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.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada News Release – Minister Jason Kenney Meets with Roma Leaders in Hungary
Today, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney travelled to the village of Alsózsolca and the city of Miskolc, in Northeastern Hungary to meet with members of the Roma community. Hungary has been the largest source country for asylum claims filed in Canada for the past three years, and approximately 40 percent of these claimants have come from the region around Miskolc. Minister Kenney visited Hungary in advance of the coming into force of the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act, expected later this year. This law will help the Government of Canada offer fast protection to genuine refugees while stopping the abuse of our system and generosity by bogus asylum claimants and human smugglers.
Canada’s border agency is hiring private security guard companies that normally patrol shopping malls to guard “high-risk” prisoners […] Canada Border Services Agency says it’s cheaper than using their own armed officers as security guards and that they are doing it across the country. CBSA spokesman Chris Kealey confirmed that the border agency has been outsourcing once-unionized duties to a cheaper, private outfit to “save taxpayer dollars.”
Toronto Star – Canada Woos Irish Immigrants in Search of Jobs
A job fair over the weekend in Dublin, at which Canada and Canadian companies were well represented, drew nearly 8,000 job-hungry Irish hoping to escape hard times on the Emerald Isle. To underscore the fact that the red carpet is out, Canada’s Immigration Minister Jason Kenney was front and centre in the Irish capital, with an appearance on Ireland’s popular Late Late Show to explain how Canada is making it easier for young people to emigrate from Ireland. Canada is in hot competition with Australia and New Zealand — favoured destinations for Irish immigrants.
Winnipeg Free Press – Number of Afghans Resettled in Canada Nearly Double Original Estimate
A special program to offer a new life in Canada to people who acted as interpreters for Canadian soldiers and diplomats in Afghanistan — sometimes at the risk of their lives — has brought in nearly double the numbers expected. Officials had planned for only 450 Afghans to eventually make the move when they began a special immigration program for interpreters and their families in 2009. With Canada’s combat mission ended and a year after the program stopped accepting applications, around 800 former interpreters and their families are now living across the country.
Globe and Mail – Ottawa to Launch Online Pilot Project for Access-to-Information Requests
The Harper government is planning a pilot project early next year to allow ordinary citizens and others to request internal documents under the Access to Information Act via the Internet. […] Citizenship and Immigration is the anchor department for the pilot because it already has basic access-to-information online systems in place, such as the ability to receive credit-card payments electronically.
Winnipeg Free Press – “They Should’ve Packed Their Insulin When Fleeing Genocide”
Just in time for Thanksgiving, a Winnipeg satirist has a video on YouTube “thanking” the federal immigration minister for taking away health benefits from refugees. Adi Sara Kreindler said her song and slide show Thank You Jason Kenney was inspired by his policy and a petition thanking him for it that was posted on his website. […] She came up with a 1920s-style “cakewalk” ditty and video slide show poking fun at the immigration minister for refusing to cover health-care expenses such as prescription drugs for refugees.
