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.
Edmonton Journal – Long Wait Times for International Student Permits Leave Some “Stranded” in Canada
International students in Alberta are seeing wait times for processing their study permits soar to nearly three months, leaving many “stranded” in Canada, unable to visit their home countries or travel elsewhere in the world. Students can’t leave the country without renewing their permits and visas without risking lengthy delays upon re-entry, jeopardizing their standing in university programs where many have studied for several years. But Citizenship and Immigration Canada says the longer wait is because of the complexity and volume of applications. […] “Processing times vary depending on the Canadian visa office processing the visa, as well as the complexity and volume of applications,” said Nancy Caron, a spokeswoman for C.I.C., in an email. “Delays are often caused by incomplete or incorrectly filled applications.” In 2014, 80 per cent of student permits were processed within 39 days or less, she said. The delays are also happening at the same time that institutions such as the University of Alberta are actively trying to boost their international students to 15 per cent of total undergraduate enrolment. There are currently 7,000 international students in degree programs at the university.
Radio Canada international – Des micro prêts pour aider des immigrants à s’installer à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard
Qui dit microcrédit ici au Canada pense presque immédiatement à une structure de petits prêts personnels mise sur pied dans un pays défavorisé ou en développement, afin de permettre à des entrepreneurs ou encore à des coopératives, à lancer un produit ou un service. On n’a qu’à penser à Desjardins International et ses activités de microcrédit en Haïti ou encore à la filière des produits du beurre de karité au Burkina Faso pour s’en convaincre. Mais, le microcrédit se pratique également au Canada. Depuis deux ans, une association sans but lucratif de la plus petite province canadienne, l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, a mis sur pied une structure de microcrédit qui entend venir en aide aux immigrants qui arrivent avec une formation professionnelle en poche à mieux s’intégrer sur place, à y travailler et à s’y installer à demeure.
La Presse – Travailleurs étrangers: Ottawa n’accommodera pas Québec
Le gouvernement Harper a fermé rapidement la porte au Québec, qui espérait des assouplissements dans le programme fédéral de travailleurs étrangers temporaires (PTET). Le ministre québécois de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, Sam Hamad, ne semble pas avoir eu la même compréhension que son homologue fédéral, Pierre Poilièvre, de leur tout dernier échange sur ce programme, qui est une pomme de discorde entre les deux ordres de gouvernement. En effet, depuis le resserrement du programme par Ottawa en 2014, beaucoup d’employeurs québécois se plaignent de ne pouvoir recruter de la main-d’oeuvre qualifiée dans certains domaines. Le gouvernement Couillard avait accusé Ottawa à maintes reprises de faire preuve d’intransigeance et de fermeture dans ce dossier.
Times Colonist – Ottawa Denies Claims from Quebec it Will Modify Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The federal government quickly closed the door on Monday to claims from Quebec it was open to modifying the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to address the province’s concerns. Quebec Labour Minister Sam Hamad said Monday his federal counterpart agreed to talks aimed at easing frustration from some businesses that the program was excessively burdensome. The program has been a source of tension between Quebec and Ottawa since the federal government changed the rules in 2014 to make it harder to hire foreign workers after reports businesses were abusing the system. Hamad said federal Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre was “very open” to changing the rules. He added Quebec’s immigration minister is to meet Tuesday with Poilievre to “discuss and to understand … to take into account the particularities of Quebec.” But Poilievre, who was also in Quebec City on Monday, denied the federal government had any intention of changing the program.
Globe and Mail – Immigration Policy Should Foster New Canadians, Not Temporary Foreign Workers
There was an outpouring of criticism a few weeks back when Disney, that most iconic of American companies, moved to replace a number of its homegrown techies with low-cost temporary foreign workers. The company was forced to beat a hasty retreat following an outpouring of criticism. Around the same time, amid all the commentary about where America is headed, blogger and finance professor Noah Smith turned his eyes north and gave Canada a mighty shout-out in a column for Bloomberg titled “Canada, Tomorrow’s Superpower.” Prof. Smith rightly pointed out that immigration policy is one of the fundamental Canadian strengths that bode well for our future. But in his haste to explain what’s right about our policies, he skipped over the part of the story where we’ve begun to ape something that’s wrong about the American way: a growing reliance by business on temporary “guest” workers. Canada’s immigration reforms have pivoted from family reunification to economic immigration, with a focus on new permanent residents who have high educational skills and/or high net worth.
Toronto Star – Some Dual Citizens Worry New Rules Stigmatize Certain Ethnic Groups
A new law allowing the government to revoke the Canadian citizenship of dual citizens convicted of certain serious crimes is prompting fears among some ethnic communities that they’ll be unfairly stigmatized. Those from countries that don’t allow dual citizenship told government focus groups last year they had no issue with the law stripping of Canadian citizenship from dual citizens convicted of terrorism, treason or spying offences. But other participants said while they agreed people convicted of such offences should be punished, they were alarmed by the potential longer-term implications of the measures. “For participants from places where dual citizenship is permitted, such as India or the Philippines, there were clear concerns that dual citizens as a whole were being stigmatized and singled out,” says a newly published report on the Citizenship and Immigration department sessions. […] The ability to revoke a dual national’s Canadian citizenship was contained in a law passed last year that overhauled many elements of the Canadian citizenship program. The revocation provisions only came into effect last month.
