Brampton’s Citizen of the Year
Date: May 24, 2011
Maria Britto is the Brampton Guardian's 2010 Citizen of the Year.

Click image to listen to her speech.

Legit consultants to go after ghost visa facilitators
Excerpt from: http://www.southasianfocus.ca/community
South Asian Focus | Wednesday May 25 2011 | By Sunil Rao

The recently instituted Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), which is set to shortly take over as the new regulatory body for immigration consultants - or Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), to give them their righful name - will inter alia "go after ghost consultants," both inside and outside Canada, Interim President and CEO Phil Mooney told practitioners at a recent Town Hall in Brampton.

Contrary to popular perception, there are plenty of ghost consultants operating right here in Canada, he asserted.

Click here to read full article...

Study highlights attitudes of second-generation immigrants

They like multiculturalism but don't all agree on the issue of religion

FREDERICTON, NB, May 30 /CNW/ - A cross-Canada study of second-generation immigrants shows broad support for the concept of multiculturalism. There are, however, differences of opinion when the matter of religion comes up: significant numbers of evangelical Christians felt they were being discriminated against, and overall, people felt that if there was one religion that was being treated unfairly, it was Islam.

The study was led by Peter Beyer, a professor of religious studies at the University of Ottawa. He presented the results this past weekend at the 2011 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Beyer's study involved 36 focus groups of young adults (ages 18-30) who were second-generation immigrants. He wanted to measure attitudes to multiculturalism and religious freedom. Beyer found there was approval for the idea of multiculturalism. When he asked the groups what they thought of Canadian culture, most said Canadian culture either did not exist, or were unsure how to define it.

The exception was Quebec, where everyone was clear about there being a Quebec culture. In fact, Beyer said some of the second-generation immigrants interviewed felt very strongly about the issue and were devout sovereigntists.

Opinions on religion were sharper.

Most young, second-generation immigrants interviewed were in favour of acceptance of religious diversity, but many people said there were limits. "There's a sense," said Beyer, "that if you let this go too far, there's a danger."

And one religious group stood out. "We found a not-insignificant number of Christian groups at the evangelical end of the spectrum who felt they were discriminated against," he said. "Some people thought Canada should be a Christian country and they were distressed it wasn't."

People in this group were unhappy with the idea of religion being a private matter. Young, second-generation immigrants also had strong feelings about Islam: "There was widespread opinion that if there's a disadvantaged religion in this country, it's Islam," he said. Beyer noted that there were also significant differences between Quebec and the rest of Canada on the issue of racism.

While immigrants of African origin in, say, Toronto, felt that there was hope they could fully integrate into Canada even if there were problems today, that sense of hopefulness was absent among people of African origin living in Quebec.

"They were the only ones who felt they were completely apart," said Beyer.

Get More from the Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities

Organized by the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences brings together scholars, graduate students, practitioners, and policy-makers to share groundbreaking research and examine the most important social and cultural issues of the day. This year's Congress is co-hosted by the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University and runs from May 28 to June 4.

The Congress program includes original research from across disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, providing a great collection of expert sources and innovative story leads. If you are interested accessing the latest research in the social sciences and humanities, please contact us to be added to our mailing list.

www.congress2011.ca

Although hunger in Canada at record level Canadians can make a change and make a difference

Great Canadian Lunch-In events planned across Canada to mark Hunger Awareness Day (May 31), in support of the nearly 900,000 Canadians who turn to food banks each month

TORONTO, May 30, 2011 /CNW/ - Having reached the highest recorded peak for food bank usage in this country, Food Banks Canada is calling on all Canadians to Make a Change and Make a Difference on Hunger Awareness Day tomorrow.

"Hunger is a persistent and growing problem in Canada. In 2010, nearly 900,000 Canadians turned to food banks for assistance each month and 38 per cent of them were children," says Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. "However, if each Canadian made a small, positive change, we could make a difference and address the problem of hunger in this country."

Over the last two years, food bank use in Canada has risen by 28 per cent following four consecutive years of decline. Today, more than 900 food banks and 2,900 affiliated agencies operate in communities across Canada, supporting the needs of Canadians who do not have enough to eat. Many of these organizations are struggling to meet demand, especially during the summer months when the issue of hunger is not always top of mind.

