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 – Syrian Refugees Don’t All Get an Equal Start in Canada
Government-assisted Syrian refugees tend to be more vulnerable than their privately-sponsored counterparts. They have larger families, lower levels of education and less knowledge of French or English. And yet they get less individualized support. Refugee advocate David Matas describes the experience of government-assisted refugees landing in Canada as “cold turkey.” “They are given income assistance, but they don’t have, like private sponsorship, a private point of contact,” he says.
CBC – New Quebec Immigration Policy Aimed at Attracting, Retaining Foreign Talent
In a news conference today, Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil outlined a new policy aimed at attracting strategic talent to the province. Weil said this new plan, called Together, We Are Quebec, will take into account changing labour trends and streamline the immigration process. Another key aim of the plan is to retain immigrants who are here on temporary visas as students or temporary workers. Weil said Quebec must do better to not lose top talent to other countries.
CBC – Immigrant Employment and Income Disparity a Persistent Social Problem
At YWCA Halifax, we see the effects of this type of marginalization of newcomers and racialized women who access our programs, including conversation club for newcomer women, women in supportive housing and our employment supports. In the face of persistent social problems, my first inclination tends to be to take a look at the data. One in five Canadians is born outside of Canada. In Nova Scotia, more than 45,000 people are born outside of Canada, making up five per cent of the population. Almost all newcomers — 93.6 per cent — have either English or French language ability.
Times Colonist – NATO Expands Migrant Mission in Aegean Sea
NATO announced Sunday that it was expanding its mission to help choke off the smuggling of migrants into Europe by deploying warships in Greek and Turkish waters, reinforcing its flotilla and deepening co-operation with the European Union’s Frontex border agency. Early Monday, Britain said it is contributing an amphibious landing ship backed by a Wildcat helicopter, as well as two border force cutters to the NATO force.
Times Colonist – As Syrian Refugees Arrive, Islanders Help Rebuild Lives
An anticipated influx of Syrian refugees to the capital region is underway and is expected to peak at about 170 people in the next few days. The group is made up of government-assisted refugees — those selected on the basis of their vulnerability and supported by the government during their first year in Canada. Others have arrived here through sponsorship by groups of private citizens operating through organizations such as the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria. The ICA also co-ordinates residency for government-assisted refugees. Executive director Jean McRae said staff is working hard to get people settled.
CTV News – Volunteers Call on More Government Help for Integrating Syrian Refugees
Volunteers who work with Syrian refugees say the government needs to be doing more to help the new arrivals start their lives over in Montreal. At a workshop held by the Canadian Alliance for Syrian Aid on Sunday, refugees were taught about things like how the banking system works in their new country and how to access healthcare. “They’re terrified, they are changing their culture, they don’t speak the language,” said CASA President Ayman Chamma. “They don’t know how to integrate.”
