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 – Les défis des Franco-Africains en Saskatchewan
Les Africains francophones, de plus en plus nombreux en Saskatchewan, doivent surmonter certains défis pour se tailler une place dans la communauté. La famille de Philbert Ngenzirabona et Consolate Nzeyimana fait partie des nouveaux visages de la Fransaskoisie. Le couple originaire du Burundi et son fils s’accrochent au petit bout de français qu’il leur reste. Phlibert est agent de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada, Consolate a trouvé un emploi au Conseil des écoles fransaskoises et leur fils Ryan fréquente l’école Monseigneur de Laval. La famille a aussi joint la paroisse francophone St-Jean-Baptiste. Les immigrants établis dans les grands centres ou dans les petites localités peuvent compter sur les services de la Communauté des Africains francophones de la Saskatchewan (CAFS).
45e Nord.ca – Les immigrants qui servent dans les Forces armées canadiennes deviendront citoyens plus rapidement
Les immigrants qui servent dans les Forces armées canadiennes verront réduire la durée de la période de résidence requise avant de pouvoir faire leur demande de citoyenneté. Le projet de loi C-24 déposé le 6 février à la Chambre des communes par le ministre de l’Immigration Chris Alexander veut imposer aux demandeurs d’habiter plus longtemps au Canada avant de pouvoir devenir citoyens. Le gouvernement Harper entend exiger que les candidats aient été présents physiquement au Canada pendant au moins quatre années sur une période de six ans. […] Mais, ces nouvelles règles plus sévères que propose le projet conservateur «ne s’applique pas au résident permanent […] qui, au cours de la période prévue [dans ce projet de loi], a accumulé un nombre d’années de service dans les Forces armées canadiennes égal à la durée de résidence requise dans ce projet moins un an».
The Guardian – US Relaxes Strict Rules on Potential Immigrants with Limited Terrorist Links
The Obama administration has eased the rules for would-be asylum-seekers, refugees and others who hope to come to or stay in the US and who gave “limited” support to terrorists or terrorist groups. The change is one of President Barack Obama’s first actions on immigration since he pledged during his State of the Union address last month to use more executive directives. The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department now say that people considered to have provided “limited material support” to terrorists or terrorist groups are no longer automatically barred from the US.
The Guardian – [British] Immigration Minister Resigns Over Illegal Immigrant Cleaner
Mark Harper, the immigration minister behind the controversial campaign that put “go home” adverts on vans to urge illegal immigrants to leave Britain, has resigned after learning that his private cleaner for seven years did not have permission to work in the UK. Harper, who was steering an immigration bill through the Commons that warns employers of their duty to check the status of employees, notified David Cameron on Friday, when his resignation was accepted “with regret”.
Reuters – Swiss Voters Back Quotas on Immigration From EU
Swiss voters on Sunday narrowly backed proposals to reintroduce immigration quotas with the European Union, Swiss television reported – a result that calls into question bilateral accords with the EU and could irk multinational companies. While neutral Switzerland is not a member of the EU, its immigration policy is based on free movement of people to and from the EU, as well as allowing in a restricted number of non-EU citizens. The vote, which comes 12 years after an agreement with the EU on free movement of people came into force, could hurt an economy dependent on foreign professionals by increasing red tape and jeopardising bilateral accords.
Edmonton Journal – Union Taps Foreign Workers the Right Way
Some businesses have complained about the tougher rules in force since the start of the year governing the federal temporary foreign workers program. They need to give their heads a shake. […] My own organization, the boilermakers union, has faced two short periods every year for the past few years where our industry has been critically short of the specialized workers who are members of our union. […] So we embrace the program, but with caveats. First — and this has been reflected in the tighter regulations — the temporary workers are paid exactly the same as our own members, including benefit accounts that give them equivalent pension and health-care coverage. […] Second — and this is also reflected in the new rules — we’ve never charged commissions on the work we find for our temporary foreign workers, nor do we charge them for their transportation and accommodation.
