canada: While Canada is beginning to come to terms with this reprehensible past through acknowledging these truths, and is beginning the long and difficult journey of reconciliation, the same cannot be said for Canada's close friend and ally, Israel, with whom Canada asserts it has shared values, according to Huffington Post Canada. Israel, too, prides itself on being a country that it claims is a beacon of fairness and equality. We must recognize, however, that Canada's history is one of settler colonialism, a violent process by which settlers from foreign lands dispossessed the indigenous inhabitants of this land, and established a society against the interests and consent of the people who were already living here. However, Israel was established as a state -- similarly to Canada -- through the violent dispossession of the people who were already there, and who already had a society rooted deeply in that land for generations. Annually, on May 15, Palestinians in countries all over the world commemorate the Nakba, including in Canada. This violent process of dispossession is referred to by the people who were already living there--the Palestinians--as the catastrophe, or in Arabic, the Nakba. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

clients: Snowden hid out in Hong Kong for two weeks in June 2013 after he leaked documents revealing extensive U.S. government surveillance, according to CTV. His whereabouts were a mystery during that time and it was not until last year that the role Tibbo and his clients played in sheltering Snowden was revealed. Immigration officials in the southern Chinese city denied the applications by the four adults and three children from Sri Lanka and the Philippines, Robert Tibbo said Monday. Tibbo said his clients will appeal the ruling, which leaves them at risk of being detained or deported to their home countries. He said he represents 50 to 60 other clients who are applying for asylum in Hong Kong, where cases typically take years to be processed. They have also applied for refugee status in Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

gallezot: France, uniquely, divides the whole world up into ridings and elects MPs to represent expatriates . Macron, 39, and his 64-year-old wife are subjects of great fascination in France, where the country's youngest postwar leader was inaugurated Sunday amid much pomp and ceremony, according to Hamilton Spectator. But the attention that has focused on the new first couple at home is not what one would expect, Gallezot said. That's according to Thomas Gallezot, who organized president-elect Emmanuel Macron's campaign in Ontario and Manitoba. France's incoming first lady is being taunted all because she's older than her husband Over the course of the campaign, Brigitte Macron shifted from a liability to an asset, he said. Like Obama, Macron inspires respect and admiration even from people who disagree with him politically, Gallezot said and that's thanks to his wife. She's incredibly lovable, with incredible grace in my mind it's very similar to the Obama couple. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

government surveillance: Hong Kong-based attorney Robert Tibbo said Canada needs to take this exceptional step and allow the seven people to enter the country after the Hong Kong government rejected their asylum applications last Friday, according to Toronto Star. The seven people four adults and their three children allegedly helped hide Snowden when the fugitive was in the region in 2013 after he leaked documents revealing extensive U.S. government surveillance. Vincent Yu / The Associated Press By Kelvin Chan The Associated Press Mon., May 15, 2017 MONTREAL The families who sheltered U.S. fugitive Edward Snowden in Hong Kong need to be brought to Canada immediately while the country processes their asylum claims, their lawyers said Monday. They were put in contact with Snowden because they share Tibbo as a lawyer. He asked for donations to help cover the 15,000 he said it will cost to file the appeals. Read more Article Continued Below Trump's firing of FBI boss Comey is alarming, Snowden says Families who sheltered Edward Snowden in Hong Kong seek refuge in Canada Russia extends residence permit for Edward Snowden react-empty 157 Speaking from Hong Kong through a video conference, surrounded by the seven refugee applicants, Tibbo told reporters they have two weeks to appeal the decision or risk deportation to their countries of origin, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, where they fear for their safety. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration problem: In other words, it's a segment primed to go viral see Miss Teen South Carolina's infamous response in 2007 as any good TV producer would hope, according to Hamilton Spectator. As a result, it's rare to see anyone answer a question directly. Contestants are given only about 30 seconds on live television to answer questions about how to stop terrorism or whether America has an immigration problem. Contestants often spout off media-trained, middle-of-the-road answers that ensure no one will be offended. Before Miss D.C. stepped forward, the questions to the Top 5 were at typical degrees of difficulty How would you like the global community to view the United States Miss Minnesota The U.S. should be viewed as accepting and empowering. So it was very unusual on Sunday night when the new Miss USA Miss D.C. K ra McCullough, marking the second year in a row that District of Columbia won the pageant gave a very direct answer about health care, which in turn sparked a debate on social media. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration system: That list is meant to streamline the process to prevent backlog in the immigration system which critics fear increased illegal crossings will lead to by putting claimants from certain countries DCO through the system without a hearing, according to Metro News. But it's not cut and dry, as Clarke explained the hearing Monday involved evidence from both his client and the tribunal, witnesses, and issues identified in the hearing were critical to what he felt was a fulsome and fair process. I know there were a number of campaign promises about an overhaul but until the government puts together a more clear plan, I won't take too many things literally, said Alastair Clarke, who will speak on the subject of asylum claimants to his colleagues of the bar at Canada's Immigration Law Conference next month CILC . On Monday, Clarke said he helped someone from Mauritania successfully claim refugee status, partly because the west Africa country is not on Canada's Designated Country of Origin DCO list. The DCO system splits refugee claimants into two tiers, he said. The Canadian Press reported Monday that some refugee advocates also feel the two-tier approach introduces unworkable timelines for hearing cases and their appeals. If the claimant is from a DCO, they do not have the same rights to have their claim heard as individuals from other countries; their opportunity for presenting oral evidence to a tribunal is limited, the procedures for those claimants are restricted. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

