development department: It's all part of the government's effort to address oversight concerns with the temporary foreign worker program flagged last year by auditor general Michael Ferguson, according to Vancouver Courier. Employers often hired temporary foreign workers without first demonstrating they had exhausted all other options for finding local workers, and applications were frequently approved without being challenged, Ferguson found. Since the start of the year, roughly 1,600 employers have been flagged as high-risk employers and selected for inspections by the Employment and Social Development Department, with more than 1,340 on-site inspections launched and in various stages of completion.article continues below Trending Stories Couple on work visa stranded after their car stolen along with passports, all their possessions West Vancouver's 'Real Housewife' ordered to pay retroactive child support Squamish chief launches bid for mayor of VancouverP!nk hikes Capilano trail, thanks Vancouver for being 'damned awesome'That's more than seven times the number of on-site inspections conducted during the same period in 2016-17. He also found enforcement officers lacked access to sufficient data to ensure employers were being honest about local labour availability, and rarely conducted on-site inspections. The federal public accounts committee, which held its own hearings to ensure Ferguson's concerns were addressed, also found that while the number of temporary foreign workers has declined, oversight of employers using the program remains not sufficient. Those inspections that did go ahead were flawed, since employers always had prior warning, Ferguson concluded. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

stories couple: At least 41 people were injured in the attacks, which Indonesia's president condemned as barbaric. article continues below Trending Stories Couple on work visa stranded after their car stolen along with passports, all their possessions West Vancouver's 'Real Housewife' ordered to pay retroactive child support Squamish chief launches bid for mayor of VancouverP!nk hikes Capilano trail, thanks Vancouver for being 'damned awesome'National police chief Tito Karnavian said that the father exploded a car bomb, two sons aged 18 and 16 used a motorcycle for their attack, and the mother was with her two young daughters for her attack, according to Vancouver Courier. The woman and the two girls were all wearing explosives, Karnavian said. At least seven people plus the six family members, who included girls aged 9 and 12, died in the attacks in Surabaya, according to police. Karnavian said the family had returned to Indonesia from Syria, where until recently the Islamic State group controlled significant territory. But the use of children to execute Sunday's attacks in Surabaya, a port city on Java island, has sent shockwaves of anger and disgust across the sprawling country. The 2002 bombings on the tourist island of Bali, which killed 202 people in one night, mostly foreigners, are Indonesia's deadliest terror attack. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jet saturday: Najib had said on social media earlier in the day that he was planning to take a short vacation to spend time with his family, according to CTV. The immigration department, which initially said there was no travel ban, later issued a statement to say Najib and his wife had been blacklisted from leaving the country. A leaked flight manifesto showed that Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were due to leave on a private jet Saturday to Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, fueling rumours that he was bolting the country days after a shocking electoral defeat that ended his coalition's 60-year grip on power. Mahathir confirmed that he prevented Najib from leaving. U.S. investigators say Najib's associates stole and laundered 4.5 billion from the fund, with some 700 million landing in Najib's bank account and around 30 million used to buy jewelry for his wife. He said there was sufficient evidence for an investigation into Najib regarding the massive corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund that Najib set up and is being investigated in the United States and other countries. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jewish immigration: Louis in 1939 a safe harbour, according to Toronto Star. Although the apology does little to right the wrong 254 of the 907 passengers were murdered in German concentration camps it perhaps will give those who oppose the settlement of Syrian refugees second thought. She is writing about the prime minister's proposed apology for the Canadian refusal to give Jewish refugees from Nazism aboard the St. Even after the war and the concentration camps were liberated, even after the world knew beyond a doubt that Jews had been murdered in the millions, Canadian government policy was a resounding no to Jewish immigration afraid that somehow Canadian values and way of life would be contaminated by the presence to so many non-conforming refugees. Perhaps by shining a light on our past wrongs, the prime minister is trying to teach some clueless members of our society a lesson. Similar fears exist today and so some of us want to ban refugees whose very lives are in jeopardy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

