immigrantscanada.com

Independent topical source of current affairs, opinion and issues, featuring stories making news in Canada from immigrants, newcomers, minorities & ethnic communities' point of view and interests.

anti-capitalist activists: Legault has also said he's ready to use the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to pass legislation banning public servants in positions of authority from wearing religious clothing such as Muslim hijabs, Jewish kippahs and Sikh turbans, according to Vancouver Courier. Members of Sunday's crowd, which included a large number of women in hijabs, made it clear they weren't among the new premier's supporters. Muslim families pushing strollers, Indigenous community leaders, masked anti-capitalist activists and members of some 50 community groups marched through the city's downtown in a protest that stretched across several blocks.article continues below Trending Stories Hawkers Market returns to Vancouver next month Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysis The top Instagram fall photo spots in VancouverA tale of old Yale Many demonstrators carried signs targeting premier-designate Francois Legault, who has promised to cut immigration and submit new Quebecers to a French and values test within three years of arriving. Not only will I keep my veil, Mr. Stop telling us to take off our clothes, read another that was accompanied by a hand-drawn picture of a woman with her head covered. Legault, I'll put on my cowboy hat to fight for my rights, read one poster. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian government: First, the loss of the investor-state dispute-settlement ISDS process, which allowed private corporations to sue governments for lost profits related to public policy, and the removal of NAFTA's energy proportionality clause, which obliges Canada to export a set amount of energy to the U.S. Meanwhile, Brent Patterson notes that while the USMCA may not contain an ISDS process, its six-year anniversary review process will likely achieve a similar effect, deterring the Canadian government from imposing regulations that may be deemed unfavourable by foreign investors, according to Rabble. But the new deal is no cause for celebration, Patterson argues. Sujata Dey, a trade campaigner with the Council of Canadians, points to two wins in the new agreement. Clauses related to the environment and Indigenous communities fail to bind countries to adopt the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples; lengthens drug patents, shoring up Big Pharma's profits; and Canadian farms will take a blow now that the U.S. has access to the Canadian dairy supply management chain. For more in-depth coverage of USMCA and its implications for Canadians, listen to Unifor President Jerry Dias interviewed on rabble radio, read Brent Patterson on why Big Oil companies are celebrating, and follow Duncan Cameron's analysis on why the deal represents a capitulation to Trump on trade. All in all, the agreement is far from the progressive trade deal Trudeau promised. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant: IPW called the forum a first-of-its kind, according to CTV. It said the forum was held as part of a campaign this election to encourage newcomers to vote called Got Citizenship Go Vote!' The forum aimed to provide a space for immigrant and refugee community members to ask questions of candidates in respect to their positions on immigrant employment opportunities, poverty reduction, diversity-expanding initiatives and a host of other newcomer civic concerns. Immigration Partnership Winnipeg IPW hosted a forum on Saturday that tackled topics around immigrants, refugees and newcomers. Traditionally, immigrant and refugee voter turnout amongst eligible voters is quite low, said IPW director Abdikheir Ahmed in a press release. In 2017, Statistics Canada said visible minorities make up one quarter of the population in Winnipeg, with 52,000 immigrants settling in the city within the last five years. We want to change that and ensure more newcomer Winnipeggers come out to vote so they have a say in who makes decisions on their behalf at City Council and on the school boards. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

district police: The city's district police chief was among the wounded, he said, according to Vancouver Courier. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. Basir Mujahid, spokesman for Kabul's police chief, said that nine others, including six police officers and three civilians, were wounded in the bomb blasts.article continues below Trending Stories The top Instagram fall photo spots in Vancouver Here's who's running for mayor in Vancouver this election Five unregulated, Uber-like companies already operating in Richmond Vancouver photographer fights to keep lights on at Dunbar dark room Mujahid said a roadside bomb hit a military vehicle as police arrived to respond to an insurgent attack, then a second blast took place in the same area causing casualties. Elsewhere, in the western Ghor province, eleven people, including seven civilians and four police officers, were killed after security forces raided a village to arrest a militia commander, said Abdul Hai Khateby, spokesman for the provincial governor. His gunmen battled with security forces causing casualties, he added. According to Khateby, security forces were tracking down the local commander known as Alipoor, who is accused of criminal activities in the Lal wa Sarjangal district. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

