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.
Global News – Half a billion to clear backlog of some asylum seekers: PBO
Clearing the backlog of foreign nationals who have claimed asylum in Canada over the last five years — a “great number” of which the immigration minister says are Mexicans — will cost Canada an estimated half a billion dollars, a report from the parliamentary budget officer has found. It’s a price tag Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Canada “arguably shouldn’t have had to assume in the first place.” The PBO examined the cost of processing asylum claims filed by people who arrived in Canada using a easy to get document, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTa) as opposed to a traditional visa.
CBC News – Protesters pause no-liquid hunger strike after speaking with P.E.I.’s top immigration official
Foreign workers protesting the P.E.I. government’s recent immigration policy changes say they’ve agreed to pause their no-liquid hunger strike after meeting with the province’s top immigration official. One of the protest’s organizers, Rupinder Pal Singh, said he met on Friday with Jeff Young, the director of the provincial Office of Immigration. Singh said Young encouraged the group to put a hold on its hunger strike while the government considers their demands.
CBC News – Montreal restaurateur hits immigration roadblock when trying to recruit staff from Haiti
Michael Lafaille, co-owner of Kwizinn restaurant in Montreal’s Old Port, has spent upwards of $20,000 to recruit workers from abroad after years of struggling with a staff shortage. Despite his efforts, the foreign worker applications of four Haitian employees were rejected, with Immigration Canada stating that the candidates did not meet the job requirements. Martin Vézina, spokesperson for the Quebec Restaurant Association, says employers have been resorting to the temporary foreign worker program to survive. He notes that more than 5,000 restaurant staff are needed across the province.
Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has commanded center stage in Ottawa over the past few weeks making a rash of new policy announcements. The changes being made to Canada’s immigration system will make it easier for newcomers to come into the country – seemingly without regard for either the costs to taxpayers or the strain placed on Canadians’ social contract. Last Thursday, the government tabled legislation that extends birthright citizenship, allowing Canadians who live abroad to pass down “Canadian citizenship” to their children who may have been born outside the country and live abroad. This allows for a person who never has set foot in Canada to hold Canadian citizenship based on one of their parents’ citizenship.
Le Devoir – Départ difficile pour l’embauche de demandeurs d’asile dans l’industrie du tourisme
Québec a lancé en mai 2023 un projet pilote pour trouver un emploi dans l’industrie du tourisme à 3000 demandeurs d’asile. Un an après le début de l’initiative, seulement une cinquantaine de personnes ont été embauchées. Le plan, accompagné d’une enveloppe de 10 millions de dollars, vise l’embauche de 1000 personnes chaque année durant trois ans. Le projet pilote a été lancé par Québec au printemps, mais il fallut attendre l’automne avant que le tout ne prenne son envol, ce qui explique en partie le bilan provisoire de 50, bien inférieur au millier d’embauches espéré pour cette première année.
Radio-Canada – Les travailleurs immigrants acceptent de faire une pause dans leur grève de la soif
Les travailleurs immigrants, qui manifestent depuis plusieurs jours contre les modifications apportées par le gouvernement à la politique d’immigration provinciale, ont accepté de faire une pause dans leur grève de la soif après avoir rencontré le directeur de l’Office de l’immigration de l’Î.-P.-É. Le gouvernement n’a pas fait de commentaire pour le moment. Ils manifestent depuis le 9 mai et plusieurs ont commencé une grève de la faim, il y a une semaine, suivie d’une grève de la soif depuis mardi.
