A national alliance dedicated to providing an evidence base for newcomer settlement & integration and the promotion of welcoming communities in Canada
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.
New border controls in the western Balkans are leaving migrants stranded behind barbed wire as temperatures start to plunge, and aid agencies warned on Friday that the clampdown would lead to a rise in smuggling. Balkan countries have begun filtering the flow of migrants, granting passage to those fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Afghanistan, but turning back thousands from Africa and Asia.
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that tightens restrictions on the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, amid security concerns. Dozens of Democrats joined Republicans as the House passed the measure 289-137, in a rebuke to the White House. President Barack Obama has said he will veto the legislation.
The managing director of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council has started a campaign to counter the negative comments he’s been hearing about Syrian refugees. Alex LeBlanc says he doesn’t think the comments accurately represent the views of most New Brunswickers. He says they might scare prospective immigrants who have lived through horrible experiences in recent years, and are overdue for a new beginning.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/multicultural-council-nb-online-welcome-mat-1.3327465
Politicians must be careful not to fan flames of racist and xenophobic elements within Canadian society over the Syrian refugee issue, the premiers of the two largest provinces said Friday. The unvarnished caution from Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne follows days of disturbing incidents involving aggression towards Canadian Muslims in the wake of the deadly Paris terrorist attacks that claimed at least 130 lives last week.
A new Forum Research poll suggests just over half of Canadians disagree with Justin Trudeau’s plan to stop bombing Islamic State targets, while a similar number oppose taking refugees from Syria. […] Just over half, or 51 per cent, of those surveyed in the poll said they disapprove of the government’s plan to settle 25,000 Syrian refugees across the country. Another 41 per cent approved and nine per said did not have an opinion.
Canadians impatient with the lack of details surrounding the government’s plan to resettle 25,000 refugees by year’s end will have to wait a few more days for the specifics. “We will have further information for you and for all Canadians next Tuesday,” Immigration Minister John McCallum said in Ottawa on Friday.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/syrian-refugee-plan-1.3328190