Five stories in the news today, Sept. 21

Five stories in the news today from The Canadian Press

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CHINESE PREMIER ARRIVES FOR FOUR-DAY CANADIAN VISIT

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Ottawa today to begin a four-day Canadian visit, which will include bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Prime Minister’s Office will only say that environment and climate change are on the table for discussion. A possible extradition treaty between the two countries is also likely to be discussed.

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DION EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE $25M to U.N.-LED MEDIATION EFFORTS

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion is expected to announce today that Canada will commit $25 million to UN-led conflict mediation, negotiation and reconstruction efforts. On Tuesday, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s office confirmed Colombia is one of the options being considered as the government decides where to deploy upwards of 600 peacekeepers.

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TRUMP CAN WORK WITH TRUDEAU: STEVE FORBES

Without mentioning Donald Trump by name, Prime Minister Trudeau has often criticized the Republican Party’s candidate for president. But that shouldn’t prevent the two from working together should Trump become U.S. president, says well-known American magazine publisher Steve Forbes. He made the comment a conference in Montreal after Trudeau told the UN General Assembly to reject politicians who exploit people’s fears and anxieties.

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BILL GATES COMMENDS CANADA’S APPROACH TO IMMIGRATION

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says Canada’s open approach to immigration and its willingness to welcome tens of thousands of Syrian refugees is an “enlightened” move that will benefit the country’s business sector. Gates told a Vancouver conference that Canada has “certainly more enlightened immigration policies than most countries have, which is a real asset.”

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TORY MP JASON KENNEY TWEETS RESIGNATION LETTER

Calgary Conservative Jason Kenney is officially stepping down as an MP this week. He tweeted a photo of his resignation letter, dated yesterday, to Speaker Geoff Regan, in which he says he is vacating his Calgary Midnapore seat effective Friday. Kenney announced in July that he was running for leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta.

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