canadian muslims: Schools have wrestled with Islamophobia since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 but there was never intense educator interest in combating the problem, said Amira Elghawaby, communications director for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, according to Metro News. That changed, she said."The previous federal election where Islam and Muslims were at the forefront for all the wrong reasons, combined with the arrival of Syrian refugees, suddenly this is on people radars," she said. But as they gear up for this school year, Muslim organizations hope they can turn their attention to another problem: warding off the dirty looks — and worse — that many Muslim students say they get at school. As upwards of 25,000 Syrians have arrived in Canada since November, her organization has begun fielding far more calls about the issue — ranging from people ranting about refugees seeking to change Canadian culture to parents panicked about their child experiencing Islamophobia on the playground. So the NCCM, the Islamic Social Services Association and the Canadian Human Rights Commission have developed a guide for educators to help them understand the impact of the trauma Syrian kids have experienced abroad and also the experience they, and other Muslims, have of Islamophobia here. Teachers, too, were phoning, seeking resources to help them understand the issue and how to respond. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

city: A humanitarian response is also being prepared to help the city 1 million people once the fighting starts, according to CTV. Victory in Mosul will mark a key moment in the fight against ISIL, as the city is the last major urban centre still controlled by the militant group in Iraq. Preparations to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have been underway for months, with the Kurdish peshmerga, Iraqi military and Shia militia groups closing on the city. But Brig.-Gen. International leaders have previously warned about the need to control which groups are involved in clearing Mosul. David Anderson, who is in charge of an international team of military advisers posted within Iraq ministry of defence, indicated the approximately 2,000 peshmerga that Canada has trained in Iraq since September 2014 will not be directly involved in rooting ISIL from the city. "The role of peshmerga, as I understand it, will be to in essence secure the northern flank of Mosul, and to some degree the eastern flank, to allow the Iraqi security forces to move forward and clear through Mosul," Anderson told reporters in a call from Baghdad on Wednesday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

british columbia: The teen used a metaphor to explain how his life has been affected by the move to British Columbia, according to Globe and Mail. It like a flower: if he doesn't have water he will die. Shifts sometimes lasted as long as 24 hours, he said, and frequently he didn't get paid. Come to Canada, he has water and opens up again, he said. The whole family is together again, Heveen said, smiling. Shergo sister, 16-year-old Heveen Kurdi, also spoke positively about her time in Canada, and of being reunited with her father, Mohammad Kurdi, who spent nine months in Germany trying to get his family out of Turkey and missed the birth of his youngest child. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mccallum statements: If it is determined that such a limitation is indeed a violation of mobility rights, then it would have to pass what is known as the Oakes test, according to Globe and Mail. The federal government would have to show there is a pressing and substantial objective in settling some immigrants in small towns and rural areas. Can the government legally require some immigrants to settle in small towns and rural areas We do not have the answer for the simple reason that our courts have not been asked to deal with this question and how it is affected by the relevant Charter subsection. Mr. Courts would likely consider this a justifiable purpose. McCallum statements so far suggest he is taking an economic perspective that emphasizes business concerns about labour shortages in remote areas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mortgage: Analysts wanted to know what contingency plans the bank has in place in the event of a downturn in house prices, according to CTV. RBC chief risk officer Mark Hughes touted the bank "diligent" process for verifying the incomes of borrowers and noted that the bank doesn't participate in the second mortgage market or offer subprime mortgage loans. Executives at RBC, which reported $2.895 billion of net income in the third quarter, were peppered with questions about the bank residential mortgage portfolio during Wednesday conference call. Hughes also highlighted the fact that 48 per cent of the loan portfolio is insured, up from 46 per cent last year. According to Shanahan, slightly more than half of RBC $531-billion loan book is comprised of Canadian residential real estate loans such as mortgages and home equity lines of credit. "It the biggest pocket of risk in the loan book," he said. "There some concern from time to time about oil and gas loans, but that only a $7-billion portfolio out of $531 billion. The bank purchased additional portfolio insurance this quarter, Hughes added. "Overall, we remain comfortable with our exposure to the Canadian housing market," he said. "Our clients' credit profiles are strong and have remained stable." Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said that while having credit-worthy customers is important, it doesn't insulate the bank from potential losses in the event of a correction or a crash. "If there a substantial decline in home prices in Canada, it unlikely that any Canadian bank wouldn't feel some pain, whether they were selecting high-quality customers or not," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rights organization: Why is the voice of the community, which only has an estimated 200 families across Canada, being ignored, he asks, while almost 30,000 Syrian refugees were plucked up and resettled by Ottawa from Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan in a matter of months I don't know why we are not listened to by our government, said Ismail, chair of the Toronto-based Yezidi Human Rights Organization International, according to Toronto Star. Our women and girls are kidnapped, tortured and raped. By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Wed., Aug. 24, 2016 Mirza Ismail is angry and frustrated over what he calls Canadians' indifference to the plight of Yazidi refugees persecuted by Daesh terrorists in northern Iraq. They are the most vulnerable people, but get little attention. A final report is expected to come out in the fall. The parliamentary standing committee on immigration recently held a series of hearings listening to dozens of witnesses as part of its study to come up with immigration measures to protect the world most vulnerable. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

