http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg

Going back home for Easter? Need to stock up on gifts for family and friends?

Bring a piece of Canada!

The infamous Quebecois poutine is a great Canadian introduction over a lazy evening meal. However, you’ll have to go grab those rubbery Canadian cheese curds in a Quebec supermarket before you leave. Seriously - you’ll never find that kind of cheese anywhere else – for a good reason.

What about a bottle of the famous Canadian maple syrup? Introduce it as a tasty treat over morning pancakes, sprinkled over vanilla ice cream or simply straight out of the bottle if you’re a sugar addict.

You might consider picking up some Canadian liquor in the duty-free. After all, it’s hard to enact the popular advertisement I am Canadian – which is a hit both here and internationally – without the appropriate props.

You family and friends hate poutine (how would they know!?), maple syrup and beer commercials? What about CDs by famous Canadian artists to give them a taste of Canada’s excellent musical output? Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne, Sum 41. What more can you ask for: this music might just dissolve all that holiday stress.

Family outing? Try whipping up a batch of beaver tails – the fried dough doused in cinnamon and sugar they serve at all Canadian outdoor skating rinks. Find a great recipe at: http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/canada/beaver-tails.htm.

This might not be weather appropriate to your country, but Canada has an excellent selection of furry extremity-protectors to shield its residents from our world famous awful weather. Pick up some of those traditional fake fur gloves or a few West Coast Cowichan First Nations sweaters at: http://www.sa-cinn.com/cowichanmain.htm.

No use for winter clothing? Try handing out a few hockey jerseys. After all, Canada’s hockey teams are internationally renown and you might be able to dish out some of that hometown rivalry. You could teach some defense moves, like the jersey, which means having your jersey pulled over your head and thrashing around blinded. 

If you’re still in a fix… Canada has a decent selection of jokes that might shed a little light on that “Canadian culture.” Check one a few at: http://www.indefual.net/canada/jokes/index.html 

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Many attempt to pack on extra work hours and pick up extra jobs. Others have been forced to double the cost of their goods and therefore have lost a large portion of their clients. Some simply decide not to immigrate to the US. 

According to an article posted on Yahoo News in the Christian Science Monitor, the ailing dollar has encouraged South American immigrants to apply for citizenship in Spain over the US. As one man pointed out, sending cash home in Euros means more money for his family then sending dollars.

Currently, an estimated 150 million immigrants send money home, with an estimated value of $90 billion. Many can support themselves and a whole family abroad, but, like a World Bank economist points out, a 20 per cent hit to a family living barely above poverty is felt much harder then in a wealthy or middle-class American family.

Although figures are still blurry in regards to immigrants being affected by the US dollar, according to some, immigration patterns into the US will change over the next few years if the dollar continues to sway. 

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Down St. Denis you’ll find several creperies including a small café called Juliette et Chocolat.

Inside, a dozen or so staff members dressed in bright red caps and aprons serve delicious foods from traditional crepes to salads with savory chocolate dressings. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the tables a little rickety, and the food – phenomenal. Their menu offers every kind of crepes and if you have a sweet tooth, their fruit and chocolate crepe is delicious.

If you order a cup of hot chocolate – beware. The chocolate is melted right into your cup and served straight, a delicious but sometimes overwhelming treat. Try a variety, from bitter dark chocolate to sweet white chocolate.

Chez Suzette, in the heart of the Vieux Port, brings together a bit of French charm with delicious food. Cozy up near the window and enjoy steaming cups of hot coffee and chocolate laden crepes while watching the narrow coble stone streets typical of the Old Port.

At Crepe to Go, corner Bleury and Sherbrooke, you can order delicious rolled crepes right from their window and eat in the comfort of your home.

Another famed creperie also in the Old Port at Place Jacques-Cartier is the Jardin Nelson. Once summer comes, try the patio in the back and enjoy some of their savory creations.

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Compared to our fellow friends across the water, we live in green, open spaces. We live in a country where one can vote in a leader, send one’s children to a good school while working a decent job. Although these societies have innumerable flaws, they also benefit from details that most countries in this world do not have.

However – because people in North America live in relative isolation, as well as within this dream, many tend to forget the above-mentioned qualities. This is directly reflected in citizens’ actions, from both the US and Canada, to close their countries’ borders to discourage further immigration.

For many, this fight is happening not because they lack space or jobs, but because they are offended by the details of cultural diversity: whether they be religious, linguistic or other.

Understandably, borders of all countries need to be regulated in order to protect the citizens within. But, the reaction of communities in both the US and Canada also needs to be evaluated: the present disdain for immigrants in many cities and rural towns is a reflection on our society, and not a pretty one.

