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 association: In a conference room at this verdant retreat on April 11, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer and his campaign manager, Hamish Marshall, were huddling with a group of oil company CEOs along with Tim McMillan, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers CAPP Big Oil's most powerful lobby group, according to National Observer. All of the CEOs present, in fact, are members of CAPP's board of governors. It's a popular wedding destination. One purpose of this meeting To strategize on how to defeat Justin Trudeau's government in the federal election this month. Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer reacts to the Liberal carbon pricing announcement in Ottawa on Oct. 23, 2018. The agenda also included discussions about how to silence environmental critics of pipeline projects and the tar sands, including suing them in court. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

news sign: Vancouver-based Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. says the technology, known as Hexwave, can detect both metallic and non-metallic weapons ranging from guns and knives to explosives, according to National Observer. Don't miss out on the latest news Sign up for our daily briefing It operates by capturing radar images, then using artificial intelligence to analyze those images for signs of a weapon concealed in bags or under clothing. The operator of Toronto's Pearson International Airport says it has agreed to test the new system developed at an Ivy League American university and marketed by a B.C. company. Liberty says the technology is not able to recognize facial features and therefore does not pose a privacy risk, a position experts in the field view with some skepticism. When I saw this opportunity, I felt that we had to be part of it. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which operates Pearson, says it will start deploying the technology in the spring of 2020 in a bid to boost security. ; They were trying something that could give us a more definitive look at weapons and plastic explosives that may be coming into airports, Dwayne Mac Intosh, director of corporate safety and security for the authority, said in a telephone interview. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

use humour: Recent polling by Ipsos, Earnscliffe Strategy Group and MIT researchers suggests nearly all Canadians have come across misinformation online, yet only 40 per cent feel they know how to differentiate between fake news and the real thing, according to National Observer. Don't miss out on the latest news Sign up for our daily briefing The polls also found 90 per cent of Canadians admitted to falling for fake news in the past, and only a third of them regularly check to see if the stories they're consuming are legitimate.CJF president Natalie Turvey said the campaign aims to use humour to engage news consumers and get people talking. The Canadian Journalism Foundation's Doubt It campaign aims to be an engaging collection of online quizzes and public service announcements from Canadian media personalities such as retired CBC host Peter Mansbridge. We're looking at the simplest, most straightforward and small actions that Canadians can incorporate to have changes in how they're consuming news and information, Turvey said in a phone interview. ; All of these techniques take 10 to 30 seconds to verify if a claim is real. Turvey said they've tried to make the campaign humorous and fun so that it's engaging. Some of the techniques she cited include checking dates, googling to see if other outlets are covering the story, and being skeptical of items that provoke a particularly strong emotional reaction. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

statistics canada: As of July 2019, the government agency estimated Canada's population at 37,589,262, according to CTV. That's up by over 500,000 compared to the year before. The figures were released as part of Statistics Canada's annual population estimates. That makes Canada's population growth the highest among G7 countries. Source Statistics Canada Interprovincial migration contributes to slow in Manitoban growth Conversely, Manitoba's growth slowed, with Stat Can estimating its population in July at 1.36 million. This infographic created by Statistics Canada shows the demographic growth by province between July 2018 and July 2019. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

issues: He later told National Observer he believes that after this election, maybe we can have a conversation about systemic racism and all the issues related to it, according to National Observer. It's frustrating that the press are trying to make this a story, he said. In an apology posted to Facebook on Tuesday, Marty Lancaster, a 47-year-old physics and environmental science teacher at Bear Creek Secondary School, said the costume was a mistake he deeply regrets and he's committed to educating himself on the issue. That's your choice to decide whether this is going to be a story or if this is going to be a small thing and you can move on and focus on more important issues. The issue took centre stage last month after shocking photos and video emerged showing the sitting prime minister in brownface and blackface. Race has been a powerful undercurrent in the leadup to and throughout the 2019 federal election campaign, which is witnessing the first racialized candidate for prime minister and a breakaway Conservative politician who founded a new party that taps into anti-immigrant sentiment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

