Celebrating Canada Day: Google's way

Happy Canada Day! Take a stroll through Parliament Hill with Street View.

 

Canadians granted entry free of charge ... arrival stamp issued upon arrival in the UAE

Canada Welcomes Return to U.A.E. No-Fee, On-Arrival Visas, Canada News Centre

May 28, 2013 – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today welcomed word that, effective June 1, 2013, Canadians will again be eligible for free visas upon arrival in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).
“Sincere thanks to my counterpart His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the U.A.E., for delivering on his commitment to restore the previous visa regime for Canadians,” said Baird.
“It is great news for the tens of thousands of Canadians who travel to the U.A.E. each year for work or for vacation. It will help increase economic opportunity and long-term prosperity in both countries. It is also an important signal to the world that bilateral relations between our two countries are strong and getting stronger. We are on an upward trajectory. And that’s truly exciting.”
Canada and the U.A.E. will now focus their efforts on developing the Shared Strategic Agenda—announced on April 2, 2013, in Abu Dhabi. -- see also: UAE, Canada formally end visa row, News By AFP / Canadians still need visa to travel to the UAE / UAE visa-on-arrival for Canadians a right move, gulfnews.com

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The Canadian Ebook: Market Trends

The Canadian Ebook Market Plateaus at 15%, Says New BookNet Canada Study
Extract:

"The Canadian market for ebooks remains steady, according to a new report from BookNet Canada. Findings in The Canadian Book Consumer 2012: Annual Report show that paperback books (including mass markets) comprised 58% of all purchases in 2012. Hardcover made up 24% and ebooks 15%...

...The report has also revealed that Canadians still prefer to buy their books in physical stores. 34% of book purchases were made in non-book retailers, 37% in bookstores and 25% online—print book purchases made online account for 19% of those online sales. The top reasons respondents said they chose brick-and-mortar bookstores were the convenience of the location, the selection available and ease of purchase. Non-book retailers, such as Costco and Walmart, were used for those same reasons, but pricing and the convenience of being able to shop for other items were cited more often...."

Also try lesser-known job search web sites

• A website for job searches. www.neuvoo.ca
  

  Not only does it list the jobs by the company but if you click on the job it gives a detailed account of the job, its location and what qualifications they are looking for as well as an opportunity for you to apply online...

•  @ Linkedin the site's software tracks Jobs you may be interested in.
• Volunteer, work, intern, organize, hire and connect. Change the world - idealist.org  

On the same shelf:

99% of Job Seekers Are Not Using LinkedIn Appropriately, Newsday

Top Job Search Sites for Employers Reviewed and Compared in New Report by Knoji PRWEB

Looking for a job? Try some lesser-known job seeking websites, WPSD Local

Globalization and the Politics of Belonging

With globalization are associated the questions of Who are you and Where are you from? In the following are two anecdotes (First, A definition of globalization... and Second, how a Canadian-born became a Pakistani?):

Extracts: Courtesy: southbros.blogspot.com

A definition of globalization that I can understand and to which I now can relate:

Question:

What is the truest definition of Globalization?

Answer:

Princess

Diana's

death.

Question:

How come?

Answer :

An

English princess

with an

Egyptian boyfriend

crashes

in a French tunnel,

riding in a

German

car

with a

Dutch engine,

driven

by a Belgian

who was

drunk

on

Scottish whisky,

(check the bottle before you

change the spelling),

followed

closely by

Italian

Paparazzi,

on

Japanese motorcycles,

treated

by an American doctor,

using

Brazilian

medicines.

This is

sent to you by

a

Canadian,

using

American

Bill Gates' technology,

and

you're probably reading

this on your computer,

that

uses Taiwanese chips,

and

a

Korean

monitor,

assembled

by

Bangladeshi

workers

in a

Singapore plant,

transported

by Indian

truck drivers,

hijacked

by Indonesians,

unloaded by

Sicilian longshoremen,

and

trucked to you by Mexican illegals.....

That, my friends,

is Globalization !

