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 – Canada Closing Door on North Korean Refugees
A recent decision by the refugee appeal tribunal to side with Ottawa and overturn a North Korean woman’s refugee status has sent shockwaves among asylum seekers who fled the Communist regime. Minseo Kim, 45, and her daughter, Sangah Rhee, 2, came to Canada via South Korea in early 2013 and were granted asylum by the Immigration and Refugee Board in April. However, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander successfully appealed the decision with the board’s newly established refugee appeal division, arguing that Kim and Rhee should not be recognized as refugees because North Koreans are automatically South Korean citizens.
The Guardian – [British] Government Considers EU Immigration Cap of 75,000 a Year
The government is considering a plan to impose a cap of 75,000 on annual EU immigration following a review of freedom of movement policies, it has emerged. But the suggested policy, which emerged in a leaked government report, has already been criticised by one senior Tory backbench MP who said that the government will not be able to stem an expected increase in immigration in January from Bulgaria and Romania. The reported proposal, and criticism from a senior Conservative, reflect increasing tensions within the party over how to deal with fear from the electorate over immigration which has been fanned by sections of the media.
Radio Canada International – Un à trois millions de citoyens. Quelle est la taille réelle de la diaspora canadienne?
La taille de la diaspora canadienne est, toutes proportions gardées, particulièrement importante dans le monde si on la compare au relativement petit nombre de citoyens canadiens qui est de 35 millions. Combien de Canadiens vivent aujourd’hui à l’étranger? Cette semaine nous répondons à La bonne question d’un auditeur européen, Monsieur Pierre Mollard qui habite le sud de la France. Certains experts avancent qu’il y aurait entre 50 à 100 millions de Chinois vivants aujourd’hui à l’étranger. La plus grosse diaspora chinoise se trouve en Asie du Sud-Est, où elle constitue le plus ancien et le plus important foyer d’accueil de la communauté chinoise.
The Record – Asylum Claims Plummet After Reforms to Refugee System
A year after Ottawa overhauled the refugee system, processing time of new asylum claims is down but there has also been a 50 per cent drop in the claims received — sign of refugees giving up under the new rigid processing. As of September, Canada received a total of just 7,378 claims, a significant drop from 20,144 last year and a peak of 25,088 in 2011. […] The drastic decrease in the overall claims received came mainly from the 35 designated countries of origin — nations the federal government deems safe for refugees — where claims have plummeted to 477 cases from a total of 4,678 in 2012. While critics lament that the numbers show Canada has closed its door to refugees in the name of achieving efficiency through the refugee reforms, Ottawa attributed the shrinking backlog and asylum claim intake to the new measures in deterring fraudulent claims.
Victoria News – Tibet Immigrants Make Long Journey to Greater Victoria
The first of 50 displaced Tibetans will arrive at Victoria International Airport tomorrow night to start new lives, but advocates are struggling to find enough local sponsors to meet demand. The group is part of 1,000 Tibetans authorized to settle in Canada from Arunachal Pradesh, a remote area of Northeast India, after a direct appeal from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “We don’t have any government funds, so this is really based on how much money we can raise and sponsors we can find,” said Tsering Dolma, treasurer with the Project Tibet Society, which is co-ordinating the immigration effort. Canadian immigration laws require new immigrants to seek out a Canadian citizen or permanent resident as a sponsor. The sponsor is responsible for that person’s well-being for a period of up to a year upon arrival.
Globe and Mail – Ottawa Vows Federal Changes Won’t Disrupt ESL Training in B.C.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada says federal English-as-a-second-language programs for new British Columbians will continue despite the provincial government’s concerns about funding changes. A statement released Thursday from Citizenship and Immigration Canada says the federal government remains committed to helping new Canadians fully integrate into the economy, and it will assume direct management of settlement programs in B.C. in April. The statement also says Citizenship and Immigration Canada has been working with the B.C. government to ensure there will be no service interruptions during the transition.
