countries: Nations hosting millions of refugees from their neighbours said they had been let down by the world's richest countries and were facing serious problems as a result, according to Toronto Star. U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the 73rd session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday. Two years later, the optimism born of that summit has been replaced by bitterness and uncertainty as the number of refugees worldwide has soared and far fewer are being resettled in other countries. TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/GETTY IMAGES Unfortunately, the heavy burden of humanitarian consequences of the Syrian crisis has been left on Turkey's shoulders, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mehmet Cavusoglu, estimating that his country has spent 32 billion feeding, sheltering and educating refugees. Our calls for more burden and responsibility sharing fell on deaf ears. Commitments have not been fulfilled. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian citizens: My father had a job immediately after arriving, and raised himself within his industry through hard work and an unquestioning loyalty to Canada, according to Toronto Star. My mother and father did volunteer work for decades after retiring. My brother and I recall little of the journey across the ocean by ship. We, their children, always valued their work ethic and took huge pride in being Canadian citizens. It is with this spirit that I encourage the government to revoke the honorary citizenship of Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar. Most immigrants feel this way, and share a love of this great country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

lofven: Lawmakers voted 204-142 against Lofven, according to CTV. Three lawmakers were absent, so did not vote. Stefan Lofven, the leader of the Social Democratic Party who has been prime minister for four years, will continue in a caretaker role until a new Swedish government can be formed that has the command of the Riksdagen, the national parliament. The vote was mandatory after the Sept. 9 general election delivered a hung parliament. Both main political blocs in the parliament have refused to co-operate with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats party, which made great strides in the election. Although Lofven remains optimistic that he may be eventually able to form a government, the vote means that Sweden faces weeks of political uncertainty. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

september attacks: The Globe and Mail has explained, The Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States, signed in the wake of the September 11 attacks, means that with few exceptions, refugee claimants must make their claim in the first safe country they arrive in, according to Rabble. That means virtually all asylum seekers attempting to enter Canada through a U.S. port of entry will be turned away. Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction Minister Bill Blair and United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen could soon begin discussions to renegotiate the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement. But significantly the article adds that because Canada is a signatory of the United Nations' 1951 Refugee Convention, asylum seekers entering the country between border points are not automatically deported and may make asylum claims. The Canada Border Services Agency says that 32,173 people crossed the border into Canada from the U.S. irregularly between April 2017 and August 2018. In other words, the agreement, reached by then-Liberal prime minister Paul Martin and then-U.S. president George W. Bush, does not cover asylum-seekers who cross through unguarded sections of the Canada-U.S. border. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

art scene: The city as art museum that's the basic premise of annual all-night art event Nuit Blanche, according to NOW Magazine. Now in its 13th year, and no longer with a big bank title sponsor, Nuit Blanche continues to thrive. Free. nbto. This year it's happening in the wake of the new MOCA's debut in the Junction, an important milestone for the city's art scene. For the first time, Saturday's event will see a portion of its festivities happening in Scarborough, including a series of artist installations on the Scarborough RT Line up until October 8 . Going city-wide is an excellent way to diversify the ethos of bringing art to the people. Arguably, by showing a broad range of temporary art installations in free yearly events, Nuit Blanche helped create the overflow crowds that enjoyed MOCA's free opening weekend. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

blues hall: Donations accepted at the door. grossmanstavern, according to NOW Magazine. As venues vanish and politicians promote Toronto's music city label, there's been an effort in the last few years to celebrate and protect our heritage venues the Horseshoe, Massey Hall, the Matador, the Silver Dollar and the El Mocambo. Free. But there's one legendary venue that's been operating for the better part of a century and yet is perpetually overlooked. Though it's fostered the careers of some big names from Jeff Healey to Alannah Myles to Downchild Blues Band, the latter of which is basically a blues hall of fame on its own it was born a dive and it has remained a dive. Grossman's Tavern is the opposite of flashy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cheryle: As the new leader of the Green Party of Alberta, Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes says she hopes to empower Albertans who don't usually see themselves in politics, according to Toronto Star. Courtesy Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes Chagnon-Greyeyes' areas of focus include improving the first-past-the-post voting system, encouraging young Albertans to vote, and changing the nature of consultation with Indigenous communities when it comes to resource extraction. The Green Party of Alberta selected its new leader, Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes, on Saturday, and she hopes to use her platform to spark people-oriented and environment-oriented discussions across the province. According to Chagnon-Greyeyes, who has worked at the University of Calgary for about 13 years, the party supports Indigenous peoples more than any other political party in the province. Article Continued Below The environmental and Indigenous activist said she's excited to lead the party in the next election. The six guiding principles of the Green Party align quite nicely with the seven sacred teachings of the Cree, said Chagnon-Greyeyes, who is Cree. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