On Hunger Awareness Day, Food Banks Canada is asking all Canadians to make a simple change that can impact the issue of hunger. Suggested changes include:

Change what you know about hunger - Get informed, learn how prevalent hunger is in Canada and understand the issue by visiting www.foodbankscanada.ca

Change how you support your food bank - try volunteering, making a financial donation, or donating most-needed food items, such as pasta, rice, canned meats, fish, vegetables and fruits, powdered milk and baby food, to your local food bank. Change how you talk about hunger - tell your MP you want to see it addressed, talk to your friends about it, and add Hunger Awareness Day to your online profile

"It is disgraceful that in a country as wealthy as Canada, hundreds of thousands of people do not have enough to eat," says Schmidt. "On May 31, I encourage all Canadians to make a change that will help solve hunger in Canada."

Food Banks Canada is also inviting Canadians to make a difference by participating in one of the Great Canadian Lunch-In events being hosted by Food Banks Canada, provincial associations and food banks across Canada to mark Hunger Awareness Day. The Great Canadian Lunch-In events - a play on a "sit-in" - will be taking place in 28 cities and communities across Canada, including Toronto, Vancouver, Regina, Edmonton, Halifax and multiple locations in Quebec and Ontario tomorrow. The Great Canadian national Lunch-In will be held in Toronto at David Pecaut Square (formerly Metro Square) from12-1:30 p.m. on May 31.

Individuals are invited to bring their lunch to the Lunch-In and to eat together as a gesture of generosity and solidarity in acknowledging hunger as a problem in Canada. Alternatively, individuals can fill their lunch bag with a financial donation (the amount they usually spend on lunch) or stuff it with a most-needed food item for a local food bank such as pasta, rice, canned meats, fish, vegetables and fruits, powdered milk and baby food.

Hunger Awareness Day would not be possible without the support of some of Canada's leading corporate citizens. Food Banks Canada would like to thank this year's Corporate Hunger Heroes who are vital to raising awareness for the cause and are executing a number of events across the country. These Heroes include, Campbell Company of Canada, ConAgra Foods, Great West Life, Investors Group Inc., Kellogg Canada Inc., Kraft Canada Inc., McCain Foods (Canada), Quaker, Purolator Courier Ltd., Sodexo and Sony of Canada. We would also like to thank our Hunger Supporter, Radical Foundation.

For more information on Hunger Awareness Day or the Lunch-In events please visit www.hungerawarenessday.ca.

About Hunger Awareness Day
Hunger Awareness Day was created to provide food banks with an opportunity to educate about the reality of hunger in Canada and to encourage all Canadians to make a choice to help those in need. Although the first food bank was opened in 1981 as a temporary emergency measure, food banks have become an unfortunate part of the social safety net. Today, more than 900 food banks and 2,900 affiliated agencies distribute groceries or provide meals for hungry Canadians.

About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada is the national charitable organization representing the food bank community across Canada. Our members and their respective agencies serve approximately 85 per cent of people accessing emergency food programs nationwide. Our mission is to meet the short term need for food and find long-term solutions to reduce hunger. Visit www.foodbankscanada.ca for more information.

Source: HungerCount2010, Food Banks Canada. For the complete 2010 HungerCount report please go to: http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/HungerCount.htm

Canadian urbanites embracing world cuisine
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2011/28/c8518.html?view=print

Researcher provides insight into how committed Canadian foodies actually are

Fredericton, May 28, 2011 /CNW/ - A study of Canadian families in Toronto and Vancouver says most are happy to eat ethnic foods, but even if people are open to trying things, European cuisine is still a favourite. Sarah Cappeliez, a PhD student at the University of Toronto, is presenting this weekend at the 2011 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Cappeliez's work examines how cosmopolitan Canadian urbanites are in their eating habits through interviews with families of European descent in downtown Vancouver and Toronto. These are ethnically diverse cities and people in the centre are exposed to foods of many cultures. Cappeliez found that how these individuals deal with variety differs.

She was able to divide interviewees into three categories: Maximizers, Pragmatics and Tentatives.
The Maximizers, she says, take advantage of diverse foods on offer. They are interested in a variety of ethnic foods, and actively seek them out, sometimes driving across town in search of a particular ingredient.

They are concerned also about 'authenticity' and are interested in acquiring knowledge through what she called formal channels. For them, it is akin to an intellectual endeavour. They also tend to be the group with the highest income.

