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.
Radio-Canada – N.-É. : le défi des immigrants
La Nouvelle-Écosse séduit de nombreux immigrants, mais pour plusieurs d’entre eux, l’arrivée ne se fait pas en douceur. Le choc peut être abrupt. Carlos Berumen en sait quelque chose. Récemment arrivé dans la province, il ne s’attendait pas à avoir autant de mal à trouver un emploi. « Pour réussir une immigration, le plus important c’est de trouver du travail, parce qu’avec ça, tu es un peu plus stable et tu peux penser à autre chose », explique-t-il. M. Berumen croit qu’il lui aurait fallu une meilleure préparation avant le départ. C’est l’une des nombreuses suggestions entendues dans ce forum organisé par Immigration Francophone, l’organisme d’aide aux nouveaux arrivants en Nouvelle-Écosse. À l’aube de ses 10 ans d’existence, Immigration Francophone, s’impose une réflexion en profondeur sur la façon d’améliorer ses services dans le cadre de la semaine nationale de l’immigration francophone qui se termine dimanche.
Calgary Herald – Immigration Red Tape Strikes Sour Note with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor
For almost a decade Roberto Minczuk has been recognized as an important and prominent member of Calgary’s community in his role as conductor and musical director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. By most, that is, with the notable exception of the Canadian government. Despite several attempts and through various different channels, the world-renowned Brazilian native has failed to obtain permanent resident status for he and his family, having his applications denied, delayed and returned with what he considers even more bureaucratic red tape to cut through. Now, having met with yet one more “frustrating” hurdle, Minczuk, with the help of his brother-in-law Wagner Ksenhuk, has reached out to the federal government, sending a letter to Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, that details the conductor’s ongoing plight.
Toronto Star – “Not Our Idea” Ontario Tells Ottawa Over Controversial Refugee Welfare Restrictions
The Ontario government is strongly denying Ottawa’s suggestion that a controversial move to restrict refugees’ access to welfare was the province’s idea. On Thursday, a senior federal immigration director told a Senate committee that the proposal to allow provinces to impose a minimum residency requirement for people seeking social assistance — currently embedded in the omnibus budgetary Bill C-43 — “came up” during conversations with provincial officials. […] A spokesperson for Community and Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek immediately rebuffed that claim. “The government of Ontario has not requested the ability to impose residency restrictions, and we were not consulted on this legislation,” said Amber Anderson. “In fact, the Ministry of Community and Social Services has concerns about the potential human rights implications of imposing a waiting period for a specific group. We believe that a waiting period could impact people with legitimate refugee claims who are truly in need. We have communicated our concerns to the federal government.” Critics and advocacy groups said the province’s response confirms that the proposed changes were undertaken by the Conservative government with little consultation.
Radio-Canada – Ces immigrants francophones qui choisissent le Nord ontarien
Changer de vie, tenter une nouvelle expérience, trouver un travail, des francophones d’autres pays du monde choisissent d’immigrer au Canada et plus particulièrement dans le nord de l’Ontario. À l’occasion de la deuxième semaine nationale de la francophonie, trois d’entre eux expliquent leurs motivations et racontent leur expérience. Changer de vie, tenter une nouvelle expérience, trouver un travail, des francophones d’autres pays du monde choisissent d’immigrer au Canada et plus particulièrement dans le nord de l’Ontario. À l’occasion de la deuxième semaine nationale de la francophonie, trois d’entre eux expliquent leurs motivations et racontent leur expérience. Ils sont originaires de France, de Belgique et du Ghana : Sophie Millian, Stéphane Sauber et Michael Asorgoé ont fait le grand saut récemment, chacun pour des raisons différentes, mais sans regret, bien au contraire. Sophie Millian a immigré au Canada avec son mari et ses enfants il y a deux ans, en se rendant d’abord au Manitoba pour ensuite s’installer à Thunder Bay.
The Catholic Register – Skepticism Greets Update to Live-In Caregivers Program
Months of closed-door conversations, community consultations and a lack of follow-up communication leaves Faye Arellano skeptical about the federal government’s intentions to clear up the Live-in Caregivers Program’s backlog. “Sad to say I am not very optimistic about the future,” said Arellano of the Oct. 31 announcement by Chris Alexander, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, that the government will process 30,000 of the 60,000 backlogged applications next year alone. “If the government really intends to clear the backlog they should have done that a long time ago so that it did not reach a staggering number and prolong the misery of caregivers who are aching to be reunited with their family. As they say, it is usually easier said than done (so) for now we’ll have to take their word for it,” said Arellano, a member of Task Force: PR Stay, a Toronto-based group formed this year to gather community input regarding the Live-in Caregivers Program and relay it back to the government.
Times Colonist – Afghan Officer Seeking Refugee Status Should Have Been Allowed in Canada: Lawyers
Lawyers for one of three Afghan military officers facing deportation after sneaking away from a military training exercise in Massachusetts said he was improperly denied entry into Canada when he arrived at the border seeking refugee status. Capt. Mohammad Nasir Askarzada has an uncle in Montreal, the attorneys said, which should have made him exempt from a 10-year-old treaty under which he and the other officers apparently were turned away. Refugee advocates say the case proves some of their worst fears about the 2004 Safe Third Country Agreement, which has dramatically decreased the flow of asylum seekers through the United States into Canada. […] The Safe Third Country Agreement between the United States and Canada requires people seeking asylum at Canada-U.S. land border crossings to apply in whichever country they arrive in first, with some exceptions. Askarzada, Joya said, met one of the exceptions by having a family member in Canada. But she said border agents failed to call the uncle to confirm the claim when he, along with Maj. Jan Mohammad Arash and Capt. Noorullah Aminyar, walked across the Rainbow Bridge from New York into Ontario on Sept. 22.