Immigration in Canada and the US needs to be developed into a comprehensive plan that treats everyone as a equal at the border and understands and considers the idea of a “dream” while also teaching the acceptance of ethnic diversity and the many benefits it brings our societies to its citizens.

Most importantly, the next generation needs to be taught that cultural diversity is an invaluable asset to society and further develops all aspects of life from intellectual, to artistic, to the economy.

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Montreal’s Fine Art museum boasts some of the best traveling exhibitions in North America. It also has permanent displays of Canadian Art, 19th century paintings, paints, drawings, and ethnographic art. Located at the corner of Sherbrooke St. and Museum St., the museum is right in the heart of Montreal on one of the most charming streets of the city. Just down the road La Premiere Moisson bakery will serve you delicious coffee and desert after your excursion.

Next we have Montreal Modern Art museum. Located at Place Des Arts metro, the museum is part of a funky arrangements of fountains and cement blocks. Inside the museum, the space holds art in all forms of media from the 1940s and onwards. Wednesday night is free, otherwise admission is 8$.

The Canadian Center of Architecture, near Metro Guy-Concordia, hosts a whole array of architectural examples. Not only on display, the building itself is a particular design. Also, the bookstore caters to anyone interested in architecture and is a gold mine for students.

The Pointe-A-Calliere Museum is Montreal’s most famous history museum. Located where the first Europeans settled in Montreal. The permanent exhibition includes a 20-minute multimedia presentation on the museum itself and, underneath, an archaeological dig from the origin of the cities. The museum also presents temporary exhibits.

Museum-hopping is a winter gift: not only do you get to see beautiful works of art, but you’re also killing time while learning in a well-heated space. So - for now – it’s okay to keep those skates in the closet. 

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This Wednesday, Huckabee changed his mind. In response to voter feedback and competition, he now recommends that instead of totally banning immigrants from certain countries, a re-assessment of  immigration policies should be enforced.

Huckabee used 9/11 to prove his first stringent stance. Most hijackers during the terrorist attack had entered the US legally (forged passport or not). He believes that by closing the door to certain countries around the world, terrorists will be punished and the US adequately protected.

However, thousands of people fleeing hot spots for terrorism around the world will be the main victims. These immigrants are often asking for protection from their own governments or terrorist groups in their country. Many want to protect their families from the impossible living conditions of their own countries and offer their children education and a regular childhood. It seems that innocent civilians – forcibly assimilated as terrorists – will be paying a huge price.

Others point out that immigrants – from countries all around the world including those who are listed as harboring terrorists – bring useful skill, manpower and money to their country. Business owners in the US have been arguing that immigrants fill a gap most Americans can’t: they work for cheap and/or they bring new and diverse businesses to slowly evaporating towns. By settling in rural areas, they’re re-stimulating the American economy.

Huckabee also proposed closing the US-Mexico border and enforcing stronger security and more patrols. He wants illegal immigrants to return home and apply for immigration status from their original countries.

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And this includes the excellent panoply of ethnically varied food found right in the heart of Quebec.

I’ve lived and visited other major cities in Canada. I spent a lot of time in Vancouver looking for ‘exotic’ food joints at decent prices, but usually ended up hoarding all-you-can-eat sushi and sake. Cheap, ready to go, healthy.

In Montreal, I’ve come to a new realization. ‘Exotic’ food is a staple to any person’s diet. Although prices and quality vary, cheap, different and tasty food is at a hand’s reach in this city where immigration has brought not only new faces, but also new flavors.

Try le Bleu Nil, 3706 Saint Denis St., where Ethiopian food meets candlelit atmosphere, quiet carpeting and African art. A large plate of lamb and chicken stew mopped up in fingerfuls of sour injera bread. 

If you’re a student and living out of a tight pocket, try shopping down St. Catherine Street between Bishop and Atwater. You’ll come across several Middle Eastern food stores with ample supplies for the strapped student: canned hummus and chickpeas for sometimes less $1 and huge sacks of couscous for 10$. You might also stumble upon a small Japanese supermarket where you can find some of the strangest – yet delicious – healthy deserts: seaweed jello and soybean pastries or seaweed for your homemade sushi.

Near the corner of De Maisonneuve and Guy-Concordia, you’ll find Al-Taib, every student’s favorite zatar joint, which serves oven-toasted wraps filled with pickled beets, onions, chicken, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

And these are only a few of my favorites. Lebanese, Indian, Italian, Moroccan, Russian - this city has everything to offer thanks to an accommodating more often than closed collective attitude towards immigration and its incoming innovative entrepreneurs.

