Halloween today,

1  Reminder: CAANS: Immigration in Europe and Canada: a comparison, November
2 GST for visitors cancelled next year
3 Flying: what to take and not to take



1 CAANS: Immigration in Europe and Canada: A comparison

Dr. Gerry Van Kessel will address the differences between Canada's
immigration policies and Europe's immigration policies (or the lack
thereof).

"Europe and Canada both have large numbers of immigrants.  In Canada it is
by design; in Europe, it is largely by default.  Speaking generally, it is
public policy in Europe to oppose immigration."

"In Canada immigration is part of our national myth.  We know that without
immigration there would not have been a country called Canada.  This means
that immigration starts out as something that is positive.  This is a
starting point that Europe lacks.  Europeans feel that their states are
complete.  To suggest to them that immigration has a role in the evolution
of their societies would appear bizarre."

About Gerry:

Dr. Gerry Van Kessel spent his professional life dealing with immigration
and refugee issues, most recently in an international position in Geneva,
and for the bulk of his career with Canada's immigration and refugee
program.

From 2001 to 2005 he was Coordinator, Intergovernmental Consultations on
Asylum, Refugee and Migration Policies (IGC).  IGC is an informal,
non-decision making forum of "destination" countries in western Europe,
North America and Australia and New Zealand.

Prior to this Dr. Van Kessel was a career civil servant in Canada's
immigration program.  In his last assignment with Citizenship and
Immigration Canada he was Director General, Refugees with responsibility for
Canada's program for the overseas selection of refugees for resettlement in
Canada and for the policy relating to Canada's inland refugee determination
system.

He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada and
he has an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political
Science in London, England.

Where:		Carleton U, Minto building, Board room (ground floor), Ottawa
When:		Wednesday November 1, 2006 at 7.30 pm
Entrance: 	CAANS members free, non members 5 dollars (honour system)
Information: 	Hans Moor 613 274 75 05


2 GST for visitors cancelled

Those who have dutifully pointed out that there is an option for GST return
for visitors to Canada should visit the following website, in which the
cancellation of this program is announced per April 1st, 2007:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/qa-e.html


3 Flying, what to take and not to take

There are two similar websites where you can check what you can currently
carry in hand luggage. Not much, and carrying a transparent plastic bag with
stuff certainly saves you from be singles out. The less, the better.
http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/english/events_evenements/uk_ru-2006/notice_avis.shtml
and
http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/english/travel_voyage/list.shtml


Regards,

De Postbode