school boards: Amira Elghawaby, communications director for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, says schools have wrestled with Islamophobia since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, but there was never intense educator interest in combating the problem until now, according to Toronto Star. By Stephanie Levitz The Canadian Press Wed., Aug. 24, 2016 OTTAWA—Last spring, school boards grappled with the practical issues that came with welcoming thousands of new Syrian students: finding them desks, pencils, books. The NCCM, the Islamic Social Services Association and the Canadian Human Rights Commission have developed a guide for educators to help them understand the impact of the trauma Syrian kids have experienced abroad and also the experience they, and other Muslims, have of Islamophobia in Canada. But as they gear up for this school year, Muslim organizations hope they can turn their attention to another problem: warding off the dirty looks — and worse — that many Muslim students say they get at school. That changed, she said. Schools have wrestled with Islamophobia since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 but there was never intense educator interest in combating the problem, said Amira Elghawaby, communications director for the National Council of Canadian Muslims. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

way i: The way I remember it, she asked a few follow-up questions and left the room, according to Huffington Post Canada. I never saw Zohaib again. An Afghani kid named Zohaib called me a "paki" during recess one day, and I kept the word in my brain until I got home and told my Mom. I go back to that story a lot in my head for a few reasons. But mostly because it only could have happened in Canada, and that how I feel about my family as a whole: Whatever we are, it only could have happened here. One, because my Mom may have killed a small child and I'm the only surviving witness. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

city: A humanitarian response is also being prepared to help the city 1 million people once the fighting starts, according to Brandon Sun. Victory in Mosul will mark a key moment in the fight against ISIL, as the city is the last major urban centre still controlled by the militant group in Iraq. Preparations to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have been underway for months, with the Kurdish peshmerga, Iraqi military and Shia militia groups closing on the city. But Brig.-Gen. International leaders have previously warned about the need to control which groups are involved in clearing Mosul. David Anderson, who is in charge of an international team of military advisers posted within Iraq ministry of defence, indicated the approximately 2,000 peshmerga that Canada has trained in Iraq since September 2014 will not be directly involved in rooting ISIL from the city."The role of peshmerga, as I understand it, will be to in essence secure the northern flank of Mosul, and to some degree the eastern flank, to allow the Iraqi security forces to move forward and clear through Mosul," Anderson told reporters in a call from Baghdad on Wednesday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

british columbia: Shergo and his siblings are the cousins of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler whose lifeless body was photographed on the shores of a Mediterranean beach last September, according to CTV. The picture spread across the globe and jarred the world into responding to the Syrian refugee crisis. Now, nine months after arriving in British Columbia with his parents and four siblings, the 15-year-old refugee is preparing to enter Grade 10 and wants to one day become a police officer. "I like ... to help people," Shergo said, explaining that he likes the idea of giving back. In the wake of the photograph, the Canadian government committed to taking in tens of thousands of displaced Syrians, a pledge that paved the way for the Kurdi family arrival in late December. Shifts sometimes lasted as long as 24 hours, he said, and frequently he didn't get paid. Speaking in broken English at his aunt home in Coquitlam, B.C., Shergo talked about how difficult his job was in Istanbul. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian press: The meeting follows data showing that in May the country had its worst one-month performance in real gross domestic product in seven years — dating back to the darkest days of the Great Recession, according to Hamilton Spectator. Statistics Canada said the economy contracted 0.6 per cent that month, in large part due to the Alberta wildfires. The council, created to provide advice to the Trudeau government, is scheduled to meet Finance Minister Bill Morneau in Toronto on Wednesday. Barton, global managing director of the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., told The Canadian Press that the group is focusing on four classic work streams. The group, he said, is looking at options to boost immigration as a way to help offset the demographic obstacle. Canada rapidly aging population is one of the challenges that council members have been exploring, he added. "We're going to have really big headwinds on labour-force participation over the next 10 to 15 years, so how do we get more people to participate in the economy " said Barton, a Canadian who is a sought-after international expert who has advised governments and big companies with economic strategy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

