Actively Passive

IMMIGRATION AND DIVERSITY

Announcing Winners of the 2013 Diversity in Governance Awards (DiverseCity Toronto)
Join Maytree on Wednesday, June 19, as we honour the winners of the 2013 Diversity in Governance Awards for their commitment and innovation in creating diverse boards of governance.
The winners are:
Blue Hills Child and Family Centre (nonprofit category),
The City of Markham (local government category), and
William Osler Health System (public institution category).
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://diversecitytoronto.ca/news/announcing-winners-of-the-2013-diversity-in-governance-awards/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAEoATAAOABA1u7_jQVIAlgAYgVlbi1VUw&cd=9IYZ-EmMTtU&usg=AFQjCNHSqPA8kb-V5O4GLi1InyKd3kpd-Q

An anti-democratic way to reform local democracy (Martin Regg Cohn, Toronto Star)
Democracy activists are trying to turn Toronto into a laboratory for electoral reform. Fair enough. As someone who is passionate about voter participation after reporting from abroad for a decade and watching people fight for the right to vote I strongly support their goals. Just not their unfair, unwise and anti-democratic means to achieve their democratic ends. Egged on by local reformists, city councillors are attempting a mischievous end-run around the people of Toronto in their misguided (albeit well-meaning) effort to increase election turnouts. Their ultimate goal is to use Toronto as a testing ground for province-wide and national electoral reforms that remain a hard sell.
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/06/18/an_antidemocratic_way_to_reform_local_democracy_cohn.html

News Release Montréal receives a new Citizenship Judge (CIC)
The appointment of a new Citizenship Judge for the Montréal area was announced today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. Andrea Paine will serve as a full-time Citizenship Judge for Montréal.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2013/2013-06-17.asp?utm_source=rss-media&utm_medium=rss-eng&utm_campaign=generic

More people failing revamped citizenship tests (CBC)
An increasing number of landed immigrants are struggling to complete the final stage before becoming citizens: passing the citizenship exam. The failure rates have increased significantly since Citizenship and Immigration Canada introduced new and harder tests last year on March 28 and July 23.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHnZzK4zpwpTxS5FW6WFy-fOccugw&url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/06/14/pol-citizenship-immigration-test-failure-rate.html?cmp%3Drss

Thorold citizenship ceremony welcomes 48 new Canadians (Jeff Blay, Thorold Niagara News)
Forty-eight people officially became Canadian citizens in a special ceremony held in Thorold last week. The city of Thorold and the Thorold Community Activities Group partnered to host a citizenship ceremony Friday at the Nick Basciano Centre on behalf of the Niagara Falls Citizenship and Immigration Canada office. Judge T.R. (Ted) Salci led the ceremony, where 48 candidates took an oath of citizenship and were officially sworn in as Canadian citizens. In taking the oath, the new citizens accepted their rights and responsibilities as Canadians and were each presented with a citizenship certificate.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2013/06/17/thorold-citizenship-ceremony-welcomes-48-new-canadians

World Sikh Organization of Canada works with fraser Health to prepare Sikh Faith resources (Hainder Singh, sikhsiyasat.net)
In a press statement by the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has announced, in partnership with the Fraser Health Authority, the launch of a compendium on the Sikh faith and best practices for Sikh patients. The announcement came during WSOs annual inter-community dinner in Surrey. The FHA serves an area that is home to the largest population of Sikhs in Canada.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/2013/06/17/world-sikh-organization-of-canada-works-with-fraser-health-to-prepare-sikh-faith-resources/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAsL_-jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=SjqyIVKASCI&usg=AFQjCNGp-mM-2cYyzZU8oS6pxPkrGiZjXg

World Day of Migrants Homily 2013 (B.C. Catholic)
This is a homily given by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Jan. 20. What a great pleasure it is for me to welcome all of you to your cathedral church, a church which belongs to everyone in the archdiocese, rich and poor, young and old, long-time Vancouverite, or recently arrived immigrant or refugee. Here, under the protective mantle of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, who showed such tenderness to the young couple of Cana when they ran out of wine at their wedding reception, you are welcomed to her embrace. This is Mary’s gift to us as we come together to celebrate Holy Mass on this World Day of Migrants and Refugees: she remains present to us as her people, as our mother and our advocate.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEkDFEP71piLOzVE1yo1AfDxEzJsQ&url=http://bcc.rcav.org/special/2834-world-day-of-migrants-homily-2013

Canada tops list for immigrant businesses (Chris Riddell, Star Phoenix)
Canada is the country of choice for many immigrants searching for a better life. It also happens to be a popular destination for would-be entrepreneurs. The World Bank labelled Canada the best place in the G-7 to start a business, and thanks to an open immigration policy, a comparatively easy one to enter. Add a strong banking system, growing job market, and high standard of living, and it’s no wonder it tops immigrant entrepreneurs’ list. For many, the government’s Start-Up Visa launched in April is making Canada an even more appealing place.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFJgNMg3g7NybkAf3VKAwCQZWMTCg&url=http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Canada%2Btops%2Blist%2Bimmigrant%2Bbusinesses/8539911/story.html

Quebec’s nationalism run amok (Allan Levine, Winnipeg Free Press)
Say what you want about Pierre Trudeau, but he understood the pettiness and dangers of nationalism. In a provocative essay, written in September 1992 during the contentious debates around the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords, he suggested that entrenching Quebec’s demand to be recognized as a “distinct society” was “frankly racist.” Because as Trudeau argued, “there is a very good chance then that Quebecers of Irish, Jewish or Vietnamese origin — even if they speak perfect French — would have trouble claiming to belong to this ‘distinct society.’ ” Or, he might have added , young Sikhs who want to play soccer wearing their turbans.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF-Kvq0tZ8LrGznFpbL1gMdas4pGA&url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/quebecs-nationalism–run-amok-211939211.html

Video: ‘Pivot To Canada’ Campaign (HuffPost Live)
Canada’s pivot campaign is underway to attract more entrepreneurs and startups. If the U.S. doesn’t reform its immigration policy and soon, we may lose a great deal of skilled immigrants to Canada and other more inclusive countries.
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/will-skilled-immigrants-bypass-us-for-canada/51b7ca7878c90a03f2000730

Job Posting: CERIS Director
The CERIS Director will be responsible for the leadership and management of CERIS in fulfilling its goals and mandate, according to the research priorities and strategic direction set by the Management Board (the Board). The CERIS Director will lead all CERIS operations and activities, including: the development of networks of researchers, community-based organizations, government and other partners, the promotion of research collaboration among the Centres key stakeholders, knowledge exchange and mobilization activities, and staff and financial resources management.
http://www.ceris.metropolis.net/?p=6610

In China, students prep for Canada with a B.C. education (Tamsyn Burgmann, Globe and Mail)
Its a muggy afternoon in June and high school students wearing T-shirts stamped with the image of Terry Fox stride past towering high-rises and scooters with honking horns in this small Chinese city thats been coated in haze from the local fiberglass factory for several days. For most, its their first time making the fundraising trek thats annual tradition half-a-world away in a country where they yearn to attend university. Teachers at Grand Canadian Academy, a private school certified to award British Columbia diplomas, hope the early Terry Fox run will ease cultural integration for students who have perhaps only visited Canada once before.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHp_aNw9t867MmlV4is6v3Zy-UFSQ&url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/in-china-students-prep-for-canada-with-a-bc-education/article12588497/?cmpid%3Drss1

Diversity and equity in action: building faculty capacity through equity pedagogy (CAMH Education)
When the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto was looking for help building capacity on diversity and equity issues almost three years ago, they found expertise very close to home. CAMH made diversity and equity an organizational priority many years ago. Among the changes made at CAMH, mandatory training for staff and managers was been developed and has been constantly refined in an effort to establish practical applications for diversity and equity theory in every aspect of our work.
http://www.camheducation.ca/2012/10/04/diversityforfifsw/

Deaf Russian painter refused permanent residency in Canada because he failed verbal language tests (Adrian Humphreys, National Post)
A Russian painter, deaf since birth, has been refused permanent residency in Canada because he did not meet the language proficiency requirement when tested verbally, despite getting near perfect scores when tested using sign language. The decision to reject Dmitri Smirnovs bid to remain in Canada because he did not meet listening and speaking language requirements angered deaf advocates who blasted it as discriminatory and called for American Sign Language to be seen as equivalent to English and French for immigration purposes. Im shocked that the criteria of verbalizing and speaking is necessary to come to Canada, said Chris Kenopic, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Hearing Society. Rejecting people from our country because of that is very unfortunate.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/06/17/deaf-russian-painter-refused-permanent-residency-in-canada-because-he-failed-verbal-language-tests/

REFUGEES

Documentary: Your Money Or Your Life (iChannel)
Canadians take pride in this countrys system of universal health care. But is it really as universal as we assume? If youre a new immigrant or a refugee, the answer is no. Thats the troubling message of Your Money Or Your Life, a new ichannel documentary that investigates the suffering newcomers to Canada face when they try to access the countrys health system. Until now, new immigrants and refugees have typically been fearful to speak out publicly on this issue. But their voices will be heard clearly with the ichannel documentary Your Money Or Your Life.
http://ymoyl.ichannel.ca/

Refugee Health Care (CBC Metro Morning)
Matt Galloway spoke with Dr. Vincent Lam. He is an emergency room doctor at Toronto East General Hospital.
http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/episodes/2013/06/17/refugee-health-care/

“Building Bridges” (CBC Metro Morning)
Matt Galloway spoke about the relationships between police and people in north Etobicoke, with Idil Burale. She is a community advocate who works with the police service’s Somali Liaison Unit.
http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/episodes/2013/06/17/building-bridges/

Canada: Insist that refugees have a right to basic healthcare (Amnesty International Canada)
If you have a bad ear ache, chances are you will go to the doctor for medicine to treat an infection. But what if you are a newly arrived refugee in Canada? Will a doctor see you and, if you need them, send you for more tests? In June 2012, the government of Canada changed the way it provides basic healthcare to refugees in Canada under a program called the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). Some refugees who have come to Canada in search of safety are now being denied basic, emergency, and life-saving medical care.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.amnesty.ca/get-involved/take-action-now/canada-insist-that-refugees-have-a-right-to-basic-healthcare&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAEoATAAOABAuMb-jQVIAlgAYgVlbi1DQQ&cd=aoCKSss_Y88&usg=AFQjCNHQ6nOCErfFrPNarydWRnmFRpaAIQ

Toronto rally urges Ottawa to reverse refugee health cuts (Nicholas Keung, Toronto Star)
On the one-year anniversary of Ottawas refugee health cuts, protesters urged Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to stop his bogus propaganda against asylum seekers. Mr. Kenney, come clean with the Canadian people. This policy is flawed. Its mean-spirited. Its cruel and you know it. Stop your attempt to score political points on the backs of some of the most vulnerable amongst us. Stop your bogus propaganda, Dr. Meb Rashid of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care told 350 protesters at a Toronto rally Monday.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/06/17/toronto_rally_urges_ottawa_to_reverse_refugee_health_cuts.html

Refugee advocates say health cuts having ‘brutal’ effects (Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC)
Health care providers and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney are accusing each other of misleading Canadians about cuts to refugee health care in an ongoing battle that began almost one year ago. Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and representatives of other medical groups held a rally and press conference on Parliament Hill on Monday and called on Kenney to reverse the cuts that were first announced June 30, 2012. The events were part of a national day of action with other rallies organized in more than a dozen cities.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHuefnDNAtdK6bCwMq9Jot9b3b-9g&url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/story/2013/06/17/pol-refugee-health-cuts.html

Health workers march against refugee health care cuts (CBC)
Around 80 to 90 health care workers and concerned citizens met today in Kiwanis Park and marched across the University Bridge to the Royal University Hospital to protest refugee health care cuts. They joined health care professionals in 19 cities from over 20 health care organizations across Canada that held demonstrations today. Mahli Brindamour is a physician working for the Immigrant and Refugee Health Committee at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFuyvbc3_SLwL6LdnkfeJ3dxEFVQw&url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/story/2013/06/17/saskatoon-refugee-health-care-march-june-2013.html

Refugee health cuts protested in Canada (Maureen Mugerwa, CKOM)
The clouds were not going to stop healthcare workers protesting for refugee health in Saskatoon Monday. One of the organizers, Dr. Mahli Brindamour from the University of Saskatchewan, wants the government to to reverse the cuts to refugee health care. “These cuts have had dramatic consequences on our patients and on our health care system, but also on Canada’s international reputation, so we want Canada to reverse the cuts,” said Brindamour. In April 2012, the federal government made changes to the Interim Federal Health program (IFH) which is the health insurance program for refugees. The changes were effective June 30, 2012. According to the doctors for refugee care website, the IFH, before the cuts, gave refugees access to medical care and some other services.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://ckom.com/story/refugee-health-cuts-problem-canada/115434&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAnr__jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=GXZTuhZuNFc&usg=AFQjCNGigHiO27KJWtXdC3phylUBSyJjoA

Doctors: Refugee health funding cuts endanger public (Chroncile Herald)
Public health and the public purse are in danger because of cuts to refugee health funding, doctors and refugee advocates said Monday as they protested the cuts across the country. The federal government overhauled the health care coverage it provides to refugees and refugee claimants one year ago as part of a cost-cutting measure it also said was designed to make Canada less vulnerable to fake asylum claims by curbing access to free health care. But the changes have thrown the health care support system for refugees into chaos, creating uncertainty for health care providers and refugees alike, ad-vocates said.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHWUnoRBbX42_sKHHK4GBMKwvbI_g&url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1136144-doctors-refugee-health-funding-cuts-endanger-public

