His excellency Salem Al-Shafi, the first ambassador of Qatar to Canada, and Principal Heather Munroe-Blum. / Photo: Owen Egan

Strengthening our understanding of Islam
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2012

His excellency Salem Al-Shafi, the first ambassador from Qatar to Canada, and Principal Heather Munroe-Blum. / Photo: Owen Egan

State of Qatar gives Institute of Islamic Studies $1.25-million gift

By Cynthia Lee

It’s a special gift for a special place. McGill’s Institute of Islamic Studies, the first of its kind in North America, has received a generous $1.25-million gift from the State of Qatar to mark the Institute’s 60th anniversary.

Since Wilfred Cantwell Smith founded the Institute in 1952, it has grown into a major hub for Islamic Studies, well known and just as well-regarded throughout North America for its impressive course offerings, faculty and Islamic Studies Library (ISL).

Sabhi (Alex) Bakir leaves Superior Court in Windsor, Ont., on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Photograph by: Tyler Brownbridge , The Windsor Star

Victim sickened by Windsor fraud suspect’s trip
Judge grants visit of sick dad in Tunisia
By Trevor Wilhelm, The Windsor Star March 30, 2012

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WINDSOR, Ont. — A man charged in a massive fraud probe is heading to Africa with the court’s blessing — six months after his alleged partner in crime was allowed a similar short trip to Lebanon and never returned.

Sabhi (Alex) Bakir, facing 65 charges following an investigation into Big 3 Pre-Owned Auto Sales, is supposed to be back from Tunisia in northern Africa by May 16. He’s going to visit his father, who he says is sick.

Windsor crooked immigration lawyer Sandra Saccucci Zaher is seen in this 2009 file photo. She told clients to lie to refugee board. Photograph by: Scott Webster / The Windsor Star , The Windsor Star

Windsor immigration lawyer told clients to lie to refugee board, say RCMP
By Trevor Wilhelm, The Windsor Star March 30, 2012 9:23 PM

(…)

A lengthy undercover investigation has ended with the arrest of a Windsor lawyer who allegedly told people seeking refugee status to lie so they could get into Canada.

A spokeswoman for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada said these kinds of cases are troubling because they cause Canadians to lose faith in the system and become suspicious of outsiders.

Federal budget 2012: Immigration reforms to speed entry of economic immigrants
Published On Fri, 30 Mar 2012
Bruce Campion-Smith
Ottawa Bureau Chief

OTTAWA—The federal government is wiping out a waiting list of more than 200,000 foreign workers and returning the $130 million they paid in processing fees as it begins an ambitious overhaul of the country’s immigration system.

Hopeful immigrants who applied before Feb. 27, 2008, to come to Canada as skilled workers will have their fees returned and be told to apply again under new programs that put greater emphasis on their work skills.

Aditi Patel and her mother pose for a photo in India.

Family denied immigration due to Down Syndrome
MP and woman’s brother, a Canadian resident, appeal for reconsideration
CBC News Posted: Mar 30, 2012 5:45 PM PT Last Updated: Mar 30, 2012 7:04 PM PT

A New Democrat MP is demanding the federal government reverse a decision to bar a family from India from emigrating to Canada to join their son in B.C. because their adult daughter has Down Syndrome.

The son, Kevin Patel, of Vancouver, wanted to sponsor his parents and 27-year-old sister to come to Canada to become permanent residents.

But Immigration Canada rejected the request because it says the sister’s condition could pose an excessive burden on Canada’s health and social services.