The Pragmatics, says Cappeliez, are open to trying new foods but won't go out of their way to find it. They will stick with what's they can get in their neighbourhood, and rely on friends and acquaintances to introduce them to new things. The key word for the Pragmatics is 'exoticism.' They see new foods as a way of being introduced to different cultures, and don't worry about techniques or authenticity.

The Tentatives, says Cappeliez, are the smallest group. They are not very interested in seeking out new foods, though they are increasingly aware of the diversity out there and have a made a few changes in their diet. Cappeliez says her study shows that despite the wide variety of foods available in cities, a taste 'hierarchy' comes into play with food. For example, she says that despite their openness to other cuisines, the Maximizers still tend to favour the European cuisine and recipes that are a part of their heritage.

Get more from the 2011 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Organized by the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences brings together scholars, graduate students, practitioners, and policy-makers to share groundbreaking research and examine the most important social and cultural issues of the day. This year's Congress is co-hosted by the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University and runs from May 28 to June 4.

The Congress program includes original research from across disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, providing a great collection of expert sources and innovative story leads. If you are interested in accessing the latest research in the social sciences and humanities, please contact us to be added to our mailing list.

www.congress2011.ca 

Retirement dreams are coming true for one-in-two Ontarians

2011 TD Waterhouse Canadians and Retirement Report finds savings and health are key to making retirement dreams a reality

53% of retired Ontarians are largely living the retirement of their dreams

Top financial tips they wish they were told before retiring are: save more money (63%), pay off debts before you stop working (30%) and work with a financial professional (25%) Advice Ontario retirees wish to share with those next in line: take care of your health (75%), take time to understand/prepare for retirement (68%) and pay off all your debts before you stop working (67%)

To view an html social media version of this release please click here

TORONTO, May 31, 2011 /CNW/ - Whether they're enjoying time on the golf course or at home with their family, one-in-two retired Ontarians admit that although they are largely living the retirement of their dreams there are a few things they would have done differently.

According to the TD Waterhouse Canadians and Retirement Report - which polled retirees from across Canada - many Ontario retirees aren't confident they saved enough for retirement and advise those next in line to start earlier and save more.

The top tip Ontario retirees wish they were told before retiring is: save more money than you think you will need (63%). They also wish they had been told to pay off all debts before they stopped working (30%), work with a financial professional (25%) and don't leave the workforce too early (22%).

"While there's more to a fulfilling retirement than money, without enough savings, it's almost impossible to live your retirement dream and enjoy a comfortable and fulfilling retirement lifestyle," says Patricia Lovett-Reid, Senior Vice President, TD Waterhouse.

The good news is that 53% of Ontarians say that their retirement is "mostly" or "exactly" what they were expecting, so the majority are living their retirement dream. "Getting all the little financial planning steps right will make the difference between 'mostly' and 'exactly' living the retirement of your dreams. You need to create and follow a comprehensive financial plan that is driven by your lifestyle - and then you can feel confident you'll enjoy your retirement journey," says Lovett-Reid.

Ontario retirees are the most likely in the country to be concerned that they don't have enough money to do what they want in retirement (44% versus 37% nationally). With 25% worried about outliving their savings, it's clear that planning and saving is needed in order to secure your financial future. Lovett-Reid offers the following tips to get your savings on track, regardless of your stage in life or financial situation:

Twenty years from retiring? Retirement may seem like a distant reality, but it's important to start planning now. You don't need to be debt free to start saving for retirement: if you contribute to your RSP and then apply any tax refund you receive from making the contribution towards paying down debt, you'll likely be better off in the long term.

Ten years from retiring? The closer you get to retirement, the more important it is to take stock of your savings plan. Work with a financial advisor to monitor your progress and take corrective action if you fall off course. Consider your investment objectives, the time remaining to retirement and your risk tolerance, and map out an investment strategy that will let you optimize the returns on your RSP savings.

Five years or less from retiring? You're almost there! Before you retire, allow ample time to plan what you want to do with the money you've accumulated in your RSP. When it's time to convert your RSP, you might want to consider an RIF or an annuity. If you have more than one RSP or RIF, consider consolidating for ease and convenience. Having all your investments with one institution may also reduce your overall account administration fees.

It's not just about money: retired Ontarians share advice for those next in line

Three quarters (75%) of Ontarian respondents urged those next in line to take care of their health. They also suggested it's a good idea to take time to understand what you want out of retirement (68%) and pay off debts (67%).

