's stay afloat. They deserve our continued support, and we must provide the necessary resources for them to recover from these emergencies. We have a commitment to our fellow citizens that are in the midst of major rebuilding efforts, said Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., who sponsored the measure. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

assault accusations: And that's the long-term you have to look at, according to National Observer. Saamanen's sentiments reflect many of those in the film and TV industry as the flood of sexual harassment and assault accusations shows so signs of abating. I feel good that there's actually something starting to be done about sexual misconduct Saamanen says, adding he doesn't want to be lining the pockets of someone like Louis C.K. It's taking the Band-Aid off.... There are going to be people who suffer from that, but in the end it's going to be better off for us. There are concerns about the cancelling of projects and job insecurity not just for the alleged perpetrators but also for those who work on their productions. There will be collateral damage, unfortunately, but it's like we have to make a clean sweep. I think we're going to go through a rough patch of these things happening, says Canadian actress Maxim Roy, whose credits include the film Allure and the TV series Bad Blood and 19-2. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

arab citizens: Arab citizens comprise more than 20 per cent of the country and Arabs have the right to study, worship and protest peacefully, as do all other citizens, according to Toronto Star. Arabs and Israelis work and study alongside each other at Israel's fine hospitals and universities. There is no apartheid in Israel. Israel currently has two Arab Supreme Court justices, who sometimes rule against Israeli Jews. Article Continued Below If Arabs are allowed to live in any part of Israel, why would it be illegal for Israel to build homes for Jews in the eastern part of Jerusalem Should it be free of Jews Most of the Jewish holy sites are in East Jerusalem. Arab East Jerusalem residents could be citizens but choose not to because many prefer to continue seeing Israel as the enemy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

border protection: The VACIS exam revealed an anomaly within the commodity, it said, according to CTV. Customs officers then inspected further and found the bundles allegedly containing marijuana. In a news release, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the driver was supposedly taking a load of fire-starter wood to Wooster, Mass. on Monday when he crossed the border at the Peace Bridge port of entry near Buffalo, N.Y. CBP Officers utilized the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System VACIS to X-ray the truck and its contents after the primary officer became suspicious of Singh's demeanor. The agency said the VACIS provides an x-ray-like image of a fully-loaded truck in less than a minute. He has been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials pending arraignment, it said. Gurmit Singh, 40, of North York faces the following charges importation of controlled substancesconspiracy to import a controlled substancepossession of a controlled substancesmuggling goods Singh is a citizen of India and a landed immigrant of Canada, according to the release. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

techno dorjee: Techno Dorjee of the Project Tibet Society says the 25 families that attended the event are some of the 330 Tibetan refugees who arrived in Calgary over the last two years and, for most, Christmas is a new experience for them, according to CTV. Typically we don't celebrate Christmas so we decided to kind of show the Canadian spirit of Christmas, explained Dorjee. The party was hosted by the Project Tibet Society after Alpine Insurance made a financial donation to the organization and the owners of Mercato West, which has employed several refugees, offered their location for the event. As part of the Tibetan refugee project, the 950 refugees who have arrived in Canada have received financial assistance from the Project Tibet Society to help them achieve basic financial reliance within their first three months in their adopted homeland. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

oven doors: On Dec. 1. 1900, Merton praised the new oven thermometers that were now attached to oven doors, resulting in more accurate temperature readings and tastier roasted birds she then offered tips on roasting an eight-pound turkey .A Dec. 30, 1905, recipe for turkey mayonnaise in a jelly ring offered a suggestion for leftovers a jelly mould of whisked aspic and heavy cream on a bed of watercress with a big dollop of chopped turkey, celery and mayonnaise in the centre, according to Toronto Star. Refrigerators wouldn't be in homes for another decade, so the recipe calls for literally putting the mould on ice. Looking back, those recipes offer a glimpse into the past what ingredients were available citrus-forward recipes emerged with Tropicana's rise in the '50s what kitchen innovations home cooks were obsessed with before the Instant Pot, The Star ran many microwave recipes in the '80s, including for turkeys and how certain dishes and ingredients reflected the news of the time using shortening instead of butter during the Second World War . We dug back through more than a century's worth of Star recipes to see what they could tell us about life in Toronto over the years.1900s The Ice Box Years During the formative years of the paper, recipes were found under Madge Merton's Page, which was the pen name for Star reporter Elmina Ella Susannah Elliott Atkinson. Article Continued Below 1910s Wartime Christmas The outbreak of the First World War resulted in higher food costs and scarce ingredients. A year later, War Menus were developed by the Canadian government to discourage the use of wheat, bacon and beef, so that those ingredients could be shipped to troops overseas. On Dec. 14, 1916, recipes encouraged using buttermilk as it was cheaper than regular milk for muffins, scones and cakes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

