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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.
Times Colonist – Special Series: Three Years After Tamil Asylum Seekers Land on Our Shores, Times Colonist Investigates Canada’s Refugee Policy Move to the Right
Asylum seekers who come to Canada by boat will be detained in provincial jails, as was the case with the Tamils who arrived on the MV Sun Sea, and the Ocean Lady the year before. That’s despite already overcrowded conditions, which human rights advocates warn are inappropriate for people fleeing persecution and war. For a model, the Conservatives looked to Canada’s Commonwealth sister down under — Australia, which has had a mandatory detention policy for the last 20 years and is constantly dealing with a crush of migrant ships from Southeast Asia. The problem is that the system in that country has been an utter failure, according to experts.
Globe and Mail – Ontario Puts Ottawa “On Notice” It Needs More Immigrants
Ontario tried to assert its place in Confederation at a meeting of immigration ministers Friday, flexing its muscles as provinces jockeyed for more immigrants under Canada’s new selection system. Ontario Immigration Minister Michael Chan said he wants to “put the federal government on notice” that Canada’s largest province by population will demand a fair allocation under the new Expression of Interest system to be established over the next two years.
Globe and Mail – B.C. Suspends Visa Program After Suspicious Surge in Applications
Six months after the B.C. government called for more authority to boost its intake of skilled immigrants, officials have suspended a program that fast-tracked visas for business investors following a suspicious surge in applications. British Columbia’s provincial nominee program saw an “extraordinary” increase in the number of business applicants for a category that promised a speedy visa in exchange for a $125,000 bond. The spike came after the federal government placed a moratorium on its own investor and entrepreneur visa programs.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada News Release – Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Governments Envision Canada’s Future Immigration System
Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) immigration ministers pledged today to create a fast and flexible immigration system designed to advance Canada’s economic growth and competitiveness, and respond to regional labour market needs. Following a two-day meeting, FPT Ministers committed to work together to develop and implement an Expression of Interest (EOI) model for Canada, similar to a model currently in place in New Zealand and Australia. EOI will help transform Canada’s immigration system into one that is more responsive to labour market demand, by providing opportunities for FPT governments and employers to access a pool of skilled workers.
The Windsor Star – Close to Just-in-Time Immigration: Lawyer
Wait times for immigration are dropping dramatically, according to an analysis by leading Canadian immigration lawyer Richard Kurland, who says Canada is now very close to a first-come-first-served, merit-based, just-in-time immigration system if not for the provincial nominee program. He’s urging Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and his provincial counterparts to agree to a cap on the number of applications the provinces approve each year when they meet in Toronto on Friday.
Calgary Herald – Kenney Defends $750K Ethnic Media Monitoring Bill
Ethnic media monitoring is a window into the problems and concerns of minority communities and boosting the budget for such activity has allowed the government to address things like the Chinese head tax, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Friday. He made the comments days after coming under fire for spending $750,000 over three years to monitor the ethnic press. […] Responding to questions about it from ethnic media, Kenney suggested the expense has resulted in the sort of policy changes minority communities have been pushing for.
