'Once in a Lifetime' immigration bill tabled

From Toronto Star:

Bill to let immigrants sponsor extended family members

A Toronto MP has introduced a private member's bill that would allow Canadians and landed immigrants a one-time chance to sponsor a member of their extended family.

If adopted, the "Once in a Lifetime" bill would open the door for many people who would like to welcome an adult sibling, grown child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or cousin to Canada — all categories not normally eligible under Canada's family reunification policies.

"We need to broaden our definition of family members because for many immigrant families, they are not just a nuclear unit," New Democrat MP Peggy Nash (Parkdale-High Park) told a news conference yesterday.

"One of Canada's immigration objectives is to help families reunite in Canada. To help immigrants succeed, they need the support of their families."

Under the bill, all applicants would still have to meet the normal income, medical and security requirements. (Current family sponsorships are limited to spouses, parents, grandparents and children 21 or younger, with additional exceptions for orphaned siblings, nieces, nephews or grandchildren under 18.)

Ivanna Yavorska, a 62-year-old English teacher from Ukraine, said the age requirement has prevented her from sponsoring her 31-year-old daughter and 15-year-old grandson to join her in Canada.

"It's hard. I'm getting to that age when I could need some help. And I want to care for my grandson as well. We don't want to be separated, but there's little we can do," said Yavorska, who lives in Toronto with her older son. "We talk on the phone every day, but it's not like a real conversation."

The bill was met with a cold reception by Immigration Minister Monte Solberg's office.

Spokesperson Pema Lhalungpa said Ottawa is committed to clearing the 800,000-person immigration backlog inherited from the previous government, and Nash's proposal would simply "add millions of people to the backlog."

However, Nash is hopeful that a minority government would allow room for compromise from all parties on the bill, which still requires second and third reading.

Several community organizations have already signed on to Nash's campaign, including the Canadian Tibetan Association, Parkdale Community Legal Clinic, the Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society, Polycultural Immigrant Community Services, Kababayan Community Centre and the Afghan Women's Association.

Mary Jo Leddy of Romero House, an advocacy group for refugees, said the circumstances of their situation often separate asylum seekers from their children. By the time parents become eligible to act as sponsors, the children are grown past the age where they are eligible to be sponsored.

"It's destructive for families to be separated for years and years. We need to recognize that families give immigrants a basic sense of security and they help them to succeed," Leddy added.

An online petition will soon be launched. For information on the bill, visit http://www.peggynash.ca.

Tags: canada, immigration, immigrants, once in a lifetime

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In support of documentary film on Japanese invasion of China

A new documentary film, called Nanking, was just accepted into the Sundance Film Festival. Produced by Ted Leonsis, and directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, the film focuses on the Japanese invasion into Nanking in 1937 and 1938.

The film is based on collective testimony and eye witness accounts from the Chinrese survivors, Japanese soldiers and the brave westerners who banded together to save many lives. The film's focus is on how a group of westerners could work together and save 250,000 lives in the city of Nanking during bombing raids; invasion and occupation.

Please go to the film Nanking's website and sign the interest form which is posted there. The producer can then show the film distributors the huge public interest in this film. It will be the best way to help getting the film shown widely.

For more information, please see the section of 2007 Documentary Film: "Nanking in the wikipedia's "Iris Chang".

See also:
Declassified Japan war crime docs will 'profoundly' affect foreign policy: expert
War docs review 2 - Japanese had used biochemical warfare
War docs review 1 - Proof of biochemical human experiments
US's National Archive releases declassified evidence of Japan war crimes
100,000 pages declassified in search for Japanese war crimes records
Book review: Asian Labour in the Wartime Japanese Empire
Ghosts of Nanjing still unrestful 70 years after massacre
We will never forget the terror of Japanese militarism
In support of documentary film on Japanese invasion of China

Tags: china, japan, militarism, japanese invasion, rape of nanking, nanjing

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Canadian indigenous leaders share experience with Taiwan

As far as I understand, Canadian aboriginals have been in close exchanges with Taiwnese aboriginals in recent years. Taiwanese indigenous people are also marginalized and discriminated against.

Canadian indigenous leaders share experience with Taiwan

Taipei, Dec. 6 (CNA) A pair of Canadian indigenous leaders shared experiences and expertise with their Taiwanese counterparts in a workshop on Canada's aboriginal self-governance and economic development Wednesday in Taipei.

"In terms of aboriginal relations and development, Canada was far from perfect -- it even made some mistakes in the past. But it can share its experience in aboriginal affairs with Taiwan," said David Hamilton, director of general relations of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT) at the workshop, which was co-organized by CTOT and Taiwan's Council of Indigenous Peoples.

From 1870-1950, Canadian aboriginals went through a long period of discrimination just like aboriginals in other countries, said Larry Chartrand, a professor at the University of Winnipeg who also serves as the director of Canada's Aboriginal Governance Program.

It wasn't until 1969 that aboriginals in Canada mobilized and responded through massive protests and pushed for a new relationship between the Canadian government and aboriginal people. After three subsequent constitutional amendments in 1982, the Canadian government began to negotiate one by one with aboriginal tribes on self-governance issues, he said.

However, Canadian aboriginals still face great challenges today such as land claims, the scope of self-governance, and continuing poverty and discrimination, Chartrand noted.

"It's our belief that what you do today will affect seven generations later," said Romeo Crow, a Blackfoot tribe chief of the Siksika Nation, who also serves as president of the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association.

The Blackfoot tribe, a group of nomads that followed buffaloes in the past, has been trying to build its own business, increase the group's educational enrollment rate while at the same time preserving its tradition and culture, Crow said.

Self-governance is one thing, a vision to plan for the future instead of dwelling on the present is another, he said.

Tags: canada, taiwan, aboriginal, indigenous people

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Let's get over it, Evangelicals

From the Globe and Mail... yes, let's get over it!

Evangelicals need to ask themselves hard questions

OTTAWA — Yesterday's vote to reopen the same-sex-marriage debate wasn't even close. Now thoughtful evangelical Christians must ask themselves some hard questions.

Such as: Isn't it about time we admit we've failed? That, both here and in the United States, our efforts to influence the political agenda have achieved virtually nothing? That we've wasted enormous amounts of money and time electing politicians who have betrayed us, when we could and should have been bringing Good News to the world and offering succour to those in distress?

For faith-based politics is not growing in influence. By its own definition of success, it has not succeeded and is on the wane.

Last year's battle to pass legislation authorizing same-sex marriages was close fought; its supporters often feared defeat. But Wednesday's desultory one-day debate on the motion to reopen the issue collapsed with half an hour still left on the clock.

The Bloc Québécois, NDP and most Liberals opposed the motion, and the Conservative cabinet was split down the middle. In a final insult for social conservatives, the government has abandoned plans for legislation to protect public and religious officials from having to perform same-sex marriages. The Conservatives realized that, in every way that matters, those protections are already in place.

The issue is dead.

Were this a first battle that rallied support and built momentum, while falling short in the end, the religious right could argue it was worth the effort. But not only has nothing been achieved, the movement has generated no popular support. A fringe it was born, a fringe it remains. Every dollar raised to fight same-sex marriage was a dollar wasted; every breath spent opposing it was a wasted breath.

Disillusion has gripped conservative religious activists in the United States. They worked hard to get George W. Bush elected and re-elected. And what was their reward?

Did they get their constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage or permitting school prayer? No. Did they make progress in banning abortion? Nothing substantive. Did they put an end to stem-cell research? They achieved a funding moratorium, but Congress is determined to reverse that decision, and may now have enough votes to override a presidential veto.

The midterm elections that delivered Congress and a plethora of statehouses to the Democrats suggest that the high tide of religious conservatism in the United States has also passed. In terms of actual legislative accomplishment, it was a weak tide at best. There were some victories at the state level, but Mr. Bush gave them little, apart from a raft of conservative judicial appointments -- and judges have an alarming tendency to think for themselves. And there is no president-in-waiting who would give them more.

In Canada, Stephen Harper considers himself a social conservative but has done little to promote its agenda. He promised no action on abortion and expended not a penny of personal political capital on yesterday's vote. He did appoint one devoutly Christian judge, but David M. Brown's legal credentials are impeccable and he is widely respected within the profession.

Final score: Christian activists lost the fight against same-sex marriage. They lost the fight on a motion to reopen the debate. When it was clear they would lose the vote, they fought to get it delayed, and lost. Complete failure, three times running.

"Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature," Christ told His disciples. The Great Commission, it is called. But the evangelical church has lost its way. Too many of its leaders have surrendered to the false allure of political influence. They have struggled, and failed, to impose a Bible-based agenda on Congress and Parliament. Billions of souls, meanwhile, are at risk; millions are at risk from violence and hunger.

Christ would not have been on Parliament Hill yesterday. He would have been with the lost and poor. The evangelical church should remember His charge, and leave Rome to Caesar.

Across party lines

Conservatives who voted against the government's motion to restore the traditional definition of marriage to exclude same-sex couples:

Trade Minister David Emerson
Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon
Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay
International Co-operation Minister Josée Verner
Treasury Board President John Baird
James Moore
Michael Chong
Christian Paradis
Lee Richardson
Bill Casey
Gerald Keddy
Fabian Manning

Liberals who voted for the Conservative government's motion to restore the traditional definition of marriage to exclude same-sex couples:

Jim Karygiannis
Derek Lee
Gerry Byrne
Tom Wappel
Raymond Bonin
Dan McTeague
Roy Cullen
John McKay
Gurbax Malhi
Paul Steckle
Alan Tonks
Wajid Khan
Francis Scarpaleggia

Tags: canada, gay, same sex marriage, homophobia, homosexual

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Chinese Christians, Muslims want traditional marriage

Canadian Chinese and Muslim Communities Mobilize For Restoration of Traditional Marriage

MARKHAM, Ontario, December 5, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Toronto region Chinese Catholic, Muslim and other organizations held a joint press conference in Markham, Ontario yesterday in reaction to the upcoming parliamentary marriage motion. Speakers representing over 85 individual organizations called on Parliament to re-open the debate on same-sex marriage, to allow many more Canadians the opportunity to express their views on the issue and to ultimately restore the traditional definition of marriage in law.

The eight speakers, representing over a million Canadians belonging to the umbrella groups, the Toronto Chinese Catholic Task-force (TCCT), the Canada Chinese Catholic Action Network (CCCAN) and United Front Canada (UFC), asked Parliament to maintain the ‘one man-one-women’ definition of “marriage’ and to re-open debate on this matter. They distributed copies of a joint letter to be delivered to the Prime Minister today or Wednesday of this week.

Tags: canada, homosexual, homophobia, same sex marriage, gay, religion

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Oilsands company seeks Asian labour to cut costs

Oilsands Operator Says Asian Labour Will Cut Project Cost

CALGARY (CP) -- Synenco Energy Inc. will use workers in Asia to build giant modules for its Northern Lights oilsands project, saving C$1.2 billion in construction costs and slashing the need for labour by more than half in Alberta's over-heated economy.

"This is a very innovative and great solution for all concerned," Synenco president Todd Newton said Wednesday, estimating the pricetag for the revamped project in northern Alberta at C$4.4 billion.

A major Chinese oil company is a partner with privately owwned Synenco in the oilsands project.

"Our strategy is going to be very different from other oilsands developers, but it's one we think is best for our company," said Newton. "Overseas execution allows labour costs... to be reduced dramatically."

A traditional Alberta oilsands construction model would require 2,000 field workers at the peak of construction and cost C$5.6 billion, he said. This approach reduces that to about 900 workers.

Cost savings from labour will be transferred into transportation and equipment contracts, which are less volatile and easier to schedule.

The modules, which will be about 12 times the size of those traditionally fabicated for oilsands plants, will be shipped from a plant in likely China or South Korea. The 2,000-tonne units will move through the Bering Strait and down the Mackenzie River before being assembled onsite north of Fort McMurray, Alta.

"Well-known global leaders in transporation have confirmed the viablility of this route for (moving) the modules we intend to have fabricated and brought to the site," said Newton.

Calgary-based Synenco says its plan will keep the mining project on schedule and on budget.

Other energy companies in the oilsands have seen their pricetags spiral by billions as they struggle to cope with a shortage of tradespeople and skilled workers, escalating material costs and equipment shortages.

Synenco, which has a 60% share of Northern Lights and will manage the operation, says its C$4.4 billion cost estimate could still vary between 30% higher and 10% lower than estimated.

SinoCanada Petroleum Corp., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese oil giant Sinopec, owns the remaining 40%.

Newton says Synenco's plan reduces demands on local infrastructure, lower the environmental disturbance of construction and will be good for Alberta taxpayers.

Alberta allows energy developers to pay a one-per cent royalty rate until their capital construction costs are covered.

"If your capital costs are lower, then you're going to start paying taxes at the higher rate a lot faster," said Alberta Energy spokesman Jerry Bellikka, noting that of 33 of the more than 60 oilsands operations in the province are at payout. That means they pay the 25 per cent net royalty before taxes.

Synenco estimates that Northern Lights deposit holds 1.67 billion barrels of tar-like heavy oil called bitumen, up from a 2005 estimate of 1.49 billion barrels. Synenco says the project holds 1.3 billion barrels of recoverable resource, which will result in about 30 years of production at 100,000 barrels of synthetic crude a day.

Synenco did not have a cost estimate for its planned Sturgeon upgrader near Edmonton, which is to refine up to 100,000 barrels of the bitumen, but will not have a capital cost estimate on that project until sometime in 2007. The company is also looking at using modules from Asia to control costs.

"An integrated business model we believe is the most secure and robust," said Newton. "We remain fully committed to downstream integration and the full integration of bitumen production with upgrading."

Looking to 2007, the company expects updates on its regulatory applications for the Northern Lights project.

Synenco's shares fell C$1.31 to C$14.68 in Wednesday trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Tags: canada, china, investment, labour, oilsands, alberta, Synenco Energy

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Canadian businesses awaken to China's markets but not prepared

Only 17 per cent of Canadian businesses has China strategy, study says

VANCOUVER (CP) - Canadian companies are beginning to understand the importance of China as an economic power, but most are unprepared to do business in the country, a new report suggested Thursday.

The report by the Asia Pacific Foundation and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters said a survey of Canadian businesses found that just 17 per cent had a formal strategy for responding to the rise of China.
"It has become commonplace to speak of the need for companies to develop 'China Strategies' whether or not they are currently involved in business with China," foundation president and co-CEO Yuen Pau Woo said in a statement.

"These strategies should consider not only traditional business models of exporting, outsourcing, and low-cost imports, but have to also take into account broader factors such as the impact of Chinese market power on factor inputs, the role of production networks in sourcing decisions, and the integration of investment and trade, as well as product design and development."

The report suggested that Canadian companies are divided in their view of China with 22 per cent seeing China as more of an opportunity and 31 per cent as more of a threat.

Sixty four per cent of the companies believed China offered potential for reducing costs or increasing revenue.

The survey of 986 companies was based on the membership of Canadian Manufacturers and Exports. It is accurate to within 3.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

Tags: china, canada, trade, investment

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Same sex marriage in Canada is permanent

Hopefully we'll have some peace from now on, amen.

OTTAWA — The last major threat to same-sex marriage rights in Canada was soundly defeated in the House of Commons today, with MPs sending the message that they don’t want to revisit the emotional, divisive debate.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he heard the message and will respect it.

“We made a promise to have a free vote on this issue, we kept that promise, and obviously the vote was decisive and obviously we’ll accept the democratic result of the people’s representatives,” Harper said.

“I don’t see reopening this question in the future.”

The question put to MPs was whether they wanted to see legislation drafted to reinstate the traditional definition of marriage, while respecting the existing marriages of gays and lesbians.

That Conservative motion failed 175-123.

In the tense Commons, MPs watched each other carefully to see how the other would vote. Some Liberals cheered as prominent Tories voted to let sleeping dogs lie. Some Conservatives applauded Liberals who did the opposite.

Ultimately, more MPs supported same-sex marriage than in the last vote on the issue in June 2005.

During that charged vote last year, only three Tories voted in favour of expanding the definition of marriage. Today, the number who approved the status quo was 13, including high-profile politicians such as Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon and International Development Minister Josee Verner.

Said Cannon: “The file is finished. We’re turning the page.”

On the Liberal side, the number of MPs committed to going back to the traditional definition of marriage dropped from 32 to 13. MP Joe Comuzzi, who lost a ministerial post the last time around for refusing to toe the cabinet line, voted against today’s motion.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, who himself had two MPs snub party discipline today by not voting at all, said he imagined the result was precisely what the Conservative government was hoping for.

“I think it’s over now. I’m pretty sure that Mr. Harper is also pleased with what happened,” Duceppe said.

In fact, many Tories had said privately — and publicly — over the last few months that they wanted to get past the same-sex marriage issue and have it done with before the next election.

Tory MP Bill Casey said the vote came as a relief. Casey also went from supporting traditional marriage to wanting to have the matter closed.

“If the vote had gone the other way, we would have spent the next several years with this as the main motivator here . . . so I just voted to move on,” Casey said.

But some politicians were questioning whether the Conservatives had something else up their sleeve. Some reports had said the government was poised to introduce legislation to protect Canadians who did not want to perform gay marriages for religious reasons.

Justice Minister Vic Toews and Harper said that wasn’t in the cards.

“The government has no plans in that regard,” Harper said. “If there were any time in the future when fundamental freedoms were threatened, of course the government would respond to protect them. The government has no plans at this time.”

The House of Commons has been dealing with the issue of same-sex marriage in earnest since 2002, when the Commons voted overwhelmingly to support the traditional definition of marriage. In 2003, however, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that barring same-sex couples from marriage was unconstitutional.

