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Ottawa Star The Voice of New Canadians www.OttawaStar.com • October 1, 2014 • Volume 2, Issue 4
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Study gives tentative nod to electronic tools for tracking immigrants By Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA—Electronic monitoring could be a useful alternative to locking up some immigrants and refugee claimants, says an internal study by Canada’s border agency. The research report, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, looks at the use of wired ankle bracelets, voice-recognition systems and other tracking tools in seven countries. It suggests electronic monitoring can save money and reduce the administrative burden of managing detainees in holding cells. Continued on page 11
CIA spying on friendly governments in Western Europe put on hold while risks and rewards are examined
Two organizers at the Chinese Moon Festival Story Page 8.
India’s Mars mission is boon for its space business
By Ken Dilanian, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—The CIA has curbed spying on friendly governments in Western Europe in response to the furor over a German caught selling secrets to the United States and the Edward Snowden revelations of classified information held by the National Security Agency, according to current and former U.S. officials. The pause in decades of espionage, which remains partially in effect, was designed to give CIA officers time to examine whether they were being careful enough and to evaluate whether spying on allies is worth running the risk of discovery, said a U.S. official who has been briefed on the situation. Under the stand-down order, case officers in Europe largely have been forbidden from undertaking “unilateral operations” such as meeting with sources they have recruited within allied governContinued on page 14
Photo: Anaïs Lynn Voski
And inspiration for homegrown scientists By Katy Daigle, The Associated Press
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EW DELHI—India celebrated putting a spacecraft into orbit around Mars on Sept 24, hoping the rare feat will show the world it is open for business in space exploration and inspire a new generation of homegrown scientists to help drive growth. Those motivations help explain why India, a poor country of 1.2 billion, even invests in a space program when so many of its people lack access to proper toilets, electricity and health care. For one, boosting its space business has always been a key selling point of the country’s program. More than half of the world’s missions to Mars so far have failed. In proving it can pull off a complex
The PSLV-C25 launch vehicle, carrying the Mars Orbiter probe as its payload, lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on November 5, 2013 Photo: IANS
space mission, India becomes one of the world’s few reliable ferrymen to the stars. That can attract investors, commercial launch orders and customers to hire Indian rockets and satellites for their scientific research.
But the program also is a source of pride and motivation for the country’s burgeoning ranks of young professionals. India’s robust scientific and technical education system has already Continued on page 14
PAGE 2 • www.OttawaStar.com
Community
A Classroom Revolutionary By Penny Bertrand
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ow might a tablet computer for $37.99 revolutionize the provision of education in India where over 361 million children are not enrolled in school? On a recent blustery Sunday afternoon, guests of the India Canada Friendship Circle gathered in the Rockcliffe Park Community Hall to listen to renowned Canadian entrepreneur Suneet Tuli, founder and CEO of DataWind Ltd, speak about his affordable device, the Aakash/UbiSlate tablet. Freshly arrived from a trip to Delhi, Suneet first reviewed the challenges of the current Indian education system where, particularly in the rural areas, the drop-out rate is extremely high and the quality of instruction often low. He pointed out that to wait for the proper training, selection and support of teachers is to lose the opportunity to educate a full generation of the least advantaged Indian children. Suneet spoke about his vision for an education system centred on computer-based learning, classrooms where
Suneet Tuli and Dr. Veena Rawat Photo:ICFC
each child is equipped with a tablet—a ‘personal learning tool’—on which has been loaded the best available teaching videos, educational applications and an interactive capacity. Calling this the “flipped classroom,” he envisions the teacher becoming a coach. Rather than relying on the traditional lecture, the teacher makes use of the technol-
ogy to individually mon tor the progress of the students and provide additional support or challenges as required. This only works of course if the computer is affordable. The Aakash tablet has been priced in consideration of the average low income salary in India, $200 per month. How is such a low cost possible? It is quite do-
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014 able if that is your goal. Other companies could also produce similar affordable devices, but why would they when the North American market will happily pay much higher costs resulting in greater profits. Suneet stressed that he is not competing with the big companies for the North American market, but rather maintaining his focus on the developing world where his device is most needed. His primary objective is India, his second biggest market is currently Mexico and he is now working with NGOs in Niger and Rwanda. The award winning tablet has been lauded as a huge breakthrough by no less that the UN Secretary General, Ban Kimoon. Forbes magazine recognized him as a “classroom revolutionary” and he is a sought after speaker at international forums dealing with social innovation. The company just went public and he will no doubt continue his daunting travel schedule. Yet Mr. Tuli is a serene man. As the time for his next flight neared he graciously continued to answer questions from the very interested ICFC audience. The India Canada Friendship Circle is a non-profit organization that encourages dialogue on India in a harmonious environment. The next lecture will take place on November 16, details available at www.icfc.ws
Freedom fighters stop traffic to abolish human trafficking By Amanda Dickerson
Activists of all ages gathered at the Ottawa Convention Centre on Saturday, September 27 with the hopes of bringing awareness to the ever-growing issue of human trafficking that occurs both in Canada and across the globe. The event was created by [Freethem], an organization founded in 2010 dedicated to abolishing slavery, sexual exploitation and forced labour. For five years the organization has taken to the streets of Toronto in an annual four kilometre Free-them Walk. The movement has grown so large that Ottawa was able to host their own Free-them walk with a goal of raising $30,000 for the cause. There were several opening remarks to kick-start the event including comments
Freedom fighters march through the streets of Ottawa to raise awareness of human trafficking. Photo by Amanda Dickerson
from host Ken Evraire, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Steven Blaney, and Councillor Steve Desroches. The participants’ attention was brought to the fact that human trafficking is a $30 billion dollar industry that enslaves over 29 million people worldwide; 80 percent of which are women and children. One of the keynote speakers included Simone Bell, a human trafficking survivor who related some of her experiences and emphasized the error in victim blaming, stating, “We need to start opening our eyes to what’s going on in the world. We live in a society that glorifies perpetrators and blames victims.”
The other keynote speaker, Detective Carolyn Botting, has been continuously involved with victims of human trafficking and the prosecution of human traffickers in Canada. “My roots in human trafficking were uneducated, humble, and honest, most of all they were empathetic and curious,” said Botting of her first experience in dealing with youth who were being trafficked. The keynote speaker was presented with an award for her dedicated service to the cause. The event continued with a four kilometre walk from the Convention Centre to Parliament Hill, the walkers taking up much of Elgin, Catherine, and Bank
Street. Traffic was stopped by police on bicycles to facilitate the walk. Participants were led by a member of the RCMP who carried the Canadian flag alongside the Free-them banner. Water and refreshments were available at the halfway mark given the intense heat that the day provided. The emotion and energy could be felt as the walkers paraded through the streets holding signs while chanting “We are not for sale.” The participants generated a lot of attention as pedestrians and drivers honked and waved, showing their support. A group photo on the steps in front of Parliament completed Ottawa’s first successful Free-Them Walk.
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
Community
www.OttawaStar.com • PAGE 3
Full house enjoys CineMusiq 2014 By Sivaruban Sivalingam
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full house enjoyed every second of the CineMusiq 2014—Music For Cause concert on September 13th, held at the Kailash Mital Theatre, Carleton University. The benefit concert, in its 5th year, brought together over 400 South Asian music lovers under one roof to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. More than 70 local singers and dancers had to opportunity to perform with Chennai Rhythms, a professional orchestra from Toronto. The musical group performed songs from Indian cinema in 8 different languages, including Thamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, English & Punjabi. One of the highlights of the musically-packed evening was a performance of Azhage Azhage, from the Thamil movie Saivam, composed by GV Prakash Kumar. Six-yearold vocalist Nikhila was accompanied by Amaresh Parameswaran on the Mridangam, a traditional India percussion instrument, the Chennai Rhythms musicians and four young dancers choreographed by Karthi Mathi, owner of Shringaram Dance Academy. CineMusiq organizer and Ottawa-based flutist, Siva Chockalingam (Flute Siva), welcomed Cathy McGovern from the Canadian Cancer Society to present a cheque for $1,000. “CineMusiq 2014 is close to my heart as my mother is currently going through chemotherapy to fight her early stage breast cancer,” said Chockalingam, in a post on the Canadian Cancer Society webpage where he was collecting online donations. “I just wanted to say thank you to all the medical doctors, nurses and everyone involved with cancer patients.” In previous years, CineMusiq had raised over $3,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association (2011), CHEO Foundation (2012) and Ontario Kidney Foundation (2013).
