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.
Surrey Leader – Column: Refugee Loan Repayments are Causing Hardship
Government-assisted refugees receive a government loan for their transportation and medical related costs, when they come to Canada. According to the Canadian Council of Refugees, “refugee families start their new life in Canada with a debt of up to $10,000.” […] Furthermore, the Canadian government charges interest on the loan. In fact, according to a fact sheet on the City of Surrey’s website, it “is the only country” to do so. […] The City of Surrey, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Surrey Welcoming Communities Project, and advocacy organizations have all supported the idea of abolishing the loans, and allowing refugees to begin their life in Canada without such a debt.
Ottawa Citizen – Immigration and Refugee Board Spurns U of O’s Courtroom Offer
The Immigration and Refugee Board has spurned an offer by the University of Ottawa for free use of a new courtroom at the Faculty of Law for hearings involving vulnerable refugees and immigrants. The rejection comes as the IRB prepares to close its hearings office in Ottawa next week and shift hearings for Ottawa-area claimants to Montreal, a move prompted by cuts in the 2012 federal budget. Jamie Liew, an assistant professor of law at the University of Ottawa, said the IRB’s decision to close the Ottawa office will cause hardship for many claimants in the National Capital Region, especially those with mental or physical disabilities or large families. […] The need to travel to Montreal for hearings will impose costs and logistical difficulties on vulnerable people, Liew said. “Oftentimes, people need to bring witnesses. Try to tell your witness to take a day off work and spend money to travel to Montreal to do this.”
FCFA – Communiqué – Bilan d’un mois de sessions d’information sur le recrutement en français à l’étranger : plus de 150 participants dans une dizaine de villes de l’Ontario
Plus de 150 participants représentant des entreprises, des chambres de commerce, des municipalités et autres acteurs économiques : voilà le bilan de la plus récente tournée de liaison visant à informer les employeurs sur les avantages de recruter à l’étranger une main-d’œuvre qualifiée francophone et bilingue. Coordonnée par la Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada et les Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIF), cette tournée a eu lieu dans une dizaine de villes de l’Ontario entre le 18 février et le 19 mars. […] Au cours de ces sessions, les participants en ont appris davantage, notamment, sur les processus de recrutement de travailleurs temporaires ou permanents, les possibilités de recrutement dans divers pays francophones, et les mesures mises en place par Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada (CIC) pour faciliter et accélérer le recrutement de candidats internationaux francophones et bilingues.
La Presse – La communauté d’affaires plaide pour davantage d’immigrants
Il y a trop d’immigrants au Québec, selon un répondant sur deux à un sondage CROP réalisé en février. Trop d’immigrants? Dans le milieu des affaires, on pense tout le contraire. Il faut accueillir de 10 000 à 15 000 immigrants de plus au Québec par année, plaide la Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain. Parce qu’ils peuvent nous aider à combler nos besoins en main-d’oeuvre, certes, mais aussi parce qu’ils peuvent nous donner la clé de nouveaux marchés. […]Norma Kozhaya, économiste en chef et vice-présidente à la recherche au Conseil du patronat, croit aussi en l’importance d’attirer ici des immigrants qui ont le sens de l’entrepreneuriat ou qui sont déjà des gens d’affaires dans leur pays d’origine.
The Now News – Share Loses Funds for English Program
It started as a volunteer program for new Canadians in the Tri-Cities to develop their English skills. More than a decade later, the English practice groups program is one of the most popular and cost-effective services offered by the SHARE Family & Community Services Society. But that is about to change, due to a lack of funding. Last week, SHARE announced it will be scaling down its English practice groups program for a three-month period starting on April 1. The charity found out the program was not approved for funding by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. SHARE CEO Martin Wyant said word the program would not be getting federal funding was both “surprising” and “disappointing.” […] Wyant explained for years funding came from the province, but last year the feds took over responsibility for settlement services in B.C. SHARE reapplied to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, but recently found out its application has been denied.
Globe and Mail – Tories Defend Use of Kijiji Data in Face of Opposition Ridicule
The Conservative government is defending its use of Kijiji to support its claims of a growing skills shortage in Canada, even though the Parliamentary Budget Officer says the website’s wonky job data are throwing off the government’s math. Ministers were peppered with questions Wednesday from opposition MPs who ridiculed the government for choosing to rely on data based on an outside software program that searches for online job ads – including on Kijiji – rather than reports from Statistics Canada. Those reports say surveys of employers show job vacancies are declining, not rising. […] Labour and skills shortages were one of the key reasons Ottawa expanded Canada’s controversial temporary foreign worker program. The number of temporary foreign workers reached more than 200,000 in 2012, nearly doubling the number from 2000.