Where are you from? Or, how I became a Pakistani?
Extract: chapatimystery.com

“What is your nationality?”
“Canadian.”
“You are Canadian?”
“My passport says so.”
“But where are you really from?”
“You mean, where do I live?”
“You don’t live in Canada?”
“No.”
“Oh, so where do you live?”
“Dhahran.”
“Tehran? You’re from Iran?”
“No, DHA-HA-RAN.”
“Where is that?”
“In Saudi Arabia.”
“Oh, you are Saudi Arabian?”
“No, I live there.”
“If you are not Saudi, so, where are you really from? I mean, originally.”
“You mean, where was I born?”
“Yes.”
“I was born in Calgary, Canada.”
“No, I mean, where is your family from? Where were they born?”
“They are from Hyderabad.”
“Where is that?”
“India.”
“Oh, you are Indian! So, why do you speak English with no accent?”
“What do you mean?”
“You speak American English.”
“I have gone to American schools.”
“In India?”
“No, in Saudi Arabia.”
“But you are Indian?”
“Yes, my family is from India.”
“India! I love India! The Hindus are such a beautiful religion of peace! But why do you have a Christian name, Sarah? Are you Christian?”
“No. Sarah is also a Muslim name.”
“Oh. You are Muslim? I thought you said you are Indian?”
“There are Muslims in India.”
“But you don’t look like a Muslim!”
“What does a Muslim look like?”
“I don’t know. Like an Arab?”
“Not all Muslims are Arab. Most Muslims aren’t Arab.”
“But you live in Saudi Arabia?”
“Yes.”
“Do you speak Arabic?”
“No.”
“Why not? I thought you said you live in Saudi Arabia.”
“We don’t live with Saudis in Saudi Arabia. It is not permitted by the Company my father works for. And, the American school in Saudi Arabia I go to—it doesn’t allow for Arabic to be taught there.”
“What language do you speak at home?”
“Urdu.”
“But Urdu is the language of Pakistan, not India.”
“Urdu is spoken in India.”
“Yes, yes, but if you are Urdu speaking that means you really belong to Pakistan.”
“But, my relatives live in India.”
“Did any of your parents live in Pakistan?”
“Yes. My father did, for a few years.”
“Then, that means you are Pakistani.”
“But I’ve never lived in Pakistan. I’ve only been there once.”
“That doesn’t matter. You are not Indian. You should say you are Pakistani.”

On the same shelf:

• Diversity Resources - Accommodation, Tolerance and Coexistence
• "Where are you from?" by Amelia

 

Together, we can roll back the Provincial library cuts!

Extract:

e-activist.com

Please ask Premier Wynne to reverse cuts to public library operating grants, cut in half largely at ... click here: e-activist.com

Info courtesy: Mayank Bhatt @ Generally About Books : Sign the petition...

Overseas Citizenship of India is not the same for all Non-resident Indians: Some still have to go the extra mile

This post (on OCI/Dual citizenship/Overseas citizen's extra fee plus a new sticker in case of acquiring a 'new foreign passport by senior NRIS's as well junior NRI's), aims to alert the NRIS' who may have not read the following:


"Anger builds: Livid at Overseas Citizen of India regulations, community plans protests," George Joseph India Abroad April 19, 2013 -- The much vaunted OCI Card!!! [includes a picture of Participants at meetings on OCI card issues in Bergen County, New Jersey, and Philadelphia]; + Sanjay Puri's 'The Diaspora has been the victim,' India Abroad April 19, 2013. 

Facebook has a tragic story (Is this the way India wants to treat its Overseas Citizens??Connecticut/Ahmedabad, 20 March, 2011) of a Gujarati Janak Parekh's family not being allowed to enter India, because they didn't follow the  rule (new sticker with new fee, for new foreign passport).
Note: How much the family must have had to face the problem given the fact they were with those under the age of 20, as well. (a petition needs to be comprehensive, then the one given below just for the kids).  

Other experiences (an OCI is entitled to life-long-visa free travel to India, but you must read the fine print, anyways to know what OIC is-and is-not):

"Incidentally, I got my OCI after age 50 and have traveled to India with a new passport and my old passport that has the OCI U Visa stamp on it, without any problems. The immigration staff are well aware of the rules, on arrival at the airport when I presented my new passport that did not have the OCI visa stamped on it, I was politely asked for the passport that had the OCI visa, I showed the immigration officer my old passport with the OCI U Visa stamp and did not encounter any problems." Nriinformation.com

"I know it was my mistake for not taking my old passport with the visa sticker with me and I will never make the same mistake again; the main purpose of my mail was to warn my friends not to make the same mistake that I made. " Denied Entry with OCI Card

OCI card holders affected by new rules – Indian families facing ... immigrationvoice.org

Grievance related to reissuance of OCI's issued to children of Indian passport holding parents. Petition

OCI – Overseas Citizen of India follies

Very important and least publicized (a renewal fee and a sticker for life long-visa holders, i.e., if you are below 20 and above 50 years of age). There was no such fee (to get a sticker) until the year 2008--see the CGIToronto Website.

Extract of the need for a STICKER and a FEE from Consulate General of India, Toronto's Website:

I. In case of issuance of new foreign passport
OCI registration certificate and 'U' visa sticker carry the passport number of the registered OCI. Accordingly, each time a new passport is issued to an OCI holder; it has to be captured on the registration certificate and visa. This would require re-issuance of OCI registration certificate and visa each time a new foreign passport is issued in the following cases.

1. Up to the completion of 20 years of age, OCI documents have to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued to the holder.
2. Between 21-50 years of age, there is no need to seek re-issuance of OCI documents each time a new passport is issued. However, if the applicant desires, he/she may avail the service for re-issuance of OCI documents.
3. After the completion of 50 years of age, OCI documents have to be re-issued once after issuance of a new passport

Documents to be submitted to the Consulate General:

1. In case of issuance of new foreign passport:
   (i) OCI Registration Certificate and Canadian Passport(s) [old and new], in original.
   (ii)In case of minor children, parents Indian and Canadian passports along with Record of Landing
   (iii) Copy of existing OCI registration certificate and U visa pasted on existing foreign passport.
   (iv) One set of print out of the form, duly filled in, and signed. The applicant must affix one colour photo [51 mm x 51 mm] on form Aand sign in the signature box.
   (v) Copy of new and old Canadian passports
   (vi) Fees through Bank Draft/Money Order.

