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 – Nova Scotians’ Immigration Attitudes Point in Wrong Direction
Nova Scotians like to think of themselves as a friendly people and, for the most part, we are friendly. But when it comes to welcoming immigrants — well, that is probably another story. One thing that is clear, however, is that our understanding of the economic benefits associated with immigration is not where it needs to be. In Nova Scotia, immigrants account for less than five per cent of the population, compared with 18 per cent overall for the population in Canada. Our research underscores some of the myths and attitudinal barriers that lead Nova Scotians to be less accepting and welcoming of newcomers from other countries than should be the case. Given our aging and declining population, it is pretty clear that we need to be much more successful at attracting immigrants to our province than in the past.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada News Release – Immigration from Italy to Canada More Than Doubles Since 2005
The number of permanent residents and students welcomed to Canada from Italy in 2013 was more than twice the number admitted to Canada in 2005. Last year, 823 individuals from Italy became Canadian permanent residents, an increase of nearly 140 percent from 2005. In addition, 421 foreign students from Italy entered Canada in 2013, a 90 percent increase from 2005. Italian immigration to Canada is once again increasing following a significant period of decline between 1967 and 2005. The high number of new permanent residents includes newcomers coming to Canada from Italy as economic immigrants, which has almost tripled over the past 10 years. Last year, Canada admitted 500 people from Italy in the economic class, an increase of nearly 200 percent since 2003.
Some restaurant employers in Nova Scotia are concerned by Ottawa’s plans to make it tougher to hire temporary foreign workers, fearing it could result in Nova Scotians losing jobs. Many employers are already concerned about staffing for the summer after the government suspended new hiring under the foreign worker program. Ottawa is considering making it harder for employers in places with high unemployment to hire temporary foreign workers by adding two new rules. […] The proposed changes affect more than the restaurant industry. Nova Scotia employers bring in temporary foreign workers as cleaners, cashiers and security guards. They filled 4,600 positions last December.
Montreal Gazette – Changes in Refugee Policy Shrink Caseload
The number of people seeking asylum in Canada is dropping significantly despite a global surge in refugees, says a report to be published Friday. Global asylum claims were up 28 per cent in 2013 from 2012, driven largely by the crisis in Syria, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says. But in the same period, refugee claims to Canada fell by almost half, according to a report from the Immigrant Services Society of B.C. Canada has also dropped down the list of destination countries for refugees, going from second-highest in 2008 to 16th out of 44 industrialized countries in 2013, the UNHCR says. The drop in refugee claims stems from changes the federal government made to Canada’s asylum system in December 2012. The changes restricted the claim process for nationals of 37 countries considered “safe” by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, including Mexico, Hungary and the Czech Republic; the latter two are the countries of origin for most Roma refugee claimants. In 2013, the number of claims referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board was the lowest since the board was formed in 1989.
Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada – Communiqué – Le nombre d’Italiens ayant immigré au Canada a plus que doublé depuis 2005
Au nom du ministre de la Citoyenneté et de l’Immigration du Canada, Chris Alexander, le ministre du Multiculturalisme, Jason Kenney, et le ministre des Anciens Combattants, Julian Fantino, ont souligné aujourd’hui l’importance du nombre de personnes ayant immigré au Canada en provenance de l’Italie. Le nombre de résidents permanents et d’étudiants originaires de l’Italie que le Canada a accueillis en 2013 a plus que doublé par rapport à 2005. L’an dernier, 823 personnes d’origine italienne ont obtenu la résidence permanente au Canada, soit une augmentation de près de 140 p. 100 depuis 2005. De plus, 421 étudiants étrangers d’origine italienne sont entrés au Canada en 2013, soit une augmentation de 90 p. 100 depuis 2005. Après avoir connu une baisse notable entre 1967 et 2005, le nombre d’Italiens ayant immigré au Canada est une fois de plus à la hausse.
Le Canada a accueilli plus de 700 nouveaux citoyens originaires de plus de 45 pays au cours de neuf cérémonies qui ont eu lieu à Ottawa cette semaine. Le nombre croissant de cérémonies de citoyenneté met en évidence les efforts que déploie le gouvernement pour améliorer l’efficacité du programme de citoyenneté, et ainsi aider plus de gens à réaliser plus rapidement leur rêve de devenir Canadiens.
