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 – L’ASFC peine à enquêter sur les consultants frauduleux en immigration
L’Agence des services frontaliers du Canada affirme qu’il est difficile d’enquêter sur les conseillers en immigration frauduleux en raison de témoins réticents, de faibles preuves et de ressources et de temps limités. Le président de l’Agence, Luc Portelance, dit au ministre fédéral de la Sécurité publique Steven Blaney dans une note récemment dévoilée, que les activités frauduleuses impliquant des consultants sans scrupules menacent l’intégrité du système d’immigration canadien. La note, obtenue grâce à la Loi sur l’accès à l’information, indique que l’Agence des services frontaliers a reçu, depuis 2008, plus de 700 signalements de consultants soupçonnés de fraude et qui devraient faire l’objet d’une enquête criminelle. Cependant, les enquêtes sur les possibles consultants frauduleux sont parmi celles qui nécessitent le plus de temps et de ressources. Le document signale que l’obtention de preuves pour démontrer une intention criminelle nécessite souvent plusieurs mandats de perquisition, des ordres de production, des entrevues et des activités de surveillance.
L’Aquilon – Immigration et recrutement : Paris-Yellowknife, espoirs et craintes
Avancement professionnel rapide, emplois variés et hiérarchie moins formelle? Quels sont les espoirs, les perceptions et les craintes des Européens qui rêvent de venir travailler dans le Nord? Rencontrée par le Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CDÉTNO) à Paris lors de Destination Canada, Déborah Kabi répond à ces questions. La jeune femme, qui a vécu presque toute sa vie à Paris et dans sa périphérie, se cherche actuellement un emploi d’adjointe administrative. Elle projetait déjà d’immigrer au Canada lorsqu’elle a rencontré les représentants du CDÉTNO, mais les TNO n’étaient pas du tout dans ses cibles. […] Perception L’agente en immigration, employabilité et recrutement du CDÉTNO, Audrey Marceau, énumère les éléments de séduction des TNO pour les Européens. « Ce sont, recense-t-elle, la qualité de vie et les grands espaces, l’avancement professionnel rapide, les emplois variés et une hiérarchie moins formelle. Certains ont une idée romantique du Canada, mais nous sommes là pour leur parler de la réalité, les préparer au Nord. » Les attentes de Déborah recoupent en partie ces éléments.
CTV News – Tories Tighten Voting Rules for Canadians Living Abroad
The Harper government is tightening the rules for Canadian expatriates who want to vote in federal elections. Pierre Poilievre, the minister responsible for democratic reform, has tabled legislation that would require voters living abroad to provide proof of their identity, citizenship and past residence in Canada. […]The legislation, entitled the Citizen Voting Act, follows a court ruling last spring that struck down a law which stripped expats of their voting rights once they’d lived outside the country for more than five years. The government is appealing that ruling. But in the meantime, it is clamping down on the estimated 1.4 million expatriates who’ve regained their voting rights as a result of the ruling. “The Citizen Voting Act will help ensure that only citizens vote, that their votes only count in their home ridings and that they show ID to prove both,” Poilievre said in a written statement Wednesday. Poilievre said the proposed new voting requirements for Canadians living abroad are the same as those required of citizens living in the country, who are now required to provide proof of identity and residence before being allowed to cast ballots. The bill would also attempt to ensure that non-citizens — an estimated 40,000 of whom are on the national voters registry, according to Elections Canada — are not allowed to cast ballots.
Toronto Star – UN Counting on Canada to Increase Commitment to Syrian Refugees
A global call for help resettling more than 100,000 Syrian refugees over the next two years must be answered in part by Canada, says the United Nations refugee agency representative in Ottawa. The latest appeal by the United Nations high commissioner for refugees represents an opportunity, Furio De Angelis said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “Canada is a very important country to the UNHCR, not only for the support it gives to refugee programs but also for the leadership that it provides in terms of international standards of global protection,” De Angelis said. “This is another occasion for countries who have a leading role in global refugee protection to really show their strength.” The UNHCR made a special pitch at meetings in Geneva on Tuesday for countries to help resettle more than 100,000 refugees from the Syrian civil war by 2016. Though 25 countries made pledges to open more spaces, Canada was not among them. “We will make announcements about further commitments at a future date,” said Kevin Menard, a spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Alexander.
Global News – Alberta Wants Ottawa to Lift Immigration Lid
Alberta wants the federal government to lift the lid on the number of economic immigrants it can nominate each year for permanent residence so it can better meet its growing labour needs. Jobs Minister Ric McIver said the province has sent a letter to federal Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander. “I would like the federal government to take the cap off of the maximum number of provincial nominees that we can appoint so that we can bring in the people that we need,” McIver said in an interview Monday. “We think we are going to be 96,000 workers short by 2023 and most of those (are for) skilled and good-paying jobs.” McIver said the number of economic immigrants allowed into Alberta should be driven by labour market evidence and local information so the province can better react to its own circumstances. All of Alberta’s quota of 5,500 certificates under the immigrant nominee program for 2014 have been issued, and they were not enough, he said.
Lethbridge Herald – Halifax Wants to Extend Voting Rights to Permanent Residents
The mayor of Halifax says he wants his city to become one of the first in Canada to grant permanent residents the right to vote in municipal elections. Mike Savage says the proposal, which requires provincial approval, is aimed at making the region more welcoming for immigrants. “We need more immigrants because they come to our country and they create wealth, they create jobs for themselves and for others as well,” says Savage, a former Liberal MP whose father John was premier of Nova Scotia between 1993 and 1997. “From what we’ve heard from immigrants, it’s indisputable that they would consider this something of value and part or being welcomed here.” Permanent residents are immigrants who are not Canadian citizens, but they have been given permission to stay and work in Canada for as long as they want. They have all of the rights of citizens and can take advantage of social programs, but they can’t vote, seek public office, obtain a Canadian passport or hold jobs that require a security clearance. […] Savage says the 14,000 permanent residents in the Halifax region should not be kept from voting while they’re waiting for their citizenship to come through.