disaster relief: About $215 million more by the end of the fiscal year than originally forecast $32.2 billion — Alberta estimated debt Expected to climb to $58 billion by 2019 $7.1 billion — Alberta estimated borrowing this year to pay for day-to-day operating expenses $19.6 billion — Amount expected to be in the Heritage Fund, Alberta long-term savings account 1.5 per cent — Amount Alberta population is expected to grow this year, partially due to the influx of Syrian refugees Source Source The Canadian Press, according to The Chronicle Herald. Here are some key numbers: $10.9 billion — Alberta estimated deficit pushed up $500 million to almost $11 billion by the wildfire in Fort McMurray $195 million — Amount paid out by the province in disaster relief after federal aid transfers $300 million — Amount Alberta estimates it lost due to wildfire impact on energy and forestry industry 8 per cent — Unemployment is expected to remain at this level 2.6 per cent — Decline expected in average weekly earnings 80,000 — Job losses in the goods-producing sector since mid-2015 $877 million — Decline in corporate tax revenue to $3.4 billion from the April 14 budget forecast $11.6 billion — Revenue expected from personal income tax. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald trump: This strategy marks a sudden change for the Republican nominee, who has presented himself as a politically incorrect outsider who is not afraid to take extreme measures to combat illegal immigration, such as deporting 11 million people or constructing a massive wall along the southern border, according to Toronto Star. For more than a year, Trump insisted that all illegal immigrants have got to go and that he would create a deportation force to carry out the task. By Jenna Johnson The Washington Post Tues., Aug. 23, 2016 After spending a few days reflecting on his immigration stances and consulting with Hispanic supporters, Donald Trump on Monday detailed how he would deal with the millions of immigrants illegally living in the United States: Enforce laws that are already on the books and continue to do the same thing President Obama is doing, although perhaps with a lot more energy. Trump struck a starkly different tone during an interview with Bill O'Reilly of Fox News that aired on Monday night. The first thing we're going to do if and when I win is we're going to get rid of all of the bad ones, Trump said. Trump said he would separate the country undocumented immigrants into two groups: The bad ones who would be kicked out of the country as soon as he takes office and everybody else who would go through the same process that the Obama Administration is currently using. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

guatemala honduras: By Edith M. Lederer Associated Press Mon., Aug. 22, 2016 Thousands of children trying to escape gang violence and poverty in Central America have made their way to the United States this year — and there is no sign that the flow is letting up, the UN children agency said in a report released late Monday, according to Toronto Star. In the first six months of 2016, UNICEF said almost 26,000 unaccompanied children were apprehended at the U.S. border along with 29,700 people travelling as a family, mostly mothers and young children. The UN said in a report released on Monday that thousands of Central American children seek to enter U.S. to escape gang violence and poverty. Most are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, three countries with some of the world highest murder and poverty rates, UNICEF said. The flow of young refugees and migrants highlights the critical importance of tackling the violence and socio-economic conditions in their countries of origin. It is heart-rending to think of these children — most of them teenagers, but some even younger — making the gruelling and extremely dangerous journey in search of safety and a better life, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth said in the report. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

time place: Nearly 60 per cent of the British capital residents voted to remain in the European Union in a referendum on June 23, according to CBC. But the rest of the U.K. disagreed, with the exceptions of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as several cities not far from London. And so London feels this summer, lost in a post-­Brexit haze. Brexit chaos leaves behind 'a leaderless state'Brexit vote a sign U.K. 'longing for a time and place that never was' The anger on the streets felt in those early days after the vote has dissipated somewhat, aided by the fact that most politicians exited stage left on holiday shortly afterwards and that the start date for exit talks with the EU remains unfixed. "I was really surprised by the decision when I woke up on the day after the vote," says Tim Streeter, a banker who works in London financial district. "But, you know, life hasn't really changed so much at the moment, so I think people are picking themselves up after the vote, and the next step is going to be all with the negotiations that might happen." It a vote that sticks in the craw of most Londoners, running contrary to their own sense of identity in a city that has prided itself on its cosmopolitan and multi­cultural outlook. A lot of anger' "I think it 23 per cent of the economic growth in the U.K. is generated in London," says Guardian newspaper columnist Dave Hill. "There was a recent study published by the Centre for Cities which said that about 30 per cent of the taxes raised in London go to the rest of the U.K., so there is a sense that London subsidizes the rest of the country. "So, there was a lot of anger." An on­line petition calling on the mayor of London to declare independence from the rest of the U.K. was launched shortly after the vote — calls for a city­ state that reportedly garnered over 170,000 signatures. The fact that London is the engine fuelling the economy for the rest of nation makes the decision bite all the more. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