room china: Its statement said the agency looks forward to an official response from China's authorities to address concerns over the president's well-being, article continues below Trending Stories The top Instagram fall photo spots in Vancouver Here's who's running for mayor in Vancouver this election Five unregulated, Uber-like companies already operating in Richmond Vancouver photographer fights to keep lights on at Dunbar dark room China, in the midst of a weeklong holiday, has yet to comment on the 64-year-old security official's disappearance, according to Vancouver Courier. Calls and faxed questions to the foreign and public security ministries went unanswered. The Lyon-based international police agency said it used law enforcement channels to submit its request to China about the status of Meng Hongwei. Meng's wife says she hasn't heard from him since he left the French city of Lyon at the end of September. French authorities say he boarded a plane and arrived in China but his subsequent whereabouts are unknown. France has launched its own investigation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

genocidal campaigns: The 25-year-old advocate for victims of sexual violence says will be thinking of her mother, who was slain by IS militants, and other Yazidis who were killed, according to Vancouver Courier. She says we must work together with determination - to prove that genocidal campaigns will not only fail, but lead to accountability for the perpetrators and justice for the survivors. She says as a survivor, I am grateful for this opportunity to draw international attention to the plight of the Yazidi people, who have suffered unimaginable crimes under Islamic State militants. She also congratulated her co-winner, Dr. President Donald Trump hasn't commented on the new Nobel Peace Prize winners but his new ambassador to Congo has.U.S. Ambassador Mike Hammer says in a Twitter post Congratulations Dr. Denis Mukwege, a man I admire greatly who has dedicated his life to helping women of sexual violence. 5 50 p.m. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

boy: He stood there like the boy on the burning deck, according to Rabble. He was so desperate he tried Americanization -- of team franchises, not the game -- which thankfully failed. He wasn't a player, coach or owner but he saved Canadian football, a unique cultural entity. But because of him, the CFL still exists. The rest has been limp. That was his glory run. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

caucus today: He takes over from Philippe Couillard, the outgoing premier who resigned his seat and quit as party leader Thursday, according to CTV. Couillard's departure followed a resounding Liberal election defeat Monday at the hands of Francois Legault's Coalition Avenir Quebec. Arcand was chosen by the party's caucus today to lead the Opposition in the legislature. Arcand, first elected in 2007, is a former cabinet minister representing the Montreal riding of Mont-Royal-Outremont. He says details of the race to find a permanent leader will be finalized in the coming months. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

iraqi woman: I was overcome with emotion to see that she's recognized for the work that she's done and the safety and security that she's brought to literally thousands of women and girls that have suffered persecution and torture that is just unimaginable for most of us, Ambrose told CTVNews.ca during a telephone interview from London on Friday morning, according to CTV. Murad became a global advocate for victims of sexual violence after she escaped torture and rape by ISIS militants in Iraq in 2014. The former MP and interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada worked closely with the Iraqi woman to bring Yazidi women and girls fleeing sexual slavery under ISIS rule to Canada and saw her courage first hand. Two years later, she became a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking at the age of 23 and has used her platform ever since to bring attention to the plight of the Yazidi people a persecuted religious minority in northern Iraq. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese doctor who treats victims of sexual abuse. On Friday, Murad was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to share with Dr. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

yazidi family: NADIA MURAD In this Monday, May 22, 2017 file photo, Human rights activist Nadia Murad speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, according to CTV. AP Photo/Ronald Zak Born in northern Iraq in 1993 to a Yazidi family, Nadia Murad was just 19 when Islamic State militants stormed her remote village in 2014 and massacred hundreds as part of their efforts to exterminate the ancient religious minority group. Here is everything you need to know about Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege. Many younger women, however, were spared death for another awful fate that saw Murad and an estimated 3,000 Yazidi women and underage girls kidnapped by the extremists and forced into sex slavery. Murad eventually relocated to Germany where she received medical treatment and began her campaign to tell the world about the atrocities endured by Yazidi women like herself. Murad's 2017 book, The Last Girl, details her story of losing her family and being beaten, raped and tortured as an ISIS captive before she managed to escape after three harrowing months. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

minute speech: It is a fundamental democratic principle. ; The message seemed squarely aimed at Francois Legault's Coalition Avenir Quebec, which swept to power Monday on a platform promising a hard line on religious symbols in the public service and immigration, according to National Observer. It was toward the end of Couillard's roughly 10-minute speech, that he said he wanted to speak about our freedoms. The majority does not have all the rights, and those that it exercises must be compensated by a protection of those of minorities, he said in the foyer of the national assembly in Quebec City. Over the course of our 400 years of history, we have defended them, sometimes to the point of ultimate sacrifice, he said. They are precious and therefore fragile. They are contained in the Quebec and Canadian charters of rights and freedoms. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

