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 – Documents Reveal CBSA Expected Scrutiny for Contracting Out Security
The Canada Border Services Agency was aware it could face scrutiny for contracting out security positions at the holding centre where a Mexican national died by suicide last December, freedom-of-information documents have revealed. […] A memo titled “Communications Approach,” that was issued by CBSA regional director Perry Boldt on the day Ms. Vega Jimenez was discovered, outlined “reactive media lines” should there be questions from the public. In part, it noted that the death occurred at a detention centre where CBSA uses contracted security agents from Vancouver-based Genesis Security. […] Last month, a coroner’s jury heard that the private security firm had made mistakes, including not having a female security guard present and missing some checks of detainees.
Globe and Mail – Canada’s Ebola-Related Visa Restrictions Criticized for Being at Odds with Science
During the SARS outbreak in 2003, when a number of countries placed travel restrictions on Canadians and the World Health Organization issued an advisory urging travellers to avoid Toronto, an epicentre of the outbreak, the federal government objected vociferously, saying there was no justification for those moves. Canada subsequently pushed hard for the International Health Regulations, a treaty that, among other things, says any such restrictions on travel must be backed by good science. Yet, in response to the remote threat of Ebola coming to Canada, the federal government has imposed a 90-day wait on the issuing of visas for anyone who has travelled or even plans to travel to the hardest-hit countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Public-health experts say the move, among the toughest responses worldwide, contradicts current science.
La Nouvelle-Écosse séduit de nombreux immigrants, mais pour plusieurs d’entre eux, l’arrivée ne se fait pas en douceur. Le choc peut être abrupt. Carlos Berumen en sait quelque chose. Récemment arrivé dans la province, il ne s’attendait pas à avoir autant de mal à trouver un emploi. « Pour réussir une immigration, le plus important c’est de trouver du travail, parce qu’avec ça, tu es un peu plus stable et tu peux penser à autre chose », explique-t-il. M. Berumen croit qu’il lui aurait fallu une meilleure préparation avant le départ. C’est l’une des nombreuses suggestions entendues dans ce forum organisé par Immigration Francophone, l’organisme d’aide aux nouveaux arrivants en Nouvelle-Écosse. À l’aube de ses 10 ans d’existence, Immigration Francophone, s’impose une réflexion en profondeur sur la façon d’améliorer ses services dans le cadre de la semaine nationale de l’immigration francophone qui se termine dimanche.
Calgary Herald – Immigration Red Tape Strikes Sour Note with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor
For almost a decade Roberto Minczuk has been recognized as an important and prominent member of Calgary’s community in his role as conductor and musical director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. By most, that is, with the notable exception of the Canadian government. Despite several attempts and through various different channels, the world-renowned Brazilian native has failed to obtain permanent resident status for he and his family, having his applications denied, delayed and returned with what he considers even more bureaucratic red tape to cut through. Now, having met with yet one more “frustrating” hurdle, Minczuk, with the help of his brother-in-law Wagner Ksenhuk, has reached out to the federal government, sending a letter to Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, that details the conductor’s ongoing plight.
Toronto Star – “Not Our Idea” Ontario Tells Ottawa Over Controversial Refugee Welfare Restrictions
The Ontario government is strongly denying Ottawa’s suggestion that a controversial move to restrict refugees’ access to welfare was the province’s idea. On Thursday, a senior federal immigration director told a Senate committee that the proposal to allow provinces to impose a minimum residency requirement for people seeking social assistance — currently embedded in the omnibus budgetary Bill C-43 — “came up” during conversations with provincial officials. […] A spokesperson for Community and Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek immediately rebuffed that claim. “The government of Ontario has not requested the ability to impose residency restrictions, and we were not consulted on this legislation,” said Amber Anderson. “In fact, the Ministry of Community and Social Services has concerns about the potential human rights implications of imposing a waiting period for a specific group. We believe that a waiting period could impact people with legitimate refugee claims who are truly in need. We have communicated our concerns to the federal government.” Critics and advocacy groups said the province’s response confirms that the proposed changes were undertaken by the Conservative government with little consultation.
Radio-Canada – Ces immigrants francophones qui choisissent le Nord ontarien
Changer de vie, tenter une nouvelle expérience, trouver un travail, des francophones d’autres pays du monde choisissent d’immigrer au Canada et plus particulièrement dans le nord de l’Ontario. À l’occasion de la deuxième semaine nationale de la francophonie, trois d’entre eux expliquent leurs motivations et racontent leur expérience. Changer de vie, tenter une nouvelle expérience, trouver un travail, des francophones d’autres pays du monde choisissent d’immigrer au Canada et plus particulièrement dans le nord de l’Ontario. À l’occasion de la deuxième semaine nationale de la francophonie, trois d’entre eux expliquent leurs motivations et racontent leur expérience. Ils sont originaires de France, de Belgique et du Ghana : Sophie Millian, Stéphane Sauber et Michael Asorgoé ont fait le grand saut récemment, chacun pour des raisons différentes, mais sans regret, bien au contraire. Sophie Millian a immigré au Canada avec son mari et ses enfants il y a deux ans, en se rendant d’abord au Manitoba pour ensuite s’installer à Thunder Bay.
