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.
La Presse – Travailleurs étrangers: Québec International tâte le pouls
Une trentaine d’entreprises du secteur de la restauration ont participé lundi à une séance à huis clos organisée par Québec International afin d’en savoir davantage sur le moratoire du Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires. «Depuis que le moratoire est fait, il n’y a eu aucune nouvelle», indique au Soleil Selin Deravedisyan-Adam, conseillère agréée en immigration et pdg de Phoenix Gestion en mobilité internationale. La principale interrogation des entreprises était surtout qui était touché par ce moratoire. «Ce qu’il faut comprendre, c’est vraiment que c’est le secteur de la restauration du code SCIAN 722 qui est touché. C’est la racine du 722 qui doit être prise en compte. Par exemple, une personne qui possède un établissement de boulangerie-pâtisserie comme Café-boulangerie Paillard et qui souhaiterait faire venir un travailleur de France, son code SCIAN est le 311, soit la catégorie Fabrication d’aliments. Il n’est alors pas touché par le moratoire», note Mme Deravedisyan-Adam.
Radio Canada International – Travailleurs étrangers : Restaurants Canada exige la levée du moratoire sur leur embauche
Restaurants Canada lance un appel pour obtenir de l’aide afin de contrer la pénurie de main-d’oeuvre dans le domaine de la restauration au pays. Le conseil d’administration de cette association réuni à Charlottetown, à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard cette semaine, a tenu un point de presse pour demander une rencontre d’urgence avec le premier ministre du Canada Stephen Harper. L’association veut discuter de la pénurie de main-d’oeuvre dans les restaurants qui, selon elle, est critique dans certaines régions du pays. L’association soutient que le moratoire, sur le programme d’embauche de travailleurs étrangers temporaires, nuit de façon importante à de nombreux restaurateurs qui ont besoin de ces employés pour combler une bonne partie de leur besoin en main-d’œuvre. Le directeur de l’association, Yvan Coupal, croit d’ailleurs que des restaurants pourraient fermer en raison d’une pénurie de travailleurs. L’association demande la levée immédiate de ce moratoire.
Toronto Star – Immigration Keeping Secret how many Typhoon Haiyan Victims Rejected
In the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the Canadian government touted a promise to fast-track visa applications for Filipinos “significantly and personally affected” by the deadly superstorm. Six months later, Citizenship and Immigration Canada is keeping information on how the special measures fared secret. The government will say only that roughly 1,100 applications have been approved; officials won’t reveal how many typhoon victims applied, how many were rejected and how long it took to process the emergency claims. […] Tom Price, president of the Leyteno Association of Ontario — an organization representing Filipinos from the province of Leyte, the region hardest hit by the typhoon — said he has heard of only two visas approved under the special measures, but knows of a few people who have been rejected and 10 applicants who are still waiting. Filipinos in Toronto were surprised, Price said, by the number of applications the government said it has approved — no one can seem to figure out who the lucky 1,100 are.
The Guardian Charlottetown – National Forum on Economic Immigration Underway in Brudenell
A national forum on Economic Immigration is underway at the Rodd Brudenell resort this week to understand the challenges of immigrant entrepreneurs. The conference goes from May 26 to 28 and is organized through RDÉE Prince Edward Island’s LIENS project (Linking Economic Immigration to our Successes). This national forum will allow participants to discover national best practices in regards to economic immigration and understand the challenges and opportunities faced by immigrant entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada, » said RDÉE president Martin Marcoux.
Chronicle Herald – Retaining Refugees: Power of Kin Overlooked
Nova Scotia welcomed close to 40 privately sponsored refugees in 2013. Most of these newcomers were welcomed, settled and supported by family and friends already living in Nova Scotia. […] In Manitoba, the vast majority of privately sponsored refugees are reunited with family, through the support of a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). In Nova Scotia, Immigration Settlement and Integration Services (ISIS) is a relatively new SAH, joining the Catholic and Anglican churches. Tom Denton, a Nova Scotian and Dalhousie law graduate, has had a personal hand in the arrival of some 6,000 privately sponsored refugees as executive director of Hospitality House in Winnipeg, the most prolific of Canadian SAHs. According to Denton, some 80 per cent of new immigrants to Canada have a relative here already. And the federal government totally ignores that. Canada frames immigration as a means to meet labour market shortages — abstracting away the humanity and complexity of economically advantaged immigrants in much the same way that temporary foreign workers are reduced to faceless units of labour.
CBC – Complaint-Based Systems Failing Abused Foreign Workers
An expert in the abuse of temporary foreign workers says governments expecting a complaints-based approach to catch problems are fooling themselves. Fay Faraday of Osgoode Hall Law School at York University said she’s found most temporary foreign workers are afraid to complain because they don’t want to get kicked out of the country. […] Faraday said most provinces, like Saskatchewan, rely on complaints, whereas Manitoba has pioneered an effective proactive system of enforcement, conducting “stings” on suspect industries. In October, new legislation came into effect in Saskatchewan which is designed to protect foreign workers. Faraday said it gives the province the power to inspect businesses employing migrant workers. “In practical terms, the only way for this legislation to have teeth is if there is proactive enforcement.” […] Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for immigration said his ministry relies on a complaints-based system and he believes it reveals there are few problems.