Gays and lesbians began marrying in the province, and soon other jurisdictions faced similar rulings and began issuing licences.

About 12,000 gay Canadians, as well as foreign visitors, have been married in the last three years.

The previous Liberal government took the further step of consulting the Supreme Court on whether its own legislation would infringe upon freedom of religion. The court responded that the Charter would protect churches from having to officiate such marriages.

Laurie Arron of Canadians for Equal Marriage celebrated the decision.

“It’s quite clear that after three votes in three years in three different parliaments that this issue is settled,” Arron said. ``It’s quite clear there is a growing consensus among Canadians the equal marriage is here to stay.”

Meanwhile, REAL Women of Canada, a socially conservative lobby group in favour of traditional marriage, said they would push for a national referendum on the issue.

“Elitist political leaders apparently believe that Canada is still in the twentieth century, where political parties ignored the opinion of the voting public,” the group said in a release.

“Arrogant political leaders do not, in fact, know what’s best for everyone.”
Tags: canada, gay, homosexual, homophobia, same sex marriage, human rights, gay rights

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Survey: Chinese enterprises, flooded with money, have enhanced interest in investing in Canada

China's Investment Interest in Canada Increasing Says New Survey By Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

VANCOUVER, Dec. 7 /CNW/ - Chinese state-owned companies are showing increased interest in investing in Canada at a time when the Government of Canada is reviewing foreign investment regulations that could lead to new barriers to this type of investment. The investment intentions of the Chinese companies are revealed in a report, China Goes Global - II, released today by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

In the next two years, 53% of companies say they will increase their investments overseas, sharply up from the findings of last year's survey. Over a 3-5 year period, the proportion of companies planning to increase their investments overseas rises to 72%. Hong Kong and Macao were rated as the most likely destinations for outward investment, followed by South Korea, Australia, Canada, the United States, Germany and Vietnam. The survey found that most Chinese companies are satisfied with the results of existing overseas investment activity.

According to the survey, the top ranked sectors for planned outward investment are manufacturing, IT products and services, trading, agribusiness, and resources. Foundation President and Co-CEO Yuen Pau Woo said, "Chinese companies are going global. The pace of Chinese outward investment will pick up in the next five years and will extend to areas well beyond the resource sector. While Asian countries continue to be highly ranked as a destination for Chinese investment, our survey suggests that there is also strong interest in industrialized countries."

Chinese outward investment is mainly driven by companies' long-term development plans, including the need to acquire advanced management techniques and to explore new markets globally. It is also fuelled by government policy and financial support. China Development Bank announced this week that it will increase its financing support for the overseas expansion of Chinese enterprises.

Ten percent of respondent companies already have an investment in Canada. The level of interest in future Canadian investment is especially strong among state-owned enterprises. Forty-six percent of Chinese state-owned enterprises expressed an interest in investing in Canada, substantially higher than the level of interest from private, publicly owned, and foreign joint venture firms in China.

The respondents rated Canada as the most open country to Chinese foreign investment out of a list of eight countries or regions that included the US, Australia and the EU. On a seven-point scale, Canada's openness to Chinese investment was rated at 5.6. The survey was completed before Ottawa announced it was reviewing regulations for foreign direct investment in Canada that could involve restrictions on purchase by government-controlled companies.

Added Mr. Woo, "State ownership of Chinese companies will remain an important feature of the Chinese economy for many years to come. It will be difficult for receiving countries to, on the one hand encourage Chinese investment, and on the other hand impose special restrictions on state-owned companies."

Respondents rated energy, information and communications technology, and agri-food as the most promising sectors for investment in Canada, followed by forestry, biotech, mining/minerals, and autos/auto-parts.

The survey was undertaken jointly with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the leading organization in China for the promotion of international business. There were 235 responses to the survey, which was carried out in China between September 15 and October 2, 2006.

The survey can be accessed at: http://www.asiapacific.ca/analysis/pubs/pdfs/surveys/ChinaGoesGlobal2006.pdf

Tags: china, canada, trade, investment, ODI

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Hong Kong: no longer called home

(caption: I took this picture on the bus that brought me from the airport to my folks' home.)

The first impression I have for Hong Kong this time (the last time I was here was about 5 years ago) is that everybody is talking about retirement. Perhaps it's because of my current state of mind, I found that the TV, newspapers are flooded with ads telling you what you should do to save enough for retirement.

My mom, 64, is very very busy everyday studying financial news and "betting" on shocks (her word). She spends at least 7-8 hours a day reading newspapers, going online and watching TV financial analyses. Honestly, I'm amazed.

The second impression I have for Hong Kong this time is that the air is getting worse. I was told the air quality these few days is at its best for the year. Still, I have to use my puff everyday several times to control my asthma.

I also found that I don't have much emotion/feeling for Hong Kong any more. Having immigrated for 22 years, Hong Kong is now only a place for cheap electronics and good seafood to me. It's also a place where I used to call "home" and in where my folks are living. As my desire for electronics is fading away quickly with age, I realize that Hong Kong doesn't look attractive to me any more. Rather, it's the "responsibility" that I should visit my folks that drove me here.

My home, is Vancouver.

Tags: hong kong, photo, travel

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Pull your tooth while travelling in China

Dental tourism offers Canadians significant savings and a unique travel experience in China

OTTAWA, Dec. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadians can now experience the vacation of a lifetime touring the historic Nanjing region of China while enjoying substantial savings on major dental procedures.

"Dental tourism is an increasingly popular choice for North American consumers who understand the remarkable opportunities and savings that are available to the inciDENTAL Tourist," notes David McConnell, president of the Ottawa-based Hinton-Sherwood Group Inc. which has recently introduced a new dental tourism service in Canada.

"During a recent trip to China I discovered that dental work I needed could be done for a fraction - about one quarter - of what I would have to pay for the same quality of treatment in Canada. The total cost for my bridge work and three crowns was $1840 (Cdn.)," explains Mr. McConnell. "In Canada, at a clinic comparable to the one I visited in Nanjing, this would have cost about $8,400. When my dental insurance refund of $820 was factored in, my total savings came to more than $7,000!"

The inciDENTAL Tourist package includes a guided two-week vacation visiting the historic city of Nanjing, Suzhou - known for its enchanting canals and beautiful gardens - a cruise on the Yangtze River and shopping in Shanghai. Dental treatments, provided at a state-of-the-art clinic in Nanjing, are scheduled to maximize time for sight-seeing and visiting.

The inciDENTAL Tourist has been featured on CBC television and radio, including As it Happens, as well as in The Ottawa Citizen.

"The inciDENTAL Tourist makes it possible to receive top-quality dental care while enjoying a truly remarkable vacation experience in China. Best of all, the savings on dental procedures will more than pay for the cost of your vacation," adds Mr. McConnell.

Tags: china, canada, dental tourism

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Hong Kong, Canada renew telecom MoU

Hong Kong, Canada renew telecom MoU

The governments of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Canada on Thursday renewed their memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in telecom technologies.

The MoU was signed by Francis Ho, Hong Kong's Permanent Secretary for Commerce Industry and Technology, and Veena Rawat, president of Communication Research Center of the Department of Industry of Canada on the sidelines of ongoing Telecom World 2006 show.

Ho said at the signing ceremony that the renewal of the MoU signified the strong connections in the sector of information and communication technologies (ICT) between the two sides.

He said that Hong Kong has been fostering ties in ICT cooperation with other countries in the form of MoU in recent years.

"Canada is our first ICT MoU partner since 1998, and this is the second time we have extended the term," said the Hong Kong official.

"Under the MoUs, we are aiming to create synergy and establish mutually beneficial relationship among relevant government agencies and industry organizations to enhance the ICT development in the respective economies," he said.

Many exchange and cooperative activities were conducted under the auspices of the Hong Kong/Canada ICT MoU. The major forms of cooperation include mutual visit, exchange forum, trade facilitation, business partnership and student exchange program.

"I am confident that the synergy generated from such exchanges and cooperation will enable us to compete more successfully in today's global arena," Ho noted.

Hong Kong and Canada first signed the MoU on ICT in 1998, which was first renewed in 2002. The MoU was renewed Thursday for a another five-year term until 2012.

Under the renewed MoU, the two sides will seek cooperation in areas covering software applications, information and communications infrastructure and related policies.

Source: Xinhua

Tags: canada, trade, hong kong, ICT, telecom technologies

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Canada-China trade deficit on pace to rise

From the Globe and Mail:

Canada-China trade deficit on pace to rise
Data suggest the figure may have surpassed Chinese deficit with the U.S.

Canada's trade deficit with China has now probably reached larger proportions than the much-reviled Chinese deficit with the United States, National Bank Financial Inc. says.

China released its trade figures for November yesterday, and its surplus was $23.37-billion (U.S.) -- a slight dip from October, but still near record highs. The monthly surplus was twice as large as November, 2005, and higher than most economists had projected.

While the China-Canada figures were not published, if previous patterns in Canada-Chinese trade continue, Canada's trade deficit with China is probably now about 2 per cent of Canada's economy, said Stéfane Marion, an economist with National Bank Financial.

That's slightly more than the 1.9 per cent seen in the U.S.-China trade deficit, he said.

Over the past four years, he estimates that Chinese shipments to Canada have quadrupled -- rising at a much faster pace than Chinese sales to the rest of the world. And Chinese exports to Canada have grown 60 per cent faster than Chinese exports to the U.S., Mr. Marion said.

"In our opinion, this development argues for more downsizing in Canadian manufacturing," he added.

The trade deficit with China has been an emotional and political hot button in the U.S., but not in Canada. That's mainly because the U.S. has an overall trade deficit as well, and the large and growing deficit with China exacerbates the precariousness of the U.S. current account.

Canada, on the other hand, consistently runs trade surpluses, mainly because of its high level of exports to the U.S.

Even though Canada is running a trade deficit with the rest of the world, and that deficit is growing, the Canadian public has not seized on the issue.

But the Canadian manufacturing sector is paying a steep price, Mr. Marion warns. Intense competition from Chinese manufacturers has squeezed Canadian factory exports at a time when the Canadian dollar is high and costs are rising.

"It's really a very significant deterioration," he said, referring to the trade conditions faced by the manufacturing sector in Canada.

He points out that Canada is probably the only industrialized country in the world where the manufacturing work force is larger now than it was 20 years ago, despite two years of layoffs. And Canada is probably overdue for further job losses in the factory sector, as China's weight is felt.

Tags: china, canada, trade

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Is Canada's anti-China policy working in India's favour?

The following is a lively discussion on this sensitive issue carried in the Embassy weekly. Interesting inputs from many insightful people.

"Is Canada's Anti-China Policy Working in India's Favour?"

Canada's relationship with China has been making the news recently, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's tough stance on the Communist nation's human rights record getting mixed reviews from average Canadians, government officials and the media. But China is not the world's only rising economic power. India is one of the so-called BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries because of its emerging economy, and its relations with Canada was the focus of a one-day conference at DFAIT headquarters on Dec. 1 that was attended by senior scholars, government officials and business leaders.

Embassy spoke with some of the participants, asking: "Is Prime Minister Stephen Harper's perceived anti-China policy working in favour of Canada-India relations?"

Deepak Obhrai, parliamentary secretary to the foreign minister.

"No. The Indian policy is the Indian policy; the Chinese policy is the Chinese policy. They are not interlinked. We are not playing one against the other. We are interested in both countries. We don't want to have an anti-China policy at all. We are promoting trade very vigorously with China. The minister of agriculture and the minister of natural resources have been to China. There is no such a thing as anti-China policy. They are different markets, different trade. We want to be partners for both of them."

Paul Evans, co-CEO and chairman of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

"No. I don't think Mr. Harper has an anti-China policy. The government is trying to figure out its approach to China. The details, even the basic frame, are not yet clear. I don't think opening our relationship with India is based on the anti-China feeling. I feel there are many substantial elements–trade, human relations, some diplomatic commonality–Canada needs to work with India, just as China is working with India now on many of these issues. It is not a one-or-the other game. It is a matter that we have good relations with both countries and that we can advance Canada's political and economic agenda.

"I don't think India is a substitute to Canada for a lesser relationship with China. We do more trade with China in one month than we do with India in a year. Because Canada is trying to integrate into supply chains that center on China, our economic relationship with China is destined to increase whatever we do with India. Again, it is not one or the other. Let's work with both but the bigger game right now is China's economic game."

Barbara Darling, president of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs' national capital branch.

"Yes. He is making us think about the human rights issue and the context of trade. It is not just the money that matters to Canadians. I think he is showing leadership.

"There are lots of indications pointing to that Canada will do more trade with India. But whether India would surpass China in terms of trade with Canada, I don't know.

"In the long term, China and Canada will have very good relations, but right now there is a little tension because of discussions on human rights. But it is possible to see the future."

Ravi Seethapathy, chair of the Canadian Advisory Council, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute.

"Maybe there is a perception, but there isn't an anti-China policy. The question is that the government has not come to understand what is its foreign policy. From its foreign policy, then there will be issues related to a specific country: China, India or anybody else. The current government has been a new one and has got to come up with what is its foreign policy statement to Asia, what is its foreign policy statement to Europe.

"It is a timing issue. So far there isn't a foreign policy statement yet. I hope the government will work on that."

Robert J. Keyes, senior advisor to the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

"No. Both countries are exceedingly important to Canada's economic prospect. That is why we look forward to being in both China and India. Our economy needs it. Canada has products and services which both China and India need. As well, products and services from the two countries can come here. We need to be in both countries.

"It is not a question of a replacement. It is a question of both economic potentials of both countries. It is vital that Canada pays attention to both countries and that is exactly what is happening."

Roy Culpeper, president of the North-South Institute.

"I don't have any quick answer for this question. It could have that effect, I suppose. The free market has a way of being its own logic. I am sure that in the end Mr. Harper's respect for free market may determine the outcome more than his concerns over human rights in China particularly. That is not a prediction, but a guess."

Tags: china, canada, trade, foreign policy, india

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Charlie Quan's thanksgiving feast

(caption 1: Quan and his four generations and the roasted pig; caption 2: Quan burnt incense with daughter-in-law and grandson)

Charlie Quan (關祥國) invited dozens of friends and community members to enjoy a roasted pig feast and to thank "Kwan Kung" (a Chinese folklore deity) for blessing on redressing the head tax.

The 99-year-old Quan will turn 100 in February. On Sunday, four generations of the Quan's gathered at the Quon Lung Sai Tong (關隴西堂) and celebrated with friends and community members, including head tax advocates.

The feast included a special roasted pig (a must-have in Chinese thanksgiving rituals), chickens and chau mien. Quan said spending was nothing compared to celebrating with everybody.

Quan has 4 children (2 are deceased), 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Quan's 44-year-old grandson said Quan buses to Chinatown almost everyday from his home on Commercial Drive. He visits friends and plays mahjong with them. At 99, Quan is still strong and healthy.

Tags: head tax, charlie quan, kwan kung, guan gong, redress, racism, anti-chinese

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Asian immigrants most likely to remit, study says

A recent study by the Research on Immigration and Integration in the Metropolis, Social Relations and Remittances, Asian immigrants are the most likely to remit much of their income to persons outside of immediate households.

Here is the abstract of the study:

This paper models transfers outside the household for both the Canadian-born and foreignborn Canadian populations in a traditional expenditure framework with an unique composition of goods to illustrate the special motivations to remit by immigrants.

We theorise that remittances to persons outside the households represent transfers to maintain social relations with relatives and friends and religious/charitable remittances are expenditures which foster group membership. Using Canadian survey data we estimate transfer functions as part of a larger expenditure system and calculate Engel elasticities for remittances to persons and to charities by both the Canadian and foreign-born populations.

We conclude that expenditures to enhance social relations with relatives and friends (i.e. remittances to persons) are a normal good for recent Asian immigrants and a luxury good for all other immigrants and Canadians. Moreover, Asian households are the only ones that remit significantly more of their total expenditures to persons upon arrival, compared to the Canadian reference group, and their remittance behaviour does not converse to that of Canadian-born over time.

This latter fact indicates strong cultural differences within the remitting households, most probably due to the fact that Asian households have stronger social ties to their extended family. Finally, with the exception of lower income North American and European immigrant households, all other immigrant groups and Canadians generally consider group membership contributions (i.e. charitable remittances) as a greater necessity than inter-household transfers.

Tags: immigration, immigrant, remit, remittance, asian immigrants, RIIM, SFU

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BC seeks $45m from immigrants who broke sponsorship promise

The government of BC has sent letters to 2800 immigrant families allegedly broke the family sponsorship agreements, requiring them to return paid welfare money of a total of $45m.

Claude Richmond, minister of employment and income assistance, said the gov has the right to chase these monies according to the immigration agreement signed between BC and the federal gov. The unit responsible for chasing back these monies is the revenue services of BC.

Richmond said residents sponsoring family members for immigration have signed an agreement with the feds that they have to provide for the sponsored members' all living expenses for ten years, including health care, finance and other daily expenses. Within the ten years, sponsored immigrants are not eligible for income assistance issued by the gov of BC.

According to the gov of BC, 90% of the sponsors follow the requirements, however, about 10% of them, or 2800, have broken their promise and taken BC's income assistance. The gov must chase these monies back on behalf of all taxpayers. The total amount outstanding from these 2800 families is about $45m.

Richmond urged those who received the letters to contact the gov immediately and to discuss ways of repayment. He emphasized that under specific circumstances, such as victims of violence, will be waived of the repayment.

Lawyer Lawrence Wong said many of these families being chased are those who've engaged in marriage of convenience. For instance, a man sponsored his "wife" to BC for the sole purpose of helping this woman to immigrate, usually they will divorce soon after she's landed. When the divorced "wife" disregards the sponsorship agreement and applies for income assistance, the man who's sponsored her will be chased for the money she collected.

