an alliance of university, community, and government partners dedicated to fostering welcoming communities and promoting the integration of immigrants and minorities across Canada
The Media Roundup provides links to recent and archived articles, in both English and French, on immigration and diversity appearing in the national and local news. Some international content is also included. Articles are updated weekly.
Chronicle Herald – Feds Mum on Immigration Plans
The federal government is keeping mum on any plans it may have to increase the immigration cap in Nova Scotia. Costas Menegakis, the parliamentary secretary to federal Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, said on Saturday Ottawa will announce its immigration plan and targets early this fall, but he can’t divulge any details yet. “I’m not at liberty to discuss where it’s going to go at the end of the day,” he said. The province has been lobbying Ottawa for years to boost the immigration cap in Nova Scotia. The provincial nominee program, which allows provinces to bypass other federal immigration streams and bring in immigrants directly, is capped at 700, up from 500 in 2013. In total, Nova Scotia brings in about 2,500 immigrants per year, but the Ivany commission has set a goal of increasing that to 7,000 per year. […] Menegakis was in Halifax on behalf of Alexander on Saturday to announce $9,875 in funding for the Halifax Celtic Festival, which took place this weekend.
Rabble – Quebec Laws Keep Undocumented Children Out of School
This September as children across Quebec head to school, almost 5,000 undocumented children, like Max, will be left behind, according to the Education Across Borders Collective, a Montreal-based advocacy group. Most cities in North America offer free primary and secondary education for all children regardless of their immigration status. However, non-status children in Quebec cannot attend public school unless they are charged with the $5000 to $6000 fee. Most undocumented families in Canada have a hard time affording to pay the fee because of their precarious situations. “It’s a very confusing system… people’s status and paperwork are reversible but what is not reversible and what can’t be changed is the effect on these children who are being kept from school,” said Malek Yalaoui, a member of the Education Across Borders Collective. Yalaoui added that Quebec is the only jurisdiction in North America that systematically prevents non-status children from attending school for free.
New Canadian Media – “Immigrant Vote” to Gain Strength in 2015
With the opening of a new session of Parliament next week, the campaign leading up to anticipated federal elections in Oct. 2015 is likely to shift gears. The so-called “immigrant vote” is very likely to be in play, and, according to academics who’ve studied this topic for many years, this electoral bloc is going to be even more crucial in 2015. New Canadian Media interviewed Prof. Phil Triadafilopoulos of the University of Toronto, who last year published a chapter titled “Immigration, Citizenship and Canada’s New Conservative Party” […] “I believe the key point is that the politics of immigration in Canada is the way it is because of the intersection of settlement patterns, our citizenship law, and our electoral system. There is a structurally induced predisposition for relatively pro-immigration policies and rhetoric, shared by parties across the ideological spectrum.”
Radio-Canada – Attirer les immigrants francophones
Le ministre fédéral de l’Immigration a annoncé mardi son intention de tripler le nombre d’immigrants francophones dans les provinces et territoires hors Québec. Chris Alexander compte y arriver en partenariat avec les réseaux francophones de services aux immigrants du pays, dont ceux de la Colombie-Britannique, où beaucoup de travail reste à faire pour atteindre la cible du fédéral. D’après les données du ministère de Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada, sur les 200 000 immigrants hors Québec en 2012, 2400 étaient francophones. Ce taux de 1,2% est loin derrière les 4,4% d’immigrants francophones visés par le ministre Alexander. En Colombie-Britannique, sur les 36 241 immigrants arrivés en 2012, 1059 pouvaient s’exprimer en français et en anglais. Toutefois, de ce nombre, il n’y avait que 129 immigrants francophones, ce qui constitue moins d’un demi pourcent. Pour correspondre aux attentes du ministre fédéral, il faudrait accueillir 1450 immigrants de plus.
Canadian Immigrant – Chris Alexander Discusses Increase of Francophone Immigration
Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander met with stakeholders and community leaders in Winnipeg to discuss how the government can increase Francophone immigration to Canada. During the meetings, Alexander committed to launch consultations in the upcoming months that will aim to increase the number of Francophone immigrants settling in Francophone communities outside Quebec and strengthen the vitality and vibrancy of these communities. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will work with provinces and territories, Francophone communities and employers to ensure the successful integration of Francophone immigrants who choose to make Canada their home. While in Winnipeg, the Minister met with the local Francophone Immigration Network and other stakeholders to discuss Francophone immigration and local needs. He also visited the Accueil Francophone and met with youth that participated in a program of the Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, two local organizations that provide services and innovative programs to help Francophone immigrants settle and enter the job market.
Chronicle Herald – Halifax Consultant Fined $75k in Immigration Fraud
A Halifax immigration consultant who helped clients lie on their Canadian immigration applications has been handed a conditional sentence of two years less a day and fined $75,000. Ziad El Shurafa, 41, of Bedford pleaded guilty in April to five charges of counselling misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. He was sentenced Thursday in Halifax provincial court. […] El Shurafa was the head of Canada 2000 Immigration and Business Services Inc., whose Halifax office was raided by the Canada Border Services Agency in May 2011. He and two other employees were charged with counselling misrepresentation. The charges related to potential immigrants from U.A.E., Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia, dating back to January 2006.