Siva Chockalingam (centre), best known as Flute Siva, performing onstage at CineMusiq14 with Xander Galbreath and Nicholas Gagne. Photo by Smiles Events.
3rd Annual Evening of Celebration Friday, November 7, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. Marconi Centre, 1026 Baseline Road, Ottawa
Special guest – His Excellency John Chrysostom Alintuma Nsambu, High Commissioner for Uganda in Canada
The SIFA Choir – sharing the richness and beauty of Africa through song & dance
Grateful We’re Not Dead & the Over 60 Blues
Dinner: Tasty Italian cuisine Entertainment: The SIFA Choir & Grateful We’re Not Dead Silent auction: Original painting by Bruce Garner,
Lunch with Paul Dewar, 40-minute flight over Ottawa, and many other tempting items!
Tickets: $50 per person/ $35 for students E-mail Ann Flynn at annflynn@rogers.com or call CanUgan at 613-224-8174 Charity Registration # 843257031RR0001
Lilly Obina – Host
Making a difference in Uganda www.canugan.org
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Community
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
Coming Up: Support CanUgan’s Fundraiser for Uganda By Staff Reporter
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anUgan Caption: Ugandan recipients use their new tricycles and crutches donated by CanUgan Disability Support. Photo: CanUgan CanUgan Disability Support will hold its Third Annual Evening of Celebration on Friday, November 7 at the Marconi Centre, 1026 Baseline Road, Ottawa. Highlights for the night include special guest, His Excellency John Chrysostom Alintuma Nsambu, High Commissioner of Uganda in Canada, and entertainment by two musical acts. The SIFA Choir is an a cappella singing group who will share the richness and beauty of Africa through song and dance, and Grateful We’re Not Dead is a fun-loving, “country party band” from Ottawa. The evening will also feature superb Italian cuisine and a silent auction including an original painting by Bruce Garner, a 40-minute flight over Ottawa, a luncheon with MP Paul Dewar and a variety of Ugandan handicrafts. CanUgan Disability Support is a registered Canadian charity founded by Navin Parekh in 2010 during his posting in Uganda. Its purpose is to provide assistive devices to people with disabilities to meet their mobility and communication needs and to enable them to gain economic independence. Since its founding, CanUgan has supplied hand-pedaled tricycles, white
Ugandan recipients use their new tricycles and crutches donated by CanUgan Disability Support. Photo: CanUgan
canes, crutches, and other devices to over 400 people with disabilities with the help of a local organization of people with disabilities located in western Uganda. CanUgan also collaborated with the School of Industrial Design and the Read Initiative (Research, Education, Accessibility and Design) of Carleton University in a project funded by the International Development Research Centre. This project took nine Carleton students to Uganda in 2013 and 2014. They worked with local artisans and end-users to improve assistive devices and to study
the impact and challenges of assistive devices on the economic empowerment of people with disabilities. CanUgan’s other collaboration was with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, the world’s largest distributor of hearing aids, who provided free hearing aids last year to 465 people in Uganda. In May 2013, CanUgan supported people with disabilities displaced by torrential rains in Uganda with household items and food. To support local employment and business, all assistive devices distributed by CanUgan are made by local artisans
or procured from Ugandan distributors. As well, because all CanUgan activities in Canada and in Uganda are carried out by volunteers, every dollar donated goes to support people with disabilities. Tickets for CanUgan’s Evening of Celebration are $50 per person and $35 for students. A $20 tax receipt will be provided for each $50 ticket. All proceeds will go to support people with disabilities in Uganda. For tickets and info, please e-mail Ann Flynn at annflynn@rogers.com or call CanUgan at 613-224-8174. Visit www.canugan.org .
Canadian born Ottawa man facing deportation loses round in fight for citizenship By Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
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TTAWA–An Ottawa man says he will appeal after losing a round in his court battle for Canadian citizenship in September. Deepan Budlakoti was suddenly told by federal officials four years ago that he is not a citizen–even though he was born in Canada and had been issued a birth certificate and a Canadian passport. The government argues Budlakoti did not automatically become a Canadian at birth in October 1989, as his parents were employed by a foreign diplomat, the Indian high commissioner. Budlakoti, 24, was ordered out of Canada three years ago due to drug and firearms convictions. He unsuccessfully tried to challenge the order in court. In December 2012 he completed his sentence and was released into custody of the Canada Border Services Agency.
Deepan Budlakoti Photo: Justice for Deepan website
Federal Court Justice Michael Phelan was not convinced by Budlakoti’s argument that his parents quit the Indian High Commission in June 1989, months before he was born.
“That employment terminated at some point in 1989–the exact date is hotly contested and the facts in this record are difficult to make out,” Phelan says in his reasons for the judgment. The judge says Budlakoti’s case is undermined by contemporary documentation, including a Dec. 6, 1989, employment authorization allowing his father to work for a new employer instead of the high commissioner. In addition, Phelan says the fact Budlakoti was given a Canadian passport does not necessarily mean he was a Canadian citizen. The judge dismissed the man’s claims that federal actions had violated his Charter of Rights guarantees to enter, remain in or leave Canada, and to life, liberty and security of the person. In a statement on Sept 10, Budlakoti and his supporters called the court ruling “shocking and deplorable.”
“Obviously, I will appeal,” Budlakoti said. “I refuse to be exiled from my homeland, to be made an outcast in my own society. This case is important for everyone in Canada, it sets a precedent that we should all be worried about.” Budlakoti says he has been left stateless. India has denied he is a citizen of that country or that he is entitled to citizenship, though Phelan says the record on this point “is sketchy at best” and “not a matter which this court can decide.” The statement from Budlakoti’s supporters said the court decision fails to recognize any responsibility of Canada towards Budlakoti despite his lifelong, exclusive link to Canada. “It is highly disappointing that the Federal Court is prepared to allow Deepan to languish as a stateless person indefinitely,” said Yavar Hameed, one of his lawyers.
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
Community
www.OttawaStar.com • PAGE 5
Raising funds, awareness for the DRC By Barb MacLaren
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diverse group of 40 Congolese diaspora members, professionals in the human rights field and concerned citizens gathered on Saturday, Sept 13 to raise awareness—and funds—for those affected by human rights violations that continue to plague the Democratic Republic of Congo. Held at the Knox Church in Ottawa, the benefit soirée was organized in order to raise funds for marginalized groups in South Kivu, DRC—a region beset with conflict due to the presence of several armed groups. The evening successfully raised well over $1,500. The evening involved a networking fair with local NGOs, a homemade dinner, musical entertainment and a panel of speakers addressing the situation in DRC and Canada’s role in addressing it. Speakers included Deborah Kabungulu, founder of the P.K. Foundation; Rachel Vincent, Director of Media and Communications for the Nobel Women’s Initiative; Ian Thompson, Africa Partnerships Coordinator for KAIROS-Canada; and Yvette Yende-Ashiri, Founder of Fédération Femmes Enfants Avenir Monde. Barb MacLaren, a volunteer with the Canadian Centre for International Justice, moderated discussions. P.K. Foundation, a nascent volunteer-run organization consisting of half a dozen passionate individuals, was behind the successful benefit. P.K.
