others focus: An editorial from a prominent national paper asks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to yield to Tory measures by tightening the border, according to Toronto Star. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen recently said that he has no qualms about using the term illegal . As MPs Jenny Kwan and Gary Anandasangaree have both argued, word choice is important and the term illegal is harmful. One newspaper speaks of illegal migrants while others focus on illegal border crossers. Irregular is used by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to describe border crossings between ports of entry. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects this right. This is not about people trying to sneak across the border undetected, but about the right to seek asylum from persecution. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pledge monday: The protests are seen, in part, as an attempt by Hamas to break the blockade, according to Toronto Star. Read more Israelis open deadly fire as Hamas protest continues Article Continued Below Number of Palestinians killed by Israel this week rises to 21 after Gaza airstrike Israel blamed for missile strike on major airbase in Syria that killed 14Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh renewed a pledge Monday that the marches would pave the way for a return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to what is now Israel. react-empty 142 We will return to Palestine, our villages and Jerusalem, Haniyeh said in a fiery speech at one of five protest camps set up along the border. Since late March, 26 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire in mass border protests led by Hamas, but also driven by widespread desperation over the territory's decade-old border blockade by Israel and Egypt. He stopped short of threatening a mass breach of the border, though another Hamas leader has done so in recent speeches. It has said some of those at the border tried to damage the fence, planted explosives or hurled firebombs. Israel has accused Hamas of using the protests as a cover for carrying out attacks and bringing infiltrators into Israel. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

protests: The protests are seen, in part, as an attempt by Hamas to break the blockade, according to CTV. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh renewed a pledge Monday that the marches would pave the way for a return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to what is now Israel. Since late March, 26 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire in mass border protests led by Hamas, but also driven by widespread desperation over the territory's decade-old border blockade by Israel and Egypt. We will return to Palestine, our villages and Jerusalem, Haniyeh said in a fiery speech at one of five protest camps set up along the border. Israel has accused Hamas of using the protests as a cover for carrying out attacks and bringing infiltrators into Israel. He stopped short of threatening a mass breach of the border, though another Hamas leader has done so in recent speeches. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sunday evening: John's Centre, to the top position in the provincial party, according to Rabble. Rogers replaces interim leader Lorraine Michael, who served as leader following the resignation of Earle McCurdy, past head of the province's fisheries union, in September 2017. John's with the election of Gerry Rogers, the MHA representing St. The leadership convention that selected Rogers also featured a keynote address by federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. Coffin ran as a provincial candidate in Waterford Valley in 2015 and performed well. Rogers won 971 vote 67 per cent to 479 votes 33 per cent over economist and university instructor Alison Coffin, the party reported on Sunday evening, April 8. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian man: Shokran means thank you' in Arabic, Harb explains, according to The Chronicle Herald. The people and the government of Canada gave us everything, Harb says. The event has been organized by Mohammad Harb, a Syrian man who came to Canada with his wife and family in 2016 as government-sponsored refugees, as part of Harb's ongoing Shokran Canada project. They gave us a chance at a new life. I want to say thank you' to the Canadian people. My wife and my children have safety and education now. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

gop accomplishments: Trump started picking apart some GOP accomplishments, including the big budget bill, and complaining that others, namely his border wall, remained undone.article continues below Trending Stories Senior awarded 93K for fall into West Vancouver sidewalk hole Dianne Turner quietly exits role with the Vancouver School Board Vancouver Tenants Union 'encouraged' by formation of Rental Housing Task ForceVPD debuts new, four-legged members Now, Congress returns from spring break Monday scrambling to compile a to-do list that will satisfy a president they desperately need to be promoting their achievements, not undermining them, as they prepare to hit the campaign trail, according to Vancouver Courier. A lot of members would prefer to spend the rest of the year focusing on getting re-elected, but there's pressure from the White House ... to deliver more policy wins before facing voters, said Alex Conant, a GOP strategist. But President Trump was not impressed. But belittling lawmakers and badgering them to work doesn't help instil voter confidence in Republicans already facing an enthusiasm gap with Democrats fired up to go to the polls, strategists say. Every day that Trump attacks Congress, he hurts Republicans' chance of keeping the majority, Conant said. They need Trump on their side, not piling on. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

