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.
The Province – Dr. Martina Scholtens: B.C. Needs to Improve Health Coverage for Refugees
Until June 2012, the Interim Federal Health Program, funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada since 1957, provided limited, temporary health insurance to all refugees. Then the program was slashed. […] The debate over the harms caused by the IFH changes to refugee health insurance is over. Now it’s time for B.C. to step up to the plate with some solutions. This province receives seven per cent of the country’s refugees, 1,500 to 2,000 a year. The financial costs, adverse health effects, confusion and inefficiency resulting from the federal changes to IFH are significant, and the province is paying the price. The simplest, most effective change would be to provide MSP and Pharmacare (income assistance level) to refugee claimants at the point that they file their claim, through to the end of their legal process.
The Guardian – Thousands of Migrants Rescued in the Mediterranean as Weekend Operations Continue
The Italian coastguard has coordinated one of its largest ever rescue operations, saving 3,427 people on Saturday and Sunday as smugglers took advantage of calm seas to send migrants across the Mediterranean. Migrants were rescued from seven wooden boats and nine rubber dinghies off the coast of Libya in 16 separate operations on Saturday and early Sunday as distress signals came in throughout the day. Some of the overcrowded boats would usually have a capacity of less than 20 passengers, a coastguard source told the Guardian. Italian naval frigate the Bersagliere saved 778 people from five boats south of Lampedusa, Italy’s southernmost island. The Vega rescued a further 672 people in two separate incidents on Saturday, the Italian navy said. While the large-scale operation was coordinated by the Italian authorities, the rescues were an international effort. French vessel Commandant Birot, patrolling the Mediterranean as part of the EU’s Triton operation, saved 217 migrants from three boats and arrested two suspected people smugglers. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/03/thousands-migrants-rescue-med-weekend-operations-libya-italy-mediterranean
L’Echo de Laval – Selon une étude d’Equifax il semble que l’octroi de crédit aux nouveaux immigrants pourrait être un investissement judicieux
Selon une étude menée par Equifax Canada sur les nouveaux immigrants [1], il semblerait que les nouveaux arrivants au Canada présentent de faibles taux de défaillance en matière de crédit, ce pourrait être vu comme un sage investissement pour les institutions financières. Quelque 250 000 nouveaux immigrants arrivent au Canada chaque année et pour les institutions financières cela représente de grandes possibilités de se connecter à cette base de clients grandissante et d’établir des relations à long terme. Toutefois, il peut être difficile d’évaluer le risque de cette population à cause de son manque d’antécédents canadiens en matière de crédit. « Il y a des fausses idées voulant que l’octroi de crédit à des nouveaux immigrants soit une démarche risquée pour les institutions financières, alors qu’en fait les immigrants ont des taux de défaillance de 20 pour cent inférieurs à ceux de la moyenne nationale dans la population générale. » explique Regina Malina, directrice principale d’Aperçus de décision à Equifax Canada..
Inside Toronto – 7 Top Countries of Origin of New Canadians
Between 2004 and 2013, based on records available from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, more than a million people came to Canada to seek a new life. But where did they come from? This question can offer insight into cultural understanding of the origins of several new Canadians as well how communities can connect. Here is a list of the top countries people emigrated to establish their home in Canada. 1. People’s Republic of China. The most populous country in the world has also given Canada the largest chunk of our new citizens. In the last decade measured 2004 to 2013, 326,067 Chinese people became permanent residents and/or citizens of Canada. 2. India. The second most populous country in the world also takes the second place for the source of new Canadians. Between 2004 to 2013, 310,513 Indians became Canadians.
Times Colonist – Victoria Agency Searching the Globe for Students
The Greater Victoria Development Agency is angling for a bigger piece of the lucrative international-student market with a new program called Education Victoria. Launched Friday in concert with the University of Victoria, Royal Roads University, Camosun College and Tourism Victoria, the campaign is hoping to bring more international students to the Island as both an economic development driver and community builder. “This represents a significant opportunity not only for economic reasons, but it represents our city’s connection to the world,” said the development agency’s Dallas Gislason. “It brings diverse perspectives to the learning environment which deepens the learning experience for all students.” Gislason said those students are potential residents and workers in a market that faces a labour shortage over the next 10 years. But the big driver is money. Gislason noted international student programs represent an $8-billion bump to the Canadian economy and about $1.8 billion in B.C., where it generates about 21,000 jobs. http://www.timescolonist.com/business/victoria-agency-searching-the-globe-for-students-1.1872459
The Varsity – International Students May Be Allowed Seats on Governing Council
Budding international student politicos may soon be able to run for positions on the Governing Council at the University of Toronto, pending the approval of a key amendment to the University of Toronto Act by the provincial government. If passed, the amendment will facilitate the removal of the citizenship requirement for candidates wishing to sit on U of T’s highest decision-making body — a change that will affect students, staff, and faculty. The University of Toronto Act is a legal document that regulates U of T’s Governing Council. The act is not set by the university, but by the government. The lack of international student representation on the Governing Council has been a matter of contention for some time. Various student societies at U of T, including the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students, and the International Students Association (iNSA), have campaigned for international students to be eligible to compete for a spot on the Governing Council.
