York University and Toronto Metropolitan University have implemented Sanctuary Scholars programs to assist individuals with precarious immigration status in pursuing undergraduate education at domestic rates. These programs are crucial as such individuals, estimated to be between 200,000-500,000 in Canada, often face barriers to higher education due to their status. Despite the potential legal risks under the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act, the programs operate with confidentiality to protect students. The article highlights the positive impact of these programs on participants, while noting the reluctance of other institutions like the University of Toronto to implement similar initiatives. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have provided comments on the legal aspects of studying without a permit.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including members of Labour for Palestine and World BEYOND War Canada, blockaded a Scarborough manufacturing plant, TTM Technologies, demanding a Canadian arms embargo on Israel. They claim TTM Technologies supplies equipment to Israel's military, specifically to defense contractor Elbit Systems for use in military aircraft and equipment. The protest responded to a UN call to halt arms exports to Israel and a recent International Court of Justice ruling on the risk of genocide in Gaza. Despite peaceful protests, there was a significant police presence. Organizers emphasized worker support and condemned the Canadian government's record-breaking military export permits to Israel.

The sexual wellness market in Mexico is valued at approximately $650 million annually, with sex shops accounting for $250 million. The pandemic led to a significant increase in online sales, particularly for Erectus, a company that has been pioneering in this sector for 20 years. The online growth was especially notable among female consumers. Companies like Meibi and Tiendanube have reported substantial growth in sales, with the former also focusing on sexual education. The global market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 8.4% from 2022 to 2030. Erectus plans to expand its physical store presence, while Meibi has partnered with Farmacias Similares to offer sexual toys. The period leading up to February 14th sees the highest sales of sexual products.

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Advocates are calling for the end of 'deeming,' a practice by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) that they claim discriminates against injured migrant workers by cutting their benefits based on hypothetical job availability. Coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, an open letter to Canadian leaders highlighted the disproportionate impact on migrant workers, who often return to their home countries with unresolved injuries and trauma. The Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario (IAVGO) and the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) provided statistics showing a significant number of migrant workers receive no lost wages despite injuries. Advocates argue that 'deeming' is a form of systemic racism and call for permanent immigration status for migrant workers to access justice and health care in Canada. The WSIB defends its practices, stating it provides services within the constraints of the Federal Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

Iran, a leading source country for Canadian immigrants and international students, lacks Canadian visa application centers, requiring Iranians to travel to Turkey or the UAE for biometric enrolment. This situation, which arose after Canada closed its embassy in Tehran in 2012, has been called discriminatory by the Iranian-Canadian Congress. Iranians face significant financial and logistical burdens, with some waiting over two years for visa approval. The Canadian government's response emphasizes the importance of biometrics and mentions efforts to improve the visa application process, but affected individuals find these measures insufficient. The issue highlights the challenges faced by the Iranian diaspora and the need for a practical solution.

Around 100 demonstrators from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds blockaded a CN Railway train in Toronto on November 21 to show solidarity with Wet’suwet’en land defenders in British Columbia. The peaceful protest, organized by Rising Tide Toronto, aimed to raise awareness and demand the release of Indigenous land defenders and journalists arrested by the RCMP on November 19. The RCMP were enforcing a Coastal Gaslink injunction at Coyote Camp, a site blockaded by Wet’suwet’en and their allies to prevent drilling under the Wedzin Kwa (Morice River). The Toronto blockade featured speeches from Indigenous land defenders and was marked by a spirit of celebration and resistance.

Immigration consultants are opposing the Punjab government's plan to establish an agency for directing students to Canadian educational institutions, fearing it will monopolize the market and compromise the independence of Canada's immigration system. The Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants declined to attend a roundtable discussion with the Punjab government, suspecting a hidden agenda. The Punjab government's initiative could potentially overshadow the role of licensed immigration consultants, add bureaucracy, and affect the credibility of Canadian Designated Learning Institutions. The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, soon to become the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, is expected to crack down on unauthorized consultants, but the Punjab government's plans may challenge these efforts.

The influx of Afghan refugees into Canada, particularly Toronto, is being met with a lack of a clear long-term affordable housing plan by the federal government, relying instead on private volunteers and community organizations. Settlement agencies like COSTI Immigrant Services are facing challenges in finding adequate housing for refugees, who often end up in temporary hotels. Reports from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Transatlantic Council on Migration highlight the importance of government support in successful refugee resettlement and the need for more affordable housing. Despite lessons from the Syrian refugee crisis, significant commitments to build affordable housing have not been made, leaving the responsibility to host communities.