summer influx: The union is raising huge concerns, he said, questioning how officials will cope with a summer influx given the number of asylum seekers already pouring into the country this spring, according to Vancouver Courier. He pointed to a spike in illegal border crossings over the Easter weekend. Jean-Pierre Fortin, national president of Canada's Customs and Immigration Union, says the government's preparations for another wave of irregular migrants this summer consist largely of reallocating of staff from other areas of the country.article continues below Trending Stories Senior awarded 93K for fall into West Vancouver sidewalk hole Dianne Turner quietly exits role with the Vancouver School Board Vancouver Tenants Union 'encouraged' by formation of Rental Housing Task ForceVPD debuts new, four-legged members He warned Monday that it could lead to overworked border security staff and longer wait times at ports of entry across the country as the busy summer travelling season sets in. Approximately 600 people entered Canada illegally through Quebec over the four-day weekend. But Fortin said the opposite is happening, with the government not replacing every staffer who moves on. The union wants the government to commit to hiring more customs and immigration staff. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tamara taggart: Finally, Canada, a country they knew next to nothing about, took them in and they ended up in Burnaby when the boy was old enough for kindergarten.article continues below Trending StoriesCTV Vancouver parts ways with Tamara Taggart and Mike Killeen Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysisVPD debuts new, four-legged members Senior awarded 93K for fall into West Vancouver sidewalk hole At first, it was hard on him because he didn't know the language, although within a month or so he began to connect with other students, according to Vancouver Courier. Turns out he's quite sociable. All they wanted was to find a free and safe country to live in. One day, his class at Forest Grove Elementary went ice skating. He went home and told his parents they'd learned about hockey. Although he struggled to skate, he loved it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tradition dates: The tradition dates back centuries in some places, according to CTV. In the Greek town of Ermioni, it has been observed the past 25 years. The ritual burning of Judas is a custom also observed by Roman Catholics in parts of Latin America as a symbolic punishment for Judas' betrayal of Christ for a monetary reward. About 20 small boats circled around a raft bearing a wire model of Judas that floated off Ermioni and then the figure was set ablaze. In older times, the Judas effigy was made of straw. More than 1,000 locals and visitors watched from shore and also listened to music and saw a laser show. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

assistance mission: It was the catalyst that effectively destroyed the old order and changed the course of central African history, according to Toronto Star. Which is what RPF leader Paul Kagame and the RPF were aiming for all along, while paying lip service to the UN, to the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda UNAMIR and to the peace process. His assassination set the stage for a level of mass killings that Rwanda has not yet recovered from. The following account of the shooting down of Habyarimana's plane is based on separate testimonies from former RPF to the 2006 French inquiry under Judge Jean-Louis Brugui re and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The commanders present at the meetings were Col. Kagame and his inner military circle held a series of three meetings in late 1993 and early 1994 to plan to shoot down the plane. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

church leaders: The father of two finds the church so welcoming that he's introduced many reluctant Indian friends to Rockcliffe, according to CTV. I tell them my story, he says. Over the years, a few other non-white members joined Rockcliffe Pentecostal Church, which Johnson describes as one big family. They all come to this church and they have positive experiences. The immigrant and minority population is expanding beyond big cities, and leaders believe their churches must do a better job of serving an increasingly diverse population, especially as attendance plummets. Many church leaders want to give minorities a similar welcome. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