Participants at the event Photo: P.K. Foundation
Foundation aims to raise money for the disenfranchised families of journalists and human rights defenders in South Kivu, DRC—a target group for extrajudicial killings. The organization has supported several families that fit this bill— women and their children—since its inception in 2011. Through a partnership with KAIROS Canada, the P.K. Foundation provides support to keep children in school and provide
vocational training opportunities for widows. Deborah Kabungulu, the widow of Pascal Kabungulu after whom the Foundation is named, is a driving force behind these activities. She and her six children immigrated to Canada after her husband was assassinated by members of the DRC military in 2005. Since Deborah’s husband was the director of a well-known human rights organization in DRC, Héritiers de la
Ottawa Public Library an open book for newcomers By Ellen O’Connor
One of the best ways to connect with people is through conversation. Whether you’re making polite chit chat at the grocery store, greeting a neighbour, applying for a job, or even asking for directions, communicating with those around you is an integral part of life. Problems arise when there is a language barrier, and for many newcomers to Canada, this barrier can become an everyday struggle—a struggle to make friends, get answers or accomplish what should be simple tasks. Sure, text books can help you become a confident bi- or multi-lingual speaker, but even more effective is practicing a new language through casual conversation with friends. English and French Conversation Groups are just one of the many pro-
grams offered by the Ottawa Public Library for newcomers to Canada looking to improve their language skills, and meet new friends, in a relaxed, friendly environment. They are not courses, but facilitated discussions, said Elizabeth Thornley, manager of program development at OPL. “Our conversation groups…are led by volunteers from Frontier College or recruited through OPL,” explained Thornley. “These volunteers usually have teaching experience and receive some guidance on how best to lead the groups.” The groups, as well as homework clubs for both children and adults, are drop-in programs divided by level, and do no require registration. The number of weekly sessions depends on the library branch. “[The Main Branch] currently has seven conversation groups, both English
and French, and four homework clubs per week that continue from September to December,” said Thornley. The English conversation groups are the most popular program offered by OPL, with the main branch hosting up to 25 participants in some sessions, followed by the French Conversation Groups and Citizen Preparation Workshops. Thornley said that support for newcomers “has always been a priority for OPL, but became more formalized when the Library Settlement Partnerships (LSP) program began as a pilot in 2007 in selected branches. It now extends to cover library branches throughout the city.” The library also offers many information sessions directed toward newcomers that cover employment, citizenship, the Ontario health care system, family sponsorship, and social assis-
Justice, for many years, she can identify with the constant fear that wives’ of human rights defenders live with in the region. Now that she has established herself in Canada, she has turned her attention to helping others who share her plight back home. Please contact the P.K. Foundation if you would like more information or to make a donation: info@fondationpascalkabungulu.org, www.fondationpascalkabungulu.org
tance. The sessions are offered in partnership with local agencies and partners across the city. Some of the sessions offered this fall include, Introduction to Employment, “Achieving Success”—Making Informed Career Training Decisions, Credit in Canada, Visiting the Doctor?, Tenants’ Rights, and Workers’ Rights. For those looking to read books in their native language, OPL actively collects and provides materials in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Persian, Russian, Somali and Spanish, as well as more than 100 items in Japanese, Korean, Punjabi, Polish, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese. With all this material at the fingertips of Ottawa’s diverse cultural communities, one of the main challenges that OPL faces is actually making it known to newcomers. “The issue is lack of awareness with regard to all the resources the library has, including great online learning options for French and English,” said Thornley. Plans for winter programming will be finalized later this fall. Questions about programs and services can be directed to diversity@biblioottawalibrary.ca
PAGE 6 • www.OttawaStar.com
Opinion
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
Coping with the Finding Franklin finally! loss of loved ones Editorial
Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.
By Sangeetha Arya
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A drawing of the Royal Navy’s HMS Terror. Wikipedia
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ne of Canada’s greatest mysteries now has been solved, with the discovery of one of the lost ships from Sir John Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition. For 166 years, people have wondered where the Royal Navy’s HMS Erebus and HMS Terror went after they sailed into the Northwest Passage in search of the western exit, only to disappear, losing all 129 men aboard. Why is this story so important and why is there so much excitement? What’s the significance of the Franklin discovery to Canadians today? What is it about this failed expedition that has captured the world’s imagination? Why has Canada taken such an interest in what was purely a British endeavor? Is it the idea of exploring new frontiers? Are there lessons to be learnt from history about such early efforts from explorers who tried to reach out and break new barriers? This Canadian story has garnered so much attention worldwide that it has been talked about by scientists as well as historians and immortalized by writers and poets. The breakthrough of finding Franklin finally by Canadian teams therefore is a proud
moment for all Canadians. We Canadians have achieved what many others could not, “and we’ve unlocked yet another part of our own story.” The Prime Minister paid tribute to the search teams — a partnership between Parks Canada, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Arctic Research Foundation, the Canadian Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Navy, the government of Nunavut, and even business mogul Jim Balsillie - whose commitment, dedication and perseverance since 2008 has paid off. The September 7th find of the ship shows it was time and money well spent, with dividends beyond the historical value. The search for Franklin’s lost ships also allowed the charting of 1,200 km of Arctic seabed.The latest state-of- art technology was one pivotal reason for accurately locating the ship which was hidden under layers of growth under the ocean floor. Well, there are many reasons why Franklin expedition has been a mega story in the past and continues to hold its sway and fascination for the Canadians. “This is truly a historic moment for Canada,” said Prime Minister Harper who
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also felt Franklin’s expeditions are an important part of Canada’s history as they “took place nearly 200 years ago” and “laid the foundations of Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.” As Peter Mansbridge rightly pointed out, it certainly is not “just a story of looking for old bones and old bits of ship — it’s a story about us, about our country, about our history.” A great part of the excitement and joy to Canadians is the extraordinary pride of solving a big piece of this very perplexing nautical mystery which has been part of Canadian north and our history. What happened to Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated expedition to sail the Northwest Passage has fascinated generations of Canadians and Britons alike. Let us hope that this discovery will be a harbinger and set a precedent for nonpartisan scientific research initiatives which will open the doors on Canada’s past, present and future. I hope it will generate a renewed spark of adventure and willingness to support endeavors that attempt to spur the human spirit to reach for and explore uncharted and greater heights. Editorial by Sangeetha Arya.
Publisher: Chandrakanth Arya Chief Editor: Sangeetha Arya Editor: Ellen O’Connor
oping with the loss of a close friend or family member may be one of the hardest challenges that many of us face. With the loss of a spouse, sibling or parent we love and hold dear to our hearts, our grief can be particularly intense. Although death is inevitable and a natural part of life yet we are overcome by shock, grief and confusion. Time, they say, is the best healer and in most cases sadness diminishes in intensity as time passes - yet grieving is an important process. While there is no right or wrong way to grieve, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain that, in time, can renew and help us move on. As I write this, my family is mourning the sad demise of my mother–in- law. She was more a mother, a guide, a rock who was there for us at all times. I strongly feel that we never lose the people we love, even to death. I feel they are only away and not dead. They will continue to participate and be a part of the decisions we make. Their love leaves an indelible print in our memories. We will always find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having them and sharing their love. One of the most important factors in healing from loss is having a support base of friends and family around you. Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief easier to carry. Wherever the support comes from, accept it and do not grieve alone. Connecting to others will help you heal.
Production: Benoit Deneault Joey Sabourin Editorial Contact Editor@OttawaStar.com
Many-a-times life throws a curve ball and things that we don’t want to happen, happens - but we have to learn to accept this. There will be things we do not want to know but which we have to learn, and circumstances when we have to let go of those we thought we could not live without. It is not always easy to let go of the people who are so dear to us but it does not have to be hard either. Looking at things from a totally different perspective can help us experience miracles in our lives; can help us understand life and death. Letting go does not mean you forget about them. By letting go of the grief you realize that there is so much more for you to be happy about. Loss can even be a catalyst for positive growth. The experience can change us for the better - alter our priorities, enhancing our feelings of compassion for others, and boost our sense of independence, I have learnt that one very vital factor of coping with loss is to incorporate the life-changes in ways that allow you to heal without forgetting. Some of the ways of doing it is by honouring the person and thinking positively about the times you shared together. Do something that gives you comfort like paint pictures, plant some flowers or involve yourself in a cause that the deceased one loved and reach out and help others deal with the loss. Find distractions like going to a movie, dinner or a ball game, read a good book, learn to play music or get a massage. Eating well, exercising and getting plenty of rest helps us get through each day and move forward. Death of a dear one serves as a reminder to us that our time on this beautiful earth is limited and that we should seize the opportunity we have to forgive, share, explore and love. I can think of no greater way to honor the deceased than to live this way.
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Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
Opinion
It’s time to include dental health in the healthcare system By Paul Allison
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ONTREAL, QC, Troy Media— There are many reasons why some Canadians choose not to go to the dentist, but a new report released recently from the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) found that cost is a major factor – and that Canada’s most vulnerable populations have the highest rates of dental decay, pain and disease and at the same time the worst access to this much needed healthcare service. The price tag for hospital care and most physician services is covered through our publicly-funded healthcare system, but dental care is largely paid for privately in Canada. The CAHS report reveals that a whopping 95 per cent of dental care is paid out-of-pocket or through private dental insurance and is delivered in private dental offices. The remaining 5 per cent is covered through a hodgepodge
of public health programs offered federally and provincially, targeting the needs of specific populations, with many falling through the cracks. So what happens when you don’t have dental insurance? The report found that almost half of all Canadians without dental insurance – commonly, new Canadians, the elderly, people working in insecure jobs and for low wages, and their children – avoid visiting a dentist due to costs. In fact, those in the poorest income group were almost four times more likely to avoid the dentist due to costs than the richest group of Canadians. Vulnerable Canadians with difficulty accessing dental care are also those with the most dental pain, the greatest difficulty eating a healthy diet and the ones with the highest levels of gum disease, which in turn can increase their risk for general health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In other words, those who need dental care the most are the least likely to be able to get it, and the ones who suffer the most because of it. It may also be costing all of us through increased visits to already crowded emergency rooms and
physician offices, and valuable time lost from work, school and other activities. There are other reasons that people skip seeing their dentist, such as lack of transportation, fear of dental treatment and the dental office, and misunderstandings between dental professionals and certain groups in the population. These complex issues have complex solutions. But they cannot be addressed without first addressing equity in access to dental care. The CAHS report finds that inequalities in oral disease and access to dental care in Canada are greater than inequalities in general health problems and medical care.
