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.
Immigration to Canada Drops by 25 Per Cent
Canada let 25 per cent fewer immigrants into the country in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2010, raising concerns the Conservative government is embarking on a bold plan to restrict the country’s immigration levels.The number of permanent resident visas issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada between January and March fell from 84,083 in 2010 to 63,224 this year, according to figures obtained by the Star.
Hundreds of Afghan Interpreters Will be In Canada in Months
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says hundreds of Afghan translators who risked their lives working with Canadian troops in Afghanistan and continue to be at risk will be moving to Canada in the next few months. Kenney originally announced the “fast-track” program a couple of years ago to help Afghans who face what he called “extraordinary personal risk” by working with Canadians in Kandahar. “We’ve received a few hundred applications. We are expecting that we’ll probably end up admitting about 550 people who qualify for the program, which exceeds our original estimate of about 450,” Kenney said Friday.
Immigrants Hardest Hit By Recent Recession, Study Says
Immigrants, particularly recent newcomers, have borne the brunt of unemployment as a result of the recent recession, a new study says. The unemployment gap between immigrant and Canadian-born workers has grown since the global economic meltdown set off in late 2008 and newcomers in Greater Toronto were most affected, says the study being released Friday. It is part of a project by the Toronto Immigrant Employment Data Initiative, made up of researchers from York University, University of Toronto and Ryerson University who study immigrant integration in the labour force based on government data.
A festival celebrating the biggest Curinghesi population outside Italy will have a special addition this year when the statute of Our Lady of Carmel is outfitted with a new crown for the first time. […]Nearly 2,000 Curinga natives live in London. Many emigrated after the Second World War, bringing traditions such as the festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Chinese-Canadians Reluctant to Join Military, Study Finds
More new Canadian citizens hail from China than almost any other country in the world, but military brass in Ottawa are facing an uphill battle in persuading a significantly greater proportion of Chinese-Canadians to embrace a career in the armed forces. Chinese-Canadians are among the fastest-growing visible minority groups in the country, and the People’s Republic of China has ranked first or second as a source of new citizens in recent years.
Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said a human smuggling ship intercepted Monday appeared to have been “destined for Canada” and reinforces the need to pass the Tory government’s anti-smuggling legislation. “We are not going to be a doormat for the dangerous crime of human smuggling,” Kenney told reporters at a news conference Tuesday in Calgary. Human smuggling is already a crime in this country, but there has been few successful prosecutions and the government says the act would strengthen Canada’s ability to prosecute such crimes and deter queue-jumping in the immigration system.
