Federal Competition Bureau to investigate MLS

The federal Competition Bureau says it will challenge the restrictive rules that govern the multiple listing service (MLS) system used by most Canadian home sellers to list their properties. The MLS system, run by the Canadian Real Estate Association, includes information that is only available to CREA members, and its structure impairs consumer choice, the bureau said Monday.

It wants consumers to be able to pay a lower fee to list their homes on MLS without being forced to get a whole range of other services that they must pay for. This would essentially allow homeowners to use MLS for a small fee, then negotiate the sale of their homes without the help of an agent.

If these changes come to fruition, the cost of buying and selling residential real estate could drop sharply.

The bureau has filed an application to the Competition Tribunal, a quasi-judicial body that will decide if its complaint is justified.
“Selling a home is one of the largest financial transactions that most Canadians make in their lifetime,” said Melanie Aitken, the commissioner of the Competition Bureau. “Consumers should be able to choose which services they want to buy in order to facilitate that transaction, including lower-cost options.”

The bureau said it had tried to negotiate a compromise with CREA, but the association was “unwilling to agree to changes that would have opened up competition.”

CREA’s rules limit consumers’ ability to choose the real estate services they want, the bureau said, and force them to pay for services they don’t need. The rules also stop agents from offering clients innovative services and pricing options, it said.

The real estate industry has argued that consumers need real estate agents to help them through a confusing process, and that the skills of agents are necessary to maintain the integrity of computerized listings.

The MLS was developed in the 1960s, long before computer networks made information sharing simple and efficient. It allows agents from different real estate agencies to co-operate on deals, and ensures that each property is well-exposed to potential buyers.

Some of the information on MLS — such as what a property sold for in the past, and recent sale prices in the neighbourhood — is only available to agents.

The Competition Bureau wants access to MLS data to be less restrictive, which could open the way to innovative products and discount providers – companies that would help seal a real estate deal for a flat fee, rather than the typical commission structure.

Ms. Aitken said the Competition Bureau “is focused on striking down these anti-competitive rules, so that real estate agents wishing to offer innovative services can do so, and consumers can benefit from greater choice.”

While the market will ultimately determine prices for residential real estate services, she said, “we expect that if the Tribunal strikes down the anti-competitive restrictions, there will be downward pressure on real estate fees in Canada.”

In the United States, a 2007 ruling by the Department of Justice opened up the MLS data in that country, spawning a wide range of innovative web-based real estate services and driving down real estate fees.

Talks between the competition bureau and CREA broke down last Friday, sources say. It is still possible the two bodies could come to an agreement before the case gets to the tribunal.

The body of a missing Belleville woman has been found and a suspect has been arrested in connection with her death, according to a source close to the family. The family friend told The Canadian Press that Jessica Lloyd’s family was informed of the young woman’s death Sunday night.

Update: On Sunday, February 7, 2010, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Belleville Police arrested 46-year-old Russell Williams, of Tweed, Ontario for the disappearance and death of 27-year-old Jessica Lloyd who was last seen on January 28, 2010. As a result of information sharing, the Belleville Police Service and the OPP began reviewing other serious incidents in the vicinity of the City of Belleville. Due to similarities in those incidents, the police investigative team linked this case to other crimes.

Williams came to the attention of the police as a result of information gathered during a road side canvass on Highway 37 on the night of February 4, 2010. OnSunday, February 7, 2010 Williams was arrested in Ottawa.

As a result of the intense joint police investigation, Williams is charged with:

• 1st degree murder of Jessica Lloyd,
• 1st degree murder of Marie Comeau
• 2 counts of forcible confinement and
• 2 counts of Break and enter and sexual assault

Marie France Comeau was found murdered in her Brighton residence on November 25, 2009. Comeau was a Corporal with 437 Squadron at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.

In September of 2009 there were two separate home invasions, in the Tweed area in which two women were the victims of sexual assault.

The body of Jessica Lloyd was located this morning off Carry Road, in the Municipality of Tweed. The post mortem is being scheduled at the Coroner’s Office,Toronto. The joint investigative team would like to thank the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service their assistance and cooperation.

The Belleville Police Service and the OPP are continuing to work together. If anyone has information, they are asked to call the OPP, Belleville Police or Crimestoppers.

Ontario to partially guarantee Nortel pensions

The Ontario government is reassuring former Nortel employees who worked in the province that the first $1,000 of their monthly pension payments will be guaranteed under an emergency pension insurance fund.

The government will pay into Ontario’s Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund to cover any future claims, said Finance Minister Dwight Duncan on Sunday. The fund insures the first $1,000 of an employee’s monthly pension in case the employer goes bankrupt.

Nortel’s pension deficit was estimated to be between $2.5 billion and $2.8 billion when it filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2009.

Duncan’s comments come even as his government has previously acknowledged that with only about $100 million in assets, the pension guarantee is dramatically underfunded.

It’s not immediately clear how much Duncan’s guarantee will cost the province.