Tags: immigration, immigrant, sponsorship, sponsored immigrant, BC, income assistance

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Vancouver voted best gay tourism destination

Vancouver rated top city for gay tourists

VANCOUVER — Karen Wetzel of Louisiana has a vivid first impression of Vancouver -- and it doesn't include mountain peaks and ocean views.

When Ms. Wetzel and her partner, Claudette Oster, told the customs officer at Vancouver Airport they had travelled to Canada to marry, the official beamed and said, "Well, congratulations and welcome to Vancouver."

The big grin from the border guard took both women off guard. Back home in Baton Rouge, only a few friends and co-workers know that the women are lesbians. When the customs official embraced their status, Ms. Wetzel felt instantly at home in Canada.

"That's the way it began and it set the whole tone for the time," Ms. Wetzel, 57, said in a telephone interview from Baton Rouge.

The American couple aren't alone. A new survey by a U.S.-based marketing company that tracks the spending habits of American gays and lesbians named Canada as the No. 1 international travel destination. Vancouver was rated the preferred Canadian city to visit, with Montreal and Toronto taking second and third spots, respectively.

The study was conducted by Community Marketing Inc., a San Francisco-based firm that conducts an annual survey of tourism trends in the U.S. gay and lesbian community. About 7,500 people responded to the online travel survey.

Ms. Wetzel and Ms. Oster were married in Stanley Park on a warm April evening in 2005. They returned home after the wedding. Their Canadian marriage isn't recognized in Louisiana, but the women treasure memories of their brief visit to the West Coast city.

"It could not have been scripted more fabulously," she said. "It was just the most magical experience."

CMI has taken online travel surveys for 11 years. Last year, Canada was the No. 1 destination, edging out Europe for the first time. In the 2006 survey, Canada is first again, ahead of Mexico in second place and the United Kingdom in third.

CMI marketing manager Jerry McHugh said the legalization of same-sex marriage likely had an impact on Canada taking the top spot. "That was a big boost for Canada," Mr. McHugh said in a telephone interview from San Francisco. "The political changes . . . was a big push."

The 2006 survey results thrilled tourism officials in Vancouver, who have waged a campaign to lure gay and lesbian travellers to the West Coast. About five years ago, Tourism Vancouver sought advice from the city's gay and lesbian community, asking for tips on how to better market the city to gay travellers.

The group's Vancouver website has a section for gay and lesbian travellers, said Rick Antonson, president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver. As a general rule, it has tried to play down the promotion of stereotypical draws, such as bars and clubs, Mr. Antonson said. What's of more interest to foreign gay travellers is whether a same-sex-couple will have difficulty checking into a Vancouver hotel, Mr. Antonson said.

This year, Tourism Vancouver offered a gay-marriage sweepstakes to Americans. More than 400 gay and lesbian couples entered the draw to win a $50,000 wedding package, complete with a honeymoon cruise to Alaska.

Giving gay Americans a good tourism experience is also a wise business move because a happy tourist is more likely to be a return tourist. Ms. Wetzel is among them.

She and Ms. Oster came for the wedding, but fell in love with Vancouver's exquisite restaurants and beautiful gardens. "Vancouver is your crown jewel," she said. "It is exquisitely beautiful. I want to move there."

Tags: canada, gay, homosexual, gay tourism, vancouver, destination, Community Marketing Inc.

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China considers dumping 'dragon' as national symbol

(caption 1: the Chinese dragon; caption 2: western dragons are often seen as evil and combative.)

To me, I strongly disagree sacrificing tradition to politics.

China is considering abandoning "dragon" as its national symbol because the mightiness of dragons might look too aggressive to the West.

However, an online poll shows that over 90% of Chinese do not want to give up the symbol the people have been proud for thousands of years, just to bow to the West.

Recently some Chinese academics are suggesting that China should adopt a new symbol because the conotation of "dragon" in the West denotes aggressiveness, evil and always ready to attack.

The study of changing the national symbol is now officially established as an independent discipline in Shanghai.

Wu Youfu (吳友富), party secretary of Shanghai International Studies University, said although the Chinese have been seeing themselves as "the descendents of the dragon", similar meaning might not be shared by the West and might be deliberately twisted by "someone with special intention" to hurt the Chinese.

Wu suggested that branding the national symbol can be either spatially or temporally. For instance, contamporary, multi-ethnic, multi-religious symbols can be used.

Wu said the West is biased against oriental philosophy such as Buddhism and Confusianism. In Chinese traditional culture, Buddhism has been blended with Taoism and Confusianism. The triology calls for culitivating the self, merging the self with heaven and earth. Wu said when rebranding China's national symbol, these positive elements of the Chinese culture should be considered.

The academics are now considering combining dragon with phoenix to demonstrate harmony.

However, a recent online poll where over 90,000 voters participated shows that 93% of Chinese don't like dumping the dragon symbol. Some say "We Chinese ARE the descendents of the dragons, how can we dump our ancestorial roots just to please the west?" Some say "this is exactly what the present day China lacks today.... aggressiveness."

Other choices those being polled like are pheonix and panda.

Tags: dragon, china, culture, national symbol, phoenix, panda

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What if Canadian firms invite Chinese investment, huh?

So what will our finance minister think? This time it's a Canadian firm who invites Chinese investment....

China's Sinosteel offered stake in 2.75 bln usd Canada iron ore project - report

BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - Canada's New Millennium Capital has invited trading firm Sinosteel Corp and other Chinese steel companies to participate in its 2.75 bln usd iron ore mine in Labrador, the South China Morning Post reported, citing New Millennium.

Toronto-listed New Millennium said it signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Sinosteel a year ago for a joint venture to develop, build and operate the LabMag iron ore project, which contains the world's largest undeveloped magnetic iron ore deposit with proven and probable reserves of 3.55 bln tons, the Hong Kong newspaper reported.

'We're still discussing the details with Sinosteel. No final agreement has been reached,' New Millennium president and chief executive Robert Martin said. adding that the company also held talks with other Chinese steelmakers over possible participation in the project.

The project is projected to produce 15 mln tons of iron ore pellets annually for about 65 years.

Tags: china, canada, trade, investment

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Canadian auto industry faces tough competition from China

China luring automotive investment

Ontario will have to battle harder than ever for auto investment because of stiff competition from China, according to the Conference Board of Canada.

China is attracting huge amounts of investment from international auto makers because of consumer demand and low production costs, the board said in its latest forecast for the Canadian industry.

"While Ontario has recently enjoyed some success in securing new investment in the auto sector, Canada will have to fight harder and harder for auto investment in the years ahead," the board said. "Canada's challenge will be to ensure that a suitable share of Chinese auto sector investment comes its way."



In addition to competing for Chinese auto investment, Canada's industry also faces the threat of imports from that country which would undermine existing manufacturers here, the board noted.

"Chinese-made automobiles will soon enter the North American market," the board said. "These cars will be sold at nearly half the price of North American and European competitors." Auto assemblers and parts makers here are already struggling with a high Canadian dollar and a weaker U.S. economy, which adversely affects production here.

After visiting China last month, Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Auto Workers union, said the federal and U.S. governments must introduce tariffs to protect the North American auto industry from an onslaught of imports because China won't allow fair access to its market

The board said the future of the North American auto industry lies in growing integration with Chinese counterparts.

For example, the Wanxiang Group, China's biggest auto parts supplier, includes General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen among customers.

Tags: china, canada, trade, auto industry, investment

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Vatican resumes relations with China

The problem with me is, I don't want to see Christianity to penetrate China.

Vatican wants China ties but will stick by Taiwan

TAIPEI (Reuters) - The Vatican will move to resume relations with China after more than half a century if religious freedom is allowed but it will not abandon China's diplomatic rival Taiwan, an official said on Tuesday.

The Vatican, which Taiwan sees as an important ally as it fights for international legitimacy against China, would seek to restore an apostolic nunciature in Beijing for the first time since the Communist Party began ruling China in 1949, said Monsignor Ambrose Madtha, charge d'affaires at the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Taipei.

But the Vatican would seek to keep a delegate in Taiwan, he said. Taiwan split from China in 1949 after the civil war that brought the Communists to power, and the Vatican went with it.

"Holy See's position is quite clear and is known to the Taiwanese government," Madtha said. "The Holy See would maintain its delegate in Taipei. The Holy see will not abandon Taiwan."

Taiwan officials know about the Vatican's hopes for China but will not comment on anything presumptive, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman David Wang said.

Because China sees Taiwan as part of its territory rather than as a country, it is unlikely to let the Vatican or any other government maintain ties with Taiwan while pursuing diplomatic relations in Beijing.

Taiwan officials believe China is trying to isolate their island by persuading Taiwan's 24 remaining diplomatic allies to switch allegiance, joining 170 countries that already recognize Beijing over Taipei.

About 10 million Catholics live in China, but many are cut off from the Vatican, worshiping underground in fear of restrictions if they join government-sanctioned churches. The Vatican has indicated to Taiwan it would like to help those "lost sheep," Wang said.

Vatican-China relations dipped last week, when Pope Benedict criticized China for consecrating a bishop without Vatican permission, sparking outrage from Beijing days later.

About 300,000 Catholics live in Taiwan, which receives occasional visits from Vatican missionaries.

Tags: china, vatican, religion, catholics, christians, pope

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Nortel builds mobile network in Taiwan

Chunghwa Telecom, Nortel to Build Taiwan's First Integrated Local Government WiMAX Network

TAIPEI, Taiwan, December 5 /PRNewswire/ --

A new Mobile WiMAX network in the northeastern county of Yilan, builtby Chunghwa Telecom in association with Nortel andeASPNet, is to become the first fully integrated broadband wireless network driven by a local government under the Mobile-Taiwan (M-Taiwan) project.

Radically impacting the daily lives of Yilan residents, visitors and businesses - and positioning the district as a national showcase for ubiquitous wireless broadband services - the WiMAX infrastructure willenable broadband wireless access to such
services as M-Learning, M-Commerce , M-Tour as well as video surveillance and IPTV services.

"This initiative demonstrates the significance of Mobile WiMAX technology in advancing the government's rapidly evolving M-Taiwan project," said Chun-Ming Hsieh, vice president, Chunghwa Telecom.

"Nortel is an established leader in Taiwan's telecommunications industry and we lookforward to working together in extending the same integrated wireless capabilities to other areas of Taiwan to help bolster the competitiveness of local economies."

"The people of Yilan will now be able to take the Internet with them wherever they go, and enjoy high-speed mobile access using virtually any wireless-enabled device," said Jackson Wu, president, Greater China, Nortel. "This is a momentous step forward for the M-Taiwan project."

Nortel is providing Chunghwa Telecom with next generation Mobile WiMAXbase stations, based on the IEEE 802.16e standard, incorporating Nortel'spatented MIMO antenna technology. Nortel's MIMO is a key capability enabling the provision of the most demanding real-time applications such asVoIP and voice over WiMAX.

Nortel will also provide an Access Service Network Gateway, customer premises equipment, and network management capabilities, as well as network integration and optimization services provided by Nortel Global Services. Nortel ranked number one in the global markets for service provider soft switches and gateways for the first half of 2006, according to Synergy Research Group. Nortel's Global Services portfolio offers a full range ofnetwork application, implementation, and support services for end-to-endmulti-vendor networks.

Taiwan is playing a pivotal role in Nortel's WiMAX development. Nortel recently signed an agreement with Chunghwa Telecom to deploy a WiMAXsolution in the operator's experimental park to create an environment fortesting WiMAX and integrating the technology with the Nortel Wireless MeshNetwork solution deployed in Taipei and Kaohsiung as part of thegovernment's M-Taiwan initiative. In addition, Nortel is deploying a WiMAXtrial system at the National Taiwan University campus, and has alsoestablished a Center of Excellence for Devices in Taipei.

Nortel is the only WiMAX vendor with products in virtually all mobile technologies currently available across both public and wireless networks.Nortel also owns dozens of patents in the technologies underlying the WiMAXstandard, and the company's eight years of work in OFDM/MIMO technology has culminated with much of its patented technology being accepted as the basisfor the global WiMAX industry standard.

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Paul Martin visits China

Wow, this really speaks a lot! Shame on the Tories!

Chinese state councilor meets former Canadian PM

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan (唐家璇) met Monday in Beijing with former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, vowing to enhance relations between the two countries.

"China will work with Canada to handle the relationship from a strategic height and solve differences through dialogue, so that relations can move forward in the healthy and stable way," Tang said.

He expressed appreciation for the efforts Martin had made in improving Sino-Canadian relations and hopes he will continue to do so.

Martin said Canada-China relations are "one of the most important" for Canada, adding that there is a consensus in Canada that friendship with China should be improved.

He pledged to continue his effort to enhance Canada-China relations.

Martin is here attending an international seminar held by Tsinghua University and the University of Victoria.

Source: Xinhua

Tags: china, canada, diplomacy, foreign policy, paul martin, tang jiaxuan

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Global warming to gay rights

Global warming to gay rights
The worldwide trend of recognizing same-sexmarriage will likely continue.
Los Angeles Times

While state after state in the U.S. closes its doors to the prospect of same-sex marriage, lesbian and gay relationships have been gaining acceptance in the rest of the world.

Last month, South Africa joined the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and Spain in opening civil marriage to same-sex couples, allowing them equal economic benefits, legal rights and social status as families. The law, passed by an astounding 230-41 margin in Parliament, was in response to an equally notable unanimous decision last year by the South African Constitutional Court. It ruled that the post- apartheid constitution ensures the dignity and equality of all people — and that includes lesbian and gay couples wishing to affirm their love and commitment through civil marriage.

Days afterward, when faced with five Israeli lesbian and gay couples who had married in Canada, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the government is required to officially register them as they would any other foreign marriage.

In the U.S., only Massachusetts has enacted full marriage for same-sex couples. Vermont, Connecticut and California have elected to use the less inflammatory terms civil union" or "domestic partnership," and New Jersey is still hashing out its terminology. The majority of the states have laws or constitutional amendments restricting "marriage" to one woman and one man.

Denmark in 1989 became the first nation to legally recognize same-sex relationships, and Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland swiftly followed that lead. Much of Europe, including France, Germany, Portugal and Hungary, now recognizes same-sex partnerships for a range of purposes, including inheritance, property and social-benefits rights. Countries in formerly communist blocs — the Czech Republic and Slovenia — recognize partnerships, and Croatia has extended some economic benefits to same-sex couples.

In September, the Senate in Uruguay voted 25 to 2 to pass a broad partnership law, positioning that country to be the first Latin American nation to extend legal rights when it is passed by the full legislature. New Zealand's and Australia's domestic partnership laws allow some of the most important benefits, such as immigration, inheritance and property rights. The government in Taiwan suggested a bill allowing same-sex marriage, though nothing has yet come of it. In Brazil, Argentina, Italy and Switzerland, some economic and legal rights have been extended by city and regional authorities. Just last month, Mexico City broke ground as the first government entity in that country to recognize same-sex civil unions.

These developments clearly mean that the number of same-sex couples whose relationships are legally valid is on the rise. By the end of the decade, it is possible that hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples will have entered legal marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships.

When Britain's domestic partnership registration law went into effect last December, government ministers predicted that between 11,000 and 22,000 couples would benefit from the law by 2010. More than 6,500 same-sex couples registered just in the first year.

About 12,000 Canadian, 7,000 Dutch, 2,500 Belgian and 1,300 Spanish same-sex couples are already married.

These unions are already having ripple effects around the globe. In Ireland, a lesbian couple is asking the government to recognize their Canadian marriage. A court in the Caribbean country of Aruba ruled that the Dutch marriage of a lesbian couple must be registered in Aruba, which is part of the kingdom of the Netherlands.

How this trend will play out in countries that have not yet recognized same-sex relationships is still up in the air. Will the United States, for instance, accommodate a major corporation's desire to have one of its top executives from Canada move here with her legal spouse? Or a domestic-partnered diplomat from New Zealand? Or an American lucky enough to find the man of his dreams while working in South Africa? Will Sir Elton John's highly publicized civil union with longtime partner David Furnish be recognized by a hospital emergency room in Las Vegas or St. Louis or Salt Lake City should one of them fall ill on a concert tour?

To be sure, the backlash prompted by increased gay and lesbian visibility, whether through marriage or other demands for equality, has been fierce. South Africa's decision has drawn angry responses from religious and community leaders. Angry crowds in Moscow last May jeered a few dozen lesbian and gay marchers and demanded that Russia be cleansed of the evils of homosexuality. Likewise, an international gay pride event in Jerusalem had to be held in a stadium — instead of as a parade — because of threats and lobbying from ultra-Orthodox Jews and some Muslim and Christian groups.

Gay communities haven't even raised the issue of marriage in Latvia, Uganda and Honduras — where police violence and state discrimination are still standard practice. Yet the governments of those countries have gone out of their way to promote anti- gay hostility by outlawing same-sex marriage.

In Nigeria, a bill awaiting legislative action would impose criminal penalties for engaging in or performing a marriage ceremony for two men or two women.
In the United States, President Bush has consistently pushed the radical measure of amending the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, as has Australia's prime minister, John Howard.

Despite the backlash, one fact is self-evident. The trend toward recognizing the dignity and love of two people of the same sex will not disappear. As barriers to same-sex couples fall, courts, legislatures, religious denominations and businesses everywhere will need to respond.

As Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero proclaimed when his newly elected reform government approved same-sex marriage in 2005: "We are not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After us will come many other countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces: freedom and equality."

Tags: gay rights, gay, homosexual, same sex marriage, homophobia

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Scotiabank eyes second China bank deal

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia said on Monday that it is looking for a strategic partner in China to boost its business in the world's fourth-largest economy after it bought part of a local bank two years ago.

