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.
Globe and Mail – Sudanee Refugee Aims to See No Opportunity Wasted
Once in Canada, Mr. Deng earned a university degree, got married, started a family and became a Canadian citizen. He soon wanted to share some of his good fortune with people in South Sudan. “What I saw in Canada was education, where everybody is given an opportunity,” he said from his home in Halifax. “That was really a trigger for me.” In 2005, Mr. Deng created Wadeng Wings of Hope, a Canadian charity that is raising money to build a community centre in Duk Padiet.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada News Release – Proposed Changes Would Strengthen Canada’s International Student Program
New measures to prevent fraud in the International Student Program (ISP) were proposed today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. […]Under the proposed amendments, CIC would work with provinces and territories – which are constitutionally responsible for education – to develop a framework to designate educational institutions that will be permitted to host international students. If a school is not designated, it would be able to continue offering programs of six months or less to foreign nationals in Canada on regular visitor visas. Visitors who wish to enroll in short-term courses do not currently require a study permit, and this would continue to be the case.
Globe and Mail – Autistic Girl’s Future Up in the Air as Family Set to be Deported from U.S., Refused Entry to Canada
Sabreena Shabdeen’s family has an awful choice to make. If she is returned to Canada next week, it will be without the parents who have been her supporters, caregivers and advocates since she was born in Toronto 17 years ago. Sabreena is severely autistic. She can barely speak and, according to medical reports, is prone to “aggressive, agitative and assaultive” behaviour. But she is a Canadian. And her parents, Kairun and Mohamed Shabdeen, believe Canada offers her a better chance of a decent life than Sri Lanka, the country to which they are about to be deported.
Globe and Mail – GTA Clinics Overwhelmed with Refugees
Free medical clinics in the GTA are seeing a growing tide of refugee patients whose coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program has been cancelled and doctors are scrambling to find more resources to help them. Changes restrict health-care coverage for some refugees to only treatments of an urgent nature, or in cases when public health is at risk. Those affected include claimants from designated countries of origin – places considered safe by Ottawa and not normally sources of refugees – rejected claimants and resettled refugees.
CBC – Family Living in Montreal Fights Deportation to Mexico
A family that has been living in Montreal for four years has learned it will be deported to Mexico on Jan. 19 despite efforts to stay. Marisol Mendez said she’s terrified of returning to Mexico after settling in Montreal. […] She said her husband, Fernando Reyes, has been kidnapped by Mexico’s federal police three times. Mendez alleged her son, who was 11-years-old at the time, was also kidnapped the last time her husband was taken by authorities. Mendez said she fears it could happen again. […] Immigration officials denied the family’s request for refugee status last May. The family’s attempt to appeal the decision was struck down last August.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada News Release – New Federal Skilled Trades Immigration Program Receives Widespread Praise
Michael Atkinson, president of the Canadian Construction Association: The Canadian Construction Association is especially pleased to hear today’s announcement that the new federal Skilled Trades Program to be launched on January 2nd, 2013. The introduction of a dedicated and streamlined program for skilled trades addresses many of the shortcomings in the current federal Skilled Worker Program. The new program ensures greater consideration is given to the needs of the industry when processing eligible immigrant applications.
