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.
The Chronicle Herald – N.S. Lobbies For More Immigrants
The provincial government is trying to boost immigration to combat the drain of an aging workforce, but it was set back last week when the federal government announced it would continue to cap Nova Scotia’s nominee program well below other provinces. It was one of Premier Darrell Dexter’s top agenda items Monday as he descended on Ottawa to lobby several federal ministers. The nominee program is capped at 500 people per year and makes up over one-fifth of all the immigrants who come to Nova Scotia. The province had asked to have its allotment boosted to 750 next year but will instead keep the same share.
Toronto Star – Tensions Mount Over Ottawa’s Vow To Help Afghan Interpreters
Frustration is growing in government ranks that Ottawa is falling down on its vow to help Afghan interpreters and their families find a new life in Canada. “I would say longstanding and growing frustration,” a senior official said this week after the Star highlighted the plight.
The Record – Bill Would Strip Refugees Of Human Rights
Who knew that a progressive, welcoming country like Canada, a country known for the rule of law and respect for human rights, could treat abused women seeking political asylum like criminals? Yet on June 16, our Conservative federal government introduced a bill into the House of Commons that will do just that. While toughening penalties for human smugglers, this misguided bill also criminalizes refugees who flee to Canada. It imposes mandatory detention on “designated foreign nationals,” a designation that will be made on all “irregular arrivals to Canada,” for a period of one year, during which there is no opportunity for review.
South Asian Focus – CIC In Tug-Of-War With Women, Advocacy Groups
Canada-wide advocacy groups and women organizations expressed their concern over the federal government’s plan to introduce a two-year “conditional permanent residence” period for sponsored spouses. Marriage breakups after the sponsored spouse arrives inCanadahave been an issue of grave concern, especially among the South Asian community. According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, around 1,000 fraudulent marriages are being reported annually while a large numbers go unreported.
Toronto Star – More Immigrants Losing Permanent Residency
The number of immigrants losing their permanent residency for not spending enough time in Canada has almost tripled over the past five years, from 1,653 in 2006 to 4,587 last year, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Officials say the rising revocations have nothing to do with the Conservative government’s hard-line approach to immigration and citizenship. In 2003, Ottawa introduced the permanent resident card as a mandatory international travel document for immigrants who are not yet citizens. The so-called Maple Leaf card has also been used to track immigrants’ movements to see if they fulfill their residency obligation — two out of five years — inCanada.
Canadian Visa Bureau – Canada Announces Parent And Grandparent “Super Visa”
In an effort to clear the 165,000-strong backlog of permanent residency applications, Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney has this week flagged changes to the family reunification system. “Wait times for Family Class sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents now exceed seven years, and without taking action, those times will continue to grow, and that is unacceptable,” Mr Kenney said. “Action must be taken to cut the backlog, reduce the wait times, and ensure that the parents and grandparents program is sustainable over the long run.”