official said.article: But then, nothing, according to Vancouver Courier. His wife, who put out a call on Friday, said she hasn't heard from her 64-year-old husband since the end of September, the official said.article continues below Trending Stories Courier stages first Vancouver mayoral debate of 2011 election At just 12 years old, Dex Shelton is already chairman of the board Burnaby mayor and council chime in on pipeline squabble with Alberta Wintery weather warning for Metro Vancouver this week To make matters murkier, Meng is not just the head of Interpol He's also a vice minister for public safety in China. Meng Hongwei, Interpol's president, boarded a plane and arrived in China, according to a French judicial official. Interpol, based in Lyon, would say only that reports that its president is missing is a matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China. Whether China was taking action was unknown. France launched its own investigation on Friday morning, according to the judicial official who wasn't authorized to speak publicly and asked for anonymity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

owner: Over 6,000 women and girls were taken captive by Daesh Islamic State fighters, and many remain in captivity, according to National Observer. They were forced into domestic and sexual servitude, passed from owner to owner like chattel across Iraq and Syria. It was a profound moment of recognition for the sexual violence perpetrated against Iraq's Yazidi minority. Some, he said, were as young as nine and were raped up to 20 times daily. In Canada, Rev. The Yazidi women were described as the most traumatized group yet to be admitted to Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

supreme court: And then it was only thanks to some bold and daring citizens bringing forward complaints that the law was upheld by the Supreme Court, according to NOW Magazine. Now, thanks to Mohamad Fakih, we have a ruling that permits those targeted by hate speech to use Canada's defamation law to protect themselves against racist attacks. It took years for Canada to develop its hate propaganda laws, which are criminally based with a high bar of proof. Fakih grew up in Beirut during the Lebanese civil war. To escape the sectarian violence, Fakih immigrated to Canada shortly after a visit in 1998, eventually purchasing a small restaurant at Dixie and Eglinton in Mississauga. His mother was a victim of a bombing in the capital. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

university: She now works for a university in Massachusetts after obtaining her master's degree in bioinformatics, according to Vancouver Courier. I was stressed I might also lose my position at the university as well as my legal status in this country. Terrified to return to Sudan and unable to fathom a life without proper legal documents, the 55-year-old was one of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who got temporary relief after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from moving ahead with its plans.article continues below Trending Stories Courier stages first Vancouver mayoral debate of 2011 election At just 12 years old, Dex Shelton is already chairman of the board Sun Sui Wah removes shark fin from menu Photos This has to be one of the cutest seal releases in Metro Vancouver yet This is a good day, Elarabi said Thursday. Elarabi is one of some 300,000 immigrants from Sudan, El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua who for now will keep their temporary protected status, known as TPS, under the ruling. He found there is evidence that President Trump harbours an animus against non-white, non-European aliens which influenced his ... decision to end the TPS designation. It's granted to citizens of countries ravaged by natural disasters or war and lets them live and work in the U.S. until the situation improves back home.U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco granted a request late Wednesday to block the administration's plans. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

india: They were arrested in 2012 for entering India illegally and have been held in prison since then, according to Toronto Star. In this file photo taken on Jan. 19, Rohingya refugees rest on temporary shelters near the village of Baruipur, some 55 km south of Kolkata. The deportation was carried out after the Supreme Court rejected a last-minute plea by the seven men's lawyer that they be allowed to remain in India because they feared reprisals in Myanmar. India on Oct. 4 deported seven Rohingya to Myanmar, despite UN warnings that the men faced persecution in a country where the army is accused of genocide against the Muslim minority. Each carried a bag of belongings. DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP/GETTY IMAGES Indian authorities handed the seven over to Myanmar officials at a border crossing in Moreh in Manipur state, according to a document signed by border authorities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

minute speech: It is a fundamental democratic principle, according to CTV. The message seemed squarely aimed at Francois Legault's Coalition Avenir Quebec, which swept to power Monday on a platform promising a hard line on religious symbols in the public service and immigration. The majority does not have all the rights, and those that it exercises must be compensated by a protection of those of minorities, he said in the foyer of the national assembly in Quebec City. It was toward the end of Couillard's roughly 10-minute speech, that he said he wanted to speak about our freedoms. They are contained in the Quebec and Canadian charters of rights and freedoms. Over the course of our 400 years of history, we have defended them, sometimes to the point of ultimate sacrifice, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

