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.
L’Aquilon : Crise migratoire : quel rôle joueront les francophones?
Alors que montent les pressions pour que le Canada accueille davantage de réfugiés syriens, le débat se poursuit sur les critères et le processus de sélection. Les communautés francophones vont-elles contribuer à l’effort ? « Si le gouvernent décide d’augmenter leurs nombres, propose le militant Ibrahima Diallo, il devrait travailler de près avec les organismes sur le terrain. On sait que parmi ces Syriens, certains sont francophones. Donc les communautés francophones devraient être associées à leur accueil et à leur intégration. »
Fort Saskatchewan Record – Group Blames Government for Exodus of Foreign Workers
A Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW)’s recent forced departure from Canada is another example of the federal government letting workers down, charges a local support group. Fort Saskatchewan Kabisig Society President Clarrize Truscott points to the ordeal of Myla Morales as an example of the federal government not doing enough to help TFWs renew their work permits or acquire permanent status. The society recently held a fundraiser to help Morales get back on her feet when she arrives back in her native Philippines. Morales worked at a hotel in Fort Saskatchewan for about two years before being forced to leave on Sept. 14 due to an inability to renew her work permit. She came to Canada from the United Arab Emirates because she believed it would offer a better life for her and her family. “Because Canada presents itself as a country that is welcoming to immigrants, she grabbed that opportunity,” Truscott said. “But unfortunately … so many renege on their promises. And our government definitely reneges on their promises to actually give them a chance for permanent status.”
CBC – U.N. Refugee Commission Thanks New Brunswickers for Funds
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is thanking the governments and the people of New Brunswick for their “unprecedented” financial contributions for Syrian refugees. Furio De Angelis, an UNHCR representative, said the donations from New Brunswick, Ontario and the Northwest Territories will make a big difference. “These generous donations… will increase our ability to urgently respond to the growing needs of Syrian refugees,” De Angelis said in a statement Wednesday.[…] Premier Brian Gallant announced a contribution by the provincial government earlier in September of $50,000, while the Northwest Territories have donated $25,000 and the government of Ontario contributed $1 million to support Syrian refugees. The commission says it also welcomes additional promises from the premiers to ensure support is provided to refugees after they arrive in their respective jurisdictions.
Western News – “People Are Now Ready to Do Something”
Western professor Victoria Esses stressed that our nature is to help. “People want to do something, but they need a solution,” said the Director of Western’s Centre for Research on Migration and Ethnic Relations. “Sometimes, if you’re bombarded with information and, if it’s negative, you avoid it, turn away from it. Having a solution actually makes people pay attention. People are now ready to do something.” […] Western has mobilized a handful of efforts to assist families and scholars, alike, including the creation of the Refugee Sponsorship Fund and Syrian Refugee Student Awards, as well as using the Scholars At Risk Program to identify Syrian scholars who could be brought to the university.[…] The Refugee Sponsorship Fund was established by the Faculty of Social Science, in partnership with the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre. Organizers hope to raise $30,000 to provide for aG5 Private Sponsorship Application for a Syrian refugee family of five. If more than the target amount is raised, more refugee families could be sponsored.
Globe and Mail – A Crying Need to Rework Canada’s Immigration Policies: Hugh Segal
The emergence of refugee policy as a pivotal issue in this election campaign has exposed a crying need. Canada needs a rethink of the small-minded, vision-free and bigoted structure of our long-term immigration policies and procedures. Whether minority or majority, Liberal, Conservative or NDP, the next government and parliament have no excuse to avoid this issue. To do so would be to deny the glaring reality of a policy mired in the quiet discrimination of low expectations. All four federal party leaders have made proposals about refugee acceptance that are paltry and disconnected from humanitarian principles, Canada’s demographic deficit and any rational population policy. Code words such as accepting “the most vulnerable” or “working with NGO and faith-group sponsors” are really about delay, dilution and keeping out people who desperately need a safe haven, precisely when Canada needs younger people to strengthen our population and labour force. […] Canada’s low population density and massive geography outstrip that of Germany. Yet under Chancellor Angela Merkel’s enlightened leadership, Germany is set to take in more than 800,000 refugees. Even under the proposal of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Canada would peak at 25,000.
TVA Nouvelles – Le rêve brisé de 19 travailleurs étrangers
Établis dans Lanaudière depuis au moins quatre ans, 19 travailleurs de l’usine Olymel de Saint-Esprit seront renvoyés dans leur pays d’origine, l’île Maurice, à la suite des récentes modifications apportées au Programme des travailleurs étrangers. «Si je dois retourner vivre à l’île Maurice, ça va me tuer, je pense», lance Vishwan Rubee, des sanglots dans la voix. L’homme, au pays depuis six ans, a deux enfants de 2 et 4 ans avec sa conjointe québécoise. Ils sont 18 autres à faire face à des situations semblables.