Hundreds Gather To Demand Equal Health Care for Refugees (Desmond Cole, Torontoist)
Approximately 300 protestors gathered near the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration office at St. Clair and Yonge Monday afternoon, to demand an end to recent refugee health care cutspart of a national day of action that saw nearly 20 rallies take place across the country. Scores of doctors, nurses, and health care practitioners attended in medical scrubs and lab coats. Refugee advocacy groups and other concerned residents joined them to decry the anniversary of government cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program, a vital resource for resettled refugees and refugee claimants living in Canada. The IFH program provided basic, temporary health care services for refugees, including maternal care and coverage for medication. In explaining the rationale for the program, the Ontario Medical Association has warned that if a patient has a complex condition and doesnt receive care because they dont have health coverage or cant afford it, treatment will cost the province more in the long run.
http://torontoist.com/2013/06/hundreds-gather-to-demand-equal-health-care-for-refugees/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hundreds-gather-to-demand-equal-health-care-for-refugees

A spoken word artist’s opposition to refugee health cuts: An interview with Ikenna Onyegbula (Samir Shaheen-Hussain, rabble)
On June 30, 2012, yet another draconian measure was implemented by the Conservative government: Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney went ahead with his latest (at the time) salvo against migrants by drastically cutting refugee claimants access to healthcare services. Some coverage — for medications, basic dental and vision care, rehabilitation services — is no longer available to any refugee claimant in Canada. Meanwhile, the IFHP cuts also introduced the concept of varying degrees of (limited) healthcare services being offered to refugee claimants based on what category they are from: for example, refugee claimants from a “Designated Country of Origin” (ie., designated by the Immigration Minister based on specious criteria) can effectively only access healthcare if they have a communicable infectious disease or if they are homicidal!
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFZeDOOS_FzoloWlOvQLJzE-7xjpA&url=http://rabble.ca/news/2013/06/spoken-word-artists-opposition-to-refugee-health-cuts-interview-ikenna-onyegbula

Cuts to refugee health care make us all losers (Annalee Coakley, Calgary Herald)
It’s been a year since the federal government cut health care for refugees – those who are among the most vulnerable members of our society, having fled persecution and often horrific violence in search of safety. Even though Canada has made a commitment to assist them, we have been denying many refugees access to basic health care since July 2012, when the federal government made significant cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program, which provides health coverage to refugees residing in Canada.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF9efFR6Rq7xzsz4lFpH8alazvsaA&url=http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/Coakley%2BCuts%2Brefugee%2Bhealth%2Bcare%2Bmake%2Blosers/8534582/story.html

Doctors: Refugee health funding cuts endanger public (Chronicle Herald)
Public health and the public purse are in danger because of cuts to refugee health funding, doctors and refugee advocates said Monday as they protested the cuts across the country. The federal government overhauled the health care coverage it provides to refugees and refugee claimants one year ago as part of a cost-cutting measure it also said was designed to make Canada less vulnerable to fake asylum claims by curbing access to free health care. But the changes have thrown the health care support system for refugees into chaos, creating uncertainty for health care providers and refugees alike, ad-vocates said.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1136144-doctors-refugee-health-funding-cuts-endanger-public&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAyb7-jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=gCeOGAoKC88&usg=AFQjCNFc8NgkMadQqr_sZut8uH0SLUzJrQ

Calgary doctors call for reversal of refugee health cuts (CBC)
Doctors in Calgary joined their counterparts across Canada today in protesting cuts to health care for refugees. Calgary doctors who treat refugees say the cuts have made refugees wary of seeking medical care. Pediatrician Neil Cooper told the story of a five-year-old girl with a broken nose. She and her parents, who are refugee claimants from Mexico, left the hospital without treatment because they could not afford the $300 fee. “As physicians we put patients first. We wish the federal government would as well,” said Cooper.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFcFPEqUbIAingsUUisWyPB5jpmUQ&url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/06/17/calgary-doctors-refugee-health.html

St. Joes paying for care of refugees cut off by Ottawa (Metro News)
Hamiltons hospitals are starting to bear the costs of federal cuts to refugee care. I see the cuts beginning to bite, said Dr. David Higgins, president of St. Josephs Healthcare Hamilton. Were going to see more of these patients present to hospital. St. Josephs is caring for at least one refugee a week with no health coverage after the federal government made significant cuts a year ago, affecting, in particular, those from countries deemed to be safe by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGcEVUd796j8wAuY1-1XRncbt1KPQ&url=http://metronews.ca/news/hamilton/709314/st-joes-paying-for-care-of-refugees-cut-off-by-ottawa/

Doctors decry refugee health care cuts (Stephanie Levitz, Metro News)
Public health and the public purse are in danger because of cuts to refugee health funding, doctors and refugee advocates said Monday as they protested the cuts across the country. The federal government overhauled the health care coverage it provides to refugees and refugee claimants one year ago as part of a cost-cutting measure it also said was designed to make Canada less vulnerable to fake asylum claims by curbing access to free health care. But the changes have thrown the health care support system for refugees into chaos, creating uncertainty for health care providers and refugees alike, advocates said.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEPKm0xCypDe0cmprvRpeErpLBUAg&url=http://metronews.ca/news/canada/709355/doctors-decry-refugee-health-care-cuts/

$1 student levy uplifts refugees (The Record)
As one of three girls and 86 boys in a Grade 7 class in a refugee camp in Kenya, Saida Sheikh could never have imagined she would graduate from a university. Last week, the 24-year-old Somali woman did just that. She received a degree in international development and a minor in peace and conflict studies from the University of Waterloo. “I’m 100 per cent happy that I’m here. I get to change my life for the better and help myself,” Sheikh said. “This happened for a reason. It’s God’s plan for me to be here,” she added.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF2-agLXLyk7EIGaewsymApYf4sPw&url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3843719–1-student-levy-uplifts-refugees/

Doctors plead for cuts to refugee health coverage to be reversed (Gloria Galloway, Globe and Mail)
Doctors and other health-care providers are pleading with the federal Conservative government to reverse the cuts it made to refugee health coverage, saying vulnerable people are being denied care, taxpayers are paying more money, and other Canadians are being put at risk. Health workers staged protests in 19 cities on Monday to highlight the problems they say were created a year ago when the government eliminated all medical coverage for some asylum seekers and cut the supplemental benefits including payments for prescription drugs, eye care and vision care of many others. What we are seeing in the last year as a result of these cuts is that refugees, in effect, are not able to access primary care, said Dr. Doug Gruner, a member of the group Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEAq9dlhWoajDgq_n4mZxyw5O2WzA&url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/doctors-plead-for-cuts-to-refugee-health-coverage-to-be-reversed/article12626378/

Health workers march against refugee health care cuts (CBC)
Around 80 to 90 health care workers and concerned citizens met today in Kiwanis Park and marched across the University Bridge to the Royal University Hospital to protest refugee health care cuts. They joined health care professionals in 19 cities from over 20 health care organizations across Canada that held demonstrations today. Mahli Brindamour is a physician working for the Immigrant and Refugee Health Committee at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2013/06/17/saskatoon-refugee-health-care-march-june-2013.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAyb7-jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=gCeOGAoKC88&usg=AFQjCNEaKPfgHfd8kD7p8lgEUGmQIVqZSw

School program helps young refugees get up to speed (Liz Monteiro, The Record)
Teacher Carolyn Burjoski brings out two stalks of sugar cane. “This is from my country,” belts out 10-year-old Daniel Boukel, who was born in Congo but fled with his family from war to Uganda before settling in Kitchener. Another student, who came to Canada from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, tells his classmates that sugar cane grows in his country and he’s eaten it many times because it’s a sweet snack. Mission accomplished. The connection has been made. Burjoski can now explain that Canada doesn’t grow sugar cane but imports this commodity something these refugee children know all about.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHTBLF75F8o5okNxG2HM2a50ZWvtA&url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3842364-school-program-helps-young-refugees-get-up-to-speed/

Identifying with refugees’ plight (Lethbridge Herald)
What would we do if we had to start over? The story on page A4 of today’s Herald asks a very good question: “If you had only one minute to flee, what would you take?” The question is being posed by Lethbridge Family Services – Immigrant Services in connection with World Refugee Day, which will be observed Thursday. It’s intended to encourage Canadians to try to put themselves into the shoes of refugees for a moment by imagining what they would do in a situation where they had to suddenly vacate their homeland.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHyhaTTbjWHw4wpXZs4oqDsIrO2zQ&url=http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/opinions/identifying-with-refugees-plight-61813.html

O Superman (Leonard Doyle, IOM)
TO everything there is a season. Just as immigration reform is back on the agenda in the US, along comes the new Superman blockbuster Man of Steel, where the underlying theme is that of the immigrant experience. Not to put too fine a point on it, this movie frames the experience of migration in the most positive way possible and serves to remind how much migrants contribute, both to their adopted societies and countries of origin.
http://weblog.iom.int/blog/2013/06/17/o-superman

Canadian Red Cross highlights family reunification program during World Refugee Week (WSJ)
The Canadian Red Cross plays an integral role in the safety, protection and well-being of refugees around the world who have been affected by situations of conflict or disaster. One of the most important services the Society provides is Restoring Family Links, a program that helps reconnect families separated by conflict and disaster. “The Restoring Family Links program alleviates suffering and provides comfort to refugees around the world every year,” says John L. Byrne, Director General, Disaster Management at the Canadian Red Cross. “The confusion that accompanies humanitarian crises often separates families when they need each other the most. Long before most survivors seek out the necessities of life – food, water or shelter – they desperately try to find their family.”
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130617-902321.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA_5_8jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=sQ0WcJ6Fx-k&usg=AFQjCNGOjTx4PNHYJJLgJ7TaXnYiNczmEA

POVERTY / HEALTH / HOMELESSNESS / SOCIAL INCLUSION / POLICY

Living Wage Canada
A Canadian Living Wage Framework: A National Methodology for Calculating a Living Wage in your Community. Resources for calculating the living wage, becoming a living wage employer, and participating in a national living wage campaign in Canada.
https://www.facebook.com/LivingWageCanada

The Training Wheels Are Off: A Closer Look at the Canada Job Grant (Michael Mendelson and Noah Zon, Caledon)
In its March 2013 Budget, the federal government proposed a new skills training program called the Canada Job Grant. The program would provide up to $15,000 per trainee for employer-sponsored training, of which the federal government would pay one third if each of the sponsoring employer and the province or territory contribute matching funds. This report assesses the Canada Job Grant proposal and finds it to be deeply flawed. The proposal imposes an additional cost of up to $600 million plus administrative expenses on the provinces and territories while intervening with a unilateral federal initiative in a field recognized as within provincial jurisdiction. But aside from cost and jurisdictional issues, the Canada Job Grant is likely to deliver inferior results at higher costs, while remaining out of reach to many of the unemployed and underemployed Canadians it is intended to serve.
http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/Detail/?ID=1013

Canadian Social Research Newsletter : June 16, 2013 (Canadian Social Research Links)
Canadian content
1. Canada at a Glance, 2013 (Statistics Canada) – April 30
2. Report of Findings from Angels of the Road : 16 Months of Living with Canadas Homeless (Bonny L. Cameron) – June 2013
3. BC Poverty Reduction Coalition Newsletter : June 2013
4. Abbotsford (B.C) city staff caught spreading manure over a homeless camp (12 links, mostly to Abbotsford Today articles) – June 5
5. Canada Without Poverty News – April/May 2013
6. Who Spends More: Left or Right? (Montreal Economic Institute) – March 27, 2013
7. Network Tools : PDF Mergy and Google Scholar (Found in The Scout Report)
8. What’s New in The Daily [Statistics
Canada]:
— Saving and Wealth: The Adequacy of Household Saving in Canada – June 14
— Youth court statistics, 2011/2012 – June 13
— Adult criminal court statistics in Canada, 2011/2012 – June 13
— Employer pension plans (trusteed pension funds), fourth quarter 2012 – June 12
— Study: Unemployment dynamics among Canada’s youth, 1977 to 2012 – June 11
9. What’s new from the Childcare Resource and Research Unit
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/personal/news160613.htm

EI and Ontario Workers (CCPA)
Want to know more about how changes to Employment Insurance (EI) is affecting Ontarians? Join us for a special EI teach in at Ryerson University in downtown Toronto on June 20, 2013. This free public event includes the following roster of speakers: CCPA Senior Economist Armine Yalnizyan among others at the Ryerson Student Centre, Tecumseh Auditorium, 55 Gould Street, Toronto. Co-sponsored by: the CCPA-Ontario, Good Jobs for All, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice & Democracy, CFS Ontario, and Ryerson Students’ Union.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ccpa-updates/~3/VMPvaoEoHCw/ei-and-ontario-workers

Latest Media and Policy News: 17 June 2013 (ISAC)
A national roundup of policy and poverty news.
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf90&id=26fd9fc710&e=17b62befd7

EMPLOYMENT & WORKERS

SMTCS Diverse Workforce Builds an Award Winning Company (hireimmigrants)
SMTC, a global Electronics Manufacturing Services provider, requires a workforce with strong engineering expertise and a specific skill set. It is not always easy to find, but for SMTC skilled immigrants are part of the answer. With over 95% of employees on the production floor in Markham, Ontario and 50% of the head office immigrants, SMTC values a diverse workforce.
http://www.hireimmigrants.ca/resources-tools/videos/4006-2/