housing crisis: People end up living on the streets, or living in their cars, or crashing with friends, sleeping on the couch, said Linda Forsythe, a board member of 411 Seniors Centre Society, according to CTV. That used to happen a lot with young people, she said. While the debate over the city's housing crisis often focuses on millennials, people who work with seniors say elderly adults have lower incomes and fewer supports to withstand being displaced from their homes. They could tolerate it quite well, and sort of get on with their lives, whereas, with older people, you don't have a chance to make more money. Seniors are enduring the same rent hikes as other tenants in Vancouver, but have disproportionately lower incomes and higher medical costs. That's the problem. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

programs work: He renewed his call to end two of the pillars of legal immigration a program that allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to bring their immediate families and close relatives to join them, and the diversity visa lottery, according to Toronto Star. Not only is Trump wildly mischaracterizing how these programs work, but he is also using this distortion to advance dangerous, racist ideas about immigration. The new target families. Over the past 50 years, our immigration admissions system has served key values to which our country aspires. It was not always this way. Central to this policy has been embracing family, welcoming diversity and recognizing the humanity of all people no matter where they were born. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian crisis: In 2013, Talal Al Do, an engineer who had just graduated from the University of Toronto, started working with UOSSM to introduce solar energy to the country's hospitals after Syria's crippled electricity system started causing problems with aid efforts, according to Metro News. Parts of Syria that the government doesn't control relied entirely on diesel generators to keep their hospitals running. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations UOSSM is an international medical aid organization that was set up in 2012 to provide medical care for the Syrian crisis, and currently has 2,000 people working in the country. But Al Do says using diesel was troubling because armed groups like ISIL had seized the pipelines and were profiting from the sales of diesel. Where you actually procure diesel to sustain service, but at the same time you empower the forces that are sustaining the war. It created a very vicious cycle of the war economy, said Al Do. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alpine republic: At a joint news conference Saturday with Kurz to speak about the coalition deal, Strache said his party agreed to rule out a referendum on Austria leaving the European Union, according to CBC. The two men said they will also push for more relaxed relationship between the West and Russia. Kurz, 31, and Freedom Party FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strache, 48, announced their deal on Friday night, handing the far right a share of power for the third time in the Alpine republic, after more than a decade in opposition. Austrian vote gives mandate to far right to enter coalition talks Austria to erect 'technical barriers' to keep out refugees They presented details of a law-and order-agenda that includes Introducing minimum sentences for violent and sex crimes. Securing Austria's borders nationally to stop illegal immigration until the EU has secured external frontiers. Making fighting political Islam a priority. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

british-born father: Alexander had been forced to quit over a constitutional ban of dual citizens sitting in Parliament, according to The Chronicle Herald. The former champion tennis player was able to re-contest the electorate he had held since 2010 because he renounced the citizenship he inherited from his British-born father. The conservative Liberal Party candidate John Alexander regained his Sydney electorate, defeating Kristina Keneally, the Las Vegas-born candidate for the centre-left Labor Party who was once leader of the New South Wales state government. The byelection returns Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's government to the single-seat majority it held in October when the High Court created a constitutional crisis by ruling that five lawmakers were ineligible to sit in Parliament. Alexander was regarded as the favourite to win the byelection. They included Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who was able to successfully contest a byelection on Dec. 2 because he had renounced the New Zealand citizenship he inherited from his father. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian citizen: But after more than 60 years in Canada, Gyselinck discovered she's not actually Canadian, according to CBC. Gyselinck, 67, grew up in Manitoba and now lives in Deep Cove, B.C. Over the course of her life, she has worked as a welder, car detailer, and artist, among other things. She was just a one-year-old, and has never known any other home since. She also married, had two children and was widowed. The realization that she's not a Canadian citizen has sent her life into a tailspin, leaving her unable to acquire valid identification and at risk of losing her health insurance. She always had a social insurance number, health insurance and paid her taxes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

