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 – Popular Program Gives New Canadians Free Access To Cultural Institutions
When Darshan Harrinanan acquired his Canadian citizenship, he celebrated by taking his wife and three young children to marvel at the treasures of Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum. In the year since that fall day in 2009, his family visited a variety of cultural institutions around the province at least 20 times – and all of them at no charge, thanks to a unique homegrown program that offers new Canadian citizens a 12-month “cultural access pass” to attractions nationwide.
The Barrie Examiner – Hungary Still Tops For Refugee Claims In Canada
As Canada receives thousands of dubious refugee claims from Hungarian citizens, there’s a call for drastic action. “How much of our money do we want to hemorrhage before setting a visa requirement on Hungarian nationals, just like we did with the Czech Republic?” asked immigration lawyer Richard Kurland. Between January and August of this year 2,045 people claiming to be refugees came to Canada from Hungary. That’s 13% of all refugee claims made during that time in Canada, keeping Hungary as this country’s top source of refugee claims.
Hamilton Spectator – Where Poverty And Race Intersect
In this “modern age” and often “proudly diverse” community, many people particularly don’t like to talk about how race and poverty intersect, agreed participants at a forum on poverty and race hosted by the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion Thursday night. In Hamilton, 51 per cent of recent immigrants, 34 per cent of people of colour and 39 per cent of aboriginals have low incomes, according to Ontario census statistics. The Hamilton Spectator’s groundbreaking Code Red series found vast disparities between the health of people in poor and wealthy neighbourhoods in the city, including a 21-year life expectancy gap. Upon a closer look many of the worst neighbourhoods for poor health and income are inhabited by many visible minorities, explained Code Red author Steve Buist, who spoke at the forum. In fact, the neighbourhood with the second lowest health indicators also has the highest population of recent immigrants to Hamilton, he said.
CBC – Multiculturalism: The [Provincial] Parties’ Positions
The academic team behind Vote Compass looked at party policy statements and platform documents from the Greens, Liberals, New Democrats and Progressive Conservatives, and consulted the parties to determine how their policies lined up with the way Vote Compass interprets respondents’ answers. Here are the party positions on three questions about multiculturalism in the Vote Compass questionnaire, and what was behind those answers.
The Guardian – Alabama Immigration Law: New Appeal To Block Most Draconian Measures
Civil rights and immigrant support groups have filed an appeal against a federal judge’s refusal to block key parts of Alabama’s tough new immigration law, regarded as the most draconian in the country. The groups, along with the US justice department and church leaders, had filed three separate challenges to the law, which critics argue would legalise racial profiling. But on Wednesday US district judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn refused to block most of the provisions, allowing Alabama to require public schools to determine the immigration status of children upon enrolment and giving police the power to detain people suspected of being in the US illegally without bail.
Canada News Centre – Government Of Canada Helping Internationally Trained Professionals Get Jobs
The Government of Canada is supporting a project that will help internationally trained professionals find work in their field faster. The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “Attracting and retaining the best international talent to address existing and future labour market challenges is critical to Canada’s long-term economic success,” said Minister Oliver. “Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, we are working with partners to improve foreign credential recognition so that newcomers can put their skills and experience to work sooner.”