news conference: Supporters of temporary protected status immigrants hold signs and cheer at a rally before a news conference announcing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to end a program that lets immigrants live and work legally in the United States outside of a federal courthouse in San Francisco, according to Toronto Star. A judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from ending the protections, saying the move would cause irreparable harm and great hardship. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco granted a request for a preliminary injunction against the administration's decision to discontinue temporary protected status for people from Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador. Jeff Chiu / The Associated Press The judge said there is evidence that President Trump harbours an animus against non-white, non-European aliens which influenced his ... decision to end the TPS designation. It's the latest case in which judges have cited Trump's own comments to rule against his immigration policies. The ruling cited Trump's 2015 campaign speech in which he characterized Mexican immigrants as drug dealers and rapists, his call to bar Muslims from entering the United States and his vulgar reference to African countries during a meeting about immigration at the White House in January. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

palestinian citizens: Below is a snapshot of the Israel-Canada Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group members -- none of whom are from parties that represents Palestinian citizens of Israel -- that Canadian MPs are creating relationships with, according to Rabble. Robert Ilatov proposed a bill in May to stop harassment by left-wing operatives of Israeli soldiers by criminalizing those who film Israeli troops repressing Palestinians. But, when Jagmeet Singh, H l ne Laverdi re, Murray Rankin and others call for dialogue they don't specify who they are talking to.A quick Google search of CIIG's Israeli partner -- the Israel-Canada Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group -- shows that all 13 of its members have expressed problematic views or proposed laws. The bill states Anyone who filmed, photographed, and/or recorded soldiers in the course of their duties, with the intention of undermining the spirit of IDF soldiers and residents of Israel, shall be liable to five years imprisonment. Yisrael Eichler called the assimilation of U.S. Jews a quiet Holocaust and labelled criticism of men who refuse to sit next to women on El Al flights anti-Semitic and a form of terrorism. Ilatov also sponsored a bill to strictly limit the call to prayer from mosques and, in another attack against the 20 to 25 per cent of Muslim and Christian Israelis, said it should be mandatory for judges to sing Israel's national anthem and adhere to the idea of the State of Israel as a Jewish state. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

process: The developer and manager of New Horizon says that it's perfectly normal for businesses to take this long to set up at the location, according to CTV. Eli Swirsky, president of the Torgan Group, says that there is still a process where the titles are being transferred to the owners. In late July, the first business in the mall opened its doors and since then, only 10 more have opened for business. We've now started the process of filling the mall, so the mall can be filled either with tenants or owners, he said. The company also manages Pacific Mall in Markham, Ontario and Swirsky says that it was two years before things got into full swing there. This is exactly the same process that unfolded in the Pacific Mall. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

shithole countries: In his statement, the judge mentioned comments from U.S. President Donald Trump denigrating Mexicans, Muslims, Haitians and Africans, including his January remark about people from shithole countries'. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP/GETTY IMAGES At the same time, he said there were serious questions as to whether a discriminatory purpose was a motivating factor in the administration's decision, which would violate the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law, according to Toronto Star. He cited statements by U.S. President Donald Trump denigrating Mexicans, Muslims, Haitians and Africans, including his January remark about people from shithole countries and his June 2017 comments stating that 15,000 recent immigrants from Haiti all have AIDS. It is one of numerous cases in which such racial or ethnic comments or tweets by the president have been cited by judges to block administration policies, including on immigration and transgender people serving in the military. In a decision late Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen in San Francisco found substantial evidence that the administration lacked any explanation or justification to end the temporary protected status designations for immigrants from those countries. Article Continued Below In this case, Ramos v. Read more Report says Homeland Security wasn't ready to support migrant children separated from familiesU.S. parents face tougher rules to get immigrant children back One face of immigration in America is a family tree rooted in Asia The judge did not rule on the merits of the case, but rather issued a preliminary injunction so the merits could be considered. Nielsen, and others, the judges have also cited deeply flawed decision-making by the administration and breaches of laws and regulations meant to prevent arbitrary acts by government. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