innu people: In many instances, Canada's Indigenous peoples were removed from their homes and the very same thing has happened to refugees around the world, according to CBC. They have been forcibly removed from their homes whether it is a political crisis, an economic crisis or any other type of crisis that they've had to leave, not because they've wanted to, but because they've had to, she explained. Pakistani Canadian Sadia Rafiquddin says there are more similarities between the two groups than differences. At a talk tonight sponsored by the Walrus Foundation, in partnership with the Order of Canada, Rafiquddin will speak about her own personal experience about connecting with Innu elder Elizabeth Penashue. Elizabeth Penashue has long been an advocate for the Innu people. Penashue, from Labrador, walks more than 200 kilometres every year to her birthplace inside the Mealy Mountains. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jeffrey wall: Seattle appeals court hears arguments on Trump's immigration ban Reuters No one has ever attempted to set aside a law that is neutral on its face and neutral in its operation on the basis of largely campaign trail comments made by a private citizen running for office, he said, according to Globe and Mail. Further, Wall said the president had backed off the comments he made during the campaign, clarifying that what he was talking about was Islamic terrorist groups and the countries that sponsor or shelter them. Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, defending the travel ban, told the three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the executive order should be reinstated because it falls well within the president's authority. Neal Katyal, who represented Hawaii, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, expressed disbelief at that argument and said Trump had repeatedly spoken of a Muslim ban during the presidential campaign and after. The 9th Circuit panel was hearing arguments over Hawaii's lawsuit challenging the travel ban, which would suspend the nation's refugee program and temporarily bar new visas for citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. This is a repeated pattern of the president, Katyal said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mccullough: I love science, McCullough said after the Sunday event, according to Hamilton Spectator. I look at this as a great opportunity to ... get to experience worldwide culture, as well as just having the opportunity to be impacted by so many children, hopefully in the math and sciences. She said she wants to inspire children to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. McCullough bested 50 other contestants and will represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe contest. Last year, District of Columbia resident Deshauna Barber became the first-ever military member to win Miss USA. This year's top five finalists were asked questions that touched on the pros and cons of social media, women's rights and issues affecting teenagers. This was the second year in a row that the representative of the nation's capital won the Miss USA title. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

