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Toronto must be more competitive, says OECD http://www.oecd.org/document/36/0,3343,en_2649_37429_44033380_1_1_1_1,00.html 06/11/09 - Toronto is home to 40% of Canada’s business headquarters, the world’s seventh largest stock exchange, and it produces almost 20% of the national GDP. Toronto is also home to some 5 million people, half of them immigrants, making it one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the OECD. By comparison, in New York and London, about 28% of residents are foreign-born. With more than 100 ethnic groups, Toronto’s large pool of language and cultural skills are a major asset and a factor boosting its competitiveness. Despite these benefits, the region’s GDP per capita and GDP growth are lower than the Canadian average and its annual economic and labour growth are lower than average compared to other metropolitan regions in the OECD. A major manufacturing hub, with automotive, biomedical, computer/electronics and entertainment companies, Toronto is nonetheless facing strong competition and losing manufacturing jobs. Releasing the Review in Toronto, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said that “Cities like Toronto are the drivers of local, regional and national growth. They are the hubs of higher education, finance, industry and innovation.But as they compete with each other to attract talent and investment, they must constantly upgrade the services they offer.” OECD’s new review of the Toronto region makes numerous recommendations to make the city more sustainably competitive: Innovate - Toronto could boost innovation by encouraging greater collaboration between the region’s industries, small businesses and universities and strengthening links between firms. Governments could build on and expand laudable initiatives like the MaRS Discovery District in downtown Toronto, where technological start-ups in life sciences are assisted with work space and services, allowing for inter-linkages between sectors. Employ skilled immigrants - To profit from the economic and employment opportunities offered by Toronto’s cultural diversity, initiatives such as bridging programmes and internships should be expanded. Reviewing the credentials of prospective immigrants before they arrive in Canada and a pan-Canadian framework for foreign qualification recognition would speed the employment process. To provide housing for new immigrants, regional agreements could define the share of low-cost housing to be included in new developments Improve transport infrastructure - Financial incentives to use public transit instead of cars, such as congestion charges, high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, local fuel taxes and parking taxes could be considered, as could more revenue sources for Metrolinx, the regional transportation agency. The federal government should work with municipal governments on predictable, long-term, infrastructure funding and evaluation with a view to contributing to the competitiveness of the Toronto region and the country as a whole. Green the region - Initiatives such as Toronto’s Mayor’s Tower Renewal project, which links social and environmental sustainability, should be expanded to include greening affordable housing and focussing on green jobs and industries. This would stimulate SMEs to develop alternative technologies and energy sources, allowing industry, transportation, etc to phase out carbon-based energy. Improve co-ordination and communications across all levels of government – Ontario could intensify strategic planning for the Toronto region’s economic development, social integration and environmental sustainability. Existing networks of municipalities and non-governmental stakeholders could be further developed as part of a provincial urban policy agenda which would start with the Toronto region and extend to other cities. The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, announced in August 2009, will encourage federal involvement in fostering a sustainable competitiveness agenda for the Toronto region.

Canada to expand overseas new immigrant services http://www.southasianfocus.ca/printArticle/80292 Wednesday November 11 2009 | By SUNIL RAO Canada proposes to expand its overseas pilot project aimed at better equipping newcomer professionals immigrating through the skilled worker program to hit the deck running after landing here, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney said last week. "We will announce details about the expansion next month," he told Focus. The minister was speaking to the media alongside the Sixth Annual Diwali Gala organized by the Canada-India Business Council at a glittering function graced by several key politicians of all stripes and hues, senior business leaders and prominent community members. An estimated 400 people attended. Kenney said the planned expansion would follow the success of its initial pilot project wherein Ottawa had selected its missions in New Delhi, Beijing and Manila to do a better job of informing prospective immigrants about actual Canadian conditions, particularly as regards the jobs market and the importance of credentials evaluation. The project had been initiated by the then CIC Minister Diane Finley, to enable newcomers learn if, for instance, they needed to upgrade their academic skills, and how they could do so, even before landing on Canadian shores; this has since already been substantially enhanced, Kenney suggested. "Prospective immigrants (provisionally) selected through the federal skilled workers' program are being invited to a free two-day seminar conducted in New Delhi, where they're given practical information about the jobs market in Canada, which jobs are in demand at which places, how they can get their academic credentials evaluated, what they need to do to upgrade their qualifications and how they can do so - even as their medical and security checks are being carried out," the minister said. Kenney earlier informed the audience Canada is working with India on several initiatives, all aimed at boosting bilateral trade, currently at a "ridiculously low" level, to $10 billion. He noted applications for immigrant visas are today coming in from all over India - rather than primarily the north-western region of Punjab and Haryana, as has hitherto been the case - and that Canada has also vastly improved its express visa service for businessmen, which offers multiple entry visas to applicants within just 24 hours. "We're also actively negotiating a nuclear cooperation pact and have an investment protection agreement, and have established one of our most widespread overseas network offices in India, with three new trade offices opened by our government since 2006," he said. "We're also dedicated to doubling the number of Indian students coming to Canada," the minister said. He however declined specifics on the nuclear cooperation pact, noting Prime Minister Stephen Harper leads a high-level delegation to India Nov 16-18. Earlier Liberal Opposition leader Michael Ignatieff welcomed Harper's visit to India, "as long as it's not just a photo-op". Addressing the diners, he said Canada must take a leadership role in helping India develop financial services, clean energy and advanced water technologies. Ignatieff praised the Indo-Canadian community and India as "a country that has managed to maintain democratic stability and at the same time (brought) hundreds of millions of people into the promise of growth". He added Harper's visit must be part of a "steady, sustained, engaged commitment" to develop closer relations between the two countries. The Liberal leader stressed Canada needs to diversify its trade partners, and that the moving axis of trade towards India and China "reflects no more than the very identity of Canada itself, today, and its peoples". Sandra Pupatello, Ontario Minister of Economic Development&Trade, noted the province's trade with India has surged 108 per cent over the last five years, and attributed "the relation we've built with India is due to the people in this room". The council's new president and executive director Rana Sarkar noted C-IBC has doubled its membership since he was brought aboard some nine months earlier. He added that going forward, Canada's single requirement is the need to diversify, and that India, even with its many challenges, provides a strong future alternative. Others to address the gala included Roy MacLaren, chair, C-IBC, who welcomed the audience; Gerald Grandey, president and CEO, Cameco Corp, who provided an outline of the possible benefits nuclear energy cooperation would offer both Canada and India; and Peter Sutherland, who conducted the proceedings.

