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 – Federal Government to Offer Do-Over of Failed Citizenship Exams
Those who fail the citizenship test will soon get a one-time do-over according to new rules being introduced by the federal government, Postmedia News has learned. With average wait times for processing citizenship applications about 23 months, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney wants to throw prospective Canadians a bone by giving them two chances to pass the test. Now, those who fail must appear before a judge, which can result in even longer delays. B.C.-based immigration lawyer Richard Kurland released figures last month that suggested applicants in Montreal and Vancouver were having to wait as long as 29 months for their hearing to be scheduled. Under the new rules, applicants who fail will be told so immediately and be given the opportunity to schedule a rewrite within four to eight weeks. Those who fail the test a second time, however, will have to get in the queue to be assessed by a citizenship judge.
Toronto Star – Filipino Students Adjust to New Parents – Their Own
Most of the 88 students from the Philippines at Toronto’s Forest Hill Collegiate are adjusting to more than a new country and new school system. […] These polite, affable children of those who work as caregivers to the world have spent a good part of their young lives on the other side of the world from one or both of their parents. […] Now they’re together again. The Filipino parents, two-thirds of whom have university degrees from back home, are eager for their children to show that the years of separation and sacrifice were worth it. But with many parents working two jobs that leave little time to oversee schoolwork, they say they are frustrated so many of their children at this school, near Spadina and Eglinton, seem academically adrift.
Le Huffington Post – Travailleurs temporaires en C.-B.: des courriels illustrent la grogne populaire
L’opposition de résidants en Colombie-Britannique face aux intentions d’une entreprise minière d’avoir recours à des travailleurs temporaires étrangers a été féroce, selon ce que révèlent des dizaines de courriels et de lettres de citoyens furieux, dont La Presse Canadienne a obtenu copie. L’un d’entre eux a soutenu connaître personnellement 40 mineurs au chômage qui seraient plus qu’heureux d’offrir leurs services à la compagnie chinoise HD Mining. Envoyées entre les mois d’octobre et janvier, ces lettres démontrent que les citoyens de la province n’ont pas cru un mot des déclarations du gouvernement et de HD Mining, qui avaient alors soutenu qu’il n’y avait pas de Canadiens qualifiés pour exécuter le travail.
Vancouver Sun – Former KGB Agent Marks Fourth Year in Sanctuary in Vancouver Church
June 2 marks four years that Lennikov has been living in church sanctuary. Lennikov was ordered deported on June 3, 2009, because of his history with the KGB, the former Soviet secret service, although he’s argued he poses no threat to Canadian security. Lennikov’s wife and son have been allowed to stay in the country on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and have also been living in the church. […] The practice of sanctuary as a last resort for asylum seekers has existed for centuries, but the right to religious refuge is not enshrined in Canadian law. According to the Canadian Border Services Agency, Lennikov is still subject to a removal order.
CanIndia – Political Inclusion of New Canadians Vital to Integration
Canada attracts many immigrants from around the world. It is the responsibility of all citizens besides Government to ensure that a welcoming and inclusive attitude is offered to them. […] Political integration is very important for new immigrants, since in three years they will become citizens of Canada with a right to vote. New immigrants come from political systems that are very different than in Canada. They want to know about their political leaders and understand what are the issues that are of concern in the community they live in. Ironically, many Canadian citizens also do not know the answer to these questions. There are many barriers that affect new immigrants in their process of settling down such as language, skills, transportation, access to services and costs. New immigrants must be welcomed with an attitude of being partners in community building.
CBC – Failed Asylum Seeker from El Salvador Says He’s Not a Threat
Supporters of a failed asylum seeker from El Salvador say it is wrong to deport him based on his past work with the party that now governs that country. […] He has never hidden the fact he was a student recruiter for the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). […]His application for permanent residency under humanitarian and compassionate grounds was rejected on the grounds that the FMLN took part in killing during the civil war, and Figueroa was a member of a terrorist organization. […] The FMLN is not on Canada’s list of terrorist entities, and the party now leads the democratically elected government of El Salvador. Canadian officials attended the inauguration of its president and the vice-president, once a high-ranking FMLN military commander, was welcomed to Toronto last fall.
