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.
Maclean’s – Canada Could Lead World in Resettling Refugees by 2020, Passing U.S.
For many years, America resettled more refugees than the rest of the world combined. Last year was the first time since 1980 that did not happen, according to the Pew Research Centre. Canada’s growth has been slow and steady. The Trudeau government has promised to increase the number of government assisted refugees to 10,000 annually by 2020. The government equally said that it expects annual private refugee sponsorships to rise up to 20,000 by 2020—a year that might put Canada above America in absolute numbers for the first time.
Globe and Mail – Venezuelan Canadians Sound Alarm Over Soaring Visitor-Visa Refusal Rates
Venezuelan Canadians say family members hoping to visit Canada have been unfairly caught up in a soaring refusal rate for visitor visas, calling the federal government’s decision to deny them the necessary travel documents discriminatory. Statistics show the visitor visa refusal rate (excluding student visas) skyrocketed from 18 per cent of applications from all countries in 2012, to 30 per cent in early 2018. While the highest refusal rates are clustered in Africa and the Middle East, Venezuelan Canadians are now sounding the alarm over a similar trend in their home country.
The Guardian – While Some Remain, Most International Students Leave P.E.I. After Graduating
The four Atlantic provinces have traditionally lagged behind larger provinces in retention of international graduates, according to University of Western Ontario associate professor Michael Haan. Atlantic Canada’s four premiers will be gathering today in Summerside to discuss the Atlantic Growth Strategy, an initiative aimed at improving the region’s trade, immigration, investment and infrastructure. High on the agenda of the meetings will be the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, a program which hopes to boost the region’s retention of skilled immigrants, including international students.
CBC News – Canada Urged to Put Hold on Sending Asylum Seekers Back to Haiti Amid Violent Protests
As violent protests continue to roil Haiti, a Quebec-based coalition is calling on Ottawa to put a hold on sending asylum seekers back to the Caribbean nation. According to Marjorie Villefranche, director general of Montreal’s Maison d’Haïti, Haitian families being sent back to Haiti will face a dangerous situation. Calling it a humanitarian issue, Villefranche said the Haitian Coalition for Migrant, is writing to the federal government today, demanding Canada put Haiti back on the list of countries that migrants cannot be sent back to.
CBC News – Axworthy Calls on Feds to Suspend Safe Third Country Agreement
Former Liberal foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy called on the Trudeau government to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement as people rallied and placed paper cutouts of children on the steps of the Manitoba legislature. “If the United States returns to a place where refugees can get a fair hearing, then fine, but right now, they are engaged in a total and complete reneging on all the fundamental commitments of refugee law and treaties and agreements and we should not be part of it.”
La Presse – UE : l’Autriche souhaite proscrire les demandes d’asile
L’Autriche, qui assume pour six mois la présidence tournante de l’Union européenne (UE), plaide pour un changement des règles de la politique migratoire européenne afin qu’il ne soit plus possible, dans l’avenir, de déposer une demande d’asile sur le sol européen, a déclaré mardi le ministre de l’Intérieur Herbert Kickl.