For articles, videos and information about financial planning and saving for retirement, please visit www.tdretirement.com.

Kenya Denies Undermining International Criminal Court
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Kenya-International-Criminal-Court.html
Peter Clottey May 30, 2011 | Photo: AP

Back row, former Kenyan Education Minister Ruto, left, former Kenyan Minister of Industrialization Kosgey, center, and Kenyan broadcaster Sang, right, appear at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, April 7, 2011

Kenya’s Justice and Constitutional affairs minister has denied accusations his government has created a “climate of fear” to undermine the International Criminal Court’s [ICC] investigations into post-election violence in 2008.

Fighting between opposing sides in the presidential election left more than 1,300 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands. Mutula Kilonzo, who is also the liaison of a cabinet sub-committee on the ICC, said the Hague-based court has yet to officially complain or inform his administration about interference it encountered investigating the 2007 post-election violence.

“I am surprised, because that is not true. I am not aware of any attempt to create fear,” said Kilonzo. “If anything, we are working round the clock to make sure the country goes through healing in preparation for next year’s elections.”

In a statement Sunday, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the ICC, said Kenyan officials are pursuing “regional and political campaigns” to halt the case against six suspects accused of organizing the violence.

He said the campaigns send the wrong signal and promote a “climate of fear” that intimidates potential witnesses, an allegation Kilonzo rejects. “The prosecutor may be confusing individual activities, individual agendas [as] a government agenda,” said Kilonzo. Kilonzo said his government will continue to cooperate with the ICC to ensure justice for the victims of the post-election violence.

He however admitted that recent diplomatic efforts by Kenya’s vice president to defer charges against the alleged masterminds of the violence create the perception the government wants to derail the ICC investigations. The court is investigating six prominent Kenyans accused of being “most responsible” for the attacks.

The suspects include Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgey and suspended Education Minister William Ruto. The others are secretary to the cabinet, Francis Kirimi Muthaura, former police Chief Mohammed Hussein Ali and radio executive Joshua Arap Sang.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s cabinet sub-committee on the ICC is scheduled to meet Tuesday, ahead of the expected arrival of ICC officials to continue investigations into the post-election violence.

Food prices 'will double by 2030', Oxfam warns
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13597657?print=true
BBC News World | 30 May 2011

The prices of staple foods will more than double in 20 years unless world leaders take action to reform the global food system, Oxfam has warned.

By 2030, the average cost of key crops will increase by between 120% and 180%, the charity forecasts. Half of that increase will be caused by climate change, Oxfam predicts, in its report Growing a Better Future.

It calls on world leaders to improve regulation of food markets and invest in a global climate fund.

"The food system must be overhauled if we are to overcome the increasingly pressing challenges of climate change, spiralling food prices and the scarcity of land, water and energy," said Barbara Stocking, Oxfam's chief executive.

Women and children

In its report, Oxfam highlights four "food insecurity hotspots", areas which are already struggling to feed their citizens.

in Guatemala, 865,000 people are at risk of food insecurity, due to a lack of state investment in smallholder farmers, who are highly dependent on imported food, the charity says. In India, people spend more than twice the proportion of their income on food than UK residents - paying the equivalent of £10 for a litre of milk and £6 for a kilo of rice.

in Azerbaijan, wheat production fell 33% last year due to poor weather, forcing the country to import grains from Russia and Kazakhstan. Food prices were 20% higher in December 2010 than the same month in 2009. In East Africa, eight million people currently face chronic food shortages due to drought, with women and children among the hardest hit.

The World Bank has also warned that rising food prices are pushing millions of people into extreme poverty. In April, it said food prices were 36% above levels of a year ago, driven by problems in the Middle East and North Africa. Oxfam wants nations to agree new rules to govern food markets, to ensure the poor do not go hungry.

It said world leaders must:

increase transparency in commodities markets and regulate futures markets
scale up food reserves
end policies promoting biofuels
invest in smallholder farmers, especially women

"We are sleepwalking towards an avoidable age of crisis," said Ms Stocking.

"One in seven people on the planet go hungry every day despite the fact that the world is capable of feeding everyone."

Among the many factors driving rising food prices in the coming decades, Oxfam predicts that climate change will have the most serious impact.

Ahead of the UN climate summit in South Africa in December, it calls on world leaders to launch a global climate fund, "so that people can protect themselves from the impacts of climate change and are better equipped to grow the food they need".