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 – 79 associations dénoncent la fin du programme Immigrants investisseurs
Les représentants de 79 associations du Grand Vancouver demandent la restauration du programme pour immigrants investisseurs et soutiennent qu’Ottawa a manqué d’humanité en plus de créer une image négative des immigrants. Lors du dévoilement du budget, il y a deux semaines, le ministre des Finances, Jim Flaherty, a annoncé qu’il mettait fin au programme Immigrants investisseurs. Ottawa juge qu’il ne génère pas assez de retombées économiques et qu’il est dévalué par rapport à celui des autres pays. Dans une lettre adressée au ministre fédéral de la Citoyenneté et de l’Immigration, Chris Alexander, les signataires affirment que le gouvernement de Stephen Harper a été injuste envers les immigrants investisseurs.
Vancouver Sun – Prairies Lure Immigrants as B.C. Flounders
Alberta has overtaken B.C. as Western Canada’s preeminent destination for immigrants. The Canada West Foundation, in its latest quarterly economic bulletin, reports that in the mid- to late-1990s, 70 per cent of immigrants to Western Canada — those in both family class and economic categories, plus refugees — were B.C.-bound. But no longer. Since 2000, immigration to Beautiful B.C. has stagnated; this, in addition to B.C.’s loss of inhabitants to net provincial out-migration. As of 2013, for the first time, Alberta out-ranked B.C. in terms of its immigration numbers, according to the foundation’s research. Federal statistics show the shift in favour of Alberta and the two other Prairie provinces, starting about 2005.
CBC – Immigration System Failing Another Independent Restaurateur
Another Halifax restaurant owner has come forward to say Canada’s immigration system is failing him. On Monday, CBC News reported that the head chef at a popular Thai restaurant in Halifax has been told to leave the country. Victor Woo is an independent restaurateur who wants to open an authentic Indian restaurant in downtown Halifax. […] He’s even travelled to India several times looking for a skilled chef to work at his new restaurant, Mirchi Tandoor. […] The recruiting is easy, it’s getting the chefs to Canada that’s impossible, said Woo. The citizenship and immigration office in New Delhi has turned down work visa applications from two different chef applicants.
CBC – Scrapped “Millionaire Visa” Could Become Subject of Lawsuit
Representatives of some 40 organizations in Metro Vancouver say they are considering taking legal action against the federal government after it scrapped the Immigrant Investor Program. The Immigrant Investor Program, launched in 1986, offered visas to business people whose net worth totaled at least $1.6 million and who were willing to lend the Canadian government $800,000 interest-free over the course of five years. Last month, the government announced it was ending the program, and scrapping up to 65,000 “millionaire visa” applications backlogged worldwide. […] Now representatives of Lower Mainland organizations are angry, and are considering taking legal against the federal government.
Toronto Star – Calls for Independent Oversight of Border Police Renewed
Advocacy groups are renewing calls for an independent oversight body to investigate complaints against the Canada Border Services Agency, pointing to recent incidents of alleged abuses by enforcement officials. Seven years after a judicial inquiry recommendation to subject the agency to independent review, the call has fallen on deaf ears by the federal government, said Josh Paterson of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association. […] Unlike police officers, who are subject to independent civilian oversights, complaints against CBSA are investigated and adjudicated by the agency itself. A number of recent cases including the death of a Mexican woman in CBSA custody in Vancouver have prompted the civil liberties association, Canadian Council for Refugees and Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers to renew the demand. […] The CBSA did not respond to a request for comment.
La Presse – Le défi de la retraite pour un immigré
Djamel n’avait pas grand-chose dans ses bagages à son arrivée au Québec, par un dimanche de février 1992. Ni tuque, ni bottes, ni mitaines. Presque pas d’épargne dans son compte en banque. Et ses diplômes et expériences de travail obtenus en Algérie, son pays natal, ne valaient à peu près rien aux yeux des employeurs d’ici. À 35 ans, âge où bien des Québécois possèdent déjà une propriété et ont commencé à épargner pour leurs vieux jours, Djamel repartait à zéro, comme un grand nombre de nouveaux arrivants.