Scotiabank would be interested in buying another city commercial bank in China if the right opportunity came along, said Robert Pitfield, an executive vice president for its international banking business.

Scotiabank, the second-largest bank by market value in Canada, would be also interested in teaming up with strategic partners in non-banking services in China such as fund management, Pitfield told Reuters ahead of a branch ceremony in Shanghai.

"We found China is a fabulous country and it has huge potential so we want to be part of its future," Pitfield said.

"We will grow in China through both organic growth and acquisition."

In 2004, Soctiabank and the World Bank's International Finance Corp. agreed to buy a combined 25 percent stake in the small Xi'an City Commercial Bank in western China, making Soctiabank the first Canadian bank to buy a stake in a Chinese lender.

When asked if the bank is still keen to buy a second Chinese bank, Pitfield replied: "Sure, if there is an opportunity ... a city commercial bank would be great."

A number of foreign investors including Scotiabank were in advanced talks to buy up to 19.9 percent of Dalian City Commercial Bank in northern China, the Dalian bank's vice president Li Zhuoran told Reuters in June.

Pitfield declined to name any potential new banking partner in China on Monday.

Scotiabank wants a Chinese partner which already has its own network and shows the ability to grow in the domestic market, Pitfield noted.

Foreign lenders have become increasingly interested in China's smaller city banks in recent years, because they are often deemed to have healthier loan portfolios and cheaper equity, and may be easier to manage than big state banks.

French bank BNP Paribas spent $87 million on an 19.2 percent stake in Nanjing City Commercial Bank in eastern China last year.

Scotiabank, which set up its first Beijing representative office in China in 1982, operates three branches in Guangzhou and Chongqing and Shanghai, its newest branch launched on Monday.

Despite the small number of branches in China, Pitfield said he is satisfied with its current coverage. The Canadian bank so far is still focused on trade-related corporate banking services.

Scotiabank was given a US$150 million investment quota in June under China's Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor scheme, allowing it to invest in domestic capital markets.

Scotiabank used up its quota in September and plans to apply for a bigger quota early next year, said Michele Kwok, a Hong Kong-based senior vice president for its Asia Pacific and Middle East regional business.

© Reuters 2006. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

Tags: china, canada, banking, scotia bank

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Harper's China policy 'immature', charged Chretien

Imature and stupid.

Chretien calls Harper's China policy 'immature'
CTV.ca News Staff

Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien slammed Prime Minister Stephen Harper for what he called an "immature" policy towards China.

"I met 18 times with the president of China. I discussed human rights every time," he told delegates Saturday at the Liberal leadership convention in Montreal.

Claiming Canada had done much under his tenure to help advance human rights in China, Chretien said: "Engage them, don't insult them."

Harper told reporters at the end of last month's APEC summit in Hanoi, Vietnam: "... Although it was not a very long discussion, a very frank discussion with President Hu (Jintao) of China - a distinct impression, if I may say that, that the Chinese aren't used to that from a Canadian government, but I can't speak for them."

Prior to the meeting, Harper said he wouldn't "sell out" on human rights to promote trade and investment with China, one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Chretien said it is the West, particularly British Columbia, "that is paying the price for this immature policy that runs the risk to destroy" efforts by previous Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments to cultivate a relationship with China.

In a veiled shot at Harper's meeting with Hu Jintao, Chretien said: "I met with the president of China so often I never had to wait at the door to the bathroom to talk to him as it was the case two weeks ago."

Speaking to CTV News after his speech, Chretien said the organizers asked him to deliver a pep talk.

The biggest cheer came when Chretien told the crowd, after listing a number of accomplishments, that the Liberals were the "party that said 'no' to war in Iraq. " Delegates to their feet rose to their feet.

The Canadian Alliance Party, then headed by Harper, favoured supporting the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"I know that Prime Minister Harper was watching," Chretien said. "Perhaps he's still watching. And perhaps I should say: 'Stephen. Stephen. Can I call you 'Steve' like George W.?" That triggered more roars.

He described the party as now being ready to take on the "hard right-wing Conservative government."

Chretien defended his legacy, saying his government fought the deficit, giving credit to his finance minister and former leadership rival Paul Martin.

The Conservatives have taken the large surpluses they inherited from the Liberals and cut socially progressive programs like the court challenges program, he said.

"Imagine what would happened if we would have left them a $42-billion deficit," he said.

Saying he just arrived from travels to numerous places, including Hong Kong and china, Chretien said: "Everywhere they are puzzled about us ... 'How come Canada broke its word on Kyoto?', I heard in Germany and in France.

"Everybody expected us to follow the rule that when a country gives its word, this country keeps its word."

The Chretien government signed the accord eight years ago and ratified it in 2002. However, it didn't introduce a climate change plan until 2005 despite having promised one in its 1993 election platform.

The Conservatives have said the Liberals allowed greenhouse gas emissions to rise 35 per cent above the Kyoto target, and that while it supports the accord, it cannot meet the 2012 target of reducing emissions.

"Now that the Conservatives broke the House of Commons' word on Kyoto, how can they come now to the same House of Commons and say, 'don't break your word on Afghanistan?' That's going to be a problem," Chretien said.

Former prime minister John Turner also addressed the crowd as they waited for the final ballot, but he put the focus on party renewal.

"New leadership is not enough, we also need to rebuild the party with new people and new policies," he said. "And we've got to rebuild from the bottom up, not the top down."

I like this one, from CBC:

Chrétien to PM: 'Can I call you Steve, like George W.?'

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien launched a scathing attack on Stephen Harper Saturday as he took the podium in front of a Liberal audience for the first time in three years.

Chrétien, speaking before results from the fourth and final ballot to determine the party's next leader were announced in Montreal, uncorked arguably the most direct and clever jabs at Harper of the entire convention, in which the Tory prime minister was a popular target.

"Stephen, can I call you Steve, like George W.?" he said, garnering a large laugh from the audience of 5,000 Liberal delegates.

"Do not adjust your sets," Chrétien said following the rapturous applause. "What you see is what you get."

Chrétien cited international response he gauged during a recent trip to China and Europe over the Harper government abandoning Canada's emissions-cutting targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

"We are losing a lot of ground," he said. "Everybody expected us to follow the rule that when a country gave its word, it would keep its word."
Continue Article

The Conservatives have said the targets cannot be realistically met.

Chrétien also slammed Harper's handling of China at the recent APEC summit in Hanoi.

"Engage them, don't insult them," he said, in reference to Harper's criticism of China's human rights record ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Martin part of 'old, great Liberal family'

Chrétien, who led the Liberals to three consecutive majority governments, said the next leader must remember he is guiding the party that brought Canadians the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, eliminated the deficit and opposed the war in Iraq.

He also offered brief praise to former prime minister Paul Martin and his wife, Sheila, who he said were part of the "old, great Liberal family."

He also recalled attending his first Liberal leadership convention as a young member of the Laval University Liberals Association.

"And I voted for Paul Martin Sr.," he said, earning a chuckle from even his successor and most bitter foe.

The convention, which was hoped to be a weekend of renewal for the Liberals from past fissures between camps loyal to Chrétien and those tied with Martin, was given a flash of the old conflicts Friday when Chrétien gave reporters his verdict on Martin's performance as prime minister.

"He didn't win," Chrétien said bluntly before delegates began voting.

When asked what made a good leader, Chrétien offered: "Somebody who wins."

tag: china, canada, jean chretien, stephen harper, china policy, foreign policy, trade

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China does not always carry out death penalty, CIC says

Citizenship and immigration Canada aruges in a recently filed court document that China does not always carry out the death penalty, and thus Lai Changxing (賴昌星) could be extradicted without worrying him being executed.

The document says China did not execute China's former vice police chief Li Jizhou (李紀周) and Fujian vice police chief Zhuang Rushun (莊如順) although both were sentenced to death in the Yuan Hua trial.

The Yuan Hua case is China's largest smuggling crime ever busted. Its No.1 suspect Lai Changxing is currently in Vancouver appealing an earlier removal assessment decision that was unfavourable to him.

The federal court of Canada has scheduled to hear the judicial review on Jan 16, 2007. Whether Lai Changxing might be executed after deported to China will be the main focus of argument from both sides.

Lai Changxing had foretold that after being extradicted to China he would "die in the prison because of some kind of illness", hinting that though he would not be executed but would be killed by the authorities using other reasons.

It was also believed that the scope of the Yuan Hua case is so far-reaching that many people in high positions do not want Lai Changxing to testify in a Chinese court and expose their crimes.

Lai has been saying that many "friends" are helping him with the legal process in Canada and supporting his life in Vancouver. The last apartment that he rented was located at the expensive Coal Harbour in the heart of downtown Vancouver with a monthly rent of over $2000.

Lawyer representing CIC Esta Resnick argues in the document that while Li Jizhou got the death penalty in 2001, his good performance in jail allows him to get 18 years instead of execution in April 2006.

Zhuang Rushun was also sentenced to death. The penalty was reduced to death sentence with a two-year reprieve. Two years later in 2006, the court further agreed to further reduce his sentence to life imprisonment.

Tags: china, canada, Lai Cheongsing, Lai Changxing, Yuan Hua, smuggling

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China knows that Canada needs to follow the law in dealing with Lai Changxing: new consul general

China hopes that the Lai Changxing (賴昌星) case can be resolved as soon as it can under the Canadian laws, new consul general to Vancouver Yang Qiang (楊強) said.

"Vancouver is a beautiful city. It shouldn't become a place that 'hides and keeps dirt'," Yang strongly hinted.

Yang has arrived in Vancouver for a week. He replaced the previous consul general Tian Chunyan who retired after serving two years in Vancouver.

Yang met with the Chinese media for the first time at the consulate yesterday and was unafraid of answering many tough questions.

When asked about whether the extended stay of Lai Changxing, China's most wanted fugitive, would negatively affect China-Canada relations, Yang said he would like to see this case be resolved as soon as possible, within the legal limit of Canada. He emphasized that Lai being the No.1 suspect in China's largest ever smuggling crime, it's needless to say what kind of person he is.

Yang said China's position on the Lai Changxing case has always been very clear. However, China understands that Canada has its own judicial system and China respects Canadian laws.

Canada's international trade minister David Emerson has said previously: "China needs to understand... that in a Canadian legal and constitutional context, there are things we can do and things we can't do."

What Yang said yesterday was sort of replying Emerson that "China knows."

Yang didn't think China-Canada relation was frozen. He said the Tory gov needed time to understand China and its society, culture etc.

Development may be slowed but it's normal, he said. He believed that when the two countries understand each other more and embrace each other's differences and respect each other, China-Canada relations would continue to grow.

When asked about the display hut set up by Falungong outside the consulate, Yang said no one and no organization could be above the law in any countries that are ruled by the law. He said it's the duty of any citizens to respect the law and prosecuting anyone who break the law is the common principle shared by the whole world.

Yang also believed that China and Canada would sign the ADS tourism pact, as it's a win-win situation for both countries. He said "unfinished preparation works" are halting the final signature of ADS. But he's confident that ADS would a must-go at the end.

Tags: china, canada, diplomacy, foreign policy, , tourism, ADS, Lai Changxing, Lai Cheongsing, Yuan Hua, smuggling

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CMHC consumer intentions to buy property survey 2006

CMHC CONSUMER INTENTIONS TO BUY SURVEY 2006

	2006 (%)	2005 (%)
In which community are you most likely to buy a home?
North Shore	6	10
DT Vancouver	4	7
Vancouver West	8.2	12
Vancouver East	8.2	8
Burnaby/New West.	11	12
Tri-cities/Richmond	13.5	13
Surrey, Delta, Langley	23.3	20
Abbotsford, Mission	2	1
Would you most likely to purchase a…
Single detached	58.5	53
Duplex	3.5	6
Townhouse	12.5	18
Apartment	20.8	19
What are the main reason why you decided not to buy a residence now?
Change or worry about financial or employment situation	6.3	n/a
Cost too high	55	58
Decided to renovate/just renovated	1.9	1
Can't find a suitable house/location	6.3	5
Can't sell existing home	0.6	1
Prefer to rent/Don't want to own	1.3	1
Personal reaons	5.6	7

Tags: real estate, realty, property, cmhc, housing, survey, vancouver, richmond, burnaby

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Detached homes sold prices, Jan-Oct 2006

SINGLE DETACHED UNITS SOLD PRICES Jan-Oct 2006

	Median Price 2005	Median Price 2006	%	Average Price 2005	Average Price 2006	%
Burnaby	565,900	678,000	19.8	573,628	732,615	27.7
Coquitlam	535,000	617,000	15.3	529,154	620,559	17.3
Maple Ridge	404,950	485,000	19.8	408,950	495,661	21.2
New Westminster	389,000	462,900	19.0	409,053	489,344	19.6
North Van City	789,500	898,000	13.7	818,800	913,391	11.6
Pt. Coquitlam	429,800	460,000	7.0	447,009	480,171	7.4
Pt. Moody	545,000	609,950	11.9	581,998	664,981	14.3
Richmond	559,900	719,500	28.5	597,429	778,767	30.4
Surrey	489,000	525,900	7.5	525,072	574,108	9.3
Vancouver	630,000	754,000	19.7	771,063	954,401	23.8

SOURCE: CMHC, HOUSING NOW released Nov 2006

Tags: real estate, realty, vancouver, burnaby, cmhc, richmond, housing

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Faces of Taiwan 4

More food, food, food!!!

To see more of my photography, please go to here.

Tags: taiwan, taipei, ding tai fung, dumpling, xiao long bao, food, travelling, tourist

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Head tax fighter offers feast, sharing compensation money

What a good way to show respect to heroes! Charlie Quan is a really cute person. :)

Press release from Sid Tan:

Charlie Quan (關祥國, right in photo, the first recipient of the head tax compensation cheque) is spending some of his hard earned ex gratia payment to buy a few roast piggies and throw a feed. You are the special media invited to attend.

Quon Lung Sai Tong (關隴西堂), Charlie Quan's association, are hosting a call to Kwan Kung, who I claim is patron protector of warriors, writers and artists, to give Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Gordon Campbell the wisdom and courage to treat head tax families equally and give them all a just and honourable redress.

Where: Quon Lung Sai Tong, 164 East Hastings, Vancouver
When: 12:45pm Sunday December 3, 2006

Members of the Head Tax Families Society of Canada and other redress seeking groups will be in attendance. I'll certainly be there, given the spread expected - roast piggie!!!

Who is Kwan Kung, or Guan Gong, or Guan Yu? Read wiki's story. In short, he's a folklore hero famous for his righteousness, loyalty and bravery. He was deified not long after his death.... still a very popular deity to many Chinese who believe by worshipping Kwan Kung one would be protected from evils.

Tags: china, canada, chinese, head tax, headtax, guan gong

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Chinese Canadian population in Quebec, by selected cities

Chinese Canadian pop in Quebec, by selected cities

	Ttl pop	Ttl visible minority	Chinese	Chinese/ ttl min.	Chinese/ ttl pop
Montréal	3,380,645	458,330	52,110	11.4	1.5
Trois-Rivières	134,645	1,240	90	7.3	0.1
Sherbrooke	150,385	3,835	245	6.4	0.2

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, CENSUS 2001

See also:
Chinese Canadian pop in Canada
Chinese Canadian pop in Canada, by province
Chinese Canadian pop in BC, Greater Vancouver area
Chinese Canadian pop changes in BC, Greater Vancouver, 96-01
Recent Chinese imm pop in BC, Greater Vancouver
Chinese Canadian pop in BC, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Ontario, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Alberta, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Quebec, by selected cities

Tags: population, chinese, canadian, census, stats, quebec, montreal

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Chinese Canadian population in Alberta, by selected cities

Chinese Canadian population in Alberta, by selected cities

	Ttl pop	Ttl visible minority	Chinese	Chinese/ ttl min.	Chinese/ ttl pop
Calgary	943,310	164,900	51,850	31.4	5.5
Edmonton	927,020	135,770	41,285	30.4	4.5

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, CENSUS 2001

See also:
Chinese Canadian pop in Canada
Chinese Canadian pop in Canada, by province
Chinese Canadian pop in BC, Greater Vancouver area
Chinese Canadian pop changes in BC, Greater Vancouver, 96-01
Recent Chinese imm pop in BC, Greater Vancouver
Chinese Canadian pop in BC, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Ontario, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Alberta, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Quebec, by selected cities

Tags: population, chinese, canadian, census, stats, calgary, edmonton, alberta

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Chinese Canadian population in Ontario, selected cities

Chinese Canadian population in Ontario, selected cities

	Ttl pop	Ttl visible minority	Chinese	Chinese/ ttl min.%	Chinese/ ttl pop%
Toronto	4,647,960	1,712,535	409,530	23.9	8.8
Hamilton	655,055	64,380	9,000	14.0	1.4
St.Cat./Niagara	371,400	16,845	2,665	15.8	0.7
Kitchener	409,770	43,770	5,895	13.5	1.4
London	427,215	38,300	4,660	12.2	1.1
Thunder Bay	120,365	2,690	420	15.6	0.3
Windsor	304,955	39,330	5,710	14.5	1.9
Oshawa	293,550	20,690	2,355	11.4	0.8
Ottawa	1,050,755	148,680	28,810	19.4	2.7
Greater Sudbury	153,890	3,125	715	22.9	0.5

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, CENSUS 2001

See also:
Chinese Canadian pop in Canada
Chinese Canadian pop in Canada, by province
Chinese Canadian pop in BC, Greater Vancouver area
Chinese Canadian pop changes in BC, Greater Vancouver, 96-01
Recent Chinese imm pop in BC, Greater Vancouver
Chinese Canadian pop in BC, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Ontario, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Alberta, by selected cities
Chinese Canadian pop in Quebec, by selected cities

Tags: stats, immigration, immigrants, chinese, canadian, canada, population

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Chong wins hearts of Chinese Canadians by standing up for national unity

Michael Chong's resignation from the Tory cabinet over Québécois as a nation within a united Canada" has earned him reputation among Chinese Canadians.

