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.
Asian Pacific Post – Filipino Immigrants: To Stay or To Return?
The Canadian government forecasts that there will be one million Filipino immigrants in Canada by 2025, marking a 50 per cent increase from today. […]The Philippines became the largest source of immigrants in 2010 when Citizenship and Immigration Canada figures show 36,000 Filipino immigrants came to Canada. The next two years have brought 35,000 and 33,000, respectively. While young Filipino immigrants are helping to replace Canada’s ageing workforce, the Philippine economy in turn also gets over $2 billion (U.S.) in remittances every year. Further, Tagalog is the fastest growing language in Canada and is the fifth most common non-official language spoken in Canadian households. Statistics show nearly 279,000 people reported speaking Tagalog most often in 2011, up from 170,000 five years earlier. […] Labour migration has been regarded as vital to the Philippine economy for decades, relieving pressure on un- and under-employment in the country and contributing to the economy through the receipt of remittances from overseas workers. The Philippine government has developed a highly sophisticated state apparatus whose aim is to facilitate labour migration.
Calgary Herald – Temporary Worker Program Lacks Dignity, but Harper’s Fix Hurts Calgary: Nenshi
Mayor Naheed Nenshi is ripping both the temporary foreign worker program and the Harper government’s changes to it, because he feels a growing Calgary needs more access to working newcomers who can become citizens. The mayor said the “current system strips people of their dignity.” But in comments that mirror Alberta government officials’ protests that Ottawa’s recently announced restrictions on hiring temporary labourers — especially in low-paying jobs — will hurt the city that added a record 38,508 this year. […] “To treat people like commodities that come here for two years and serve us our coffee in the mornings, I don’t think is a particularly Canadian attribute,” Nenshi said. “And I think we have to figure out ways to let people in and give them a path to citizenship and continue to live dignified lives, regardless of the job they do.” […] Alberta’s three Progressive Conservative leadership candidates have also criticized the federal reforms.
CBC – 20 Hamilton Human Trafficking Ring Members Deported
Twenty members of what has been called the largest human trafficking ring in Canadian history are being sent back to Hungary, after the minister of public safety announced Tuesday in Hamilton the deportation of all but two convicted in the case. […] “These individuals were part of the extended Domotor-Kolompar criminal ring, and were convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada of one of the most despicable crimes — human trafficking,” said Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney at Tuesday morning’s deportation announcement. […] The minister acknowledged that while this was clearly a flagrant abuse of Canada’s immigration system, the vast majority of people coming to Canada “play by the rules” and contribute positively to their communities.
Journal métro – Les droits des travailleurs agricoles seraient affaiblis
Les droits des travailleurs agricoles seront affaiblis par le projet de loi 8 déposé le 13 juin dernier, croit le Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants de Montréal (CTI). «Si la loi entre en vigueur, des conventions collectives vont tomber, des syndiqués vont perdre leur statut», a affirmé dimanche Noé Arteaga, ex-travailleur étranger temporaire et membre du CTI. Le projet de loi décrète que les dispositions du Code du travail concernant le droit d’association ne s’appliquent pas aux salariés des exploitations agricoles. Ces dispositions sont remplacées par certaines obligations de l’employeur à l’endroit des associations d’employés. L’employeur doit par exemple prendre connaissances des observations de ses employés au sujet de leurs conditions de travail. Il doit aussi échanger avec eux avec «diligence» et «bonne foi». Une plainte peut être déposée auprès de la Commission des relations de travail (CRT) si les employés jugent qu’une de ces obligations n’ont pas été respectées.
La chasse aux fraudeurs a considérablement engorgé le processus d’attribution de la citoyenneté au Canada, de sorte que le nombre de demandes accordées a chuté de 50% depuis 2006, année où le Parti conservateur a pris le pouvoir au pays. Selon des données obtenues par La Presse en vertu de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information, 260 804 demandes ont été approuvées en 2006, contre 128 977 en 2013. La baisse a été continue jusqu’en 2012 (113 148 citoyennetés accordées), à l’exception d’une remontée en 2011 (181 421). Une légère hausse amorcée en 2013 pourrait se poursuivre en 2014, selon les données préliminaires. Derrière ces chiffres se cache une réalité complexe qui se traduit pour de nombreux candidats par des démarches ardues et souvent confuses.
Sherwood Park News – Library Helps with Immigration
To cope with the province’s expected population of five million in the next 10 years, Strathcona County Library has launched a new service designed to acclimate newcomers to Canada. “Public libraries are often one of the first places that people visit after they arrive in a new country,” said Grazyna Pakos, settlement practitioner with the program, who emigrated from Poland in 1992. A result of a partnership between the library and the Edmonton Immigrant Services Association (EISA), the program is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. […] The program will offer resources and information on health insurance, improving finances and English language skills, opportunities for employment, assistance with homework to students, transportation and housing as well as which recreation and legal services are currently available.