statement saturday: Doug Ford is completely supportive of new Canadians and immigration policies that welcome immigrants, she said, according to CTV. Ford Nation is a diverse group of supporters, including strong support in immigrant communities. In a statement Saturday, Ford's campaign spokeswoman Melissa Lantsman said the leader's comments at the debate are being mischaracterized by his political opponents. During Friday's northern debate, Ford said the government would have to exhaust every option for employing locals before relying on immigrants to fill jobs in sparsely populated areas. We need immediate policies to help those currently living in these communities, she said. Lantsman said Ford is open to the northern Ontario immigration program but believes that people in the north have felt left behind. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

minister: They had to return to Germany and many died in the Holocaust, according to Rabble. It is our hope that this long overdue apology will bring awareness to our failings, he said, as we vow to never let history repeat itself. He apologized emotionally at a Jewish fundraiser, over Canada turning away a boatload of 907 refugees from Hitler in 1939. That's when the clanging might have started. Immigration minister Ahmed Hussen said he'd go to Nigeria to discourage people from coming here. The day before, public safety minister Ralph Goodale warned asylum seekers that crossing the border from the U.S. furtively was no free ticket to status. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

remarks: Instead, he slammed his opponents for seizing upon the remarks he made at the northern issues leader's debate Friday, according to CTV. My opponents are playing politics -- you know that, Ford said. At a news conference Saturday, Ford was asked four times to explain what he meant by the remarks, but would not elaborate. There's no politician that probably has more support out there for new Canadians. Ford said that if he's elected June 7, his government will create more spaces for apprenticeships and break down barriers that keep credentials held by new immigrants from being recognized. Ford Nation's full of new Canadians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rosmah mansor: Najib had said in a statement on social media on Saturday that he was planning to take a short vacation to spend time with his family, according to The Chronicle Herald. The immigration department, which initially said there was no travel ban, later issued a statement to say Najib and his wife had been blacklisted from leaving the country. A leaked flight manifesto showed that Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were due to leave on a private jet on Saturday to Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, fueling rumours that he was bolting the country after a shocking electoral defeat earlier in the week that ended his coalition's 60-year grip on power. Mahathir confirmed that he prevented Najib from leaving. U.S. investigators say Najib's associates stole and looted 4.5 billion from the fund, with some 700 million landing in Najib's bank account and around 30 million used to buy jewelry for his wife. He said there was sufficient evidence for an investigation into Najib, in reference to the massive corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund that Najib set up and is being investigated in the United States and other countries. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

terror attack: Bruce Couchman, Ottawa Shree Paradkar's column really got me thinking, according to Toronto Star. If an Islamic extremist carries out a terror attack, commits an honour killing or stones a gay person to death, we are told by our progressive media figures that it has nothing to do with Islam and doesn't in any way reflect on anyone else. We should not be surprised by an attribute that, in its ethnic, racial or religious form, exists in virtually every country in the world. Muslims owe no apologies and need not engage in any critical self-reflection of themselves, their community or their religion. Yet when some idiot makes racist remarks at a Denny's restaurant in Alberta, suddenly we are told this is part of our culture, both systemically and individually. Article Continued Below Fair enough. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

travel ban: Mahathir confirmed that he prevented Najib from leaving, according to Vancouver Courier. He said there was sufficient evidence for an investigation into Najib, in reference to the massive corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund that Najib set up and is being investigated in the United States and other countries.U.S. investigators say Najib's associates stole and looted 4.5 billion from the fund, with some 700 million landing in Najib's bank account and around 30 million used to buy jewelry for his wife. The immigration department, which initially said there was no travel ban, later issued a statement to say Najib and his wife had been blacklisted from leaving the country. Najib has denied any wrongdoing. We have to act quickly because we don't want to be saddled with extradition from other countries. There are a lot of complaints against him, all of which have to be investigated, Mahathir told a news conference. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vancouver vancouver: Instead, he slammed his opponents for seizing upon the remarks he made at the northern issues leader's debate Friday.article continues below Trending Stories Outdoor pools tough to justify in Vancouver Vancouver has highest population density in Canada Patient and saviour reconnect after Coquitlam Crunch heart attack Camp Cloud builds shelter for women and children at protest site My opponents are playing politics you know that, Ford said, according to Vancouver Courier. There's no politician that probably has more support out there for new Canadians. At a news conference Saturday, Ford was asked four times to explain what he meant by the remarks, but would not elaborate. Ford Nation's full of new Canadians. We take care of new Canadians, Ford said. Ford said that if he's elected June 7, his government will create more spaces for apprenticeships and break down barriers that keep credentials held by new immigrants from being recognized. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