Falling crime, rising police costs By Livio Di Matteo and Sean Speer
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HUNDER BAY, ON and VANCOUVER, BC, Troy Media—Last month’s meeting of Ontario municipalities was marked by a growing concern about the rising costs of police services in Canada. “It is not sustainable” concluded the president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). It’s a sentiment being expressed across the country. A new study published by the Fraser Institute examines trends in crime rates and police resources in Canada and seeks to better understand whether police services could be more efficient. The findings may be interesting to the AMO president and Canadian taxpayers. Canadian policing costs and staffing levels have grown over the past decade despite a dramatic fall in crime rates. Between 2001 and 2012, police officers per 100,000 of population in Canada rose 9 per cent while the crime rate declined by 26 per cent. Moreover, real per capita police expenditures in Canada between 2001 and 2012 rose 33 per cent while criminal code incidents per officer declined 32 per cent. What does this mean for provinces and municipalities?
Police officers per 100,000 of population and real per capita police expenditures are generally highest in the sparsely populated territories. Across the provinces, in 2013 the number of police officers per 100,000 of population was the highest in Manitoba at 213 and the lowest in Prince Edward Island at 160. Real per capita police expenditures in 2012 were the highest in Ontario at $272.50 (2002 dollars) and lowest in Prince Edward Island at $148.20. There is also substantial variation in the number of police officers per 100,000 of population across major Canadian Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs). But the trend has certainly been going up. Indeed, from 2001 to 2013, the median number of police officers per 100,000 for major CMAs grew from 149.5 to 160.
While these figures are interesting, many factors contribute to the size and cost of a municipality’s police force. Policing has evolved and touches upon a wider range of problem social behaviours that have affected police expenditure growth. And, of course, a wide range of local circumstances such as socio-economic factors, demographics, collective bargaining agreements, new service demands, and response times influence staffing and cost. Still, the public regards crime fighting as the prime police responsibility and crime rates remain the most consistent and broadly available benchmark outcome measure. They are a more tangible productivity outcome than call volumes or the fulfillment of other bureaucratic requirements. After controlling for crime rates and other socio-economic factors, the study estimates the “efficiency” of police staffing across 32 Canadian cities by comparing a predicted number of police officers per 100,000 to the actual staffing numbers. Using this methodology, Kelowna, Moncton and Ottawa-Gatineau were found to have the most efficient staffing levels, with their actual numbers of police officers per 100,000 of population substantially below what was predicted they
www.OttawaStar.com • PAGE 7 What might surprise many is that Canada actually provides less publicly-funded dental care than the United States – and, internationally, Canada is among the lowest funders of dental healthcare programs. Inequality in access to dental care is but one manifestation of the increasing inequalities in Canadian society and it needs to be addressed. With societal changes such as the increasing proportion of the population who are elderly and the decreasing proportion of the population with dental insurance, difficulty accessing dental care is only going to increase unless we start acting now. All people living in Canada should have reasonable access to dental care. We need to bring dentistry into the general healthcare system by having some dental clinics in hospitals and community health centres. We need to explore the use of a variety of dental and other health professionals delivering care in a variety of settings. And we need to explore the financing of dental care for vulnerable groups – including anomalies in tax legislation that help those with dental insurance but not those without. We need concerted professional, government and community action now to begin to address these issues so that many Canadians will get the dental healthcare they so desperately need. Paul Allison is an advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, Dean in the Faculty of Dentistry at McGill University, and Chair of the CAHS panel on “Improving access to oral healthcare for vulnerable people living in Canada.” Article courtesy www.troymedia.com could have. Closely following them and also in the top 10 most efficient services are Saguenay, Quebec, Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, Trois-Rivières, Kingston, Greater Sudbury and Sherebrooke. Saint John, Winnipeg and Windsor had the least efficient staffing levels with their actual numbers well above what our analysis would predict. Also in the bottom 10 are St. Catharines-Niagara, Abbotsford-Mission, Thunder Bay, St. John’s, Peterborough, Regina and Victoria. As well as inefficient use of police resources, some of these differences may also reflect other more difficult to quantify local socio-economic differences that raise unique challenges to policing. These can include differences in bureaucratic and administrative requirements, local variations in crime composition, workloads, collective agreements, community preferences, and other geographic or police technology issues However, these results are a necessary first step to better understanding the efficiency of police resources in Canada. Given the variations in police staffing, there is substantial scope for police forces across Canada to improve their performance when it comes to more efficient operation. Livio Di Matteo is Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute, Professor of Economics at Lakehead University and author of a recent Fraser Institute study on police resources and crime. Sean Speer is Associate Director of the Fraser Institute’s Center for Fiscal Studies. Article courtesy www.troymedia.com
PAGE 8 • www.OttawaStar.com
Community
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
Chinese community comes together under a full moon By Anaïs Lynn Voski
Ottawa’s Chinese community celebrated the highly anticipated Mid-Autumn Festival with a heavenly feast and a wide array of traditional Chinese performances at City Hall on September 21. Amongst others honourary guests, Mayor Jim Watson gave an opening speech followed by China’s new ambassador to Canada, Luo Zhaohui. The festival was the first big Chinese event Zhaohui has attended since taking office. Also known as the Moon Festival, this harvest festival is the second-most important holiday for Chinese, as well as the Vietnamese community. It is held on the night of the full moon according to the Gregorian calendar, between early September and early October. China made the festival a public holiday in 2006, which is coincidentally also when Winnie Wang, president of the Federation of Ottawa ChineseCanada Organizations (FOCCO) was appointed to her position in Ottawa, where she has been living for the past 28 years. Before Wang’s appointment, the community would celebrate in local Chinese restaurants away from others. This, however, has changed since she was chosen president of the umbrella organization, which currently encompasses 42 local Chinese initiatives including schools or art groups. “Ever since I became president of FOCCO, I thought we should celebrate
FOCCO’s Winnie Wang (right) and other festival organizers.
in a more official, creative, and mainstream way,” said Wang. “Ottawa’s City Hall is the best place to do it because it is so representative. We’re all residents of Ottawa, so we shouldn’t isolate ourselves in Chinatown. We should get more people involved.” Wang related the Mid-Autumn Festival to Canadian Thanksgiving, saying they are similar traditions in the sense that they are about family union and
Photo: Anaïs Lynn Voski
coming together for a feast. Traditionally, Chinese consume mooncakes, which are a special dessert made out of lotus. The festival is a good opportunity for the local Chinese community to celebrate with each other, explained Wang. From young to elderly, from native Chinese to third-generation children, they are all happy to come together. “I think it’s a very good opportunity for them to get to know each other,
to meet old friends and to make new friends,” she added. Michael Liu, an attendee of the festival, believes most people maintain strong cultural ties with China, even if that sometimes only means eating traditional Chinese food. “It’s still a connection,” said Liu. “I do miss China, but I’ve lived here many years and I’m more used to the lifestyle here. […] Canada is a beautiful country.”
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
Community
www.OttawaStar.com • PAGE 9
New to Canada? Volunteers serve langar lunch to anyone and everyone on the front lawn of Parliament Hill Photo: Michael Power
Eating as Equals: Sikh students hold langar on Parliament Hill
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he Sikh Youth Federation proved the old adage wrong as visitors to the lawn of Parliament Hill were treated to a free lunch on Tuesday, September 24. In coordination with Sikh students from Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, the SYF held a langar–or free kitchen–in the spirit of equality and community. “As a Canadian Sikh, this is where we want to spread our message of equality,” said Arjan Sethi, a Carleton University student and one of the organizers. “We want to bring people together and show that everybody is equal, no one is above others.” The first langar held on Parliament Hill by the SYF was a successful event that drew a large crowd of hungry journalists, politicians, tourists and passers by eager to grab a plate and a seat on the grass. The tradition requires that everyone eat the same food and sit together on the ground–as equals. The origins of the Sikh langar date back to the era of the first gurus, when India’s caste system was becoming stricter. At this time, bringing people together as equals was a sort of rebellion against the status quo. The role of langar in the Sikh tradition was cemented by Mata Khivi, the wife of the second Sikh guru, said Sethi. “It instilled the concept of equality in the minds of all those who experienced it, which helped remove the status quo of stratification and exclusion.” Along with a free lunch, the day also featured turban tying, where anyone who wished could have his or her head expertly wrapped. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), donned a turban at the hands– and kirpan–of Baljit Gosal, Minister of State for Sport (Bramalea-Gore-Malton) in a rare moment of nonpartisanship on Parliament Hill. Turban tying is a “great way to experience a different culture first hand,” said Jagdish Singh, SYF Communications Director. Minister of State for Multiculturalism, Tim Uppal (Edmonton-Sherwood Park), added that holding the event on the lawn on our federal legislature was a chance for Canadians to ask questions in a casual atmosphere. “It’s an opportunity for everyone to be served,” said Uppal. “It’s an exercise in equality.”
