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.
Al Jazeera English – Citizenship as Commodity: Free Movement for the Rich
First, in an effort to curb the movement of poor migrants from outside the European Economic Area, [Britain] introduced a minimum income threshold for non-European spouses of British citizens of $23,100. […] In Britain’s multitiered visa system, there are now many routes to citizenship. For those prepared to invest $1.24m in companies registered in Britain, there is Tier 1: a fast-tracked visa system and a lubricated route to full citizenship. Once in Britain, they will also have access to “non-domicile” tax status, meaning that while they live in the UK, for taxation purposes they will be considered to live elsewhere – for example in the Cayman Islands.
Le Devoir – L’accueil des immigrants économiques rapporte doublement au Canada
Le Canada sort doublement gagnant en sélectionnant ses immigrants économiques. Car non seulement met-il la main sur un travailleur qualifié, mais il bénéficie aussi des compétences de l’autre personne du couple qui, généralement assez scolarisée, a un fort potentiel d’intégration. C’est ce qu’a constaté une étude de Statistique Canada qui s’est intéressée au profil […].
The Globe and Mail – Tolerance for Refugees has Limits – Even in Canada
If one agrees with the premise that there is a so-called “moral high ground” to be found on this issue, who can claim it? The answer is to look east. Way east. While Atlantic Canadians profess opinions that make them among the most inclined to approve of the government’s handling of the refugee file, and to want Canada to welcome even more refugees, they are also taking in the most per capita: 19.2 for every 10,000 in New Brunswick, 15.5 for every 10,000 on Prince Edward Island and 11.7 for every 10,000 in Nova Scotia.
National Post – Documents Reveal why Canada Rejected Dozens of Syrian Refugee Claimants
Government documents obtained by the National Post reveal why Canada rejected dozens of Syrians as refugees, and provide a “high-level overview” of the backgrounds of those who were selected. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada documents, released under the Access to Information Act, summarize the results of interviews of Syrian refugees conducted by visa officers in Beirut. The refusal rate for Syrian refugees was 4 per cent according to the documents, which, though released only recently, date to the early stages of the Syrian refugee program, when the Liberal government was trying to fulfill a campaign promise to resettle 25,000 by the end of 2015.
In 2013, financed with Canadian taxpayer money, the government initiated a billboard campaign in the predominant countries of origin of Roma claimants. It sought to deliberately deter Roma from seeking asylum in Canada, stating that “people who make a [refugee] claim without sound reasons will be processed faster and deported faster.” The billboards were placed in countries such as Hungary, a country which is still listed as “safe” under the current government.
Radio-Canada – Réfugiés illégaux à la frontière : l’ONU se dit rassurée
« J’étais très impressionné, au Québec, de voir toute la compassion et le professionnalisme avec lequel les personnes étaient traitée »s, affirme Jean-Nicolas Beuze au micro de l’animateur Michel C. Auger. Le représentant du Haut-commissariat des Nations unies pour les réfugiés au Canada a mené une mission d’observation au poste douanier de Lacolle, du côté québécois […].
