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New book by Winnipeg-based refugee advocate Shauna Labman delves into Canada’s refugee resettlement program

/ Shauna Labman (second from right) & family

By MYRON LOVE
In launching her first book, “Crossing Law’s Border: Canada’s Refugee Resettlement Program”, at McNally Robinson earlier this year, Shauna Labman took a somewhat different approach to this particular book launch. Rather than just reading an excerpt from the book, she invited one of her former students and one current student as well as the executive director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Inc. (IRCOM) – all of whom came to Canada as refugees – to share their stories.

“We had a huge crowd for the launch,” Labman recalls. “I wanted to provide some personal perspectives.”
She adds that the book, which examines the intersection of international rights, responsibility and obligation in the absence of a legal scheme for refugee resettlement, was ranked by The Hill Times as among the best 100 Canadian non-fiction books for 2019 and reached second place on McNally’s best-seller list under paperback non-fiction for the week of January 12-22 following the book launch.
“The book has received a great response,” she says. “Crossing Law’s Border” is raising awareness of who refugees are, why it’s important to protect them, and the different ways that refugees seek protection through resettlement and asylum.
“The book has been of particular interest to those working with and sponsoring refugees in Canada as well as Canadian officials overseas working on resettlement.”
The author has devoted most of her working life to the twin causes of human rights and refugees. This writer previously profiled her in the pages of this newspaper about ten years ago. At that time, she had recently returned to Winnipeg after 15 eventful years away.

The Ramah School and Balmoral Hall graduate and eldest daughter of Cyril and Jean Labman left Winnipeg right after high school for UBC and, later, the University of Victoria. While studying law at the University of Victoria, Labman was exposed through a co-operative law program to the work of the now defunct Law Commission of Canada which dealt with issues such as the Residential Schools cases, same sex marriage, workers’ rights and human rights and discrimination.
After graduation, she began her legal career at the Federal Court of Appeal, working on issues ranging from immigration to tax and patent law. “I soon realized,” she said in that earlier interview, “that I wasn’t interested in working in a traditional law practice. I had done some work in Ottawa with refugees. So I applied to the United Nations and I was posted to India for a six-month consultancy with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).”
Her work with UNHCR involved conducting refugee status determinations of Burmese asylum seekers and preparing resettlement referrals for Afghan refugees. Labman was struck by the reality that most refugees never make it to countries such as Canada, which might be willing to offer permanent protection, and instead remain in protracted states of limbo.

Following a stint at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing where she gained an appreciation of Canadian diplomacy and policy considerations, she returned to Canada with a clear cause and career goal. Using the academic avenues open to her, she began exploring how the voluntary programs of government resettlement and private sponsorship operate alongside of Canada’s obligations in international law to refugees who claim asylum. Her research examines, analyzes, and ultimately advocates for the protection needs of the refugees she left behind in India, as well as those of other refugees who wait patiently, but powerlessly, around the world.
Labman reports that “Crossing Law’s Border: Canada’s Refugee Resettlement Program” grew out of her Ph.D. thesis, which she completed in 2013. The focus of the future book, however, changed considerably after the Trudeau Government introduced its Syrian refugee resettlement program in 2015, she notes.
“My work,” she points out, “is bookended by the resettlement of Indochinese refugees in the 1970s and the recent Syrian arrivals.
“While both moments were driven by a humanitarian impulse to help unknown refugees, in the intervening years much of the private sponsorship program has involved family reunifications.”
Labman notes that most private sponsorships over the past few years have involved family re-unifications. Private sponsors voluntarily accept financial responsibility for the care and integration of the refugees that they adopt.
She adds that her family and several friends in their Wolseley neighbourhood have privately sponsored a family from Colombia.
Labman is concerned about the Federal Government’s shift in refuge policy more to private sponsorships in recent years. It used to be, she says, that government took responsibility for two-thirds of refugee sponsorship with private sponsors the remaining third. Currently, private sponsors account for two-thirds of refugees coming to Canada.
“There is a danger in becoming overly reliant on individual Canadians,” she as-serts.”
She also writes and advocates for the suspension of the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States, under which refugees must claim asylum in the first country they reach. Labman argues the United States is not a safe country for refugees.
Labman is greatly concerned about the effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic for refugees. “There is a lot more uncertainty and disappointment,” she says. “Many refugees have been waiting a long time already to be re-united with family in Canada. But our borders are closed.”
For refugees already recently arrived in Canada, she points out, the lockdown only adds heightened challenges as they adapt to a new country.
And Labman is wondering what Canadian refugee policy will look like after the pandemic is over. “Will a financially-strapped government be willing to bring in thousands of refugees from all over the world?” she asks. “Will private sponsors have the financial means and ability to support refugee families?”
About a year ago, Labman shifted from teaching law at the University of Manitoba to taking up the position of Associate Professor of Human Rights at the University of Winnipeg’s Global College. “The position encourages greater community engagement and I get to work with students from a broader range of backgrounds and perspectives while spending all my time talking about refugees, international law and human rights.”

