New quarter honouring veterans loses shine From: www.cbc.ca Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:02:22 EDT
	CHARLOTTETOWN - The paint on the Royal Canadian Mint's new quarter is easily scratched off, P.E.I. residents say. The mint's new coin contains a painted red poppy on engraved maple leaves, a recognition of Canada's war veterans.
David Dingwall, Royal Canadian Mint CEO, and Mary Ann Burdett of the Royal Canadian Legion, unveil the world's first coloured circulation coin in Winnipeg Thursday.) The mint says problems were anticipated, and under normal usage, the quarters should keep their colour for up to three years. The coin was formally released in Winnipeg on Thursday while the Tim Hortons doughnut chain and Royal Canadian Legion halls are handing it out in change across the country. Coffee buyers in P.E.I. found the paint would come off when they got quarters in their change. The mint is promoting the the coin as "a world first. A Royal Canadian Mint exclusive!" on its website. "This extraordinary coin is an expression of our appreciation and respect for the sacrifice and duty of Canada's soldiers - fallen, returned, retired and active," the mint said.

Aid For Foreign-trained Engineers
October 27, 2004
The Ontario government will spend $2 million over two years on a project that will help internationally trained engineers continue their careers in Ontario.
"Many newcomers to Ontario bring with them a wealth of experience and impressive qualifications," said Mary Anne Chambers, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
"Through this project, we are making it possible for them to use their skills and training and contribute to the economy to provide their families with a high quality of life, and help us build strong communities," she said.
The project will be developed by Professional Engineers Ontario, the regulatory body for the province's engineers. It will provide internationally trained engineers with online mentoring and
coaching, and access to relevant courses and services offered by post-secondary institutions and community-based agencies.
The project will also develop an interactive website that will provide potential immigrants with information about requirements to become licensed in the province, and details about the job market.
The website is expected to be online by next summer.
In addition, Professional Engineers Ontario will develop a college course for international engineering graduates that will be the equivalent of the 12 months Canadian work experience that's required for a permanent licence.
Last year, Professional Engineers Ontario received more than 2,000 applications from internationally trained engineers and granted 105 provisional licences. The organization expects it will grant 50 per cent more licences as a result of this project.
Over the past four years, about 40,000 internationally trained engineers immigrated to Ontario. About one-third of licensed engineers in Ontario were educated outside Canada.

Canadians first for flu shots: Prime Minister
Thu, 21 Oct 2004 1
MONTREAL - Prime Minister Paul Martin says supplying the United States with flu shots won't come at the expense of Canadians, as a one-day, Americans-only flu clinic is set to open in Vancouver.
* INDEPTH: Flu http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/flu/
Flu vaccine (AP Photo)
Speaking Wednesday night in Montreal, the prime minister said Canadians are first in line for this country's supply of flu shots.
"Obviously, if we can help the Americans we will, but we are not going to do it at the expense of Canadians," said Martin.
"The minister of health has been very clear on this, obviously the first call on flu shots is going to Canadians and we're going to make sure that there is no shortage," said Martin.
On Wednesday, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority said it would set up a one-day flu shot clinic for Americans.
The health authority's Vivianna Zanocco says the health authority has a surplus of the vaccine, and stresses U.S. patients aren't being subsidized.
The shots being offered are not coming from the province's 900,000 doses ordered for the elderly, chronically sick and their caregivers, and children under three.
Americans will be charged a $30 clinic fee plus $20 for the vaccine.
Meanwhile, health officials in northern Ontario are turning away Americans crossing the border looking for the vaccine. A spokesperson for the Northwestern Health Unit in Kenora said the supply of vaccines are for Ontarians only.
Written by CBC News Online staff

Foreign-trained Engineers To Take Up Access Issue
http://www.weeklyvoice.com/PrintArticle.asp?CNewsID=526979
Saturday October 16, 2004
CAPE (Council for Access to the Profession of Engineering) is busy putting together a plan of action to help the struggling foreign trained engineers where they rightfully belong. Though the plight of doctors have gained notoriety in this country, the engineers face similar obstacles without much attention being given to the issue.

They took an initiative to get together and first find out what the problems were. Numerous group consultations with internationally trained engineering graduates (ITEGs) and ethno-cultural associations culminated in a survey of 536 ITEGs from more than fifty countries. The results reveal:

* Over 50% are currently unemployed, greater than 30% are in jobs not related to their training while only 18% of ITEGs surveyed are working in a field related to their expertise.

These results show the need for an organization to voice the concerns of this community of highly skilled immigrants.

The Council for Access to the Profession of Engineering (CAPE) aspires to become the Ontario-based association that voices the concerns of ITEGs. On October 16, 2004, CAPE will officially launch at a forum entitled "Globalization, international mobility, engineering and Canada in the 21st Century". This event will initiate constructive engagement of employers, government leaders, academia, regulators, advocacy groups, service providers, and ITEGs. The goal is to convene a multi-stakeholder roundtable to develop strategies to integrate ITEGs into the Ontario engineering workforce. CAPE's mission is to:

* Mobilize resources and create opportunities to bridge cultural and other disconnects between ITEGs and the mainstream engineering fraternity of Ontario.

* Constructively engage all stakeholders of the engineering community in Ontario to create a process for better recognition of international engineering experience.

* Become a collective voice and the premium engineering resource organization for ITEGs and the engineering industry in Ontario.

Against this background CAPE is undertaking the 'Engineering Access' community research project funded by Canadian Heritage, Human Resources Skills Development, and voluntary contributions by CAPE members. This project seeks to:

* Develop a collective voice for ITEG's across Ontario.

* Setup a multi-stakeholder roundtable in search of strategies and actions to integrate ITEGs into Ontario's engineering fraternity.

* Achieve fair, transparent and accountable practices in accessing work experience, training and licensing.

Information: Dr. Gurmeet Bambrah or Maurice Homer-Vanniasinkam at 416 979 8611 x 4306, or visit our website www.capeinfo.ca

Home Ownership Still Attainable in Toronto
TORONTO, Oct. 21 /CNW/ - Toronto may be the second most expensive market in Canada, trailing only Vancouver in price, but within the Greater Toronto Area there are several pockets of affordability.
"Condominiums in general constitute one of the most affordable housing types in the Greater Toronto Area," says Toronto Real Estate Board President Ron Abraham.
In Oshawa for example, it is possible to purchase a condominium Townhouse for under $110,000. In Etobicoke and some of North York's western neighbourhoods it is possible to buy a condominium apartment for about the same price.
The overall median price for Condo-Apartments is $190,600, which is up a modest two per cent over the $186,000 recorded last October. This compares to the six per cent price increase of detached homes, which comprise over half of the resale homes in the GTA and have a median price of $339,000.
Even fashionable condominium styles such as lofts, which feature high ceilings and unique floor plans, remain a relatively affordable option.
There have been 529 lofts sold in 2004, primarily in central Toronto, for a median price of $245,000. This is a mere three per cent increase from the $240,650 recorded during the same timeframe in 2003.