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® Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia. * Trademark of Visa International Service Association and used under license. 1. The Scotiabank StartRight Program created for Canadian Landed Immigrants from 0-3 years in Canada, International Students and Foreign Workers. 2. Subject to meeting Scotiabank’s credit criteria, income requirements, immigration permit requirements and security requirements. Maximum unsecured credit limit for International Students is $1,000. An unsecured VISA card may be available only up to certain credit limits; a secured credit card requires security equal to 100% of approved credit limit for Foreign Workers and Permanent Residents and 120% of approved credit limit for International Students. In addition, to be eligible for a personal borrowing product, you must be a Canadian resident and have reached the age of majority. Standard interest charges and fees are applicable. 3. Subject to approved credit history, where a credit history exists. All Scotia Momentum No-Fee VISA* cards issued after March 14, 2011 will have VISA payWave*.
PAGE 10 • www.OttawaStar.com
Canada
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
Red Cross uncovers numerous problems facing immigration detainees By Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press,
O
TTAWA—A confidential Red Cross investigation found numerous shortcomings at Canadian facilities for immigrant detainees including triple-bunked cells, lack of support for detained children and inadequate mental-health care. In addition, because there are no dedicated immigration cells in many parts of the country, newcomers are often held in provincial jails or police facilities alongside suspected gang members and violent offenders, says the Canadian Red Cross Society’s inspection report. Through an agreement with the Canada Border Services Agency, the independent humanitarian organization monitors the treatment and conditions of people detained in Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The border agency holds people who are considered a flight risk or a danger to the public, and those whose identities cannot be confirmed. The Red Cross makes 28 recommendations to help close various “protection gaps’’ noted by inspectors during 63 visits to facilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In many cases the problems con-
stituted a failure to comply with national or international standards. The organization makes a confidential annual report to the border agency, which released the findings for 2012-13 under the Access to Information Act. Agency spokesman Pierre Deveau said a number of steps have been taken to address the Red Cross’s concerns. However, he did not provide details and refused to make anyone available to discuss the report. While the border agency operates holding facilities in three provinces, an estimated 3,952 immigration detainees were housed across Canada in 2012 in correctional institutions, commingled with criminal populations. (Data for the first quarter of 2013 was unavailable.) The practice can be “extremely stressful’’ for some newcomers to Canada, the report says. “This is a particular concern for refugee claimants who have experienced armed conflict, torture, and other traumatic experiences.’’ In Alberta and Quebec correctional facilities, overcrowding was “a persistent concern,’’ including triple-bunking— three people in a cell intended for one— and detainees sleeping on mattresses on the floor with limited personal space.
In general, the inspectors found border agency holding centres provided detainees a safer environment and better access to support services, legal advice, phone cards and visitors. However, there were traces of mould and mildew at a border agency facility in Quebec as well as frequent overcrowding at the agency’s British Columbia day facility for detainees with scheduled hearings, the Red Cross noted. In 2012, an estimated 291 minors were detained under immigration law 288 in federal facilities and three in provincial ones. However, it cautioned the numbers may actually be higher. The Red Cross urged the border agency to implement a national policy governing minors in detention, citing their emotional and psychological needs. “This policy should specifically address minors who have additional vulnerabilities, such as those who are unaccompanied, those who may have been trafficked or those who require special physical and mental support.’’ Inspectors found the border agency had no facility that could appropriately accommodate a complete family unit of mother, father and children—or a father with child—without having to separate family members.
New immigrants to Canada not sold on upcoming express entry system By Lee-Anne Goodman, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA—A newly released government study suggests newcomers to the country have misgivings about Ottawa’s intention to ensure would-be immigrants possess skills that are in demand in Canada. The respondents to the study wondered why Ottawa isn’t doing more to find jobs for qualified immigrants already here but who “have been frustrated by the lack of recognition of their credentials and their inability to acquire a sufficient amount of Canadian experience.’’ The government’s new express entry system, launching in January, will allow Canadian employers to select skilled candidates from abroad if there are no Canadians or permanent residents available for the work. Express entry candidates who are offered jobs or nominated under the socalled provincial nominee program will be invited to apply for permanent residency. The government hopes the new system will reduce the need for temporary foreign workers and help address the country’s supposed skills shortage. Immigration Min-
ister Chris Alexander has called express entry a “top priority’’ for his department. “Express entry promises to be a gamechanger for Canadian immigration and Canada’s economy,’’ he said recently. “It will revolutionize the way we attract skilled immigrants and get them working here faster.’’ But the Ipsos Reid study, commissioned by Citizenship and Immigration earlier this year, suggests newcomers in 14 focus groups located in seven communities across the country weren’t sold on the new system. “A number of participants in all sessions wondered why the government was focusing on those who have yet to immigrate to Canada rather than those who have already immigrated,’’ the study states. The respondents, from a mix of ages and socio-economic backgrounds, also questioned the integrity of the process. They were “quick to caution that the potential for fraudulent behaviour’’ was real, whether on the part of applicant or the prospective employer. “Participants expect that certain steps would be taken to guard against such behaviour,’’ the study says.
Alexander has been meeting the stakeholders and business leaders for months in advance of the launch of the express entry program on Jan. 1, 2015. His department didn’t immediately respond to a request for a comment on the Ipsos Reid study. With the launch looming, the government has begun accepting 25,000 applications under the federal skilled worker program, and is actively recruiting skilled immigrants in 50 occupations that include financial managers, auditors and accountants, civil engineers and psychologists. But another government study suggests that skilled newcomers already in Canada—including doctors, pharmacists and engineers—face “huge obstacles’’ preventing them from finding jobs even when their credentials are in order. The participants in that study, conducted by Environics Research, said language barriers and requirements for Canadian experience on some job postings pose the biggest problems in their attempts to find work. A spokesman for Employment Minister Jason Kenney says the government plans to address those complaints this fall.
The report also noted uneven access to mental health services in immigration detention, calling the issue “one of great concern.’’ The Red Cross recommends the border agency ensure alternatives to detention are available in all provinces. The agency is studying various options including expanded use of telephone reporting and electronic ankle bracelets to keep track of people instead of locking them up. The Canadian Council for Refugees has repeatedly raised many of the issues flagged by the Red Cross. The usual response from the border services agency is that it cannot control conditions imposed by provincial authorities, council executive director Janet Dench said in an interview.
Facts on trafficking of aboriginal women in Canada By The Canadian Press
OTTAWA—A newly disclosed report says aboriginal women and girls are easy prey for human traffickers because they are more likely to suffer from poverty, drug addictions and mental-health problems. Among the other findings in the Public Safety Canada report: —Family members, gangs and friends can recruit women and girls through financial and psychological coercion and physical violence; —Aboriginal women and girls are more likely to be poor, have low self-esteem, addictions and mental-health issues, so they are especially vulnerable to people who want to sexually exploit them; —Smaller gangs are behind most of the trafficking of aboriginal women and girls, not highly sophisticated criminal organizations; —Aboriginal women and girls in the North are even more vulnerable and may not speak out for fear of retribution from others in their remote, isolated communities; —Most law-enforcement agencies don’t collect data on ethnic backgrounds or if the victims of human trafficking are status or non-status First Nations, Metis or Inuit; and, —The needs of aboriginal women and girls who have been sexually exploited are often greater than what support agencies can provide.