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Ridiculously cold weather, knee-high salt stains, frozen nostrils, layers of black ice and endless fresh snow are inescapable, yet to some Montrealers, they’re what’s best about winter.

If you’re in the Plateau, take out a pair of cross-country skis and ski across your neighborhood to the bottom of Mont-Royal. Take the torturous climb to the top and feel invigorated by the -30 wind whipping your face as you zoom down, knees bent and poles tucked under your armpits. Although some serious equipment is in order (including the infamous baklava which covers you’re whole face leaving only three holes for your eyes and mouth and looking something like a thief), you’re guaranteed a killer cup of hot chocolate and a hot bowl of soup at the bottom of the mountain in one of the within skiing-distance bistros.

Or why not lug an old beer carton wrapped up in a plastic garbage bag to the bottom of the mountain and hit the slopes at dusk? Bring a thermos of mulled wine or spiked coffee and compete to see who ends up with the biggest bruises as you bounce down the mogul-covered sledding hill on a beer carton. You won’t get cold since running back-up the hill can be a slippery challenge and by the time you realize the beer carton has disintegrated into nothing and you’re sliding down on snow pants, you’ll be tipsy and ready for a pitcher or two with the hockey game at a warm bar down the street. 

Can’t skate? There’s nowhere better to learn than one of Montreal’s authentic outdoor skating rinks. After all, this is how people use to do it: open air, blue skies, and -25. You might spend an hour dodging amateur figure skaters and hockey players, but at least you’ll be learning to skate the real Canadian way while working up a good sweat.

If you think the city is oppressive, try heading out to one of the surrounding mountains for a day of alpine skiing or snowboarding. After all, there’s nothing better than feeling the inside of your nostrils growing into small ice cubes and snowboarding half-blind hidden under two scarves, a baklava, another scarf, goggles, a tuque, and a hood.

Other fun activities: seeing who gets the worst (and irreparable) salt stains over the course of a week, fighting with snowballs accidentally harboring pebbles and comparing involuntary injuries, challenging drunken friends to a game of how many steps you can take down St-Laurent street (always under construction and now a layer of ice) without falling, or seeing who can walk the longest in a 4 a.m. snowstorm.

If this didn’t get you excited then try comparing Montreal to this: every year, Vancouverites wager on many days straight of rain they’ll get. Two years ago, they hit jackpot with 31-days of no sunshine and nearly 24/7 rain.  What’s worse?

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Finley, who announced Canadian immigration targets in late October, also outlined added programs and structures to ameliorate Canada’s immigration system and facilitate settling new immigrants with particular skills in Canada.  

According to Finley, immigration is essential for a strong Canada. “Our government believes that immigration plays an important role in building our communities and growing our economy,” she said. “The immigration targets will help ensure that Canada continues to grow and benefit from all that newcomers and their families bring to our country.”

A Canadian program designed to facilitate immigration called the Canadian Experience Class will also be implemented in 2008. Through the Canadian Experience Class program, temporary skilled workers and individuals with Canadian work experience or university degrees will be able to apply for permanent residence within Canada.

Canadian Experience Class is also working with other programs to facilitate immigration including the Foreign Credentials Office (which helps immigrants transfer their skills and degrees to Canadian requirements), the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the Provincial Nominee Program. The later allows provinces and territories to nominate immigrants based on provincial / territory needs for skilled work. 

According to Finley, an additional $1.3 billion will also top off the $342 billion per year already being spent on improving and expanding Canadian immigration and re-settlement programs.

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An estimated 1,600 lawsuits have been filed in states countrywide dealing with various immigration issues due to Federal government neglect. State control over illegal immigration is also causing unrest amongst the business sector.

In Arizona, one law, effective on Jan. 1, is forcing businesses to verify social security numbers against a government database through an electronic crosschecking system called E-Verify. Businesses who fail to check their employees’ social security numbers or who hire illegal immigrants would face strict penalties. 

Arizona’s business community is trying to hinder the passing of this new law by pointing fingers at the federal government and saying that they should be the only body allowed to regulate illegal immigration.

Immigration has also emerged as one of the hottest debate topics in the next U.S. elections. In an interview with the BBC, James Pinkerton, media adviser to the Regan and Bush senior White Houses, said immigration is the Republicans “best issue.”

However, Republicans strict stance on immigration has also contributed to a loss of support from the American business community who emphasize that immigration is essential for the U.S. economy to keep growing.

A range of topics are being debated by presidential candidates from what types of regulations should be enforced to discourage illegal immigration to whether illegal immigrants already in the U.S. should be given driver’s licenses.

Even the controversial debate over the U.S.’s role in the Middle East has been overshadowed by the U.S.’s estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

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