Migrant Dreams documentary delves into temporary foreign worker issue (June Chua, rabble)
Award-winning filmmaker Min Sook Lee’s Migrant Dreams documentary project has a deep connection to her past — her Korean parents emigrated to Canada in the early 1970s and her father did menial labour, including picking worms, in order to provide for the family. “I appreciate the struggle,” says Lee. “There was a lot of anxiety because we were poor and new to the country, so I’m very sensitized to issues of migration, acculturation and diaspora.” Fast-track to 2013 and Lee (whose 2003 NFB film about Mexican farm labourers in Ontario, El Contrato, nabbed a Gemini nomination) is chronicling the hardships of Thai women who pick worms as part of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Her film also includes workers from other countries. The Toronto-based director is well aware of the differences between her father’s position and those of migrant workers today.
http://rabble.ca/columnists/2013/06/migrant-dreams-documentary-delves-temporary-foreign-worker-issue#.Ub89fgj1BIs.twitter

Canada Job Grant deeply flawed, report says (Dana Flavelle, Brampton Guardian)
Ottawa’s proposed Canada Job Grant is deeply flawed and should be abandoned, says a joint report to be released today by two policy think-tanks. Despite the upbeat TV ads Ottawa is running in support of its new $15,000-a-person training program, it’s far from clear the program will deliver the promised results or even get off the ground, says the report co-authored by the University of Toronto’s Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation and the Caledon Institute for Social Policy.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFpMWAqM3QEJpvGlEL5QpbrR5XxuA&url=http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/3842834-canada-job-grant-deeply-flawed-report-says/

Statement by Minister on Protecting the Province’s Vulnerable Worker Programs (Gov of Ontario News)
Today, Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, released the following statement on potential changes to employment and training services in Ontario: “The Ontario government currently provides the training and support needed to build and strengthen the skills of vulnerable workers, and to help them find and keep work. Last year, Ontario invested $194 million in federal funding to help about 250,000 vulnerable workers, including Aboriginal people, youth, immigrants, those who have been out of work long-term, people with disabilities and social assistance recipients.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGsJ5ZLBxN9FIx5i_Qky_cVkKkkJQ&url=http://news.ontario.ca/tcu/en/2013/06/statement-by-minister-on-protecting-the-provinces-vulnerable-worker-programs.html

Ontario Government Objects to New Federal Job Grant Program (CICS News)
The provincial government of Ontario says the diversion of federal funds from existing employment and training programs to the new Canada Job Grant program would threaten vulnerable workers including youth and new immigrants. The Canada Job Grant program will spend $300 million in federal funds per year and will require matching funds from provinces and territories.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHJnBqN4qLKWwtbFAh7wViqhHKxEg&url=http://www.cicsnews.com/?p%3D3973

Businessman accused of exploiting foreign employees (CBC)
A 56-year-old Dartmouth businessman faces a slew of immigration fraud charges for allegedly exploiting foreign workers after an investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency. The agency alleges Hector Mantolino, owner of Mantolino Property Services Ltd., created false businesses and fraudulently submitted documents to Service Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/06/17/ns-foreign-workers-exploiting-cbsa.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAz6P-jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=JZ88-vwzLbU&usg=AFQjCNGPToTtD2RmrY4HdZz3-FoLB_UYxw

Dartmouth businessman accused of counselling Filipino workers to lie about wages (CTV)
New details are emerging in the case of a Dartmouth businessman charged with 56 counts under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Its a case that one Halifax immigration lawyer describes as modern-day slavery. Hector Mantolino is accused of counselling 28 Filipino workers to lie about their wages if they wanted to stay in Canada.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/dartmouth-businessman-accused-of-counselling-filipino-workers-to-lie-about-wages-1.1329665&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABAxdX-jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=TtqZjKWu-pY&usg=AFQjCNHDBspWC_rqZ5bhaIZm517mh9AFtA

Dartmouth business owner charged with 56 counts of immigration fraud (Ruth Davenport, Metro News)
The owner of a Dartmouth business that was raided in early April, putting the status of several foreign workers in doubt, is facing dozens of counts of immigration fraud. The Canadian Border Services Agency announced Monday that Hector Mantolino, owner of Mantolino Property Services Ltd., has been charged with 56 counts under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The CBSA alleges Mantolino was making false statements to government agencies about the wages he paid foreign workers, and of telling the workers to lie about the wages if they wanted to stay in Canada.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/709132/dartmouth-business-owner-charged-with-56-counts-of-immigration-fraud/&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABAxdX-jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=TtqZjKWu-pY&usg=AFQjCNEKb6AMvR-1aIuOeAmKJtq9Guc1cA

SOCIAL INNOVATION / NONPROFITS

The Timebank @CSI (CSI)
The Timebank is a complementary currency that allows members of the CSI community to make exchanges of services without the need for money. Need someone to help you garden this weekend? How about some bookkeeping advice or a massage? The Timebank has a database of services offered by CSI members and all available for CSI Hours, instead of money.
http://socialinnovation.ca/timebank

The Talent Agenda: Why funders should support nonprofit networking (Talent Philanthropy Project)
While we often talk about how networking is key to career development and job seeking, we tend to gloss over the importance of networking in the development of a strong social sector. Networks are central to cultivating a talented, healthy, and diverse workforce for nonprofit organizations and social movements. But how do we create and support these networks? This post makes the case for why and how funders should support you and your organization in developing high-impact networks.
http://www.talentphilanthropy.org/2013/02/the-talent-agenda-why-funders-should-support-nonprofit-networking/#.Ub8FOD-UaxA.twitter

IMMIGRATION AND DIVERSITY

Are you a city-builder? (DiverseCity Toronto)
We are calling for applications for the 2013 DiverseCity Fellows program. Apply now if you want to work with others on a city-building project, connect with a wide range of civic leaders, and strengthen your teamwork and leadership skills. Want to learn more about CivicActions DiverseCity Fellows program and Emerging Leaders Network? Join us for an orientation webinar on Thursday, July 27 from 12:00-1:00PM. Register online. Fellows bring their own perspectives to the program, and each takes away something different! Hear from some of the 2012 DiverseCity Fellows about their experience.
http://diversecitytoronto.ca/blog/are-you-a-city-builder/

Permanent Resident Voting Isnt Backwards, Its Back To The Future (Desmond Cole)
Dissenters of the idea of permanent residents voting in our local elections, an idea Toronto city council endorsed this week, love to bang the drum of the status quo. Many reference, in the most superficial terms, the traditions enshrined within our British parliamentary system. They take offense at the mere suggestion of reform, as if the human and financial costs of our ever-lengthening citizenship process are mere inconveniences we must all bear. But why dont critics like the Globe and Mails Marcus Gee, who unfortunately called the request to enfranchise permanent residents a thoroughly backwards idea, ever mention that permanent residents have historically always been allowed to vote locally? This back-to-the-future proposal is a well-documented fact, and a seemingly inconvenient one for those who expect todays newcomers to pipe down and get back in line.
http://thatsatruestory.wordpress.com/2013/06/13/permanent-resident-voting-isnt-backwards-its-back-to-the-future/

OCASI 35th Anniversary (OCASI)
For the past 35 years, OCASI has been actively involved in the promotion of the rights of immigrants and refugees in Canada. As things continue to change rapidly in our sector and with the Council, we see it necessary to take time to reflect upon and celebrate the continued efforts of our members and allies, as well as an opportunity to look into the future.
http://ocasi.org/ocasi-35th-anniversary

Globe and Mail Series on the growth of the Ontario city of Brampton – (Dakshana Bascaramurty)

Articles in this series:

A window to Canada’s future: how Brampton became a city to watch
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/welcome-to-brampton-canadas-future/article12561104/?cmpid=rss1

How Brampton demonstrates the new vision of Canada
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/how-brampton-demonstrates-the-new-vision-of-canada/article12581170/?cmpid=rss1

Diversity services in Brampton: A new frontier in treating patients
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bramptons-diversity-services-a-new-frontier-in-treating-patients/article12594636/?service=mobile

Tips on avoiding a clash between religious practice and medical
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/tips-on-avoiding-a-clash-between-religious-practice-and-medical-care/article12594618/?cmpid=rss1

Diversity services in Brampton: A new frontier in treating patients
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bramptons-diversity-services-a-new-frontier-in-treating-patients/article12594636/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA65z6jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=74QgzJkzZR8&usg=AFQjCNFqynp27UJiIsJtQz0cNdZqjOnzAw

Video: How Brampton provides a glimpse into Canada’s future
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/news-video/how-brampton-provides-a-glimpse-into-canadas-future/article12553472/

Video: What one Brampton hospital is doing to accommodate its diverse population
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/news-video/20130611theglobeandmailbramptonhospitalmp4/article12528797/?cmpid=rss1

Meet Harpal Singh, an Indian immigrant in Brampton
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/in-pictures-meet-harpal-singh-an-indian-immigrant-in-brampton/article12562884/?cmpid=rss1

Sikh gurdwara reflects a radical openness to everyone
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/in-pictures-sikh-gurdwara-reflects-a-radical-openness-to-everyone/article12554989/?cmpid=rss1

Five Thoughts about the Quebec Turban Kerfuffle (Navneet Alang, Ethnic Aisle)
Though a sensitive cultural issue in Quebec is a bit outside the purview of our Toronto-focused blog, given how it articulates so much about Canadian multiculturalism in general, I couldnt stay away from the topic. So here, in no particular order, are five points on the matter.
http://ethnicaisle.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/five-thoughts-about-the-quebec-turban-kerfuffle/

Behind the mask of perfection hides the flawed truth (Mohammed Al-Sharhan, Arab News)
How many times have you heard people repeating this sentence before, you would not see this in the western world, or If he was a westerner you wouldnt have seen him act this way. But why do Human Rights defenders in the Arab world constantly base their criticism on comparing between two different societies? Why are they deliberately trying to spread the view that their own society is a less civilized society that is a million miles away from the western perfect society? Although Canada is a multicultural society, the statistics of census of population have shown that the total number of interracial couples in 2006 was only four percent from the total number of 7,482,800 couples there. Also, the Canadian security intelligence investigations had conducted a poll in 2009 that have shown that racial crimes are up by 42 percent than it was in 2008, while the most common crimes were racial crimes with more than a half of the total number of hate crimes; religion, and sexual orientation had their fair share of the total hate crimes as well, with numbers of 29 percent that was reported to be crimes because of religion and 13 percent were crimes because of sexual orientation.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.arabnews.com/news/455230&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAAoATAAOABAqZD5jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=Qcs8-7-4iCU&usg=AFQjCNGb5wP5u3BEZ9ehiIpmFX_wic_74Q

A reason not to become a citizen (Readers’ Letters, Toronto Star)
I have been living in Toronto for 10 years and I decided a long time ago not to become a Canadian citizen. Why? My reason is quite simple. My home country does not allow for dual citizenship. If it did I would run to the immigration office and become a true Canadian. The Canadian Immigration Act is very liberal compared to most other countries. I come from Norway and it does not accept dual status. I could give up my Norwegian citizenship, but after serious consideration I have chosen not to do so. The only reason being that my children can have dual status as long as I stay Norwegian. If I give up my Norwegian status, my kids would lose their status as well. I want them to have the right to make their own choice when they are old enough.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2013/06/16/a_reason_not_to_become_a_citizen.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAx4D6jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=dcbR8G4W3-k&usg=AFQjCNGzptCbV_h3oGyf4nbe8ZoZmj86aA

Who is a good citizen? A good MP? Deserving of voting rights? This week in #cdnpoli identity crises (Leora Smith, Samara Canada)
Electoral reform alert! Toronto city council voted to support ranked ballots in municipal elections (read more here) and to let permanent residents vote. Now its up to the province to give them the O.K.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samaracanada/yoXW/~3/VurnY_inWEE/who-is-a-good-citizen-a-good-mp-deserving-of-voting-rights-this-week-in-cdnpoli-identity-crises

Survey shows immigration flows rising in OECD countries (Workpermit.com)
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has released its International Migration Outlook for 2013. The report shows that the level of immigration in OECD countries is rising but remains lower than it was before the economic crisis of 2007. Permanent immigration to OECD countries rose by 2% in 2011 and by a further 2% in 2012. It also finds that the number of international students continues to rise. There were over 2.6m such students in 2010. By far the greatest number of migrants, 1.06m, settled in the US in 2012. Next came Russia (413,000), Spain (349,000), the UK (321,000) and Italy (312,000). The US also has the highest total immigrant population. 40.38m people who reside in the US were born elsewhere. This compares with 7.43m in the UK, 6.93 in Canada and 6.03m in Australia.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.workpermit.com/news/2013-06-15/survey-shows-immigration-flows-rising-in-oecd-countries&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAvffxjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=cEE_QsYFdJs&usg=AFQjCNEowsRBd6vPQD4iOcmj-0YeJqMyAg

CIC announces proposed changes to ‘dependent children’ definition – International Law Office (International Law Office)
On May 10 2013 Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced proposed regulatory amendments that will narrow the definition of ‘dependent child’ by reducing the age limit to children under the age of 19 and removing the exception for full-time students. Once implemented, this proposed change will adversely affect the dependent children of all prospective immigrants to Canada.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFDWE90eHIyJ4S3xWD1MLIr6gaxdg&url=http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g%3D7e0f499a-3184-4b74-bafc-c251279fbab5

