INSTALLATION OF NEW ARCHBISHOP ON 21 MARCH

The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman is getting set for a unique three-tier event: the installation of Rev Fr Filipe Neri Ferrao as Archbishop of Goa and Daman, send off to the outgoing Archbishop Patriarch, Rev Fr Raul Gonsalves, and the maiden visit to this archdiocese by the Apostolic Nuncio to India, Rev Pedro Lopez Quintana. The celebration will be held at the Se Cathedral, Old Goa, on 21 March, at 10 am. (WE-GT)

Newsline Canada

"Today we live in an age of migration. People from every corner of the globe are on the move in unprecedented numbers in search of a better life for themselves and their families."
ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE JUDY SGRO, MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
At the Ontario Immigration Roundtable Toronto, Ontario February 9, 2004.
Click to see full address and article

Home ownership in Canada
Affordability will remain solid in 2004 as market continues to move into balanced territory
TORONTO, Feb. 17 /CNW/ - Alberta's reign as one of the most affordable provinces in Canada in which to own a home is expected to continue through 2004, according to the new Housing Affordability Index released today by RBC Economics.
RBC's Housing Affordability Index for Alberta -- which measures the proportion of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of owning a home - remained unchanged from the previous quarter at 27.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2003. This translates into an average monthly payment of $1,231 for an average detached bungalow (principal, interest, tax and utilities) and compares to a national average of 32.2 per cent or $1,283 per month for the final quarter of 2003. For full text click here.

Corporate Canada fails to protect stakeholders
Corporate Directors warn more financial statement manipulation ahead in 2004: KPMG Survey.
TORONTO, Feb. 10 /CNW/ - In a survey sent to the directors of 75 of Canada's largest corporations, 84 per cent said that they think it is likely they will hear of a public company in Canada that has been involved in financial statement manipulation in 2004, according to this year's Survey of the Risk of Manipulation of Financial Statements published today by KPMG Forensic. A further 46 per cent thought it possible that such manipulation could occur in the company of the Board on which they themselves sit.    "It's illuminating that our survey results show that this type of fraudulent behaviour carried out as a conspiracy by a group of senior people to deceive corporate directors, auditors, lenders and other stakeholders to line their own pockets, has come to be seen as commonplace," says James Hunter, President, KPMG Forensic. For full text click here.

"Canada's future is going to depend even more on immigration" Citizenship and Immigration Minister Judy Sgro
Toronto Star Feb. 10, 2004. 01:00 AM
Cities want immigration deal Talks with senior governments a first
But no cash from Ottawa forthcoming
NICHOLAS KEUNG IMMIGRATION/DIVERSITY REPORTER
While Ottawa hasn't promised additional funding for immigration programs, some Ontario municipal leaders say they are pleased to be part of federal-provincial talks for an immigration agreement.
Eight mayors and regional chairs from across the province met with Citizenship and Immigration Minister Judy Sgro and her provincial counterpart, Marie Bountrogianni, in Toronto yesterday to come up with a framework to better deliver immigrant settlement programs.For full text click here.

Owners have until March 31 to file property assessment complaints
TORONTO, Feb. 16 /CNW/ - Property owners who disagree with the property assessments they have received from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) for tax purposes, have until March 31, 2004 to file an annual assessment complaint with the Assessment Review Board (ARB). The ARB is an independent, adjudicative tribunal established under statute by the Province of Ontario that hears property assessment complaints across the province.For full text click here.

News Clips from Goa
by Joel D'Souza & Fred Noronha

Iranian Charter
The first Iranian chartered flight this season arrived at Dabolim airport on February 9. Leading tourism company, travel Corporation of India, brought in the flight for the second year in a row. According to A Gomes Pereira, the passengers are clients of Tehran-based Mika Seir, one of Iran’s leading travel agencies. The passengers were put up at the Park Hyatt, Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Goa Marriott Resort and Holiday Inn. During their four-night-five-day stay the visitors, including the owner of Mika Seir, were given a comprehensive look at what the State has to offer, Gomes Pereira said.

Canadian national robbed
A Canadian national, Mr Nathas Weles, was robbed of his cash and valuables worth Rs.95,000 at the Kadamba Transport Corporation bus terminus on Feb 7 afternoon. Mr Weles had gone to answer nature’s call leaving his bag and baggage at the mercy of his friend Mr Jarod. Both of them were standing in a queue to buy tickets to go to Margao through shuttle service.

Birmingham city mayor In Panjim

On Feb 19, the Lord Mayor of the Birmingham and his wife, paid a visit to the office of the City Corporation of Panaji. The august couple were welcomed by City Commissioner Sanjith Rodrigues, Corporation president Ashok Naik and Councillors. Speaking about Birmingham, the Mayor said that it was a "multi-cultural city". He also said that this trip to India was fascinating and that the hospitality of the people here was great. For more text click here.