Canada
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
www.OttawaStar.com • PAGE 11
Federal Taxman wants to catch its own bad government’s apples with internal snitch line plan to revoke out in any documents released under Charges laid include bribery of laws. public officers, conspiracy, fraud, breach passports raises TTAWA—The taxman wants to of trust by a public officer and fraud those“Therefore, the most effective way O know if any of his own are up to to learn about fraud and other unethical against the government. human rights no good. behaviour is to provide employees with Since 2008, 15 people—including eight former Canada Revenue That’s why the Canada Revenue a variety of methods for reporting their concerns Agency officials—have been arrestAgency is in the process of setting up a concerns,’’ says the agency. By Steve Rennie, The Canadian Press
By The Canadian Press
M
ONTREAL—A human rights lawyer is raising concern about the federal government’s plan to strip Canadian passports of those suspected of travelling abroad to join extremist groups. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has confirmed it is “revoking and refusing passports to those going abroad to take part in terrorist activities.” Lorne Waldman, the head of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, says he’s worried the government might use its powers arbitrarily. Waldman likened the practice to Canada’s secretive no-fly list, which civil liberties groups have argued violates the right to due process. In the case of passport revocation, Waldman says there are at least legal avenues available for people to appeal such a decision through the courts. But he said there should be assurances that power is used fairly by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander. “The Passport Order gives the minister the right to deny passports if there were issues of national security,” Waldman said Sunday. “Now, that’s pretty vague and pretty broad, and the minister is going to have to justify it in some way or another.” The measure comes amid growing concern about the potential for homegrown terrorism. A Public Safety Canada report released last month said there were about 130 individuals suspected of terror-related activities abroad at the beginning of 2014. About 30 people with Canadian connections were suspected of terror activities in Syria. In an emailed statement, Citizenship and Immigration Canada spokesman Kevin Menard said the government is “taking a strong stance against terrorism and we will revoke citizenship and strip passports from those who seek to harm our country.”
self-snitch line. The so-called internal fraud and misuse reporting lines would give agency staff a way to confidentially report any concerns about their colleagues. “Internal fraud and integrity lapses pose a serious threat to the organization’s objectives and reputation and to the morale, productivity and well-being of its employees,’’ the agency says in a new contract document. “To mitigate the threat, it is vital that the CRA takes all reasonable measures to safeguard the assets, resources, information and reputation of the organization from fraudulent activity and inappropriate conduct by its employees.’’ Three Canada Revenue Agency employees were among seven people caught up in a sweep by the Mounties earlier this year.
ed as part of an investigation called Project Coche. Back in 2010, The Canadian Press obtained internal reports showing the agency had trouble with employees who wasted their work days surfing the Internet, setting up sports pools, sending chain letters, promoting illegal substances, sharing offensive cartoons and running pyramid schemes. But some staff may be wary about bringing their concerns to a supervisor, the agency says. Others may fear their covers could be blown. There’s no guarantee of anonymity under either the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act. That means any information gathered over the course of an investigation into wrongdoing is accessible—although personal information would most likely be blanked
“These methods include phone lines, web forms, emails, faxes, regular mail and face-to-face meetings.’’ This isn’t the first time the agency has set up a snitch line. A hotline to try to catch people who may be hiding money offshore has been up and running since January. The Offshore Tax Informant Program offers tipsters a cash reward of up to 15 per cent if the agency collects more than $100,000 in taxes owed. The down side? The reward money must be claimed on the tipster’s income tax. There’s also a third snitch line that is focused on domestic tax fraud and pays no rewards. The Canada Revenue Agency did not immediately respond to questions about the new hotline.
Study gives tentative nod to electronic tools for tracking immigrants Continued from page 1
Several of the countries in the study use technological means to track criminal offenders, but only Britain and the United States have applied the techniques to immigration. The Canada Border Services Agency study, prompted by recommendations of a Commons committee, could lay the groundwork for a Canadian pilot project to test the technologies. An accompanying briefing note to border agency president Luc Portelance says officials will do a full cost-benefit analysis of electronic monitoring within the immigration setting “as an important step toward the development of any pilot program.’’ “Careful consideration must be taken in determining the appropriate target population, in addition to the specific electronic monitoring technology used, and the conditions or restrictions on its use.’’ The border agency detained 9,929 people for an average of 19 days in 201112 in immigration holding centres and provincial facilities.
The border agency makes limited use of electronic tracking. It has a biometric telephone reporting system in the Toronto region that recognizes voices of people slated for deportation, while a handful of Muslim men held on national security certificates were monitored using sophisticated global positioning system ankle bracelets in recent years. Britain and the U.S. have used these techniques in their immigration programs, as well as radio frequency tracking devices worn on the wrist or ankle that do not record a person’s every move but help enforce curfews by sending signals via telephone. The study says while there is little data on such programs, they “appear to achieve their primary objectives.’’ It costs the border agency $239 a day to detain someone, many times the cost of a typical electronic monitoring program. However, the study cites practical hurdles, including the need to have a phone line for some of the tools, questions about the appropriateness of monitoring for the elderly, mentally
ill and disabled, and the possible effects on pregnant women and nursing mothers. Various groups have raised concerns about the border agency’s detention program, and the Canadian Council for Refugees has urged it to make alternatives to locking people up a priority. There could be benefits to electronic monitoring if done in “a limited way’’ to avoid incarceration, said Janet Dench, the council’s executive director. However, Dench said in a interview, she’s concerned such tracking could be applied to newcomers who don’t really need to be monitored simply because it might be easy and inexpensive. The internal agency briefing note says a strategy discussing all potential alternatives to detention was expected to be complete last June. Border agency spokeswoman Esme Bailey said the agency would continue to review existing research on electronic monitoring as well as the value of expanding current programs—such as telephone voice reporting—to other regions.
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PAGE 12 • www.OttawaStar.com
International InternationalAttraction Investment Investment InternationalAttraction Investment InternationalAttraction Investment Attraction International Investment InternationalAttraction Investment Attraction
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper addresses the UN General Assembly in New York City. PMO Photo
Alberta group warns prime minister that ISIL is recruiting Somali youths By John Cotter, The Canadian Press
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Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
EDMONTON—The leader of a Somali group has written to the prime minister warning that young people in Alberta are being recruited to become fighters for the radical group ISIL. In his letter, Mahamad Accord says he has solid sources, including elders, who say youths from the Somali community as young as 16 have signed up to become terrorist soldiers. “Parents of these young men and women are extremely worried about this terrorist group and the fact that their sympathizers are recruiting our youth to fight in this losing war,” he wrote in his letter to Stephen Harper dated Sept. 15. The extremely violent ISIL insurgency, also known as ISIS, broke out earlier this year, taking control of cities and land in parts of Iraq and Syria. In an interview on Sept 24, Accord, who is president of the Edmonton-based Canadian Somali Congress Western Canada, said he doesn’t have any hard numbers on how many young people have been recruited. He declined to give any names of people who have been recruited or their families, citing privacy concerns. Accord said some youths who have left their families have called home from countries such as Turkey without any explanation. In his letter, he asks the prime minister for programs to reach out to disaffected Somali youth to counter ISIL recruiters. “It is time to implement an alternative strategy that would safeguard our safety and security,” he said. “We need resources to counter these terrorists. “Our strategy is detect early and prevent to protect vulnerable youth from
being drawn into terrorism.” Accord estimates there are about 35,000 people of Somali descent living in Alberta, including about 15,000 in Edmonton. He said most are moderate and hardworking Muslims who despise and reject ISIL and other terror groups. Accord said the Somali community wants to work with Canadian authorities and police to fight against these extremists. “We cannot sit idly to see these criminals putting our young lives at risk and becoming a pawn for ISIS terrorists.” An official with the Prime Minister’s Office responded to a request for comment on Accord’s letter by noting the Conservative government is a proud partner in the global fight against terrorism. “And we have given security agencies a number of tools to combat terrorism and continue protecting law-abiding Canadian families from those who would seek to do them harm,” Carl Vallee, Harper’s press secretary, wrote in an email. “Despite the objections of the Liberals and NDP, our government recently passed legislation that would allow for Canadian citizenship to be revoked from dual-nationals who engage in the most serious crimes including acts of terrorism. “In addition, we passed the Combating Terrorism Act and introduced Canada’s first counterterrorism strategy—a four-pronged approach to prevent, detect, deny resources and respond to terrorist activity and threats.” Vallee’s response did not mention Accord’s letter or some of the specific points it raises about the need for programs and resources to reach out to disaffected Somali youth in Canada.
