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.
Calgary Herald – International Exchanges Expose Students to Calgary
Among the many positives the city’s two major public districts — Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and Calgary Catholic — offer is a tolerant environment that respects and celebrates diversity. […] More and more schools are a reflection of increased immigration to Calgary from around the globe, says Liz Spittal-Cote, system assistant principal for English language learners with the CBE’s Learning Services at Kingsland Centre. “About 24 per cent of the student population of more than 117,000 students at Calgary public schools are what we’d classify as English language learners in need of support,” she says. Language support is a key aspect of the educational experience for many students from ethnically diverse backgrounds. […] Many are first generation Canadians too. “These Canadian-born English language learners are now starting to outnumber the foreign-born students,” Spittal-Cote says. “While their parents are immigrants, they were born here, yet there’s another language spoken in the home so they too often require additional support to get the most out of the educational opportunities available to them.” Both the CBE and Calgary Catholic devote significant resources helping students facing language and cultural challenges.
The Tyee – Tougher Immigration Rules Test Conservative Support in Chinese Community
The battle for votes in Vancouver’s large Chinese community is being complicated by deep divisions over immigration issues here and across the Pacific in Hong Kong. Chinese-language radio talk-show hosts say callers are more worked up than ever about the federal election. And their support seems largely determined by where they came from in China and their attitude toward tougher immigration rules introduced by the federal government since the 2011 election. Cantonese-speakers, mainly people from Hong Kong and southern parts of Mainland China, tend to be staunch Conservative supporters. But for Mandarin-speakers, from northern China and Taiwan, new immigration rules have become the focus of opposition to Stephen Harper’s party. It’s an important political battle. About 14.8 per cent of Greater Vancouver residents reported Chinese as a mother tongue in the 2011 census, with 5.8 per cent reporting Cantonese and four per cent Mandarin. Five per cent didn’t specify a Chinese language.
CBC – Stephen Harper Pledges More Funds to Help New Canadians Find Work in Their Field
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper brought his campaign to the Greater Toronto Area this morning with an announcement aimed at helping new Canadians get their foreign credentials recognized so they can find work in their chosen professions. Harper announced new money for the Foreign Credential Recognition Loan program during a visit to a Markham, Ont., manufacturing plant. […] The federal government introduced the loan program in 2011 as a pilot project. It was made permanent just this year, when the budget put aside $35 million for it over five years. Harper promised Thursday to offer 20,000 more loans to immigrants wanting to get their credentials recognized, adding $8 million a year over the next five years to more than double the program. He also promised to work with the provinces and territories to cut the time it takes for that recognition, from one year to 60 days for high-demand jobs. According to Statistics Canada, 36 per cent of immigrants encounter financial barriers to getting their foreign credentials recognized. Fees can range from $100 to $25,000 and can include money for retraining to a Canadian standard, fees to write exams or licensing costs.
Vancouver 24Hrs – BCCLA Seeks Funding to Fight Citizenship Bill
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is taking the federal government to court over recent legislation they say created two-tier citizenship in Canada, and now they’re looking for public support to help finance their case. Prior to Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, only naturalized citizenship could be revoked, and only in cases where citizenship was obtained by fraudulent or false pretenses. Under the new provisions that came into effect June 11, naturalized Canadians can have their citizenship revoked for other reasons, and dual citizens and Canadians eligible for dual citizenship can also have their citizenship revoked. There are also new rules regarding obtaining citizenship. “Fundamentally for us this is about equality, this bill has created second-class Canadian citizens by making it so that some Canadian citizens have weaker rights of citizenship than others,” said BCCLA executive director Josh Paterson. “We should all have equal rights under the law and this law explicitly takes that away, so that’s why we’re filing a constitutional challenge, we filed it last with the Federal Court of Canada along with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers.
CBC – Quebec Apple Season Marred by Lack of Foreign Workers
Quebec apple farmers say they are afraid visa delays for temporary foreign workers could set their harvesting seasons back, and even spoil some crops. St-Paul-d’Abbotsford orchard owner Réjean Guertin said he’s down workers, particularly those from Guatemala, because of the delays. […]The changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program has hit some farmers in Quebec hard. Employers can have no more than 20 per cent of their workforce as low-wage temporary foreign workers. The number must drop to 10 per cent starting in July 2016. Employers who are found in non-compliance faces fine ranging from $500 to $100,000 for each violation. The fines are capped at $1 million per year, per employer. Guertin said it’s a clear sign to him that the government doesn’t really care about what happens to farmers.
Radio-Canada – Toujours plus d’un millier d’enfants sans-papiers privés d’éducation au Québec
Malgré la dénonciation du problème par plusieurs organismes depuis quelques années, des centaines d’enfants d’immigrants sans statut sont toujours exclus de l’école au Québec en raison des exigences imposées par le gouvernement. Les collectifs Éducation sans frontières et Solidarité sans frontières profitent de la rentrée scolaire pour manifester leur opposition ce matin devant les bureaux de la Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, à Montréal. Selon le porte-parole d’Éducation sans frontières, Steve Baird, le problème ne touche pas seulement Montréal. Mais la Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys n’a adopté aucune politique claire pour favoriser l’accès à l’éducation aux familles sans statut, même si elle administre un territoire sur lequel résident des centaines de familles immigrantes. « Ces derniers mois, nous avons recensé de nombreux problèmes dans cette commission : non-respect de la confidentialité, exigence de frais exorbitants, ignorance fréquente d’exemption, refus d’inscription », explique-t-il.