Proposed reduction in age of dependent children (CCR)
The proposed changes will likely be published in the Canada Gazette on May 18, with a 30 day period for comments. This means that groups concerned about these proposals will need to give their comments to government by Monday June 17. For an update on where to send comments, check back here: http://ccrweb.ca/en/reduction-age-dependent-children
http://ccrweb.ca/en/reduction-age-dependent-children

Are Canadians ready to be represented by their elected visible minorities? (South Asian Focus)
Even as the outcry against the decision in Quebec to ban kids from wearing patkas or keskis while playing on the soccer field rises to a crescendo, the issue of race continues to be a contentious one across Canada. The words themselves may variously address such terms as religious accommodation or human rights or diversity equity or visible minorities and these terms no doubt speak to different aspects of a central theme but make no mistake about it, for its the issue of race that stitches together all these words.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.southasianfocus.ca/opinion/are-canadians-ready-to-be-represented-by-their-elected-visible-minorities/%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dare-canadians-ready-to-be-represented-by-their-elected-visible-minorities&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAEoATAAOABAwfDzjQVIAlgAYgVlbi1VUw&cd=JZH0m3fGOXI&usg=AFQjCNHW-rNwca9aOm3hnyDEqvllWEukRg

Revised Canadian citizen test results in more failures (Agora Cosmopolitan)
More people than ever are failing the citizenship exam since Immigration Canada increased the difficulty level of the test last year in March of 2012. The CBC reports that there is a correlation between education level and how much of a decrease can be seen in their pass rate. For example, those with a bachelors degree saw an 8 % decrease in their pass rate, whereas those with a high school education dropped as much as 15 %. It should also be noted that those with a bachelors education and above fall into the immigration category called economic class and are seen as most likely to stimulate the Canadian economy. Those who fall into a family class may have lower levels of education and are interested in coming to Canada to reconnect with family members who already live there.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/news/headline_news/2013/06/16/6220.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA3_70jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=kklR23KL3to&usg=AFQjCNHYr34OO9mXBw0duZEz1E7fOCnfZg

Love or country? Immigration law means hard choices for gay couples (Moni Basu, CNN)
Canada is the top destination for same-sex binational couples in the United States because of proximity and its immigration system. Canada uses a point system to determine who will be allowed in to live and work. Applicants are awarded points for proficiency in education, job experience and language skills. If one partner qualifies for immigration status in Canada, he or she can sponsor the other.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/16/us/gay-rights-immigration/index.html&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABAhbD3jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=kicA4_-b7No&usg=AFQjCNGQ8dkbHfo9FadXU_-peO_cF3_ibw

Canada surfs Silicon Valley for immigrant startups, but can it keep them? (Danny Bradbury, Financial Post)
Who knew Canadians could be so cheeky? tweeted Paul Graham, one of the founders of San Francisco-based tech accelerator Ycombinator last month. The tweet accompanied a picture of a billboard, looming above the 101 highway. H-1B problems? It commiserated. Pivot to Canada. New Start-Up Visa. Low taxes. Canada is surfing Silicon Valleys neighbourhood, looking for immigrant talent. But if we get it, can we keep it?
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFGH3uh0NzCq5-uYEElIngXdVehfw&url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/06/16/canada-surfs-silicon-valley-for-immigrant-startups-but-can-it-keep-them/

Start-Up Visa is just the beginning for immigrant entrepreneurs (Chris Riddell, Financial Post)
For many, the governments Start-Up Visa launched in April is making Canada an even better place to start a business. The program, which awards permanent resident status to those who qualify, is a huge incentive. The 2,750 visas are intended to attract the best and brightest, which means applicants must meet a set of criteria to qualify, and even if a visa is awarded it doesnt guarantee success for the business. Naeem Noorani knows how difficult a new start can be. He came to Canada 15 years ago and unable to find a job in the world of advertising he took a job in publishing. A round of layoffs in 2003 again left him looking for a job. Unable to find a good paying position, he decided to start a business.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNED2fpkp6c7dNT5acD-mxzC9p4Hzw&url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/06/16/start-up-visa-is-just-the-beginning-for-immigrant-entrepreneurs/

Terry Fox preps Chinese students for Canada (News1130)
Zhang has been accepted into the business management program at the University of B.C. (Okanagan campus), while Zhou who designed the T-shirts her peers are wearing will attend Torontos York University to take fine arts. The pair are among a graduating class of 27 students in the school of 124 who next year will also attend institutions including the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, the University of Western Ontario, the University of P.E.I. and St. Marys in Halifax. But while these soon-to-be international students from mostly affluent Chinese families have put in vast hours of not only academic study but preparatory efforts for a smoother transition to life in the West, statistically its expected most from this school will return home again with their highly-regarded Canadian degrees.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGzhI6-ijQjsDHQDhVAHxudG4EdAA&url=http://www.news1130.com/2013/06/16/terry-fox-preps-chinese-students-for-canada/

The new African Diaspora in Vancouver (Gillian Creese, rabble)
Editors Note: This article is the first in a Mainlander series that will bring the research of academics into the public sphere. The aim of the series is to further our understanding of Vancouvers many hidden corners while strengthening connections between local movements. In particular, we hope to disseminate research whose true importance lies beyond the university. Gillian Creese is a Professor of Sociology at UBC and the article is based on her 2011 book, The New African Diaspora in Vancouver: Migration, Exclusion and Belonging (University of Toronto Press).
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFw_Rq4cV5_zOIxzpBAkqQAcllBew&url=http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/mainlander/2013/06/new-african-diaspora-vancouver

Quebec soccer federation scraps controversial turban ban after FIFA ruling (Ryan Remiorz, Calgary Herald)
Quebec’s soccer federation is ending its much-criticized turban ban. The organization made the announcement one day after soccer’s world body said wearing turbans on the pitch was acceptable. The ban prompted the Canadian Soccer Association to suspend the Quebec Soccer Federation earlier this week.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/touch/story.html?id=8531287

Poll: Over 80% of Canadians support stripping citizenship from Canadian terrorists (Jason Kenney)
A poll conducted by NRG Research group in October of 2012 showed that Canadians overwhelmingly support stripping citizenship from convicted terrorists. Detailed results are below. Over 80% of Canadians support stripping citizenship from convicted terrorists, regardless of voting preference, country of birth, age, gender, or region.
http://www.jasonkenney.ca/news/over-80-of-canadians-support-stripping-citizenship-from-canadian-terrorists/

Petition: NDP defends citizenship for convicted terrorists (Jason Kenney)
Convicted terrorists should be stripped of their Canadian citizenship. Anyone who commits terrorist acts in Canada or abroad has clearly renounced their Canadian citizenship by rejecting Canadian values and the loyalty to our country that citizenship requires. I believe it is absolutely shameful that Thomas Mulcairs NDP are fighting against stripping Canadian citizenship from convicted terrorists.
http://www.jasonkenney.ca/news/ndp-defends-citizenship-for-convicted-terrorists/

REFUGEES

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care spearheads national protests (Sun News Network)
Doctors, nurses and medical students across Canada will once again urge the government to “reverse the reckless cuts to refugee health care.” Organized by Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care, the second coast-to-coast National Day of Action will feature protests in 17 cities Monday. “It has been almost one year since the government made changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) which has left many patients including sick children and pregnant women fleeing sexual violence suffering,” the CDRC said in a statement. “These events are a demonstration of health care workers and allies unwavering support of refugee patients and ongoing opposition to the IFH cuts.”
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2013/06/20130616-115449.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA5Zr4jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=9w8ZGgYgpao&usg=AFQjCNHuax4fINFH5VtDXErsj98aS25Ang

Day of Action June 17, 2013 (Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care)
Join us for a National Day of Action on June 17th, 2013! Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is organizing a second National Day of Action on June 17th to take the facts directly to the streets and tell Canadians the consequences of the federal governments cuts to refugee health care. Despite widespread opposition from a broad group of health care workers across Canada, the federal government has implemented cuts to health insurance for refugees. As predicted, many are suffering as a result. There have been well documented cases of people being denied care including pregnant women and sick children. Health care workers join others in continuing to speak out for those who do not have the opportunity to do so. Join us on June 17th for the second National Day of Action. It is an opportunity to show the Federal Government that Canadians will stand up for the most vulnerable among us.
http://www.doctorsforrefugeecare.ca/day-of-action-june-17-2013.html

Support Refugees in Canada (St. Joseph’s)
What: National Day of Action to Stop Cuts to Refugee Health Care Where: Parliament Hill Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/181089698720274/?ref=22 The Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care are organizing their second National Day of Action to urge the federal government to rescind last years cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program. Join them on Parliament Hill to show your support.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://st-josephs.ca/blog/2013/06/15/support-refugees-in-canada/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAEoATAAOABA_LX5jQVIAlgAYgVlbi1DQQ&cd=xCzooKNXuA4&usg=AFQjCNH5nFM2rJ1vKBS9b9dvlXrQ9ZQa5Q

Rally for newcomers’ health care (Carol Sanders, Winnipeg Free Press)
Hundreds of health-care workers, newcomers and their friends are set to rally at noon today in Central Park to celebrate Manitoba’s “compassion” and to call for help for refugees in other provinces suffering without health benefits. The National Day of Action for Refugee Health Care is being held in Winnipeg and 18 other Canadian cities and is organized by doctors and health-care providers. It’s a response to the federal government cuts to supplemental health benefits for privately sponsored refugees approved and invited to Canada.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/rally-for-newcomers-health-care-211782461.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAiZv7jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=qfCPMB54rkI&usg=AFQjCNESDVViiscQK8H45lM6AzY2pm0-uw

Join the June 17 day of action for refugee health (Jesse Mclaren, rabble.ca)
These are some of the results of the Harper governments cuts to refugee health care over the past year. According to Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women’s College Hospital. The patients we see have fled unimaginable terror to seek a safer life in Canada, and our government is telling doctors that they cannot provide necessary treatment. On April 25 of last year, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced drastic cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program, implemented on June 30. Kenney claimed the cuts would be fair, save money and protect public health — and all these claims were bogus. As the Canadian Council for Refugees immediately predicted, the cuts would create a two-tier system of refugee care, deny essential medical care, institutionalize gender discrimination and offload costs to the provinces. Thats exactly what has happened.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/jesse/2013/06/join-june-17-day-action-refugee-health&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA1_zsjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=SrfCmyxY0Us&usg=AFQjCNExoQvi2jr8nZ8-GESimhFXF5ldfw

Refugee Care: We Are Standing Up To Say That This Is Wrong (Huffington Post)
Today, as we celebrate the National Day of Action against the Refugees Healthcare cuts on June 17th, I decided to interview Benjamin Langer, a third-year medical student, to enlighten Canadian readers regarding the budget cuts in Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). Benjamin currently holds the position of National Officer for Human Rights and Peace for the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, in this role coordinator the organization’s Global Health Advocacy Program. He has been involved with activism for over a decade, ranging across many ecological, human rights, and social justice issues. The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) is a program managed by the canadian government that provides access to health care for refugees and refugee claimants in the country. Last June, an important part of its funding was cut, restricting even more the limited provided coverage for “essential and urgent services.” Many groups of physicians and other health professionals advocate to cancel or amend those disastrous changes, without any major success so far.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/claudel-p/refugee-care_b_3441782.html&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABAw6zyjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=jKnTEoZ4tbU&usg=AFQjCNG-Wj-Pct2pRk97RPQVqH9Q3ooE6g

Viktoria Mohácsi seeking asylum in Canada (Mirjam Donath, Scotsman)
From being a leading human rights activist and member of the European Parliament, she is now an asylum-seeker living in a one-room flat in Toronto, Canada. The 38-year-old mother of three fears if she returns to her native Hungary, her life will be in danger, because she is a Roma.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.scotsman.com/news/international/viktoria-mohacsi-seeking-asylum-in-canada-1-2968895&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAqZv5jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=GS6QALlTZVM&usg=AFQjCNHGBn6Klp4f_Z5BzfeAS2Z3OnrKCw

Threatened with torture abroad, faced with limited health coverage in Canada (Julia Wong, Global News)
Isaac Ochwo fled his native Uganda for Canada after he was threatened with torture for his human rights activism, but he is facing another battle in this country: limited healthcare coverage for refugee claimants. Ochwo, 35, arrived in Halifax in early April. He was forced to flee because the Uganda government was displeased with his work advocating for childrens rights, womens rights and gay rights. Ochwo says the decision was hard to make but he did not have a choice. I came to Canada because I had to come, in order to be alive, he said simply.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://globalnews.ca/news/647356/threatened-with-torture-abroad-faced-with-limited-health-coverage-in-canada/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAiZv7jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=qfCPMB54rkI&usg=AFQjCNHZrf7k-xWFYkM2wu7MTj52RFu1oA

EU lawmaker to Canada asylum seeker: A Roma’s long trek (Mirjam Donath, Reuters)
Less than four years ago, Viktoria Mohácsi enjoyed the life of an international politician, eating at pricey restaurants in Brussels and winning awards as a human rights activist. Today, the 38-year old mother of three sleeps on the floor of a one-room basement apartment in Toronto and faces deportation. As a political asylum seeker, she hopes to convince Canada that the life of a former member of the European Parliament could be in danger in a democratic country like Hungary.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/16/us-hungary-asylum-idUSBRE95F06O20130616%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABAhbD3jQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=kicA4_-b7No&usg=AFQjCNEjTfY1rNc2knz7bTRCqSbCf5o4DQ

