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 Now – MP Takes Issue with Sponsorship Waits
The Conservative government’s move to close this year’s application process for immigrants to sponsor parent and grandparent visits is a drain both emotionally and economically, according to New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly. Last week, Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials announced the department received 5,000 completed applications, the limit set for 2014. Those applications came in during a month-long window from Jan. 2 to Feb. 3, following a two-year moratorium on applications in place since November 2011. […] According to Donnelly, the problem is two-fold: a major backlog in applications has built up from the previous moratorium, and the federal government is not putting enough money into the immigration ministry to deal with the issue.
Metro News – U of A Celebrates 25 Years of Student Refugee Program
For the last 25 years, refugee students from around the world — just like Hakizimana — have braved Edmonton’s weather for the chance to attend the University of Alberta’s Student Refugee Program free of charge. Having fled Rwanda as a child, Hakizimana spent 10 years in a Malawi refugee camp before he moved to Canada and enrolled at the U of A. […] “The best part is to come from a refugee camp to the U of A,” Hakizimana said about his experience, which is sponsored by a group called World University Service of Canada (WUSC). With tuition, living and transportation costs covered, Sarah Lavimizadeh, events co-ordinator for WUSC at the U of A, said the program offers students who wouldn’t normally have the chance to attend post-secondary the opportunity for more education.
Global News – Transgender Woman Initially Held in Men’s Jail on Immigration Matter to Fly Home
A transgender woman from London, England who was initially held in a men’s jail after being detained over an apparent immigration issue is to return home Thursday. Her girlfriend tweets that Avery Edison will take a flight back to the United Kingdom from Toronto’s Pearson airport following a decision that was made at an immigration hearing. Edison had tweeted she was detained by the Canada Border Services Agency after landing in Toronto on Monday, and she suspected it was due to previously overstaying her student visa. But she said that despite being listed as female on her passport she was sent to Maplehurst Correctional Centre in Milton, Ont. – a jail for males – while awaiting a hearing.
Radio Canada – Une liste des employeurs qui embauchent des étrangers est réclamée
À la suite des aveux de la coentreprise Pacer Promec, la Fédération des travailleurs de l’Alberta réclame une liste publique des employeurs qui utilisent le Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires (PTET). La semaine dernière, on apprenait que Pacer Promec avait remplacé des employés syndiqués par des travailleurs temporaires croates à sa mine de sables bitumineux, à Fort McMurray. L’employeur a d’abord démenti la chose, puis l’a reconnue, tout en annonçant qu’il réembaucherait des Canadiens syndiqués, mais pas nécessairement ceux qu’il avait licenciés. Le ministère fédéral de l’Emploi a ouvert une enquête sur l’affaire.
Journal de Montréal – Immigrants investisseurs: le Québec épargné
Le Québec pourra continuer d’accueillir des immigrants investisseurs, même si le fédéral a annoncé dans son budget la fin de ce programme spécifique pour le reste du Canada. C’est ce qu’a confirmé au Journal mercredi l’attaché de presse de la ministre de l’Immigration, Diane de Courcy. «La catégorie d’immigrants investisseurs va encore exister au Québec. On a eu des discussions avec le fédéral et on va pouvoir maintenir le programme ici», précise Jean-François Lemieux. Notons que l’accord Canada-Québec permet à la province de choisir ses immigrants, contrairement aux autres provinces du pays.
La Presse – La colère monte à cause de la perte du programme Immigrants investisseurs
Le premier ministre de la Saskatchewan, Brad Wall, est frustré de voir le gouvernement fédéral mettre la hache dans le programme Immigrants investisseurs pour toutes les provinces, sauf le Québec. M. Wall a indiqué qu’il savait qu’Ottawa entretenait des inquiétudes quant au bon fonctionnement du programme. Selon lui, toutefois, celui-ci s’est avéré un succès en Saskatchewan, favorisant des investissements de plus de 160 millions $ dans la construction de maisons lors d’une pénurie de logements. Le programme offrait des visas de résident permanent aux investisseurs détenant de l’expérience en affaires, possédant un avoir net d’au moins 1 600 000 $ et étant prêts à investir 800 000 $. Plusieurs reprochaient au programme d’être un moyen pour les immigrants riches d’acheter leur entrée au pays.