milk: There are thousands of restaurants offering the full gamut of international cuisines, but the city no-frills diner-style cafes, some of them decades old, remain perennial favourites with locals, and still do a roaring trade, according to CTV. Known in Cantonese as "cha chaan tengs" or "tea restaurants" they serve up cheap local favourites, from fried egg sandwiches and buttery French toast to noodle soups and macaroni. In Hong Kong, it milk tea that keeps things running -- a potent nostalgia-infused caffeine hit, with fierce competition to brew the best in town. The standard accompaniment is a milk tea, or "lai cha" -- a tangy, deep-tan brew made from blends of black tea strained repeatedly for strength, then mixed with condensed or evaporated milk. At family-run tea shop Lan Fong Yuen, on a hilly market street in Hong Kong Central district, business shows no sign of slowing after 60 years. The city gulps down around 2.5 million cups a day. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sengal: Order this photo Tesfalem Beyin Sengal is shown with his wife Selamawit Tesfalem Halefom, according to Toronto Star. Sengal is hoping she can soon join him here. Advocates are seeking a change to a law that prohibits sponsorship of undeclared dependants. By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Mon., Aug. 22, 2016 Eritrean refugee Tesfalem Beyin Sengal waited 11 years before he was resettled to Canada from an Ethiopian camp in March. The rule took effect in 2002 to combat fraud and misrepresentation, assuming the non-disclosure was meant to deceive officials, as in cases where an applicant left out a sick family member to get around the medical requirement and later tried to submit a humanitarian critics say, the law also inadvertently catches many who have legitimate reasons not to name family members when applying, as was the case with Beyin Sengal. Now, the Toronto man faces being permanently separated from his wife and newborn baby due to an obscure immigration law banning immigrants and refugees from bringing over undeclared dependants after getting permanent status. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

society: Survival swimming is critical for everybody, he said Tuesday, according to Metro News. But, he added, having the program in schools could be especially helpful to immigrant families. In the wake of three drowning deaths at two provincial beaches this month, Lifesaving Society Manitoba CEO, Carl Shier, penned a letter to the provincial ministers of education and health, urging the government to implement the society 'Survive to Swim' program in all schools. There too many new Canadians coming in that haven't got the background and the swimming skills sets that many others grow up as it part of their lifestyle. Lessons include teaching kids how to properly hold their breath, tread water and swim 50 meters. Shier said the society program has been taught in northern communities for the past decade, and teaches children the how-tos to prevent drowning accidents, instead of focusing on perfecting a particular stroke. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

british columbia: Shergo and his siblings are the cousins of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler whose lifeless body was photographed on the shores of a Mediterranean beach last September, according to Brandon Sun. The picture spread across the globe and jarred the world into responding to the Syrian refugee crisis. Now, nine months after arriving in British Columbia with his parents and four siblings, the 15-year-old refugee is preparing to enter Grade 10 and wants to one day become a police officer."I like ... to help people," Shergo said, explaining that he likes the idea of giving back. In the wake of the photograph, the Canadian government committed to taking in tens of thousands of displaced Syrians, a pledge that paved the way for the Kurdi family arrival in late December. Shifts sometimes lasted as long as 24 hours, he said, and frequently he didn't get paid. Speaking in broken English at his aunt home in Coquitlam, B.C., Shergo talked about how difficult his job was in Istanbul. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian press: The meeting follows data showing that in May the country had its worst one-month performance in real gross domestic product in seven years — dating back to the darkest days of the Great Recession, according to The Waterloo Record. Statistics Canada said the economy contracted 0.6 per cent that month, in large part due to the Alberta wildfires. The council, created to provide advice to the Trudeau government, is scheduled to meet Finance Minister Bill Morneau in Toronto on Wednesday. Barton, global managing director of the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., told The Canadian Press that the group is "driving along" four classic work streams. The group, he said, is looking at options to boost immigration as a way to help offset the demographic obstacle. Canada rapidly aging population is one of the challenges that council members have been exploring, he added. "We're going to have really big headwinds on labour-force participation over the next 10 to 15 years, so how do we get more people to participate in the economy " said Barton, a Canadian who is a sought-after international expert who has advised governments and big companies with economic strategy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