Hospitals paying for federal cuts to refugee care (Joanna Frketich, Hamilton Spectator)
Hamilton’s hospitals are starting to bear the costs of federal cuts to refugee care. “I see the cuts beginning to bite,” said Dr. David Higgins, president of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. “We’re going to see more of these patients present to hospital.” St. Joseph’s is caring for at least one refugee a week with no health coverage after the federal government made significant cuts a year ago, affecting, in particular, those from countries deemed to be safe by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGT11H487L1yKEECIHwaYVufR7daA&url=http://www.thespec.com/news-story/3842617-hospitals-paying-for-federal-cuts-to-refugee-care/

Open doors to refugees: council (Jennifer Moreau, Burnaby Now)
Canada needs to better support refugees – that was the key message coming from the Canadian Council for Refugees, which held a national conference in Burnaby recently. “We need to continue and reopen the doors and be proud to protect refugees,” said Loly Rico, the council’s president. The three-day conference was held at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, from May 30 to June 1, to share best practices and advice on how to create secure and welcoming communities for refugees.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHsW56i1jUAgEHQuwP5o4MST5vN3A&url=http://www.burnabynow.com/news/Open%2Bdoors%2Brefugees%2Bcouncil/8524638/story.html

Opinion: Cuts depriving refugees of essential care (Camille Gérin, Montreal Gazette)
In June of last year, the federal government made drastic cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program, the health-insurance plan for refugee claimants and refugees. These cuts to different types of coverage, depending on refugee category and country of origin, are discriminatory and arbitrary, and deprive many refugees of essential health care. Over the past year, along with other health-care providers across Canada, we have documented numerous cases in which refugee claimants have faced demands for fees or refusal of health care, compromising their well-being and undermining their dignity.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Opinion%2BCuts%2Bdepriving%2Brefugees%2Bessential%2Bcare/8527452/story.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAtYjujQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=zDmwjb45sW4&usg=AFQjCNGyjybr2XGiwBsMQkjS8wZCaqFWqQ

Reasonable Doubt: Tortured Nigerian barred from making refugee claim (Carmen Hamilton, Straight.com)
In her article last week, Laurel Dietz related the story of Ugochukwu Nwanebu (“Ugo”), a Nigerian national who was convicted of using his uncle’s passport to enter Canada. Due to his ethnic origin and his participation in a non-violent political group, Ugo had been subjected to interrogations and torture at the hands of the Nigerian police, and was fleeing Nigeria to escape persecution. Ugo saw Canada as a safe haven. Unfortunately, he did not understand how to make a refugee claim.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.straight.com/news/391871/reasonable-doubt-tortured-nigerian-barred-making-refugee-claim&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAtYjujQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=zDmwjb45sW4&usg=AFQjCNHOhuFvVPQk9dDjyYCEljQoEBwDdw

Take a stand for refugee health (Chronicle Journal)
I have just completed my first year at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. I am the global health advocate for my school and I am also involved in immigrant and refugee health. On Monday, several cities in Canada are participating in the National Day of Action to stand up for refugee health. In the past year, there have been drastic changes to policies on refugee health care. On June 30, 2012, changes to refugee health through the Interim Federal Health Care Program (IFHP) were implemented. The IFHP is the program that funds health care for refugees in Canada. Prior to the changes, all refugees received the same health care, which is similar to provincial health care coverage for people receiving social assistance.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEBmSxqbzSiKzzxZ6Hyp9X2SsPJag&url=http://www.chroniclejournal.com/editorial/letters/2013-06-15/take-stand-refugee-health

Newer refugees struggle more over time (Jeff Outhit, The Record)
Drawing on a Statistics Canada database, The Record analyzed average incomes for refugees who landed in Waterloo Region between 1996 and 2010, who filed tax returns here and who declared an income.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG6l1sXlaa8oUH1wioOBJ3IRubS5w&url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3842360-newer-refugees-struggle-more-over-time/

Local services ease often painful transition for refugees (The Record)
When they look in the mirror, they see themselves as Somalians, Sudanese or Ethiopians. But when African youth arrive in Canada, they are often labelled as black. “In Africa, we were identified by our country, but here you lose your identity,” said Sadia Gassim, a Somalian who arrived in Canada with four sons in 1993. “Our children have the identity of black. The dominant culture saw them as black,” she said. “Accepting that label is very hard.”
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFEAxLGLHfkA422M1RgjUcfRoo3OQ&url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3842371-local-services-ease-often-painful-transition-for-refugees/

Refugees still welcome but fewer are coming (Jeff Outhit, The Record)
Imagine that you have been threatened and must flee your home and country. It’s not safe for you to return. Waterloo Region could be your safe haven. In the last decade, 5,444 international refugees resettled in the region after fleeing violence or oppression abroad. Although this is a refuge, it’s a strange place with a new language, unfamiliar weather and different customs. You have to learn English, find an affordable place to live, find a family doctor and find work. “Settlement trauma can be even harder,” said Mira Malidzanovic, who directs programs at the Reception House in central Kitchener where many refugees spend their first weeks. Refugees bring trauma and pain with them and then face new hardships.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3841101-refugees-still-welcome-but-fewer-are-coming/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA847xjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=Rqur64vUMxg&usg=AFQjCNFbQ0E9Haqksx2A22RcE847PMc1wA

Refugee family now calls the region home after escaping Iraq (Luisa D’Amato, The Record)
She just had a feeling that something wasn’t right in her house. Something told her to get out. So Sajidah Ghadhban quickly gathered her three children and went next door to her sister’s place. A few minutes later, her home blew up. Nothing was left but rubble. Ghadhban and her children Mohammad, 16, Eman, 14, and Ali, 12 had been targeted by the terrorist group al-Qaida in their native Iraq. After their home was destroyed in 2005, they fled to Lebanon, but weren’t really safe there either.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3841117-refugee-family-now-calls-the-region-home-after-escaping-iraq/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA147wjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=jtjsR7rlMC0&usg=AFQjCNHP7oNQ7c8e3wRN-kLQZFBsEtgKxw

Timeline of refugee settlement in Waterloo Region (Luisa D’Amato, The Record)
From the 1840s to today.
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3841043-timeline-of-refugee-settlement-in-waterloo-region/

The Conservative Assault on Refugees (Larry Rousseau, Huffington Post)
If there is one aspect of the federal Conservatives’ program to reshape Canada that best encapsulates the values that inform their actions, it is the new, cold treatment refugees arriving at Canada’s doorsteps are now facing. Changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which previously provided refugees with healthcare in line with programs available to Canadians on social assistance, were announced in Budget 2012 and came into effect last June. Under the revised IFHP, all refugees (including children) lose access to medication coverage and vision and dental care. Moreover, all refugees arriving in Canada from one of some 35 countries deemed “safe” by the Conservatives lose all health coverage, including urgent care.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGDSc4BJ4U4l2WR426LV2Q8F9w6Cw&url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/larry-rousseau/conservative-assault-refugees_b_3443635.html

POVERTY / HEALTH / HOMELESSNESS / SOCIAL INCLUSION / POLICY

Canada Job Grant program is deeply flawed, report says (Barrie Mckenna, Globe and Mail)
Ottawas $900-million job grant scheme is a windfall for companies that already train workers, opens few new opportunities for the unskilled and saps funds from existing government efforts, according to a new report. The program is deeply flawed public policy and should be scrapped, say the authors of a report to be released Monday by the Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto and the Caledon Institute of Social Policy. A government incentive program to do something governments are already doing doesnt seem to make much sense, Mowat director Matthew Mendelsohn said in an interview.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/canada-job-grant-program-is-deeply-flawed-report-says/article12589026/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA2Pj5jQVIAlgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=XOZW2iLwRyk&usg=AFQjCNFtC1bXZkALp-1JgNmsBIG0AcdkRQ

EMPLOYMENT & WORKERS

Survey shows widespread ESA violations, including pay below minimum wage (Workers’ Action Centre)
A recent study released by the Chinese Canadian National Council-Toronto chapter documents widespread employment standards violations facing Chinese workers. The study One Step Forward, Two Steps Back found that 20% of workers surveyed were paid less than minimum wage. Many workers described problems getting paid on time or at all. 45% of workers reported working hours that they did not get paid for, and 19% said they had been paid late. Only half of the workers received public holiday pay and a shocking 77% of workers said they did not receive any overtime pay.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WorkersActionCentre/~3/-HqxILbIt40/

Migrant Workers Are Parents Too (UFCW)
Migrant workers are parents too. Each season, migrant agricultural workers leave their families for as long as three years to do hard and gruelling work to put food on the tables of Canadian families. Now, the Harper government has attacked some of the most vulnerable workers in Canada by disqualifying migrant workers from Employment Insurance (EI) parental and compassionate care benefits despite the fact that migrant workers must continue to pay over $25 million a year in EI premiums, and have paid hundreds of millions of dollars into the EI fund for decades.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://ufcw.ca/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D3508%253Amigrant-workers-are-parents-too%26catid%3D82%253Aissues%26lang%3Den&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAEoATAAOABA1vzsjQVIAlgAYgVlbi1VUw&cd=LdUNZ8gpljk&usg=AFQjCNG3jk6RwHwNs-Fq2N_uWZUE5DOhWw

Campaign Sends Harper a Message that “Migrant Workers Are Parents Too” (Marketwired)
As Father’s Day approaches, a national grassroots, multimedia, and postcard campaign has been launched by UFCW Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) to tell the Harper government that “Migrant Workers Are Parents Too”, and to re-instate the right of migrant agriculture workers who contribute to Employment Insurance to have equal access to the Parental Benefits of the program. The activism kicks-off Friday, June 14, with the launch of national web-based “Migrant Workers Are Parents Too” campaign delivered to Stephen Harper (www.ufcw.ca/migrantparents).
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2013-06/27124884-campaign-sends-harper-a-message-that-migrant-workers-are-parents-too-256.htm&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAEoATAAOABAwsLsjQVIAlgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=zyJzJQ4Ycbo&usg=AFQjCNHo2Y3UIn09VxlixKqGLfO5AjFCew

Accused wasnt going to discard Filipino nanny like a piece of trash, defence lawyer tells jury (Keith Fraser, The Province)
A man accused of enslaving a Filipino nanny knew that she was in Canada illegally but didnt want to put her out on the street like a piece of trash, the accuseds lawyer said Tuesday. Franco Orr and his wife Nicole Huen have pleaded not guilty to human trafficking charges arising from an allegation they brought Leticia Sarmiento to Canada from Hong Kong under false pretences. Sarmiento has claimed that things went well in Hong Kong but that her life changed dramatically when she arrived in Vancouver and that she was kept in domestic servitude for nearly two years.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEyAd_xHHGfgT7M9WJL-m3PcIDQ8g&url=http://www.theprovince.com/news/vancouver/Filipino%2Bnanny%2Bnervous%2Babout%2Btalking%2Bwitnesses%2Btell%2Bhuman/8510785/story.html

IMMIGRATION AND DIVERSITY

#cdndiversity a new conversation on Twitter (Maytree)
You may have seen it already the Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion (CIDI-ICDI) started using a new hashtag on Twitter: #cdndiversity. We thought it was a great idea. We tweeted it out and suggested that Canadians tweeting about diversity start using it.
http://t.co/OQNkDspgMI

Immigration Cost to Countries Is Overstated, Study Finds (David Jolly, New York Times)
Public debate about immigration is being distorted by unfounded concerns over the financial burden that new arrivals put on governments, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a report on Thursday. Across the developed world, the fiscal impact of immigration is close to zero, the organization said in the report, which compares the costs of immigration internationally. The current impact of the cumulative waves of migration that arrived over the past 50 years is just not that large, it added, whether on the positive or negative side.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/business/global/immigration-costs-are-overstated-study-finds.html

Multiculturalism: More than Cultural Diversity (Isabelle Lafontaine-Émond, Library of Parliament)
In Canada, one in five people is foreign-born, and more than 200 ethnic origins have been reported. Given this situation, it is interesting to compare the way in which Canadas multiculturalism model manages growing pluralism with how integration models elsewhere in the world do so. Canadian multiculturalism Multiculturalism defines society as a mosaic of communities. It does not provide recognition to the culture of the majority, or founding peoples. Indeed, the Canadian Multiculturalism Act advocates the recognition and appreciation of the diverse cultures of Canadian society, as well as the promotion of the expressions of those cultures.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/2013-26-e.htm

Diversity reigns among wealthy Canadians (Advisor.ca)
The study found that two-thirds (67%) are self-made millionaires, making their wealth on their own, while only one-in-five (20%) attribute at least part of their wealth to an inheritance. Additionally, almost half (48%) are either immigrants to Canada (24%), or describe themselves as first-generation Canadians with at least one parent born outside of Canada (24%). Within this group of new Canadians, more than two-thirds (68%) reported that their wealth was self-made. Interestingly, the study found that new Americans account for only one-third of the wealthy in the U.S.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.advisor.ca/news/industry-news/diversity-reigns-among-high-net-worth-canadians-119987&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAEoATAAOABArZHqjQVIAlgAYgVlbi1VUw&cd=W_ZZqDs19tU&usg=AFQjCNGBvClwNhTGL7owdtdeQIicsXRNYA

