Refugees Turning To Food Banks Is 'Cultural': McCallum

OTTAWA — The fact some newly arrived Syrian refugees are turning to food banks to supplement their own pantries can be partially explained by a "cultural element," the immigration minister said Wednesday.

Food banks from Halifax to B.C. have reported serving hundreds of Syrians who have come to Canada since November, the month the Liberal government launched a major resettlement program to bring 25,000 people by the end of February.

Liberals to repeal Bill C-24 on citizenship: immigration minister

Immigration Minister John McCallum says the government will announce significant changes to the Citizenship Act in the coming days.

Mr. McCallum said Tuesday that the Liberals will soon follow through on their election pledge to repeal the Conservatives’ controversial Bill C-24, which gave the government the power to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens convicted of terrorism, treason or espionage.

Immigration minister calls Liberals 'the racist party'

Liberal John McCallum and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander had such a heated exchange over Muslim Canadians in question period Thursday that, after it was over, New Democrat Peggy Nash could only say, “Whoa.”

It started when McCallum asked Alexander whether he would apologize to Muslim Canadians, claiming Alexander implied that “all Muslim women who wear the veil are terrorists unless proven otherwise.”