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.
La Presse – Une peine réduite pour un proxénète derange
La Cour d’appel du Québec a récemment accepté de réduire d’une journée la peine de prison d’un proxénète étranger afin de lui donner une chance de demeurer au Canada. Ce type de décision est vivement critiqué par Jason Kenney, ministre fédéral de l’Immigration. Mohammed Abdulkadir Abdurazak, un résident permanent, avait été condamné en 2011 à deux ans de détention pour proxénétisme. L’infraction est passible d’un emprisonnement de dix ans et la peine imposée «est au bas de la fourchette en semblable matière», selon la Cour d’appel. Quelques mois après cette décision, Immigration Canada a entamé des procédures d’expulsion contre le détenu. Or, la loi prévoit une expulsion très rapide pour les étrangers qui ont été condamnés à au moins deux ans de prison pour un crime passible d’au moins dix ans de prison. Le gouvernement canadien parle alors de «grande criminalité».
The Tyee – Conservatives Slam BC Liberal Gov’t for Hiding Details of Foreign Miners Investigation
Today the BC Conservatives issued a statement headlined “BC Conservatives demand government release details of investigation on temporary foreign miners” and demanded “the Christy Clark Liberal government release details of their investigation into allegations miners coming to British Columbia are paying recruiters in China up to $12,500 for their positions. The Clark Liberal government did not release details of its investigation, even after receiving a Freedom of Information Act request.
Atlantic Canada’s declining and aging population is a demographic time bomb. The problem is even more acute in the region’s rural communities. But a proper immigration strategy could be incredibly important to address the situation and create economic growth and opportunity. […] In Canada, one of the most innovative immigration programs is in Manitoba. In fact, Manitoba last year attracted 16,000 new Canadians; Nova Scotia attracted around 2,000. Manitoba’s focus has been to engage communities and businesses, and to target immigration around economic opportunities. That same targeted approach could work in Nova Scotia.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada News Release – Canada’s New and Improved Federal Skilled Worker Program
Citizenship and Immigration Canada will be accepting applications to the new and improved Federal Skilled Worker Program as of May 4, 2013. […] Improvements to the FSWP points grid are based on a large body of research, which has consistently shown that language proficiency and youth are two of the most important factors in the economic success of immigrants. The FSWP has been modernized as a result of thorough research, an extensive program evaluation, stakeholder and public consultations, and a study of best practices in other countries.
Toronto Star – Federal Skilled Worker Program Will Open with Improvements
The controversial Federal Skilled Worker Program, which was temporarily put on hold by Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney in July 2012, is once more up and running. The program, which was shut down to revamp the program and eliminate a backlog of about 280,000 people who had applied for permanent residency before Feb. 28, 2008, will reopen on May 4. The Conservative party’s controversial decision to wipe out the backlog sparked a challenge in Federal Court earlier this year. Lawyers asked the federal court to strike down the legislation that eliminated the backlogs because it breaches the Charter of Rights and the rule of law. The case was later dismissed.
La Presse – Obama pense qu’une réforme de l’immigration peut passer la Chambre
Le président des États-Unis Barack Obama a estimé que la réforme de l’immigration en cours de discussion au Sénat où ses alliés démocrates sont majoritaires, pourrait aussi en fin de compte passer l’obstacle de la Chambre des représentants, dominée par les républicains. Un groupe de huit sénateurs a présenté à la mi-avril les grandes lignes d’une réforme de l’immigration, censée offrir une porte vers un statut légal, et éventuellement la citoyenneté américaine, aux plus de 11 millions de clandestins vivant actuellement sur le sol américain, dont une écrasante majorité de Latino-américains.