“Governments of every political stripe since this [provincial guarantee] fund was created in 1981 have failed to ensure that it was properly funded. Yet employees thought they had this protection,” Duncan said.

He said his pledge “means that the government will uphold its obligations under the existing Pension Benefit Guarantee Act and it gives them the assurance that at the very least, the first $1,000 of their pension is protected.”

Ontario is the only province that has a pension benefits guarantee fund, which is funded by corporate contributions. The fund only applies to retirees who worked in Ontario — not the 30 per cent of Nortel workers from Montreal, Calgary or Halifax.

Canadians will show their love on February 14

Canadians will show their love on February 14, but their motivations for doing so vary greatly, reveals the second annual MasterCard Canada Valentine’s Day Survey. According to the survey, almost three times (19 per cent) as many men than women (seven per cent) say they feel they have to buy their sweetheart something to say “Be Mine” this Valentine’s Day. Meanwhile, women use Valentine’s Day to reach out to a wider circle of friends and family with a growing list of gift recipients that goes beyond significant others to include parents (65 per cent), grandparents (13 per cent), siblings (54 per cent) and even friends (58 per cent) and colleagues (13 per cent).

“The reasons why people are buying gifts and who they are buying them for are changing,” says Julie Wilson, Director, Public Affairs, MasterCard Canada. “Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples anymore, Canadians are using the holiday to show those around them – friends, family and even colleagues – that they are priceless.”

Nothing says, “I love you” more than chocolate or a…toilet seat?!

While most Canadians tend to give tried-and-true Valentine’s Day gifts, some get practical and some even get creative. Seven per cent of Canadians admit to receiving practical items such as furniture, tools and appliances – including toilet seats – but nearly one in five (19 per cent) say they’ve received toys, gag gifts, funny clothing or novelty items.

Individual survey results reveal some of the more creative gifts that Canadians have received, including: rubber chickens, dead / fake flowers and ‘romantic’ dinners at fast food restaurants – or the giftee being stuck with the bill!

It’s the thought that counts

The survey also shows that most Canadians (77 per cent) are planning to spend the same (66 per cent) or more (11 per cent) compared to last year. Over two thirds (67 per cent) of Canadians plan to spend less than $50 on Valentine’s Day this year.

“Canadians prefer to express their love through classic gifts, such as cards and chocolates,” says Wilson. “We know a little can mean a lot, because at the end of the day, it’s the thought that counts.”

Chocolate, cards and flowers – oh my!

Canadians are traditional when it comes to buying Valentine’s Day presents and plan on giving cards (36 per cent), romantic dinners (32 per cent) and candy / chocolate (30 per cent). Other popular gifts include:

• A bouquet of flowers (19 per cent)
• Wine or alcohol is a popular present this year (16 per cent)
• Afraid you’ll buy the wrong thing? Let your Valentine choose their own gift by giving a gift card (13 per cent)
• Knowing your Valentine’s taste in lingerie, perfume or jewelry will help you give the perfect gift (4 per cent each)

Locals know

Olympic fever and national pride hits an all-time high as Canada prepares to welcome the world for the 2010 Winter Games. The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), guided by a panel of five of Canada’s esteemed travel experts, has unveiled a list of the nation’s Top 13 Must-Experience NOW Winter places. The 13 spots come from the CTC’s user-generated website, localsknow.ca, where Canadians “in the know” have been uploading their great unknown spots daily in the hopes of inspiring their nation to keep exploring and to “discover the Canada you don’t know.”

“In true Olympic spirit, local residents have shared their favourite experiences from their own backyard with us in the hopes of fuelling excitement across this country. This unique list highlights Canada’s incredible contribution to the world as a leading winter tourism destination. It doesn’t get better than that!” says Michele McKenzie, president and CEO of the CTC.

After screening over 500 winter travel submissions with the Canadian Tourism Commission on localsknow.ca, francophone travel blogger Marie-Julie Gagnon, respected travel writer and editor Liz Fleming, witty travel author Laurie Gough, plus travel television personalities Bruce Kirkby and Robin Esrock identified their top 13 spots for best off-the-beaten-path experiences that are compelling, inspirational and memorable.

Canadians are now being encouraged to view the 13 spots and outdo those on the list by uploading their own unique travel gems for a chance to win a Canadian trip of a lifetime. All Canadians who upload their favourite winter-themed spot, complete with photo and description, to localsknow.ca between Feb. 8 and March 21, 2010, will be entered to win one of 13 exceptional Canadian getaway prizes. The contest, entitled “LOCALS KNOW Ultimate Upload – WIN an exclusive vacation with Air Canada,” will award 13 lucky winners an exclusive VIP experiential vacation package, donated by Air Canada and Canada’s tourism industry. Complete contest details are available at localsknow.ca.

