Nick Noorani Website

Newcomers going to where job growth is strongest
Canada’s mid-sized cities are enjoying an immigration boom while the stream of newcomers flatlines or even declines in the large urban centres that typically act as magnets, according to new figures from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The change reflects shifting economic and employment prospects across the country and the successful efforts of smaller centres to woo newcomers, experts say.
“Immigration [in Canada] has been extremely concentrated, and I think it’s possible to argue perhaps too much so,”says Larry Bourne, a professor of geography and planning with the University of Toronto’s Cities Centre. “One trend the recent figures seem to suggest is that immigrants are indeed spreading out or dispersing a bit more to medium-sized cities.”
Shannon Proudfoot, Canwest News Service Published: Thursday, July 24, 2008

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Immigrants coming to a new country need to network as they find jobs, and know more about their new country but too often the networking opportunities are too expensive for immigrants. Additionally, immigrants are too inhibited to go to large gatherings at fancy far away locations.
This site is a meeting place that provides members of Immigrant Networks with a shared calendar, discussion forums, photo gallery, files and member profiles.
Vision:
To create a multi-cultural platform for immigrants and new Canadians to network with each other for the purpose of establishing business contacts
Mission:
* To create a business networking opportunity for new immigrant entrepreneurs
* To help new immigrants promote and increase their business through positive networking opportunities
* To be an inclusive organization that enables individuals from various ethnic backgrounds to meet people with mutual business objectives through meetings
Strategic Objective:
* To create an opportunity for new immigrants to create a professional network
* To provide contacts for immigrant business/business individuals so that they may improve their business
* To bridge the business gap for immigrant businesses owners
* To create a template for future local IN chapters
* To have a mentorship program for new entrepreneurs
Target Audience:
* Immigrant professional or entrepreneur
* Interested in connecting with immigrants
What you need to do!
1. Commit to inviting at least 10 individuals who you think can contribute to the growth of this group
2. Post information on topics you think would interest immigrants
3. Participate in discussions
To become a member go to: http://immigrantnetworks.collectivex.com/main/summary

On July 3, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley announced that consultations would be held across all territories and provinces to assess Canada’s immigration priorities. The consultations are in direct response to the hotly debated changes to the country’s immigration legislation under the controversial Budget Bill C-50.
Giving Minister Finley the authority to hand down instructions on how potential newcomers are prioritized and selected for approval to immigrate to Canada, many have questioned just what Bill C-50 what this will mean for applicants trying to enter the country and our core democratic values at large.
Karolina Rous
July 08, 2008

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As government policies on immigration go, it is rare that I am impressed. From the Nova Scotia bungling to the new federal “plan” to reduce wait lines, I often see giant leaps backwards, which is why I was literally blown away by Alberta’s progressive new plan. Faced with a huge labour crunch, the fast growing economy faces a shortage of 110,000 workers in the next decade. Hector Goudreau, Alberta’s minister of employment and immigration unveiled a new family stream under their Provincial Nominee Program (now renamed Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program).

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The Nova Scotia government is ready to give refunds to more of the newcomers who came to Canada as a result of a failed immigration scheme.
The government’s about-face came Wednesday, hours after provincial Auditor General Jacques Lapointe released a scathing report on the business mentorship program.
Immigration Minister Len Goucher expects about 110 people will be eligible for a refund because they still live in Nova Scotia.

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On Friday, June 27 — Multiculturalism Day –
The Canadian Ethnic Media Association celebrated the 30th anniversary of
its founding with a gala awards and entertainment program. The CEMA juried awards presentations, were made in four categories
plus the Sierhey Khmara Ziniak Award named for the founder of CEMA,
PRINT
News or feature
Marg Jetelina, Editor, The Canadian Immigrant for “Cultural Compromise,”
an affecting article on the work of Vancouver’s Godwin Eni, physician,
educator and community leader.
Editorial
Naeem “Nick” Noorani, publisher, The Canadian Immigrant for his critical
editorial “Canada’s Transition Penalty” on underemployment of immigrant
professionals.
RADIO
Feature
Martin Silva, broadcaster, for presentation on the successful result of
liver transplant from Dina Lomoro to Jorge Galego on CHIN radiothon for
Toronto Western hospital.
Opinion
Ernest Tannis, ADR program, CHIN Radio, Ottawa for a sensitive program
featuring an imam, a minister and a rabbi and their views on the patriarch
Abraham.
TELEVISION
News or feature
Grace Fusillo, producer, writer and director of Fuel Productions’ moving
documentary, “The Great Communicator — Johnny Lombardi,” funded and broadcast
by OMNI-TV.
Opinion
Angie Seth, anchor/reporter, OMNI-TV South Asian News for the lively
“Democracy 101″ on how students are encouraged to express political opinions
prior to adulthood.
INTERNET
News or feature
Andrew Miller, editor, Blunt Magazine, for “Death” a revealing
description of life as a hospital service assistant with pride in his work.
Editorial
Suresh Jaura, publisher, South Asian Outlook for his incisive editorial
“Two Kinds of Canadians” on systemic prejudices against non-whites.
The Sierhey Khmara Ziniak Award was presented to Dat Ngyuen publisher
and editor of Vietnamese weekly Thoi Bao for “journalistic excellence in
publishing his weekly newspaper and his integral initiative in rescuing
Ontario print media from punitive taxation.”