al-rawi: SFU public communication professor Ahmed Al-Rawi is one of many academics across the country scrutinizing online activity for signs of foreign or domestic interference; he hasn't found any, according to CTV. I've downloaded over a million tweets and analyzed the canpoli' hashtag and I could not find any large activity of bots automated re-tweeting accounts said Al-Rawi, who is continuing to assess those tweets throughout the campaign. Analysis from Twitter, Facebook and academics suggests that malicious, manufactured and fake news content is not as widespread as in previous years, largely due to efforts to zero in on and remove that kind of material as quickly as possible. He believes it's a combination of public awareness and reluctance to share questionable content that is keeping it from growing, in addition to the work of social media companies clamping down. The company says the kind of activity seen in the United States' 2016 presidential election is non-existent in Canada's elections at this point. Al-Rawi's research backs up assessments from Twitter, which has invested in anti-bot and anti-manipulation techniques. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

arts centre: The demonstrators chanted Nazi scum, off our streets and held signs that read white supremacy is terrorism, according to CTV. According to a news release issued Monday, police were made aware of an incident that was occurring out of view from officers. About 100 demonstrators wearing bandannas or balaclavas to cover their faces entered Mohawk College McIntyre Performing Arts Centre ahead of the political event that evening. An elderly woman with a walker was being prevented by some of the demonstrators from entering the event. Hamilton police are in the process of collecting video evidence and further charges may be pending. Once police became aware, officers intervened and escorted the woman and her companion into the venue, investigators said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

group trip: The tweet identifies the man as 51-year-old Canadian Justin Kyllo, according to CTV. CTV News Vancouver have learned that Kyllo was the owner of Smoke and Bones BBQ in North Vancouver, B.C. Posts on social media indicate he was in Tanzania with the charitable organization Wings of Kilimanjaro, in which participants raise money for charity projects in Tanzania and then go on a group trip to climb the mountain and paraglide back down. A tweet posted on Sept. 28 by Tanzania National Parks said that the accident happened at Stella Point on Mount Kilimanjaro. For more on this story, visit CTV News Vancouver Global Affairs Canada confirmed in an email statement to CTVNews.ca that they were aware of the death of a Canadian, but did not identify the individual. At around 5,900-metres tall, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of the Canadian citizen who died in a tragic accident in Tanzania, Global Affairs said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

news media: It marked the fourth consecutive year that they have gone up, according to Rabble. The increase was fueled by incidents primarily taking place in Ontario and Quebec targeting Canada's Jewish, Muslim and Black populations. In Canada, the number of reported hate crimes skyrocketed 47 per cent in 2017, according to the latest figures available from Statistics Canada. But issues like abortion and sexual orientation have also attracted extremist opposition. But how it should be covered is a problem that our news media are still wrestling with.A good example is how last Saturday's provocative march by a fringe group of anti-LGBTQ activists was covered in the Toronto media. This is clearly news worth covering. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ross poldark: Despite it being an annual tradition on Poldark for a person of rank to corner a reluctant Ross by the syllabub and force a position of power on him, that was a turn up for the books, according to Rabble. Unless you've read the books, in which case it wasn't. It originally appeared on Den of Geek UK.A spy for the English crown! Fancy that. Those who've read other books may recognise the name Edward Despard, a genuine chap of history whose exploits explain why Dwight was so keen for his pal to steer clear. You may as well put Despard in a Demelza wig and dip him in honey. Tell Ross Poldark that someone's too dangerous Oh, Dwight. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

albania bonn: Don't miss out on the latest news Sign up for our daily briefing The dinner occurred hours after Helps pledged Victoria as the first Canadian city to participate in the United Nations Trees in Cities Initiative, which challenged mayors of cities around the world to boost their urban forests as a means to lower carbon pollution, according to National Observer. Standing with the mayors of Triana, Albania; Bonn, Germany; and Helsingbord, Sweden, Helps vowed to plant 5,000 trees. If the forest collapses in the climate crisis, the people of Papua New Guinea will not be able to survive, the governor told Helps, before making a direct plea for the help of western cities like Victoria and Nelson. It's not a very ambitious goal, Helps admitted in an interview with National Observer in New York. So 5,000 is a good start, she said. But the actual footprint of the city of Victoria is tiny it's just 20 square kilometers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

