Free Republic

Flood of immigrants straining Canadian cities Updated Tue. Dec. 4 2007 8:44 AM ET The Canadian Press TORONTO -- Canada's three largest cities are struggling to cope with a flood of newcomers primarily from China, India, the Philippines and Pakistan as immigration approaches levels not seen since the end of the "Great Migration.'' Statistics Canada said Tuesday that 69 per cent of recent immigrants to Canada resided in the "magnet'' or "gateway'' cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver -- dubbed MTV -- in 2006. That's down from 73 per cent in 2001 and 74 per cent in 1996. Still, 97...

One in three T.O. families lives in poverty: report toronto.ctv.ca Almost one in three families in Toronto is living in poverty, a "deeply troubling" statistic that makes the city the poverty capital of Canada, according to a new report. The United Way of Greater Toronto says that number represents about 93,000 households raising children -- a figure that has doubled since 1990. The poverty rate is almost 10 per cent higher than the national average, according to the report, entitled "Losing Ground." The social services agency says despite economic prosperity, high employment and job growth in Ontario, working families in...

The Bush administration appears to have annexed a major Canadian landmark as part of a slick new campaign to promote U.S. tourism and welcome foreign visitors to America... About four minutes into the seven-minute production, viewers are treated to the impressive sight and sound of water roaring over Niagara Falls before the screen shifts to the Lincoln Memorial. In showing the natural wonder, Disney's filmmakers, however, chose the Horseshoe Falls, the only one of Niagara's three waterfalls to lie almost entirely on the Canadian side of the border...

OTTAWA -- A majority of Canadians believe immigrants who are in the country illegally or after their visas expire should be deported, even if they have family ties in the country, a newly released government poll shows. Conducted for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the national poll revealed that respondents didn't make a distinction between "undocumented workers" and "workers without the proper work permits," with nearly two-thirds of Canadians coming down hard on illegal immigrants because they did not follow the rules. "Half say that they feel the same way about immigrants who have studied in Canada and have the potential...

WINDSOR, Ontario, Sept. 20 — Fleeing stepped-up sweeps by the American authorities, illegal immigrants to the United States, mostly Mexican, are arriving in growing numbers at the foot of the bridge in this Canadian border town seeking refugee status. Still more immigrants, mostly Mexicans living illegally in Florida, have begun trying to make their way past America’s northern border at other locations, the majority of them flying into the airport in Toronto, Canadian officials said Thursday. The arrivals here began suddenly three weeks ago, just a family or two at first, fueled by the notion — largely unfounded, the authorities...

It's been a year and a half since Texas police raided Guillermo Urquiza's home, looking for proof that he tried to order a hit on a police officer. Urquiza, who was asleep, grabbed a gun and fired when he heard the commotion. Officers fired back, hitting him in the crotch and stomach. He had to be castrated as a result. He's been sentenced to five years for firing at the officers -- they were never able to prove the original accusation. He says it's unfair because he didn't know they were police. The authorities say they clearly announced and identified...

Over the past three weeks, 45 families and 31 individuals -- approximately 200 people -- entered Canada at the Detroit River crossings and applied in Windsor for shelter and social assistance after filing refugee claims with the Canada Border Services Agency. Municipal agencies dealing with the sudden influx of mainly Mexican refugee applicants are renting out hotel rooms and bracing for predicted thousands more to come. "I don't believe that Windsor's residents and taxpayers should have to foot the bill for U.S. immigration policy," Francis told The Star. He was referring to the suspected source of the problem -- a...

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 For 15 years, Manuel Ortega was living his version of the American Dream in Florida. He had steady employment, sometimes working as a detailer for local car dealers, other times as a forklift driver. He earned enough to buy a van and rent a house for his wife and three children. His kids earned good grades in school and played with the family pet, a Shih Tzu named Chaparro (Shorty). They were safe and kept out of trouble. Ortega's dream, as he recounted it Tuesday standing outside a room at a Windsor motel, is now but...