montreal bagels: People line up outside of Schwartz's Delicatessen in Montreal, according to Toronto Star. Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS And while the doughy rings may be the Jewish community's best-known culinary contributions to the city, they're not the only one. Chewy, seed-covered, boiled in honey-water and delivered warm from a wood-burning oven, the distinctive Montreal bagels were first brought to the city by the rush of Jewish immigrants who moved from eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century. Read more Take a culinary journey through Montreal Article Continued Below Montreal's food scene serves tastes of the past and present Bagels and more are the subject of the Museum of Jewish Montreal's Beyond the Bagel walking tour, which aims to tell the story of some of the city's best and lesser known Jewish foods, and the stories behind them. There's Schwartz's smoked meat, still located in the same small storefront where it was founded by a Romanian Jewish immigrant in 1928. As many foodies know, several of the city's most iconic foods are Jewish in origin. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

opening day: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to address the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit Sept. 24, 2018, a day before the start of the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York, according to Toronto Star. TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/GETTY IMAGES Some, like his widow, Graca Machel, urged heads of state and UN officials to take on ego-driven decision-makers, political dogma and greed. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, the legacy of Mandela was front and centre throughout the assembly's opening day, whether at the unveiling of a statue in his grinning likeness or during a peace summit in his name, where a parade of leaders and dignitaries defended the values he came to represent. Others, like Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, made decidedly unsubtle references to U.S. President Donald Trump. Trudeau's brief remarks the speech clocked in at only three minutes were unflinchingly diplomatic, even as they hinted at the global perils chipping away at the post-war global world order, of which the UN's monolithic building at the edge of the East River remains a towering symbol. Great statesmen, Rouhani said, tend to build bridges instead of walls. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

removal orders: But the government's own numbers tell a different story, according to CTV. Newly released figures show Canadian officials have removed only a handful of the hundreds of irregular migrants who arrived in Canada while they were already facing deportation orders from the United States. Over the weekend, Blair created a hornet's nest of criticism when he said in an interview that the overwhelming majority of asylum seekers who have crossed irregularly into Canada over the last 21 months have left the country. The numbers, tabled recently in the House of Commons, show nearly 900 irregular migrants intercepted by the Mounties in Canada since April 2017 were already under removal orders issued by American authorities. Meanwhile, the overall number of irregular migrants who have been deported or removed from Canada also remains low. As of late June, only six of these people had been removed from Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

singh: Speaking on the phone from the Kurdish-controlled part of the country, Singh explained that little has been rebuilt since villages were destroyed in the civil war involving ISIS. They bombed the houses, they bombed the schools, you know colleges, hospitals, and people are living in the open and some of them have been living in tents and some of the villages, they are not there anymore, said Boota Singh, according to CTV. Khalsa Aid International has been on the ground for some time working on large projects such as trying to get schools rebuilt and get potable water to villages. I didn't expect it will be still that bad, said Singh, a Victoria resident who traveled to Iraq on behalf of Khalsa Aid Canada, also based in Victoria. This is the first time the Canadian arm of the not-for-profit has been represented in Iraq. One priority has been a simple effort to return some self-worth and a sense of independence to the women. The focus of the trip is to help Yazidi women and children who fled ISIS. The Yazidis are a religious minority persecuted by ISIS. Khalsa Aid Canada is supporting a group of 14 Yazidi women who are starting up their own business. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

