Blogs, VancouverIAM Daily Blog Report: Immigration Key to Microsoft's Richmond Plans, North Van and Langle


by ANDREW RIDEOUT - Date: 2007-11-07 - Word Count: 828 Share This!

This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from VancouverIAM where you will find the best blogs from Vancouver, British Columbia as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring.

Microsoft’s Motives Behind Move to Canada

The latest post from The Tyee details Microsoft’s motives behind plans to open a 700-employee software development centre in Richmond. According to an interview with Steve Ha, whose Redmond, Washington-based company develops software for Samsung, the key reason boils down to immigration. "It's impossible to bring Koreans into the U.S. now, so we decided to set-up an office in Richmond… It's difficult for Koreans to obtain a green-card even after five or six years of work in the U.S.”

According the post, Canada’s more accommodating immigration polices are attracting companies, such as Microsoft, to open shop here. In response to U.S. senate allegations that such companies were using work visas to outsource U.S. jobs overseas, Microsoft stated that “current immigration policies were antiquated and did not meet the needs of globalized economies.”

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan is “optimistic that having Microsoft in Richmond would promote jobs and technological innovation in B.C.” Due to Canada’s labour shortage, the business community is welcoming such growth, although some are concerned that granting temporary work-visas will lead to outsourcing the talent to foreign countries down the line.

Updates from Langley Township Meeting

A recent post from Langleypolitics.com, a widely-read political blog written by Langley Township Councillor Jordan Bateman, has shed light on some of the developments from the latest township meeting. The councillors voted narrowly, by a 5-4 margin, to ban all door-to-door sales in Langley. The motion was forwarded by Bateman himself. It was also noted that charities will be exempt from the new restriction. Additionally, “council also voted unanimously to cancel the sale of land adjacent to Bell Park... Several neighbours were very concerned as the land in question has been adopted into the park over the years.”

The post also outlined the latest development in Langley's strategy to reduce water consumption by 30%. “Staff presented the Draft Water Management Plan... Rural water users will want to take a hard look at this document as it will radically change the way groundwater is valued in the community.” Once passed, the Draft Water Management Plan would legislate, among other things, water meters on new and existing wells, limiting groundwater taken in by municipal wells, flow restrictors and residential metering. The recommendations will be reviewed in two public open houses. Bateman declared, “It's a huge plan that needs the public's careful, considered look... I will be watching these open houses very carefully.”

North Van Council At Odds Over Credit Checks

The latest post from North Vancouver Politics.com has revealed details from their latest City Council meeting. Following a presentation by the Colour Guard of Legion 118 and the closed-door session where council members discuss issues privately, they moved on to a more pressing debate involving forced credit checks on apartment applicants and criminal record checks for apartment. According to the post, “The core of the plan is a longstanding program in North America which New Westminster has been using for over 10 years.”

Councillor Keating supposedly argued strongly against credit and criminal checks. The post stated that “Councillor Keating questioned the validity of a claim that the program was recommended by the RCMP officer who jurisdiction, this program would be under... Councillor Keating continued questioning the legal requirement for credit checks for all rental applicants and criminal record checks for all apartment managers.” George Pringle, the author of the post, observed that “Councillor Perrault sent the whole issue down the track to nowhere by referring the whole thing to the RCMP as she was confident it could be studied and a recommendation brought back to Council by January.”

Seasonal Holiday Lunch Set to Please at Parkside

The Urban Diner, a popular blog about restaurants in the Vancouver area, recommends readers take advantage of Parkside’s limited three-course holiday lunch menu from December 10-21. According to blogger Andrew Morrison, Parkside’s Chef Andrey Durbach’s food “is widely acclaimed for its intense flavours and thoughtful execution.”

Located near Stanley Park, the restaurant’s “rich interior, dark oak bar, extensive wine list, and inventive cocktails make this restaurant the perfect holiday hideaway.” While there, diners can enjoy roasted duck breast with sweet potato pavé, wild alpine berries with 50 year old sherry vinegar, and blood orange sorbet and cannoli. For further details or to make reservations, visit the post for details.

About VancouverIAM

VancouverIAM is part of a groundbreaking network of city-focused blog aggregation, user generated media and social networking websites currently rolling out across North America. Each IAM website filters and organizes blog content as well as offering video upload capabilities, social networking, blog authoring, favourites lists and rumours. The IAM Network is a division of SoMedia Networks Inc which also operates Inveslogic.com, Greenedia.com, Healthedia.com and Blabaloo.com. For more information or to register an account, visit VancouverIAM.com.


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