immigrantscanada.com

Independent topical source of current affairs, opinion and issues, featuring stories making news in Canada from immigrants, newcomers, minorities & ethnic communities' point of view and interests.

canadian currency: The grade seven student said he plans to frame the 10 bill, according to CTV. Members of the Barrie Afro-Caribbean Multicultural Association are also excited about the new Canadian currency. I'm gonna let them know that it's my brother's wife to every cashier that I pay, said Desmond's distant relative, Dorian Odusanya. It's way, way overdue, said Ebenezer Inkumsh. In 1946 Viola Desmond went to a movie in a Halifax theatre while work was being done on her car. It says to the world that hey, our struggles have finally been recognized. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

delegation: Last May, rabble.ca was part of a delegation that went to Venezuela to observe the country's elections, according to Rabble. The people in the delegation saw sharp differences between what was happening on the ground and what was being reported in the western media. We've seen a lot about this on the news but there are some different interpretations about what is causing this mass migration that you don't hear. And even when there was agreement on the facts, there was disagreement about the reasons. Canada is one of the countries which is participating in the endless condemnations of the Maduro regime. And there still is. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrants: Jolin-Barrette is also in talks with his federal counterpart, Ahmed Hussen, according to CTV. Quebec is not looking for a confrontation with Ottawa, said Jolin-Barrette is it looking for common ground. Quebec Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette continued high-level talks Thursday in Quebec City with Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic Leblanc. That might be difficult when it comes to immigration the Trudeau government is planning to boost the number of immigrants who come to Canada over the next three years. Last year, Quebec accepted around 52,000 immigrants, who came to the province under one of three categories refugeesimmigrants who come under the family reunification programeconomic immigrants. The CAQ, meanwhile, wants to deliver on a campaign promise to cut immigration levels in Quebec by 20 per cent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

thousands: Frightened and angry Rohingya refugees on Nov. 15 forced Bangladesh to call off efforts to start sending back some of the hundreds of thousands of the stateless Muslims to Myanmar, casting fresh doubt on a disputed repatriation program, according to Toronto Star. DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP/GETTY IMAGES The announcement came after about 1,000 Rohingya demonstrated against returning to Burma, from where hundreds of thousands fled army-led violence last year. The refugees are not willing to go back now, Refugee Commissioner Abul Kalam told The Associated Press, adding that officials can't force them to go but will continue to try to motivate them so it happens. At the Unchiprang camp, one of the sprawling refugee settlements near the city of Cox's Bazar, another Bangladeshi refugee official implored the Rohingya to return to their country over a loudspeaker. We want to offer everything to you. We have arranged everything for you, we have six buses here, we have trucks, we have food. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trudeau government: Canada stood firm against Chinese criticism Thursday after the Trudeau government rallied more than a dozen countries in expressing concern to Beijing about its jailing of hundreds of thousands of its Muslim minority, according to Toronto Star. Ng Han Guan / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters the letter violated the terms of the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations and that the envoys should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying speaks during a briefing at the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing. She noted the letter, which was spearheaded by Canada, was based on hearsay, despite widely distributed reports from detainees, relatives and officials documenting the sweeping and seemingly arbitrary detentions.A well-placed source from one of the 15 signatory countries also confirmed to The Canadian Press that Canada led the effort to send the letter. Canada is deeply concerned by credible reports of the mass detention, repression and surveillance of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang, said Adam Austen, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. Article Continued Below The United Nations estimates as many as one million Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities are being held in arbitrary detention. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ford: Ford is slippery that way, according to NOW Magazine. On the one hand, he presents himself as premier For The People. When Doug Ford says things like, There is no place in Ontario for anti-Semitism, as he did on Monday in response to what looks like an anti-Semitic incident in the city's north end, it's hard not to feel a little sick to your stomach. On the other, he's a Donald Trump knock-off in a cheaper suit spreading his own brand of white lies north of the border. A pair of sunglasses was stolen from one of the victims. According to police, four 17-year-olds in religious attire were walking near Bathurst and Lawrence when they were kicked and punched by another group making derogatory comments about their religion. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian laws: Permanent residents can live, work or study anywhere in the country, and are required to pay taxes and respect all Canadian laws at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.article continues below Trending Stories Canada's Most Dangerous Places Whistler's rankings don't paint full picture What driving in Vancouver was like in 1966 compared to now VIDEO NPA councillor blasts colleagues for failing to rescind duplex voteDTES graffiti artist Smokey D. earns permission to paint opioid crisis memorial The one thing permanent residents cannot do is cast ballots in elections, according to Vancouver Courier. Many permanent residents choose to become citizens of Canada after a few years in the country, but this process can be costly, especially for low-income families. In Canada, permanent residents are eligible for most social benefits that Canadian citizens receive including health care coverage and are protected under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The idea of allowing permanent residents to vote might seem new, but there are other jurisdictions around the world where people who are not citizens have a say in the formation of their municipal government. In spite of the many efforts from municipal governments to provide registered voters with the opportunity to cast ballots, the turnout level in last month's municipal election was very low across the province. Australia and Colombia are just two countries where foreigners who have not attained citizenship, but who reside and pay taxes in specific municipalities, have the opportunity to vote for their local representatives. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