concordia concordia: I arrived in Canada as a young student from Iran in 1979 with 2,000, Cody said in a statement released by Concordia, according to Vancouver Courier. Concordia welcomed me and provided me with support that changed my life. Gina Cody, who in 1989 became the first woman to graduate with a PhD in building engineering from Concordia, forged a successful business career in Toronto after leaving Iran in 1979.article continues below Trending Stories Washington sheriff releases composite sketches of man who killed Victoria couple Vancouver filmmaker hunts elusive Grizzly Bryant Big Country' Reeves'Crazy ride home' Woman yells death threats in West Vancouver bus fight'Bella Dolls' Is Vancouver ready for a sex doll brothel Concordia says it is the first university engineering faculty in Canada to be named after a woman. My gift to the university is for the next generation, so that more people can succeed like I did. It will also support three new research chairs. The Montreal university said Cody's donation will fund graduate and undergraduate scholarships and bolster next-generation research on smart cities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

less-than-mainstream views: But in Quebec, Masse's revolutionary party held three seats in the legislature at dissolution, has a good chance of winning more on Oct. 1 and has become a fixture in televised leaders' debates. ; In a campaign where sovereignty is not a defining issue, the prominence of Quebec solidaire is just one example of how the election remains a distinctly Quebec affair, according to National Observer. Issues of Quebec identity have dominated the campaign. Across Canada, many political parties at the provincial and federal level have less-than-mainstream views. There is broad consensus on the need to cut carbon emissions. Masse's Sept. 19 speech was the first time a Quebec solidaire leader had been invited to address the Montreal Board of Trade, the embodiment of the capitalism her party pledges to leave behind. And none of the main parties can be considered traditionally conservative. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

party system: It operates under a party system and voters elect council members at-large because Vancouver hasn't had wards since the 1930s, according to National Observer. Since 2008, centre-left Vision Vancouver has dominated council under Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is not running again. The city's political system is already unusual in Canada. Before that, the centre-right Non-Partisan Association had the longest ruling legacy with some notable exceptions, including 2002 when the Coalition of Progressive Electors won the mayor's office and eight of 10 council seats. Only four incumbent councillors are running and among them, only one is returning from Vision Vancouver. This year, newcomers who considered throwing their names in the hat are looking at a rare opportunity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

removal orders: Newly released figures show Canadian officials have removed only a handful of the hundreds of irregular migrants who arrived in Canada while they were already facing deportation orders from the United States, according to Vancouver Courier. The numbers, tabled recently in the House of Commons, show nearly 900 irregular migrants intercepted by the Mounties in Canada since April 2017 were already under removal orders issued by American authorities. Over the weekend, Blair created a hornet's nest of criticism when he told Global News in an interview that the overwhelming majority of asylum seekers who have crossed irregularly into Canada over the last 21 months have left the country.article continues below Trending Stories'Bella Dolls' Is Vancouver ready for a sex doll brothel 'Crazy ride home' Woman yells death threats in West Vancouver bus fight Vancouver filmmaker hunts elusive Grizzly Bryant Big Country' Reeves Vancouver's record-breaking homeless population at 2,181 people But the government's own numbers tell a different story. As of late June, only six of these people had been removed from Canada. Since early 2017, more than 34,000 asylum seekers have crossed into Canada through unofficial points. Meanwhile, the overall number of irregular migrants who have been deported or removed from Canada also remains low. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rouhani: Others, like Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, made decidedly unsubtle references to U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Vancouver Courier. Great statesmen, Rouhani said, tend to build bridges instead of walls. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, the legacy of Mandela was front and centre throughout the assembly's opening day, whether at the unveiling of a statue in his grinning likeness or during a peace summit in his name, where a parade of leaders and dignitaries defended the values he came to represent.article continues below Trending Stories Washington sheriff releases composite sketches of man who killed Victoria couple Vancouver filmmaker hunts elusive Grizzly Bryant Big Country' Reeves'Crazy ride home' Woman yells death threats in West Vancouver bus fight'Bella Dolls' Is Vancouver ready for a sex doll brothel Some, like his widow, Graca Machel, urged heads of state and UN officials to take on ego-driven decision-makers, political dogma and greed. Trudeau's brief remarks the speech clocked in at only three minutes were unflinchingly diplomatic, even as they hinted at the global perils chipping away at the post-war global world order, of which the UN's monolithic building at the edge of the East River remains a towering symbol. While global threats like climate change, armed conflict and other emerging threats continue to test the world's commitment to Mandela's values, he said, the man himself would only see such challenges as evidence of work still to be done. That is not to say that our solidarity is unquestioned and unshaken, Trudeau said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

