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.
Orangeville – Town of Shelburne Preparing for Future Newcomers
The changing demographics in the Town of Shelburne have council preparing for the future. On Monday, Nov. 4, council heard from Ron Munro, a spokesperson for a local committee under the provincial program Community Immigrant Retention in Rural Ontario (CIRRO). He informed council the economic and residential face of Shelburne is transforming and newcomers could benefit from services provided by the town. […] CIRRO is a collaborative initiative from a variety of ministries, including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and Ministry of Economic Development and Trade among others. The program provides strategies to rural communities in attracting and retaining newcomers, while providing information regarding municipal services, employment, new business, transportation issues, culture shock and potential racism.
London Free Press – Irene Mathyssen Urges Change After Walji Murder-Suicide
New Democrat Irene Mathyssen is pushing for changes to the country’s immigration policy after a London family — Mohamed Walji, his wife Shyroz and their disabled adult daughter Qyzra — were found shot to death in a murder-suicide in their apartment on Richmond St. The family had tried but failed to get permanent status in Canada since arriving as visitors from Tanzania 15 years ago. Immigration Canada last year issued them a “removal order,” meaning they could have been deported at any time. […] The Waljis came to Canada for the sake of Qyzra, who had cerebral palsy. They said she faced discrimination back home and would be restricted from quality education and health care. Qyzra — who could not speak, but used a communication device — graduated from Oakridge secondary school in June. […] Matthysen speculated medical needs were a factor in the family’s inability to obtain permanent residency in Canada. In Canada, the family never had medical benefits.
Toronto Star – Welfare Cut to Failed Refugees Awaiting Deportation
Ottawa is “aggressively” pursuing failed refugees by reporting them to provincial authorities to cut them off social assistance, the Star has learned. Community groups and legal clinics say they have seen a surge of cases over the last few months where failed refugees have had their government cheques terminated by the province as soon as the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued an “enforceable removal order” against them. […] Critics say some of these welfare recipients are still in the middle of an appeal, a humanitarian application, applying for travel documents or waiting for scheduling by CBSA for deportation, and are not yet ready for removal for months to come.
Montreal Gazette – Charter Could Turn Away French-Speaking Immigrants to Quebec
Quebec’s policy of favouring French-speaking immigrants over others has been like a welcome mat to the thousands of francophone Muslims from countries like Morocco, Algeria and Lebanon who now call Montreal home. But some believe the Charter of Quebec Values tabled in the National Assembly last week will do just the opposite; its ban on the wearing of religious symbols by public sector workers discouraging not only Muslim immigrants, but others who will see the Charter as a sign of Quebec’s intolerance toward minorities or of an unstable social climate. […] Montreal has the second-largest Muslim community of any Canadian city; 221,040 Muslims were living in the census metropolitan area of Montreal in 2011, according to the census.
Inter Press Service – Secret Evidence Plays Growing Role in Canada’s Immigration Courts
Gossip and rumour based on secret intelligence sources may be all that is needed to deport a foreign national from Canada on national security grounds, legal experts say. Secret evidence has been used “in a whole range of immigration procedures,” such as applications for permanent residence or citizenship in Canada, “which do not involve actual hearings but are simply administrative procedures,” says Sharryn Aiken, a Queen’s University law professor and immigration and refugee expert. […] “What we are seeing is a stunning intensification of the use of secret evidence in a range of procedures,” she told IPS. “What we have seen, frankly even before 9/11, [but] a trend that has intensified in the aftermath of 9/11, is the increasing tendency of the federal government to criminalise and securitise non-citizens.
La Crosse Tribune – [U.S.] Immigration Lawyer: Reform Vital to Tapping Global Talent Pool
Immigration reform hits home for La Crosse when viewing the talent pool for hospitals and universities instead of just the stereotypical farm labor, said a lawyer who specializes on the issue. “There are different levels of immigration,” said Ben Kurten, immigration law chairman at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren in Milwaukee. “Technology, universities, hospitals — a lot of nurses and doctors come from other countries. […] U.S. immigration laws limit the number of visas for highly skilled workers, such as technicians, physicians, professors and therapists, to 85,000 a year, creating a backlog and unfilled positions, he said. Kurten said he and others in the field want Congress to at least double that.