families notes: The American Civil Liberties Union filed court papers Friday asking a judge to order the government not to interfere with or obstruct the girls' access to abortions, according to Metro News. The ACLU says the girls arrived as unaccompanied minors. The Trump administration says two pregnant immigrant teens who are being held in federal custody and prevented from obtaining abortions can leave the U.S. if they want to end their pregnancies. The Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families notes that the teens entered the country illegally and says they can voluntarily depart to their home country or find a suitable sponsor. The American Civil Liberties Union says the Trump administration is blocking two pregnant immigrant teens being held in federal custody from obtaining abortions. But the agency says if the girls choose not to do that, HHS does not believe we are required to facilitate the abortion. 7 45 p.m. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

friday evening: The ACLU earlier this year represented a pregnant teen in the same circumstances in Texas, helping her obtain an abortion following a lawsuit, according to Metro News. On Friday evening, the ACLU filed court papers updating the lawsuit filed in that earlier case to include the two additional teens, saying the facts of their cases are similar. Both girls arrived in the country as unaccompanied minors and are being held in federal shelters, the ACLU said, though it didn't say where. The ACLU is asking a federal judge to order the government not to interfere with or obstruct the girls' access to abortions. The judge overseeing the case has set a hearing for Monday. Both minors have asked their respective doctors and their shelters for an abortion, but to date, the government has not allowed them to access abortion, the ACLU wrote. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

year: All they can do is look at the family photos they brought with them from the last time they were together back home often when the children were still very young, according to Toronto Star. This year, caregivers stuck in the immigration backlog have launched a letter-writing campaign, encouraging Canadians to write to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen asking them for the mercy of clearing the backlog and reuniting their families. For many of the caregivers, some waiting for as long as seven years for the permanent residency to reunite with their families, Christmas is the hardest and loneliest moment of the year. At a recent town hall meeting, Hussen said he sympathized with the caregivers' situation and boasted that the backlog has come down to the current 23,000 applications from the peak of 62,000 in 2014. Article Continued Below Four caregivers, in Toronto and elsewhere, are sharing their personal letters to Trudeau and Hussen, explaining why even waiting one more year is too long. The government hopes to clear 80 per cent of the backlog by the end of 2018. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jail: PLEASE GET ME OUT OF HERE I DON'T BELONG HERE!! HELP ME! HELP ME! PLEASE!!!!!! . . . I don't see how they can continue to keep me locked up like a criminal, according to Toronto Star. I have no charges. Scrawling in frantic capital letters, she begged him to get her out of the maximum-security jail where she was being held indefinitely as an immigration detainee. I had already paid my time for my crime. Gratton, a grandmother who celebrated her 50th birthday behind bars, never made it out of jail. I'll leave Canada if that's what it comes to, but let me out until that's what's desided sic if it comes to that. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

