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 – Vancouver School Board Candidate Calls for ‘Sanctuary Schools’ Policy
Jennifer Reddy, who is looking to run for a seat on the school board under the OneCity banner, said all children should have the right to an education regardless of their immigration status. Reddy said some newcomers describe being afraid, or unable to register their children at different B.C. school districts based on registration requirements. In some cases, she said migrants fear deportation or separation from their children given their precarious status.
Global News – Father of Son with Autism Calls Canada’s New Immigration Policy a ‘Blessing for All of Us’
After Canada’s Immigration Minister announced major reforms to Canada’s immigration policy on Monday, making it easier for persons with disabilities and their family members to immigrate to Canada, advocates, lawyers and those affected by the law are speaking out. Some have expressed caution – saying they’re worried about who will pay for the changes or that the changes don’t go far enough toward ensuring equality – while others say they’re overjoyed Canada has taken a principled stand on protecting the rights of all people, especially children with disabilities.
CTV News – UN Refugee Agency Rep in Canada Says Asylum Seekers Are Not a Threat
The UN refugee agency’s representative in Canada, Jean-Nicolas Beuze, said Monday he wants to dispel the “myths” about the record number of asylum seekers that entered Canada from the U.S. in 2017. Beuze said the goal of his press conference on Parliament Hill was “to dispel some fears within the population that those people who are arriving in large numbers in Canada pose any threat to the security of Canadians or are people who are not entitled—for whatever reason—to the protection of Canadian authorities.”
Montreal Gazette – Diversity Debate: Poll Shows Sharp Divide Between Montreal And Regions
Last week, a Léger poll for the LCN television network showed Quebecers are split on immigration, with 44 per cent saying it should be curbed, while 38 per cent want to keep it at the current level and 15 per cent would like to increase it. Jack Jedwab, executive director of the Association for Canadian Studies, analyzed the results by region, language, political affiliation and education. They reveal sharp differences in attitudes toward immigration between Montreal and the rest of the province, and between francophones and non-francophones.
Toronto Star – Quebec Preparing for Up to 400 Asylum Seekers a Day at the U.S. Border this Summer
Quebec government is demanding that Ottawa come up with a new plan for handling asylum seekers with projections that up to 400 people each day could begin crossing into Canada this summer. The province says it wants the federal government to investigate a suspected trafficking network that is helping refugee claimants to travel to the United States and sneak across the border into Canada at Roxham Road. It also wants refugee claimants to be sent to other provinces or regions to ease the burden on Quebec.
Global News – Trudeau Liberals to Overhaul ‘Discriminatory’ Immigration Law Targeting People with Disabilities
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has announced major changes to Canada’s immigration policy that will make it far easier for persons with disabilities and their family members to immigrate to Canada. Delivered early Monday morning in the foyer of the House of Commons, the announcement by Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen, comes after months of reporting by Global News that exposed major flaws with the way Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada handles permanent residency applications for persons with disabilities.