Chong was the minister of intergovernmental affairs and sport and was the first full federal minister with Chinese blood (his father was from China and mother from Holland). He resigned last week over the "nation" resolution, which he called "ethnic nationalism."

"The reason why I got involved in politics is my belief in this nation we call Canada. I believe in this great country of ours and I believe in one nation, undivided," he said. "This is a fundamental principle for me, not something on which I can or will compromise. Not now, not ever."

Senior Conservative member and friend of former Tory PM Brian Mulroney Dr Joseph Yu (余嶽興) applauded Chong's strong stance on fighting Quebec independence movement.

Dr Yu is an influential figure in Winnipeg's Chinese community and was a recipient of the Order of Manitoba.

Yu believed Harper would "very possibly" invite Chong to rejoin the cabinet after the "nation" controversy was over.

"Chong's decision has gained widespread support and sympathy in the Conservative party, especially among those in the West. Harper dare to gamble national unity and please French voters in Quebec... he might get negative results, he might burn himself," Dr Yu said.

Liu Yaohua (劉耀華), consultant on Chinese community affairs for Tories' Montreal chapter, said: "Chong won respect by upholding principle. And his resignation is a correct step to allow the party to continue demonstrate its unity."

Liu added that what Harper needs to do now is to explain to Canadians of other ethnicities, what the definition of "nation" is.

Yan Gongzhan (閻公展), an executive of the Conservatives' multicultural committee in the East, described Chong as "the model of all Chinese Canadian politicians."

Fei Wensheng (斐文生), director of Ottawa Chinese Benevolent Assn and senior Tory member in the Ottawa area, said the principled personality Chong has shown would shield him from being negatively affected by the current "nation" controversy. He strongly believed that Harper would appoint him as minister some time in the future.

On local online forum frequented by Chinese immigrants westca.com, readers are saying that Chong's insistence on principles is a slap in the face to other Chinese politicians such as Raymond Chan.

Tags: canada, chinese canadian, politics, nation, quebec, michael chong, stephen harper

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The politicization of place names....only in Taiwan

One thing that has surprised me during this Taiwan trip is that all English location names on Metro Taipei are in Hanyu Pinyin, a transliteration method of Chinese characters created and used by the People's Republic of China.

Taiwan has been reluctant to use the PRC's Pinyin, for political reasons obviously. Taiwan has its own set of transliteration rules called Wade-Giles, which used to be the standard method used by the academics before the 80s.

My friend told me that Taipei had debated about whether to use Pinyin for location names years ago. The point the mayor of Taipei Ma Ying-jeou made was that English place names were supposed to help foreigners/visitors navigate around the city. Pinyin is now the standard transliteration method used elsewhere in the world. Should place names serve visitors or politics? Ma chose the former.

Of course, the reason why Ma was willing to use Pinyin was also that his affiliated political party is the more pro-China KMT, not the DPP that wants to push for an independent Taiwan.

Taiwan is such a politically divided country.... really opens my eyes!

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US warming up with China, India

And when will Stephen Harper et al?

US warming up with China, India

Houston, Dec 01: Americans are increasingly feeling positive about India even as their warmest feelings are reserved for England, Canada and Israel, a new survey has found.

The "Global Thermometer survey" by Quinnipiac University, released on Thursday, said that the Americans' warmth towards India and China has grown the most since a previous poll conducted in August. However, several nations still get the cold shoulder, according to the study.

The Global Thermometer measured the warmth of American voters' feelings toward a list of foreign nations on a scale of 0-100.

It found that the ratings for 13 nations increased since the August 28 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll.

England, Canada and Israel remained the nations generating the warmest feelings among Americans. Americans' warmth towards China, India and Israel grew the most.

Iran and North Korea remain at the bottom of the rankings. North Korea, Iraq and Venezuela were the nations whose ratings fell.

"Although the changes are in some cases quite small, the trend is unmistakable," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Bureau Report

Houston, Dec 01: Americans are increasingly feeling positive about India even as their warmest feelings are reserved for England, Canada and Israel, a new survey has found.

The "Global Thermometer survey" by Quinnipiac University, released on Thursday, said that the Americans' warmth towards India and China has grown the most since a previous poll conducted in August. However, several nations still get the cold shoulder, according to the study.

The Global Thermometer measured the warmth of American voters' feelings toward a list of foreign nations on a scale of 0-100.

It found that the ratings for 13 nations increased since the August 28 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll.

England, Canada and Israel remained the nations generating the warmest feelings among Americans. Americans' warmth towards China, India and Israel grew the most.

Iran and North Korea remain at the bottom of the rankings. North Korea, Iraq and Venezuela were the nations whose ratings fell.

"Although the changes are in some cases quite small, the trend is unmistakable," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Tags: canada, china, india, US

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Homophobia causes AIDS: study

Homophobia causes AIDS

Study fingers anti-gay sentiment as a major factor in HIV’s spread among black men

Washington, D.C.--The verdict is in, again. Homophobia is a major cause of AIDS among black men.

"Homophobia evidenced through stigma, discrimination and violence . . . creates vulnerability to behaviors and conditions associated with risk for HIV infection among black men who have sex with men,"says the National Minority AIDS Council in a paper released on World AIDS Day.

The report is arguably the loudest alarm to date on the role of anti-gay sentiment in the spread of HIV among black men.

"Investing in research to produce interventions that will work for a diverse population of black MSM [men who have sex with men] is essential to a national prevention effort that will reverse the course of the epidemic in this population,"wrote the report’s author, Robert E. Fullilove, an associate dean of sociomedical sciences at Columbia University.

Black Americans become infected with and die from HIV and AIDS far more than any other racial or ethnic group, and Fullilove wanted to examine why.

The report says, "African Americans comprised only 13 percent of the U.S. population but accounted for half of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. The disease strikes subgroups of African Americans, especially young women and gay, bisexual, or same-gender loving men."

Fullilove also noted that "African Americans with HIV/AIDS are more likely than other racial groups to postpone medical care and become hospitalized, with the result that they are more likely to die from HIV-related causes."

Advances in retroviral medications have reduced AIDS related deaths among whites by 19 percent, but only seven percent among blacks, from 2000 to 2004.

"HIV’s racial divide is not new,"wrote Fullilove. "Each year we ask the same question: Why is AIDS hitting black Americans hardest?"

Fullilove goes on to answer that question saying, "The HIV/AIDS epidemic in African-American communities results from a complex set of social, individual and environmental factors."

One of those factors, according to Fullilove, is "community and religious beliefs often stigmatize homosexuality as both immoral, but also as anti-black."

Fullilove’s study of the scientific literature indicates that because of that stigma, black men who have sex with men are less likely to identify as gay or disclose their sexual behavior to others.

"The considerable stigma and homophobia experienced by many black MSM can also have an impact on their self-esteem and behaviors,"wrote Fullilove.

"One study found a reduction in self-esteem among black MSM who attended churches that fostered homophobia,"Fullilove continued. "For some black MSM, this loss of self-esteem undermined the individual’s ability to practice safe sex, seek medical care in a timely fashion, or follow other health practices essential to well being."

"Rebuilding self-esteem is an important task for those involved with AIDS treatment and prevention,"Fullilove concluded.

The report highlights five other factors, including economic disparity and lack of access to health care that is also credited with higher rates and lower treatment among blacks compared to whites in other diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Fullilove also pays a lot of attention to incarcerated men, where the rate of infection is three times higher than in the general population.

"Ensuring access to condoms in prisons would not only protect prisoners, but also the health and the lives of the people in the communities to which they will return,"Fullilove wrote.

"Prisons increasingly hold members of poor communities who are both under-educated and unemployable,"wrote Fullilove, also advocating voluntary, routine HIV testing to prisoners on entry and release.

In 2004, African-American males were seven times more likely than whites and three times more likely than Hispanic males to be imprisoned, according to the Department of Justice. The federal government’s "War on Drugs"is a major contributor to this disparity.

Approximately one quarter of people living with HIV, known or unknown, are believed to pass through correctional facilities.

Fullilove describes prisons themselves as "independent risk factors for HIV infection because prisoners engage in unsafe sex and drug injection practices while ‘on the inside.’ "He condemns public officials who are keeping condoms out of correctional facilities, presumably also due to homophobia.

Ohio’s HIV cases resemble the national figures, with the exception of the Hispanic population, according to Ohio Department of Health data from 2004, the most recent available.

Fullilove studied the Hispanic population, but to a much lesser degree than African-Americans. There, he also found disproportionately high infection and morbidity rates compared to whites, and for some of the same socioeconomic reasons.

Forty eight percent of Ohio’s 2004 infections were among whites and 41 percent among blacks, despite Ohio’s total population being 86 percent white. Infection among Ohio’s Hispanic community was five percent.

Men who have sex with men lead Ohio’s infections, too, at 39 percent of new infections in 2004, most between the ages of 30 and 39.

"This report has made clear that policy and legislative reforms need to focus on structural interventions that will address the root causes of the overrepresentation of African-Americans in the HIV/AIDS epidemic,"Fullilove concluded. "Such reforms will not only improve efforts to prevent HIV, they will improve the chances of survival for those African Americans already living with HIV/AIDS."

"The development of interventions capable of creating tolerance, acceptance and compassion represents a significant and vital challenge for behavioral intervention specialists."

Tags: gay, homosexual, homophobia, AIDS

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Is China ready to deal with yet another 'new' Canadian government?

Macleans carries an analysis on how China-Canada relations would play out with the Liberal leadership frontrunners.

Back to the good old days?

Under any of the leadership contenders, and Bob Rae in particular, a Liberal government would return to the business-first approach to Canada-China relations Chris Selley, Macleans.ca

To some observers, Stephen Harper's performance on the China file earlier this month was a refreshing break from years of unprincipled Liberal doublespeak. If you're not going to accomplish anything, went the logic, you might as well look good doing it.
The more common belief was that Harper's approach was at best inappropriately brusque and lacking in diplomacy - or perhaps, as Don Martin described it in the National Post, a "galloping blunder."

The four main Liberal leadership contenders were either in the latter camp, or they had nothing to say about it at all. And although none of them would offer a sea change from Liberal policy under Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, their positions - particularly those of the two frontrunners - highlight the lingering affection among Liberals for the good old days of Chinese-Canadian relations.

For all the concerns raised about Michael Ignatieff's tolerance for the Bush administration, he has often stressed the importance of an independent Canadian foreign policy. "Our relations with China and with Cuba have not always been popular with others," he states in his ponderous Foreign Policy Agenda for Canada, "but they have allowed us to play a role in these countries which has enhanced both our commercial and our political interests."
Ignatieff was even more spirited in a 2004 speech: "The recognition of Cuba, good decision: the Americans don't like it, tough. The recognition of China, good decision: Americans don't like it, tough."

The frontrunner claims to be less impressed with Stephen Harper's bravado at the APEC summit in Vietnam. The way to approach human rights with the Chinese, Ignatieff told CBC News, "is to get in a room with the Chinese president and say 'here are the files, here are the issues where we have specific disagreements with you; how can we work to get these things resolved?'

"It's always very pleasurable to stand up and give speeches defending Canadian principles," he said, but insisted that the chest-thumping approach "just doesn't work with the Chinese."

So what approach does work? The CBC's Evan Solomon managed to extract an answer from a typically guarded Ignatieff. His theory, more or less, is that Canada can have the best of both worlds.
"We've got a very low percentage of the Chinese market," he told Solomon, "and that's I think where the future of our economy lies. So we've got to do that [promote business] and we've also got to say, when we meet privately with Chinese leaders, 'look, labour standards are an issue for us. Religious freedom is an issue for us. The treatment of our nationals… is an issue.' You don't sacrifice your values when you go into a room with the Chinese. You stand for your values. But you also don't give them lectures."

Harper's meeting with the Dalai Lama is often cited as an aggravating factor in the current "chill" in relations between Canada and China. So, Solomon asked, would Prime Minister Ignatieff meet him? The professor ducked and weaved like a prizefighter, eventually allowing that he would meet the Tibetan leader, but only after explaining to Beijing exactly "what's being said."

Those pining for the less conflicted, overtly pro-business China policies of successive Liberal governments need look no further than Bob Rae, who has far and away the most extensive record of dealing with Chinese issues despite his lack of experience in federal politics. Indeed, though he was a New Democrat during his time as premier of Ontario, his China résumé reads like a dyed-in-the-wool Chrétien Liberal's.

Rae was an enthusiastic participant in the 1994 Team Canada trade mission to China, having abandoned a previous belief that human rights abusers (notably South Africa) should be economically isolated. "I've reached the conclusion," he said, "that the way to have the most impact is by being present, not absent. If we were to pull out, not bid on any infrastructure projects, pull all our people out, it would not matter one whit. The British and the French would be there in a minute."

His "unabashed purpose" in China, Rae said, was "to sell Canada, Canadian goods and Canadian industry."

These were not exactly core NDP values, and Rae faced fierce criticism as a result. "What irks about Rae," wrote the Toronto Star's Thomas Walkom at the time, "is the enthusiasm with which he pursues his new position on delinking human rights from trade. At least Clinton limited his flip-flop to China. Rae has made the primacy of trade over rights a general principle."

Rae fared little better when he returned home, his pockets bulging with contracts and letters of intent promising business opportunities and new jobs for Ontarians. Federal NDP leader Audrey McLaughlin was particularly unimpressed with a tentative deal to sell Candu nuclear reactors to the Chinese. "When there is so much talk in this country about mortgaging the future of our children, we seem much more flexible about mortgaging the future of people in other countries," she said at an Ontario NDP conference at which Rae sat "glumly at the podium, The Globe and Mail reported.

Twelve years later, Rae's position hasn't changed. While Harper was holding court on human rights and deflecting blame for his on-again off-again meeting with President Hu Jintao, Rae was meeting with Chinese community leaders in Winnipeg and expressing his dissatisfaction. "We can't afford to be uninvolved with China," he said, describing Harper's approach as "pre-Nixon." Calling China's leaders "sophisticated," the Globe reported, he again stressed the importance of diplomacy.

Rae's links to those Liberal China strategies are more than philosophical. The Canada-China Business Council counts Rae among its directors. André Desmarais, CEO of Power Corporation - which through its subsidiaries has enormous business interests in China - is the Council's Honorary Chairman, and his father, Paul Desmarais, is its Founding Chairman. John Rae, brother of Bob and former advisor to Jean Chrétien, is on Power Corp's Board of Directors; Chrétien is André Desmarais' father-in-law.

As Konrad Yakabuski reported last week in the Globe, the younger Desmarais "is now widely considered - by Brian Mulroney, among others - to be the most-connected Canadian in China." The Desmarais family, reportedly furious with Harper's recently pugnacious tone, has contributed to the Rae campaign to the tune of $18,500.

As for the other two serious leadership contenders, they seem neither as conflicted as Ignatieff nor as committed as Rae.
Gerard Kennedy stayed out of the fray during Harper's trip to Asia, but his campaign provided Macleans.ca with a statement criticizing the Tories' approach. "The Harper government is using the Chinese human rights abuses as a media show to Canadians," it alleges.

While praising the "constructive approach" of the Chrétien and Martin governments and the "frank but friendly relationship" that resulted, Kennedy promises to go further: "A Kennedy government will... follow the lead of Australia and other countries to negotiate agreements to help Canadian businesses gain greater access to Chinese markets while remaining serious, constructive and vigilant when it comes to human rights."
Meanwhile, Stéphane Dion is running on his "three pillars" - the economy, the environment and social justice - and less, if at all, on foreign policy. In past appearances he has portrayed China primarily as an economic challenge to Canada's 21st century ambitions, taking swipes at both his Liberal leadership rivals and the Conservative government.

"Apparently, China is graduating three hundred thousand more engineers every year," Dion said at his campaign launch in April. "And now Stephen Harper plans to slice $8 billion from the $9.4 billion budget for the five-year plan that the Liberal government created for research, innovation and post-secondary education."

Attempts to reach Dion campaign officials for comment on human rights concerns - and how their candidate would balance them with his economic focus - were unsuccessful.

Tags: china, canada, foreign policy, diplomacy, trade

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Faces of Taiwan 3

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!!! That's why I'm here in Taiwan!

I went to the Shida Road Night Market last night. Oh boy, it was huge! Spanning over five to six blocks, there were tonnes of local specialty foods that were only in Taiwan. They all looked yummy (except those intestines and livers etc....) but I could only eat that much.

To see more of my photography, please go to here.

Tags: taiwan, food, night market, taipei, shida road, photo, travelling

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Faces of Taiwan 2

I visited the Longshan Temple in Taipei, built 1723 during the Qing Dynasty. I'm surprised that I've learnt a lot about the Chinese culture from it.

For instance, in the temple's main hall where Buddha statues are located, you can find thousands and thousands of candles surrounding pillars and covering walls. These are not just mere candles you would light up in a church. They are called "Candles of Light" (光明燈). Each candle is placed in a small space under which there is a name tag indicating whose this candle is belonged to. Yes, they "sell" candle spaces for a price. It's their belief that those who have a "Candle of Light" put in the temple hall would be blessed 24/7 by the Buddha -- because of the proximity to Buddhist statues etc.

Most interesting, these candle spaces are priced according to their location. The closer to the Buddhist statues, the more expensive they are. You can see how entrepreneurial Chinese people are. :)

To see more of my photography, please go to here.

