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.
CBC News – Far-right Groups, Counter-Protesters Rally Over Asylum Seekers at Canada-U.S. Border
Around 100 people, many of them affiliated with one of Quebec’s growing number of far-right groups, gathered at the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Lacolle, Que., to protest how governments are handling the flow of asylum seekers entering Canada outside official ports of entry. There have been no public reports of ISIS members crossing at Roxham Road and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says that all entrants undergo security and criminal checks. But far-right groups in Quebec have used the illegal crossing as a rallying issue in an attempt to grow their membership.
Montreal Gazette – Police Put Buffer Between Duelling Protests at Lacolle Border Crossing
A protest organized by the far-right group Storm Alliance to denounce the Canadian government’s tolerance of what that group calls “illegal immigration” attracted about 250 people to the Lacolle border crossing Saturday afternoon. A slightly smaller counter-protest organized by the migrant justice group Solidarity Across Borders managed to delay the Storm Alliance event, but in the end there was no confrontation, as police maintained a buffer zone between the two groups throughout the afternoon.
CTV News – Toronto Asks Ottawa, Province for Help to Deal with Influx of Refugees
The mayor of Toronto says the city will need to open an emergency reception centre over the next seven days to deal with an influx of refugees claimants. The federal and Ontario governments should take action to relieve the growing pressure refugee claimants are putting on the city’s shelter system, John Tory said Friday, as he asked for support with the issue. Tory said 10 new refugee claimants are added to Toronto’s shelter system each day, and 334 additional refugee claimants have arrived since he last appealed for help on April 26.
Globe and Mail – Nigeria Will Discourage Citizens from Seeking Asylum in Canada, Immigration Minister Says
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen travelled to Nigeria this week as a part of a federal government effort to contain the surge of asylum seekers – most of whom are Nigerian – at the Canada-U.S. border. He said Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and other senior government officials committed to deter Nigerians from using the U.S. as a transit point to cross into Canada and claim asylum. The minister also spoke with a number of Nigerian media outlets, including radio stations, to dispel the “myths” about Canada’s asylum system.
CBC News – Refugee Hearing Office in Ottawa Slated to Reopen
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) hasn’t had a place to hold hearings in the nation’s capital since 2014, when its office was closed and all remaining hearings were transferred to Montreal. This week, however, the IRB sent an email to “Ottawa stakeholders” indicating a two-year, $74-million funding boost in this year’s federal budget to help tackle a soaring number of asylum claims would allow them to once again hear cases here.
Le Monde – À Paris, l’immobilisme du ministère de l’Intérieur face à la dégradation de la situation des migrants
Regarder les rats passer… sur les bords du canal Saint-Martin (10e), leur petit manège fascine Ahmed, mardi matin 15 mai. Le jeune Afghan n’en a pas peur. Il veille juste à bien fermer sa tente et ne pas y garder de nourriture. Sa vraie crainte serait plutôt le canal. Le 8 mai, un homme est mort noyé, à deux pas.