atlantic canada: I'd be more than happy to sit down and talk to the folks and look at a pilot project, according to Toronto Star. But number one I'm a pretty generous guy I'm taking care of our own first, he told delegates to the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities conference here. In the second leaders' debate of the June 7 election campaign, Ford said Friday he had concerns about replicating a federal pilot project under way in Atlantic Canada to attract newcomers to remote parts of Ontario. Read more Opinion Rosie DiManno A grieving mother's letter to Doug Ford Article Continued Below Opinion Shree Paradkar Among Doug Ford's PCs, yet another candidate with bigoted views emerges Anybody-but-Ford movement is percolating as June 7 election nears poll Once we take care of our own and we exhaust, we exhaust, every single avenue and we don't have anyone that can fulfill the job then I'd be open to that, he said. react-empty 156 Both Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath expressed astonishment afterward. That was a pretty shocking comment to hear from the leader of a major provincial party. I have to say I took a pretty sharp intake of breath at that point, I have to admit, said Wynne. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

minister: They had to return to Germany and many died in the Holocaust, according to Toronto Star. It is our hope that this long overdue apology will bring awareness to our failings, he said, as we vow to never let history repeat itself. He apologized emotionally at a Jewish fundraiser, over Canada turning away a boatload of 907 refugees from Hitler in 1939. That's when the clanging might have started. Immigration minister Ahmed Hussen said he'd go to Nigeria to discourage people from coming here. The day before, public safety minister Ralph Goodale warned asylum seekers that crossing the border from the U.S. furtively was no free ticket to status. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

balls re: But the province has the taxpayers as their underwriters to pay this, according to The Chronicle Herald. This is pure waste, and heads should roll. A for-profit insurance company would never have gone down this road of legal expenses and uncertainty of outcome. Michael Crowell, HRM Liberals drop many balls Re Your May 1 editorial, Nursing home neglect/Improve elder care. We have learned of Norma and Bob Silverstein's experience with their 93-year-old family member who died at Harbourstone Enhanced Care Facility. I'd like to express disgust over the Liberal government's complete disregard for elder care. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ifeanyi emesih: Organized by the Halifax immigration platform My Halifax Experience, the inaugural festival intends to present a carnival-inspired display of colourful culture, according to The Chronicle Herald. We are honoured that Waterfront Development approached us to organize this event because we feel it's important for our immigrant population to feel at home here, said Ifeanyi Emesih, founder of My Halifax Experience and the festival, in the release. The celebration will combine music and dance with concerts and vendors, according to a news release. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nielsen: Nielsen, one person said, tried to explain the issues were complex and that the department's powers were limited by a slew of legal restrictions, according to The Chronicle Herald. She told the president her team was doing everything it could, but the president was left unconvinced. Trump, who has grown increasingly frustrated by a spike in border apprehensions and legal setbacks, blamed Nielsen Wednesday for failing to do enough to stop them, according to people familiar with the exchange. The episode, first reported by The New York Times, left Nielsen on the verge of resignation, according to the paper, which also said Nielsen, the former deputy White House chief of staff, had drafted but not submitted a resignation letter. Homeland Security spokesman Tyler Houlton said in a tweet that, The nytimes article alleging that the Secretary drafted a resignation letter yesterday and was close to resigning is false. The department pushed back against that characterization. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

