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 – Two Hundred Chinese Citizens Denied Visas for Vancouver Conference
The ninth Conference of the World Guangdong Community Federation took place in Vancouver at the end of May. Organizers expected about 2,000 people from around the world who were originally from Guangdong province, but about 200 delegates, including officials from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office that helped organize the summit, had their visas rejected. William Ma, a businessman who was among the local organizers for the conference, said most of the denied visas involved people from mainland China, including a team of more than 20 government officials.
Toronto Star – Immigrants and Visitors to Canada Working for Free a Common Occurrence, Lawyers Say
In Vancouver, newcomers participating in a government-funded program have been placed in not-for-profits as volunteers but also in for-profit companies like Subway for unpaid work positions, StarMetro reported this week. The aim is to get Canadian experience on their resumé and potentially a domestic job reference. Whether or not the arrangements are legal, immigration lawyers say it’s common for newcomers and visitors to Canada to seek unpaid work opportunities as a way to gain a foothold in the job market — but they may be putting their status in Canada at risk by doing so.
Le Figaro – Migrants : Ankara suspend un accord avec la Grèce
La Turquie a suspendu son accord passé avec la Grèce pour la réadmission des migrants en réaction à la remise en liberté par la Grèce de quatre soldats turcs ayant fui leur pays après la tentative de putsch de juillet 2016. La décision a été annoncée aujourd’hui par le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères Mevlut Cavusoglu, cité par le quotidien Hurriyet. Le chef de la diplomatie turque a jugé “inacceptable” […].
Le Monde – L’ONU sanctionne six trafiquants de migrants en Libye, « une première »
Le Conseil de sécurité de l’Organisation des nations unies a sanctionné jeudi 7 juin six chefs de réseaux de trafiquants de migrants en Libye, « une première » pour l’ONU, selon des diplomates. Cette décision avait été retardée par une demande de précisions de la Russie, qui « a levé ses réserves sur la proposition des Pays-Bas d’inclure six individus sur une liste de personnes sanctionnées », a fait savoir un diplomate.
Global News – Quadriplegic Woman with Newborn Pleads with Immigration Canada for Temporary Visa for Fiancé
Kuen Tang’s future husband can’t be with her and their newborn Canadian baby because Immigration Canada has denied him a temporary resident’s visa on several occasions. Fang’s temporary resident visa application was denied because Immigration Canada was not satisfied that he would leave Canada at the end of his stay based on his travel history, the purpose of his visit, and his personal assets and financial status, according to Fang’s immigration rejection letter. Tang, who suffers from a number of complications related to her pregnancy and injury, is pleading for help.
CBC News – City Spending $10M on 4 Temporary Shelters, but Housing Advocates Say Long-Term Solutions Needed
With Toronto’s shelter system bursting at the seams, the city is spending more than $10 million on new temporary shelter structures — a strategy one housing advocate is calling a “refugee camp” for the homeless. On Wednesday morning, city staff announced the purchase of four insulated buildings capable of housing 100 people each. Built out of durable fabric and fibreglass on an aluminum frame, the tented pop-up structures can be used as accessible year-round respite centres. The city is spending $2.5 million to construct each site.
