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.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada News Release – Canada to Welcome 1,000 Additional Bhutanese Refugees
Canada will welcome up to 1,000 additional Bhutanese refugees from Nepal, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. “Canada has a longstanding tradition of assisting refugees and welcomes one in 10 refugees resettled globally, more than almost any other country in the world,” said Minister Kenney. […] In May 2007, the Government of Canada announced that it would resettle up to 5,000 Bhutanese refugees over five years. In June 2012, the Government committed to resettling 500 more Bhutanese refugees who have family connections in Canada. Today’s announcement of an additional 1,000 Bhutanese refugees will bring the total number to 6,500. To date, 5,000 have already resettled in Canada.
Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada – Communiqué – Le Canada accueillera 1 000 réfugiés bhoutanais additionnels
Le Canada accueillera jusqu’à 1 000 réfugiés bhoutanais additionnels du Népal, a annoncé aujourd’hui le ministre de la Citoyenneté, de l’Immigration et du Multiculturalisme Jason Kenney. « Le Canada a une longue tradition d’aide aux réfugiés et accueille un réfugié réinstallé dans le monde sur dix, soit plus que presque tout autre pays au monde », a déclaré le ministre Kenney. En mai 2007, le gouvernement du Canada a annoncé qu’il réinstallerait jusqu’à 5 000 réfugiés bhoutanais sur cinq ans. En juin 2012, le gouvernement s’est engagé à réinstaller 500 réfugiés bhoutanais additionnels ayant des attaches familiales au Canada. L’annonce de 1 000 réfugiés bhoutanais additionnels aujourd’hui portera le nombre total à 6 500. À ce jour, plus de 5 000 se sont déjà réinstallés au Canada.
Canada.com – Quebec Immigrant Investors Who Live in Toronto and Vancouver are Committing Fraud, Kenney Warns
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney vowed to start cracking down on immigrant investors who seek entry to Canada through Quebec’s self-managed program only to settle down in Toronto and Vancouver. At least 90 per cent of immigrant investors who apply through the Quebec program violate the rule that requires successful applicants to reside in the province, Kenney said, warning the government isn’t going to allow this practice to continue. […] Quebec approved 6,421 business immigrant applications in 2011, most of them immigrant investors. The stream, along with the national one administered by the federal government on behalf of the rest of Canada, has been closed to new applicants pending changes to the program.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada News Release – Immigration Backlog Reduced by Forty Percent
As a result of actions taken by the government since 2008, the backlog of permanent resident applications has been reduced by about forty percent, paving the way for a faster and more effective immigration system in 2013 and beyond, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. […]This has been accomplished, in part, by continuing to process a high number of applications from parents and grandparents in the Family Class while a temporary pause on new applications remains in effect until the end of the year. In addition, a pause was put in place on new Immigrant Investor applications and the oldest Federal Skilled Worker applications were eliminated while we continued to process record high levels of existing applications.
CBC – Minister Stands By Denying Health Coverage to Failed Refugees
The federal government is standing by a decision to stop paying for most health-care services for failed refugee claimants. The Catholic Health Alliance of Canada called on Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to reverse the policy in a letter dated March 8. Kenney was unavailable for a comment Monday, but a statement from his office makes it clear there will be no change. “Canadians have been clear that they do not want illegal immigrants and asylum seekers with unfounded refugee claims receiving free, gold-plated health-care benefits that are better than those that hard-working Canadian taxpayers and seniors receive,” the statement read. “Our government has listened and acted.”
Vancouver Observer – Landmark Lost Canadians Citizenship Case Goes to Court
The arguments to a landmark court case on Canadian citizenship have finally been filed today against Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney and the government of Canada. The case, which deals with long-known but unresolved problems with citizenship law, could change Canadian history and potentially impact millions. At the heart of the issue are charter rights: do Canadians deserve the same rights, regardless of age, gender, birthplace or marital status? Is a Canadian born to an unwed mother less significant than one born to married parents? “This affects so many people who are being denied by CIC,” said Jackie Scott, who has been pushing for the last eight years to have her citizenship recognized.
