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.
Le Métro – Migrants : la Hongrie évoque le Canada
Le Canada, la Chine et les États-Unis sont des pays «sécuritaires» qui sont en mesure d’accueillir des migrants et des réfugiés, a estimé mercredi le président de la Hongrie. János Áder a fait cette déclaration après une rencontre avec son homologue croate, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. Il a rappelé que les États-Unis ont accueilli à ce jour 1500 réfugiés syriens. Le premier ministre hongrois Victor Orban et d’autres dirigeants ont eux aussi demandé à des pays non-européens de s’impliquer, en acceptant leur part de réfugiés dans le cadre d’un système mondial de répartition.
Radio-Canada – Immigration : l’attente réduite de moitié pour les immigrants qualifiés à T.-N.-L.
Le gouvernement de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador a lancé une nouvelle initiative pour attirer davantage d’immigrants qualifiés dans la province. La catégorie « Entrée express », dans la demande d’immigration, permettra de réduire de moitié le temps d’attente pour les immigrants qualifiés. Le premier ministre de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, Paul Davis, espère ainsi accueillir davantage d’immigrants dans la province, notamment pour occuper les postes moins convoités par les travailleurs locaux.
CBC – N.L. Government Funding Syrian Refugee Coordinator
The Newfoundland and Labrador government is providing tens of thousands of dollars to help Syrian refugees in the province. In a news release Tuesday, the province said it is giving the Association for New Canadians $50,000 to assist people fleeing Syria. Most of the money will be used to hire a refugee sponsorship coordinator that would assist refugee families and their sponsors. “Like all Canadians, we are disturbed by the images that are appearing in the media and we will continue to work with our Federal Government partners to do whatever we can to help,” said Advanced Education and Skills Minister Clyde Jackman in a statement. The funds may also be used, the statement said, to help settle refugees as they arrive in the province.
Ottawa Citizen – Despite Election Pledges, Wait Times Growing for Immigrants
Government documents show nearly all types of immigrants have been waiting longer and longer over the past five years to have their applications processed so they can enter the country. Citizenship and Immigration Canada documents obtained by Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland show the federal department is supposed to process 80 per cent of applications from foreign skilled workers within 12 months. The same target applies for foreign-born spouses and children. Yet a separate government report shows that Citizenship and Immigration missed those targets by a wide measure – and that processing times have actually been getting worse since 2010. The only category where the department met its goal was with the newly created skilled trades program. It took Citizenship and Immigration about 17 months to process 80 per cent of applications from foreign-born skilled workers in 2010, and between 24 and 56 months – depending on the type – by the end of 2014. The wait for spouses, partners and children was 14 months in 2010, and 20 months in 2014.
Dr. Tony Fang is trying to solve a perplexing puzzle. He’s knows the answer, but suggests a societal shift is needed for all the pieces to fit. That’s never easy. The puzzle is Newfoundland and Labrador’s aging population, the oldest population in the country and one with a death rate that outpaces the birth rate. The solution to reversing the troubling trends is attracting more immigrants. For that to happen, Fang believes our people have to be more supportive of the newcomers who settle here. “Societal change is probably the most important (factor in immigration), but also the most challenging,” said the MUN prof whose impressive title is the Stephen Jarislowsky chair in economic and cultural transformation. It’s not that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aren’t friendly. We’re widely renowned for that. Fang suggests it’s just that we’re solidly rooted and not aware of what immigrants require. “People (here) are kind of used to their lifestyle. They’re not recognizing the challenges because (their families) have been here for generations. Sometimes we just don’t understand the needs of immigrants.” One of those needs is feeling a sense of belonging.
The Telegram – Local Efforts to Help Refugees Processing
The program co-ordinator for the Association for New Canadians (ANC) said he has taken calls from people in St. John’s to Happy Valley-Goose Bay wondering how they can help. Many have donated to the ANC’s Private Refugee Sponsorship Fund — it’s up to about $25,000 and counting — and others have become more personally involved. […] He said some groups have already raised enough funds to start the process of identifying refugees and bringing them to Newfoundland and Labrador, and others have the momentum to get there soon. […] Walsh said the efforts so far will likely help bring in about 25 refugees, but that number could grow, depending on the interest and support. The ANC has hosted a few public information sessions to explain the methods of sponsoring refugees, and to elaborate on other ways to help, such as in volunteer roles. Private information sessions have also been provided for businesses and groups looking to get involved. Morris said if the interest is there, they’d be glad to organize another session.