The 13 Must-Experience now Winter spots as picked by the panel of experts are:

BRITISH COLUMBIA: Fairy Meadows, Selkirk Ranges – Nestled on the mountainside and accessible by helicopter is the splendid Alpine Club of Canada’s hut. Its interior even features a sauna. http://www.secretdici.ca/2009/11/30/fairy-meadows-hut/

ALBERTA: The Swing at Banff, Banff – Hung between two large trees on the side of a mountain, this giant swing is quite a thrill both in the winter and summer. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/05/the-swing-at-banff/

SASKATCHEWAN: Big River Shiver, Big River – It’s the Big River Shiver Polar Bear Swim, complete with sleigh rides, snowmobiling and ice fishing – an event for true Canadians. Take a dive into the lake on a day when the wind-chill is -40 degrees, then warm up with hot chocolate by the bon fires. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/29/big-river-shiver/

MANITOBA: Bank of Hudson Bay, Hudson Bay – Polar bear watching out of Churchill – watching them cavort with things like caribou antlers is like watching a cat with catnip. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/10/bank-of-hudson-bay/

ONTARIO: Skating on the Sky, Providence Bay – Experience pond hockey on Lake Huron as it’s frozen over like a sheet of glass – it can feel like a magical winter day. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/06/10/skating-on-the-sky/

QUEBEC: Iceberg near Aupaluk in Ungava Bay – Take in the amazing pastel colours of sunsets in the Great North amid the icebergs near Aupaluk, Ungava Bay. http://www.secretdici.ca/2009/11/05/aupaluk/

NEW BRUNSWICK: Saint John’s Best Kept Sliding Spot, Saint John – Each year, hundreds of people come out to test new sleds on the notorious sliding hill at the Saint John airport. When conditions are just right, the 200-300 foot drop provides quite a thrill. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/05/saint-johns-best-kept-sliding-spot/

NOVA SCOTIA: Winter Surfing in Nova Scotia, Cow Bay – Catch a wave on a nor-eastern swell – winter surfing in Nova Scotia. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/06/07/winter-surfing-in-nova-scotia/

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Blooming Point, Blooming Point – Enjoy a sunny winter day out snowshoeing near Tracadie Bay. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/06/blooming-point-pei/

NEWFOUNDLAND: Codroy Valley, Codroy Valley – The views of the long-range mountains in Codroy Valley are breathtaking. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/05/codroy-valley/

YUKON: Yukon River, Whitehorse – Take in the serene backdrop of the mountains against the Yukon River. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/30/yukon-river-whitehorse-yukon/

NORTH WEST TERRITORIES: Igloo Church of the North, Inuvik – High in the Arctic Circle, this famous Igloo Church of the North defines Inuvik and the Beaufort Delta region, and brings warmth in a wonderfully breathtaking winter environment. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/30/igloo-church-of-the-north/

NUNAVUT: Cape Dorset/Kinngait, Cape Dorset – Hailed as the most artistic community in Canada, Cape Dorset is the “Capital of Inuit Art” with 22 per cent of its labour force employed in the arts. This spot has been the centre for drawing, printmaking and carving since the 1950s. http://www.localsknow.ca/2009/11/26/cape-dorsetkinngait/

To upload your favourite hidden gem and win the Canadian trip of a lifetime visit: localsknow.ca.

Good news as jobs increased across most of Canada

Employment increased by 43,000 in January, all in part time, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.1 percentage points to 8.3%. January marks the fourth employment gain in six months. Despite the recent increases, employment still remains 280,000 below the level of October 2008.

Employment gains in January were driven by women aged 25 to 54 and youths. This was the first notable increase for youths since the start of the employment downturn in the fall of 2008.

There were large increases in part-time employment in January, bringing it back to the level of six months earlier. Full-time employment was little changed in January, but has trended up over the last six months.

January’s increase was among private sector employees, while self-employment declined. Over the last six months, the number of private and public sector employees has been rising while self-employment has been little changed.

The largest employment increases in January occurred in business, building and other support services, and retail and wholesale trade. These were partially offset by losses in professional, scientific, and technical services, as well as agriculture.

Ontario accounted for more than half of the employment gains in January, followed by British Columbia and Manitoba. Employment declined in Nova Scotia while it was unchanged in all other provinces.

Employment gains among core-aged women and youths

The increase in employment in January affected mainly women aged 25 to 54 and youths. Employment for youths increased 29,000, pushing the unemployment rate down from 16.0% to 15.1%. This was the first notable employment increase for youths since the start of the downturn in the fall of 2008.

Women aged 25 to 54 also recorded employment growth in January (+32,000), and their unemployment rate was 6.3%. In recent months, employment levels among core-aged women have been on a slight upward trend. For core-aged men, the unemployment rate was 7.9% in January and employment has been flat since July.

Among workers 55 and over, employment was unchanged in January. Since the start of the labour market downturn, employment for that group has risen by 4.4%.

Gains in business, building and other support services

There was an increase of 34,000 in business, building and other support services in January, offsetting the decline in December. Despite January’s increase, the industry has been on a downward trend since the summer of 2009.

