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.
Global News – ‘It’s a Wonderful Day’: 55 New Canadian Citizens Welcomed in Halifax
With a massive Canadian flag in the background, immigrants from 22 countries took the Oath of Citizenship at HMCS Scotian. For Ghenwa Bteddini of Lebanon, the event was a long time coming for her family. “It’s a wonderful day,” she said. “We are so happy and so proud to be Canadian.” The Bteddinis left Lebanon four-and-a-half years ago, with a priority of moving to a peaceful country. But Ghenwa says they were surprised by how well her family was received.
Info Radio-Canada – Réforme de l’immigration : Québec jette les bases d’une consultation
Critiqué pour sa tentative de réformer le Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) de manière unilatérale, le gouvernement entreprendra sous peu une consultation auprès des représentants du marché du travail et de ceux du milieu de l’éducation. Le PEQ permet aux travailleurs temporaires et aux étudiants étrangers déjà sur le territoire d’obtenir un certificat de sélection en 20 jours ouvrables, un délai beaucoup plus court que celui auquel font face les autres candidats à l’immigration.
Globe and Mail – Immigrants Drive Canada’s Urban Growth as Housing Costs Linked to Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal Exodus
Canada has long relied on immigration to drive population gains, particularly of late, as the country undergoes a record-setting run of increases. In each of the Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver areas, net international migration was the primary driver of population gains in the most recent year. Take out immigration, and each of those census metropolitan areas’ populations would be decreasing.
CBC News – Chinese Students Barred from Middle School After Father’s Work Permit Expires
Jerry, 11, and his five-year-old sister, Sophia, have been studying at the CC Art Gallery in downtown Fredericton for the past 21 days, while his dad tries to get an extension to his Canadian work permit. “I can teach them [but] they need their own friends,” said their father, Yougun Fu, who also goes by Lex. Lex moved his family to Fredericton in July 2018, where he worked in online marketing for the gallery. He applied for an extension to his work permit last April. In July, Lex was told his application was unsuccessful — the same month the work permit officially expired.
CBC News – 50% of Immigrants in Province Leave After 5 Years, New Data Show
Immigrants moving to New Brunswick have boosted the province’s population, which has hit a record high of more than 780,000 people. But a closer look at the numbers suggests many of them don’t want to spend their lives here. According to a report titled Immigrant Retention in New Brunswick: Results from Biznet and Citizen Database, retention rates are high during the first year after arrival, but then those numbers change. The retention rate is around 75 per cent the first year. Over three years, that number drops to 60 per cent. And over the span of five years, about half are still in the province.
Chronicle Herald – Nova Scotia Welcomes Record-Breaking Number of Immigrants
Nova Scotia welcomed a record-setting 7,580 new permanent residents in 2019. According to recently released federal government data, the new permanent residents surpass the previous record of 5,970 in 2018. The province endorsed 1,208 newcomers and their families under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot in 2019 compared to 872 in 2018. The pilot was created in 2017 to address labour shortages in Atlantic Canada by allowing eligible employers to hire foreign-trained workers and international graduates.