Tags: taipei, taiwan, longshan temple, buddha, photo, travelling

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Bush and PM Brokebacked in TV sketch

(caption: this is a photoshopped picture I did quite some time ago... thought it should go well with the following story... :D)

Bush and PM Brokebacked in TV sketch

QUEBEC -- A TV sketch portraying U.S. President George W. Bush's naked torso and Stephen Harper's nipples has landed Parti Quebecois Leader Andre Boisclair in hot water.

Boisclair, who was having second thoughts Wednesday about his decision to be in the sketch, appears in a TV parody of "Brokeback Mountain'' that features caricatures of a partially naked Harper and Bush.

"I didn't see the entirety of the sketch,'' Boisclair told reporters in Quebec City. "I did it in good faith and I think that people will judge for themselves.''

Brokeback Mountain, which tells the love story of two gay cowboys, picked up three Academy Awards at last year's Oscars.

In the sketch, the prime minister and the U.S. president are portrayed naked from the waist up in a tent. Images of their faces are attached to actors' bodies.

Bush at one point throws cherries at Harper's nipples which are covered with whipped cream.

After the cherries land on the nipples, Boisclair is seen opening the tent flap and saying that Quebec isn't getting involved in that.

Clips of the sketch were broadcast on several French-language news programs Tuesday night, prompting a stern reaction from members of Jean Charest's government Wednesday.

"It makes me uncomfortable,'' said Environment Minister Claude Bechard. "But it's up to him to explain why he did it, and what the context is and all that.''

Education Minister Jean-Marc Fournier said Boisclair's appearance in the sketch was in poor taste.

"I didn't find it particularly edifying,'' he said Wednesday. "I leave it to Mr. Boisclair to defend his judgement.''

Even Boisclair, who is openly gay, admitted he was having second-thoughts about his cameo appearance.

"When I see all the debate it sparked, it's clear I wouldn't do it again,'' he said.

The sketch is to be played on MusiMax on Dec. 22.

MusiMax, which is part of the CHUM network, broadcasts music videos and programs catering to the soft-rock market.

Tags: brokeback mountain, george w bush, prime minister, musicmax, Parti Quebecois, Andre Boisclair

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Faces of Taiwan 1

See my Tabblo>

I'm finally in Taipei.

My first feeling is that this city is really crazy about politics. Taiwan is having a civic election on Dec 9 and campaigning is everywhere. I told my friend that I wanted to go to Taiwan now because I wanted to feel how this young democracy, the first full democracy enjoyed by people of Chinese descent, is working.

As I always say, democracy in Taiwan may still be in its infant stage and not everything is perfect, but I'm very, very proud of it, mainly from the macro historical view. Things that look important now -- be it Chen Shui-bian's corruption, Chen's tactic of stirring up internal conflicts etc -- will be deemed minute if history looks back. What really IS important to history is Taiwan's insistence in fighting for democracy and its far-fetching impact.

I went to the public square outside the Taipei railway station where the anti-Chen Shui-bian "red army" continues its demonstration. The "red army" is leaving the square as they can't occupy a public space for too long. But I could still feel, hear the anger left by the "red army".

I'm sharing some of the pictures with the readers here. Pls click photolink above for more pictures.

To see more of my photography, please go to here.

See also:
Local Taiwanese back anti-Chen campaign
Taiwan mass rallies scare off travellers

Tags: taiwan, democracy, corruption, chen shui-bian, taiwan election

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China strikes back .... in a small way, for now

China's blunt talk surprised visitors
Frustrations aired to Canadian legislators

OTTAWA -- Canada-China business relations are suffering considerable damage as a result of the frosty nature of the political climate between Ottawa and Beijing, say Canadian parliamentarians who received an unusually blunt critique during a recent trip to Beijing.

Some 10 MPs and senators from the Canada-China Legislative Association travelled to Beijing last month as part of a regular effort to improve ties between the two countries. But their normally reticent Chinese hosts expressed frustration at the growing number of irritants under the new Conservative government.

"They have been detecting signals since the change of government that this current government is not as keen on developing and maintaining relations with China as were previous governments," Senator Joseph Day, the Liberal co-chair of the non-partisan association, said in an interview yesterday.

"I have never seen the Chinese quite so outspoken . . . you don't really know what they are thinking.
Print Edition - Section Front

"But they made it very clear they are concerned," Mr. Day said.

Senator Pat Carney, a former Conservative trade minister who was born in China, said the bilateral relationship has been cooling for some years. She said Chinese assistant foreign minister, He Yafei, was particularly blunt, saying the Chinese are increasingly reluctant to invest in Canada due to uncertainty over the relationship and "too many rules and regulations."

"They don't feel welcome in Canada," Ms. Carney said.

Since the parliamentary visit, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn has travelled to Beijing to tout Canada as a target for potential for Chinese investment, particularly in the oil sands and mining.

Conservative MP Bob Mills, who has been travelling to China as a businessman and parliamentarian for 25 years, said Canadians -- both in government and in business -- need to do a better job building a long-term relationship in China.

"You don't need to agree with everything they do or say, but you need to be a player," he said.

Mr. Mills said that, during last month's visit, Chinese officials were perplexed by the deteriorating tone of bilateral relations.

One particular irritant, he said, was the introduction of a private member's bill by Conservative MP Jim Abbott that would recognize Taiwan as an independent country. Mr. Mills said he assured his Chinese hosts that Canada maintains its "one China" policy.

The Canadian parliamentarians lobbied their Chinese counterparts to have Beijing grant Canada "approved destination status," which would facilitate tourism and business travel between the two countries.

The Canadian delegation reiterated their desire to see improvements in human rights in China, but MPs and senators said it is possible to have a dialogue about rights with Chinese officials while respecting the country's achievements and potential.

Liberal Senator Jack Austin said the Harper government has gone out of its way to offend the Chinese by snubbing its diplomats and, most recently, suggesting that previous governments were driven by the "almighty dollar" in their dealings with the Asian giant.

"To me, this is a needless confrontation, done for ideological reasons," Mr. Austin said.

He said that, in the past, his Chinese counterparts would question the lack of Canadian businesses taking advantage of the healthy bilateral political climate, but those questions have ended as the relationship has cooled.

Tags: china, canada, diplomacy, trade, foreign policy

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Road to victory - ethnic politicians made headway in Toronto election

TorStar runs an analysis on the gains made by minorities in the recent civic election.

Minorities made real gains at polls
Breakthrough for non-white candidates in office traditionally hardest to crack

As municipal councils across the GTA start taking oaths of office and settling down to business next week, a few will look a little less white bread than they did before the Nov. 13 election.

Overall, members of visible minorities will hold 14 municipal seats — up from nine in the 2003 election. The gains are all in the regions: four seats in York Region alone, one in Oakville, and one in Clarington, where newly elected Willie Woo will sit as the only visible-minority councillor in Durham Region.

Toronto's 45-member city council, on the other hand, will see a drop from five to four.

That there are gains at all is a breakthrough for an office traditionally the hardest for minority candidates to crack, largely because of the lack of a party system to support newcomers.

Even for his fellow Chinese Canadians, Woo's election win in Clarington seems an anomaly.

The 52-year-old quality-control inspector, believed to be the only visible-minority person elected to a council seat in Durham Region, didn't have an "ethnic vote" to count on in this fairly homogenous community.

But he had all the real components of success: long-term entrenchment in the community, involvement well beyond the candidate's ethnic group, and a race lacking an incumbent or too many visible-minority candidates siphoning votes.

"That's a lot of ingredients in a recipe, and it didn't come up in a lot of wards," noted Myer Siemiatycki, professor of politics and public administration at Ryerson University. "We are talking about a small number of races where the variety of dynamics came into play to put these candidates on the top."

Born in Canada, Woo has lived in Clarington since 1954, when his family moved there from Peterborough to open a restaurant. For years, he has worked at the Goodyear plant and volunteered at community Christmas feasts, polar bear swims, organ tissue donation drives, Heart and Stroke Foundation events, blood clinics, Terry Fox runs and a women's shelter.

"A lot of the voters saw me growing up here. Many thought of me simply as Willie, as a hometown boy. You are just one of them," explained Woo, who ran unsuccessfully against an incumbent for a regional council seat in 2000. "I wouldn't say my victory came as a surprise, but it's definitely monumental."

Visible minorities, according to a Star analysis based on photographs and surnames of the winners, also made some headway in GTA school boards.

Veteran community activist Marlene Mogado, one of two Filipino Canadian Catholic trustees elected, said running in a ward with high visible-minority population doesn't always work to your advantage.

Almost a decade ago, she ran for a Markham council seat in a wide-open race against six others. The victor, Tony Wong, later became a Liberal MPP and now is back as a regional councillor.

"It's difficult to unseat an incumbent because the incumbent's name is known and recognized, but that's why you need to build credentials and a strong support base through your community involvement," said Mogado, who has served on the boards of the district health council, training and adjustment body, race relations committee and children's festival.

"What made the difference between my two races was I ran (for council) in a Chinese dominant ward, and this time, I ran as a trustee for four wards (4, 5, 7 and 8 in Markham), and there isn't a monopoly of one dominant group any more." Mogado squeaked by incumbent Frank Alexander by 147 votes.

Olga Lambert, a French-born Togolese who's been in Canada for 20 years, credits the shared minority status of francophone for her win in an open Durham French Separate School Board seat. It helps to have a French name on the ballot, she noted.

"The francophone community in Ontario is very diverse, and it's not really an issue whether you're a minority or not," said the Ajax computer analyst. "French is already a minority in Ontario, and we all want to keep our kids in French schools."

Historically, minority candidates have suffered under the assumption that their first loyalty is to their ethno-cultural group. But Siemiatycki said their triumph in the 905 areas is a sending a message to the rest of Canada that you needn't be white to speak for all Canadians.

While it's fair to say the dominance of Chinese voters in pockets of York Region helped get Chinese candidates elected, he said their success underscores the importance of reaching out to the broader community.

Veteran Caledon regional councillor Annette Groves, a Jamaican Canadian of South Asian descent, said candidates may be hindered by self-consciousness about their minority status, as she was when she won a wide-open race in 2000.

"We tend to limit ourselves because we're (thinking that) we're not going to succeed," said the ex-dental office administrator, who immigrated in 1979 and has lived in Caledon 14 years.

"But you have to put all that stuff aside to be yourself. People will accept you for who you are. They don't see me as a brown girl talking to them, but as Annette, someone who represents everybody's concerns in the community."

While most victors have lived in their towns for a long time, rookie Max Khan, 34, elected in Oakville's Ward 6, said that shouldn't matter as long as the person is fully engaged.

Voters have become more sophisticated and a candidate's cultural heritage is no longer a big deal, he said, provided he or she thoroughly understands local needs and can articulate ways of addressing them. "It's the nitty gritty local issues that voters really care about. You need substance, or voters are going to see through that," said the Canadian-born lawyer.

"A lot of times visible minorities are not entering the race unless a threshold is reached and they see a Sikh, a Hindu or Chinese being elected. And they wait for that threshold." Khan, whose heritage is Pakistani, is believed to be Oakville's first visible minority councillor.

Joseph W. Wong, vice president of the Chinese Canadian Civic Association, was particularly buoyed by the success of candidates from his community, which sent 10 of its 44 GTA hopefuls to councils and boards.

To have even better results four years from now would require stronger "strategic planning" among visible-minority groups to co-ordinate their limited human and financial resources, he says.

That's already emerging in Markham, where six Chinese candidates running in different wards campaigned as a team. Grassroots groups like Wong's helped promote voter turnout.

Official information from Markham showed that 36 per cent of the town's Chinese voters cast ballots in the advance polls, up from 17 per cent in 2003.

"I think we're entering a pioneering stage in our municipal politics because we're seeing more candidates running, more people voting," said Wong.

"But at the end of the day, there's no miracle in election. You have to earn it with years of hard work in your community. That's the golden rule...."

See also:
Record Chinese winners in Toronto civic election

Tags: civic election, toronto, minorities, ethnic, chinese

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Tourism minister: China's business tourism potential 'unimaginable'

BC's minister of tourism Stan Hagen said although the ADS arrangements are yet to signed between Canada and China, we can still work hard on pushing for Chinese business tourism market. He said Chinese business tourism to BC is growing at 5% every year.

According to federal international trade minister David Emerson, the talks between the two countries on ADS, or approved destination status, are at a complete halt.

Without the ADS, Chinese tourists cannot visit Canada using a tourist visa, but they could arrange to "visit commercial establishments in Canada" and come to Canada using business visit visas.

Hagen said Chinese business tourism to BC has huge potentials.

Hagen has just returned from China. He was in Shanghai participating in a tourism fair and he said that the BC pavillion was a star exhibit. He said Chinese tourists generally have quite a good impression for Canada but they were not very familiar with what to see/do in BC. Hagen said his work will focus on how to keep Chinese tourists stay in BC in the next round of promotion.

Before he departed for Shanghai, Hagen said, he had already heard about the immense potential in China's tourism market. Once there, he said the potential was in fact "unimaginable", especially on business tourism.

Tags: china, canada, bc, tourism

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Premier's China tour welcomed by Chinese press

This story is from China Daily, the state-owned media that always reflect what the Chinese gov is thinking. The mentioning of Gordon Campbell's tour to Guangzhou is really something. What a big difference how the Chinese treat our Tory politicians!

Tour festival turns into a gala for overseas Chinese

JIANGMEN: As an inseparable part of the 2006 Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival, the 2006 China (Jiangmen) Overseas Chinese Carnival and Hometown Tour Festival attracted thousands of overseas Chinese with ancestral roots in Jiangmen.

The 2006 China (Jiangmen) Overseas Chinese Carnival and Hometown Tour Festival, held from November 25 to 27, was jointly organized by the Guangdong Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration, Guangdong Overseas Exchange Association and the municipal government of Jiangmen.

Eye-catching events of the carnival included a grand carnival pageant by domestic and overseas folk performers during the opening ceremony and evening parties at several squares of the city, which consisted of Chinese dragon dances and folk performances and choruses of the citizens.

Diversified tourism and cultural festivals organized by different subordinate districts and cities under the administrative jurisdiction of Jiangmen were equally exciting. They showed off their unique tourism resources including Xinhui's sunflowers, Taishan's rural ecological resources, Kaiping's Diaolou (military watchtowers) culture, Heshan's scenic attractions and delicacies, as well as Enping's hot spring resources.

"The gala is a good platform for cultural exchanges between Jiangmen and the overseas Chinese of Jiangmen origin and is a golden opportunity for overseas Chinese of Jiangmen origin to witness the social, economic, and cultural developments of their ancestral hometown," said Chen Jixing, Party secretary of Jiangmen.

Heads of over 100 overseas Chinese societies from over 20 countries and regions and 1,000 overseas Chinese representatives attended the Jiangmen carnival and hometown tour festival.

Official statistics indicate that there are 3.80 million overseas Chinese of Jiangmen origin. They live in 107 countries and regions. The number makes up 10 per cent of the total number of overseas Chinese worldwide.

And Jiangmen has forged very close relationships with about 800 overseas Chinese societies.

At a press conference on the Jiangmen carnival and hometown tour festival, Huang Yuesheng, vice-mayor of Jiangmen, said the city's initiative to invite overseas Chinese representatives back to the carnival is meaningful as overseas Chinese of later generations, living in an absolutely different culture, are less acquainted with Chinese culture and their familiarity with the Chinese culture would not be as strong as their ancestors.

He said that Jiangmen has benefited handsomely from close relationships with overseas Chinese of Jiangmen origin, whose donations have surpassed 5 billion yuan (US$616.52 million) and whose investments in Jiangmen have reached US$3.60 billion.

"They have also made great efforts to promote the investment climate of Jiangmen and to find markets for Jiangmen's products," the official added.

Other events

Other key events that have supplemented the 2006 Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival include the creation of a Sino-Canadian landscape project and the 10th anniversary of the foundation of the "Exception" Fashion, a well-known fashion supplier based in Guangzhou.

As a symbolic living monument to honour the long-standing friendship between the two sister provinces of Guangdong and British Columbia of Canada, the Guangdong-British Columbia Pacific Gateway Park, broke new ground in Guangzhou's Zhujiang Park on November 24.

The project involves an initial investment of over 1.70 million yuan (US$209,618) from British Columbia and covers an area of 10,000 square metres, capitalizing on Canada Wood's technical experience in wood materials and construction and Guangzhou's design expertise.

And the display of "Exception" Fashions, a catwalk show and drum performances by a renowned drum troupe from North China's Shanxi Province during the grand ceremony celebrating the 10th birthday of "Exception" on November 25 were highlights of the Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival.

Source: China Daily

Tags: china, canada, bc, vancouver, gordon campbell, guangzhou, jiangmen, taishan, tourism

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Chinese school principal charged with issuing false report cards

Private institutes issuing diplomas/grades for a price has existed in Canada for a long time. I remember when I was at college, I heard that a private college in Coquitlam had a price list for grades, such as $200 for a B and so on. All levels of gov must take the blame for not regulating the private education industry in Canada.

Language School Principal Charged with Issuing False Report Cards

Montréal, November 27, 2006 – As a result of an investigation conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Immigration and Passport Section, a Montréal language school principal, Lanfeng Liu, will appear in court on January 23, 2007, to face 12 counts of indictment for uttering forged documents.

Lanfeng Liu, 41, opened the Q.G.I. school in Montréal in January, 2004. On November 21, 2006, he was accused of issuing false report cards and transcripts to Chinese students. The offences for which he has been charged were committed between February and August, 2004.

Up to $1,500 for a False Document

The investigation has shown that Lanfeng Liu issued documents used to defraud the government in exchange for money. Specifically, 90 students allegedly paid the school principal between US$700 and US$1,500 to obtain bogus report cards and transcripts, without even attending the language school, for the purpose of having their temporary residence permits in Canada extended. Many of the students left without giving an address.