Employment in wholesale and retail trade was up 23,000 in January, the third consecutive monthly increase.

Following two months of gains, employment in professional, scientific and technical services fell by 22,000 in January.

Manufacturing edged down in January. While employment in this industry has been little changed since July 2009, it remains 223,000 below the level observed in October 2008.

Despite little change over the past three months, employment in construction has increased by 56,000 since last July.

Gains in Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba

Employment in Ontario was up by 30,000 in January. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.2% as more people participated in the labour market. Since July, employment in the province has been on a slight upward trend (+51,000).

Employment in British Columbia increased by 12,000 in January, continuing on the upward trend that began in July 2009 (+32,000). The unemployment rate in January edged down 0.2 percentage points to 8.1%.

Following a large loss in December, employment in Manitoba increased by 8,000. The unemployment rate declined 0.4 percentage points to 5.4%.

While employment in Quebec was unchanged in January, the unemployment rate dropped 0.4 percentage points to 8.0%, the result of fewer people participating in the labour market. Since July 2009, employment in the province has been on a slight upward trend (+41,000).

Employment fell by 5,000 in Nova Scotia, the only province to experience a notable decline in January. This pushed the unemployment rate up 0.2 percentage points to 9.8%.

Search for your ideal job here

Understanding the tax system

The following information applies only for the first tax year that you are a new resident of Canada for tax purposes. After your first tax year in Canada, you are no longer considered a newcomer for tax purposes.

If you immigrate to Canada, you’re considered to have acquired (deemed acquisition) almost all your properties at fair market value on the day you immigrated. If you are re-establishing Canadian residency and you had a deemed disposition when you left Canada, see Dispositions of property.
You become a resident of Canada for income tax purposes when you establish significant residential ties in Canada, usually on the date you arrive in Canada.

Newcomers to Canada who have established residential ties with Canada may be:

• protected persons;
• people who have applied for or received permanent resident status from Citizenship and Immigration Canada; or
• people who have received approval-in-principle from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, to stay in Canada.

If you were a resident of Canada in an earlier year, and you are now a non-resident, you will be considered a Canadian resident when you move back to Canada and re-establish your residential ties.

Residential ties include:

• a home in Canada;
• a spouse or common-law partner (see the definition in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide) and dependants who move to Canada to live with you;
• personal property, such as a car or furniture; and
• social ties in Canada.

Other ties that may be relevant include:

• a Canadian driver’s licence;
• Canadian bank accounts or credit cards;
• health insurance with a Canadian province or territory.

For more information, please see IT-221, Determination of an Individual’s Residence Status.

If you want an opinion about your residency status, complete and submit Form NR74, Determination of Residency Status (Entering Canada).

As a resident of Canada, you:

• must report “world income” (income from all sources both inside and outside Canada) on your Canadian income tax return;
• must ensure that you pay the correct amount of taxes according to the law;
• have the right and responsibility to verify your income tax status each year;
• can claim all deductions, non-refundable tax credits, and refundable federal, provincial, or territorial credits that apply to you.

As a newcomer to Canada, you should be aware that most individuals who reside in Canada file only one income tax return for the tax year, because the Canadian government collects taxes on behalf of all provinces and territories except the Province of Quebec.

Note
If you live in the province of Quebec, you may need to file a separate provincial income tax return. For information about your provincial tax liability, contact the Revenu Québec.

As a resident of Canada for part or all of a tax year (January 1 to December 31), you must file a tax return if you:

• owe tax; or
• want to receive a refund.

Even if you have no income to report or tax to pay, you may be eligible for certain payments or credits. In order to receive the following payments or credits, you must file an income tax return.

• the GST/HST credit (goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax);
• Canada Child Tax Benefit payments;
• provincial or territorial tax credits.

For more information, please see “Do you have to file a return?” in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.

For the tax year that you are a newcomer to Canada and for each tax year that you continue to be a resident of Canada for tax purposes, use the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide and the forms book for the province or territory where you live on December 31 of the tax year.

• It is important to use the forms book for your province or territory because tax rates and tax credits are different in each province and territory.
• If you live in the province of Quebec, you may need to file a separate provincial income tax return. For information about your provincial tax liability, contact Revenu Québec.

Your income tax return has to be filed on or before:

• April 30 of the year after the tax year; or
• if you or your spouse or common-law partner carried on a business in Canada (other than a business whose expenditures are mainly in connection with a tax shelter), the return has to be filed on or before June 15 of the year after the tax year.

Note
A balance of tax owing has to be paid on or before April 30 of the year after the tax year, regardless of the due date of the tax return.

Benefits and credits

As a newcomer to Canada, you may be eligible for the goods and services/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), and/or the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) payments in the year you became a resident of Canada.

• To apply for the GST/HST credit, complete Form RC151, GST/HST Credit Application for Individuals Who Become Residents of Canada.
• To apply for the CCTB and/or the UCCB payments, complete Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application. Depending upon your immigration and residency status, you may also have to complete the schedule Status in Canada/Statement of Income.

