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: New Arrivals Struggle to Find Work
Many of the government-sponsored Syrian refugees still face barriers in the early weeks of their new Canadian lifestyle. The new arrivals receive a monthly stipend to help them make ends meet, but many, like Abu Nokta, want to find jobs. “The Canadian government has helped so much. But, I don’t want to rely on its stipend,” Abu Nokta said. “I want to teach my kids the value of working. The problem is language. I don’t know how to get myself out there because of language.” Dr. Ahmad Chaker, with the Syrian Canadian Council, said language is an issue many refugees face when trying to find jobs. Transportation is another problem.
Reuters Canada – German Minister Warns Countries not to Push Refugee Burden onto Germany
Germany’s interior minister warned fellow European Union states on Friday not to take national measures against a migrant influx that would burden Germany and threatened action if they did. Germany, the EU’s largest and most dynamic economy, took in 1.1 million migrants last year, the vast majority of those who reached EU soil, and a backlash is building because of regional authorities’ increasing struggle to cope with the newcomers.
CBC – Syrian Refugees get Access to Special Medical Clinic
There’s a new effort on P.E.I. to make sure the Syrian refugees who have arrived are getting the medical help they need, at a special clinic. Since December, 139 Syrian refugees have started new lives on the Island. But after their initial needs were taken care of, officials realized many had health issues that needed to be addressed. “You can imagine if someone has been without care for three or four years, and they’ve gone through the turmoil they’ve gone through,” said Lisa Shaffer, Health PEI’s Primary Care Network Manager for Queens West.
Prince Albert Daily Herald – Indigenous Welcome for Refugees
Syrian refugees will know full-well Saskatchewan’s indigenous, colonial and multicultural history and present-day. Such is the goal behind a series of indigenous welcome events that have been set up across the province for next week […] “The goal is to welcome newcomers in a way that is respectful of the indigenous culture and population,” Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies representative Beulah Gana explained.
Global News – Refugee Health Care’s Coming Back. Will Doctors get the Memo?
Many health practitioners throw up their hands. They can’t deal with the paperwork so they simply turn all refugees away. Janet Cleveland knows it. The McGill University researcher and psychologist encountered numerous stories like that in the years she’s spent tracking the 2012 cuts’ impacts on new Canadians’ ability to access care. Cleveland and her colleagues worry this week’s announcement that the federal government’s restoring refugee health care April 1, greeted with jubilation by clinicians who’ve been contriving laborious workarounds to get their patients treatment, won’t be enough.
CTV News – Syrian Refugees Learn French Before Going to School
Elementary school teacher Evelyn Bissonnette asks her 14 young students to stand up, one by one, and introduce themselves. “Hello,” a confident young boy says in French. “My name is George and I am seven years old and I speak French, Arabic and English. And I come from Syria.” […] While Syrian children are being integrated into classrooms across the country, Quebec’s strict language laws force refugees settling in the province to have a sufficient knowledge of French before they can attend regular school.
