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 – Rampant Corruption on the Ground Biggest Hurdle to Bringing Yazidis to Canada, Expert Warns
Widespread corruption in Iraq is the biggest challenge Canada will confront in resettling Yazidi women and girls, warns the expert who led Germany’s groundbreaking effort to grant asylum to 1,100 survivors of sexual slavery, torture and violence by ISIS. Canada has committed to follow Germany’s lead in receiving an undetermined number of people fleeing genocide in northern Iraq, and is taking advice on what hurdles lie ahead.
CBC – Independence, Mistakes and Acclimation Important for Syrian Family, Says Sponsor
A lot can happen in one year. But that isn’t enough time for a family of Syrian refugees to acclimate to life in another country, says Rabbi Jeremy Parnes, chair of the Regina Multi-Faith Forum’s Refugee Sponsorship Committee.The Forum sponsored a family of Syrian refugees who they welcomed to Regina last week. While the initial wave of refugees will no longer be receiving government assistance in 2017, Parnes said the committee is prepared to help the family they sponsored beyond one year after arrival. “The real question for us then, as a group, is to be sure we don’t overdo it either,” he said to CBC Radio’s Saskatchewan Weekend. Parnes said there is a balance to be had between support and control.
Globe & Mail – Found in Translation: Syrian Refugee Becomes Interpreter for Newcomers
Ms. al-Sibai enrolled in an English-language course at MOSAIC, a non-profit organization that helps new immigrants and refugees get settled, when her family arrived in January. A month ago, one of her language instructors asked her to volunteer as an interpreter for Arabic speakers in beginner levels during their end-of-term assessment interviews. She said yes, but she was nervous.
CBC – 1 Year Later, Most Syrian Refugees Dream of Being Independent Canadians
About 10 per cent of government assisted Syrian refugees earned some employment income the first year, said Nancy Caron, spokesperson with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. For privately sponsored refugees, it’s about 50 per cent. “It is not expected that all refugees will be able to fully support themselves after just one year in Canada,” Caron said. “While we have heard stories of Syrian refugees beginning to work, the majority of these refugees arrive with little or no English or French skills. It will take time for them to develop the language skills which will enable them to find jobs.” That’s the goal of every Syrian newcomer, said Andrea Buttars, manager of resource development with Wesley Urban Ministries.
Le Devoir – Parrainage privé des réfugiés : Ottawa limite les nouvelles demandes
Victime de son succès, le programme de parrainage privé de réfugiés est peut-être en danger. Devant l’impossibilité de traiter les dossiers dans un délai raisonnable, Ottawa vient de limiter pour 2017 le dépôt de nouvelles demandes de réfugiés parrainés au privé. Une bonne nouvelle pour les réfugiés non syriens, dont certains attendent depuis plus de cinq ans, mais qui pourrait toutefois décourager des groupes de parrains de se lancer dans l’aventure.
Toronto Star – Ottawa’s New Cap on Refugee Applications Upsets Sponsors
The federal government will cap new applications for private sponsorship of Syrian and Iraqi refugees at 1,000 in 2017, due to a backlog and long wait times faced by those whose applications are still being processed. But some feel the move, announced earlier this week by Citizenship and Immigration Minister John McCallum, betrays the positive global perception Canada has seen since late last year when the Liberals took office and committed to accepting more refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.
