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.
Express Toronto – Le CFT applaudit le rétablissement du soutien médical aux demandeurs d’asile
Le Centre francophone de Toronto (CFT) se réjouit du fait que le ministère de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée (MSSLD) de l’Ontario rétablit l’accès aux soins de santé pour les demandeurs d’asile. Les clients du CFT qui sont demandeurs d’asile ont beaucoup souffert des restrictions imposées par le gouvernement fédéral sur l’accès aux soins de santé dans le cadre du Programme fédéral de santé intérimaire (PFSI) depuis le 1er juillet 2012. En effet, les services médicaux du CFT comptent plus de 250 clients dans cette position, qui se sont vus interdire l’accès à des spécialistes, des médicaments, des soins hospitaliers, etc.
Courrier Laval – Plus de 3 M$ pour les immigrants à Laval
La ministre de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles, Diane De Courcy, la ministre responsable de la région de Laval, Nicole Léger, le maire, Marc Demers, ainsi que les députés Suzanne Proulx et Léo Bureau-Blouin ont dévoilé l’Entente spécifique en matière d’immigration pour la région de Laval pour la période 2013-2018, le 17 décembre. Le gouvernement du Québec et les partenaires locaux investiront, d’ici les cinq prochaines années, 3 125 000 $ pour favoriser l’établissement, à Laval, des personnes issues des communautés culturelles. Le gouvernement du Québec injectera 1,9 M$, dont 1,6 M$ proviennent du ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles.
La Presse – Nouvelle politique de soins aux réfugiés: une mesure invalide?
Le gouvernement fédéral a outrepassé ses propres limites en réduisant la protection en matière de santé des demandeurs du statut de réfugié sans consulter les provinces et les autres parties concernées, ont accusé des médecins et des avocats mardi. Des avocats des Médecins canadiens pour les soins aux réfugiés et de l’Association canadienne des avocats en droit des réfugiés ont déclaré devant une cour fédérale que cette décision n’était ni un acte du Parlement ni un règlement, ce qui, selon eux, rend cette mesure invalide.
GMA News – 200 Jobs in Demand in Canada With No Job Offer Requirement
With global competition to attract the best and brightest of candidates, the Canadian province of Saskatchewan has just published a five-page list of in demand occupations in that province to attract high skilled applicants to immigrate with no job offer requirement. Those who follow Canadian Immigration law will note that this new Saskatchewan program comes after the Canadian province of Quebec announced its own program giving priority to nurses a few months ago. As a side note, the Canadian federal program only has a mere 24 occupations on its list. The Saskatchewan program, however, is widespread and gives priority to applicants with experience in one of two hundred occupations. […] While the Saskatchewan program is very attractive it seems that the quota allotted will not be as generous as the 20,000 allocated under Quebec’s regime.
Winnipeg Free Press – Refugees Face Luck of the Draw
An exhaustive study into how refugee claims are handled in Canada has raised disturbing questions about both the fairness and quality of decisions that could be matters of life or death for thousands of people seeking asylum. The study by Osgoode Hall law Prof. Sean Rehaag found “vast disparities” in the decisions of different members of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), which is often the first official stop in the refugee-claim process for those who wash up on Canada’s shores or who arrive by other means. Mr. Rehaag’s study, subtitled The Luck of the Draw, also exposed inconsistencies in dispositions from the Federal Court, which serves as an appeal court of last resort for claimants who were turned down by the refugee board.
Inside Toronto – Scarborough Doctor Praises Province’s Move to Provide “Temporary” Health Care for Refugees
Ontario’s decision to provide “temporary” health care to refugee claimants cut off by the federal government is being hailed by a Scarborough physician as well as the City of Toronto. Canada’s immigration ministry, which pays for the care of asylum seekers, changed its system last June, cutting off many claimants in the city. The province last week announced it is starting a temporary program to fill the gaps created by the federal government’s cuts and “will send them the bill” for it in 2014. […] The province is certain its temporary program will mean fewer emergency room visits – advocates say claimants’ health conditions worsen into emergencies because they are not treated earlier – and less stress for health providers.