Nearly half of our millionaires are immigrants, new Canadians (CTV)
A new survey finds close to half of the country’s millionaires are either immigrants or first-generation Canadians who made the bulk of their money after their arrival to the country. By comparison, only 20 per cent of respondents attributed at least part of their wealth to an inheritance. The BMO Harris Private Banking survey found that 48 per cent of Canadians with liquid assets of $1 million or more were either immigrants (24 per cent), or first-generation Canadians (24 per cent), meaning they had at least one parent born outside the country. In British Columbia, a full 68 per cent of the millionaires said they were new Canadians.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF5LFjOImnNkf4UtHZYD9uLrlzCQg&url=http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/living-the-dream-nearly-half-of-our-millionaires-are-immigrants-new-canadians-1.1324413

Video: The new profile of Canadas richest (Business News Network)
Close to half of Canada’s high-net-worth individuals are immigrants or first-generation Canadians, says a new study. The survey conducted for BMO Harris Private Banking found that 48 percent of the country’s affluent – those with investable assets of $1 million or more – are either immigrants (24 percent) or describe themselves as first-generation Canadians with at least one parent born outside the country (24 percent). In the United States, only one-third of the wealthy are either immigrants or first-generation Americans, according to the report. The poll also concluded that 67 percent – or two-thirds – of wealthy Canadians are self-made millionaires, with 20 percent attributing at least part of their wealth to an inheritance.
http://www.bnn.ca/News/2013/6/13/The-new-profile-of-Canadas-richest-.aspx

NDP filibuster would-be bill to strip terrorists of Canadian citizenship (Tobi Cohen, Canada.com)
Furious with the Conservative Party for its attempt to overhaul a private members bill to include provisions to strip Canadian citizenship from convicted terrorists, the NDP has launched a filibuster in whats shaping up to be a He Said, She Said procedural battle. Devinder Shory, the Conservative behind Bill C-425, said the NDP has reached a new low by standing in the way of efforts to protect the safety and security of Canadians and integrity of Canadian citizenship. NDP immigration critic Jinny Sims, meanwhile, said the Conservatives are abusing parliamentary process and usurping private members business to push forward the governments agenda.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://o.canada.com/2013/06/13/ndp-set-to-filibuster-bill-to-strip-terrorists-of-canadian-citizenship/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAq8bqjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=eZ8ybtzLv_I&usg=AFQjCNFrKxPb8WDSIrLfkNF_aCH87cCk0Q

Citizenship stripping bill sparks late-night clash at committee (Kady O’Malley, CBC)
As the House continues to meander its way through the government’s legislative priority list, a pitched battle is underway at Citizenship and Immigration over Conservative MP Devinder Shory’s bid to strip citizenship from dual nationals who commit acts of war against Canadian soldiers. At press time, the details of the ongoing dispute are somewhat sketchy, but reports suggest that the opposition parties are attempting to stop the Conservatives from using their majority to extend the existing deadline for sending the bill back to the House by an additional 30 days, which would, in theory, give them sufficient time to incorporate the substance of Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s musings on the matter earlier this year by extending it to cover acts of terrorism as well.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2013/06/citizenship-stripping-bill-sparks-late-night-clash-at-committee.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Public Citizen: Red tape cut to help Haitian toddlers adoption (Hugh Adami, Ottawa Citizen)
It appears that Smith, the Haitian toddler being adopted by a Kanata couple, will be in Canada sometime in the coming months after all. As recounted in Thursdays Public Citizen, a sponsorship application for permanent residency from the mother-to-be, Sarah Currie, had still not made it to the processing stage by Wednesday even though the papers arrived at Citizenship and Immigration offices in Mississauga on June 4. But late Thursday morning, the department emailed Currie to tell her she meets the requirements to sponsor Smith as a permanent resident.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Public%2BCitizen%2Btape%2Bhelp%2BHaitian%2Btoddler%2Badoption/8522801/story.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA3cvrjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=LuvfhQ84GOA&usg=AFQjCNFomYwB5o8NSy2q8dvbZff8Qi14Lg

Let ethnic vote evolve in Canada (Joe Jeerakathil, Star Phoenix)
I sincerely wish that politicians such as Kenney leave the ethnic communities alone. Are these groups considered easier to brainwash and possible prey to the blandishments and promises of a golden era if they vote Conservative? Let minorities evolve. Given time, they will figure out Canada’s political contours. At the same time, there is nothing wrong with political parties seeking support in a whole range of communities. It is highly desirable for parties to appeal to voters simply as citizens, not as hyphenated Canadians. Politicians should refrain from influencing ethnic communities with hyperbolic nonsense. And ethnic communities shouldn’t swallow lock stock and barrel what politicians tell them. Strident political apparatchiks such as Kenney are just politicking when they try to woo their votes.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/todays-paper/ethnic%2Bvote%2Bevolve%2BCanada/8523946/story.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAEoATAAOABA_NPrjQVIAlgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=SHPt6yPLFxI&usg=AFQjCNGIFbdt2CSOivEEOlSkyMPuZQXwBA

On the soccer pitch, we are all Sikhs now (John Ivison, National Post)
Soccer player Yiannis Amir, right, with teammates Thomas Plante St-Cyr, left, and Kairbek Mourtazov wear turbans during practice of FC Brossard U14AA on Monday June 10, 2013 at Poly-Arena park in Brossard, Quebec. Pierre Obendrauf / Postmedia News A YouTube video has been circulating among the members of my OldTimers soccer team, entitled: How to tie a turban. The team, based in Chelsea, Que., is planning to don the Sikh headgear to protest the idiocy of the Quebec Soccer Federations turban ban.
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/full-comment/blog.html?b=fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/06/13/john-ivison-on-the-soccer-pitch-we-are-all-sikhs-now

Its Team Multiculturalism vs. Team Integration in Quebec (Wayne K. Spear, National Post)
Its slippery on that field where we kick around notions of respect and tolerance. The teams in Quebecs match of the turbans, which Ill call Team Multiculturalism and Team Integration, each make valid points. They are also punting to the stands, not to the actual goal. One side hardly notices that pluralism may obtain within a larger, integrationist framework, an arrangement that would make principled objections to the dastar, rumal and patka superfluous. By principled objections I mean to include only those arguments that address the real issue: multicultural societies must foster social and cultural unity and cohesion, or face the consequences if they do not.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/06/13/wayne-k-spear-its-team-multiculturalism-vs-team-integration-in-quebec/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA8MDnjQVIAlgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=tKLEDpf7K5g&usg=AFQjCNFLgMFTMfofB7Tgba9wJFJDldOmXw

Permanent Residents (CBC Metro Morning)
What would the right to vote mean to permanent residents? This morning Matt Galloway spoke with Subra Balakrishnan, he came to Canada 10 years ago from India, and with Shadi Rezvan. She came here from Iran eight years ago.
http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/episodes/2013/06/13/permanent-residents/

Black lawyers win Ontario discrimination appeal (Jeff Gray, Globe and Mail)
The Ontario Court of Appeal has reversed a lower-court ruling and sided with a pair of Toronto-area black lawyers who say they faced racial profiling when they were asked for identification by an employee at a courthouse library. The provinces top court also ordered the Peel Law Association and one of its librarians, Melissa Firth, to pay $30,000 in legal costs as it reinstated $2,000 awards ordered by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal for lawyers Selwyn Pieters and Brian Noble.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/black-lawyers-win-ontario-discrimination-appeal/article12517104/?cmpid=rss1

The Growing Linkages Between Migration and Microfinance (Migration Policy Institute)
Yet increasingly, there are threads of discourse linking migration and microfinance. MFIs (sometimes with the support of development institutions) are targeting migrant households for a variety of microfinance services, including loan products. These organizations, as well as some policymakers and academics, view microfinance institutions as ideal actors through which to empower migrant households. Moreover, there is increasing recognition that migration and microfinance have already been interacting in unexpected and sometimes problematic ways. Some households use microcredit as an advance on expected remittances from family members abroad; others use loans to finance the costs of migration. There is also evidence that migration is used as a coping mechanism to manage debt when microenterprises fail, pushing loan recipients abroad in search of better economic opportunity. These connections highlight that linking migration and microfinance has the potential to expand opportunities for migrants and their families, as well as generate or exacerbate vulnerabilities.
http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=955&feed=rss

Proud Politics (SOY H.E.A.T. (Human rights. Equity. Access. Team))
Proud Politics is working with the Maytree Foundation School4Civics to increase diversity in our political system by increasing the number of elected LGBT officials at all levels of government. We’re gonna be mixing up the tried and true Maytree School4Civics bootcamps with some queer-tastic LGBTQ elements via the Proud Politics team. Here are a few key dates and a general outline of what you could be taking part in! PLEASE SAVE THESE DATES and register where appropriate!
https://www.facebook.com/168340473193800/posts/632713803423129

REFUGEES

Veteran journalist Peter Goodspeed wins Atkinson Fellowship (Karissa Donkin, Toronto Star)
Veteran journalist Peter Goodspeed will use the year-long Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy to produce an in-depth series of stories about Canadas refugee system. The fellowship, with a $75,000 stipend and $25,000 research budget, gives a reporter the resources to dig into and write about a public policy issue that matters to Canadians.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/06/13/veteran_journalist_peter_goodspeed_wins_atkinson_fellowship.html

Refugee health cuts: 50 prominent Canadians sign declaration demanding an end to suffering (Debra Black, Toronto Star)
About 50 prominent Canadians including Giller Prize winning author Dr. Vincent Lam, Life of Pi author Yann Martel, Margaret Atwood, Rohinton Mistry, Kiefer Sutherland and former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and her husband John Ralston Saul have signed a declaration asking Ottawa to reverse its cuts to refugee claimants health care. A year ago, Ottawa announced cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program that critics say have left many patients suffering, including sick children and pregnant women fleeing sexual violence.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/06/13/refugee_health_cuts_50_prominent_canadians_sign_declaration_demanding_an_end_to_suffering.html

Refugee family wants to call Canada home (Dominik Kurek, Oakville Beaver)
While a local family failed to successfully tug the heartstrings of immigration officials, a group of students and staff at T.A. Blakelock High School is hoping the deportation of one of their own can be stopped. Im perplexed with how we do things sometimes, said Blakelock construction teacher Leonardo Petti. We have people who get away with murder and they can travel here … and do whatever they want, and here we have some good people and we cant keep them in our country. Its frustrating.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGdSw3bsoghRsbbCOiLcp1yPX-vxw&url=http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/3837904-refugee-family-wants-to-call-canada-home/

Video: Health Justice Collective (IChannel)
Activist who work in the healthcare field in Montreal form the Health Justice Collective in response to cuts to the Interim Federal Health plan. Dr. Nazila Bettache, Dr. Samir Shaheen-Hussain and nurse Anne-Marie Gallant tell Kevin OKeefe about the hardships they see because of cuts to refugee healthcare.
http://ymoyl.ichannel.ca/archives/videos/health-justice-collective-2

POVERTY / HEALTH / HOMELESSNESS / SOCIAL INCLUSION / POLICY

CBA great way to build our city and neighbourhoods through the Big Move (Evelyn Myrie, Hamilton Spectator)
The Big Move provides a great opportunity for cities to consider ways to create better communities and better social infrastructure, too. As Metrolinx rolls out its regional transportation plan, community leaders in Toronto are pushing for the creation of what is known as a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) a contract with Metrolinx that would spell out the community benefits of the project.
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/3835860-cba-great-way-to-build-our-city-and-neighbourhoods-through-the-big-move/

EMPLOYMENT & WORKERS

Practical Ways for an Employer to Maximize International Talent (hireimmigrants.ca)
Even as were heading into summer vacation, keep HR needs in mind to maintain your companys productivity. Consider these useful tips on how you can maximize immigrant talent, courtesy of the Waterloo Immigration Partnership.
http://www.hireimmigrants.ca/etips/practical-ways-for-an-employer-to-maximize-international-talent/

Whatever you call it, discrimination is alive and well in the work place (Grace-edward Galabuzi And Sheila Block, Globe and Mail)
Economist Frances Woolley raises important issues about the term visible minority in a recent Globe Op-ed. She questions its lack of precision and its usefulness as an indicator of labour market discrimination and, therefore, whether it is a legitimate policy objective to try to improve labour market outcomes for people described as visible minorities. Discomfort with the term visible minority is shared by the United Nations. This discomfort is shared even closer to home, by many Canadian scholars and advocates who are also concerned with the visible minority label and its connotations. The difficulties we have in describing or considering race are grounded in its conceptual limitations. As a result, a number of other terms have emerged to describe the set of social and economic experiences that are captured by the concept of race or racialization. We know that race is not a scientific term; there is no biological basis for our ideas about racial differences. We also know that our concepts of race change over time. In the last century, Jewish and Irish were considered to be separate races in North America, just as Black and South Asian are considered to be now.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/whatever-you-call-it-discrimination-is-alive-and-well-in-the-work-place/article12513864/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAkfbojQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=r4lY-gZLuQ4&usg=AFQjCNEQhqtiKCtgR1Vu5QiXiSfU5Rkx4g

Controversial Inspection Measures Proposed for Foreign Worker Program (CICS News)
Enhanced inspection regulations for Canadas Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) were announced on Saturday, June 8th. When the proposed regulations take effect, immigration officials will have the right to enter Canadian places of employment without first obtaining a search warrant. The inspection regulations have been proposed in the midst of a nation-wide controversy surrounding Canadas use of temporary foreign workers. Specifically, two highly publicized cases brought to light what may be widespread abuses of the TFWP. In response to public criticism, the government has announced a number of new measures to demonstrate its tough policy towards Canadian employers who refuse to comply with program standards.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHNfZ86Sv5QKAxxwsBeoSFTkt-mOw&url=http://www.cicnews.com/2013/06/controversial-inspection-measures-proposed-foreign-worker-program-062535.html

