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.
Yahoo News Canada – More Immigrants Failing the Citizenship Test; How Would You Do?
University of Toronto politics professor Phil Triadafilopoulos told the Globe that the tougher questions mixed with language comprehension problems make the test more difficult for those not from English speaking countries. “Coming from a place that was ruled by Britain once upon a time means you’re likely to do well and that’s probably because you can read the [study] guide more efficiently and read the test more efficiently,” he said, adding that it’s becoming a de facto language test. “The question is, what is the function of these tests?
Toronto Star – Federal Court Asked to Enforce Ruling on Immigration Delays
The Federal Court of Canada has been asked to compel Ottawa to honour a court-sanctioned agreement with litigants who recently claimed a legal victory over immigration processing delays. In a legal motion filed Friday, lawyer for the 900 litigants complained that the government has refused to act on the June 14 court judgment, which ruled Citizenship and Immigration Canada must process in a timely fashion their backlogged applications in the federal skilled worker program. The motion followed an extraordinary move by the presiding judge, Justice Donald Rennie, to reverse his own initial decision to deny the government’s rights to appeal, opening the door for Ottawa to take the case to the Federal Court of Appeal.
Ottawa Citizen – Ontario Health Minister Says Changes to Refugee Health Care Creates Class System
Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews is urging the federal government to reverse its decision to ”significantly reduce” health coverage for refugee claimants. […]The Conservatives have argued that extended benefits for refugees are better than those received by most Canadians. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney recently told a Senate committee that the goal is to ”ensure that there is equity and fairness in health benefits.” […] Matthews says the policy change […] “effectively downloaded federal costs onto the provincial health care system.”
This article is no longer available online. Please contact the media source directly for more information. Original Source: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Ontario+health+minister+says+changes+refugee+health+care+creates+class+system/6859985/story.html
Montreal Gazette – Opposition Mounts to Refugee Health Coverage Changes
More than 800 doctors, nurses, patients and staff at the Montreal Children’s Hospital have signed letters sent to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney Friday expressing opposition to changes that would severely limit health care coverage provided to refugees in Canada. Opposition to the federal government’s move to cut health care funding to refugees – particularly those from countries the minister deems to be usually safe – has been almost unanimous among health care workers across the country. The new policy was to come into effect Saturday, although the Quebec government has announced it will temporarily cover some costs abandoned by the federal government.
This article is no longer available online. Please contact the media source directly for more information. Original Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Opposition+mounts+refugee+health+coverage+changes/6863444/story.html
Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Legislation to Protect Canada’s Immigration System Receives Royal Assent
Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney today welcomed the final passage and Royal Assent of legislation that will protect and improve Canada’s immigration system. […]The Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act brings further reforms to the asylum system. These changes will provide faster protection to those who genuinely need it by reducing the time it takes to review and decide a refugee claim. There will be faster removal of those who don’t require protection and limited access to appeal mechanisms for failed refugee claimants who come from generally non-refugee producing countries.
Globe and Mail – Immigration Minister Puts Brakes on Popular Skilled Labour Programs Until 2013
Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says it’s time to hit the “reset button” and temporarily put the brakes on new applications under two programs popular with skilled workers wanting to come to Canada from abroad. Kenney told a business audience Thursday that the government is placing a six-month moratorium on the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Immigrant Investor Program.
