VANCOUVER (IPS) � Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Diane Finley, announced this week that Canada will more than double the number of refugees it receives this year from Iraq, accepting 1,800 to 2,000 refugees, up from 900 in 2007.

While this book focuses on the relationship of Canada to the Middle East, that relationship turns out to some extent to be secondary to Canada-U.S. relations.  Thus, Rex Brynan, who is a professor at McGill who has worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Development, notes that Canada has been "reluctant to undertake Middle East initiatives that might not enjoy Washington's full endorsement,"since the relationship with the U.S. "is by far the most important dimension of Canadian foreign policy."

Christ is risen. Indeed He is risen!  I wish you all a Happy Easter full of God's grace. This will be my last Easter with you as I reach the age of 75 and retire. Yet, and as I have said in my last pastoral letter, I shall remain with you in my prayers and shall continue to accompany you in your happy moments and grievances. I shall work with every seeker of justice and peace until all the inhabitants of this land will live in security and tranquility, in the presence of God Almighty, merciful and full of love to all his creatures. For the sake of all our faithful in our Churches of Jerusalem,  and all believers from all religions in this land, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and Baha'is, I shall pray, and extend my love to all.

Chalk one up for the Canadian government.  Federal Court Judge Anne Mactavish ruled on March 12 that Afghan prisoners are not protected by Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  They must, she said, rely on international law and Afghan law.  The case was brought by Amnesty International and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association.  Previously, she had nevertheless expressed concern about "very troubling evidence" of "the type of torture practices that are employed in Afghan prisons."

Canadians Gail Lord and her husband Barry, well known around the world in museum circles, are especially big news in Abu Dhabi.  She is president of Lord Cultural Resources, Inc. and he works with her.  Gail studied history at the University of Toronto, but her career has been in the arts, as a critic and academic.  She helped to set up a program in film and photography at Ryerson University in Toronto and has taught museum planning and management at universities in North America and Europe.