Accused wasnt going to discard Filipino nanny like a piece of trash, defence lawyer tells jury (Keith Fraser, The Province)
A man accused of enslaving a Filipino nanny knew that she was in Canada illegally but didnt want to put her out on the street like a piece of trash, the accuseds lawyer said Tuesday. Franco Orr and his wife Nicole Huen have pleaded not guilty to human trafficking charges arising from an allegation they brought Leticia Sarmiento to Canada from Hong Kong under false pretences. Sarmiento has claimed that things went well in Hong Kong but that her life changed dramatically when she arrived in Vancouver and that she was kept in domestic servitude for nearly two years.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHR2oq3OKbPCabhbZ0xG4OOgn5tFQ&url=http://www.theprovince.com/news/Accused%2Bwasn%2Bgoing%2Bdiscard%2BFilipino%2Bnanny%2Blike%2Bpiece%2Btrash%2Bdefence%2Blawyer%2Btells%2Bjury/8510785/story.html

Nanny pleaded to come to Canada, trial told (Globe and Mail)
A Filipina nanny who claims she was tricked into coming to Canada on the promise of becoming a permanent resident was told explicitly by a customs agent she could remain in the country for only six months, a human trafficking trial has heard. Franco Orr and his wife, Nicole Huen, are charged with human trafficking for allegedly bringing Leticia Sarmiento to B.C. from Hong Kong and forcing her into domestic servitude. They have pleaded not guilty. The couple says the trip was intended to last only two or three months, after which they would return to Hong Kong and Ms. Sarmiento to the Philippines.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFTFzzIK9JnpNMYm6d0qMvzoOoikw&url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/nanny-pleaded-to-come-to-canada-trial-told/article12543742/

SOCIAL INNOVATION / NONPROFITS

Capital for you to change the world! (Tonya Surman, CSI)
At CSI, we believe that new innovations are the key to turning the environmental, social, cultural and economic challenges we face into opportunities to improve our communities and our planet. We know that early stage social ventures often struggle to raise capital to test and scale their ideas. Well, were all about solutions, and we dont like excuses! Thats why I am so pleased that we were able to announce the launch of the $600K Ontario Catapult Microloan Fund. The first multi sector partnership of its kind, Catapult is a small but mighty fund that is dedicated to supporting early stage social enterprises with loans of $5-25K. Our first investments will be made in September and there will be a total of four investment rounds over the next year as part of this pilot.
http://socialinnovation.ca/blog/capital-for-you-change-world

Social enterprise – a threat to traditional charity? (Charity Village)
Social enterprise is gaining more and more traction in Australia, following its success in the US and UK but is it a threat to the traditional charity model, asks Daniel Flynn, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Thankyou Water.
https://charityvillage.com/Content.aspx?topic=Social_enterprise_a_threat_to_traditional_charity

IMMIGRATION AND DIVERSITY

The new Canadian millionaires: Women and immigrants (Francine Kopun, Toronto Star)
Almost half of Canadas richest residents are new immigrants or first generation Canadians, according to research conducted for BMO. The survey found that two-thirds of Canadas millionaire respondents were self-made, with only 20 per cent attributing at least part of their wealth to an inheritance. And 48 per cent were either immigrants to Canada (24 per cent) or described themselves as first generation Canadians, with at least one parent born outside of Canada (24 per cent), according to the research.
http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2013/06/13/the_new_canadian_millionaires_women_and_immigrants.html

An inside look at Canadas millionaires (Misty Harris, Canada.com)
Seeking the American dream? Come to Canada. In one of the most comprehensive studies of our nations affluent, analysts report that two-thirds of Canadas millionaires are self-made. Strikingly, almost half the nations high net-worth individuals are either immigrants or first-generation Canadians, compared to just one-third of millionaires in the U.S., and nearly seven in 10 of them generated their own riches. Canada has always been positioned as a place of opportunity; with this study, were able to validate that, said Yannick Archambault, vice-president and chief operating officer of BMO Harris Private Banking, which commissioned the study. (Immigrants) bring a strong work ethic, a lot of determination and entrepreneurship.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNERtWzxdXDo44lMVKK7LAV4Mtaj4g&url=http://o.canada.com/2013/06/12/millionaires/

BMO Harris Private Banking Changing Face of Wealth Study: Diversity Reigns Among High-Net Worth Canadians (BMO)
The study found that two-thirds (67 per cent) are self-made millionaires, making their wealth on their own, while only one-in-five (20 per cent) attribute at least part of their wealth to an inheritance. Additionally, almost half (48 per cent) are either immigrants to Canada (24 per cent), or describe themselves as first generation Canadians with at least one parent born outside of Canada (24 per cent). Within this group of new Canadians, more than two-thirds (68 per cent) reported that their wealth was self-made. Interestingly, the study found that new Americans account for only one-third of the wealthy in the U.S.
http://newsroom.bmo.com/press-releases/bmo-harris-private-banking-changing-face-of-wealth-tsx-bmo-201306130880233001

Vancouver Sun: Immigration Costs Canada $20 Billion a Year (CICS)
In a special to the Vancouver Sun on Tuesday, a Simon Fraser University professor of economics, Herbert Grubel, argues that immigration costs Canadians up to $20 billion a year when all the costs and benefits are tallied. Grubel, who is also a senior research fellow at the Fraser Institute, goes through some of recent findings on the economic effects of immigration from studies in various countries to come to his estimate.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.cicsnews.com/%3Fp%3D3949&ct=ga&cad=CAEQARgAIAAoATAAOABAlKLmjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=EsgsUyouzRo&usg=AFQjCNE3g-jJyqgm1YloP9U-gDt-u5HLHA

Non Citizen Vote (CBC Metro Morning)
Matt Galloway spoke with Desmond Cole. He is an urban activist and a writer with Torontoist.
http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/episodes/2013/06/12/non-citizen-vote/

Giving non-citizens the right to vote in city elections: Your questions answered. (Rachel Mendleson, Toronto Star)
Toronto City Council is asking the province to allow permanent residents who aren’t yet citizens to vote in local elections. Heres what you need to know.
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/06/12/giving_noncitizens_the_right_to_vote_in_city_elections_your_questions_answered.html

Council votes in favour of electoral reform measures (CBC)
Toronto city councillors voted on Monday in favour of extended voting rights, different balloting, and online voting that could be a groundbreaking step towards electoral reform in Canada’s biggest municipality. If adopted, a key part of the proposed new measures would mean voting would no longer be restricted to only Canadian citizens, but also the hundreds of thousands of permanent residents living in the city, said Coun. Joe Mihevc.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/06/12/toronto-city-hall-voting-reform.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAx6jjjQVIAlgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=HBLrTxzMCSE&usg=AFQjCNGQzvZ0zzLKCcFLpNEnreWGn2ZhrA

Council votes to allow permanent residents to cast ballots (Don Peat, Toronto Sun)
City council wants to give non-Canadian citizens the right to vote in Toronto municipal elections. After a heated debate Tuesday, councillors voted 21 to 20 to ask the province to amend legislation to allow permanent residents the right to vote in local races. While Mayor Rob Ford voted against the idea, Councillor Anthony Perruzza the newest member of Fords executive committee cast what turned out to be the deciding vote in favour of giving permanent residents a vote at the municipal level.
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/11/council-votes-to-allow-permanent-residents-to-cast-ballots

City council backs electoral reform (Sunny Dhillon, Globe and Mail)
Toronto city council has voted in favour of electoral reform and will ask the province to amend legislation so it can use ranked choice balloting in municipal elections and allow permanent residents to vote. Council debated the issue for several hours Tuesday before voting in favour of the changes. Councillors also voted to form a working group to implement Internet voting for people with disabilities in time for the 2014 municipal election, and to monitor developments in Internet voting to determine if it should be adopted city-wide in 2018.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-council-backs-electoral-reform/article12489136/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAnd_hjQVIAlgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=UL8VkMKw_6Y&usg=AFQjCNHhgDtZXvH1zeJ_PlQEdYBJHcqoJQ

Giving non-citizens a vote is simply wrong-headed (Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail)
Should people who are not citizens of Canada be given the right to vote in City of Toronto elections? City council thinks so. Councillors voted 21-20 on Tuesday to ask the provincial government to change the rules, drop the citizenship requirement and allow permanent residents to cast ballots. Those who support this thoroughly backward idea argue that it would encourage newcomers to take part in the civic life of their new home, fostering a sense of belonging. It is more likely do just the opposite. The best path to full belonging is to become a citizen, and letting non-citizens vote removes an important incentive to take out citizenship. In the words of Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, it devalues, degrades and erodes what Canadian citizenship means.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/giving-non-citizens-a-vote-is-simply-wrong-headed/article12507386/?cmpid=rss1

Torontos plea to let non-citizens vote is wrong-headed (Thomas Walkom, Toronto Star)
Either Canadian citizenship means something or it does not. If it does not if it means nothing then Ontarios government should change the law to let non-citizen permanent residents vote in municipal elections, as Toronto city council requested Tuesday. But if citizenship means something . . . At first blush, the argument for extending the franchise to non-citizens might seem compelling.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/06/12/torontos_plea_to_let_noncitizens_vote_is_wrongheaded_walkom.html

Does Settling in Ethnic Enclaves within Major Cities Help Immigrant Integration? (Settlement AtWork)
This research addresses whether the tendency of immigrants to settle in big Canadian cities and in enclaves within these cities help their integration into Canadian society. The researcher found that many new immigrants to Canada, especially in Toronto and Vancouver, prefer to settle in the suburbs. They do so because their ethnic groups already have established communities there. For example, in Toronto the existing Chinese community in suburban Markham has drawn many Chinese immigrants. He also found that immigrants are willing to sacrifice the job opportunities and economic benefits of smaller Canadian cities for a sense of belonging and cultural identity that is found in the ethnic enclaves of bigger city suburbs.
http://www.settlementatwork.org/_news_/98935

Alberta A Preferred Destination for Newcomers (ERIEC)
The shifting geographic flow of immigrants has an impact on the quality of settlement services provided. The workload of settlement workers increases and the overall settlement funding decreases because of the federal and provincial budget cuts. It raises some serious concerns about the funding for settlement services in Edmonton as our city becomes a home to the vast majority of foreign-born residents and many of them have higher needs. There is a need for dialogue and a visionary approach to services provided to newcomers, so that there are better connections between the available opportunities and the labour market reality in our province.
http://eriecedmonton.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/alberta-a-preferred-destination-for-newcomers/

Multiculturalism – Reality or Illusion (Huffington Post UK)
By contrast, multiculturalism has not come under the same level of criticism in Canada. In 2010, Naheed Nenshi, a Harvard-educated Muslim of Indian descent, was elected as the mayor of Calgary, Canada’s conservative bastion. His victory is one of many examples of Canada’s commitment to multiculturalism that has encouraged immigrants to preserve their ethnic roots while embracing their Canadian identity. The last two Governors General of Canada were born in Hong Kong and Haiti respectively. In Canada, well-integrated immigrants at the pinnacle of success in public and private life are increasingly and refreshingly commonplace.
http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/3364333?utm_hp_ref=tw

Whats Fueling Growth In The Fragmented World Of Messaging Apps? Immigrants. (Kim-Mail Cutler, Techcrunch)
Even though it might seem intuitive that one messaging app will rule them all, WeChat, Line, WhatsApp and others are proving that messaging remains a stubbornly fragmented category with many geographic regions of the world seeing different leaders. KakaoTalk rules in South Korea, while WeChat dominates in China, while Line rules in Japan and the U.S. has no overwhelming leader. One thing thats interesting to note is how these apps are growing outside of their home markets. They are, in fact, spreading through immigrants, according to app tracking company Onavo. So immigrants arent just bringing their languages and cultures to new countries; theyre bringing apps too.
http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/13/messaging-apps

Governments wage war against their own human rights laws (John Swaigen, Toronto Star)
When award-winning writer Varda Burstyn complained to the Canadian Human Rights Commission about her treatment by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the last thing she expected was to be caught in the crossfire of a war between these government agencies.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/06/13/governments_wage_war_against_their_own_human_rights_laws.html

Canada (and Vancouver) tops the world for travelling Brazilian students (Marcel Chaves, Straight.com)
You have probably already met, seen, or will meet a Brazilian here in Vancouver. Thats because Canada is once again Brazilians first choice in where to go to study English, followed by the U.S. and the United Kingdom (this is according to the Brazilian Educational and Language Travel Association, after surveying 89 Brazilian travel agencies). In addition, Brazils consul general to Vancouver, Sergio Florencio, confirmed in an interview in his office that Vancouver, among all Canadian cities, is Brazilians first choice as a place to study English abroad for both short or long periods. This is the fifth year in a row that Canada has led the world in this category, as far as Brazilians are concerned. According to UBC political-science PhD candidate and Liu Institute scholar Deborah Barros Leal Farias, the reasons include: relatively easy access to Canadian visas; cheap program prices; and fewer culture clashes when compared to the U.S., among other reasons.
http://m.straight.com/s;jsessionid=A095F77485E0FE89CA9F5E897E13EEBB?s=60&fid=22&a=389711&f=latest&sp=true

