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.
Canada.com – Bill to End “Hate Speech” Portion of Human Rights Law Gets Mixed Reviews but Senate Approval
A private member’s bill repealing Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, the so-called “hate speech provision,” passed in the Senate this week. Its passage means the part of Canadian human rights law that permitted rights complaints to the federal Human Rights Commission for “the communication of hate messages by telephone or on the Internet” will soon be history. The bill from Alberta Conservative MP Brian Storseth passed in the House of Commons last summer, but needed Senate approval. It has received royal assent and will take effect after a one-year phase-in period. […] Various human rights lawyers and groups such as the Canadian Bar Association say Section 13 is an important tool in helping to curb hate speech, and that removing it would lead to the proliferation of such speech on the Internet.
Toronto Star – Ottawa Accused of Making “Frivolous” Appeals Against Successful Refugees
Refugee lawyers say Ottawa is abusing the court system by launching “frivolous” appeals of refugee board decisions to grant protection to Tamil asylum seekers who arrived en masse by boat three years ago. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who has complained about failed refugees abusing their rights to appeal, is being criticized by lawyers for asking the federal court to reverse positive decisions granted to some of the MV Ocean Lady and Sun Sea passengers, who arrived here in 2009 and 2010.
Vancouver Sun – Growing Poverty Among Canadian Immigrants Could Explode: Study
More than 36 per cent of immigrants who have been in the country for less than five years live in poverty, according to the latest Canadian Labour Market Report. That compares to 25 per cent in the 1980s. “Increasing immigrant poverty is a tinderbox that can ultimately (descend) into social discontent,” write Peter Dungan of the University of Toronto, Tony Fang of York University and Morley Gunderson of the University of Toronto. Poor immigrants could grow increasingly disenchanted because many were attracted to Canada by policies that give points “for skills and education, but such credentials are often not recognized,” says the report for the federally-funded Canadian Labour Market and Skills Researcher Network.
Radio-Canada – Le Sénat américain adopte la réforme de l’immigration
Les 11 millions de sans-papiers installés aux États-Unis sont en bonne voie de voir leur situation régularisée. Le Sénat américain a adopté jeudi par une large majorité la réforme de l’immigration chère au président Barack Obama. « Yes we can! » ont crié, depuis les tribunes, des militants pro-immigrés, à l’annonce de l’adoption. Le texte de plus de 1000 pages prévoit la régularisation massive des sans-papiers, dont environ 7 millions de Mexicains. La plupart devraient pouvoir obtenir un statut provisoire s’ils sont arrivés au pays avant le 31 décembre 2011, n’ont commis aucun crime, ont payé leurs éventuelles amendes et leurs arriérés d’impôts et prouvé leur indépendance financière. Ils n’auront droit à aucun des programmes d’aide sociale américains.
Métro Montréal – Des milliers de dollars destinés aux immigrants inutilisés
Un projet-pilote met à la disposition des immigrants professionnels 1,5 M$ en prêts, toutefois le programme est si méconnu et inutilisé qu’il risque d’être annulé. «Jusqu’à présent, seulement 16 immigrants ont bénéficié du prêt qui a pourtant été lancé il y a sept mois», déplore Indu Krishnamurthy, coordonnatrice d’ACEM, un fonds communautaire d’emprunt de Montréal qui a été mandaté pour mener le projet-pilote fédéral. Ce projet offre un prêt maximal de 10 000$ aux nouveaux arrivants, de la région de Montréal, des Laurentides et de Québec, qui veulent obtenir la reconnaissance des diplômes et de l’expérience de travail acquis à l’étranger.
Winnipeg Free Press – [U.S.] Senate Passes Historic Immigration Bill by a Big Margin; Outcome in House is Highly Uncertain
With a solemnity reserved for momentous occasions, the Senate passed historic legislation Thursday offering the priceless hope of citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in America’s shadows. The bill also promises a military-style effort to secure the long-porous border with Mexico. The bipartisan vote was 68-32 on a measure that sits atop President Barack Obama’s second-term domestic agenda. Even so, the bill’s prospects are highly uncertain in the Republican-controlled House, where conservatives generally oppose citizenship for immigrants living in the country unlawfully.