information: The protesters were demanding to be transferred to the Greek mainland, according to CTV. The situation is tense, Lesbos mayor Stratis Kytelis told The Associated Press earlier. A burned body was brought to a local hospital and there is information about an unconfirmed second death, police said. There is information about a dead mother and her child. UNHCR Greece later tweeted that we learned with deep sadness that the lives of a woman and a child were lost in a fire on Lesbos today. We haven't been able to confirm that yet. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vatican city: Pope Francis unveiled the bronze sculpture by Timothy Schmalz Sunday at the end of the weekly Mass at the square, according to CTV. The piece Angels Unawares depicts a group of migrants huddled together on a boat. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The depicted migrants represent a variety of cultures and historic time periods. Peter's Square to remind everyone of the evangelical challenge of hospitality, Francis said. I wanted this artistic work here in St. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

i support: The diocese announced on Twitter that the motion was passed with 88 per cent of the delegates voting in favour, according to CTV. Together we have made the church bigger today, said Bishop Geoff Peddle. John's on Saturday. I support this decision and look forward to releasing a pastoral letter to the diocese later this week. It said the passing of the motion also affirmed the bishop's authority to allow parishes and congregations that formally request permission to perform same sex marriages to do so. The diocese said there are currently eight Anglican parishes who have formally requested permission from Peddle to perform same-sex marriages and they now have been given permission to proceed. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

candidate: Liberal Party candidate Susan Hayton and Conservative Party candidate Corey Tochor have not yet submitted a response to our CTV News questionnaire, according to CTV. We will update this page as we receive more information. Their answers are published below, lightly edited for length and clarity. Claire Card, New Democratic Party Why do you want to be an MP After a more than a decade of Conservatives taking Saskatoon-University for granted, and the Liberals and Conservatives both working for the wealthy top one per cent and powerful corporations, I knew I needed to take action to help build a healthier future with strong communities and a more equal society. I want to see more investment in affordable housing and public health care, including universal, comprehensive pharmaceutical drug coverage. I want to be a voice for women in Ottawa, where there are still too few women representing Canadians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

downtown square: I joined about 300 students and a handful of staff members on the University of Canterbury campus this morning, to walk towards the downtown square next to the devastated cathedral which after much debate, is to be rebuilt . Three hundred students I thought -- not bad -- relative to enrollment, that's like 600 at Simon Fraser University, according to Rabble. We walked en masse through suburban back roads and the peaceful Hagley Park, rivalling Stanley Park in size if not wilderness. So notwithstanding the city's resilience and long-term recovery from these tragedies, I wasn't sure what to expect for today's school strike for the climate. Energetic young people set a surprisingly vigorous pace for such a large group, and we supportive seniors brought up the rear. One group of students from suburban Lincoln University had started walking at 6 a.m. to cover the 22 kilometres on foot. When we arrived at the square, the throng was already gathered, and its size was a welcome surprise -- about 6,000. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

labour shortages: Patricia Landry Martin says she has wanted to meet with Churchill for a while, and there's still a lot to figure out after Thursday's meeting, according to CTV. I was hoping we would get there and everything would be flat out and everything would be arranged toady, but everything is in steps and we have to take our time to make these decisions, says Martin, the co-director of Sydney Daycare. They say wages and pensions being offered by the pre-primary program are luring away qualified workers, resulting in labour shortages at daycares across the province. Martin says wages and pensions are much more desirable for the early childhood educators working in the pre-primary program, which makes it difficult to find staff willing to work in daycares. However, in doing so, the infants, toddlers and junior pre-schoolers were kind of forgotten, she says. Having a free program is a great idea. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

