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.
Acadie nouvelle – Un plan pour attirer les immigrants francophones
Le ministre de l’Éducation postsecondaire, de la Formation et du Travail, Jody Carr, et le vice-premier ministre et ministre responsable de la Francophonie, Paul Robichaud, ont présenté jeudi la nouvelle Stratégie provinciale de croissance démographique accompagnée du premier Plan d’action pour favoriser l’immigration francophone. Selon le ministère de la Citoyenneté et de l’Immigration du Canada, de 2001 à 2010, environ 14 % des nouveaux arrivants au Nouveau-Brunswick ont indiqué que la langue officielle de leur choix était le français. «Le gouvernement s’est fixé une augmentation annuelle de 3 % de l’immigration francophone tout au long de la durée de ce plan d’action afin d’atteindre 23 % d’ici 2017», peut-on lire dans le document. Il faudra donc attendre au moins jusqu’en 2020 avant que le nombre d’immigrants francophones reflète la composition linguistique de la population néo-brunswickoise. D’ici là, certains craignent que les francophones qui représentent environ le tiers de la population perdent de leur poids relatif en raison de l’immigration anglophone grandissante.
Globe and Mail – Manitoba’s Foreign Worker Strategy Called a Model for Other Provinces
Mr. Short leads Manitoba’s workplace special investigations unit, a six-person team that inspects businesses that employ temporary foreign workers as well as other employers that pay near the minimum wage. It is the enforcement arm of a strategy that’s being called a model for the rest of the country. As the Conservative federal government overhauls the politically vexing TFW program, other provinces may come under pressure to adopt the Manitoba approach. Last week, federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney told The Globe and Mail’s editorial board he’s urging the other provinces to follow Manitoba’s example. […] Manitoba’s system centres on the Worker Recruitment and Protection Act (WRAPA), passed in 2009. Its most important component is also its most basic: Unlike most provinces, Manitoba knows where its temporary foreign workers are working. Businesses must register with the province to get a work permit for a TFW. That allows inspectors to check on their working conditions to make sure they meet employment standards and health and safety rules.
Toronto Star – Transgender Woman Files Human Rights Complaints Over Arrest at Pearson
A transgender woman from the U.K. who was stopped by customs at Pearson airport and detained in a men’s jail has filed separate human rights complaints against corrections and border officials. Avery Edison, who was held at Milton’s Maplehurst Correctional Complex for 20 hours in February after her arrest, claimed she was discriminated and mistreated by the officials because of her gender. “At Maplehurst, in spite of Ms. Edison’s legal and self-identification as a woman, Ms. Edison was continually referred to as ‘he’ or ‘him’ or ‘sir,’ ” said the complaint filed Wednesday to both the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Canadian human rights commission. […] Edison is asking the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to order provincial corrections officials to develop and update their policy on the placement of transgender and transsexual residents. She also hopes the federal rights commission will compel Canada Border Services Agency staff for sensitivity training when serving trans people.
Hamilton Spectator – Canada’s Generosity to Refugees Now an Outdated Myth
As the number of uprooted people rises, the generosity of wealthy countries shrinks. Canada is a prime example. In 2011, Ottawa resettled 6,827 displaced people. In 2012, the number fell to 4,755. Preliminary statistics suggest a further drop in 2013. On a per-capita basis, Canada — the first nation to receive the Nansen Medal for outstanding service to the cause of refugees — now ranks seventh in resettling refugees, behind the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the Nordic countries. […] Under the federal Conservatives, Canada’s acceptance rate for asylum claims has fallen to 38 per cent. The right to appeal has been severely curtailed.
CBC – Population Growth Strategy in N.B. Targets Francophones
New Brunswick is going to turn its focus on francophones as it tries to boost its population. The renewed population growth strategy, released by the government Thursday, charts a course to increase the province’s population by 5,000 over the next three years through “repatriation, attraction, retention and immigration” according to the government release. […]The new plan works around the provincial nominee program capped at just over 600 by the federal government, and severe limits on the foreign worker program. The action plan aims to attract 33 per cent francophone immigrants through its Provincial Nominee Program by 2020 to better reflect the linguistic makeup of the province.
Courrier international – Immigration : la réforme au placard
La réforme de l’immigration ne sera finalement pas votée au Congrès cette année. Le président Obama et les républicains de la Chambre des représentants en sont également responsables. La grande perdante sera l’économie américaine, mais sur le plan politique, ce sont les républicains qui paieront le prix fort. Le 30 juin, Barack Obama a fustigé les républicains pour cet échec, mais pour valser il faut être deux. Le président dit à présent vouloir agir unilatéralement [par décret], mais c’est en menaçant d’en arriver là qu’il a poussé beaucoup de républicains à douter de sa capacité à mettre en oeuvre honnêtement n’importe quelle réforme. Une des conséquences de ses abus de pouvoir est d’avoir miné la confiance que lui accorde Congrès pour mettre en oeuvre fidèlement les lois [Obama est accusé par les conservateurs d’outrepasser ses prérogatives].
