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.
CNW Telbec – Les gouvernements du Canada et du Manitoba soutiennent l’emploi et les possibilités pour les jeunes de Winnipeg
Les gouvernements du Canada et du Manitoba aideront les jeunes Canadiens de Winnipeg à acquérir les compétences et l’expérience dont ils ont besoin pour obtenir un emploi, a annoncé aujourd’hui la ministre du Patrimoine canadien et des Langues officielles et députée de Saint-Boniface, l’honorable Shelly Glover, au nom de la ministre d’État au Développement social, l’honorable Candice Bergen, en compagnie de la ministre du Travail et de l’Immigration du Manitoba, Erna Braun. Les deux gouvernements verseront plus de 1,1 million de dollars à Employment Solutions for Immigrants pour la réalisation de deux projets qui permettront d’aider 140 jeunes à surmonter les obstacles à l’emploi. Un des projets permettra d’aider 120 jeunes immigrants à améliorer leurs habiletés fondamentales et leurs compétences relatives à l’employabilité par l’intermédiaire d’ateliers axés entre autres sur les techniques de recherche d’emploi, les habiletés de communication et la compréhension des attentes des employeurs canadiens.
CBC – OPP Did Not Have “Leading Role” in CBSA Immigration Arrests
The Ontario Provincial Police says it did not have “any leading role” when the Canada Border Services Agency arrested 21 people for immigration violations during a commercial vehicle safety blitz last week. The CBSA has told CBC News that the OPP and staff from the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Environment took part in a safety blitz on Aug. 14, along a stretch of Wilson Avenue between Jane Street and Highway 400. “As a result of this OPP blitz, the CBSA arrested 21 individuals in violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,” the CBSA told CBC News, the day after those arrests. On Sunday, the OPP told CBC News that its staff did not have a big role in those arrests. […] In a statement, the Ministry of Transportation told CBC News that Thursday had been the first time it had been “invited to participate in an activity organized by the CBSA” and that its staff had been focused on vehicle inspections.
Toronto Star – Ottawa Urged to Remove Citizenship by Birth on Canadian Soil
Immigration officials have recommended that Ottawa remove citizenship rights to babies born in Canada to non-citizens and non-residents even though the small number of cases doesn’t justify the costs. The proposal, marked “secret” and with inputs from various federal departments, found fewer than 500 cases of children being born to foreign nationals in Canada each year, amounting to just 0.14 per cent of the 360,000 total births per year in the country. […] Currently Canada and the United States are the only countries to have birth on soil provisions. […] With input from the Department of Justice, Passport Canada, Foreign Affairs, CBSA and Public Safety, the report suggested Ottawa could issue proof of citizenship to persons born in Canada or have provinces modify birth certificates to indicate citizenship status. Nevertheless, it recommended the removal of the birth rights by suggesting “there may be some support for a restrictive policy” despite the “significant operational and cost implication” for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Radio Canada International – La citoyenneté canadienne n’est pas à vendre
C’est le message du gouvernement canadien qui propose des changements à sa loi sur la citoyenneté canadienne qui entreraient en vigueur en 2015 et qui rendront encore plus exigeants ses critères d’obtention. Récemment un journal canadien, le National Post, relatait l’histoire d’une famille libanaise qui avait obtenu la citoyenneté sans avoir résidé pendant 4 ans au Canada. En plus de perdre leur citoyenneté canadienne, la famille, constituée des parents et de deux filles, a reçu une amende de 63, 000 dollars pour avoir menti à propos de sa résidence au pays. Maryse Jobin s’est entretenue à ce sujet avec Carole Chelhot, membre du barreau du Québec et avocate spécialisée en droit de l’immigration. Elle partage son temps entre Montréal et Beyrouth […].
The Guardian – Australia Reserves 2,200 Places for Syrian Refugees
Australia will reserve more than 2,000 places in its refugee program for Syrians, at the same time as it tries to return Syrians held in offshore detention to the country the immigration minister describes as “in the midst of a terrible conflict”. Syrian refugees will have 2,200 places set aside within the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP), which takes in refugees who can prove they already have a connection to Australia. Scott Morrison also announced 2,200 places in the program would be set aside for Iraqis. The places are part of the government’s formal refugee intake of 13,750, which the Coalition reduced from 20,000 when it came to office last year. Australia is holding Iraqis and Syrians who tried to reach Australia by boat in offshore detention centres and tried to send Syrians back to the country, despite claims by at least one that he faced certain death if returned.
The Globe and Mail – Refugee Claimants Struggling to Find Health Care After Cuts
At Toronto’s FCJ Refugee Centre, one of dozens across Canada, Loly Rico is compiling evidence of how the cuts have affected refugees so it can be used as ammunition against Ottawa’s appeal. […] Since the cuts came into effect, their centre has run a small free clinic for the uninsured every second Saturday. It has seen about 100 patients, many of whom Ms. Rico says were turned away by hospitals and walk-in clinics uninterested in filing complex paperwork that would not guarantee payment. […] Due to the backlogged refugee determination process, eligible claimants often wait months for a health card. This leads to confusion over who is eligible for what, leading to some being billed for services that should have been covered, and clinics turning away all refugees and claimants whether they are eligible for coverage or not.
