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.
IRCC – New temporary public policy to benefit Hong Kong permanent residence applicants
Canada continues to stand by Hong Kong nationals and supports their freedom and democracy. We continue to monitor the situation in Hong Kong to ensure our immigration programs remain responsive to the needs of Hong Kong residents wishing to come to Canada. A pathway to permanent residence for in-Canada Hong Kong nationals was launched on February 8, 2021, as part of Canada’s response to developments in Hong Kong. Due to a high volume of applications, processing times for this pathway have grown, and many applicants are at risk of seeing their temporary status in Canada expire before their permanent residence applications are finalized.
La Presse – Les questions sur l’immigration embourbent l’accès à l’information
La commissaire à l’information du Canada, Caroline Maynard, avait déjà semoncé IRCC il y a trois ans. Le Ministère avait enregistré 116 928 demandes d’accès à l’information en 2019-2020, en provenance de gens en quête d’informations généralement simples. Le problème est loin de s’être dissipé : en 2022-2023, il y a eu 184 587 demandes d’accès à l’information. Pire, le problème a fait tache d’huile : l’Agence des services frontaliers du Canada (ASFC) en fait maintenant les frais avec 18 889 demandes reçues pour 2022-2023.
Radio-Canada – Le Réseau en immigration francophone du Manitoba recrute
Le Réseau en immigration francophone du Manitoba et l’Accueil francophone cherche à embaucher un ou une agente d’établissement à Sainte-Anne. Ce poste soutiendra le projet de communauté accueillante. La gestionnaire du Réseau en immigration francophone du Manitoba Salwa Meddri est revenue sur les bénéfices de ce projet.
The London Free Press – Fanshawe College not affected by international student cap – for now
Heavily reliant on international students, Fanshawe College says it expects the number of students from abroad this fall will be almost identical to the 2023-24 academic year, despite a new cap on study permits. Fanshawe College, with campuses in London, Woodstock, St. Thomas, Simcoe and Huron and Bruce counties, has about 40,000 students, 51 per cent of whom are international students, the college has said. In January, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a 35 per cent reduction in new visas for international students. Visas will be capped at 364,000 this fall, almost 200,000 fewer than the 560,000 issued in 2023. Ontario’s allotment of new visas was cut in half. Study permit renewals are not affected.
Bloomberg News – Global housing shortages are crushing immigration-fuelled growth
Across much of the developed world, one of the most dependable drivers of economic growth is faltering. For decades, the rapid inflow of migrants helped countries including Canada, Australia and the U.K. stave off the demographic drag from aging populations and falling birth rates. That’s now breaking down as a surge of arrivals since borders reopened after the pandemic runs headlong into a chronic shortage of homes to accommodate them.
CIC News – Five provinces invite candidates for provincial immigration in latest draws
Every Canadian province and territory, except Nunavut and Quebec, selects economic immigration candidates through regional immigration programs called Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). These programs are designed to help each participating province and territory welcome the skilled immigrants that each local government believes can best help address local labour market needs and demographic challenges.