Fees:
(a) CAN$ 28.00 for re-issuance of OCI documents in case of issuance of new foreign passport, change of personal particulars, wrong filing of particulars.
(b) CAN$ 103.00 for issuance of duplicate OCI documents in case of loss/damage of old OCI /Foreign passport carrying OCI Visa sticker.
(c) In respect of the service for change of address/occupation, no hard copy of the application shall be submitted to the Indian Mission/Post/Office. Accordingly, the issue of Enclosures and Payment of fee does not arise. Continue reading all Consulate General details + Google: on fee, sticker "new foreign passport"

Canadian popular culture is changing, eh?

"Overall Canadian pop culture indeed seems to be a reflection of American popular culture, and while I understand the desire to establish our own identity, I don’t think it’s that big a deal if we have music, television, movies, books, magazines etc from other countries." Eh! Canadian Pop Culture Blog

"The fundamentals aren't changing because the new mainstream is a different colour. It's changing because the new mainstream is fundamentally different in every way - culture, conservatism, language, religion, cultural habits around money (saving it and spending it) and cultural habits around food. And the most fundamental thing about advertising/marketing is that it is about how people work. This is not an old "us" vs. a new "them". This is just a new "us." One of the cool things about Canadian immigrants is that they want to be Canadian and they are proud to be Canadian, but they also discover very early that it is really difficult to define what "Canadian" is. Ultimately however, they come to realize in a single, empowering, incredibly Canadian moment that being Canadian is... being themselves." Everything it’s cracking up to be.

Video: Why Canada lets other countries define its cultural tastes -The Globe and Mail - Arts reporter John Barber discusses with Madeleine White why an artistic brain drain is inevitable in Canada and why Canadians shouldn't be bothered by it

Strictly Canadian: Embracing the new nation’s culture, By:Mayank Bhatt Toronto Star -- At present, term Canadian is narrowly defined and doesn’t encompass all it should — culturally, socially, economically and politically.... A culture acquires acceptance and gains in popularity when it’s constantly talked about...

Understanding Canadian pop culture can help your integration process, By Mayank Bhatt, Canadian Immigrant

Controversial new ' RCAF Icons of Canadian Culture' program being attacked, Ric Peterson

Strictly Canadian: What are the ‘Canadian values’ we continue champion?. Roland Mascarenhasspecial, Toronto Star. -- Does being Canadian occur spontaneously when Sidney Crosby scores the winning goal for Canada, or is it a process we must undertake every day? -- Writer Roland Mascarenhas is still looking for the so-called “Canadian values” of his adopted home.

Pop culture Year in Review — 2012

Is Canada's pop culture distinctive? CBC

On the same shelf:

Outsourcing bank jobs - Media monitoring

"At the high end of the skills spectrum, a different proposition is at work, as seen at RBC. High-tech jobs are shipped overseas or contracted to a Canadian company that gets the job done overseas. Costs go down, profits go up and up, as do CEO compensations (in RBC’s case, $7.5 billion last year and Gord Nixon’s package, $12.6 million).

Now we know what was meant by business “competitiveness,” “flexibility,” “nimbleness,” etc." Stop importing temporary workers into Canada: Siddiqui, Toronto Star

Outsourcing bank jobs is common practice, say employees. CIBC, TD, Scotiabank and BMO replaced Canadians with temporary foreign workers, claim hundreds of emails, CBC News 

Andrew Coyne: RBC outsourcing controversy an economic fraud, National Post

Capitalism as usual: Why RBC's outsourcing isn't really a surprise, By Kevin Edmonds, rabble.ca

iGate: The firm at the centre of RBC's outsourcing scandal, CTV News

Scotiabank won't contract out work, says president CBC.ca

Ex-RBC foreign workers say contractor controlled their lives, CBC.ca

Have your say, Winnipeg Free Press -- Today, RBC is outsourcing jobs and rubbing it in by having existing staff ... It appears that the CEOs of RBC, TD, Scotiabank, CIBC and BMO, ..

Letter: Banks' outsourcing does not fool anyone, Montreal Gazette, -- RBC and TD have done exactly that. ... This letter is not going to stop BMO from eliminating every possible job at the bank and outsourcing it.

McMaster student leads online charge against RBC hiring practices, CBC.ca -- Reacting to the media firestorm over a Royal Bank subcontractor’s use of temporary foreign workers, Immigration minister Jason Kenney was unequivocal. “The rules are very clear,” he said. “You cannot displace Canadians to hire people from abroad.”

RBC contrite after outsourcing scandal, Foreign workers controversy draws federal attention, By Julian Beltrame And Dave Paddon, The Canadian Press; With Files From The Calgary Herald

RBC isn’t an employment agency for Canadians,  By William Watson, Ottawa Citizen