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| Subject: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21 |
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FEDERAL AND ONTARIO MINISTERS OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT IMMIGRATION ANNOUNCEMENT
TORONTO, November 18, 2005 ? The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Mike Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, will make a major announcement on immigration.
Date: November 21, 2005
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Harbourfront Community Centre
627 Queen?s Quay West
First Floor Dance Studio
Toronto, Ontario
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/press/media/05/2005-11-18.html
[19-11-2005,13:08]
[**.191.149.149]
Kenny |
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(in reply to: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21)
I think this is to formalize some of the funding announcements that have been floating around the last 6 months.
[19-11-2005,14:18]
[***.20.170.23]
Sharon |
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_1550875,001600060001.htm (in reply to: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21)
The Canadian government has unveiled the first instalment of a $25 million package designed to rectify historic grievances of seven ethnic groups, including Indo-Canadians.
"The government of Canada is committed to learning from the past, and the agreement-in-principle (ACE) we are signing...demonstrates our shared commitment to learning from the past and celebrating our country´s diversity," Prime Minister Paul Martin said announcing an initial amount of $2.5 million to the Italian community.
The ACE Programme would fund proposals that acknowledge the historical experiences of ethno-cultural communities impacted by wartime measures such as internment and immigration restrictions, according to a press release.
A part of the fund would go toward Indo-Canadian programmes for educational activities and plaques. This is in acknowledgement of the Komagata Maru incident, which took place in the summer of 1914.
Komagata Maru, a ship with 376 Punjabis, a majority of them Sikhs, was denied entry into Vancouver bay, even though the passengers were entitled to land in Canada as British subjects. Despite a court challenge by Bagga Singh who chartered the ship, along with 11 others called "Shore Committee", the ship was sent back to Kolkata two months later.
According to a government of Canada online source on the country´s history and culture, an immigration law called The Bill of Direct Passage prevented these Indians from landing in Canada. The law stated that Indian immigrants had to come to Canada by continuous passage from India. But it was a known fact that steamship lines did not provide direct service from India to Canada, as it was technologically impossible those days. The ship docked en route in Hong Kong.
The agreement-in-principle however would not include an outright apology or financial compensation to descendants of survivors. This has been widely condemned by Indo-Canadians, including politicians, according to news reports.
In May, Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal presented a petition to parliament signed by 6,000 people seeking an apology. "The petitioners contend that this incident was a result of racist, discriminatory and exclusionist Canadian immigration policy," he said.
"They ask that parliament issue an apology to correct the wrong that remains a black scar on Canadian history, and hurts the community."
Film producer Harbhajan Gill, who is raising funds for a movie about the Komagata Maru, told a television interview that the recognition of the event is the beginning of what the government should do. He said many families want a proper memorial at the site where the ship tried to land.
[19-11-2005,15:23]
[**.151.172.201]
starwars |
(in reply to: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21)
starwars... don´t think this is the announcement. I think it is monies to help Ontario cope with the huge influx of PR applicants.
[19-11-2005,15:33]
[***.20.170.23]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21)
http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/BC/komagata_maru_incident.htm
Wonder if $200 have now become $15,000....
[19-11-2005,17:18]
[**.171.94.57]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21)
the announcement will only pertain to province/federal agreement with CIC and Ontario.
Do not get too excited. We are going in to election mode and they will announce with great fanfare every $20 they spend. They want the landed immigrant vote. So do not be shocked if they announce that they bought a case of toilet paper on sale for the CIC office in Buffalo to help speed up processing.
I am a little cynical today... if you hadn´t noticed.
[20-11-2005,15:43]
[***.20.170.23]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21)
Could it be related to change in pass mark ???
Brian
[21-11-2005,02:28]
[**.96.147.161]
Brian |
(in reply to: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21)
Passmark.. probably but where to? upwards or downwards?
Or another push promise for family cases..
[21-11-2005,10:10]
[***.98.136.62]
Mixa |
(in reply to: Important immigration announcement on Nov 21)
I am assuming with a sharp increase in number of applications, probably upward increase
Brian
[21-11-2005,11:43]
[**.104.12.179]
Brian |
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