Related topics

• Foreign reporting

Forms and Publications

• T4055, Newcomers to Canada
• T4133, Are You a Newcomer to Canada?
• T4166, Are you an international student studying in Canada?
• RC4151, Settling in Canada
• IT-221, Determination of an Individual’s Residence Status

New Brunswick: Study shows just 15.8% of people in province live an hour from best treatment

A new study says New Brunswick is one of the worst places in Canada to have a heart attack, unless the patient is lucky enough to live within an hour of Saint John. University of Calgary researchers released a report on Friday underscoring the disparities that make Atlantic Canada a have-not region when it comes to emergency cardiac care.

The study’s authors tracked the number of Canadians 40 years of age and older who live within an hour of hospitals equipped to perform emergency angioplasty, a specialized procedure in which surgeons open blocked blood vessels to the heart.

In general, almost two-thirds of Canadians live close enough to hospitals that can provide the angioplasty treatment, which significantly improves a heart-attack victim’s chances for survival and recovery.

But the study found that geography plays a big role in who gets access to the state-of-the-art treatment.

While more than 70 per cent of people in Ontario can access the treatment within an hour, only 15.8 per cent in New Brunswick are within an hour of the province’s only hospital capable of providing the treatment – the Saint John Regional.

Some areas, such as Prince Edward Island and the three territories, don’t have any facilities for the life-saving procedure.

“Time is muscle – heart muscle in this case – and for every minute that goes by, there is a little more permanent damage to the heart,” Dr. William Ghali of the Libin Cardiovascular Institue at the University of Calgary said.

Ghali, senior author of the study, said the traditional treatment for a heart attack has been clot-busting drugs, but he said that rapid access to an angioplasty leads to better outcomes.

Ghali said his study highlights a basic inequity in Canada when it comes to this kind of emergency care.

“There’s no question that for Canadians, equity is one of the things we strive for in this country,” he said. “So certainly where there is a situation that is not geographically equitable, it is unsettling. It doesn’t sit quite right with people to realize that therapies available in the cities may not be offered to people in more rural areas.”

He said there are options New Brunswick could consider to make the situation within the province more equitable, including establishing a stand-alone angioplasty clinic in Moncton.

“Moncton is a substantial metropolitan area with over 100,000 people,” he said.

“That would enhance the geographic reach a fair bit and would provide some options for P.E.I., which currently has no facilities for the treatment. There is thinking that could be done involving the cardiac care community in New Brunswick and policy makers.”

Shannon Hagerman, spokeswoman for the Department of Health, said it’s too early to comment on the study.

“The Department of Health will need to review, assess and analyze this report within a provincial context, before being in a position to comment on its findings,” she said.

Ghali also pointed out that rural areas of New Brunswick could follow the “drip and ship” method in which a patient is given clot-busting drugs and then sent to a treatment centre even if it’s more than an hour away.

“It’s another option New Brunswick could consider – keep the current set up and then aggressively adopt mechanisms for dripping and shipping patients,” he said.

In Alberta, there are three angioplasty treatment centres – one is in Calgary and two are in Edmonton – which means good access for most of the population.

And while improving access for rural areas of the country seems the logical solution to the problem, Ghali said it doesn’t make sense to offer angioplasty in every small town.

“There would be tradeoffs: system efficiency, dollars involved, the performance, if new cardiologists would need to be recruited,” he said.

New Brunswick residents rattled

A rare earthquake struck central New Brunswick late Friday night (5th Jan 2010), frightening residents but causing no reported damage. Natural Resources Canada, which runs an earthquake information centre, says the epicentre was 39 kilometres northwest of Sussex, N.B., near Coles Island.

According to the centre’s website, tremors from the quake could be felt in Cumberland Bay and Hunters Home, which are about one hour east of Moncton.

The quake hit around 11:50 p.m. Friday night.

The earthquake centre says a tremor with a magnitude of less than 4.0 does not normally cause damage.

The last strong earthquake in Canada measured 6.5 and struck the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia on Nov. 17. There was also no reported damage in that incident.

Natural Resources Canada is asking people who felt the New Brunswick quake to report details on its website.

Everything you need to know about emigrating to Canada

The idea of moving to a new country and starting a new life appeals to many people for many different reasons. However the realities of such a move can be much harder to come to terms with and many people need some extra help and guidance to help them through the process.

For the past five years Muchmor Magazine has been helping people from many different countries and backgrounds fulfill their dreams of moving to Canada providing advice, information and support. Muchmor Magazine does not provide immigration consultancy but is a source of useful information and advice about moving to and living in Canada. One of the most difficult things about emigrating to Canada is finding, understanding and collating all the information you need to start the immigration process so we’ve put together a single point of reference to kick-start you on the way to your new life in Canada.

Our beginners guide series provide you with the first steps of your journey providing information, links to the most up to date resources, links to the current Canadian immigration requirements and invaluable information about choosing an immigration consultant (not that you need one) without falling victim of fraud.

