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.
Ottawa Citizen – Immigrants’ Credentials to be Vetted Overseas
On the eve of an anticipated austerity budget, Kenney said the government would issue a request for proposals within the next two months in the hopes of selecting a third party organization that could begin conducting these overseas assessments by the end of the year […]It would also help screen out those without adequate levels of education. In other words, simply having a degree in a particular field would no longer be enough to garner an individual points toward acceptance as a skilled worker.
This article is no longer available online. Please contact the media source directly for more information. Original Source: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Immigrants+credentials+vetted+overseas/6376414/story.html
National Post – Budget 2012: New Immigration Rules and $130M Aimed at Fixing Skilled Worker Backlog
The federal government will refund up to $130 million to federal skilled workers who applied to come to Canada before 2008 in a bid to get rid of a backlog of about 300,000 applications through legislation. The plan, outlined in part in Thursday’s budget, will ultimately allow the government to ensure skilled newcomers actually meet current labour market needs. The budget didn’t include plans to legislate away the entire backlog of nearly one million, which includes another 160,000 skilled workers who applied after 2008.
Globe and Mail – Government Forces Thousands of Hopeful Immigrants to Reapply
The Harper government is hitting the reset button on a lengthy queue of foreigners who’ve been waiting for half a decade to be accepted as skilled immigrants. Thursday’s federal budget announced about 284,000 non-Canadians seeking to be received as residents will be told they’ve lost their place in line and have to apply again. The figure includes applicants as well as their spouses and dependents.
Since assuming office, the Harper government has given up on the old one-size-fits-all standard for immigration, and is now ceding much of the search for new immigrants to the provinces and territories — and, more recently, to employers. As practical as this might seem, these interests are far less concerned with shaping a national approach to new Canadians as they are with what benefits their own demographic interests and businesses in the short term.
New Canadians are definitely an increasingly important market for mortgage providers. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration reports that more than 280,000 new immigrants came to Canada in 2010 – the most in 50 years. Between now and 2031, the foreign-born population of Canada is projected to increase approximately four times faster than the rest of the population.
This article is no longer available online. Please contact the media source directly for more information. Original Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/focus+serving+newcomers/6369894/story.html
Toronto Star – Refugee Claims from Hungary Soar, UN Reports
Last year, 4,409 Hungarians sought asylum in Canada — making it the top country of origin for claimants to Canada, according to a new report from the UN Refugee Agency. […] “Roma are being persecuted in Europe. That’s why they come to Canada,” said Max Berger, an immigration lawyer who represents many Roma clients. He said the numbers are high because, unlike in the Czech Republic, which also has a high Roma population, a visa is not required for Hungarians to come to Canada.
