E-Arabica Newsletter

· On June 27 th the NCCAR issued a press release welcoming the federal government's long-awaited decision to allow visa and immigration interviews to be conducted in Lebanon, rather than in Syria .  Following several years of requesting this change, the federal government finally listened to NCCAR announcing in June 26 th that it is continuously looking at ways to improve services to applicants.  Furthermore NCCAR President Bahija Réghaï sent a letter to Mr. Del Mastro on June 30 th congratulating him on the work him and his colleagues undertook which led immigration officers to conduct interviews at the Canadian Consulate in Beirut. Réghaï asked for Mr. Del Mastro's support to make a case for Montreal-Beirut non-stop flights by both Air Canada and Middle East Airlines in a move that would enhance services not only to fellow Canadians of Lebanese background, but also to businesses in Canada and in Lebanon. 

- NCCAR urges the Canadian Government to further enhance currently offered services to Canadians by allowing non-stop flights between Montreal and Beirut .

· NCCAR President Bahija Réghaï congratulated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Emerson, on June 27 th on his recent appointment and requested a meeting at Emerson's earliest convenience to discuss issues of relevance to Canada-Arab relations, to explore views and explore how the NCCAR can be of assistance in creating a better understanding on some of the staggering issues currently shaping in the Middle East .

· NCCAR sponsored and attended a conference on June 28 th entitled 60 Years of Exile: The Palestinian Right of Return .  The event, held at the University of Ottawa, was organized by the Canadian-Palestinian Educational Exchange (CEPAL) and featured its first ever conference commemorating the 60 th anniversary of Al-Nakba (the Catastrophe) and encouraged discussion among Canadians about the issues surrounding the Right of Return. 

Contacting your Member of Parliament (MP) is an effective way to take action and to be heard.  If you have any trouble finding your MP or need help, use the following link requiring only your postal code: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

NCCAR Volunteers     

NCCAR benefits from the help of many volunteers. We are introducing a section to salute some of these volunteers who provide many hours of help to NCCAR.

Nadia Noori was born and raised in Iraq and arrived to Canada just 18 months ago.  She is now a Master's student at the Systems and Computer Department at Carleton University , part of the Technology Innovation Management (TIM) Program which is one of the initiatives of the Ontario Talent First Network .

Nadia explained her reasons for volunteering at NCCAR by stating that the first thing that attracted me to NCCAR was its mission in building the bridges between the Arab world and Canada, closing this gap in the Canadian media and western press in general that too often portrays Arabs as terrorists and presents a very one sided viewpoint!

Nadia mentioned that she was honoured to be part of NCCAR's family because of the amazing people working under NCCAR's umbrella and their dedication to surviving all the hardships while enjoying the good times.

I also want to give a big thanks to Ms. Bahija Réghaï for introducing me to NCCAR,

Thank you, Nadia