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.
Houston Chronicle – A Modest Fix Before [U.S.] Immigration Reform
Although congressional efforts to reform this nation’s broken immigration system are as knotted up as twisted rope on an abandoned ship, lawmakers truly interested in reform could grab hold of at least one strand and get something done with relatively little dispute. They could approve a sensible, practical guest-worker program that meets the needs of the nation’s agricultural interests, protects workers and keeps the nation’s borders inviolate. The model should be Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, established in 1966 as a bilateral agreement between Canada and Jamaica and later expanded to include Mexico and other countries.
Ottawa Citizen – Canadian Visa Rule Angers Europeans
Mexico isn’t the only country growing increasingly irate over Canada’s decision to impose travel visas on its citizens. Last week, the European Parliament voted in favour of a reciprocity clause that would slap visas on countries that saddle citizens of member nations with the same. Canada requires visas for European Union citizens from Romania, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. The clause, which has yet to become law, means Canadians travelling to those countries could eventually face visa hurdles. […] It’s not clear how many Canadians travel to the Czech Republic on an annual basis but the country has been among the most vocal since Canada imposed a visa on its citizens in 2009 due to skyrocketing asylum claims, many of them ethnic Roma. The country has even vowed not to ratify the yet-to-be-concluded Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union if Canada doesn’t lift the visa requirement.
Le Franco – Les nouveaux arrivants peinent à se loger
Les appartements abordables sont de plus en plus rares dans la capitale albertaine, ce qui rend la tâche difficile au Centre d’accueil et d’établissement qui essaie de répondre à la demande de ses nombreux clients. Le Centre d’accueil et d’établissement (CAÉ) du Nord de l’Alberta constate les effets d’une immigration considérablement accrue cette année en Alberta. Son directeur, Georges Bahaya, témoigne qu’au mois de juin, un trimestre seulement après le début de leur année financière, le CAÉ avait déjà atteint 41 % de ses cibles annuelles. Juin et juillet ont marqué le point culminant de l’afflux des clients au CAÉ. « Nous avons maintenant atteint 76 % de nos cibles et nous ne sommes même pas à la fin du deuxième trimestre », souligne le directeur du Centre d’accueil d’Edmonton.
Radio Canada International – Une autre musulmane voilée est invectivée par un Québécois
Charte des valeurs ou charte de la discorde. Dans la province du Québec, les gestes de stigmatisation à l’endroit des musulmans augmentent depuis deux semaines. Ils coïncident avec la publication d’un projet du gouvernement de cette province qui propose de bannir le voile et d’autres signes religieux de plusieurs lieux publics. Une autre vidéo a été mise en ligne cette semaine qui montre une femme voilée insultée par un homme dans un autobus municipal de Montréal. La conversation a été filmée il y a plusieurs jours par un jeune usager du transport. Il n’a filmé que la dernière minute environ d’une altercation qui aurait duré tout près de 5 minutes.
York Region – Mobile Program Helps Newcomers Learn to Start Small Businesses
A mobile program that helps newcomers learn to start small businesses in Canada is making its way through York region. […] The program offers newcomers the opportunity to learn about the nuances of business culture and interpersonal communication in the Canadian environment, as well as ways to develop social and professional networks. Through interactive group workshops, you learn about market research, financial projections, the regulatory and tax framework for small business and how to develop a business plan.
Toronto Star – Visitors Must Submit Fingerprints and Photos to Ottawa for Visas
Starting Oct. 23, travellers from 11 countries must submit their fingerprints and photos when applying for a Canadian visitor, student or work visa. They include those from Albania, Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Tunisia. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has released a country list, following the imposition of the biometrics requirement earlier this month on Colombia, Haiti and Jamaica. Visitors from these countries must pay an extra $85 for Ottawa to collect their fingerprints and photos in their visa applications — as part of Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act passed last year to tighten border entry to the country. […] Starting Dec. 11, visitors from 16 other countries also face the biometrics requirements, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Sri Lanka, Syria, Vietnam and Yemen.
