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.
CBC – Canada’s Syrian Refugees Wonder Why They Are Being Treated Differently
At a time when the Syrian struggle is becoming more complex and more and more people are forced to flee, Canada’s Syrian community is trying to fill the gaps of aid by helping new arrivals adapt. It is also lobbying for increasing the number of refugees being allowed into Canada and for reuniting separated families, both of which seem to be going very slowly. According to Faisal Al Azem, the director of the Montreal chapter of the Syrian Canadian council, Syrians in Canada have been disappointed with Canada’s slow reaction in reuniting families separated by the conflict. “Syrian-Canadians were surprised by the quick response” of Immigration Minister Chris Alexander in November 2013 following the tragic typhoon in the Philippines, Azem says. “The minister declared that visas of Filipinos that were affected by the typhoon would be expedited to Canada. […] “Syrian-Canadians ask themselves, what is different about them compared to Filipinos, or Haitians or Hungarians, all of which have found refuge and protection in Canada.”
The cost of applying to become a Canadian citizen has soared in the past year — a fee hike denounced as “disgusting” and a “poll tax” by critics who say it will keep the working poor from voting. But federal government officials reject criticism of the five-fold increase, saying the fee reflects efforts to have users pay the costs of services, and it compares fairly with sums charged in other countries. Tucked away in a Dec. 23 news release about reducing a backlog in citizenship applications, Citizenship and Immigration Canada said from Jan. 1 the fee would rise to $530 from $300. In February 2014, the fee rose to $300 from $100. […] Alexander told an online forum last month the increased fee more closely reflects the cost of processing an application. It was, he said, in keeping with a user-pay principal so the fees cover the entire cost of the citizenship program.
CBC – Canada to Resettle 10,000 More Syrian Refugees Over 3 Years
Immigration Minister Chris Alexander says Canada will resettle 10,000 more Syrian refugees over the next three years in direct response to the United Nations Refugee Agency’s global appeal to resettle 100,000 refugees worldwide. “We are here today as we have been saying for some time to confirm that Canada is doing more,” Alexander said during an announcement in Toronto on Wednesday. Of the 10,000 Syrian refugees, Alexander said that approximately 60 per cent would be sponsored by private groups and 40 per cent would be sponsored by the government. […] The UN Refugee Agency welcomed Canada’s “generous commitment” saying, in a written statement, “this substantial pledge is in keeping with Canada’s strong humanitarian tradition to offer resettlement to refugees worldwide.” Today’s announcement also comes on the heels of intense criticism by immigration groups who said the government was not doing enough after the country fell behind on its previous commitment to take in 1,300 Syrian refugees by the end of 2014.
CBC – GNWT Immigrant Nominee Programs Need Work, Says Yellowknife Business
A Yellowknife-owned company operating in China says it has lined up people hoping to immigrate and invest in businesses here but they’re still waiting for the territorial government for clarity on how to make this happen. […] The territory has four streams under a nominee program that allows people to apply for permanent residency. It partners with Citizen and Immigration Canada to fast-track immigration applications. One of the streams is the Entrepreneur Business program. […]Kevin Todd, director of investment and economic analysis with the N.W.T. Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, says in the six years it has existed, no one has applied for the Entrepreneur Business stream or the Self-Employed Business stream. He attributes this to a variety of reasons. “There’s quite a lot of competition with the other provinces in Canada,” he said. “It could be the North is not as an attractive place to live. Maybe with some of the smaller communities, maybe some of the business opportunities aren’t as good as some of the southern business opportunities.”
Radio Canada International – L’Université du Nouveau-Brunswick est aux prises avec une controverse sur fond de racisme
L’Université du Nouveau-Brunswick (UNB) au Canada atlantique doit faire enquête sur des propos supposément racistes émis par un professeur de sociologie de l’institution, alléguant que l’afflux d’immigrants asiatiques est une menace au caractère européen du Canada. Kerry Jang, conseiller municipal de Vancouver en Colombie-Britannique – à l’autre bout du pays – a déposé une plainte officielle contre le professeur Ricardo Duchesne. Selon monsieur Jang, les commentaires du professeur de sociologie de l’UNB sont essentiellement des propos haineux. « Il propose une analyse inquiétante, affirmant que les villes asiatiques surpeuplées à Hong Kong et au Japon sont sales et que, donc, que tous les Asiatiques le sont. » L’été dernier, Kerry Jang a déposé sa plainte auprès de Robert MacKinnon, un des vice-présidents de l’UNB, affirmant que les propos du professeur Duchesne causent un tort sérieux à l’institution et que cette dernière devrait songer à le retirer des salles de cours. « Il propose une seule perspective sociologique et se sert de son affiliation universitaire pour faire passer son message.
La Presse – Le Canada promet d’accueillir 10 000 autres réfugiés syriens
La promesse du Canada d’accueillir quelque 10 000 autres réfugiés syriens au cours des trois prochaines années devra être appuyée par un meilleur système pour les faire venir ici, ont prévenu des défenseurs des droits des réfugiés. Les communautés sont prêtes et capables de les prendre en charge mais des changements sont nécessaires au système d’asile, affirment des groupes de protection et des politiciens de l’opposition. «Nous avons un problème dans notre système de relocalisation des réfugiés: de très longs délais, des limites aux personnes qui peuvent être parrainées – il y a des problèmes à régler et ces problèmes demeurent», a déclaré Faisal Al Azem, du Conseil syro-canadien. «Mais ce nombre est un énorme pas vers l’avant, alors pour cela, nous sommes reconnaissants et positifs». Le gouvernement conservateur a fait cette nouvelle promesse après des mois de demandes répétées de groupes de réfugiés et de Canadiens d’origine syrienne, qui réclamaient une augmentation draconienne des places réservées aux réfugiés syriens, qui tentent de fuir la violence brutale qui sévit dans leur pays.
