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.
La Presse — Un règne marqué par des politiques d’immigration controversées
Sous Justin Trudeau, l’immigration a connu une métamorphose radicale, tant au Québec qu’au Canada. Des seuils records, une explosion des flux temporaires et des débats enflammés ont marqué ses mandats. Voici six points pour comprendre cet héritage. Justin Trudeau a propulsé les seuils d’immigration permanente à des niveaux historiques. En 2023, il visait 500 000 admissions par année d’ici 2025, contre 270 000 à son arrivée au pouvoir en 2015. Cette ambition a souvent été associée à l’Initiative du siècle – un groupe souhaitant voir passer la population canadienne à 100 millions d’habitants d’ici 2100 –, ce que le premier ministre a démenti.
Radio-Canada — Un bilan plutôt positif pour l’immigration francophone pendant l’ère Trudeau
Des intervenants nord-ontariens estiment qu’il y a eu beaucoup de progrès en matière d’immigration francophone dans la région et ailleurs au pays depuis que les libéraux de Justin Trudeau forment le gouvernement. « Lorsque M. Trudeau est arrivé au pouvoir en 2015, il n’y avait pas vraiment de cible d’immigration [francophone], en tout cas [pas de cibles] tangibles », affirme Fabien Hébert, président de l’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario. « On a vu l’arrivée des cibles qui ont permis de mettre des stratégies en place pour augmenter l’immigration dans notre région », note M. Hébert.
Toronto Sun — Thousands of foreign students sought refugee status after study permits cut: Report
Figures from the Department of Immigration show that foreign students in Canada rushed to claim refugee status after Ottawa announced cuts to study permits, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. A report called Students Claiming Asylum said 11,630 foreign students applied to remain in Canada as refugees between January and August 2024, which was more than 340 a week. No reason was given, but the rush coincided with Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s Jan. 22, 2024, announcement of reducing the number of new foreign study permits by 35% on average nationwide. Miller had earlier accused colleges of recruiting large numbers of foreign students who had little interest in Canadian studies. “Ontario over the last three years in their education system has had over 10,000 asylum claims,” Miller told reporters on Feb. 27, 2024.
CBC News — These international students are trying to find jobs. But a tight job market leaves them with few options
Shivani Trivedi had hopes of staying in Canada after graduating with a master’s in medical biotechnology from the University of Windsor in the spring — but if she doesn’t find a full-time job in her field within a year, she says she’ll go back to India. Luckily, through some networking, she found a survival job at a fast food restaurant but her search for a full-time job in her field is ongoing — and she is not alone. Windsor-Essex, Ont., has long had Canada’s highest jobless rate. The University of Windsor says it takes steps to help their students find jobs — but it doesn’t guarantee employment outcomes. Having spent tens of thousands of dollars on tuition, Trivedi called for the government to take steps to ensure students like her aren’t left “overwhelmed” by the job market.
BBC — How Canada’s immigration debate soured – and helped seal Trudeau’s fate
For the first time a majority of Canadians, who have long been welcoming to newcomers, are questioning how their cities can manage. Politics in other Western countries has long been wrapped up in polarised debates surrounding immigration but until recently Canada had mostly avoided that issue, perhaps because of its geography. Now, however, there appears to be a profound shift in attitude. In 2022, 27% of Canadians said there were too many immigrants coming into the country, according to a survey by data and research organisation the Environics Institute for Survey Research. By 2024, that number had increased to 58%.
Radio-Canada — Travailleurs temporaires : des entreprises demandent au gouvernement de corriger le tir
Les nouvelles règles entourant l’embauche de travailleurs étrangers temporaires font craindre le pire à des entreprises manufacturières, qui comptent beaucoup sur ces employés pour maintenir leur croissance. Pour convaincre les gouvernements de corriger le tir, l’Alliance main-d’œuvre étrangère a récemment vu le jour. Une quinzaine d’entreprises, dont le groupe Meloche, qui est présent à Bromont, en font partie. Le Groupe Meloche compte cinq installations au Québec, dont une usine à Bromont, qui fabrique des tronçons, des pièces destinées aux moteurs d’avion. Sur les 530 employés répartis dans ses usines, 105 sont des travailleurs étrangers temporaires, soit près de 20 % de ses effectifs.
