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.
CTV News – New Brunswick Premier Hopes for Increased Immigration from Europe
The premier of New Brunswick says increased immigration from Europe to fill waiting jobs will benefit the provincial economy. Brian Gallant made the comment as ambassadors of the member states of the European Union completed a tour of the province. Over the last few days, the ambassadors visited industries and attended a “taste of New Brunswick” reception which included seafood such as lobster. Gallant says the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union allows for greater worker mobility. Marie-Anne Coninsx, the European Union Ambassador, says it was the first Canadian visit for the group outside of Ontario and Quebec.
Delegates from all over the region and even as far away as Chicago gathered at the Days Inn ballroom on Tuesday for the Northeastern Ontario Immigration Symposium. This is the third year for the symposium, but the first time it was held in Timmins. About 50 people from the private, public and non-profit sectors came to discuss the need to attract more immigrants to Northeastern Ontario to fill the shortage of qualified professionals, and how to make communities welcoming for them. “There’s been lots of great presentations, resources, tools, and information on immigration trends,” said Tom Baby, the co-ordinator of the Timmins Local Immigration Partnership, which hosted the symposium on Tuesday. “Today is about raising the profile of immigration in Timmins. We want to continue the conversation on the importance of immigration and what newcomers bring to a community; that’s our primary goal.” […] Many of the presentations on Tuesday focused on ways for the region to begin to compete economically to attract immigration.
Radio-Canada – Haïtiens sans statut : le NPD réclame un sursis de trois mois
L’opposition néo-démocrate demande au gouvernement Harper de donner davantage de temps aux Haïtiens menacés de déportation à la suite de la levée du moratoire sur les sans-statut, dont la plupart sont arrivés au Canada à la suite du séisme de 2010. La levée du moratoire, annoncée en décembre dernier, entre en vigueur ce lundi, 1er juin, et la porte-parole néo-démocrate en matière d’immigration, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, a fait valoir en conférence de presse à Montréal que la plupart des quelque 3200 personnes touchées n’ont pas encore terminé de préparer leurs demandes. Le NPD réclame donc un sursis de trois mois et aussi d’ouvrir à ces personnes la possibilité de demander la résidence permanente, une procédure beaucoup plus simple que celle de réclamer un accueil pour des raisons humanitaires, comme l’exige présentement le fédéral. Jusqu’ici, le gouvernement Harper n’a donné aucune réponse à la demande des néo-démocrates, qui rejoint celles faites par la ministre québécoise de l’Immigration, Kathleen Weil, et le maire de Montréal, Denis Coderre, entre autres.
Radio Canada International – Voyageurs étrangers : Un mini-visa électronique pour entrer au Canada dès l’automne 2015
Certains visiteurs étrangers devront détenir un mini-visa électronique pour entrer au Canada cet automne. Un visa obtenu auprès de Citoyenneté et Immigration Camada en faisant une demande par voie numérique. Pour un montant de 7 dollars ce visa sera valide pur une période de 5 ans pour tous les touristes arrivant par avion. Une mesure qui devait d’abord entrer en vigueur ce printemps mais qui a été repoussée à l’automne suite à des inquiétudes du l’industrie touristique. Au Canada, les mois les plus chauds, côté climat, sont très profitables pour cette industrie. Ce mini-visa deviendra obligatoire en 2016 pour tous les voyageurs qui veulent séjourner au pays sauf pour ceux en provenance des États-Unis.
Globe and Mail – Lack of Federal Resources Fails International Student Strategy
Canadian officials are finding it difficult to keep up with the increasing demand from international students, leading to waiting times for visas that are weeks longer than those in Britain or the United States, and reducing the program’s competitiveness. The lengthy timelines are contained in a report from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), obtained by The Globe and Mail through freedom of information legislation. While the federal government wants to double the number of students from abroad by 2022, it has not provided sufficient resources to process the increased numbers, the report says. CIC blames this “lack of coordination” between federal departments for an increase of 30 per cent in processing times for study permits and a doubling of the time for temporary resident visas. Colleges and universities say the government must address the gaps in its international student strategy. “The question of visa processing times is a critical one in terms of attracting top students. If our competitors are able to turn around visas faster, all the marketing efforts, all the recruitment efforts, all the offers of scholarships fail,” said Paul Davidson, president of Universities Canada.
Edmonton Journal – Health Minister in Favour of Injured Temporary Foreign Workers Receiving Support
Alberta’s new health minister supports providing health coverage for temporary foreign workers. Sarah Hoffman issued a statement Friday, saying that providing better support for temporary foreign workers is a must. “Temporary foreign workers who are living and working in Alberta deserve support,” she said. “As health minister, I understand that Alberta Health Care Insurance is for eligible Albertan residents, but I need to meet with my ministry to get a better understanding of the provincial role in this situation and how it relates to the federal government’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program.” The long-standing issue came to the forefront recently after the Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Richard Johnston stated that clear definitions need to exist to outline the province’s responsibility for health care for the workers. Maria Victoria Venancio, a temporary foreign worker, was struck by a car June 2012 on her way to work. The crash left her medically diagnosed as a quadriplegic, though she has some use of her arms. She could no longer work in the fast-food industry, and could not renew her visa or retain access to her health benefits.
