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 – Conservatives Twice Rejected Proposal that Could’ve Allowed More Refugees
In spite of relentless pressure to help Syrians flee the perils of civil war, Canada’s former Conservative government twice rejected a proposal last year to make it easier for Canadians to sponsor them, newly disclosed documents show. Twice in 2015 — first in March, then again in July as the refugee crisis escalated — federal bureaucrats proposed exempting Syrians and Iraqis from a rule requiring them to have official UN refugee status in order to be sponsored by small groups of people to come to Canada.
CBC – Private Sponsors Given Choice of Swapping Delayed Syrian Refugees for Others
Ottawa is offering certain private sponsors of Syrian refugees whose entry to Canada has been delayed to get replacement families. “It’s a difficult choice,” said Don Smith, chair of the refugee working group for the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. “Sponsorship ends up being a personal commitment between people here and people there. If you know the people, you’re not going to give up on them.” The government has been under increasing pressure to respond to the complaints of private sponsors still waiting for refugees to arrive.
The Globe and Mail – Second Wave of Refugees to be a “Smoother Process,” Groups Say
Many of the immigrant support groups that leapt into overdrive less than a year ago to welcome the first influx of Syrian refugee families say the intensity of that experience has helped lay the groundwork for what is expected to be a far more manageable second wave this fall. Canada is on the cusp of receiving another surge of Syrians in order to meet its ambitious refugee admissions target by the end of 2016, though government officials are mum on the details around timing.
La Presse – Réfugiés syriens : les conservateurs ont refusé de faciliter le parrainage
En dépit de pressions croissantes pour aider les réfugiés syriens à fuir la guerre, l’ancien gouvernement conservateur a rejeté à deux reprises une mesure pour faciliter le parrainage privé chez les Canadiens, selon des documents récemment publiés. Des fonctionnaires fédéraux avaient proposé deux fois – en mars et en juillet […].
Le Soleil – La CAQ imposerait un « test des valeurs » aux immigrants pour bloquer le burkini
François Legault se «fiche» d’être comparé à Donald Trump. Il imposerait aux immigrants un «test des valeurs» qui, croit-il, pourrait barrer la route à certains défenseurs du burkini. Le premier ministre Philippe Couillard et la co-porte-parole de Québec solidaire Françoise David ont beau l’avoir associé au candidat républicain […].
CBC – Protesters Call into Question the “Dark Side” of Canada’s Immigration System at Winnipeg Rally
Around 50 people were at the Manitoba Legislative building on Thursday evening, signs in hand, protesting indefinite immigrant detention in Canada. Specifically, they say they were standing in solidarity with 50 immigration detainees at two Ontario prisons, who went on a hunger strike more than two weeks ago to protest Canada’s policy.
