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.
London Free Press – Immigrant Mentorship Program Offers Solutions to Skills Gap
It may seem counterintuitive after years of economic downturn and high unemployment — but Sarnia-Lambton is actually facing a looming shortage of skilled workers. Stagnant population growth, combined with an aging population, will soon create a critical lack of skilled workers. [… A solution is] is attracting skilled immigrants. The Immigrant Mentorship Program — launched this spring as a collaborative project between the SLWDB, the Local Immigration Partnership and the YMCA — is one of the ways Sarnia-Lambton is looking to do that. Julie Allen, who’s the co-ordinator with the program — funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation — said it aims to match new immigrants with a career mentor in the local community.
Chronicle Herald – Universities: Immigration Law Hurts Enrolment
Canadian universities say they are being hamstrung by a law that was intended to clamp down on immigration scammers. Bill C-35 was first titled the Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act. It banned unauthorized people from acting as “immigration consultants” to prey on people looking for a way into Canada. Though the bill was passed two years ago, it was only in May that universities received the final edict that it also applies to them. That means university staff cannot advise international students on matters like applying for a visa, work permit or permanent residence.
Radio Canada International – Grève dans les centres de traitement des visas du Canada à l’étranger
Les activités des quinze plus grands centres de traitement des visas du Canada à l’étranger seront paralysées, lundi. Les agents du service étranger, dont les diplomates canadiens, font un coup d’éclat après des mois de conflit avec le gouvernement fédéral. Les diplomates en grève ont décidé d’augmenter leurs moyens de pression, après qu’une tentative d’obtenir un arbitrage exécutoire avec le gouvernement fédéral eut échoué vendredi. L’Association professionnelle des agents du service extérieur a accusé le président du Conseil du trésor, Tony Clement, de négocier de mauvaise foi en insistant sur six conditions préalables avant d’accepter l’arbitrage exécutoire.
L’Express Ottawa – Une subvention de 119 000 $ pour le FECO
Le député provincial d’Ottawa-Centre, également ministre du travail, Yasir Naqvi, a officialisé une subvention de 119 000 $ de la Fondation Trillium pour le Fonds d’emprunt communautaire d’Ottawa (FECO). Cette subvention étalée sur deux ans permettra à l’organisme de poursuivre sa mission pour les nouveaux arrivants. À savoir des prêts à court terme pour des individus et des groupes proposant des concepts d’entreprise dignes d’intérêt et possédant déjà une certaine expérience de travail au Canada. «Cette subvention de la Fondation Trillium élargira leur champ d’action dans diverses communautés culturelles. Elle améliorera aussi les possibilités de travail indépendant pour de nombreux nouveaux résidents d’Ottawa», a fait savoir l’élu d’Ottawa-Centre.
CBC – U.K. Sets $4,700 Bond on Visas for Africans, South Asians
Britain’s Home Office confirmed Monday it will demand a 3,000-pound ($4,740) refundable bond for visas for “high-risk” visitors from six of its former colonies in Africa and Asia — a pilot scheme that has brought warnings at home and abroad that it will damage trade. Britain said in a statement Monday that it will go ahead with the pilot scheme despite the outrage, charges of discrimination and warnings of retaliation. […] For now, the targeted countries are Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Government data shows citizens of those countries applied for more than half a million visas last year. […] The Home Office said it hopes the bond system deters overstaying of visas and recovers costs of foreign nationals using public services like hospitals and schools.
CBC – Migrant Worker in Leamington Awarded $23K in Damages
Ontario’s human rights tribunal has ordered a migrant worker to be paid $23,500 in damages after ruling he suffered racial abuse while working at a greenhouse in Leamington, Ont. The tribunal found that Adrian Monrose, a St. Lucian migrant worker who came to Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program in 2009, was subjected to racist slurs while working for Double Diamond Acres Ltd. The tribunal found Monrose was fired and sent back to St. Lucia shortly after complaining about the racist comments he received from a supervisor. […] Monrose returned to Canada in 2010, he says solely to make this complaint.