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
World
www.OttawaStar.com • PAGE 13
Australia says refugees could settle in Cambodia this year under multi-million dollar deal By Sopheng Cheang, The Associated Press
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HNOM PENH, Cambodia—Australia and Cambodia signed an agreement Sept 26 for asylum-seekers who are refused residency in Australia to instead be resettled in the impoverished Southeast Asian country criticized for its deteriorating human rights record. Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng signed the memorandum of understanding to resettle an unspecified number of refugees currently held at an Australian-run detention camp on the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru. Most of the detainees arrived by boat from the Middle East and South Asia. Australia has increased its efforts to deter asylum-seekers from attempting to reach Australian shores by boat, and its current
government has vowed that no boat arrivals will ever be resettled in Australia. But the efforts have concerned activists for refugees, with critics of Australia’s resettlement efforts charging that Cambodia is too impoverished to handle asylum-seekers and that its poor human rights record would put them at risk. “This is a worrying departure from international norms,’’ the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in a statement. “International responsibility sharing is the basis on which the whole global refugee system works. I hope that the Australian government will reconsider its approach.’’ Ou Virak, chairman of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said his country was poor and ``couldn’t give humanitarian support even if we wanted to.’’ “Most of her people do not have
access to decent health care, education. Money alone will not able to fix these things for the refugees,’’ he said in an interview by email. “I think they will be left in limbo for years.’’ The Australian Council for International Development, which promotes foreign aid, declared the planned transfer “unnecessarily cruel.’’ About 100 people demonstrated outside Australia’s embassy in Cambodia before the signing, clashing briefly with police. Neither Morrison nor Sar Kheng spoke to the media after the signing and a champagne toast at the Interior Ministry in Phnom Penh. “Australia will use its expertise and experience to assist Cambodia to strengthen settlement support provided to refugees in Cambodia,’’ their joint statement said. “As part of this commit-
ment, Australia will bear the direct costs of the arrangement, including initial support to refugees, and relevant capacity building for Cambodia.’’ Morrison told Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Australia would pay Cambodia AU$40 million ($35 million) over four years, plus carry the costs of resettlement. Australia already pays Nauru to house asylum-seekers and has a similar deal with Papua New Guinea. Human rights groups have criticized living conditions for detainees there and expressed concern over the arrangement with Cambodia. The joint statement said an initial small trial group of refugees would be resettled in Cambodia, then others would be sent later. The transfers would be voluntary, and Morrison said the first group should head to Cambodia by the end of the year.
Islamic State profits from oil smuggling, human trafficking and extortion By Ken Dilanian, The Associated Press
W
ASHINGTON—Islamic State militants, who once relied on wealthy Persian Gulf donors for money, have become a self-sustaining financial juggernaut, earning more than $3 million a day from oil smuggling, human trafficking, theft and extortion, according to U.S. intelligence officials and private experts. The extremist group’s resources exceed that “of any other terrorist group in history,” said a U.S. intelligence official who, like others interviewed, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss classified assessments. Such riches are one reason that American officials are so concerned about the group even while acknowledging they have no evidence it is plotting attacks against the United States. The Islamic State group has taken over large sections of Syria and Iraq, and controls as many as 11 oil fields in both countries, analysts say. It is selling oil and other goods through generations-old smuggling networks under the noses of some of the same governments it is fighting: Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, Turkey and Jordan. While U.S. intelligence does not assess that those governments are complicit in the smuggling, the Obama administration is pressing them do to more to crack down. The illicit oil is generally transported on tanker trucks, analysts said. “There’s a lot of money to be made,” said Denise Natali, who worked in Kurd-
Flag of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
istan as an American aid official and is now a senior research fellow at National Defence University. “The Kurds say they have made an attempt to close it down, but you pay off a border guard, you pay off somebody else and you get stuff through.” The price the Islamic State group fetches for its smuggled oil is discounted -$25 to $60 for a barrel of oil that normally sells for more than $100 – but its total profits from oil are exceeding $3 million a day, said Luay al-Khatteeb, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Doha Center in Qatar. The group also has earned hundreds of millions of dollars from smuggling antiqui-
ties out of Iraq to be sold in Turkey, al-Khatteeb said, and millions more from human trafficking by selling women and children as sex slaves. Other revenue comes from extortion payments, ransom from kidnapped hostages, and outright theft of all manner of materials from the towns the Islamic State group has seized, analysts say. “It’s cash-raising activities resemble those of a mafia-like organization,” a second U.S. intelligence official said, reflecting the assessment of his agency. “They are well-organized, systematic and enforced through intimidation and violence.” Even prior to seizing Mosul in June, for example, the group began to impose “taxes” on nearly every facet of economic activity, threatening death for those unwilling to pay, U.S. intelligence officials say. An analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations estimated the group was reaping $8 million a month from extortion in Mosul alone.
Once the group took over Mosul, in northern Iraq, and other areas, it grabbed millions of dollars in cash from banks, though not the hundreds of millions initially reported, U.S. intelligence officials say. This spring, four French and two Spanish journalists held hostage by Islamic State extremists were freed after their governments were alleged to have paid multimillion-dollar ransoms through intermediaries. The French government has denied making those or other ransom payments. The Islamic State group “has managed to successfully translate territorial control in northern Syria and portions of Iraq into a means of revenue generation,” said a third U.S. intelligence official. Analysts say the group is relying on the fact that the area along the border between Iraq and Turkey has long been a smugglers haven, and was made more so by the fall of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003. Generations of families have illicitly moved goods through the region. The Islamic State is the successor to al-Qaida in Iraq, which was founded by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. For a time, the group was allied with the Nusra Front, the al-Qaida affiliate that is a key player among the rebels battling Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Islamic State group has since broken with the Nusra Front and al-Qaida.
PAGE 14 • www.OttawaStar.com
World
India’s Mars mission is boon for its space business And inspiration for homegrown scientists Continued from page 1
produced millions of software programmers, engineers and doctors who have helped grow the country’s growing middle class. India joined an elite club when it successfully guided its Mars Orbiter Mission, affectionately called MOM, into orbit around the red planet Wednesday morning. Only the U.S., former Soviet Union and European Space Agency have been able to do that before. In scenes broadcast live on TV, scientists at the Indian Space and Research Organisation’s command centre in Bangalore erupted into cheers as orbiter’s engines completed 24 minutes of burn time to manoeuvr the spacecraft into place. MOM had travelled some 666 million kilometres (414 million miles) and more than 300 days since breaking from Earth’s gravitational pull. “Our scientists have achieved this in the first attempt,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said from the command centre. “We have dared to reach out into the unknown and have achieved near impossible.” India was particularly proud that MOM was developed with homegrown
technology and for a bargain price of about $75 million—a cost that Modi quipped was lower than many Hollywood movie budgets. NASA’s much larger Maven mission, whose satellite went into orbit around Mars on Sunday, cost nearly 10 times as much, at $671 million. The country’s business sector applauded the mission, with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry saying “it will encourage Indian industry to invest in the research and innovation.” India’s success shows the world that “they are now a force of capability … that can be taken very seriously,” said space expert Roger Franzen, the technical program manager at the Australian National University’s Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. “India has an extremely well-developed space industry that manufactures everything from the components to the spacecraft to the instrumentation to the launch vessels,” he said. In the realm of scientific space research, India also could soon join in collaborative missions with NASA or ESA, he suggested. India has already conducted dozens of successful satellite launches, including sending
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
up the Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter, which discovered key evidence of water on the moon in 2008. And it plans new scientific missions, including putting a rover on the moon. But the focus for the space agency, which operates on an annual budget of $1.1 billion, will remain on developing technologies for commercial and navigational satellite applications, the agency’s chief K. Radhakrishnan said Tuesday. Those services could bring in significant revenues from companies or governments seeking to place their own satellites or research equipment in space. “If we’re going to earn money, we’re going to do it on that,” said D. Raghunan-
dan of the Delhi Science Forum, a group that promotes the study of science. “India’s portfolio is likely to be somewhat limited because we can’t afford to spend that much money in pure science exploration and in an exercise of the imagination.” MOM will circle the planet for at least six months, with solar-powered instruments gathering scientific data that may shed light on Martian weather systems as well as what happened to the water that is believed to have existed once on Mars. It also will search Mars for methane, a key chemical in life processes on Earth that could also come from geological processes.
