Gurpreet Singh writes from Vancouver

THE portrait of Bhagat Singh that was installed at the Canadian Auto Workers’ office in Vancouver in 2008 has been removed. The picture was donated by Harbhajan Atwal on the occasion of Bhagat Singh’s birth centenary. It was displayed alongside the picture of Che Guevara. The installation ceremony had been attended by many prominent leftists from the Indo-Canadian community.

On other occasions, many guests from India, including Bhagat Singh’s nephew Prof Jagmohan Singh had visited the office to have a glimpse of the portrait.

Atwal claims that it has been removed following complaints from those who considered Bhagat Singh a terrorist. “Unfortunately, some of them are from our own community,” he lamented.

Atwal is now looking for another public office where the picture can be installed. He told SAP that Che Guevara picture has also been removed albeit for different reasons. “It was taken away by his supporter who sat in the office after being transferred to a different location.” The reason being given by the authorities to Atwal is that they do not want to have pictures of political figures at their work place.

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The Employment Halton Office opened

SAP Bureau

GOVERNMENT of Canada congratulated ‘The Employment Halton Office’ on its official opening on January 24. In a press release issued on January 24 on behalf of Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Multiculturalism (CIC), Terence Young, MP, said, “The Employment Halton office plays an important role in helping newcomers find a job and settle into their new community here in Halton.”

“Citizenship and immigration is pleased to support this worthwhile organisation and the important work they do on a daily basis.”

He said that CIC, in partnership with provinces, territories and settlement providers, delivers programmes that help newcomers settle, adapt, and integrate into Canadian society.

Significantly, the Regional Municipality of Halton is receiving $190,634 for the Local Immigration Partnership, led by the Employment Halton Office. First introduced in Ontario in 2008, there are now 45 local immigration partnerships across the province. Through this partnership, a collaboration of multiple stakeholders, including various levels of government, employers, educational institutions, health sectors, settlement and social service agencies are working together to develop a strategy to facilitate the integration of newcomers and the creation of a welcoming community in Halton.

According to the press release, service providers in Ontario will be allocated $314 million to deliver settlement services for the fiscal year 2012-13. Settlement funding for Ontario is three times that of 2005. In the fiscal year 2005-06, Ontario received $111 million to fund settlement services.

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