Our beginners guides are a great resource to help you on your journey and are backed up by all our back issues of Muchmor Magazine freely available online . But we also understand that the process can be a long one and that support during this time is also invaluable so please feel free to join our support network that can be found on Facebook. The Muchmor Magazine Facebook community is the place to meet and talk to other people going through the same process.

Your can find our beginners guides by clicking here, and you can join our Facebook community here.

Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI)

The Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI) congratulates the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador on their intent to establish two new protected areas in Canada’s Boreal Forest.

Today’s announcement by the Government of Canada to move ahead with the establishment of the Mealy Mountains National Park, encompassing 10,700 km(2) (2.65 million acres), and by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to designate 3,000 km(2) (700,000 acres) of the adjacent lower Eagle River watershed for inclusion in a new provincial water park, will create a total protected area of nearly 14,000 km(2) (3.3 million acres) in central Labrador.

“This is an outstanding boreal landscape with a rich and diverse ecological and cultural history. These parks represent an exceptional legacy for present and future generations,” said Larry Innes, executive director of CBI. “We are very pleased to recognize the achievement of the governments, the Aboriginal peoples and local organizations who came together to advance a common vision for the protection of this important region.”

Together, the federal Mealy Mountains National Park and the provincial Eagle River waterway park will be one of the largest protected areas in Eastern North America, about equal in size to the protected lands in New York’s Adirondack State Park.

“This announcement sets an important precedent for parks in Canada,” continued Mr. Innes. “This is not a remote, off-limits park; this is a new approach to conservation, that incorporates traditional uses and celebrates Labrador’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, while securing ecological values.”

Today’s announcement is a major step towards completing the Canadian National Park system, and will nearly double the total area protected within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Labrador’s Mealy Mountains region offers exceptional opportunities for tourism, recreation, and exploration of Canada’s heritage; continued traditional uses by Aboriginal and local people, and protection of significant areas of habitat for the threatened Mealy Mountains woodland caribou herd.

This protected area covers Labrador’s critical wetlands and salmon and brook trout habitat. They provide a haven for a threatened woodland caribou herd, along with moose, black bear, osprey, bald eagles and a species of special concern, the eastern population of the harlequin duck.

“People sometimes forget how truly large and diverse our boreal forests are. In addition to being a physically awe-inspiring landscape, this park will act as a refuge for a whole suite of Boreal wildlife, ranging from woodland caribou to brook trout to the harlequin duck,” said Mr. Innes. All are important to local economies and ecologies, making this area critical for protection.

Canada’s Mealy Mountains National Park announcement follows others from the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba and the federal government in the Northwest Territories to designate more than 23 million acres of new parks and wildlife refuges and to undertake conservation planning to protect another 200 million acres, an area twice the size of California. The North American boreal forest stretches from Newfoundland and Labrador to Alaska and surpasses the Amazon Rainforest in size and carbon storage. In 2007, 1,500 international scientists recommended that at least half of Canada’s boreal forest be protected.

The Canadian Boreal Initiative Created in 2003, the Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI) brings together diverse partners to create new solutions for Boreal conservation and sustainable development, and acts as a catalyst for on-the-ground efforts across the Boreal forest by governments, industry, aboriginal communities, conservation groups, major retailers, financial institutions and scientists.

Former NS Premier Rodney MacDonald

Members of the Nova Scotia legislature expressed remorse Thursday for expense claims described by the province’s auditor general as inappropriate and excessive, but one Conservative was defiant over his purchase of an $8,000 generator installed in his home.

Even former premier Rodney MacDonald was caught up in the all-party embarrassment, acknowledging that a projector screen he bought while in office is among the items in question.

MacDonald said he contacted the Speaker’s office Thursday and offered to work with the Speaker to clarify if it is an expense he has to pay back to the province.

“The projector screen was cleared as an appropriate use of funds at that time,” the former Conservative leader said in a brief statement. “It was, and still is, being used for business presentations in the community by community members.”

A projector screen and accessories, purchased for $3,250, was among the items deemed inappropriate and excessive by auditor general Jacques Lapointe in a report released Wednesday.

It’s not known if it’s the same one bought by MacDonald because Lapointe didn’t name names in his report.

Deputy premier Frank Corbett offered an apology for the spending Thursday, but said he was speaking out as a legislative member and not on behalf of the government.

Corbett said the apology was appropriate given that the public is being asked to do “hard things” as the province considers tax hikes to bring down its $525-million deficit.

“If … they see members of their leadership that are doing these things that seems to be wasting their money, then of course they deserve an apology,” said Corbett.

Bill Dooks, another former Conservative, also admitted late in the day that a $6,234 expense he claimed for the creation of a website is also in question. He said he’s also asked the Speaker to determine if the money needs to be paid back.

Lapointe’s report examined spending by politicians of all stripes from 2006 to 2009. He concluded members of all three main parties spent excessively or inappropriately.