This investigation conducted in October, 2005 by RCMP Immigration and Passport Section investigators in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency Intelligence Service and the ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles du Québec led to the laying of charges against the accused under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Tags: canada, education, police, lanfeng liu, false report card

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Chinese tourists increase by nearly 20% in 2006 2Q

Top 10 overseas countries of origin for travellers to Canada
	2005 2Q	2006 2Q	2005 2Q / 2006 2Q
	Overnight trips (thousands)		% change
UK	233	234	0.3
Japan	100	95	-5.2
Germany	78	79	1.5
France	74	76	2.8
Mexico	44	56	27.4
Australia	51	54	7.1
S. Korea	42	46	9.3
China	30	35	19.2
India	31	35	12.4
Netherlands	32	33	3.3

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA

Statistics Canada just released the performance of Canada's tourism industry for 2006 2Q. The number of overnight visits made by Chinese tourists has jumped almost 20% over the same time last year. This is the fastest growing sector tailed only to Mexico.

Although UK tourists still dominate the top ten list, its growth is minimal (0.3%). The second place still goes to Japan, but with a drop by 5.2%.

See also:
Chinese tourists increase by nearly 20% in 2006 2Q
Chinese visitors' spending
Chinese visitors jump 42% in Sep 2006

Tags: tourism, tourists, canada, UK, japan, china, india, mexico

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CIV now a BlogBurst member!

I'm glad to announce that Chinese in Vancouver is now part of BlogBurst, a syndication service of user-generated content by Pluck.

Blogburst has recently formed an alliance with Reuters to syndicate Blogburst's member blogs. As stated in this press release:

As one of the world's largest providers of syndicated news, Reuters will now offer Pluck's BlogBurst blog syndication service to thousands of its media partners worldwide. BlogBurst is the world's largest blog syndication network, with more than 2,800 blogs serving content to major news outlets including The Washington Post, Gannett News, The San Francisco Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman and more.

With BlogBurst, publishers can present the most relevant and useful blog posts alongside related stories covering a variety of topics including news, politics, sports, health, fitness, technology, gadgets, travel, food and entertainment. With thousands of approved bloggers in the network, the BlogBurst service delivers a vast range of topical content and connects high quality, provocative voices from the blogosphere with mass market news and information websites. Bloggers benefit by gaining visibility, growing audience and increasing traffic to their blogs.

Also, recently the USA Today started syndicating BlogBurst tech blogs to its Technology section. I'm proud to be included in BlogBurst.

Tags: blogburst, syndication, reuters

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When will Harperites learn to know the world?

During my first few days in Asia, I've been visiting bookstores, one after another, as if I never had enough of them. My particular interests at this moment are books that talk about the rise of China and its impact on the world... books written by US scholars and businessmen, French journalists and expats working or investing in China and so on.

The themes of these books may differ - be it "China = threat" or "China = opportunities", one theme is very clear: like it or not, it's a reality that China is growing so fast that no ones can ignore nor stop it. Maps of any major Chinese cities are becoming obsolete in just three months. Even the most anti-Chinese elements in Taiwan are admitting that they cannot neglect the development of history and that they must come up with some realistic policies to deal with the rising giant.

However, our politicians in Ottawa are still operating with a Cold War mentality and outdated ideology that will cost Canada dearly. The US is working very hard in participating in the Chinese market, though it might also talk against China's human rights records in public. But the Americans are as pragmatic as the Chinese, they wouldn't want to stop or slow down trade/commerce in exchange for ideological "principles". To this end, I believe president Bush must be very happy to continue seeing Harperites doing all the harmful talkings (the dirty work) while the Americans focus on money making.

The Harper gov is the stupidest gov not seen for a long, long time. Its foreign policy is naive and ridiculous. Another example is the sending of our ambassador to South Korea to North Korea urging the North to stop its nuclear program. While everybody at APEC was politely thanking Canada for its attempt, I believe any experienced diplomats would have laughed loudly at our stupidity and ignorance. Does Harper really know what Canada's position is on international politics? Let's face it, Canada is a small potato when it comes to international affairs. Having the courage to do things deemed inappropriate and useless doesn't translate into having the intelligence to work out effective, real solutions.

The following article is from the Globe and Mail.

Flaherty defends plan to screen foreign takeovers
'It is important that we protect Canada'; critics say stance will drive off Chinese

OTTAWA -- Finance Minister Jim Flaherty reaffirmed his plan to "protect Canadian assets" against takeovers by some foreign state-owned companies yesterday, even as more concerns were raised by China watchers.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Flaherty said the government will closely monitor any attempt by a state-owned company that does not operate on market principles to take over a major Canadian firm, saying such a deal must be judged to be in Canada's best interest.

"It is important that we protect Canada and we protect Canada's assets in certain circumstances where foreign state-controlled interests might be involved," Mr. Flaherty said.

The position -- which was unveiled in the fall economic update last week and is seen as directed at China -- would be used only rarely, when a foreign state-owned firm plans an investment that would not be in the long-term interests of Canadians, he said.

But while he played down the significance of the new rule, critics say the government is signalling to the Chinese -- and to other emerging countries that rely on state-owned firms -- that their companies are not welcome to invest in Canada.

Wenran Jiang, director of the University of Alberta's China Institute, said yesterday that Chinese company and government officials are increasingly skeptical about Canada's openness to Chinese investment.

Mr. Jiang said Canada is losing ground in the global competition to gain access to Chinese markets and be the recipient of out-bound Chinese investment. He said Canadian governments would have full power to regulate any foreign subsidiary that resulted from an acquisition.

"Is there reason for being alarmed at all? I think that is totally ridiculous" Mr. Jiang said. "There is absolutely no reason to think that we need to be alarmed about Chinese investment in our oil sands."

The economist said the federal concern about potential Chinese takeovers echoes a similar fear heard in the United States, where members of Congress managed to thwart a bid by China National Offshore Oil Corp. to acquire California-based Unocal Corp.

Much of the global oil industry is now in the hands of state companies, from Saudi Aramco, to Petroleos de Venezuela SA, to renationalized companies in Russia.

Currently, Chinese state-owned companies operate globally mainly in the resource sector, including China MinMetals Corp., which pursued a takeover of Noranda Inc. two years ago. But China watchers say the rapidly developing Asian country may soon take the world stage with companies ranging from auto parts to steel.

Mr. Flaherty's policy announcement comes just two weeks after his colleague, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn, travelled to China to attract investment in the energy and mining sectors.

Accompanied by executives from Calgary-based Enbridge Inc., Mr. Lunn met officials from several state-owned petroleum companies, prospecting for investments in the Canadian oil sands that would facilitate the building of a pipeline from Alberta to the west coast.

Company spokesman Glenn Herchak said yesterday Enbridge is continuing its discussions with Chinese companies about partnering in a pipeline project and believes Canadian producers would be well-served by the opening of new markets.

He refused to comment on the federal government's investment review policy.

Economist Peter Morici, a University of Maryland trade expert, said China operates behind a wall of protectionism and pursues its own state interests with its investments overseas.

"I think it is time for the West to take a hard look at the commercial criminal behaviour of China," Mr. Morici said.

Tags: china, canada, diplomacy, trade, foreign policy

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Parents/grandparents quotas frozen for 2007

Minister of citizenship and immigration Monte Solberg said targets for taking in parents/grandparent immigration will be frozen at the current level next year, while CIC makes way to accept more economic immigrants to help alleviate labour shortage.

The targets (or quotas, depending on from which side one refers to) for parents/grandparents for 2007 is 18,000 to 19,000. Solberg added that spouses and children will be treated with priority.

Solberg also hints that CIC plans to beef up more funding and human resources in China and India, the two largest sources of immigrants for Canada. However, he refused to discuss details at this point.

tag: immigration, canada, india, china, immigration

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Scotia Bank expands into China, India

New bank in China to help Scotiabank set sights on building presence in India

TORONTO (CP) - Scotiabank (TSX:BNS) is looking to carve out more business and push its brand in India after more than two decades of a marginal banking presence in the world's second-most populated country.

A stepping stone to that expansion will be the opening of Scotiabank's latest Chinese commercial branch in Shanghai, executive vice-president Rob Pitfield announced Monday. "Those are two fantastic countries which we're very interested in, so we're continually working with the government to see what they'd be willing to permit us to do," Pitfield said.

The move could also help Canada's most international bank establish a strong relationship with regulators in India, a country with more than 1.1 billion people, which could open the door to future expansion opportunities as it develops its services.

"Just by the fact that you're there and you're taking these opportinitues, clearly your competitors can't," he said.

"In India it's quite regulated so it's difficult for a foreign company to invest, but on the other hand it's a fantastic partner."

The bank already has five branches serving retail and commercial customers in India but Pitfield said Scotiabank is exploring opportunities to make bigger acquisitions that could include banks or financial service companies in the country, though no deals have yet been made.

In China, where regulators have not yet allowed the bank to establish retail locations, Scotiabank is building a relationship with regulators that it hopes will open doors.

"They decide how they want to see their financial services industry expand, and we think it's natural that when you decide to expand you do it with proven entities that have stood the test of time and that you trust," Pitfield said.

"We'll work with the regulators and we'll work with authorities and whatever services they choose to bestow to us we're thankful for."

Most major Canadian banks have been tiptoeing through international expansion, with the Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO), Royal Bank (TSX:RY) and TD (TSX:TD) opting to head to the U.S. to fulfill their global aspirations.

Scotiabank has taken an alternate route, pushing into markets like Latin America, which it refers to as its main focus outside Canada, and now Asia. With the addition of the Shanghai branch, the bank will have six branches in China.

Each location must be individually approved by the local government, which puts a wrench in the cogs of any plans for vast expansion.

"You're not going to see an announcement where a foreign bank says they're going to open 100 branches," Scotiabank's Robin Hibberd, senior vice-president of corporate development, said in an interview. "They're going to have to be one at a time."

And so the process has stretched on for decades, with Scotiabank first establishing itself in China and India during the early 1980s, and setting up a new operation once every few years.

It isn't the sole Canadian bank sniffing out opportunities in the region. Last month Royal Bank entered into China's market by announcing a joint venture with China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd. to launch a fund management company based in Shanghai.

Minsheng Bank is the first major national commercial bank in China without state ownership.

Regulators aren't the only challenge to Canadian banks hoping to carve out a presence in Asia, according to Ian Nakamoto, director of research at MacDougall, MacDougall and Weir.

He says well-known U.S. and European banks are also making headway in the market, buying stakes in well-known local banks and putting themselves at an advantage compared to the smaller Canadian players who haven't built a strong reputation overseas.

"For any Canadian bank to go into places where their brand name is not known, it tends to be different than if you're selling them a shirt," Nakamoto said. "But you've got to start somewhere."

tag: china, india, canada, banking, scotia bank

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Snow fall warning and late night flight

It's 11:51 p.m. Vancouver time. I am sitting in the Cathay Pacific lounge at YVR. I got an upgrade to the business class. Why? I've promised Cathay to cover an international horse racing event (hell that I know anything about horse racing!) held in Hong Kong in Dec (in which Cathay is a signature sponsor) and in return I am able to enjoy an upgrade. In fact, Cathay offered to fly reporters directly from here to Hong Kong for free... but they informed me too late that I've already made my plan and bought my ticket.

Anyway, they got dim sum here at the lounge. And coffee of course. But I think I'd like some alcohol :P

Cathay told me they're flying reporters from four media outlets from the States and two from Canada.

Thanks to the sudden snow fall, the plane is delayed till 2 a.m. And I have nothing to do but punching the keyboard. :)

Anyway, thanks Victoria for letting me know about this good stuff.

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A Chinese Canadian's account in Guangzhou Part 3

BTW, I saw on TV today that a miniature of Chinatown's the railway workers' memorial was presented to a Guangzhou museum, as to permenantly mark the linkage between Guangdong province and BC. But I couldn't find those pictures on the gov's website.

David Wong's trip to China touched on the question of how the Chinese really think of Canadians. A very interesting observation.

Cut to the chase, and tell me… what do the ordinary Chinese person REALLY think of Canadians?

This was the question I surprised a number of our Chinese hosts and assigned translators. After missing a day of posting to my blog - had just been too incredibly busy over here… I am penning some frank and honest thoughts from some tough questions I posted to our Chinese hosts.

You see, Chinese are into “name brand” things - Status.

Status, I guess, may help present a perception of success in a very competitive and ubiquitous sea of ordinary folks. This whole status and face thing permeates throughout Chinese culture …no matter whether it’s the PRC, Taiwan, Hong Kong or North America. This is a concept that many white folks just don’t clue into. Well, I can’t really blame our non-Asian comrades (neat word huh?) - our fellow Canadians who happen to be of the non-Asian extraction… they’re just too nice and polite. Or is it? I think a lot of it (the perception of the Chinese) is a result of how naive Canadians are. They haven’t learned how to read between the lines.

Two points here.

I’ve heard it from the local Guangdonians that Canadian products (and most likely, services) are inferior, and two, take advantage of the Canadian citizenship opportuned to all as an insurance policy. Well, you can’t blame folks for taking advantage of item number two. It’s up to our stupid political leaders to close this loop hole. This last thought was presented to me from a local Chinese colleague.

So what do we do here in BC? We try flog BC wood to the Chinese. Didn’t anyone tell we Canadians that the Chinese description for the poor and shanty townsfolks is “wooden home neighbourhood” in Chinese? ie. NO STATUS with things associated with the poor and impoverished.

And before the Chinese had so many other nationalities to choose help from, why did our industry leaders say “we don’t need to export lumber to China, when our best friend and customer is the United States. The very same neighbour who just gave ( and been giving Canada) nice softwood lumber deals.

Looks like Campbell's China trip turned out to be quite fruitful (here).

Premier Campbell mention to me and to my friend, Shirley Chan, that this fourth trip by him to Guangzhou is the best.

It shows. Gordo has managed to bring a long wanted level of respect back to the people of Canada… well, to our westcoast at least. But that doesn’t mean we fellow Briteesh Columbeeans know what the heck, or better yet, how the heck to take advantage of real opportunities here.

Opportunities were given on a platter to BC Tourism, to be paid for and encouraged by our Chinese Hosts. This was turned down by Tourism BC. Other nationals are here for this one week extravaganza… the Germans are topping it off with a one week Beer fest in a gigantic stadium. The Australians are everywhere. No wonder a lot of the work here is being prepared by the Aussies. The Japanese. Wow. They work as a team to secure work for national pride, and together they smartly work together.

Heck, yesterday evening, during an “international sister province relationships” Cultural show offered to VIPs such as Gordon Campbell, Guangdong premier Huang Huahau and many other dignitaries, the Japanese performed not one or two cultural performances… but three! The Swedes, Russians and many others were also here with some real enjoyable perfomances.

See also:
A Chinese Canadian's account in Guangzhou Part 1, and Part 2. Part 3.

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Million dollar home sales soars 160% in Calgary, 57% in Vanvouer

Royal LePage releases latest study on luxurious home sales in the country. In larger cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Victoria and Montreal, the definition of "luxury homes" are priced at or over $1m.

Number of Canadians Embracing Life in the 'Lap of Luxury' Rises

TORONTO, November 24, 2006 – Canadians are embracing luxury living more than ever before - and if they are not currently living in a luxury home, many aspire to someday live in the lap of luxury. As a result, the number of unit sales of luxury homes has skyrocketed in Canada's major markets, according to the Carriage Trade Luxury Properties Report released today by Royal LePage Real Estate Services. The report found that there has been a surge of unit sales in all markets examined, with the greatest increases occurring in Calgary, Edmonton and Halifax, which all reported sales increases of more than 125 per cent, year-over-year, in the first three quarters of 2006.

If the aspirations of Canadians play a factor, sales of luxury homes will not diminish anytime soon. The report, which includes a market analysis of trends and activity in major markets across Canada, combined with a national omnibus poll (conducted by Maritz Research Canada), found that over one-third (37%) of Canadians aged eighteen and older, currently live in a luxury home, plan to buy a luxury home soon, or aspire to one day live in a luxury home.

“The pronounced increase in the number of luxury homes sold across the country is a strong reflection of Canadians' confidence in the economy and the real estate market,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage Real Estate Services. “For the substantial sums that these homes command, buyers have come to expect distinctive properties outfitted with luxurious amenities, where it is clear that painstaking attention has been paid to every detail.”

When asked, “If you were purchasing a luxury home, what would be the most important criteria you would consider when choosing this type of home?” Canadians cited: investment potential (25%), proximity to excellent schools (19%), the prestige of the neighbourhood (17%), luxurious amenities throughout the house and the size of the house (11%) and the prominent neighbours (8%).

Carriage Trade, a Royal LePage luxury brand, provides distinction for the most exceptional homes on the market. In order for a home to meet the Carriage Trade distinction, it must be situated in a prestigious, sought-after neighbourhood, feature high-end amenities and priced within a predetermined range.

Added Soper: “House values have appreciated much more quickly than the underlying economy for much of this decade. The Carriage Trade brand is a unique way for Royal LePage Realtors to raise the profile of special homes which are not only priced in the upper end, but also exhibit unique features and amenities that set them apart from other properties. Realtors using the Carriage Trade brand are experienced working with exceptional homes and have access to proprietary tools enabling them to succeed in this segment.”

In terms of the feature that would be the most important to Canadians if they were purchasing a luxury home, a commercial style kitchen assumed top rank (21%) in the poll. Interestingly, a gender divide was evident when it came to cooking as 26 per cent of women cited the commercial style kitchen as the most important feature, compared to 15 per cent of men. The men's den prevails with 11 per cent of males citing the luxury in-home movie-viewing theatre as the feature that would be most important to them if they were purchasing a luxury home, compared to only five per cent of females.