CIA spying on friendly governments in Western Europe put on hold Continued from page 1
ments. Such clandestine meetings are the bedrock of spying. CIA officers are still allowed to meet with their counterparts in the host country’s intelligence service, conduct joint operations with host country services and conduct operations with the approval of the host government. Recently, unilateral operations targeting third country nationals-Russians in France, for example-were restarted. But most meetings with sources who are host nationals remain on hold, as do new recruitments. The CIA declined to comment. James Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence, said during a public event Sept 18 that the U.S. is assuming more risk because it has stopped spying on “specific targets,” though he didn’t spell out details. Spying stand-downs are common after an operation is compromised, but “never this long or this deep,” said a former CIA official, who, like others interviewed for this story, spoke on condition of anonymity because it’s illegal to discuss classified material or activities. The pause, which has been in effect for about two months, was ordered by senior CIA officials through secret cables. The current stand-down was part of the fallout from the July 2 arrest of a 31-yearold employee of the German intelligence service. Suspected of spying for Russia, he told authorities he passed 218 German intelligence documents to the CIA. In a second case, authorities searched the home and office of a German defence official suspected of spying for the U.S., but he denied doing so, and no charges have been filed against him. A few days later, Germany asked the CIA station chief in Berlin to leave the country, an unprecedented demand from a U.S. ally. The move demonstrated how seriously the Germans were taking the situation, having already been stung by revelations made by Snowden, a former NSA systems admin-
istrator, that the agency had tapped German chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone. The NSA disclosure infuriated Merkel, who demanded explanations from President Barack Obama. It embarrassed both world leaders and has left many Germans skeptical about co-operating with the U.S. CIA managers were worried that the incident could lead European security services to begin closely watching CIA personnel. Many agency officers in Europe, operating out of U.S. Embassies, have declared their status as intelligence operatives to the host country. The spying stand-down comes at an inopportune time, with the U.S. worried about Europeans extremists going to fight in Syria, Europe’s response to Russian aggression and European hostility to American technology companies following revelations the companies turned over data to the NSA. While the U.S. co-operates closely with Europe against terrorism, spying can help American officials understand what their allies are planning and thinking, whether about counterterrorism or trade talks. The “EUR” division, as it is known within the CIA, covers Canada, Western Europe and Turkey. While spying on Western European allies is not a top priority, Turkey is considered a high priority target—an Islamic country that talks to U.S. adversaries such as Iran, while sharing a border with Syria and Iraq. It was not known to what extent the stand-down affected operations in Turkey. European countries also are used as safe venues to conduct meetings between CIA officers and their sources from the Middle East and other high priority areas. Those meetings have been rerouted to other locales while the pause is in place. The European Division staff has long been considered among the most riskaverse in the agency, several former case officers said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss secret intelligence matters by name.
Ottawa Star • October 1, 2014
World
www.OttawaStar.com • PAGE 15
Dalai Lama praises Chinese President Xi Jinping as ‘more realistic’ than his predecessors By Katy Daigle, The Associated Press
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EW DELHI—The Dalai Lama praised Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sept 19 for being “more realistic” and principled than his predecessors, a day after Xi’s three-day visit to India ended. The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader has lived in exile for decades in India’s Himalayan foothill city of Dharamsala, after fleeing China following a failed 1959 uprising. The arrangement has irritated Beijing, which has long accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting unrest and encouraging Buddhist monks to self-immolate in demanding more autonomy for Tibet, a Himalayan region in western China that borders India, Bhutan and Nepal. However, Beijing’s attitude appears to be shifting, the Dalai Lama said, noting that China’s Communist leaders, who officially are atheist, are now “mentioning the importance of spiritualism.” “There are a lot of changes,” the Dalai Lama told reporters. He said that since becoming president in March 2013, Xi has demonstrated “through his handling of problems, he is comparatively more realistic and with more principles” than his predecessors.
The 14th Dalai Lama, pictured in 2014. Photo: Minette — Flickr
The remarks brought no immediate comment from China’s government or state media. However, Beijing has previously denounced the Dalai Lama as a separatist traitor and warned that any of his moderate comments are deceptive. China says the Himalayan region has been part of Chinese territory for centuries, while Tibetans say it was virtually independent until China occupied it in 1950. India is home to a large Tibetan community as well as Tibet’s government-inexile. During Xi’s visit to New Delhi dozens
of Tibetan protesters shouting “Hands off Tibet!” staged a noisy demonstration outside the building where he was meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Dalai Lama also praised India for proving that communities can live peacefully together, and said India must show its example of religious harmony to the rest of the world. “India is the only country where all major world religions live together, not only in modern time but over 1,000 years,” he said in opening the two-day interfaith
meeting he had organized for leaders from nine religious communities to mull some of India’s most pressing and seemingly endemic problems – from gender violence and widespread poverty to environmental degradation and communal violence. India has been soul-searching somewhat, since national elections stirred up questions about the nation’s identity and ambitions for the future as it pushes for rapid economic growth and 21st century technologies even as three-fourths of its 1.2 billion population still live on less than $1.25 a day. The landslide victory by Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party left some worried that his association with Hindu hardliners could encourage violence between Muslims and Hindus, who make up 80 per cent of the country’s population. The Dalai Lama urged the religious leaders to more actively promote tolerance, saying there was no justification for violence carried out in the name of religion or extremist ideology. “Some people (are) killing in the name of religion,” he said. “For economy reasons or political power, of course it’s very sad but understandable. But killing in the name of faith, for different religious faith, (is) unthinkable.”
Qatar: A key host to US military forces while hedging bets on outcome of Mideast conflicts By Robert Burns And Adam Schreck, The Associated Press
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ASHINGTON—Just miles (kilometres) from where former Guantanamo Bay terror suspects have resettled, American warplanes take off from Qatar’s al-Udeid air base in the global war on extremism. The contrast in images illustrates why tiny but rich Qatar is an intriguing player in what President Barack Obama says will be a long battle to stop and eventually destroy the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Qatar plays an outsize role as a U.S. military partner. It gained public praise from Obama for brokering the controversial deal that freed Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Taliban captivity in May in exchange for the release of five senior Taliban officials who had been imprisoned for years at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. Qatar promised Obama it would keep the five under watch for one year, although they would then be free to leave. The Obama administration also praised Qatar for its role in securing the release of extremist hostage Peter Theo Curtis.
But Qatar also has a reputation as a supporter of Islamist groups in disfavour in Washington. Some in Congress suspect Qatar of funneling money to Islamic State militants, though the State Department says the U.S. has no evidence of it. Qatari officials in Doha had no immediate comment for this story, but the government has unequivocally denied that it backs the Islamic State group. Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah said last month that his country “does not support extremist groups, including ISIS, in any way.” Western analysts say Qatar is attempting a sometimes awkward balancing act between its desire for good relations with the United States and its efforts to maintain influence closer to home. “Qatar is always looking for the angle, and that’s really the best way to explain it,” said Daniel Benjamin, a former State Department counterterrorism coordinator who now directs Dartmouth’s Dickey Center for International Understanding. “By having connections that are so broad, so wide ranging, it can put itself at the centre of just about every issue.” Qatar gives a home to Khaled Mashaal, exiled leader of Hamas, a Pales-
tinian militant organization considered by the U.S. to be a terrorist group. But Qatar also has maintained ties to Hamas’ enemy, Israel. And to Islamist groups including the Muslim Brotherhood for which other Gulf states like Saudi Arabia have little tolerance. “This is a small and wealthy country that is trying to maintain influence 360 degrees,” said Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defence for policy and now chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security. “They are hedging their bets and trying to make sure they have influence no matter who comes out on top” in the multifaceted struggle for power in the Middle East, she added. Asked whether she believes Qatar has actually provided money to the Islamic State group, she said there is at least a widespread perception that it has. On the other hand, Qatar was among 10 Arab nations that last week publicly endorsed Obama’s commitment to diminish and eventually destroy the Islamic State group. The 10 promised to stop the flow of foreign fighters and funding for the militants, repudiate their extremist ideology and provide humanitarian aid. Some have offered to join in airstrikes.
Qatar is a thumb-like desert appendage jutting into the central Persian Gulf from the Arabian peninsula. It began developing closer military relations with the United States during the 1991 Gulf War. Just weeks after American forces toppled Baghdad in April 2003, U.S. Central Command moved its regional air operations centre from Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia to al-Udeid, about 20 miles from Doha, the capital. Qatar also is a major buyer of U.S. advanced weaponry. In July, for example, Qatar closed an $11 billion package deal for the purchase of U.S.-made Apache attack helicopters and Patriot and Javelin air-defence weapons. Although it hosts U.S. military bases, it has pressured Washington not to publicly acknowledge that it flies combat missions from al-Udeid air base. Like other Persian Gulf allies, Qatar’s leaders don’t want the Pentagon to publicize that fact, because they are leery of being seen as too cozy with Washington. The U.S. has complied, declining to confirm publicly that B-1 bombers and other U.S. warplanes are operating from Qatar’s al-Udeid. Nonetheless, it’s an open secret that U.S. planes there fly surveillance, refuelling and other missions over Iraq.
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