The money came from various pots of money, such as constituency allowances and technology funds for office use.

Corbett said he felt he needed to say something even though he’s not been implicated in the report.

“I feel awful about this and I apologize to Nova Scotians,” he said.

But Corbett said he couldn’t say whether the government should release all of the names of those implicated in the report, saying he hoped members would voluntarily come forward.

When he presented the report, Lapointe said he considered releasing names, but since there was no finding of criminal wrongdoing he felt it was better to focus on the need for better rules and accounting procedures.

One of those who came forward was Conservative member Richard Hurlburt, who identified himself as the member who spent $8,000 in public money for a generator to be installed at his home.

At a news conference Thursday, he challenged reporters to ask him whether an apology was required to taxpayers.

He gave a flat, “No,” when asked.

Hurlburt said he had nothing to be sorry for and that he acted in the interests of his constituents in Yarmouth by providing a backup system for his neighbours, including a seniors’ complex, in times of emergency.

“This was deemed a product that was needed in our community,” Hurlburt said. “That product is there for the citizens of my community if there’s a disaster or anything.”

In his report, Lapointe said public money was spent excessively on items including an espresso maker for $738, a model boat office display for $790 and $13,445 for custom-made office furniture.

Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell, who owned up to purchasing the furniture, offered his own apology to his constituents.

MacDonell said that although he didn’t contravene the rules in place at the time for his expenses, he agreed with the report’s conclusion that the spending was excessive.

“I think my constituents to me are probably the most important people I deal with, so for them I would definitely like to apologize if this excessive spending seems to be a real issue.”

He said he had since paid back the money for the furniture.

MacDonell also spent $2,600 on an office printer. He said he was disturbed to find out Thursday that his office had purchased the “Cadillac of printers.”

Officials for Premier Darrell Dexter, who is out of the country on vacation, have also said that he intends to repay the public purse for $2,150 spent on a digital camera and $5,501 for two laptops. Lapointe said he only has documentation for one laptop for the price cited.

Leaders of Nova Scotia’s opposition parties said it wasn’t their duty to identify the members of their caucus whose expenses were deemed inappropriate.

Interim Conservative Leader Karen Casey said four former members of her party were flagged in the report, but she added that she didn’t feel it was her responsibility to name names.

“I’m saying that expenses that are taxpayers’ dollars, people have a right to know that,” Casey said.

“If that’s revealed through the (internal economy board) or if that’s revealed through the auditor general, or through the Speaker’s Office, that’s fine.”

Casey later issued a statement urging full disclosure by all of those whose expenditures were flagged in Lapointe’s report.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said he told his caucus it’s their responsibility to own up publicly if they have spent public funds excessively or inappropriately.

“I have said to all of my members as the auditor was going around having his conversations that you need to be open, transparent and if you’re identified in this report, come clean,” McNeil said.

“It’s ultimately their decision, not mine.”

RCMP spokeswoman Bridgit Leger said Lapointe’s conclusion there was no wrongdoing meant police would not be conducting an investigation on their own.

Professor of Oncology

The choice was fairly easy for Ranjan and his wife when a professional offer came in to move to Canada in 2001.

“We were both settled very well in our respective medical professions in South Africa, but we had not moved our daughter there from India because we were concerned about safety,” says Ranjan. “We knew in Canada we could pursue our specialties and make a good life as a family.”

Ranjan is a world leader in high-dose brachytherapy – a form of cancer treatment. He was recruited as a Professor of Oncology to lead a program in brachytherapy at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton affiliated to McMaster University. His wife Monalisa is an Associate Professor of Anatomical Pathology at the Henderson Hospital in the same University and their daughter, now 14, happily settled in Canada with the normal teenager’s life centered on school and friends. “We became citizens in 2006 and happily made the commitment to Canada,” says Ranjan. “It was an easy decision. The big difference in living here, for us, is security for our family, not to mention the opportunities in life that our daughter will get when she grows up.”

At the time Ranjan and Monalisa came to Canada there was a shortage of Radiation Oncologists and Anatomical Pathologists. Ranjan’s expertise in brachytherapy involves directly penetrating a tumour with small, radioactive seeds that are inserted using a catheter. The treatment was typically used in treating prostate and cervical cancer, but Ranjan explored the technique for treating tumours in the lung, esophagus and bile duct while in South Africa.

When the couple moved to Canada, they quickly settled into careers that have helped make a difference in the delivery of services to Canadian cancer patients. Ranjan is a great example of an internationally trained worker who has successfully integrated into the Canadian labour market.  He is now one of the few Oncologists in Canada with brachytherapy expertise. In fact, Ranjan’s work in Hamilton has placed the cancer centre ahead of others in exploratory use of the treatment.

While other professional opportunities present themselves from time to time, Ranjan and Monalisa are happily settled and pleased to be together with their daughter as a family.

“I doubt our daughter would ever consider moving, even to another place in Canada,” says an amused Ranjan. “She is happy, we have our family together and good professional lives…it was an easy decision to become citizens here and commit to the country that has given us this life.”