family reunion: That's certainly reflected in the 15-member cast list for this Caribbean-flavoured musical rehash of the Romeo/Juliet story, according to Vancouver Observer. Performers range from septuagenarian Vancouver William S. Taylor to 13-year-old sparkplug Arta Negahban. The company aims to showcase talents of all races, ages, genders and abilities. Current and recent drama school enrolees predominate; many, in their playbill bio's, stress their ethnic or hapa roots. Jang, the director, did double-duty as a quondam usher, personally presiding over the seating in the half-moon arena of Granville Island's Red Gate Revue Stage, like the host at a family reunion. This eclecticism was reflected in the opening night audience yesterday, many of whom appeared to be relatives of the cast and crew. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

two-thirds majority: The right-wing nationalist Jobbik party placed second with 26 seats, while a Socialist-led, left-wing coalition ran third with 20, according to Toronto Star. Only two other parties, former prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's Democratic Coalition and the green Politics Can Be Different party, were expected to surpass the 5-per-cent threshold needed to form a parliamentary faction. With 84.7 per cent of the votes counted, Fidesz and its small ally, the Christian Democrat party, had secured 133 of the 199 seats in the legislature, the minimum needed for a two-thirds majority. Read more Hungary's collaboration with Nazi Germany was a mistake,' PM Orban says Article Continued Below Hungary asks EU to help pay for anti-migrant fences on southern borders Hungary votes to detain' all asylum seekers in camps built from shipping containers Orban won his fourth term overall on a platform that openly demonizes migrants to Europe. react-empty 144 Opposition parties feared that another super-majority would allow the autocratic leader to more easily push through constitutional changes, continue his crackdown on civic groups that he claims work against Hungarian interests and further strengthen his grasp on the highly centralized state power structure. He claims that the opposition is collaborating with the United Nations, the European Union and wealthy philanthropist George Soros to turn Hungary into an immigrant country, threatening its security and Christian identity. Orban has campaigned heavily on his unyielding anti-migration policies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

church leaders: I tell them my story, he says, according to Vancouver Courier. They all come to this church and they have positive experiences. Over the years, a few other non-white members joined Rockcliffe Pentecostal Church, which Johnson describes as one big family. article continues below Trending StoriesCTV Vancouver parts ways with Tamara Taggart and Mike Killeen What the thunder Why we hear it so seldom in Vancouver Vancouver campus is Yorkville University's firstB.C.'s alcohol retailers want option to sell cannabis The father of two finds the church so welcoming that he's introduced many reluctant Indian friends to Rockcliffe. Many church leaders want to give minorities a similar welcome. According to a 2017 Ipsos survey, only 40 per cent of Canadians attend church compared to 63 per cent in 2006. The immigrant and minority population is expanding beyond big cities, and leaders believe their churches must do a better job of serving an increasingly diverse population, especially as attendance plummets. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tamara taggart: While the committee studying the issue won't confirm how many churches could be closed, Montreal La Presse and a local newspaper have reported that as many as 33 of the diocese's 54 churches could be on the chopping block as of this summer, according to Vancouver Courier. The diocese says an announcement will be made in June. But with so few answering the call each Sunday, the small town northwest of Montreal is one of many facing what once would have been unimaginable a churchless future.article continues below Trending StoriesCTV Vancouver parts ways with Tamara Taggart and Mike Killeen What the thunder Why we hear it so seldom in Vancouver Vancouver campus is Yorkville University's firstB.C.'s alcohol retailers want option to sell cannabis As the Saint-Jerome Catholic diocese north of Montreal contemplates whether to dramatically slash the number of buildings it maintains, parishioners say they won't accept the closure of their churches without a fight. The news isn't sitting well with some residents in Sainte-Sophie, who have formed a group to try to save the church. But Stephan Filion, the group's founder, wonders whether the diocesean committee is even considering other options. Thus far, their activities consist of trying to raise attendance at Sunday mass, and trying to show church authorities that the community is willing to work to find solutions. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tournament morocco: The evaluation of bids is more stringent following concerns about the votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and rights abuses in Russia and Qatar.FIFA mandated 2026 bidders to commission and submit independent human rights reports that weigh risks linked to the tournament, according to Vancouver Courier. Morocco has denied repeated requests from The Associated Press to release its report. Mexico City is the first stop on a five-day trip by the FIFA task force, which also will visit Atlanta, Toronto and the New York metropolitan area, where the bid committee proposed the 2026 final be held at East Rutherford, New Jersey.article continues below Trending StoriesCTV Vancouver parts ways with Tamara Taggart and Mike Killeen What the thunder Why we hear it so seldom in VancouverB.C.'s alcohol retailers want option to sell cannabis Vancouver campus is Yorkville University's first The FIFA delegation will score the rival Moroccan bid the following week before delivering assessments, which could disqualify a contender ahead of the June 13 vote in Moscow by the FIFA congress. The North American document, prepared by human rights assessors Ergon, stated the likelihood of worker abuses is significantly reduced in the U.S., Canada and Mexico because no stadiums or significant additional infrastructure must be built. But Ergon identified key risks associated with Mexico hosting 10 of the 80 games in 2026 in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, which the bid has proposed solutions to address. Morocco, by contrast, plans 15.8 billion in construction projects to prepare the country for what would be its first World Cup, including 3 billion to build or renovate every stadium or training facility. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