police interview: Toronto van attack In a newly released police interview, Alek Minassian suggests that a lack of female attention pushed him to drive a rental van on a busy Toronto sidewalk last year, killing 10 people and injuring 16 others. 2, according to CTV. Whistleblower report A redacted version of a whistleblower complaint at the centre of an impeachment probe against U.S. President Donald Trump alleges that Trump abused his office's power during a phone call with Ukraine's president. 3. Here's what else you need to know to start your day. 1. Immigration in Canada Business owners in parts of Quebec are pushing federal election candidates for increased immigration to address a growing regional shortage of workers that some blame on Bill 21. 4. Climate strikes Students and protesters are hitting the streets across Canada and the world today, for a second round of global climate strikes. Housing crisis As NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made a campaign promise to build 500,000 affordable homes, a B.C. woman says the housing crisis has forced her family of five to live out of a van. 5. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

comments adeagbo: Bamidele Adeagbo was hard to understand and spoke with an accent.A letter dated Thursday and signed by 42 doctors and lawyers from across Canada asks the Canadian Judicial Council to investigate Clackson's comments, according to Vancouver Courier. Adeagbo, who is originally from Nigeria, was aware of the letter when he was reached by The Canadian Press on Friday. Last week, Justice Terry Clackson found David and Colett Stephan not guilty of failing to provide the necessaries of life to their 19-month-old son Ezekiel.article continues below Trending Stories Canada's Most Dangerous Places Whistler's rankings don't paint full picture City of Vancouver worker dies in workplace accident Financial institutions reluctant to bankroll cannabis Redevelopment of Arbutus Village about to begin In his written decision, Clackson said Dr. At this point I am not going to give any comment on what Justice Clackson did or not. It's still kind of making me a little bit emotional. I will leave it to his own peers, Adeagbo said from his office in Terre Haute, Ind., where he now practises. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bamidele adeagbo: Last week, Clackson found the parents not guilty of failing to provide the necessaries of life in the death of their 19-month-old son Ezekiel in 2012, according to National Observer. The couple testified they thought their son had croup and used herbal remedies to treat him. Queen's Bench Justice Terry Clackson made the comments in the Lethbridge trial of David and Collet Stephan. They called for an ambulance when he stopped breathing, but he later died in hospital. Bamidele Adeagbo. Don't miss out on the latest news Sign up for our daily briefingA letter dated Thursday signed by 42 doctors and lawyers from across the country asks the judicial council to investigate Clackson's comments about Dr. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

interview process: There has already been an effect on being able to hire according to religious symbols, board chairwoman Angela Mancini said Thursday, according to National Observer. Don't miss out on the latest news Sign up for our daily briefing Mancini said at least four prospective teachers withdrew their applications after going through the interview process and being told they had to remove their symbols. The board's commissioners have voted to hire a law firm to determine the appropriate legal recourse against the provincial government over the validity of the law known as Bill 21. The cases involved mainly young educators who wore hijabs, Mancini said. Bill 21 came into effect in June. The province's largest French-language school board, the Commission scolaire de Montreal, has said it has dealt with five teachers affected by the law this year, four of whom agreed to remove their symbols while one did not. ; Despite the planned legal action, the board will continue to apply the law, as all other school boards across the province have done. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

border control: Trump's Ukraine call The report released by the White House documenting U.S. President Donald Trump's phone call with Ukraine's new leader is not a word-for-word transcript, according to CTV. Here's why. 2. Here's what else you need to know to start your day. 1. Truth tracker Gun rights advocates say the Liberals are targeting hunters and sport shooters with their proposed gun legislation, but experts say the debate is largely being driven by misinformation. 3. Border control Another Canadian has been banned from the United States at a B.C. border crossing in what critics are calling a troubling example of border guards taking a heavy-handed approach to immigration. 5. Assisted suicide The medically assisted death of a British Columbia man with a history of depression has advocates calling for stronger safeguards for vulnerable patients and better clarity in the law. 4. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