origins system: But those advocating for the government to do something before backlogs threaten the integrity of the system say they are running up against a Liberal government seeming to have lost interest in spending any more money or political capital to help asylum seekers, according to CTV. The starting point is the designated country of origins system, which determines how fast asylum claims are heard based on where they are from -- a system that should, in theory, help weed out unfounded claims faster. One of the options on the table, multiple sources have told The Canadian Press, is rejigging the historic Immigration and Refugee Board, and giving some of its authority over to the Immigration Department itself. Internal evaluations have shown that hasn't quite worked, and the system has drawn the ire of refugee advocates for creating a two-tier approach that includes unworkable timelines for hearing cases and their appeals. The Liberals had been on the cusp of doing away with it, going even farther than their original promise to use an expert panel to determine which countries belonged on that list. Elements of the program have already been struck down by the Federal Court. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

question period: Meilleur served 13 years as an Ottawa MPP and held different cabinet roles under former premier Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne, including attorney general and minister responsible for francophone affairs, according to Huffington Post Canada. Trudeau said in his statement that Meilleur was an outstanding choice and said she will be a tenacious advocate for francophone and anglophone minority communities. Trudeau announced in a media release Monday that he has chosen Madeleine Meilleur for the watchdog role. Madeleine Meilleur is seen at the Ontario legislature in Toronto on June 11, 2013. The news was made official shortly after a question period in which Tory MPs urged Liberals to find someone else for the role. Photo Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press She will bring a deep understanding and enormous dedication to this position, and will hold our government to account for the full implementation of the Official Languages Act, Trudeau said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

refugee board: Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen arrives at a press conference in Ottawa, according to Huffington Post Canada. Photo The Canadian Press But those advocating for the government to do something before backlogs threaten the integrity of the system say they are running up against a Liberal government seeming to have lost interest in spending any more money or political capital to help asylum seekers. One of the options on the table, multiple sources have told The Canadian Press, is rejigging the historic Immigration and Refugee Board, and giving some of its authority over to the Immigration Department itself. The starting point is the designated country of origins system, which determines how fast asylum claims are heard based on where they are from a system that should, in theory, help weed out unfounded claims faster. Elements of the program have already been struck down by the Federal Court. Internal evaluations have shown that hasn't quite worked, and the system has drawn the ire of refugee advocates for creating a two-tier approach that includes unworkable timelines for hearing cases and their appeals. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

residency status: Lawyers representing Brown, who was held in custody in maximum-security prisons for five years, are arguing that his constitutional rights were violated, according to CTV. Brown, now 40, moved to Canada when he was seven years old as a permanent resident. The case being argued today centres around Alvin Brown. After living in the country for a few decades, he lost his permanent residency status after several criminal convictions. It was horrible, I would have rather been dead than detained, not knowing when I would be released, Brown said in a press release on Monday. He spent five years in detention before he was separated from his family and deported to Jamaica last fall. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

book: The majority of senators, who first learned of the book from the media, found it less funny, according to Toronto Star. At a time when they have been working hard to restore the image of this unpopular institution, they have been tripped up again. Senate of Canada By Andr Pratte Mon., May 15, 2017 Many Canadians had a good laugh over the recently released book The Wise Owls, written to explain the role of the Senate to young children. And, as is often the case, the injury was self-inflicted.I'm not kidding when I say working hard. We've got nothing to complain about, mind you. If there's one thing that has astonished me since taking my seat in the Senate a little over a year ago, it's the amount of work to be tackled. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

stephanie levitz: One of the options on the table, multiple sources have told The Canadian Press, is rejigging the historic Immigration and Refugee Board, and giving some of its authority over to the Immigration Department itself, according to Toronto Star. But those advocating for the government to do something before backlogs threaten the integrity of the system say they are running up against a Liberal government seeming to have lost interest in spending any more money or political capital to help asylum seekers. PATRICK DOYLE / THE CANADIAN PRESS By Stephanie Levitz The Canadian Press Mon., May 15, 2017 OTTAWA A Liberal election promise to overhaul the way asylum claims are handled has been postponed indefinitely despite rising numbers of people seeking refuge in Canada putting the system at risk, The Canadian Press has learned. Read more Number of asylum claims from Mexico drop in April since visa lift Article Continued Below Manitoba, feds at odds over refugee funding amid influx of asylum seekers The starting point is the designated country of origins system, which determines how fast asylum claims are heard based on where they are from a system that should, in theory, help weed out unfounded claims faster. Elements of the program have already been struck down by the Federal Court. react-empty 157 The Liberals had been on the cusp of doing away with it, going even farther than their original promise to use an expert panel to determine which countries belonged on that list. Internal evaluations have shown that hasn't quite worked, and the system has drawn the ire of refugee advocates for creating a two-tier approach that includes unworkable timelines for hearing cases and their appeals. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

