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.
Canadian Health Officials Create Care Guide For Newcomers
Canada, it is often said, is a land of immigrants. The newcomers – close to 300,000 a year – can pose particular challenges for health care practitioners: They may be lacking basic vaccines that are taken for granted in Canada, have been exposed to tropical illnesses that are rarely seen in this country, or be victims of family violence that is not acceptable in Western society. So a group of practitioners and community activists – under the rubric the Canadian Collaboration for Immigrant and Refugee Health – have joined forces to create a new set of guidelines for care.
Starting today, Ontarians can apply for Ontario’s new photo identification card.This new government-issued ID is now available at 21 ServiceOntario locations across the province, and will be available at all locations by 2012. This secure card will make it easier for people aged 16 years and over who do not have a driver’s licence to open a bank account, make travel arrangements or perform other activities that require official ID.
Immigration Minister in Montreal to Consult Public On How to Reshape System
Canada’s immigration minister said he’ll listen to what people have to say about his efforts to reshape the immigration system. Jason Kenney was in Montreal on Friday to discuss how best to deal with a delicate issue — and one he says is vital to the future of Canada’s success. The minister said there is a clear need for more people to help build a labour force that will need new blood, but that the country also needs to balance that with sustainable immigration levels.
Minister Kenney Reflects on the Resettling of Iraqi Refugees
Today, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney made the following statement: “As Minister, I have the privilege of meeting many refugees and I am always deeply moved and inspired by their life stories — stories that demonstrate their courage to survive in the face of the most harrowing of ordeals. And it is intensely satisfying to see how those offered protection have taken to rebuilding their lives in the freedom and peace of Canada.”
A large Calgary family is struggling to replace important documents after fire ripped through their northeast townhouse. The upstairs floor of Abdulrazak Ali’s rented home on Tarawood Lane N.E. was all but destroyed by a fire overnight Sunday. Much of his family’s identification is gone. “All the documents. Everything we have is gone. Nothing left,” he said. Ali said three of his children were born in Canada, while three were born in Somalia, the homeland of him and his wife. Calgary immigration lawyer Michael Greene says getting new documents is fairly straightforward but can take time. “There is processing times involved, and so people end up with little or no identification for long periods of time. If you look for instance on the government of Canada website for replacing citizenship documents, they’ll tell you it takes ten months to process that application. Well, that would be a big problem for some people.”
Stricter U.S. Rules Prompt More Scrutiny At Canadian Border
Canadians are being pulled aside for close inspection by border agents more often upon returning home — ironically because of stricter American security demands.Tighter document requirements ushered in by the United States after 9-11 have led to the unexpected effect of more scrutiny — and additional searches — of people at Canadian land-border crossings, says a newly released evaluation report.The revelation comes as the Conservative government negotiates a controversial perimeter security deal with the United States, intended to reduce delays and congestion at the 49th parallel.