place trepanier: The same exact trip, same vehicle, to visit the same person in the same place, according to CTV. Trepanier is a tree planter, and has been for the last eight years. I've done the same trip for the past two years. It's my main source of income, she said. This time, her trip was different. The work is seasonal, so during her off months in the fall she visits her boyfriend. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadians show: While Canadians show modest levels of nativism overall, Liberal and NDP partisans score far lower than Conservatives in their expressed nativist sentiment, researchers found, according to National Observer. Don't miss out on the latest news Sign up for our daily briefing Nativism feelings of support for native-born citizens over immigrants is more common among conservatives, but also among those who feel the economy or their personal finances are getting worse. Accurate information about the benefits of bringing in new residents, however, can change minds, according to the latest report from the Digital Democracy Project, a joint initiative by the Public Policy Forum and the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University. The researchers measured nativism by asking a series of questions they said were designed to tap into perceptions of whether immigrants are costly to society. Nativism feelings of support for native-born citizens over immigrants is more common among conservatives, but also among those who feel the economy or their personal finances are getting worse, says a new ppforumca Max Bell School report Twenty-nine per cent of those surveyed said too many immigrants were from visible minorities. They found Canadians broadly overestimate the number of migrants and refugees entering the country, with almost a quarter of those polled believing that refugee intake is higher than it really is. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

comments adeagbo: Bamidele Adeagbo was hard to understand and spoke with an accent.A letter dated Thursday and signed by 42 doctors and lawyers from across Canada asks the Canadian Judicial Council to investigate Clackson's comments, according to Vancouver Courier. Adeagbo, who is originally from Nigeria, was aware of the letter when he was reached by The Canadian Press on Friday. Last week, Justice Terry Clackson found David and Colett Stephan not guilty of failing to provide the necessaries of life to their 19-month-old son Ezekiel.article continues below Trending Stories Downtown Eastside venue owners, promoters report losses amid increased crime and violence Calgary man convicted in five-year-old grandson's death sentenced to 9 years'Bella Dolls' sex doll brothel has opened in Vancouver Vision Vancouver will not run a mayoral candidate for first time in party's history In his written decision, Clackson said Dr. At this point I am not going to give any comment on what Justice Clackson did or not. It's still kind of making me a little bit emotional. I will leave it to his own peers, Adeagbo said from his office in Terre Haute, Ind., where he now practises. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

media outlets: And yet, the same media outlets now in a frenzy over face-gate long refused to acknowledge the truth staring them in the face racism pervades Canadian politics, according to National Observer. When 44 per cent of Canadians admitted to Angus Reid they could not vote for a prime minister who wears a turban, this was spun into congratulatory headlines announcing a majority of Canadians would consider voting for a Sikh prime minister celebrating the racist glass for being only half full. There is no need to comb through Trudeau's past to find evidence of racism; it's all over his recent political record voting for Stephen Harper's Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act and draconian national security law, Bill C-51, both based on racist stereotypes about Muslims and Arabs;Don't miss out on the latest news Sign up for our daily briefing enacting National Security Act Bill C-59, enshrining expanded powers of surveillance and data collection for security agencies without adequate oversight; shoving projects like the Trans Mountain pipeline through unceded Indigenous lands without consent; sending in armed forces against Indigenous land protectors in unceded territories like the Unist'ot'en camp; ; repeatedly challenging Canadian Human Rights Commission decisions ordering the government to compensate for decades of discriminatory funding against Indigenous kids; refusing to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States, which turns away mostly black and brown asylum seekers on the myth the U.S. is safe ; eviscerating refugees' international legal right to seek asylum with amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that will deny many claimants a fair hearing; increasing deportation targets by 25 to 35 per cent, coinciding with the arrival of Haitian, Nigerian and other black asylum seekers at the border; continuing the cruel practice of indefinite immigration detention even the U.S. imposes a time limit ; entering into information-sharing and border-search agreements with the U.S., enabling the harassment of black, brown and Muslim travellers. And when polls showed only 6.1 per cent of Canadians considered Jagmeet Singh the most ethical party leader far behind Andrew Scheer and Trudeau, even in the wake of revelations about Scheer's racist Yellow Vest fraternization and Trudeau's SNC-Lavalin corruption no one bothered to ask why a brown man with a turban and no scandals was perceived as so much less ethical than two white men with major scandals. Judging from the coverage, wearing a turban presents a more serious problem for a career in Canadian politics than a history of connections to white supremacy. Meanwhile, Conservative campaign manager Hamish Marshall a former corporate director of extreme-right Rebel Media is characterized affectionately in a recent Maclean's profile as an owlish data nerd, and condemnations of him are dismissed as a caricature in the Toronto Star. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.