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.
Radio-Canada – Immigration illégale : Obama se passera du Congrès
Le président américain Barack Obama décrète des mesures temporaires pour tenter de remédier au problème de l’immigration illégale au pays. Ces nouvelles règles seront appliquées immédiatement, sans que le Congrès ait son mot à dire. D’abord, des ressources supplémentaires seront dégagées pour assurer la sécurité aux frontières. De plus, le président compte adopter de nouvelles mesures à la fin de l’été, après avoir considéré les recommandations qui seront déposées par ses conseillers. M. Obama dit qu’il est forcé d’adopter ces décrets devant le refus constant des membres de la Chambre des représentants de voter sur le sujet. Ne rien faire serait « néfaste pour notre sécurité, notre économie et notre avenir », a-t-il affirmé, lundi, à Washington. « Les États-Unis ne peuvent pas attendre éternellement après eux », a déclaré M. Obama. Il a expliqué que l’encadrement de l’immigration, tel qu’il est actuellement, est tellement « brisé » et « confus », que les immigrants ne connaissent pas les règles.
CBC – Newcomer Support Workers Learn to Offer Mental Health Help
New immigrants and refugees in Thunder Bay may start receiving more support for mental health issues, after a workshop for those who provide settlement services to newcomers wrapped up Friday. Workshop facilitator Maria Lo said newcomers go through so much when they come to Canada that they might not realize just how much stress they’re under. […] About 15 people took part in the workshop, which was held at the Italian Cultural Centre. It was presented by the Toronto-based Hong Fook Mental Health Association, an organization that addresses the mental health concerns of Ontario’s east and southeast Asian communities. Stephanie Gellman taught service providers how to address mental health issues in a culturally sensitive way. She noted different cultures have different definitions of “normal.”
Globe and Mail – Tory MP Wants Alberta Exempt from Foreign Worker Program Changes
An Alberta Conservative MP is speaking out against Employment Minister Jason Kenney’s changes to the temporary foreign worker program, calling for an exception to be made for the province. The comments from Brian Storseth come amid widespread controversy over the changes in Alberta, including pushback from the three candidates vying to win the leadership of the governing Progressive Conservative Party. […] However, the vast majority of Alberta Conservative MPs are steering clear of the subject. Only a few of the Conservative MPs in the province responded to Globe interview requests last week, and were split in their reaction. Mr. Storseth, the MP for the booming northeastern Alberta riding of Westlock-St. Paul, says the changes announced this month need to be reconsidered.
The Star Phoenix – Information on [TFW] Program Lacking says U of R Prof
Despite the Temporary Foreign Worker Program being an “it” topic this year, especially in Saskatchewan, University of Regina assistant professor Andrew Stevens said research surrounding the subject is scarce. Armed with a research grant, Stevens hopes to bolster what he sees as slim evidence to support the federal government’s approach to the program. […] “What I want to look at are a few case studies in manufacturing and the service sector. I want to get the perspective of the employers, the workers (and) labour organizations.” […] “I think one of the things that’s lacking, and what I hope the project will shed light on, is the perspective of foreign workers themselves. I think their voices are being ignored, and I think they give a different perspective than what’s being offered by those present in the media.” […] “I’m not convinced that people know their rights. I’m not convinced that the government has put enough resources into promoting the changes, to educating workers about their rights, and certainly not into dealing with the non-English speaking workforce.
Los Angeles Times – Obama to Seek $2 Billion to Stem Surge of Central American Immigrants
President Obama will send a letter to Congress on Monday requesting more than $2 billion to pay for tighter border enforcement and humanitarian assistance to respond to the swell of children from Central America illegally crossing the border without their parents, a White House official said Sunday. Obama will also request that Congress change a law that requires unaccompanied children from non-contiguous countries be allowed to fight their deportations in immigration court before being sent out of the country. The change would make it easier for the U.S. to quickly return such children to their home countries, mirroring a similar law currently in place for children from Mexico. A massive backlog in immigration courts has meant the children coming from Central American countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras spend years inside the U.S. while their cases are being heard. During that time the majority of those children are released into the care of relatives in the U.S. Obama will ask Congress to give the Homeland Security secretary the ability to speed the deportations of Central American children, the official said.
Toronto Star – Foreign Spouses Trapped in Canada Due to Sponsorship Backlog
Currently, Canada allows a foreign national married to a Canadian to apply for sponsorship in the country if they are already here legally with valid temporary status. They can also go back to their home countries and apply from there, but most couples prefer the in-Canada route so the Canadian spouses don’t have to give up their jobs and careers or be separated from their wives or husbands for years while an application is in process overseas. Both inland and overseas applicants have to pass a two-step process: initial assessment of the sponsor’s eligibility and then an examination of the sponsored spouse, which includes criminal and health clearances. In-Canada applicants now have to wait 11 months — up from six months — to get past the first stage, which, if approved, will let the foreign spouse work in Canada and access health care while phase two is being finalized. The recent unexpected delays in inland sponsorship processing have caused both emotional and financial hardships for thousands of these Canadian couples because the foreign spouses lack full status here.