118 Goals In Two Matches!
Yesterday (Feb 16) it rained goals in Goa—118 in two football matches which officials now believe were fixed. A majority of the goals came in the second half of the matches with a goal being scored every 45 to 50 seconds. In the final play-off matches of Goa Football Association’s Second Division Football League, Wilfred Leisure played Dona Paula SC at Duler and recorded a 55-1 (half-time 7-0) score while Curtorim Gymkhana took on Sangolda Lightning at Chinchinim and registered a 61-1 verdict after taking a 1-0 lead at the breather. The four teams including the players and officials, have been suspended indefinitely till the disciplinary committee decides on a future course of action.

Events

People Places and Things

New Technology Changes the Canadian Real Estate Industry
HALIFAX, Feb. 13 /CNW/ - XstreamRealty.com announces the official launch of their complete end-to-end online realty solution, which marks the creation of a new eRealty industry in Canada. XstreamRealty.com introduces new technology, which provides Canadian homeowners with all the tools they require to sell their property independently via the Internet.
By facilitating the negotiation process between Buyer(s) and Seller(s), Xstream Realty's Web portal allows Buyer(s) to inspect, tour, and purchase a property without needing to leave the comfort of their home. "We are proud to be the first in Canada to provide online realty negotiations to the growing For Sale By Owner Market, and believe that our services will bridge the gap between this new trend and the traditional real estate industry." Says Amie Walton, President of Xstream Realty Incorporated.
"Our goal is to enhance our product and provide a flexible, easy to use, service for consumers so that Internet realty transactions will become as common and convenient as online banking and eCommerce." Inc.

Patricia D'Souza to be editor of THIS magazine.

National Post (Toronto). THIS Magazine announced that Patricia D'Souza would be replacing Julie Crysler as editor-in-chief at the 38-year old progressive publication. D'Souza, currently managing editor of Iqualuit's Nunatsiaq News, has previously worked as a copy editor at the National Post and the managing editor of Canadian Business.[Patricia was born in Canada and is of Goan origin. Her parents were born in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) and moved to Canada in 1972.]

Obituary

Announcements

Every year, Canada welcomes thousands of new residents. Coming to Canada as an immigrant is an exciting opportunity, but also a great challenge.
If you are interested in immigrating to Canada, you have a number of options when applying for permanent residence status. Read about these programs and decide which class suits you and your family best.
A Newcomer's Introduction to Canada can help you plan your move to Canada. The guide includes advice on such things as preparing to enter the Canadian work force, choosing a place to live and learning about life in Canada.

Doctors for the North
There is a shortage of doctors in the North. Here is the person to contact if you have time to help us.
Sandra Toback, Inuit Health Program,
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit
Tel 204. 789- 3582 Fax: 204.789-3959 Toll Free 1.877-480-1999
email address:toback@ms.umanitoba.ca

Health & Wellness

New National Network Supports Canadians Dealing with Death and Dying
TORONTO, Feb. 6 /CNW/ - Canadians have a new source of information and support about death and dying with today's launch of the Canadian Virtual Hospice at www.virtualhospice.ca .
The new bilingual website, launched at a news conference at Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg this morning, provides high quality health information about death and dying, as well as a forum for Canadians to share their experiences with illness or grief. For full text click here.

How to Avoid "Taxing" Headaches with T4s
"Knowing what information is included - and possibly missing - on your T4 statement is crucial," says ADP payroll expert
TORONTO, Feb. 16 /CNW/ - Approximately three in four working Canadians have now received their annual T4 statement, setting Canada's annual tax season in motion. According to ADP Canada, the country's leader in outsourced employer services (including payroll and T4 preparation), Canadians who don't bother to check their T4 statement do so at their peril.
"It's important for every employee to understand and check the information on their T4," said Don McGuire, Vice President Client Services, ADP Canada. "Errors in basic items such as your name, address and social insurance number, or differences that you can't reconcile with the year-to- date totals on your final pay stub in 2003 could signal a problem that needs to be corrected." For full text click here.

Backup Power For Your Home
You rely on many appliances and systems in your home for your health, comfort and security. Most depend completely on utility-supplied electricity.
It makes sense to have a backup system that will keep your family comfortable and your home safe in a power failure.
These Top Ten Tips are a brief guide to backup systems. Six basic types of backup systems are described . For details go to (part b)

Heart and Stroke Foundation warns fat is the new tobacco
TORONTO, Feb. 10 /CNW/ - According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Annual Report Card on Canadians' Health, the increasing number of overweight and obese Canadians now poses one of the greatest threats ever to public health in this country.
"The prevalence of this serious health risk is almost exactly what we faced with tobacco use 30 years ago - when half of Canadians smoked," says Dr. Anthony Graham, Heart and Stroke Foundation spokesperson and cardiologist. Since that time, smoking rates have dropped by half - but during those same three decades, we've been losing ground in the area of overweight and obesity. For full text click here.