asylum seekers: Those figures don't include more than 600 additional arrivals who entered the country illegally through Quebec over the Easter weekend, according to CTV. Officials are expecting those numbers to continue to grow as temperatures rise. The RCMP intercepted more than 3,000 irregular border-crossers in January and February, part of a total number of 7,800 asylum seekers processed by the federal immigration department and the Canada Border Services Agency during the same time period. Immigration and CBSA officials have been preparing for the influx after getting caught flat-footed last summer dealing with an unexpected surge in mainly Haitian migrants entering Canada through Ontario and Quebec. Our government is prepared for any future fluctuations, said Mathieu Genest, press secretary for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen. Canada is an open and welcoming country to those in need of protection, but our government is committed to orderly migration to protect Canadians and our immigration system. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

barack obama: Arizona Gov, according to Toronto Star. Doug Ducey said about 150 Guard members would deploy this week. Trump's announcement, similar to moves made during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, came after news of a caravan of Central American immigrants travelling through Mexico. And the Texas National Guard said it was already sending Guardsmen to the border, with plans to place 250 troops there in the next 72 hours as an initial surge, according to a Guard spokesperson. The total so far remains well short of the 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard members that Trump told reporters he wants to send. Two helicopters lifted off Friday night from Austin, the state capital, to head south. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

community groups: A planned question about citizenship that has states suing the federal government isn't on the test, according to Metro News. Several elected officials and leaders of advocacy and community groups this week held an emergency press conference to raise concerns, which include a shortage of publicity around the test and its limited language outreach in an immigrant-heavy county, with large communities from countries including the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Portugal and Cape Verde. Providence County, the state's most populous, is the only place where the Census Bureau is running a full test, after plans to test two other sites this year were cancelled because of a lack of funding from Congress. If we don't get it right here, then the country's not going to get it right, Democratic Lt. Dan McKee warned. Gov. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

doug ducey: Doug Ducey said about 150 Guard members would deploy next week, according to CTV. And the Texas National Guard said it was already sending Guardsmen to the border, with plans to place 250 troops there in the next 72 hours as an initial surge, according to a Guard spokesman. Arizona Gov. Two helicopters lifted off Friday night from Austin, the state capital, to head south. New Mexico Gov. The total so far remains well short of the 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard members that Trump told reporters he wants to send. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