las vegas: We were working a lot, a lot, a lot until we reached what we have been sowing... . We never thought, for example, that we were going to play in Israel or that we were going to be playing two years ago in the White House, according to Vancouver Courier. More than a dozen Latin artists honoured the band with renditions of its greatest hits. Lead vocalist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex Gonz lez, guitarist Sergio Vall n and bass player Juan Calleros received a crystal trophy before artists, industry leaders and others in an event the day before the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.article continues below Trending Stories Canada's Most Dangerous Places Whistler's rankings don't paint full picture What driving in Vancouver was like in 1966 compared to now VIDEO NPA councillor blasts colleagues for failing to rescind duplex voteDTES graffiti artist Smokey D. earns permission to paint opioid crisis memorial Mana is a band that has given its all always heart and soul, Olvera said on stage before recalling the band's humble beginnings and the years in which they all slept in a van. Gilberto Santa Rosa sang a salsa version of Bendita tu Luz, Pablo Albor n performed a pop rendition of Rayando el Sol, and Pepe Aguilar accompanied by the Mariachi Sol de M xico de Jos Hern ndez interpreted Mariposa Traicionera. Mana has highlighted environmental, social, political and human rights issues for more than 30 years through its songs, concerts and, more recently, social media. The academy bestowed the honour on the band for its achievements and contributions to the Latin community and support of environmental protection and human rights causes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

states citizens: A total of 2,550 asylum claims were made by United States citizens in 2017.article continues below Trending Stories Canada's Most Dangerous Places Whistler's rankings don't paint full picture What driving in Vancouver was like in 1966 compared to now VIDEO NPA councillor blasts colleagues for failing to rescind duplex voteDTES graffiti artist Smokey D. earns permission to paint opioid crisis memorial Partial statistics for this year show this trend continued at border and inland entry points, where 1,215 Americans sought asylum between January and August, according to government statistics, according to Vancouver Courier. And when it comes to irregular migrants who have arrived in Canada between official border crossings, the U.S. was No. 2 in the top five countries of citizenship between January and June, after Nigeria. In 2017, people whose country of origin was identified as the United States made up the third largest cohort of asylum seekers. Nearly all the Americans claiming asylum in Canada are children of immigrants who don't have permanent status themselves, the Immigration Department says. In these instances, the claims of persecution are made against the parents' country of origin, not the United States. The majority of U.S. citizens claiming asylum are minor asylum claimants who were born in the United States whose parents are citizens of another country, said Mathieu Genest, press secretary for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

albertans teachers: This means people's climate change perceptions are being increasingly driven by divisive political agendas rather than science and concern for our collective welfare, according to Rabble. Over the past year, the Alberta Narratives Project gathered input from a broad range of Albertans teachers, faith groups, health professionals, farmers, artists, industry, environmentalists, etc. to better understand how they feel about public discourse on global warming. The greatest predictor of people's outlook is political affiliation. Participants said they want less blame and a more open, balanced and respectful conversation. No one is speaking to them, using language that reflects their values and identity. Many don't see themselves in the conversation at all. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bangladesh governments: A Rohingya refugee in the Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh, in June, according to Toronto Star. About 2,200 Rohingya Muslims who fled violence in Burma last year are set to be repatriated on Nov. 15. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau say they are deeply concerned about a proposed repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Burma this month. It is a process that has been repeatedly delayed, and one that few, apart from the Burma and Bangladesh governments, seem to think is a good idea. Freeland and Bibeau say repatriation must not be rushed, and they're urging Burma's government to ensure refugees that do return are protected and their human rights are upheld. REBECCA CONWAY / New York Times United Nations officials and international organizations have said such a return is unsafe due to ongoing violence and conditions that continue to force refugees to flee the country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