video: Nicolas Augusto Beltran, a student at the University of Lethbridge who moved from to Canada from Colombia 15 years ago, and says he was not surprised when he saw the video showing a woman saying racist things, according to Toronto Star. Read more Experts say woman from Lethbridge Denny's video was rightfully fired Article Continued Below Woman who was caught on video telling group of men they're not Canadian' at an Alberta Denny's loses her job Opinion Shree Paradkar Woman yelling at group of men in Alberta Denny's shows racism is part of Canada's character That is a part of Canadian culture that is kind of ignored and downplayed by everyone. The woman has since been identified as a resident of British Columbia, but many Lethbridge residents say the clip has kick-started a much-needed conversation about racism in the southern Alberta city. Not just white people, but everyone that lives in Canada. I've been questioned but to not that extent. It's like an underbelly that we don't like to admit exists, he said. react-empty 142 This happens more than one would like to think, he said, it's just not caught on camera and reported about. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

border apprehensions: She told the president her team was doing everything it could, but the president was left unconvinced, according to Vancouver Courier. The episode, first reported by The New York Times, left Nielsen on the verge of resignation, according to the paper, which also said Nielsen, the former deputy White House chief of staff, had drafted but not submitted a resignation letter. Trump, who has grown increasingly frustrated by a spike in border apprehensions and legal setbacks, blamed Nielsen Wednesday for failing to do enough to stop them, according to people familiar with the exchange.article continues below Trending Stories Hector Bremner remains defiant, will seek re-election in October Nielsen, one person said, tried to explain the issues were complex and that the department's powers were limited by a slew of legal restrictions. The department pushed back against that Security spokesman Tyler Houlton said in a tweet that, The nytimes article alleging that the Secretary drafted a resignation letter yesterday and was close to resigning is false. Nielsen did not deny the meeting had grown heated in a statement Thursday evening, but said she shared the president's frustrations. The secretary, he added, was hard at work Thursday on the President's security-focused agenda and supporting the men and women of DHSgov. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cfl player: It's here that thousands of migrants are interviewed by asylum officers and ultimately informed whether they will ever be allowed to leave the island.article continues below Trending Stories Former CFL player arrested for assault in New Westminster Hector Bremner remains defiant, will seek re-election in October After guilty plea, man handed life sentence for gang killing of Jonathan Bacon Holding up a tattered asylum card that reads Forbidden to travel outside Lesbos, 40-year-old Syrian Ziad Rashid said he was supposed to be deported back to Turkey after he unsuccessfully appealed his failed application, according to Vancouver Courier. But Turkey's effective refusal to re-admit migrants means there's nowhere he can go. Taking photographs of it is prohibited. I've been here for two years, says Rashid, struggling to find the words in broken Greek and English. Lesbos is facing a fourth summer of crisis. It's a big problem. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

job sites: The Regent Park resident had not, but decided to enrol in construction boot camp program Hammer Heads, according to NOW Magazine. She says it's the best thing she could have done for herself. In 2014, Tricia Ward walked into an employment centre and was asked if she'd ever considered working in the trades. Now in fourth year, she's the program's youth co-chair and has almost completed her 9,000-hour plumbing apprenticeship. On some job sites the guys can be harder on you because you're different, says Ward, who now lives in Etobicoke, bought a car and can afford to travel. Being female and Black, the pressure I feel is different. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

andrey bezrukov: Alexander, 23, and Timothy, 27, were born in Canada to parents using the aliases Donald Heathfield and Tracey Ann Foley, according to CTV. The parents were arrested eight years ago in the United States and indicted on charges of conspiring to act as secret agents on behalf of Russia's SVR, a successor to the infamous Soviet KGB. Heathfield and Foley admitted to being Andrey Bezrukov and Elena Vavilova. A high court decision Thursday grants the federal government a chance to fight a Federal Court of Appeal ruling that effectively affirmed the citizenship of Alexander and Timothy Vavilov. They were sent back to Moscow as part of a swap for prisoners in Russia. But he ran into hurdles at the passport office and in August 2014 the citizenship registrar said the government no longer recognized him to be a Canadian citizen. Alexander, who finished high school in Russia, changed his surname to Vavilov on the advice of Canadian officials in a bid to obtain a Canadian passport. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