With a young family – her son, Hugo, is eight and her daughter, Yael, is five – the move also lessened her commute and allows her to bike and walk to work until she, like many others, moved to working from home in March.
She continues to works closely with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba and currently sits on their Board of Directors.
Labman reports that she will have a second book coming out in August – “Strangers to Neighbours: Refugee Sponsorship in Context” – this one a b edited collection that offers the first dedicated study of refugee sponsorship policy. She notes that one of the chapters is being written by Madison Pearlman (who, this writer profiled in the December 7, 2016, issue of the JP&N).
As Labman’s research assistant at Robson Hall, the two women co-authored an article on refugee sponsorship and now, as a newly-minted young lawyer, Pearlman is contributing a chapter on Operation Ezra, our Jewish community’s successful effort to sponsor more than 50 Yazidi refugees and reunite them with family here.

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Features

Technology and innovation: how online casinos are adapting to players

There has currently been a significant increase in demand for online casinos in Canada due to the convenience and ease of access offered to players. With recurring technological advances and the constant search for innovation, online casino operators are striving to meet players’ growing expectations. Below, we’ll explore how online casinos in Canada are aligning themselves with technology and innovation, from the variety of games to attractive offers such as welcome bonuses and promotions to constantly adjusting to players’ needs.

Online gaming offers

Offering a wide range of games to suit players’ preferences is one of the main focuses of online casinos in Canada. In other words, operators are always looking to expand their collection of games to ensure a variety that caters to everyone, from the classics like backjack and roulette to slot releases and live casino games. What’s more, many online casinos are teaming up with famous game developers to offer high-quality, immersive experiences.

The commitment to providing an extensive selection of games tailored to diverse player preferences is a cornerstone of online casinos in Canada. This commitment manifests in continual efforts to expand the game library, ensuring a comprehensive assortment that appeals to a broad spectrum of players. Collaborations with renowned game developers further enhance the gaming experience, offering players access to high-quality, immersive gameplay across various genres, from classic favorites like blackjack and roulette to cutting-edge slot releases and live casino offerings.

Attractive bonuses and promotions

Online casinos in Canada often offer generous welcome bonuses to attract new players and reward existing ones. Bonuses can usually include free spins and extra cash, giving players the opportunity to explore casino games without using their own money at first. In addition, casinos can also give extra bonuses on subsequent deposits, loyalty programs and temporary promotions to keep players engaged.

A hallmark of online casinos in Canada is the generous incentives they offer to both new and existing players. Welcome bonuses, comprising complimentary spins and bonus cash, serve as enticing invitations for newcomers to explore the diverse offerings without financial risk. Moreover, ongoing bonuses on subsequent deposits, loyalty programs, and temporary promotions serve to maintain player engagement and reward loyalty within the platform’s ecosystem.

Gaming experience on mobile devices

Withthe increasing use of mobile devices, online casinos in Canada understand the importance of providing an optimized mobile gaming experience. Many operators use specific apps for iOS and Android devices, enabling players to access their favorite games anytime, anywhere. Online casinos are looking to adapt responsive designs on their websites to ensure an increasingly personalized usability experience on smartphones and tablets, without compromising the features and quality of the games.

Player security and privacy

Certainly one of the priorities for online casinos in Canada is player security and privacy. Operators implement and optimize increasingly robust security measures, such as SSL encryption and advanced firewalls, to guarantee the protection of players’ personal and financial data. Online casinos in Canada operate under regulated licenses, which guarantees compliance with the strictest security and integrity standards.

High-quality entertainment

Online casinos in Canada have often strived through the use of technology and innovation to adapt to the needs of players in a very competitive and constantly evolving market.

Providing a wide variety of games, good attractions and guaranteeing high security standards. Operators are definitely providing players with a fully personalized and immersive experience in the world of online casinos, as well as improving the experience for mobile devices and the convenience of playing at any time.

Online casinos in Canada continue to thrive and attract players looking for high-quality entertainment as well as exciting opportunities to win.

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Features

How to Protect Your Finances When Playing in Online Casinos 

Online casinos are a thrilling form of entertainment that a lot of adults enjoy in their free time. While it can be a great way to kick back and relax, it’s also important that you’re safeguarding your finances too. From the risk of gambling to cyber attacks and scams, here are some simple guidelines to follow that can help to ensure the safety of your money, so you can fully enjoy your favourite casino games. 