council seats: It's really weird, it's not common to anything I've ever seen, said David Moscrop, a political scientist in the department of communications at the University of Ottawa who recently left British Columbia, according to CTV. The city's political system is already unusual in Canada. A proliferation of new parties and independent candidates are crowding the Vancouver race in a widespread turnover of the existing council. It operates under a party system and voters elect council members at-large because Vancouver hasn't had wards since the 1930s. Before that, the centre-right Non-Partisan Association had the longest ruling legacy with some notable exceptions, including 2002 when the Coalition of Progressive Electors won the mayor's office and eight of 10 council seats. Since 2008, centre-left Vision Vancouver has dominated council under Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is not running again. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

robin v: This time is more threatening for two reasons how it spreads and who is responsible for it, according to Toronto Star. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is in the best position to make clear the essential nature of our extremely multicultural community and forcefully push back against the spreading virus of identity politics, Robin V. Sears writes. It has been mostly latent for decades, but we have endured earlier regional outbreaks. Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS file photo It goes by the euphemistic name identity politics. It is more frightening today due to the power of anonymous social media capable of infecting millions overnight. It is more properly called by its right name racism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pop-up events: In recent years, Indigenous-owned eateries like his have emerged in many Canadian cities serving traditional foods like bannock and buffalo, according to CTV. While it's taken time to move into the mainstream, chefs say demand is high thanks to increasing awareness of Indigenous culture and desire for local foods. Bannock food truck in Vancouver nearly a year ago, the chef has hired several employees for his in-demand fusion food business. They're enjoying it. He's worked in the industry for about a decade and launched the truck last January after diners at his pop-up events kept asking when the chef would open a more permanent location. Like, everybody is going a little crazy, said Natrall of the reception to the bannock, tacos, chicken and waffles, and other dishes on his menu. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

question period: Calls to renegotiate the agreement have come from both the NDP and Conservatives in the wake of a steady flow of asylum seekers coming into Canada from the U.S. over the last few years, according to CTV. I've written to Secretary Nielsen telling her we would like to engage with them in a conversation on how we can improve and enhance the Safe Third Country Agreement. In an interview with Evan Solomon, host of CTV's Question Period, Blair said he has sent a letter to United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen asking to start their discussions about how to change the more-than-decade-old agreement to better address the issues at the Canada-U.S. border. We're dealing with changing circumstances, Blair said. Under the current agreement, refugee claimants have to apply for asylum in the first country they arrive in, if they arrive at Canada-U.S. border crossings, with some exceptions. Blair, when appointed to the new ministerial position in July, was asked to lead conversations with the aim of improving the legislation in ways that would, as Blair said in the interview, help regularize the rate of, and where, people are entering into Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

