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.
Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada – Communiqué — Le Canada a continué à accueillir le plus haut niveau d’immigration durable de l’histoire canadienne en 2012
Selon des données préliminaires de 2012 publiées aujourd’hui par Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada (CIC), le Canada a maintenu le plus haut niveau d’immigration durable de l’histoire canadienne pour la septième année consécutive. Le Canada a accueilli 257 515 résidents permanents en 2012, ce qui se situe largement dans la fourchette planifiée par le gouvernement, qui est de 240 000 à 265 000 nouveaux résidents permanents pour l’année. Chaque année depuis 2006, le Canada accueille en moyenne environ un quart de million d’immigrants.
Industrie Canada – Communiqué – Le gouvernement Harper souligne le nombre record de voyageurs et d’étudiants indiens au Canada
Le ministre d’État (Petite Entreprise et Tourisme), l’honorable Maxime Bernier, et le ministre de la Citoyenneté, de l’Immigration et du Multiculturalisme, l’honorable Jason Kenney, ont annoncé aujourd’hui que 2012 a été une année record pour le nombre de voyageurs en provenance de l’Inde au Canada. Le ministre d’État a affirmé que ce jalon important était une démonstration de la relation de plus en plus étroite qui se tisse entre les deux pays.
Canada News Centre – Harper Government Highlights Record Number of Indian Travellers, Students to Canada
Today, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced that 2012 was a record year for Indian travellers to Canada. The Minister of State hailed this milestone as a demonstration of the increasingly close relationship between the two countries. […]”Attracting an increasing number of visitors to Canada, including the best and brightest young minds, is part of our plan to grow the economy and create jobs,” said Minister Kenney. “We strive to issue visas and permits as quickly as possible to facilitate travel for visitors and students and to benefit from the economic spinoff they bring to Canada.”
Toronto Star – Sanctuary City: Toronto’s Signal to Ottawa and Queen’s Park
City council last week adopted a motion reaffirming the city’s “commitment to ensuring access to services without fear to immigrants without full status or without full status documents.” […] The adoption of this motion is not only a significant milestone for Toronto, but also a signal to Queen’s Park and Ottawa about achieving a society that takes seriously the values of equality and social justice. […] The problem of denying some residents rights and services has practical implications for all members of society, with or without formal status. In a society that possesses an exploitable non-status labour force, workers with citizenship and status will also be forced to compete for lower wages and labour standards. Similarly, a divided society that denies rights and services to non-status migrants alienates those residents who are most disadvantaged and who are making the greatest sacrifices to be members of this society.
CBC – Winnipeg Man Wants Rules Relaxed for Syrian Refugees
A Winnipeg man is calling on the federal government to go above and beyond to help Syrian refugees come to Canada. Fadi Toma says he wants Ottawa to consider implementing special measures to welcome those fleeing the country, which has been in a deepening conflict for almost two years. […] In the past, Canada has relaxed its rules for refugees in special circumstances, such as in 1999, when refugees came from Kosovo under a special program. In Winnipeg, Tom Denton of Hospitality House Refugee Ministry says the usual channels for refugees are severely backlogged at this time. If the situation in Syria does not improve, Denton said it would be appropriate for Canada to make an exception again. […] Federal government officials told CBC News that they’re working to re-settle thousands of Iraqi and Iranian refugees currently in Turkey, which will free up resources for those fleeing Syria.
International Business Times – Two MV Sun Sea Passengers Lose Refugee Status in Canada
The Federal Court of Canada has overturned the refugee status granted to two passengers who arrived in a smuggling ship linked to Tamil rebels. Delivering the verdict, the Federal Court ruled that the Immigration and Refugee Board misinterpreted law simply because the refugees arrived in Canada aboard the MV Sun Sea Cargo ship that brought 492 Sri Lankan Tamils to British Columbia in Aug.2010. […] Earlier, the refugee lawyers argued that the basis on which the cargo passengers were granted asylum was because of the Sun Sea’s public link to the Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka and the fact that they would face persecution if Canada sent them back to their country. However, the court this week overturned the asylum claims of both men and said that the standard of proof used to grant the men refugee status was wrong.