american side: Clair River over the weekend, pushing nearly 1,500 participants in dinghies over the border and onto the shores of Sarnia, Ont, according to CTV. Most of the unintentional border-crossers arrived without passports, phones or arrangements to get back home, creating a major headache for law enforcement and emergency responders on both sides of the river. "They were pushed over pretty quickly, and because they had no control over these dinghies and the wind was basically directing them and the current, they ended up over here," Sarnia Police Const. Strong winds disrupted the annual Port Huron Float Down on the American side of the St. John Sottosanti told CTVNews.ca. Emergency response crews from several Sarnia chemical plants also helped with the situation, as a number of boaters landed near their facilities. "It was pretty much a spontaneous reaction," Sottosanti said. He added that while some had paddles to keep themselves on course, "others tied numerous dinghies together to try and keep together and hopefully move as one, but they were not successful at all." Police, border security and coast guard agencies from both sides of the border stepped into to help round up the wayward Americans and return them to Port Huron. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

application forms: Officers say the callers have used a phone number that is close to the one for the police force, according to CTV. Citizenship and Immigration Canada, meantime, has issued a statement saying it does not phone people to collect money. They say the callers told people that if they didn't pay them a certain amount of money, they'd be arrested by Charlottetown Police Services. The department also says it doesn't ask clients to confirm basic personal information that has already been provided on application forms. Police say anyone who receives a suspicious call should hang up and contact them. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

beef plant: Ontario rival King Cole Ducks also plans to increase its output to stay competitive, according to CBC. Canada three largest producers, which also include B.C. supplier Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, expect overall annual production to double from the current level of 5.5 million ducks. Brome Lake, the country oldest processor of domestic Pekin duck, is spending $30 million to build a facility in a former beef plant in Asbestos, Que., that will double its annual production capacity in five years to four million birds. A popular delicacy in Asian communities, duck is increasingly being sampled by new consumers. "The young generation is trying more and more different products and duck is one of them," said Claude Trottier, president of Brome Lake, founded in 1912. Brome Lake, the country oldest processor of domestic Pekin duck, is spending $30 million to build a facility in a former beef plant in Asbestos, Que Brome Lake hopes to begin production in November, four months after a fire destroyed its processing operations, offices, distribution facilities and a retail store in Knowlton, Que. Although pricier than chicken, the red meat protein is increasingly being selected as an alternative to beef, which has experienced steep price increases. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

duck: Ontario rival King Cole Ducks also plans to increase its output to stay competitive, according to Metro News. Canada three largest producers, which also include B.C. supplier Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, expect overall annual production to double from the current level of 5.5 million ducks.A popular delicacy in Asian communities, duck is increasingly being sampled by new consumers."The young generation is trying more and more different products and duck is one of them," said Claude Trottier, president of Brome Lake, founded in 1912. Brome Lake, the country oldest processor of domestic Pekin duck, is spending $30 million to build a facility in a former beef plant in Asbestos, Que., that will double its annual production capacity in five years to four million birds. Although pricier than chicken, the red meat protein is increasingly being selected as an alternative to beef, which has experienced steep price increases. Processing has temporarily been shifted to a co-owner operations in Indiana. Brome Lake hopes to begin production in November, four months after a fire destroyed its processing operations, offices, distribution facilities and a retail store in Knowlton, Que. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

class valedictorian: By the time I hit middle school, I was bringing home more As than a family-sized box of Alphabet cereal, according to Huffington Post Canada. I graduated with honours throughout high school. Shortly before turning 11, I made class valedictorian. I threw down a repeat performance during university between scoring scholarships and awards. I made curfew like my life depended on it. I was clueless when it came to drugs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pekin duck: Ontario rival King Cole Ducks also plans to increase its output to stay competitive, according to The Chronicle Herald. Canada three largest producers, which also includes B.C. supplier Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, expect overall annual production to double from the current level of 5.5-million ducks. Brome Lake, the country oldest processor of domestic Pekin duck, is spending $30 million to build a facility in a former beef plant in Asbestos, Que., that will double its annual production capacity in five years to four-million birds. A popular delicacy in Asian communities, duck is increasingly being sampled by new consumers. "The young generation is trying more and more different products and duck is one of them," said Claude Trottier, president of Brome Lake, founded in 1912. Brome Lake hopes to begin production in November, four months after a fire destroyed its processing operations, offices, distribution facilities and a retail store in Knowlton, Que. Although pricier than chicken, the red meat protein is increasingly being selected as an alternative to beef, which has experienced steep price increases. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.