June 2013 E-bulletin (CCLA)
In this issue:
CCLA Celebrates its 3rd Annual Gala
Surveillance Methods Cannot Compromise Fundamental Rights
The Ashley Smith Inquest: Segregation on trial
Ending Discrimination against international students
CCLA Welcomes Ontario Anti-SLAPP Bill
RightsWatch 2013
http://ccla.org/2013/06/12/june-2013-e-bulletin/

Diversity key in boardroom (Irene A. Seiferling, Star Phoenix)
Diversity refers to the different, valuable talents that individuals contribute to a team. Just as a hockey team needs a diversity of talent ranging from forwards and defencemen to goalies and coaches, a board needs the talents contributed by individual directors as well. Well-designed, richly diverse boards consist of high-quality directors who represent a range of skills and experience relevant to the particular company or organization, along with a variety of personal characteristics such as mixed gender. Other variables, such as ethnicity, age, geography and socio-economic status, may also be valuable in specific situations.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.thestarphoenix.com/opinion/Diversity%2Bboardroom/8518414/story.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA34rmjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=XN3zMafngSw&usg=AFQjCNEq2qD6qZxAY06FHcr4yiZDGMjTgQ

Pauline Marois disgraces herself by supporting Quebec Soccer Federation ban on turbans (Charlie Smith, Straight.com)
Quebec premier Pauline Marois backed an organization that banned kids with turbans from playing soccer. There’s always been an undercurrent of xenophobia within the Quebec separatist movement. Not every sovereignist is racist, of course. Far from it. But several people I respect who’ve lived in Quebec have told me that they’ve felt the vibe of racism on occasion. Racism isn’t exclusive to Quebec. It’s on display in every part of Canada. But it’s less frequently espoused by political leaders elsewhere, because they know there’s a high political price to pay in an increasingly diverse country.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.straight.com/news/390506/pauline-marois-disgraces-herself-supporting-quebec-soccer-federation-ban-turbans&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAAoATAAOABA7fPijQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=IHOE6m5Meb4&usg=AFQjCNHweOVjrAkV-gbMErLIkj-4113CTQ

I was a Sikh kid and I loved the game. Rescind the ban (Japreet Lahal, Globe and Mail)
The decision by the Quebec Soccer Federation (QSF) to ban players from playing the game of soccer is not only discriminatory, but an affront to all Canadians across this country who believe in the beauty of Canadas multicultural spirit and its Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Canadian Soccer Associations recent suspension of the QSF may certainly help in pressuring the provincial soccer federation to remove its turban ban. The form of discriminatory bullying carried out by QSF both segregates and ostracizes turbaned children who simply want to play the game of soccer.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/i-was-a-sikh-kid-and-i-loved-the-game-rescind-the-ban/article12490901/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAlv_ijQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=hFxER6lwSrw&usg=AFQjCNEIWEMg3e8xodpjdNYlHI3VWLhYNg

Pettiness, hypocrisy and vacillation of Quebec soccer ban a microcosm of Canadian federalism (Andrew Coyne, National Post)
The thing we can all agree on is that nobody should impose their values on anyone else. The Quebec Soccer Federation should not impose its values on Sikh children and others whose religion commands them to wear a turban while playing. The Canadian Soccer Association should not impose its values on the QSF. And FIFA should not impose its values, whatever these might happen to be, on the CSA. Have I left anyone out? I dont know about you, but it seems to me that the one group that is least in danger of imposing its values on anyone else are the couple of hundred Sikh kids in the middle of all this, who would just like to get in a little soccer in the five minutes or so we have left before winter returns. Yet we are asked to take seriously the arguments of those who would prevent them from doing so, though they have resolutely refused to provide any serious arguments themselves.
http://t.co/LPEXhnIeIS

Could Our Immigration System Be Even More Irrational? Sadly, Yes (John Hinderaker, Powerlineblog)
The U.S. has a terrible immigration system, which was designed largely by Ted Kennedy for the purpose of increasing diversity, without giving any thought to American interests. If we would simply adopt the Canadian system, it would be a vast improvement. Unfortunately, the Gang of Eights bill does not move in the right direction, i.e., an immigration policy that is designed to serve the best interests of the United States. Rather, it would make our immigration system even more irrational and destructive than it is currently.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGV0y5TY6ZN260jip8brOvo8byqOw&url=http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2013/06/could-our-immigration-system-be-even-more-irrational-sadly-yes.php

Public Citizen: Letter 10 months in the making delays Kanata couples adoption of Haitian boy further (Hugh Adami, Ottawa Citizen)
Sarah Currie could not believe her ears the other day when Citizenship and Immigration called to tell her why the department could not get back to her sooner. It apparently took Citizenship and Immigration more than 10 months to draft a letter to Currie and her husband Michael, explaining why a little Haitian boy they are adopting would have to be sponsored to be allowed into the country. The couple had hoped Smith, a 21-month-old toddler, could have been brought in as a Canadian citizen after the department told Currie on two occasions last summer to go ahead with a citizenship application.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Public%2BCitizen%2BLetter%2Bmonths%2Bmaking%2Bdelays%2BKanata%2Bcouple%2Badoption%2BHaitian%2Bfurther/8517033/story.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAnuvkjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLUNB&cd=9P3YTuCTgLY&usg=AFQjCNElBE4f_wsllMg6XYwfOA_yPBfNyQ

Feminisms double standard: Me and Beyoncé are out of the club (Denise Balkissoon, Globe and Mail)
To truly be meaningful to all 3.5 billion women on earth, feminism must, by definition, consider how sex and gender interplay with ability, class, race and the rest of it. The clunky but well-meaning term intersectionality has been coined to express that complex tangle. Ideally, whats supposed to happen is any woman worrying how her gender might be working against her is also supposed to think about how her education, good health, or infusions of parental cash might be working for her, too. Instead, when high-profile feminists are accused of framing womens issues through a limited, narcissistic lens, the response is either a meek apology (but no change in behaviour) or a full-out attack.
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/feminisms-double-standard-me-and-beyonce-are-out-of-the-club/article12491469/?service=mobile

The Diversity Diary: 2.02 Visible Minority (Michael Bach, CIDI)
Welcome to The Diversity Diary, a vlog by Michael Bach, Founder and CEO of the Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion. Today Michael comments on the term visible minority and the need for change in the dialogue.
http://ow.ly/lXMrb

Swiss Seminar Outcomes and #CoveringMigration Campaign Seek Improved Migration Coverage (UNAOC)
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has just launched a social media campaign, #coveringmigration, to continue discussions on how to best cover migration in the media following the release of the outcomes [ EN, FR, DE] of a Swiss seminar in May 2013 in Berne. The campaign will run through mid-July and cover the following themes:
What are best practices for covering migration?
What helps journalists establish context?
What resources are available for journalists?
What work is still needed to improve coverage?
http://www.unaoc.org/2013/06/swiss-seminar-outcomes-and-coveringmigration-campaign-seek-improved-migration-coverage/

REFUGEES

Webinar: Legal Training on Temporary Resident Permits for Trafficked Persons (CCR)
In this webinar, Cathy Kolar and Loly Rico will provide a legal training on Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs) for trafficked non-citizens. It includes an overview of the permit, the interview process, strengths and shortcomings of the permit and other avenues to regularization for internationally trafficked persons. This webinar is intended for lawyers, services providers and other working on or interested in trafficking issues. Wednesday, June 26th, 1-2 pm (Eastern time)
http://ccrweb.ca/en/webinar/legal-training-temporary-resident-permits

Journey from refugee camp ends at University of Toronto graduation (Valerie Hauch, Toronto Star)
Its a long way from the dusty Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya to the University of Torontos Convocation Hall where degrees have been handed out to students in the traditional cap and gown for more than a century. But Sudan-born Yak Deng is proof that such long journeys are possible as he ascends the stage Wednesday afternoon to get his bachelor of science in applied microbiology, after four years of full-scholarship education at the Scarborough campus. The 24-year-old is the eldest of four sisters and three brothers, and the only one to graduate from university . . . and also from high school, he says with a soft laugh.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/06/12/journey_from_refugee_camp_ends_at_university_of_toronto_graduation.html

EMPLOYMENT & WORKERS

First Prince George Online Job Fair for New Canadians a Success (IECBC)
Almost 2,000 people visited the web portal created for the first Prince George Online Job Fair held on June 4, 2013 and viewed the pages of participating employers about 12,800 times, making the event a success. Of the participants, 40 per cent were from Vancouver, 32 per cent were from other communities in Metro Vancouver and 28 per cent were from Prince George.
http://www.iecbc.ca/about-us/in-the-news/news/first-prince-george-online-job-fair-new-canadians-success

When Hiring a Temporary Foreign Worker Can Lead to Human Trafficking Charges (James Plett, PaySavvy.com)
Temporary Foreign Workers fill a valuable and essential gap in the Canadian economy. They serve your food and they pump your gas. But they also run your IT department and patch you up in the Emergency Room. While the TFW program may need to be revised somewhat, we also need to rethink the way we educate our youth and how we hire and train them. When jobs go wanting across Canada while the unemployment rate remains high, its not hard to see that we have a serious labour problem in Canada.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=https://paysavvy.com/blog/when-hiring-a-temporary-foreign-worker-can-lead-to-human-trafficking-charges/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAEoATAAOABAmvnljQVIAlgAYgVlbi1VUw&cd=MthfoDpVfDQ&usg=AFQjCNE_4yFAaZrXay7DqsxwbHCudOrNbg

The TFWP and Harper’s smokescreen (Espe Currie, THIS Magazine)
In their report on the change, the Globe and Mail interviewed Richard Kurland, an immigration lawyer practicing in Vancouver. This is a civil liberties grab, Kurland said to the paper. Its a tough call: both the wage change and the new policing policies are arguably beneficial for temporary foreign workers, and will prevent at least some of the worst aspects of the previous policysystemic (and often encouraged) exploitation that benefits business at the expense of poorly paid imported labour with very few rights in this country.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://this.org/blog/2013/06/12/the-tfwp-and-harpers-smokescreen/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA6rnjjQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=pq0OyNCNMUA&usg=AFQjCNElhWEJNoxWT_rM2wa1mdCFED0fUg

Towards a new model for worker organizing: The Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal (Scott Neigh, rabble)
On this week’s episode of Talking Radical Radio, organizer Mostafa Henaway talks about his years of work with the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal. Though it is not yet as intense as in the United States, and there have been important victories as well, in the last few decades the membership and strength of trade unions in Canada has been gradually declining. As well, the ways in which work and employment are organized have shifted drastically towards things like greater precarity for more and more workers, and an increasing role for forms of work mediated by things like placement agencies and programs for temporary foreign workers. One of the ways that organizers have been responding to these changes is through increasing use of organizational forms outside of mainstream unions, including workers centres. Heneway talks about what the IWC does, the strengths and challenges of the worker centre model, and the importance of centering the experiences of precarious workers and workers who are immigrants to Canada.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFWGh0hk8uRgdEcDExibnCiPvl3oQ&url=http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/talking-radical-radio/2013/06/towards-new-model-worker-organizing-immigrant-workers-c

Video: Corneliu Chisu on Foreign Credential Recognition for Immigrants (FAQMP)
http://faqmp.ichannel.ca/videos/corneliu-chisu-on-foreign-credential-recognition-for-immigrants

Warrantless workplace searches raise concerns from businesses (Steven Chase, Richard Blackwell And Tavia Grant, Globe and Mail)
Canadas largest business group says its disturbed by new warrantless search and seizure powers the Harper government has given federal officials to inspect thousands of workplaces as part of a tightening of the controversial foreign temporary worker program. Changes to immigration and refugee protection regulations, published just days ago, give Human Resources and Skills Development Canada officials or Citizenship and Immigration Canada officers the right to walk in on businesses as part of a random audit or because they suspect fraud.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/warrantless-workplace-searches-raise-concerns-from-businesses/article12486551/?cmpid=rss1

SOCIAL INNOVATION / NONPROFITS

Spur Vancouver: Global Power Shift (Vancouver Observer)
Spur is Canadas first national festival of politics, art and ideas. Spur is produced by Diaspora Dialogues and the Literary Review of Canada. Designed to engage Canadians in a feisty, nation-wide search for ways forward on the most current of issues, Spur is multi-partisan, forward-looking and solutions-orientedspurring ideas into action. With editions in Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver in 2013, and an eventual roll-out from coast-to-coast-to-coast, Spur is a modern-day railroad, linking communities across Canada in conversation that is both national in scope and local in nuance. Much like the CP historically connected Canadians to one another, and provided the means of transporting people, goods and ideas across our country, Spur lays tracks between Canadians of all backgrounds, building a broad public forum accessible to all.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.vancouverobserver.com/node/15596&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABA8K3hjQVIAlgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=j0eALLLOqck&usg=AFQjCNE0KN3QmyjNTrUgVQdH7vTETYbBCg

Can we please stop getting creamed on messaging? (Jason Mogus, Communicopia)
While many progressive ideas tend to succeed in the long run, (I’m talking a 30 year time horizon) as a movement we’re not half as effective as our opposition at creating messaging that wins hearts and minds today. There’s a lot of suffering that takes place in those 30 years. Whether it’s the failure of the climate movement to maintain traction, US Republicans turning “energy independence” into a rallying cry for “drill baby drill”, or more locally to me the completely unexpected progressive party’s (NDP) loss in the British Columbia election last month, the social change movement has a lot to be humbled by in our communications work. Here’s why I think right wing parties and monied interests resisting social change tend to run circles around us in messaging.
http://communicopia.com/insights/can-we-please-stop-getting-creamed-on-messaging