A rally in Ottawa is planned to demand the reinstatement of the closed federal government’s essential worker immigration stream and equal rights for all migrants. The stream closed months ahead of schedule, leaving many with costly, unprocessed applications. Critics argue the program's first-come, first-serve nature is unfair and exclusionary. The government cites operational capacity and backlog risks as reasons for the cap. Lawyer Jael Duarte highlights the difficulties faced by essential workers in meeting application requirements, such as English language tests. The Migrant Rights Network is calling for the program to be reopened without caps, and for permanent residency to be granted to all migrants, including students, refugees, workers, and undocumented people.

Tori Cress, an Anishnaabe and Pottawatome Kwe from Beausoleil First Nation and co-founder of Idle No More-Ontario, discovered her mother was forced to attend an abusive day school, which helped her understand her family's trauma. The recent discovery of 215 Indigenous children's remains at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, has reignited discussions about Canada's history of systemic abuse against Indigenous peoples. University of Toronto History Professor Cecilia Morgan emphasizes that residential schools were part of a larger pattern of colonialism and racism. Despite public gestures of mourning and promises of action from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Cress calls for tangible change and resources to address the legacy of settler-colonialism and to recover the children from unmarked graves.

Tori Cress, an Anishnaabe and Pottawatome Kwe from Beausoleil First Nation and co-founder of Idle No More-Ontario, discovered her mother was forced to attend an abusive day school, which helped her understand her family's trauma. The article discusses the recent discovery of 215 Indigenous children's remains at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, and the broader context of systemic abuse and genocide in Canada's history. It highlights the failure of the Canadian government to acknowledge and address the legacy of residential schools and the ongoing effects of settler-colonialism, despite the documentation and reports available. The article also touches on the public's complacency and privilege in ignoring these issues and calls for concrete action rather than symbolic gestures.

In Canada, racialized newcomers and international students face significant challenges in securing affordable and stable housing. Individuals like Ritika Dubey, Akrit Michael, and Ashlynn Ashita Chand have experienced discrimination, exploitation, and financial hardship in their search for housing. The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation highlights the lack of affordable housing and the government's withdrawal from providing it. The Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation's data shows increased vacancy rates and rents, while the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario reports increased housing discrimination. Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario and Justice for Migrant Workers point out the exploitation of tenants and migrant workers, respectively. Experts call for systemic government intervention to address the housing crisis, which has been exacerbated by COVID-19 but has deeper roots in decades of policy decisions.

The Canadian federal government has partially met labor groups' demands by extending pandemic income benefits, including the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), by 12 weeks. Employment Insurance (EI) benefits weeks have also been increased from 26 to 50 for certain claims. Despite these extensions, labor advocates argue that they are insufficient and call for permanent, structural changes to the social safety net. They criticize the government for not addressing issues such as lowering EI eligibility requirements and extending full benefits to all low-wage and precarious workers. The article highlights the struggles of workers affected by the pandemic and the need for a more universal and accessible benefits system.

The city of Waukesha, Wisconsin, is facing a water crisis due to a depleting aquifer and radium contamination. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has mandated the city to find a new water source. Waukesha proposes to divert water from Lake Michigan, promising to return treated water via the Root River. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, a federal law, and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body are involved in reviewing the proposal. Critics argue Waukesha has not exhausted all alternatives and is misrepresenting data. An independent study suggests the city should continue using its wells with improved treatment, while Waukesha insists on the necessity of the diversion. The decision on the application will have significant implications for the protection of the Great Lakes and the precedent it sets for future water diversion requests.

The article discusses the representation of Indigenous people in Hollywood films, contrasting mainstream movies like 'The Revenant' with independent Native cinema. It highlights the historical inaccuracies and stereotypes perpetuated by Hollywood, and the efforts by Native filmmakers to tell their own stories. The piece features insights from Indigenous industry professionals like Jesse Wente, Neil Diamond, Joanelle Romero, and Ryan McMahon, who advocate for Native-directed and produced films. The article also mentions the Red Nation Celebration Institute and its role in promoting Indigenous talent, as well as the inclusion of the Indigenous Eyes Filmmaker Showcase in the American Film Market.