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 – Super Visa Earning Rave Reviews
Starting December 1, people all over the world can go to a Canadian visa office and apply for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa. The new Parent and Grandparent Super Visa will be valid for up to 10 years and will allow an applicant to remain in Canada for up to 24 months at a time without the need for renewal of their status. CIC visa officers expect to issue Super Visas within eight weeks of application.
Toronto Star – Give Afghan Hero Safe Refuge in Canada, Online Petitions Urge
From Africa, through Europe to Mexico, the U.S. and across Canada, thousands of people are joining the outcry against the Canadian government’s refusal to give an Afghan war hero safe refuge. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says former Afghan interpreter Sayed Shah Sharifi, who was praised for his bravery on the battlefield by Canadian troops he worked alongside, doesn’t deserve a visa to escape Taliban revenge.
Toronto Star – Canada Rejects Asylum Seeker Deported to Torture in Libya
Canadian officials are washing their hands of an asylum seeker who was tortured when Canada deported him and his family to Libya, while it was still in the clutches of dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Adel Benhmuda learned this week that his application to return to Canada with his family, on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, was rejected by immigration officials.
Toronto Star – Health and Social Services Under One Roof
Similar to Community Hubs set up in many of Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods, Peel’s Community Door offers a combination of programs and services that are centrally located and easy to get to by public transit. The idea is to have a cluster of services under one roof, “like a shopping mall,” said Shelley White, CEO of United Way of Peel. […] “The Community Door is an example of how we can address the root causes of social problems,” said White. One way is creating opportunities for newcomers by helping them navigate the system and provide services to meet cultural, social, training, education and employment needs. The Door is a major step toward meeting the needs of the region’s immigrant population.
Ontario Newsroom – Statement From Charles Sousa, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
I am disappointed and concerned with the Harper Government’s short-sighted decision to cut support to Ontario’s newcomer settlement agencies. Those cuts will make it harder for newcomers to find jobs and contribute to Ontario’s economy, at a time of global uncertainty when Ontario needs everyone at their best. I am urging the federal government to think twice and make the right decision. Ontario is the destination of choice for more newcomers to Canada than any other province. More immigrants settled in Ontario last year than the rest of Canada combined. That’s been the case for generations. Until now, however, they could count on a Canadian government willing to do what it takes to help them succeed.
Globe and Mail – Ontario’s Dwindling Appeal To Immigrants Prompts Funding Cut From Ottawa
Ontario is slowly losing its appeal for immigrants as newcomers head to more promising regions to make a life for themselves, a trend prompting Ottawa to reduce the funding it gives Canada’s most populous province to settle arrivals. The state of affairs has Ontario’s Immigration Minister blaming the Harper government for the problem and warning that the disappearance of the cash will hurt newcomers in his province.