omaha convention: Last week, 22 motorcoach tours from across the country converged on the city for a smattering of Christmas festivities, and local businesses and hoteliers are seeing the boost in a time of year when some hotel rooms sit empty, according to The Chronicle Herald. More Christmas-themed tours are expected this week, but the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau said that last week may have been the busiest tour week in December in the city's history. Tourists wanting to experience the holidays around the world are finding festivities just a bus ride away to Omaha, Nebraska. They come for Christmas in Germany at the German American Society; Christmas in Greece at the Greek Orthodox Church; Christmas in Mexico on South 24th Street; Irish Christmas at Father Flanagan's Boys Town; plus other holiday events, like the poinsettia display at Lauritzen Gardens, the Omaha Symphony's Christmas program and A Christmas Carol at the Omaha Community Playhouse. It just blew me away, all of the diversity that area has, Dean said. Valarie Dean, manager of Bilbrey Tours of Abilene, Texas, told the Omaha World-Herald the motorcoach tour company sent a group of just under 40 people to Omaha last week. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jane doe: The ACLU earlier this year represented a pregnant teen in the same circumstances in Texas, helping her obtain an abortion following a lawsuit, according to Toronto Star. On Friday evening, the ACLU filed court papers updating the lawsuit filed in that earlier case to include the two additional teens, saying the facts of their cases are similar. Both girls arrived in the country as unaccompanied minors and are being held in federal shelters, the ACLU said, though it didn't say where. The ACLU is asking a federal judge to order the government not to interfere with or obstruct the girls' access to abortions. The same judge previously ruled in favour of the ACLU's first plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe. Read more White House embarking on major campaign for merit-based immigration structure Article Continued Below Trump and top Democrats reach deal on young immigrants Donald Trump's immigration ban could be an opportunity for Canada, federal documents say Both minors have asked their respective doctors and their shelters for an abortion, but to date, the government has not allowed them to access abortion, the ACLU wrote. react-empty 163 The judge overseeing the case has set a hearing for Monday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

johnny galecki: Two actresses later joined the show, becoming mainstays of the comedy, according to The Chronicle Herald. However, newcomers Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch haven't earned nearly as much as their costars for years. The original cast largely male includes Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, and Kaley Cuoco. Recently, the original actors agreed to a pay cut so that Bialik and Rauch could earn more. Whether in Hollywood or elsewhere, many women still earn less than their male counterparts. Unfortunately, the scenario that played out with The Big Bang Theory cast is not an anomaly. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

reconstruction money: This list is by no means exhaustive and so please send me suggestions at toolkit rabble.ca and I will be happy to add them.1, according to Rabble. Syria ISIS has been routed from Syria and the Assad government is reinstalled. Given the huge need around the world, and here in Canada, this guide is meant to help you inform your giving. The country is in ruins and the wars in the Middle East have created the biggest refugee crisis since World War II. However, there is high probability that the reconstruction money given to the government will not get to all Syrians and will be used to sure up President Assad's power. Daher argues that two ulterior motives underlie the Syrian government's approach to reconstruction Consolidating political and economic power within a narrow circle of Syrian elites connected to the ruling Assad family and quelling dissent in former opposition areas. The Syrian government's plans for rebuilding the country's wrecked cities and governorates are starting to take shape, but there are warning signs the process may not necessarily be geared towards recovery and renewal, according to Swiss-Syrian academic and author Joseph Daher. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rohingya refugees: More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar to escape brutal persecution since late August and many of them remain stuck in cramped refugee camps in Bangladesh, requiring medical attention, according to CBC. Over 6,700 Rohingya killed in a single month, Doctors Without Borders estimates'I have no right to look away' Doctor says world needs to know plight of Rohingya refugees Li boarded a plane earlier this fall and headed to Malumghat, where hospitals and NGOs are working around the clock to keep up with health care demands. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, is used to dealing with challenging medical situations but little could have prepared him for what he saw on a recent trip to help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. For several weeks, he volunteered with the surgical centre at a mission hospital there. More than half the patients were children and many of them had never received medical care in a hospital before, Li said. It was a well-run hospital but it was very busy, often over capacity, he told CBC host of The Early Edition Rick Cluff. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

amateur clubs: The date was confirmed Friday by the prince's Kensington Palace office, according to CTV. While most British royal weddings are on weekdays, this one is a Saturday, and the same day as the soccer showdown at London's Wembley Stadium. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19 -- the same day as one of the biggest English sports events of the year, the FA Cup final. Harry's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and other royals are expected to attend the wedding, along with Markle's parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland. The FA Cup competition, which is open to hundreds of teams all the way from the top-ranked Premier League down to amateur clubs, began in August and is played every month until two teams meet in the final. The climax of soccer's oldest cup competition could present a distraction for guests at the royal reception, although the events should at least be at different times. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.