Good manners trump good looks say Red Prince

Nearly nine out of 10 Canadians (89%) report that they would be more attracted to an average looking person with great manners, versus a good looking person with poor manners, proving you do not have to look like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie to get a date, according to a recent Poll commissioned by the new Red Prince apple. To underscore the importance of manners, the Red Prince, of Red Prince apples, today launches a civility movement in Toronto’s business district. Despite the fact that civilized conduct seems to be highly valued, Canadians do not appear to be incorporating society’s esteemed code in their daily lives. In fact:

• Two thirds of Canadians (65%) say they witness lack of common courtesies on a regular basis, such as saying please, thank you or hello;
• More women (41%) than men (29%) report witnessing rude commuters on a regular basis;
• Three-in-five respondents (59%) complain of regular exposure to road rage, such as tailgating and cutting off other drivers; and
• More than half of respondents (54%) report witnessing technology abuse regularly, such as the use of cell phones and PDAs during meetings or while on a date.
• The old adage, the older the wiser, rings true as a whopping 95 per cent of adults aged 55 plus said they would be more attracted to a less attractive person with good manners than a good looking person with bad manners.
• In contrast, 20 per cent of 18 to 34 year olds said they are more attracted to a good looking person with poor manners.
• Only four per cent of Canadians report witnessing no examples of bad manners on a regular basis.

“I suspect this behaviour comes down to anonymity,” says Louise Fox, owner of the Etiquette Ladies. “We are always more polite to people we know, such as our neighbours and our co-workers because we know we will see them again. Whereas, road rage and lack of common courtesies are often directed at strangers and we feel there will be no repercussions.”

One place however, where Canadians do seem to exhibit overwhelmingly good manners is the workplace, with more than 71 per cent of Canadians rating their coworkers’ manners as good or very good. Is there motive behind good manners at work? Poll findings revealed that 83 per cent of Canadians would consider improving their manners if it improved their chances of a promotion or finding a romantic partner.

Fox added: “Ideally, respect for ourselves and one another should be all the motivation required to improve one’s manners. Imagine the positive effects on society if each person decided to exhibit simple good manners and be civil towards everyone they encountered.”

The Red Prince’s civility event

As such, to help promote the return of civility and manners to society and to encourage acts of kindness, the Red Prince, and his team of royal assistants, will distribute more than 10,000 locally grown Red Prince apples to the public today (Friday Feb 5 2010) in the underground PATH system at the Exchange Tower (130 King Street West) and First Canadian Place (100 King Street West) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“This new apple represents a new way of thinking, in terms of how it is grown and how we wish it to be affiliated. We hope the Red Prince apple will become a symbol and a reminder of respect, in the same way that children take an apple to their teacher. With the Red Prince’s civility event, we are optimistic that we may start to slowly effect positive change, one apple at a time,” say Marius and Irma Botden, exclusive growers of the Red Prince apple in Canada.

During the event, the Red Prince and the Adelaide Spa will also indulge passersby with the royal treatment by offering free hand massages for men and women during their lunch hour, in the hope that these good deeds will inspire others to pay them forward. Louise Fox, owner of The Etiquette Ladies, will also be onsite to provide useful etiquette tips proven to be beneficial in business situations, family life and dating.

The 30-day civility challenge

To inspire Canadians to perform good deeds everyday for one month, and ideally beyond, the Red Prince today launches the 30-day civility challenge. The Red Prince will tweet a challenge every day for 30 days such as “offer your seat to someone in the subway,” and “hold the door open for someone today” from his Twitter account @RedPrinceApple. To sign up for or download a copy of the 30 day civility challenge, visit www.redprinceapple.ca.

Come and join us on Facebook

As many of you already know we now have a Facebook page which we set up a few days ago. I’m sure many of you already use FaceBook so it was a natural move for us to use this fantastic social tool to stay in touch with you our readers. But it’s not just a one-way street for us to push out more information we really want you to engage with our other readers as well as comment on what we’re doing here at Muchmor Magazine.

So what do we want from you? Well for starters Canada is a massive place which makes it hard for us to keep tabs on everything Canadian, so why not tell us what’s going on in your community. Share your stories about life in Canada. What’s good, what’s bad. Where’s are the places to be seen, or not to be seen. What good deeds and exciting things are happening in your community. Are you a newcomer? How long have you been in Canada? Do you still think life in Canada lives up to your expectations?

Have you just started a small business or run a unique and interesting company our readers would like to hear about? Why not join us on Facebook and give your small business a bit of free PR. You never know you just might find a few new customers as well as making some great new friends on Facebook.

Whether you’re Canadian, a newcomer or just dreaming about life in Canada we want to hear about it so pop over and join us on Facebook and post your story. All the best ones will be published in the magazine as well as feature on the Muchmor Magazine website.

Just join here and introduce yourself. We look forward to meeting you all.