broadcasting act: It is a sign that two parallel processes aimed at a long overdue modernization of laws governing the entire spectrum of communications from over-the-air television to the internet could face a rocky road, according to Rabble. Both processes are reviewing the Broadcasting Act and other key pieces of legislation governing communications, but only the Senate Transport and Communications Committee hearings are public. That, however, is what happened. The other process is behind closed doors. The group incudes five lawyers and a former Telus corporation vice-president, Janet Yule, who is the chair. Last June, the Trudeau government named a seven-member panel of experts to look at how communications legislation could be updated. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

christian democrats: Those opposing the coalition said it would give influence to the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats -- the third-largest party but considered a pariah by many -- because the government would be dependent on that party's support in parliament, according to CTV. Wednesday's vote was the first of a possible four before Speaker Andreas Norlen must call new elections. Parliament voted by 195 votes to 154 to reject the Speaker's plan for a coalition of the centre-right Moderates and the small Christian Democrats, with Moderates leader Ulf Kristersson as prime minister. It was the first time that a candidate for prime minister has ever been rejected by the 349-seat Riksdagen. The September election produced a hung parliament with the left-leaning side and the centre-right bloc securing about 40 per cent of the vote each, leaving neither with a majority and paving the way for months of uncertainty and complex coalition talks. Norlen said he would continue talks with party leaders on Thursday, without giving details. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

criticism: There's been no shortage of Albertans demanding that Kenney, leader of the Conservative opposition in the legislature, revoke Carpay's membership in the United Conservative Party for his odious comparison of the rainbow pride flag to the banners of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, according to Rabble. Kenney's even had a Postmedia political columnist -- a breed not usually associated with criticism of the UCP -- gently suggest that now might be an excellent time to advise Carpay his assistance is no longer required. Since the story broke over the long weekend, Carpay and his old comrade in social conservatism, Jason Kenney, have been subjected to a ferocious barrage of criticism, and not just on social media. Columnist Don Braid called Carpay's comment a dark, ugly slur, and reminded readers that the jackboot march to real totalitarianism always starts by demonizing minorities. That was said at a fundraiser for Carpay's so-called Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which earlier this year tried to get a court injunction to halt enforcement of the Alberta law preventing schools from informing parents when students join gay-straight alliances. Carpay's inadvisable commentary also reminded folks of the kind of things Kenney says when he's among friends, like that time last year when he compared Carpay to Rosa Parks, the civil rights activist best known for her role in the 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dentistry schools: Vince Talotta / Toronto Star The payoff is especially high for immigrants facing greater barriers to employment refugees and family class immigrants who may arrive in this country without specific credentials to work here, according to Toronto Star. Family class immigrants with post-secondary education experience earned an average income 10,000 greater than those without post-secondary experience, eight years after arriving in Canada. Two years after their arrival in Canada, Tibetan refugee brothers Khamsum Wangdu right and Kunsang Namgyal were admitted to dentistry schools at U of T and Dalhousie University. For refugees, post-secondary education gave them an advantage of 9,000. Article Continued Below That may make all the difference for people belonging to those categories, including the 46,700 refugees who settled in Canada in 2016 alone. Post-secondary experience gives a bigger pay boost to women belonging to one of those categories than to men. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

