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.
Toronto Star – Mexican Woman’s Death Prompts Calls for Civilian Oversight of Border Agency
Refugee advocates are calling for civilian oversight of the Canada Border Services Agency after a Mexican woman who had been working in a hotel died in hospital following her detention in the immigration holding centre at Vancouver airport. […] Her death was not made public until this week. It has triggered a firestorm of criticism over the lack of accountability of the border agency, with many advocates calling for the establishment of an independent civilian oversight mechanism. […] What also concerns these groups is that “there has been no public explanation from the CBSA for what happened; whether anything could have been done to prevent the death and what steps are being taken now to determine whether there was any failing on the part of CBSA officials who were responsible for her care while she was in custody.”
CBC – Lucia Vega Jimenez Found Hanging in CBSA Shower Stall
The B.C. Coroners Service has confirmed that 42-year-old Lucia Vega Jimenez was found hanging from a shower stall in the immigration holding centre at the Vancouver airport, on Dec. 20, 2013. She died one week later in a Vancouver hospital without regaining consciousness and was removed from life-support with her family present, says the coroners service in a written release. News of Vega Jimenez’s death coming to light more than a month after it happened has angered many in international and local communities. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says it wonders what took so long and whether there have been other in-custody deaths with the Canada Border Services Agency that have not been reported. […] A written release from [No One Is Illegal] said Vega Jimenez had a job as a hotel worker in Vancouver when she was arrested last month over an unpaid transit ticket, transferred to jail, then sent to the CBSA holding cells at the Vancouver airport to await deportation.
24 Hours Vancouver – Job Gap Exists in Canada Between Skilled Immigrants and Locals
The employment gap between immigrants and those born in Canada is highest among those with university-level education, according to new BC Stats data. The findings released Wednesday revealed that while 90% of Canadians with degrees had jobs in the province as of the fourth quarter of 2013, only 77% of their immigrant counterparts did. That translated to 3.5% fewer university-educated immigrants with jobs in the same period in 2012. The numbers, however, don’t address what types of jobs the immigrants are holding. A foreign-trained doctor working at a fast-food restaurant is still considered employed.
CBC – Refugee Health-Care Cuts by Ottawa Before the Courts
A federal court judge questioned Thursday whether provincial governments have truly filled in the gap left by cutbacks to health-care coverage for refugee claimants announced 18 months ago. […] Justice Anne Mactavish is hearing a legal challenge launched by Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers. Government lawyers have argued refugee claimants can still access health care through other programs, including those put in place by some provinces to reinstate access to essential and emergency care. But though Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario have all taken steps to bridge the gap, not all offer the same level of coverage. […] Neeta Logsetty, who represents Citizenship and Immigration Canada, said many refugee claimants had also received donations from pharmaceutical companies and help from doctors, as well as provincial assistance.
Changement de cap partiel à la Commission de l’immigration et du statut de réfugié du Canada (CISR). L’organisme a finalement décidé de publier toutes les décisions qui seront rendues par la Section d’appel des réfugiés (SAR), du moins pour un certain temps. Cela permettra aux avocats d’avoir accès à l’ensemble de la jurisprudence. Le Devoir avait révélé le 16 janvier que seules les décisions jugées « d’intérêt public » seraient rendues publiques par ce tribunal fédéral mis sur pied en décembre 2012. […] Or, dans un courriel envoyé ces derniers jours aux intervenants du milieu et obtenu par Le Devoir, la CISR revient en partie sur sa décision.
Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada – Communiqué – Plus d’options pour les demandeurs de citoyenneté de l’Ontario
Le ministre de la Citoyenneté et de l’Immigration du Canada, Chris Alexander, a annoncé aujourd’hui qu’à compter du 30 janvier 2014, Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada (CIC) acceptera comme preuve de la connaissance de la langue, à l’appui d’une demande de citoyenneté, les certificats présentés par les personnes qui terminent avec succès le programme ontarien de cours de langue. La reconnaissance de ce programme de formation linguistique facilitera l’accès à la citoyenneté pour les demandeurs de l’Ontario.
