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.
Métro Montréal – Des nouvelles règles de citoyenneté du Canada dénoncées dans une étude
Les nouvelles règles pour obtenir la citoyenneté canadienne pourraient être discriminatoires, souligne une nouvelle étude de l’Institut de recherche en politique publique (IRPP), un organisme indépendant sans but lucratif. Pour arriver à cette conclusion, la chercheuse de l’Université d’Ottawa, Elke Winter, s’est penchée sur tous les changements apportés par le gouvernement conservateur depuis 2009. Depuis quelques années, les exigences linguistiques ont été resserrées, la chasse aux fraudeurs s’est accentuée et les examens de citoyenneté sont plus exigeants. «La procédure de naturalisation s’est considérablement alourdie et a été allongée depuis une dizaine d’années, ce qui a considérablement désavantagé les candidats moins scolarisés», note l’auteure.
Vancouver Sun – Stephen Harper Takes Aim at Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has presided over a record increase in the use of temporary foreign labourers in Canada, has slammed the program because of “blatant” abuses and exploitation. […] The scathing critique was made last week. A recording of the meeting was provided this week to 24 Hours Vancouver. […] Harper sounded frustrated and even angry in the audio recording as he discussed how some Canadian companies and sectors have used temporary foreign workers. He even echoed the NDP’s argument that more emphasis should be placed on bringing in permanent residents who would have equal rights with Canadians, including the right to bargain collectively. While the federal government has been conducting a review of the program, and has announced some changes, there has been no indication Ottawa plans to sharply reduce the intake of temporary migrants in favour of permanent residents.
The Guardian – Detention Centre Castigated Over Death of Elderly Man
The chief inspector of prisons has accused the privately run immigration detention centre at Heathrow of a shocking loss of humanity after a terminally ill Canadian man was kept in handcuffs as he died in hospital. Staff ignored a doctor’s report declaring the 84-year-old unfit for detention or deportation and in need of social care. The chief inspector, Nick Hardwick, said that on at least two occasions staff at the Geo-run Harmondsworth immigration removal centre have needlessly handcuffed elderly, vulnerable and incapacitated detainees in what he called “an excessive and shocking manner”. He said that the two men were so ill that one died shortly after his handcuffs were removed and the other, the 84-year-old, who has been named as Alois Dvorzac, died while still restrained.
Vancouver 24 Hrs – Housing, Jobs a Hurdle for New Westminster Immigrants
Getting a job and a roof are the toughest challenges for immigrants arriving in New Westminster, according to a city report, particularly as the vast majority of the newcomers don’t speak English as a first language. […] As part of its efforts, the city has — along with Citizenship and Immigration Canada — funded $850,000 to settlement and social service organizations to help. Roja Bagheri, a MOSAIC settlement worker, said the data collection is an important step as it shows the city’s trying to learn more about its immigrant population. Her organization, along with the New West library, regularly hosts seminars to help newcomers find jobs and housing.
Toronto Star – Citizenship Changes Work Against Immigrant Integration, Report Finds
Recent government policy changes have made Canadian citizenship more restrictive and are counterproductive to immigrant integration, says a new study by a Canadian think-tank. […] The impacts of these changes are evident in the decline in the number of Canadian citizenships granted over the last few years, from 176,572 in 2008 to 113,142 in 2012, said the report by University of Ottawa sociology professor Elke Winter. […] The more restrictive nature of the citizenship process has caused a massive backlog and lengthened the processing times. As of July 2013, it took 25 months to process routine Canadian citizenship applications and 35 months for cases where applicants were asked to fill out a residence questionnaire to prove their physical presence in Canada. […] All these changes have moved Canada from a model where citizenship is viewed as an important step within an ongoing integration process towards a model that depicts naturalization as the “first prize” at the end of successful integration, said Winter.
Toronto Star – Ottawa’s New Rules Put Parent Sponsorship Out of Reach
The federal government lifted a two-year moratorium on parent and grandparent sponsorship earlier this month. But the sponsorship program has reopened with stricter conditions: the number of new applications accepted is capped at 5,000 for 2014 and higher financial requirements will be imposed. […]The federal government would have Canadians believe parents and grandparents weigh down the health-care system, rely on welfare and use up subsidized housing. But these claims are rooted in fear not facts and assumptions rather than data. According to the Ontario Council for Agencies Serving Immigrants, there is no evidence showing that parents with permanent residency in Canada are a burden on the health-care system.