force refugees: United Nations officials and international organizations have said such a return is unsafe due to ongoing violence and conditions that continue to force refugees to flee the country, according to CTV. Freeland and Bibeau say repatriation must not be rushed and they're urging Myanmar's government to ensure refugees that do return are protected and their human rights are upheld. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau say they are deeply concerned about a proposed repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar this month. Canada is also calling on Myanmar to grant full access to UN and international observers to monitor any repatriation efforts. In September, Parliament voted unanimously to strip Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary Canadian citizenship for failing to stop the atrocities committed against the Rohingya people. More than 900,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar into neighbouring Bangladesh since August 2017. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pakistani man: Currently, migrants who do not hold Canadian citizenship can only challenge detention through an immigration tribunal or a judicial review, according to CTV. The case was brought by Tusif Ur Rehman Chhina, a Pakistani man who sought refugee protection in Canada in 2006, but was later detained after authorities learned he had a criminal record. The Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments Wednesday on a case asking for immigration detainees to be given access to habeas corpus -- a legal provision allowing anyone being held in custody the right to challenge their detention before a judge. The Immigration and Review Board held 12 reviews of his detention and each time ordered that he remain incarcerated. A long list of interveners have also signed on, including Amnesty International, the Canadian Council for Refugees, the Canadian and B.C. Civil Liberties Associations, the Canadian Prison Law Association and Community and Legal Aid Services Programme. He has since been deported back to Pakistan, but his lawyers have continued to pursue the case. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rohingya people: Vice President Mike Pence told Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that the violence the Rohingya people have experienced is without excuse, according to Toronto Star. Suu Kyi said Myanmar's leaders are in a better position to explain the situation. In a meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit in Singapore, Pence told Suu Kyi that he was anxious to hear about progress in resolving the crisis, which stems from a violent military crackdown in Burma's Rakhine state that the United Nations has called ethnic cleansing. The violence and persecution by military and vigilantes that resulted in driving 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh is without excuse, Pence said. Pence also said Burma's arrest and conviction of two Reuters journalists was deeply troubling to millions of Americans. He added that he was eager to hear about how Burma will enable the Rohingya to voluntarily return home. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

care: Harder, 32, a venture capitalist, had anchored his campaign to Denham's vote against the Affordable Care Act, while arguing that he would push for universal health care in Congress, according to Vancouver Courier. He also argued that Denham and other Washington Republicans ignored poverty and health care in the agricultural 10th District in California's Central Valley.article continues below Trending StoriesNPA councillor blasts colleagues for failing to rescind duplex vote Long arm of the law sticks it to pair of Vancouver butter bandits Vancouver company set to dive into the biggest underwater sinkhole in the world Canada's oldest air cadet squadron celebrates 80th birthday on Vancouver's West Side Washington is broken because our leaders have put party over country. Jeff Denham Tuesday in California's farm belt, giving Democrats their fourth pickup of a GOP House seat in California. I pledge that I will always put this community before anything in Washington, Harder said in a statement. In the 45th District in Orange County, Democrat Katie Porter jumped into a 261-vote lead over Republican Rep. As ballot-counting continued, Democrats gained ground in two undecided House races in Orange County, California, raising the possibility of a Democratic sweep of four closely contested congressional races in the one-time Republican stronghold. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration detainees: The case was brought by Tusif Ur Rehman Chhina, a Pakistani man who sought refugee protection in Canada in 2006, but was later detained after authorities learned he had a criminal record, according to Vancouver Courier. The Immigration and Review Board held 12 reviews of his detention and each time ordered that he remain incarcerated. The Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments Wednesday on a case asking for immigration detainees to be given access to habeas corpus a legal provision allowing anyone being held in custody the right to challenge their detention before a judge.article continues below Trending StoriesNPA councillor blasts colleagues for failing to rescind duplex vote Long arm of the law sticks it to pair of Vancouver butter bandits Vancouver company set to dive into the biggest underwater sinkhole in the world Canada's oldest air cadet squadron celebrates 80th birthday on Vancouver's West Side Currently, migrants who do not hold Canadian citizenship can only challenge detention through an immigration tribunal or a judicial review. He has since been deported back to Pakistan, but his lawyers have continued to pursue the case.A long list of interveners have also signed on, including Amnesty International, the Canadian Council for Refugees, the Canadian and B.C. Civil Liberties Associations, the Canadian Prison Law Association and Community and Legal Aid Services Programme. The onus is on the detainee to actually prove why they should be released, said Swathi Sekhar of End Immigration Detention Network, another intervener in the case. They argue migrant detainees do not always receive a fair hearing by these methods, and sometimes end up incarcerated indefinitely. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jobs duncan: Last year, she told universities they need to up their game in nominating more women to existing jobs, according to National Observer. Duncan said that over the last decade young researchers have been hit hardest by budget cuts to science programs. Duncan is on a cross-country tour of universities this week to promote 210 million worth of funding promised in last winter's federal budget for the creation of 285 Canada Research Chair jobs. ; She told The Canadian Press that she's calling on universities to find scientists in the early stages of their careers to nominate for most of the new positions. If I don't address this issue of underfunding for our early career researchers, where are we going to be in 10 to 15 years she said. Canada Research Chairs are funded for five to seven years, with grants of either 100,000 or 200,000 a year, to push the envelope on research in engineering, natural sciences, health sciences, humanities and social sciences. Duncan wants up to 250 of the 285 new jobs to go to early career researchers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