telecommunications commission: The process could result in the regulator denying permission for closing a station, said a CRTC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, according to Metro News. However, there are no guarantees that a station earmarked for going off the air would remain open, the official acknowledged. Station owners will have to give 120 days notice of an intended closure, during which time the regulator will open the proposed shutdown to public hearings, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said in issuing five-year licence renewals for the major TV conglomerates. This is essentially something that is a safety net of some sort to ensure that we receive advice and that we be in a position to actually consult Canadians by our usual means, the official said, noting that none of the broadcasters appearing before the regulator in the last year proposed station closures. However, it wasn't clear how public concerns over a proposed shutdown would be weighted against a TV group's financial pressures. The public would be consulted through open hearings and social media if a closure were to be proposed, the regulator said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

term newfie: Now, a McMaster University sociologist in Hamilton is trying to get to the bottom of the term Newfie, and explore attitudes surrounding the divisive moniker, according to CBC. James Baker is a native Newfoundlander, and researched attitudes about the word's use for a paper, as a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the university. For others, it's a deplorable insult that's no better than calling someone a moron. Tom Mulcair apologizes for 1996 Newfie comment Come From Away gets standing ovation at Toronto opening Baker went into it with some baggage, telling CBC News that he always found the term offensive, but tried to not let that influence his approach. For his research, Baker studied historic accounts of the word, and interviewed 30 post-secondary students in Newfoundland about their feelings on it. It always used to make my skin crawl when someone would use it in a negative manner, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vietnam war: Subscribe here, according to CBC. Canadian literary star Kim Th y wants Canada to welcome more refugees from Syria, the way it welcomed her family four decades ago. You can hear a full feature interview with Governor General award-winning which brings you conversations with people who make up modern Montreal. Maybe Canadians forget how great they are, but they welcomed 60,000 Vietnamese in two years, Th y told CBC Montreal's new podcast Montreapolis in a wide-ranging interview. Canada has accepted 38,000 Syrian refugees since November 2015. Montreapolis Inside the lives of 8 people making modern Montreal Th y came to Quebec as part of the wave of Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s, fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

washington-based foundation: And when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the White House on Tuesday, the most he and President Donald Trump may be able to do is agree to disagree, and move on, according to The Chronicle Herald. The Turks see this as a crisis in the relationship, said Jonathan Schanzer at the Washington-based Foundation for Defence of Democracies. The Turks are fiercely opposed to the U.S. plans, seeing the Kurdish fighters as terrorists. The challenge is hardly new. Past administrations have sought a delicate balance. Long before Trump took office, U.S. presidents have grappled with the fragility of partnering with Turkey's government and the Kurds to carry out a Middle East agenda. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

asylum claims: But those advocating for action before backlogs threaten the integrity of the system say they are up against a government which seems to have lost interest in spending more money or political capital to help asylum seekers, according to Brandon Sun. The starting point is the designated country of origin system, which determines how quickly asylum claims are heard based on where they are from a system that should, in theory, weed out unfounded claims faster. One of the options on the table, multiple sources have told The Canadian Press, is rejigging the historic Immigration and Refugee Board and handing some of its authority to the Immigration Department. Internal evaluations have shown that hasn't quite worked and the system has drawn the ire of refugee advocates for creating a two-tier approach that includes unworkable timelines for hearing cases and their appeals. But a planned January roll-out was postponed after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and the subsequent Liberal cabinet shuffle that brought a new immigration minister. The Liberals had been on the cusp of doing away with it, going even farther than their original promise to use an expert panel to determine which countries belonged on that list. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

