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 – Ottawa Says It Can’t Help with Toronto Migrant Problem Until Doug Ford Takes Office
With Toronto’s shelter system jammed with refugee claimants and Mayor John Tory demanding urgent help, the federal government says it can’t act until Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative government is sworn in and signs off on a co-ordinated plan. Premier-designate Doug Ford, who has pledged to slash government spending, won the June 7 election and is expected to be sworn in and unveil his cabinet on Friday. A spokesman said Mr. Ford was looking closely at the refugee issue but wouldn’t comment before his swearing in.
Reuters – Canada’s Biggest City Toronto Unable to Take More Refugees: Mayor
Canada’s biggest city is unable to accommodate any more asylum seekers, Toronto’s mayor said on Tuesday, after temporary resettlements used to house them reached near full capacity. “We have exhausted our available sites, our resources and our personnel,” Mayor John Tory said ahead of a council meeting, as he sought help from provincial and federal governments to resettle new arrivals. This comes after Toronto activated an emergency contingency plan in May to shelter refugee claimants as it was bracing for an influx of migrants over summer.
CTV News – Canada Spending Millions Housing and Feeding Border Crossers, Detains Only Some
New figures show Canada spent over $5 million in 2017 and the first part of 2018 on temporary housing, food and water to migrants who crossed into Canada from the United States through the unofficial crossing in St. Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que. Some of this money also went towards security services. The data was recently tabled in the House of Commons in response to written questions from Opposition MPs.
CBC News – Canada’s Refugee Claims Process ‘Ill-Equipped’ to Handle Surge in Claims, Says Report
Canada must overhaul its refugee claim system or create a new agency that reports to the immigration minister in order to streamline and expedite the asylum process, an independent review has concluded. The 147-page report makes 64 recommendations — among them calls for a more aggressive approach and increased resources to tackle the backlog of refugee cases over two years. Neil Yeates, a retired long-time senior civil servant in the federal and Saskatchewan provincial governments, led the government-commissioned review.
Radio-Canada – L’intégration des enfants réfugiés de Winnipeg grâce au soccer
Tandis que la Coupe du monde de soccer confirme, une fois de plus, la popularité de ce sport à l’échelle internationale, un programme à Winnipeg montre à quel point ce sport est important pour les enfants réfugiés qui tentent de refaire leur vie au Canada, parfois malgré leur handicap.
National Post – Canada Adds Seven People to Myanmar Sanctions List Over Rohingya Crisis
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says seven Myanmar military leaders have been added to Canada’s sanctions list for their role in the Rohingya crisis. Freeland says the sanctions are a result of the significant role played by senior military officials in the brutal violence and persecution against the Rohingya communities in Myanmar, which has forced more than 720,000 of them to flee their homes. The same individuals have also been placed under sanctions by the European Union.