security: Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen speaks during the daily news briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on June 18, in Washington, D.C. Homeland Security said Saturday that current and past receipt of certain public benefits above thresholds would be considered a heavily weighed negative factor in granting green cards as well as temporary stays for U.S. migrants, according to Toronto Star. Oliver Contreras/Sipa USA / TNS The Department of Homeland Security said Saturday that current and past receipt of certain public benefits above thresholds would be considered a heavily weighed negative factor in granting green cards as well as temporary stays. Federal law already requires those seeking green cards to prove they will not be a burden or public charge but the new rules detail a broad range of programs that could disqualify them. The proposal will clearly define long-standing law to ensure that those seeking to enter and remain in the United States either temporarily or permanently can support themselves financially and will not be reliant on public benefits, the department said. Article Continued Below Coming less than seven weeks before midterm elections, the announcement could help galvanize voters who have backed or opposed Trump's broad crackdown on legal and illegal immigration. The 447-page proposal published on the department's website will appear in the Federal Register in the coming weeks, triggering a 60-day public comment period before it takes effect. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vancouver hasn: Since 2008, centre-left Vision Vancouver has dominated council under Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is not running again, according to Toronto Star. This year, newcomers who considered throwing their names in the hat are looking at a rare opportunity. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson poses during a visit to Toronto, Sept. 5. Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star It's really weird, it's not common to anything I've ever seen, said David Moscrop, a political scientist in the department of communications at the University of Ottawa who recently left British Columbia. It operates under a party system and voters elect council members at-large because Vancouver hasn't had wards since the 1930s. The city's political system is already unusual in Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

indigenous-owned eateries: In recent years, Indigenous-owned eateries like his have emerged in many Canadian cities serving traditional foods like bannock and buffalo, according to Vancouver Courier. While it's taken time to move into the mainstream, chefs say demand is high thanks to increasing awareness of Indigenous culture and desire for local foods.article continues below Trending Stories Trump Vancouver opening video Vancouver Aquarium shares cute video of sea otters rafting Father-son musicians make Leo Awards history Vancouver's record-breaking homeless population at 2,181 people They're enjoying it. Bannock food truck in Vancouver nearly a year ago, the chef has hired several employees for his in-demand fusion food business. Like, everybody is going a little crazy, said Natrall of the reception to the bannock, tacos, chicken and waffles, and other dishes on his menu. There are a number of reasons why Indigenous cuisine has taken some time to emerge in major Canadian cities where there's a glut of other ethnic food choices. He's worked in the industry for about a decade and launched the truck last January after diners at his pop-up events kept asking when the chef would open a more permanent location. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

party system: It operates under a party system and voters elect council members at-large because Vancouver hasn't had wards since the 1930s, according to Vancouver Courier. Since 2008, centre-left Vision Vancouver has dominated council under Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is not running again. The city's political system is already unusual in Canada. Before that, the centre-right Non-Partisan Association had the longest ruling legacy with some notable exceptions, including 2002 when the Coalition of Progressive Electors won the mayor's office and eight of 10 council seats. Only four incumbent councillors are running and among them, only one is returning from Vision Vancouver. This year, newcomers who considered throwing their names in the hat are looking at a rare opportunity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

quebec identity: But in Quebec, Masse's revolutionary party held three seats in the legislature at dissolution, has a good chance of winning more on Oct. 1 and has become a fixture in televised leaders' debates.article continues below Trending Stories Trump Vancouver opening video Vancouver Aquarium shares cute video of sea otters rafting Father-son musicians make Leo Awards history Vancouver's record-breaking homeless population at 2,181 people In a campaign where sovereignty is not a defining issue, the prominence of Quebec solidaire is just one example of how the election remains a distinctly Quebec affair, according to Vancouver Courier. Issues of Quebec identity have dominated the campaign. Across Canada, many political parties at the provincial and federal level have less-than-mainstream views. There is broad consensus on the need to cut carbon emissions. Masse's Sept. 19 speech was the first time a Quebec solidaire leader had been invited to address the Montreal Board of Trade, the embodiment of the capitalism her party pledges to leave behind. And none of the main parties can be considered traditionally conservative. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

avenir centre: Filling these vacancies can mean millions of dollars to the city, and, since 51 per cent of Moncton's population growth is coming from immigration, it's a trend the city hopes to continue, according to CTV. Job fairs, like the one held on Friday, are aimed at attracting top international talent and retaining the ones who may already be here attending post-secondary institutions. A job fair aimed at boosting immigration drew hundreds of people to the Avenir Centre on Friday. Our goal is to keep people here and we know one of the main ways we're going to do that is through matching them with employment, said Angelique Reddy-Kalala, an immigration strategy officer with the city of Moncton. They were looking to fill nearly 1,000 job openings. There were about 35 vendors at the job fair representing a wide range of industries. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.