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.
Toronto Star – Disabled Son Deemed “Medically Inadmissible” to Join Mother in Canada
Mercedes Benitez is faced with the choice of returning to her developmentally delayed son in the Philippines or staying in Canada and fulfilling her family’s immigrant dream without him. To return home, the temporary foreign worker would lose her job and the much needed income in Canada — not to mention a chance to become a permanent resident in the country. By staying here, she could continue to be the breadwinner but be separated from Harold, 18, who has been deemed inadmissible by Canadian immigration officials because of his developmental disabilities, and her husband, Romeo, their son’s primary caregiver.
Windsor Star – Cap on Private Refugee Sponsorships Leaving Families in Limbo
Anneke Smit, an associate law professor at the University of Windsor, said the cap on private sponsorships was announced unexpectedly in December. “There’s a lift the cap campaign,” said Smit, who is part of a private sponsorship group in the law faculty waiting to hear about the state of its November application. “They’re (federal government) saying there’s a backlog that needs to be cleared (as a reason for the cap).” Smit said she knows of some local private groups that are still waiting to hear on their applications from March 2016.
Herald News – Immigration Pilot Program Garners Interest from Local Employers
According to government numbers, almost 200 employers have expressed interest in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, with 50 being formally designated. Of that, the provincial government says about 120 Nova Scotia companies have submitted applications to participate in the program, which is the first phase in the process. Twelve employers have received official designation and another 50 are expected to be designated by the end of next week.
CBC – How the Safe Third Country Agreement is Changing Lives on Both Sides of the Border
The consequences of the Safe Third Country agreement are perhaps most acutely felt by people like Mamadou, who was found collapsed in the woods by officials earlier this month after making an illegal crossing. He didn’t want his last name used, fearing for his safety. The 45-year-old Ivory Coast man had fumbled in the woods for hours in what he described as -15 C weather trying to find Canada.
Abbotsford News – B.C. Trustees want more Support for Refugee Students
B.C. school board trustees are calling on the province to set up a special committee to find ways to better serve refugee students. A letter to Premier Christy Clark from the British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) praises efforts to welcome and accommodate new students who have recently arrived from war-torn countries. In 2016, roughly 3,050 Syrian refugees settled in B.C., the letter says.
La Presse – Plus d’immigration francophone, plaide la commissaire aux langues officielles
La langue française va perdre de son influence au Canada sans actions concrètes du gouvernement pour augmenter le volume et la répartition de l’immigration francophone, a estimé vendredi le commissariat aux langues officielles, organisme dépendant du Parlement. « Il est essentiel que les gouvernements fédéral, provinciaux et territoriaux redoublent d’efforts pour accroître […].