New Canadian Citizenship guide to help understand Canada http://www.visabureau.com/canada/news/16-11-2009/understand-canada.aspx A larger and more comprehensive study guide for Canadian Citizenship was launched recently by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. The guide is designed to promote to Canadian visa holders, new immigrants and Canadian citizens alike a greater understanding of Canada’s history, values, while highlighting the contribution of ethnic and cultural communities in shaping the Canadian identity. Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship includes information on common values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the equality of men and women. “People come from all over the world to seek Canadian citizenship. It is highly valued,” said Minister Kenney. “We expect people who want to become Canadians to have a good understanding of their rights and responsibilities, and the values and institutions that are rooted in Canada’s history. By strengthening the guide, we are increasing the value of Canadian citizenship.” The first step towards becoming a Canadian citizen is to emigrate to Canada with a permanent visa, and the most popular option for this is the Canadian skilled worker visa as it allows successful applicants to live and work in Canada as permanent residents. Excerpts from Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Canadian Citizenship Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:40 AM by Jeremy Barker http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2009/11/12/351565.aspx

China pledges $10bn Africa loans Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/8349020.stm China has pledged to give Africa $10bn (£6bn) in concessional loans over the next three years, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said at a summit in Egypt. The Chinese leader is attending a two-day forum on China-Africa cooperation in Sharm el-Sheikh, attended by officials from 50 nations.  "We will help Africa build up financing capacity," Mr Wen told the summit.  Several heads of state and government are attending the meeting, including the Presidents of Sudan and Zimbabwe.  Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak inaugurated the forum, the fourth of its kind, and spoke of "peace, security and growth," and of "boosting cooperation between China and Africa." Mr Wen also said China is planning to create environmental programmes for Africa, including 100 clean energy projects. The West has previously accused China of plundering Africa's natural resources - to fuel its booming economy - and of overlooking the human rights records of some governments they do business with.  In the run up to the summit, China's state owned Global Times newspaper wrote "The West is envious of China and Africa drawing closer," and quoted one Chinese Africa expert as saying "Europeans view Africa as their own backyard." China pledged $5bn (£3bn) of assistance at the last cooperation summit in Beijing in 2006, and signed agreements to relieve or cancel the debt of more than 30 African countries.

International Criminal Court seeking speedy Kenya trials Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/8347999.stm The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor says he wants to move quickly against the perpetrators of Kenya's 2007 post-election violence. Luis Moreno Ocampo said two or three cases could come to trial by July next year. Mr Ocampo said "speed" was important so Kenya could hold its next election in 2012 without the threat of violence. On Thursday, Mr Ocampo formally requested judges at the Hague to open an investigation into the violence. "Everyone is worried about the next election in Kenya in 2012. That is why I understand the importance of speed," Mr Ocampo told reporters in Nairobi as he ended a three-day visit. He indicated that any trials could take place in Kenya, or at least in Arusha - in Tanzania - where suspects involved in the 1994 Rwanda genocide have been prosecuted. After meeting with the chief prosecutor earlier in the week, Kenya's government said it would co-operate with an ICC probe. Prominent Kenyan politicians, including cabinet ministers, are suspected of being behind the violence. The clashes between December 2007 and February 2008 left some 1,300 people dead and forced 300,000 from their homes. President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agreed to share power to end the clashes that followed the 2007 poll. A power-sharing deal in 2008 - brokered by former UN head Kofi Annan - agreed that a local tribunal would be set up to prosecute those behind the violence.