gop leaders: The effort meant that a congressional drive to help young Dreamer immigrants that seemed to have lost steam earlier this year could be resurrected in the run-up to November's elections for House and Senate control, according to The Chronicle Herald. That could spell fresh headaches for GOP leaders, whose party is divided between backers of President Donald Trump's hard-line views and more pragmatic members. One top maverick said they had enough support to succeed. The rebellious lawmakers want the House to vote in June on four bills including a bipartisan compromise, a conservative proposal and a liberal plan. We feel very importantly that this has got to happen now, and we're willing to drive that vote, said one leading proponent, Rep. Many of the legislators demanding action face potentially competitive re-election races in congressional districts with large numbers of Hispanic, suburban or agriculture-industry voters with pro-immigration views. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

graduate friday: In the beginning, I was very afraid because I don't know how to teach, I don't know how to find the correct word to explain things, and they actually provide all these things, according to Toronto Star. I think it's very helpful, Taslitsky said. Taslitsky and her 4-year-old daughter, Adele, are among the 38 newcomer families and 42 children set to graduate Friday from their first year of Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters HIPPY Program, delivered by Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia ISANS .HIPPY is a 30-week program running October to June where home visitors from ISANS meet with parents primarily mothers of kids ranging from 3 to 5 years old, to give them support while preparing their children for school in Canada. Taslitsky moved from Israel to Nova Scotia about 11 months ago with her husband and two children. Article Continued Below When Taslitsky first moved here, she said she was disappointed to realize that, unlike Israel, Canada didn't have a government-supported program for all preschool children where they could learn about culture, holidays and be prepared for school. She was born in Ukraine and moved to Israel as a child, but Taslitsky said her first language remained Russian, which the family also speaks at home. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hardball tactics: Under Republican President Donald Trump, the agency is specifically targeting suspects not yet found guilty, a departure from the Obama administration, which focused primarily on those convicted, attorneys say, according to The Chronicle Herald. Advocates argue ICE has also sometimes used criminal allegations against immigrants in their deportation efforts without letting them answer the charges. Advocates for immigrants say the hardball tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are blocking due process rights, creating chaos and forcing runarounds in court systems to get immigrants who are accused of crimes in front of judges. This is now becoming a kind of full-fledged war between the federal government and states and localities, said Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute's office at New York University School of Law. ICE doesn't track how many detainees have pending criminal charges or how often they're denied release to state custody for court proceedings, an agency spokeswoman said. While it's unclear how many defendants are not being turned over to appear in court, cases are popping up around the country, largely in so-called sanctuary cities and states where local authorities don't co-operate with the federal government on immigration enforcement. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant students: The little we know about what transpired is thanks to one of Manning's friends, who made a cellphone recording of her speech, according to Rabble. In his remarks, Trump failed to mention that Manning teaches math and English to refugee and immigrant students at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington. While the press heard Trump's remarks, they were not allowed to witness her acceptance speech. If he had his way, many students like hers would be banned from entering the United States in the first place. I am here for David, a future IT specialist who hopes to one day be able to attend university. I am honored and humbled to be the vehicle through which my students may tell their stories, Manning said in the historic East Room, as billionaire Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta looked on. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

lgbt issues: A large number of them attempt to stoke racial divisions by mentioning police brutality or disparaging the Black Lives Matter movement, according to CTV. Some promote President Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders, who ran against Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary. Most of the ads are issue-based, pushing arguments for and against immigration, LGBT issues and gun rights, among other issues. Few, if any, support Clinton. The release of ads from early 2015 through mid-2017 does not include 80,000 posts that the agency also shared. The intelligence committee Democrats released a sampling of the ads purchased by Russia's Internet Research Agency last year, but they are now releasing the full cache of ads that Facebook officials turned over to the panel after acknowledging in September they had discovered the Russian efforts. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.