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.
Asian Pacific Post – Criminal Record Hastens Loss of Immigration Status
Recently, the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act (FRFCA) was passed into law. This new law brings in significant and widespread changes to many aspects of Canada’s immigration program. Of key significance are: Loss of appeal rights to the Immigration Appeal Division; An obligation to attend CSIS interviews; A new authority for the Minister to deny entry to Canada; Limitation of humanitarian and compassionate relief; Greater penalties for misrepresentation
Journal de Montréal – Gaétan Cousineau au Devoir – Profilage racial: la lutte est inachevée
Le président sortant de la Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ), Gaétan Cousineau, part avec le sentiment du devoir inachevé. Québec n’en fait pas assez en matière de lutte contre le profilage racial. Dans une entrevue exclusive, M. Cousineau déplore l’attentisme du gouvernement. Tel un rêveur qui lance une bouteille à la mer, il espère que l’État accordera à la lutte contre le profilage racial la même importance qu’à la lutte contre l’homophobie il n’y a pas si longtemps, en se dotant d’une stratégie nationale. Depuis la publication de son rapport sur le profilage racial, en 2011, la Commission n’a pas obtenu l’écoute espérée auprès du gouvernement. Une table interministérielle, formée de six ministères (Justice, Sécurité publique, Immigration, Éducation, Santé et Services sociaux et Emploi et Solidarité) s’est réunie environ cinq fois.
Winnipeg Free Press – Local Syrians Argue for Refugee Influx
As Syria falls further into despair and the number of people who’ve fled rises above 1.7 million, Manitobans with affected loved ones hope some will find a safe haven here. Canada promised Wednesday to resettle up to 1,300 Syrian refugees by 2015. The 200 most vulnerable will be assisted by the federal government. The remaining 1,100 Syrian refugees will be privately sponsored, Citizenship and Immigration Canada said. […] The president of the Syrian Assembly of Manitoba said they started the ball rolling last year for Syrians to apply to immigrate through the provincial nominee program. Some were having difficulty getting the documents they need from government offices in Syria, said Jude Kasas. It’s good news Canada is now accepting refugees from Syria, but it seems the world has done too little too late and now there are more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees, said Kasas.
Calgary Herald – Workers Needed for Post-Flood Rebuild: Redford
Premier Alison Redford says Alberta needs more workers in the aftermath of devastating flooding last month and that could mean revisiting changes to the temporary foreign workers program. Redford said Friday at the start of the Stampede parade that she wants to talk to Prime Minister Stephen Harper about immigration issues while he’s in Calgary for the event. […] Alberta uses more temporary foreign workers – 70,000 are now employed in the province – than any other Canadian jurisdiction. These workers range from highly skilled employees doing technical work in the oilsands to low-skilled employees at fast-food chains and convenience stores. But the program has been harshly criticized as allowing employers to exploit foreign workers by underpaying them while keeping Canadians out of work.
Yahoo News – New Study Underlines the End of Canadian Workers Draining into U.S.
Here’s some news that likely didn’t make headlines on the Fourth of July: Immigration numbers suggest the flow of citizens moving across the Canada/U.S. border is gradually leaning in our favour. A study by the Association for Canadian Studies, provided to QMI Agency, suggests fewer Canadians are moving to the U.S., while an influx of Americans are coming north of the border. […] The study does underline one key point, which has been increasingly evident for a number of years: the brain drain from Canada to the U.S. appears to be a thing of the past.
Spruce Grove Examiner – “Unskilled” Temporary Foreign Workers Still Having to Fend for Themselves, Despite Provincial Changes
Although officially a federal program, new immigration options for foreign workers were announced by the Alberta government on June 20, 2013. Under the expanded Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), which now includes an Alberta Work Experience category, temporary foreign workers can now nominate themselves for permanent residency, rather than having to wait for their employers to nominate them. According to a release from the provincial government, these workers will need to have worked in a key in-demand occupation for at least two years, along with other requirements.