Choose Good Quality Casinos

This is the only way you can fully safeguard your finances. Choosing a reputable online casino that is fully licensed and regulated is crucial. Not only does this ensure that the casino is running legally and adhering to strict standards, but also the protection of your personal and financial information. Reading online reviews can be a great way to decipher the quality of a casino. Previous customers can tell you about any issues they’ve experienced, as well as providing insight into other aspects, such as customer service or the user-friendliness of the platform. 

A good quality casino will also have an impact on your experience. Be sure to look out for a wide variety of games and check out the different promotions and bonuses that a casino offers. With some bonuses, you can get spins on your favourite games. Taking advantage of bonuses and promotions can be a great way to safeguard your finances too. Instead of using your own money, you can use promotional funds to try out new games and experiment with different strategies. Just be aware that most promotions and bonuses come with wagering requirements, so make sure to read the terms and conditions before signing up. 

Protect Yourself

Another important factor of protecting your finances when playing in online casinos is learning how to protect yourself. This is essential for any online activity. When creating any online account, make sure to use strong and unique passwords. It’s also essential to never share this information with anyone else. Be aware and learn how to identify scams. Usually, if an offer is too good to be true, it usually is. In particular, be aware of phishing attempts and scams landing in your email inbox. It’s all about protecting yourself, like you would take supplements to aid your fitness, in this case, you apply yourself with knowledge to protect yourself and keep safe online. 

When depositing and withdrawing money, make sure to only use secure payment methods, this could include cryptocurrency, credit/debit cards or Apple Pay for example. You should use casinos that offer encrypted transactions. These precautions are essential when it comes to reducing the risk of your financial information falling into the wrong hands.

Gamble Responsibly

And finally, it’s not just about protecting yourself through security measures, it’s also important to be sensible with your money too. Gambling responsibly is essential when it comes to safeguarding your finances. A good way to do this is by setting limits and creating a budget for yourself. This will help to prevent you from overspending. 

Set limits for yourself in terms of how much money you are willing to spend and stick to these limits. Avoid chasing losses and never gamble with money that you can’t afford to lose. Make use of the deposit limit feature that most online casinos offer. If you ever find that you’re struggling, then it’s important to seek help and support. A lot of online casinos will be able to offer support and links to organisations that can help you. Gambling should always be a fun activity and nothing else. It’s definitely not a way to make money or solve financial problems.

In summary, these simple guidelines can help you to safeguard your finances when playing online. Remember that it’s not just about security, it’s also about being responsible with your money too. However, by choosing good quality casinos, learning how to protect yourself and gambling responsibly, you can enjoy your experience, all while ensuring your money stays safe. 

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Features

Kosher agencies make no bones about ‘flawed’ Canadian slaughter laws

oung Jewish children watch the Kaparot ceremony before Yom Kippur in September 2010 in Ashdod, Israel. Credit: ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock.

“When the Jewish community is being treated differently than other communities in Canada because of our religious beliefs, that is discrimination,” said Richard Rabkin, managing director of the Kashruth Council of Canada.

By DAVE GORDON (March 15, 2024 / JNS) Two kosher certifying agencies and two meat processors have a big beef with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which suddenly changed the rules and made kosher slaughter a longer and more burdensome procedure.

CFIA has begun in recent months to enforce regulations it enacted in 2018 “with vigor,” Rabbi Saul Emanuel, executive director of Montreal Kosher, told JNS. It appears to be doing so “on a whim,” the rabbi said.

The government agency’s actions have already resulted in a 60% drop in domestic kosher meat production, facility closures, higher prices and larger shipments of imported meats from other countries, according to Emanuel.

An independent organization that oversees Canadian slaughter procedures, CFIA mandates that cows be shot in the head with a bolt gun, to avoid causing pain to the animal. Kashrut laws require that an animal be killed with a single, rapid motion with a sharp knife that instantly kills the animal by severing the primary blood supply to the brain. Kosher laws preclude the use of bolts, as Canadian law requires. 

CFIA requires that Jewish ritual slaughterers conduct a series of bodily checks in between each shechita to ensure that the animal is “insensible,” which means that slaughter houses must wait up to three minutes rather than 15 seconds between each slaughter. At an industrial scale, the three minutes add up.

Emanuel’s employer MK, the Kashruth Council of Canada in Toronto—known as COR—and the country’s two largest kosher meat producers, Shefa Meats and Mehadrin Meats, sued CFIA on March 8.

The plaintiffs allege that the government agency infringes on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees freedom of religious practice, according to Richard Rabkin, managing director of the Kashruth Council.

“I don’t want to speculate about the motivations of the CFIA and we have no indications that antisemitism is at play here, but when the Jewish community is being treated differently than other communities in Canada because of our religious beliefs, that is discrimination,” Rabkin told JNS.

‘Discrimination by effect’

Rabkin told JNS that the ideal would be a negotiated solution, and the four entities opted to sue only as a last resort and because the agency is independent and unbeholden to elected officials.

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