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.
Toronto Star – Germany Housing Refugees in Former Death Camps
The German city of Augsburg decided to turn a branch of the former death camp at Dachau into a refugee centre. The asylum seekers were slated to live in a building where thousands of slave labourers suffered and died under the Nazi regime. The Dachau outpost is not the only concentration camp site that is being turned into a refugee centre in Germany. In the middle of January, the German city of Schwerte started to move asylum seekers who had volunteered to be relocated into a branch of the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald. […] Birgit Naujoks, a representative of a local council of asylum seekers, voiced similar skepticism about such projects, speaking to the Washington Post on Friday: “Generally, the use of former concentration camp compounds as refugee centres awakens associations with the site’s Nazi-era [use], where people were forcefully herded together,” she said. She added, however, that the refugees living at the former death camp compound in Schwerte were so far happy with their accommodations, despite its history. “They say that they have much more space there compared to the building they had previously lived in,” Naujoks said.
Le gouvernement Couillard entend réformer les règles d’immigration dans l’espoir, notamment, qu’elles permettent de mieux répondre aux problèmes de rareté de main-d’oeuvre. Moins habituée que d’autres à accueillir des travailleurs étrangers, la région de Québec compte aujourd’hui de plus en plus sur leur aide en la matière. La ministre québécoise de l’Immigration, Kathleen Weil, ne s’en cache pas. L’un des principaux objectifs de la réforme qu’elle vient de mettre en branle est de nature économique et vise à dénicher à l’étranger, avec le plus de précision possible, les talents qui manqueront aux entreprises québécoises. La tâche ne sera pas facile, admet-on, non seulement parce qu’il faudra aussi trouver le moyen de mieux intégrer qu’on ne le fait actuellement cette main-d’oeuvre venue d’ailleurs, mais également parce que le Québec n’est pas seul à en avoir besoin. La région de la capitale fait face à des défis semblables, mais à une autre échelle.
CBC – Anti-Terrorism Powers: What’s in the Legislation?
Canada’s government on Friday introduced its new anti-terror legislation, a sweeping range of measures that would allow suspects to be detained based on less evidence and let CSIS actively interfere with suspects’ travel plans and finances. The new bill, C-51, is only 62 pages long but contains a variety of increased powers for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). […] Currently, Division 9 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act allows the government to ask the court to protect classified information in immigration proceedings to protect investigation techniques and witnesses. But that application comes at the end of a proceeding. The measure would allow the government to ask for proceedings to be sealed at any point in the process.
Calgary Herald – Stress Levels High as Thousands of TFWs Face April 1 Deadline to Return Home
Alberta could see a significant increase in undocumented, illegal immigrants as thousands of temporary foreign workers grappling with the looming loss of their work permits try to find a way to stay in the province. That’s the message from immigration lawyers and migrant worker advocates, who warn the federally imposed deadline of April 1 — the date on which any TFW who arrived in 2011 or earlier will see their contract expire — is creating a glut of panicked foreign nationals trying desperately to secure permanent residency before they are forced home. […] Jobs Minister Ric McIver said he estimates “several thousand” foreign workers currently living in Alberta will see their permits expire as of April 1, adding his office is fielding many calls from employers fearful of losing some of their best and most experienced employees. […] Holthe and Luciano [see full article] say foreign workers, many of whom came to Alberta on a correct-at-the-time assumption that becoming a TFW was a pathway to permanent residency, have had the rules changed on them mid-stream.
Hamilton Spectator – Newcomer Women Build Confidence at Power Tools Workshop
The sound of hammering echoes through the halls of the Dominic Agostino Riverdale Community Centre. The noise traces back to a small room in the centre where 20 or so immigrant women are hovered over a stack of two-by-fours, measuring out and sawing the wood. “Put the saw down a bit — try a long stroke,” coaches Sandi Tait. Tait has been doing home repairs for more than 20 years. With a lull in her renovation schedule, she sent off a one-line pitch to the local Immigrant Women’s Centre for a workshop series — why not teach other women to tackle these projects? […] When Tait offered her skills for a full series, they were thrilled. The result was a free, eight-week class for local newcomer women called the Power of Power Tools. […] “We wanted to be bold … I wanted everyone to understand what’s behind a wall before we start drilling into one,” Tait says. “I want to show them how Canadian homes are made.” From here, they’ll learn everything from patching and painting walls to replacing faucets, overhead lights and stove elements.
Le Devoir – Le CPQ met en garde contre des exigences linguistiques trop élevées
Les candidats à l’immigration ne devraient pas être contraints de maîtriser le français pour s’installer au Québec, a plaidé le Conseil du patronat (CPQ), jeudi, aux consultations en vue de revoir les politiques d’immigration. En commission parlementaire en après-midi, le président du CPQ, Yves-Thomas Dorval, a mis en garde le gouvernement contre des exigences linguistiques trop élevées qui priveraient le Québec de la richesse de la diversité. « Cela va un peu trop loin, a-t-il dit en entrevue après sa comparution. Le français ne devrait pas être le seul critère. » Devant les parlementaires, M. Dorval a reconnu que le français est un sujet « extrêmement délicat » et que « les choses doivent se faire en français au Québec ». Toutefois, miser sur une « maîtrise trop poussée » du français, au détriment de la qualification professionnelle, limiterait le bassin de recrutement des entreprises et appauvrirait la diversité de la société. « Si on se limite à la maîtrise du français, on limite nos bassins d’immigration à seulement certains pays, et à ce moment-là, on rate la richesse de la diversité pour une société », a-t-il expliqué au cours du point de presse.