corruption scandal: He has been dogged by a massive corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund, which is under investigation in the U.S. and other countries for allegations of cross-border embezzlement and money laundering, according to Metro News. The 220-page election manifesto, which includes 364 pledges, was launched Saturday, the day Parliament was dissolved to pave the way for national polls expected in early May. Najib, 64, is seeking a third term in office under pressure to improve his National Front coalition's performance after support eroded in the last two elections. His campaign slogan Make my country great with BN the Malay acronym for the National Front has similarities with President Donald Trump's 2016 election motto Make America great again. This election is not about BN versus the opposition, Najib told tens of thousands of supporters at the manifesto launching at a sports stadium near Kuala Lumpur. This election is not about Najib versus the opposition leader. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

farm staff: Community gardener Marwan Iskander says when he first arrived from Jordan that he just wanted to do a little gardening at the farm, but it turned into so much more, according to CTV. Then I discovered that there's more to it, Iskander says. Staff and volunteers say they always knew they might lose their two acres of land to the expansion of the Halifax infirmary. There's so much beauty, a lot of people around, you make friendships, you get to work with different ethnic groups. Farm staff says the farm will have to pack up and leave in the fall, but they're on the search for a new site. The community farm is about to enter its seventh growing season, but the Halifax Infirmary now needs the land. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

spanish settlers: In 1836, the Alamo was the site of a legendary battle as Texas fought for independence from Mexico, according to The Chronicle Herald. A tricentennial commemorative week is scheduled for May 1 to May 6. The city was founded in 1718 when Spanish settlers built the Mission San Antonio de Valero today known as the Alamo along the San Antonio River. For visitors, May 4 will be of particular interest, with arts events, a festival and fireworks. TRICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE WEEK The Alamo and four other 18th-century missions built as outposts of Spain's colonial empire make up the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Texas. For travellers who'd like to see San Antonio but can't make that week in May, the city is hosting exhibitions and other festivals throughout the year, and you can visit the Alamo anytime, along with the River Walk just across the street. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

university game: Rigby, a five-foot-11 forward from Charlottetown, was an AUS first-team all-star this season, leading the Panthers in scoring 18.4 PPG . In her final university game, Rigby scored 16 points in the AUS final against champion Acadia last month in Halifax, according to The Chronicle Herald. The biology student has a cumulative GPA of 3.9 and is a four-time academic all-Canadian. The award, established in 1985, is given annually to an outstanding student-athlete in Atlantic University Sport for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sun cycle: The project has an estimated 1 million budget, most of which would be used to construct bicycle lanes and equipment on the Ju rez side, and it could open as soon as autumn 2018. ; The system would build on El Paso's existing bikeshare system, Sun Cycle, which began in September 2015, according to National Observer. The ultimate goal a binational system with 30 stations and 300 bicycles, all of which will be available to use on either side of the Rio Grande.A binational border-spanning bikeshare might sound like an unlikely undertaking, given the tone of the current immigration debate, but to Michael Medina, executive director of El Paso's MPO and head of the project, it's also eminently practical for this borderland metropolis, where American corporations have established a network of maquiladoras, or factories, on the Mexican side of the river. The initiative, proposed by El Paso's Metropolitan Planning Organization MPO more than a year ago, was presented at the Transportation Research Board in Washington D.C. on January 7. A lot of people that travel to El Paso from Mexico are dropped off at the border, he says. So we thought, what if they could get directly to their destination using a bicycle Biking across international borders is relatively rare, but not impossible. They walk through the bridge, and then they either get the bus on the other side or someone picks them up. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

adult life: The actor who is known for playing an endearing, hippie stoner is an opinionated activist for cannabis reform, according to CTV. In Chongs's mind, weed has never been illegal, so I never even give it any thought, he says. For most of his adult life, cannabis has been illegal, yet Chong has continued to smoke it openly and publicly. With Canada on the cusp of legalization, Chong's life work as the Grandfather of Pot is almost done. Chong spent the first few years of his life on what he calls a manger, which was a converted chicken coop. He was born on May 24, 1938 in Edmonton, Alberta, to a hard-working Chinese immigrant father and Scottish-Irish mother. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.