calendar year: By The Associated Press' count, more than 100,000 Chinese have spent at least 24 billion in the last decade to buy residency through investment visa programs, according to Brandon Sun. The AP obtained the numbers of Chinese visa recipients from programs in 13 countries. And there's no bigger market for many of them than China. To estimate total investments, the AP multiplied the yearly number of Chinese investors, excluding family members, by the minimum investment required by each country. The annual investment totals were converted into dollars based on the average exchange rate for that calendar year. Most of the countries in AP's survey did not provide an official estimate of Chinese investment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

onsulting firms: And as China gets wealthier, millions of families have the means to purchase a new life elsewhere, according to Brandon Sun. Their demand has transformed a once obscure market for immigration by investment. China's middle and upper classes are demanding better schools, cleaner air and a more secure life for their children. To study China's impact, the Associated Press collected statistics from 13 countries that offer citizenship or permanent residency for a price. CHINA'S FAVORITE PROGRAMSConsulting firms in China's biggest cities hawk investor visa programs in weekly sessions at hotels and on social media. Here's a look at AP's analysis of the market, by the numbers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

telecommunications commission: The process could result in the regulator denying permission for closing a station, said a CRTC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, according to Brandon Sun. However, there are no guarantees that a station earmarked for going off the air would remain open, the official acknowledged. Station owners will have to give 120 days notice of an intended closure, during which time the regulator will open the proposed shutdown to public hearings, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said in issuing five-year licence renewals for the major TV conglomerates. This is essentially something that is a safety net of some sort to ensure that we receive advice and that we be in a position to actually consult Canadians by our usual means, the official said, noting that none of the broadcasters appearing before the regulator in the last year proposed station closures. However, it wasn't clear how public concerns over a proposed shutdown would be weighted against a TV group's financial pressures. The public would be consulted through open hearings and social media if a closure were to be proposed, the regulator said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

buddhist community: Buddha's birthday is very significant for the whole world, Reverend Uttam Barua, the Buddhist monk at Regina's Laos Temple, told CBC Radio's Saskatchewan Weekend, according to CBC. Barua said that from time to time, people need to be reminded of Buddha's teachings of forgiveness, understanding, non-violence and harmony. Buddha yes, the Buddha is turning 2560 and members of the city's Buddhist community are throwing a party. Last year was the first time Buddha's birthday was celebrated in Regina. Govendor, who was born and raised as a Hindu, left home at a young age and considered himself a lost soul. I was still lost' Curious what a birthday party for Buddha would be like Head down to the Orr Centre Sunday evening to find out Facebook/ Buddhist Centre of Regina Krishnasamy Govender, executive director with the Buddhist Centre of Regina, helped Barua organize the event, after the pair launched meditation classes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

citizens hope: The beauty pageant this year includes five women who immigrated to the U.S. at a young age and now as citizens hope to represent the nation on a global stage, according to CTV. The women from Florida, North Dakota, Hawaii, Connecticut and New Jersey told The Associated Press this week they have faced challenges and opportunities as immigrants. A new Miss USA will be crowned Sunday during the two-hour event taking place in Las Vegas for the second year in a row. As Miss USA, I would love to be able to be that inspiration for our immigrant community, said Linnette De Los Santos, who emigrated with her family from the Dominican Republic when she was 5. The contestants' remarks stand in stark contrast to the scandal that enveloped the pageant in 2015, when then-part owner and now U.S. President Donald Trump offended Hispanics when he made anti-immigrant remarks in announcing his bid for the White House. If I would have stopped following my dreams and working hard towards what I wanted, I wouldn't be sitting here as Miss Florida USA or in law school ready to become an immigration attorney. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald: However, that respect was built from different vantage points, according to Hamilton Spectator. Price was a college teammate of Donald's at Pittsburgh for three seasons, watching him dominate the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference up close. Tanzel Smart and Ejuan Price share the same admiration for Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Smart was just starting his collegiate career at Tulane as Donald was closing his out by receiving multiple national awards and honours. It's crazy because I was a college player the same time he was, Smart said. Now, the defensive tackle Smart and outside linebacker Price hope to carve out successful NFL careers with the Rams by using Donald as a role model and resource. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.