The poll also found additional features that would be of most importance to Canadians if purchasing a luxury home to include an indoor or outdoor pool (14%), smart wiring (12%), heated floors and driveway (11%) and a fitness centre/pilates/yoga studio and luxury in-home movie theatre (both at 8%).

Tags: canada, housing market, real estate, luxury, luxurious home, million dollar homes, vancouver, toronto, calgary

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New Chinese consul general arrives

(caption 1: New China's consul general in Vancouver Yang Qiang; caption 2: Reps from the Chinese community welcomed the new consul general.)

The new consul general of China to Vancouver has arrived yesterday. 30+ reps from the Chinese community welcomed Yang Qiang (楊強) and his wife Zhang Guizhen (張桂珍) at the airport.

"I will serve the Chinese community with passion," Yang said.

Among the people who waited for Yang's arrival at the airport were reps from the Chinese Benevolent Assn and Chinese Cultural Centre.

Yang shook hands with everyone but did not take any media questions.

The previous consul general Tian Chunyan announced her surprising retirement in Oct, after only having worked in Vancouver for two years.

Tags: china, canada, vancouver, consul general, yang qiang

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Vancouver Area housing prices 3Q 2006

	Price Jul-Sep 2006		Price 1 year ago		% Change 1 year
STD 2-STOREY
North Vancouver	610,000		590,000		3.4
Richmond	520,000		433,000		20.1
Vancouver East	536,000		470,000		14.0
Vancouver West	1,150,000		950,000		21.1
West Vancouver	880,000		780,000		12.8
STD CONDO APT
North Vancouver	270,000		241,000		12.0
Richmond	255,000		195,000		30.8
Vancouver East	275,000		237,000		16.0
Vancouver West	550,000		475,000		15.8
West Vancouver	370,000		400,000		-7.5
STD TOWNHOUSE
North Vancouver	495,000		484,000		2.3
Richmond	335,000		272,500		22.9
Vancouver East	361,000		318,000		13.5
Vancouver West	675,000		575,000		17.4
West Vancouver	589,000		579,000		1.7

SOURCE: ROYAL LEPAGE

See also:
Vancouver Area housing prices 3Q 2006
Vancouver Area housing prices 2Q 2006
Vancouver Area housing prices 1Q 2006
Vancouver home prices to rise by 7% in 2007

Tags: real estate, realty, housing prices, vancouver, richmond

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Poverty highest for Aboriginal, immigrant kids

Report from CTV:

Poverty highest for Aboriginal, immigrant kids

First Nations, immigrant and visible minority children have the highest chance of living in poverty in Canada, says a new report by a national coalition of advocacy groups.

In First Nations communities, about 25 per cent Aboriginal children live in poverty and the number jumps to 40 per cent for those living off-reserve.

"This poverty is systemic and long-standing, and requires concerted attention from all levels," says a report by Campaign 2000 released on Friday.

The coalition is named after a commitment made in the House of Commons in 1989 to "seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000."

The group says the situation is worse now than when the commitment was made 17 years ago.

They are taking aim at the Conservatives who, after winning the federal election in January, quashed the Kelowna Accord -- a 10-year, $5.1 billion Liberal plan that was aimed at improving the lives of aboriginal Canadians.

Assemble of First Nations leader Phil Fontaine promised last summer to fight the Tories to bring back the accord.

"By 2012 it'll (cost) $12 billion," he said after being re-elected in July. "The Kelowna Accord was a well-developed plan that was going to cost the government $5 billion. Our proposition makes more economic sense than to continue maintaining poverty."

Fontaine is expected to table the report alongside Campaign 2000 national coordinator Laurel Rothman in Toronto on Friday.

According to the report, other poverty-related problems facing the Aboriginal community include:

• One in eight First Nations children are disabled -- more than double the national average
• Four in ten First Nations children need basic dental care, with the problem higher in more rural areas
• Overcrowding is double the Canadian rate
• Almost half of all First Nations households are contaminated with mould
• Almost 100 First Nations communities have to boil their water

The national average is not much better with almost one out of six children, about 1.2 million, living below the poverty line. Children with disabilities have a poverty rate of 28 per cent.

According to a 2001 census, 49 per cent of recent immigrant children and 34 per cent of visible minority children live in poverty.

The report blames the high rates on:

• an over-representation of racialized groups in low-paying jobs
• market failure to recognize international work experience and credentials
• racial discrimination in employment

The report says Canada is failing to develop a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy.

It also says Canadian families need good jobs at living wages, effective Child Income Benefits, quality early learning and child care, expanded affordable housing and affordable post-secondary education in order to break free from poverty.

Tags: canada, poverty, children poverty, aboriginals, immigrants, visible minorities

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Tories plan more cuts to green programs

So the Harperites are determined that they dare not listen to the people. Canadians have said in an earlier poll that the environment is on the top of their minds. See Canoe's Poll: Environment will be key election issue, and CBC's Environment a priority for more Canadians, poll suggests.

On the other hand, the Tories are planning to pump another round of billions of dollars -- $4.5 billion as learnt by CTV -- into the military.

Ottawa planning more cuts to climate-change programs

OTTAWA — The Conservative government is planning a second wave of cuts to climate-change programs and is asking public servants to help manage the “fallout” by explaining why their positions should disappear.

Government officials who manage the programs in various government departments were told this week that climate-change programs extended by one year in April will not be renewed.

The officials are being asked to compile information as to who would most likely be affected and what their public reaction would be.

The project is being described internally as “government-wide” and The Globe and Mail was able to confirm that at least two departments, Natural Resources Canada and Agriculture Canada, were submitting reports this week.

Environmentalist John Bennett of the Climate Action Network, who has met in the past with those in charge of Agriculture Canada's climate programs, said it is inappropriate to involve them in such a communications plan.

“They were all very committed to the programs they were working on,” he said. “So for them to be asked to explain why they should be cut, really it's right out of [George Orwell's] 1984. It's telling bureaucrats to come up with lies to justify government policy.”

Five climate-change programs at Agriculture Canada will be shut down. They include:

A $5-million Model Farms program to develop estimates of how much carbon can be removed from the atmosphere through new farming practices;

A $21-million project called the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program for Canadian Agriculture, meant to involve farmers in the government's campaign to reduce greenhouse gases;

A $4-million Shelterbelts Enhancement Program that aims to reduce greenhouse gases by encouraging farmers to line their fields with trees to reduce wind and help control snow piles;

A program dealing with manure management and a fifth program dealing with the role of farmers and “future fuels.”

The plan is being led by Anita Biguzs, the director of operations in the Privy Council Office, which is the central public-service branch that supports cabinet and the Prime Minister's Office.

It is not clear how many other programs are being wound down as part of the government-wide plan. The government estimates that about 10 per cent of Canada's greenhouse gases come from the agricultural sector.

Last April, the government confirmed it was cancelling at least 15 climate-change programs, arguing they were ineffective. The two most high-profile programs were the One-Tonne Challenge that encouraged individual Canadians to conserve energy and the EnerGuide program for houses that provided incentives for Canadians to retrofit their houses.

In May, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the first parts of the Conservative government's environment plan, including $370-million in tax credits for public-transit users. The government is also working on a plan so that 5e per cent of fuel sold in Canada is from renewable sources like ethanol.

Internal e-mails at Natural Resources, which were recently released through an access to information request by the Liberal Party, reveal frustration and confusion among public servants working on climate change.

The series of e-mails confirmed government officials were first asked to remove references to Kyoto from the government's climate-change site in May and then to shut down the site, climatechange.gc.ca, entirely in June.

When the Liberals asked in June why the word Kyoto was being censored from government websites, Environment Minister Rona Ambrose dismissed the question as “ridiculous.”

In one of the e-mails, an employee named Caitlin Horrall writes to her colleague Cathy McRae. The two women had received a departmental merit award for their work on the One-Tonne Challenge.

“Apparently Francine is meeting with the Minister's Office tomorrow to talk about taking down the Climate Change site entirely,” Ms. Horrall wrote on June 29, before closing with: “Sigh.”

Future spending estimates tabled by each department on Sept. 26 show the extent to which the government is scaling back environmental funding.

Agriculture Canada's spending on the environment will drop from $331-million in the current fiscal year to just $158.5-million in 2008-09.

Meanwhile at Natural Resources Canada, which housed most of the government's climate-change programs, the documents show a wide range of programs that will receive reduced funding or be cut off entirely.

Overall, Natural Resources Canada estimates its total budget will drop from $1.47-billion this year to $1.04-billion two years from now and that the number of full-time employees in the department will drop from 4,456 to 4,154.

Tags: environment, climate change, tories, conservatives, stephen harper, cuts

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Canada ponders blocking China's oil takeover

Alas, Ottawa is getting further away from BC's investment interests.

BC's very own energy minister Bill Bennett was in China last week, visiting plants and talking to gigantic Chinese steel and energy firms. Bennett was very excited when he announced to the Chinese media through a telephone interview that the Chinese will be making at least one major investment in BC's mining industry within the next year.

He then added that there might be 2 or 3 deals soon as serious discussions between BC and Chinese firms are underway. There are several Chinese tours currently in BC exploring investment opportunities, another one will be here in Dec. Another 7 or 8 tours will be landing in BC in the next couple of months, Bennett said.

Bennett said Chinese firms are especially interested in BC's coal and copper mines.

See also a story by Miro Cernetig of the Vancouver Sun, who travelled with the premier last week and has maintained a very exciting Asia-China Relations blog. Here are a few remarks made by Gordon Campbell before he set sail to China:

"Frankly, the order of magnitude of our imagination is too small here."

"I say we're aiming too low," he said. "I say we should go bigger . . . The emergence of the Asian economies in the early 2000s is the same thing as the emergence of the European economies 50 years ago."

"We've got a lot of catching up to do. And we've got to act fast."

And here are a few suggestions by Gordon Chu, who advises the premier on the Asia Pacific Gateway initiatives.

One of the worrying factors is that the United States is actively seeking free trade agreements with other nations, particularly those on the Pacific Rim itself. Washington has signed a free trade agreement with Australia, for example, one of Canada's major competitors in most of its export markets. And the U.S. is moving toward more deals in the region. The most recent talks were with Vietnam.

"It is important to remember that Canada's advantageous access to the U.S. market will not last forever," warns Chu's report.

China, too, is following the same trend toward bilateral trade deals. And Canada, for the most part, isn't on Beijing's radar screen.

"Beijing is in discussion on possible FTAs with India, Chile, Singapore, South Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and there is speculation on potential direct or indirect arrangements with Japan and South Korea," noted Chu's report.

"Interestingly, Canada does not appear on this list."

Here's the story from today's Globe and Mail, saying the Tories are thinking of barring Chinese investment in Canada's energy reserves.

Ottawa red flags foreign buyouts

The Conservative government is floating plans to block takeovers and investment from foreign state-owned firms should it detect a threat to Canada in the transaction, a move triggered by China's global prowl for acquisitions.

The policy emerged quietly this week in the new economic plan unveiled by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.

Mr. Flaherty yesterday confirmed this concern about foreign-government firms, the same worry many Tories voiced from opposition benches in 2004 when state-owned China Minmetals Corp. made an unsuccessful bid to acquire Toronto mining firm Noranda Inc.

The Finance Minister's economic agenda says the Tory government sees a need to draw up rules for the rare event where a foreign investment poses a threat to Canada.
Related to this article

Experts say one prize Ottawa wants to protect is the lucrative Alberta oil sands, where Chinese state-owned companies have already made small inroads.

“There may be rare occasions where a particular foreign investment might damage Canada's long-term interests,” Advantage Canada, Mr. Flaherty's economic plan, says.

This policy surfaces after months of publicly souring relations between Beijing and the new Harper government and carries the risk of further alienating the two parties.

The Tory economic agenda — which otherwise aims to attract outside capital — raises red flags about those foreign state-owned firms that have murky structures and corporate objectives. It doesn't single out countries of concern or identify assets it wishes to protect.

“For example, foreign investment by large, state-owned enterprises with non-commercial objectives and unclear corporate governance and reporting may not be beneficial to Canadians,” the Flaherty economic plan says, adding Ottawa “needs a principle-based approach to address these situations.”

This initiative arises as Canada-China relations are in a rut.

Since it took office in February, Mr. Harper's government has reworked Canada's traditionally close relationship with China into a cooler and more distant one that sees the Tories taking a much more aggressive position on Beijing's human-rights record.

Last week, while in Asia, Mr. Harper criticized China for its human-rights policy and offered strong comments on the jailing of Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil in China. He said he would not sacrifice human rights on the altar of the “almighty dollar.”

Trade lawyer Lawrence Herman said China is clearly the chief country in mind in this investment-protection policy. He said it's hard to separate the initiative from the recent souring of the Sino-Canadian relationship. “I don't think you can untie the two,” he said.

Still, he thinks Canadian business would support the Tories if they blocked investment from foreign state-owned firms that could be shown to threaten domestic interests.

Greater Chinese inroads into the oil sands would certainly unnerve American policy makers, who always include Canada's tar-rich deposits in the equation when they discuss how the United States could achieve energy independence.

Mr. Herman, with Cassels Brock & Blackwell in Toronto, said he believes the Tories are particularly sensitive about what happens to the oil sands because of their Western Canadian base.

(At least two Chinese state-controlled companies, Sinopec Group and China National Offshore Oil Corp., have purchased small stakes in oil-sands interests.)

Canadian officials say China isn't the only concern. They say that Ottawa would pay equal attention to state-owned takeovers from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran or Venezuela, for instance, and that bids for other types of assets would draw the same close scrutiny.

The Tories say protecting “national interests” will be one of two goals in a review they're conducting of Ottawa's foreign investment rules, including the Investment Canada Act, which sets rules for screening takeover bids from outside the country.

The debate about foreign government-controlled firms buying vital assets has already played out more extensively in the United States.

A U.S. political backlash helped kill a 2005 bid by China National Offshore Oil Corp. to acquire Unocal Corp., a Houston-based U.S. oil and gas producer.

This spring, Dubai Ports World, a United Arab Emirates state-owned company, bowed to intense opposition from the U.S. Congress and abandoned its quest to run key American ports.

An expert in Chinese-Canada relations said any move to restrict investment will prompt discussions with Canada's provinces, which own the resources the Chinese or others might be interested in buying.

Yuen Pao Woo, president of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, said Ottawa and the provinces may have differing interests when it comes to investment from China.

Tags: china, canada, bc, gordon campbell, stephen harper, energy, oil, mining, investment, buyout

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ADS still a long-term goal, no sight of talk resuming

Canada's international trade minister David Emerson admits the talks between China and Canada on the ADS agreement (Approved Destination Status) has been completely stalled. He will try to see if talks can be kick-started again when he travels to China in January 2007.

Emerson said yesterday that ADS talks have been completely stopped for several months. There is no plan to restart negotiation at any time.

Emerson said he talked to China's ambassador to Ottawa a few months ago, "We should get moving and get it done or decide we are not going to do it."

Emerson emphasized that he still hoped to complete the deal with China.

Asked why there is no progress on ADS talks, Emerson said he was "mystified" about what factors are dragging the tourism talks. Is that because of Lai Changxing or the Falungong? Emerson said he didn't know the answer.

Emerson will be visiting China in January. He said the meetings with the Chinese could talk about the ADS issue seriously. The agenda of the trip is still being drafted, but he would like to talk about trade and investment.

Though there is no fixed dates for resuming ADS talks, Emerson still hoped that the two countries could reach some agreements on technological cooperation and investment protection.

He also hinted that the gov may send more trade commissioners to China and establish more contacts points there.

Liberal critic John McCallum had said in August that the ADS talks had stopped since Harper took office.

Canada's businesses, among them the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, have urged the Conservative gov to finalize arrangements on ADS as soon as possible.

Statistics Canada records an impressive 42% year-on-year increase in Chinese visitors to Canada in Sep 2006, even without the ADS. The Canadian Tourism Commission also said the annual growth of Chinese visitors pre-ADS is expected to be 15%.

Cathay Pacific Airways believe air traffic between China-Canada could jump by 15% immediately when ADS is signed.

Tags: trade, investment, china, canada, david emerson, ADS, tourism

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Stats: 1 in 5 citizenship applicants need hearing by judge, though processing time drops

According to new stats released by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the number of citizenship applications that need to be interviewed by a citizenship judge has jumped 54% for Jan-Sep 2006 over last year. On average, 1 in 5 cases will be asked to see a judge.

Normally, about half of the cases that CIC asks to get a hearing are those whose time of residency has not met the minimum requirements for citizenship.

On the other hand, the number of people apply to become Canadian citizens has dropped 38% this year, and hence the number of citizenship certificates issued has also fallen by 44%.


The average processing time for citizenship application is 372 days (12.2 months) in BC, 388 days (12.8 months) in Ontario and 414 days (13.6 months) in Quebec. The national average is 397 days (13.1 months).

Processing time has been improving. In Sep 2005, the average time was 446 days (14.7 months). In March 2006, the average processing time dropped to 404 days (13.3 months). In Sep 2006, it further dropped to 397 days (13.1 months).

The stats were obtained by lawyer Lawrence Wong. The number of applicants who've been heard by citizenship judges in Jan-Sep 2006 jumps 54% to 8,936 from 5,794 same time last year.

In Sep 2006 alone, 12,614 persons are waiting to be be heard by a judge, while 57,145 persons are waiting to get a citizenship test. The proportion is 22%, meaning 1 in 5 will need a hearing.

Wong observes that about 50% of those citizenship applicants who need to be checked out by a judge have not met the residency requirements; while 30% whose English proficiency is in question.

Tags: citizenship, canada, processing time, hearing, citizenship judge, interview, citizenship application

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