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 Tyee – What’s Keeping Door Shut to North Koreans Seeking Haven in Canada?
A group that advocates on behalf of North Korean refugees says it believes it is close to establishing a sponsorship program making it easier for those who originated from the oppressive country to come to Canada. Toronto organization HanVoice said it has been in talks with the federal government — mainly the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration — for some time and almost came to a firm proposal under former minister Jason Kenney. […] Randall Baran-Chong [of HanVoice] said a similar program was more recently open to Tibetans who have fled to India. He said North Koreans have a hard time getting refugee status because they are not recognized as a refugee group by the United Nations due to pressure from China, which fears masses of refugees flooding in from the neighbouring country. With Laos, Vietnam and China all deporting them back to North Korea to face torture or execution, often Thailand or South Korea become the first “safe country” for them. From there they make it to Canada, but because they are already eligible for South Korean citizenship Canada now argues they are not legitimate refugees.
Calgary Herald – Alberta Ballet Hit by New Foreign Worker Rules
The federal government’s Temporary Foreign Workers program is tripping up the Alberta Ballet. Alberta Ballet executive director Martin Bragg said in an interview with the Herald on Monday that the company, which employs 34 dancers full time, is the collateral damage of the program that allows citizens of other countries to work in Canada for specified periods of time in certain industries. The program, which requires an application fee of $1,000 per employee, could potentially have a significant negative impact on the company, possibly shrinking it back to the size it was 20 or 25 years ago, says Bragg. […] When the Alberta Ballet tried to apply for a temporary foreign worker visa for the master carpenter of Don Quixote, who would have come from Houston to teach the Calgary crew how to build the show’s sets, they ran afoul of the paperwork required to issue a Temporary Foreign Worker visa. […] Other ballet companies are encountering the same issues as the Alberta Ballet. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet met with then-Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Heritage Minister Shelly Glover, where Bragg maintains Kenney reportedly expressed sympathy, but also refused to issue an exemption.
Asian Pacific Post – Canada’s Immigration Playing Field About to Change
In early 2015, the government will launch a new active recruitment model known as the “Express Entry” system. This system will help switch from the passive processing of applications in the order that we get them, to one that prioritizes processing for people with the skills to succeed in Canada. The new Express Entry program is going to completely transform Canada’s Immigration Program. Historically, Canada’s economic immigration program was an applicant driven responsive program. Individuals who decided that they wanted to immigrate to Canada, submitted an application and the government was bound to consider and assess that application. […] Express Entry will no longer be a responsive applicant driven model. Rather it will transform Canada’s immigration system to one that is “fast, flexible and focused on meeting Canada’s economic and labour needs”. Formerly referred to as “Expression of Interest” this new process will allow skilled immigrants to electronically provide preliminary information to the government regarding their education, skills, work experience and language proficiency as well as other biographical data.
Radio-Canada – Ottawa fait la leçon aux provinces sur la façon d’affronter la pénurie de main-d’oeuvre
Jason Kenney s’en prend aux provinces qui se plaignaient de la méthode dure d’Ottawa envers les travailleurs étrangers temporaires: il leur demande pourquoi elles n’investissent pas plus d’argent fédéral dans des écoles de métiers. Le ministre fédéral de l’Emploi interroge les provinces sur la façon dont elles dépensent le Transfert canadien en matière de programmes sociaux (TCPS) pour l’éducation post-secondaire. Il affirme ne pas comprendre pourquoi les écoles polytechniques et les écoles de métiers qui offrent des formations convoitées voient leurs budgets amputés. Lorsque des provinces demandent le feu vert pour pouvoir engager des travailleurs étrangers temporaires, ajoute M. Kenney, il dit répondre en leur demandant pourquoi elles ne soutiennent pas plus les écoles de métiers qui pourraient fournir ces employés spécialisés. Jim Prentice, le premier ministre de l’Alberta fraîchement élu, qui était à une époque un collègue de cabinet de Jason Kenney, est l’un de ceux qui a déclaré que la réforme du programme de travailleurs étrangers temporaires a été trop coûteuse.
La Presse Canadienne – Immigration: la surveillance électronique au lieu de la détention
La surveillance électronique pourrait être une solution de rechange efficace à la détention de certains immigrants et demandeurs d’asile, propose un rapport interne de l’Agence des services frontaliers du Canada (ASFC). Le document, obtenu par La Presse Canadienne en vertu de la loi sur l’accès à l’information, évalue le port de bracelets électroniques aux chevilles, les systèmes de reconnaissance de la voix et d’autres instruments de localisation utilisés dans sept pays. Il suggère que la surveillance électronique peut sauver de l’argent et réduire le fardeau administratif lié à la gestion des détenus. La détention d’une personne coûte à l’ASFC 239 $ par jour. L’étude, entreprise sur une recommandation d’un comité parlementaire, pourrait constituer la base d’un projet pilote visant à tester les diverses technologies. L’agence rédigera une analyse coût-bénéfice de la surveillance électronique, une «étape importante dans la mise sur pied d’un programme expérimental», peut-on dans une note d’accompagnement remise au président de l’ASFC, Luc Portelance.
Toronto Star – Banning Refugees from Assistance Could Cause Chaos, Hardship, Critics Say
Francisco Rico-Martinez does not know how his refugee shelters and others in the city could manage if a Greater Toronto MP gets his way in opening the door to exclude refugees from accessing social assistance. Charitable groups like Rico-Martinez’ FCJ Refugee Centre and local municipalities do have plenty to worry about as Pickering-Scarborough East MP Corneliu Chisu’s private member bill, C-585, winds its way for second reading scheduled for Tuesday in the House of Commons. And the plan already has a vocal supporter in the Conservative majority government: Canada’s Immigration Minister Chris Alexander. “By making changes to the system, our government is ensuring immigration is protected from those who are seeking to abuse taxpayer-funded health care, welfare, and other social benefits,” Alexander told the Parliament last week during the Question Period. “We will continue to look at legislation in this place from the government, from private members, that goes in that direction to ensure a generous system gives value for taxpayers’ dollars.”