omarosa i: Trump has denied the existence of such tapes, tweeting that the show's producer told him there are NO TAPES of the Apprentice where I used such a terrible and disgusting word as attributed by Wacky and Deranged Omarosa, according to Vancouver Courier. I don't have that word in my vocabulary, and never have, Trump said. Lawyers for Civil Rights, which sued Trump in February, has issued subpoenas to MGM Holdings Inc. and Trump Productions LLC demanding any footage shot during the production of the show in which Trump uses racial and/or ethnic slurs or makes remarks concerning race, nationality and/or ethnic background. article continues below Trending StoriesNPA councillor blasts colleagues for failing to rescind duplex vote Long arm of the law sticks it to pair of Vancouver butter bandits Vancouver company set to dive into the biggest underwater sinkhole in the world Canada's oldest air cadet squadron celebrates 80th birthday on Vancouver's West Side Former White House staffer and fellow reality-TV star Omarosa Manigault Newman claimed without evidence in a book released in August, Unhinged, that a tape exists of the president using the N-word on the reality show's set. The case filed in Boston's federal court centres on the Trump administration's decision to end temporary protected status for thousands of immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and Honduras. Lawyers for Civil Rights says in the lawsuit that Trump's move to rescind the program was rooted in animus against immigrants of colour, citing comments he made on the campaign trial and in office. Temporary protected status provides safe havens for people from countries experiencing armed conflicts, natural disasters and other challenges. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ray gun: Soon after the tragic news of Lee's passing, LA Times entertainment journalist Jen Yamato tweeted out one of Lee's old columns, Stan's Soapbox, which he would include at the end of his comics between 1965 and 2001, according to CTV. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today, an excerpt from Lee's column read. While characters he had a hand in creating -- including like Black Panther, X-Men and Spider-Man -- all overtly tackled bigotry, prejudices and racism, it was not uncommon for Lee himself to take a stand publicly. But, unlike, a team of costumed super-villains, they can't be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. His column added that, a story without a message, however subliminal, is like a man without a soul. The only way to destroy them is to expose them to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

duncan: She told The Canadian Press that she's calling on universities to find scientists in the early stages of their careers to nominate for most of the new positions, according to CTV. Last year, she told universities they need to up their game in nominating more women to existing jobs. Duncan is on a cross-country tour of universities this week to promote 210 million worth of funding promised in last winter's federal budget for the creation of 285 Canada Research Chair jobs. Duncan said that over the last decade young researchers have been hit hardest by budget cuts to science programs. Duncan wants up to 250 of the 285 new jobs to go to early career researchers. If I don't address this issue of underfunding for our early career researchers, where are we going to be in 10 to 15 years she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

star metro: Star Metro file Some of the big, most exciting changes are going to be in the kitchen, said Danielle Dungey, the librarian in charge of facilities and technology at the Halifax Central Library, according to Toronto Star. Since the branch opened in 2014, the space has held a small sink, two microwaves and a fridge nestled among cabinets spanning its back wall. While libraries of old wouldn't even let you eat a snack among the stacks, the Halifax Central Library is taking a different approach. The kitchen setup has proven to be too meagre. Article Continued Below While libraries of old wouldn't even let you eat a snack among the stacks, now they're taking a different approach. This winter they'll add a second, deeper sink big enough to clean a stock pot an oven and eight portable induction burners that can be arranged in a circle for group cooking classes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

supreme court: He is seen here greeted by friend Gebere Mageraga, after his release, according to Toronto Star. In a case that opens on Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Canada is being asked to clarify if immigration detainees are protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and can access habeas corpus. Ebrahim Toure right who had been held in detention pending deportation for 5 1/2 years, was released in September after his lawyer successfully asked an Ontario court to rule his detention unlawful under habeas corpus. Rick Madonik / Toronto Star File Photo While Canadian citizens serving a jail sentence are entitled to argue their case before a judge, foreign nationals held for immigration violations must appear before a federal tribunal, which has been criticized for rubber-stamping their continued incarceration. Until now, immigration detention has been a murky area of law between two levels of authority the federal government, which is responsible for immigration matters and runs the tribunal, and the provinces, which are in charge of detention facilities. Canada's highest court is being asked to clarify if immigration detainees are protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and can access what is legally known as habeas corpus a legal recourse that allows anyone held by the state to challenge the lawfulness of their detention. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.