world countries: The worksheet describes 10 people and asks students to label them as having left-wing, right-wing or centre political beliefs, according to CTV. Read more on this story from CTV Vancouver According to DeFouw, descriptions like a person who believes that Canada should send aid to Third World Countries and a person who believes that the school strap should be abolished were meant to be answered as left-wing, while a person who believes that the Canadian military should acquire more sophisticated weaponry and a person who believes that women should stay home and be mothers were considered right-wing. Matt DeFouw posted a photo to Facebook showing a worksheet given to students at Valleyview Secondary School in Kamloops, B.C and what he says are the teacher's answers to the questions. None of the 10 questions were given centre-leaning answers. DeFouw said the teacher was looking for that example to be considered right-wing. The description that has drawn the most attention, though, is a person who is a racist. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vancouver teacher: Without treatment, children with the disorder require a kidney transplant, and few survive beyond the age of 30.article continues below Trending Stories Support group targets Vancouver mistresses Striking Vancouver teacher dismisses criticism, says he's 'not a babysitter'Thanksgiving long weekend getaways not too far from Vancouver Richmond's off-street prostitution rings highlighted by deportation case Researchers say the disease was brought to Quebec about 200 years ago by an immigrant Irish family, according to Vancouver Courier. Sophie Laferriere, whose 9-year-old son Nolan has the disease, described in an interview the toll it has taken. The McGill team is leading North American efforts to develop a drug for nephropathic cystinosis, which is 10 times more prevalent in Quebec than elsewhere in the world. From the age of 5 months, Nolan stopped growing .... He didn't try to move around, she said. It was soon afterwards that physicians at the Montreal Children's Hospital, part of the McGill centre, diagnosed nephropathic cystinosis. At around 6 months, he was eating very little and continuously vomiting. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

officials: The transaction goes through and a day's rations are secured, according to Vancouver Courier. The data technology that underpins virtual currencies like bitcoin is now also used to deliver aid more efficiently by dramatically lowering the risk of bribes and fraud by local officials a huge, longstanding problem in the industry. The shopkeeper raises a black box to his face and scans the Syrian refugee's iris. The so-called blockchain keeps a record of all transactions and buyers, making sure recipients like Al-Eid get their goods without the added costs of graft or bank transfer fees. The UN's World Food Programme has been testing the use of blockchain technology since 2017 to manage aid for over 100,000 refugees in camps in Jordan, which hosts over 740,000 people from neighbouring countries like war-torn Syria. And donors can track the use of their aid money, all the way to the refugee family it helps survive.article continues below Trending Stories In the news Vancouver brewery openings and craft beer updates Emergency kitten alert 111 cats handed to B.C. SPCA shelter Realtor played 'shell game' in hopes of 1.8M commission on Burnaby lowrise sale judge Vancouver's Doolin's Pub, Belmont Bar, Comfort Inn closing this month for boutique hotel redevelopme It's a very easy process and it doesn't have any complications, says Al-Eid, before taking the food off to his family. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alice b: And his new weekly look at politics and culture debuts later this month on the streaming service, according to NOW Magazine. But in the meantime, he's bringing his new live show, Before The Storm,which, judging from the title, promises many sharp insights into what's going down south of the border. 7 and 10 pm. 39.50- 79.50. Toronto audiences saw an earlier version of his award-winning show Homecoming one of the best immigrant-coming-of-age shows ever before it hit Netflix. October 7 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. 1 Front East. ticketmaster.ca. To October 7. Gertrude And Alice Show about queer icons Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas returns. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

san francisco: The ruling cited Trump's 2015 campaign speech in which he characterized Mexican immigrants as drug dealers and rapists, his call to bar Muslims from entering the United States and his vulgar reference to African countries during a meeting about immigration at the White House in January, according to Vancouver Courier. It's the latest case in which judges have cited Trump's own comments to rule against his immigration policies. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco granted a request for a preliminary injunction against the administration's decision to discontinue temporary protected status for people from Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador.article continues below Trending Stories Realtor played 'shell game' in hopes of 1.8M commission on Burnaby lowrise sale judge Vancouver's Doolin's Pub, Belmont Bar, Comfort Inn closing this month for boutique hotel redevelopme Vancouver weather Temperatures dip to record low Vancouver gang task force delivers major blow to organized crime The judge said there is evidence that President Trump harbours an animus against non-white, non-European aliens which influenced his ... decision to end the TPS designation. His words have been turned against him in lawsuits over decisions to separate families at the border, end legal protections for young immigrants and ban people from some Muslim-majority countries. About 300,000 people have received those protections. Temporary protected status is granted to countries ravaged by natural disasters or war and lets citizens of those countries remain in the U.S. until the situation improves back home. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.