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.
CBC News – Immigration Minister Tasked with Attracting Health Workers to Rural Areas, Developing Anti-Racism Legislation
Alberta’s minister of immigration and multiculturalism will be working on boosting the number of newcomers and handling anti-racism programs for the province. Muhammad Yaseen’s mandate letter, released Wednesday, outlines the specific tasks for those two pillars of his ministry. Foremost on his to-do list from Premier Danielle Smith is streamlining immigration for health care workers, with a particular emphasis on attracting people to rural communities plagued by doctor and nurse shortages.
Toronto Star – Toronto Adds More Than 200 Shelter Spaces to Help House Asylum Seekers
The City of Toronto is increasing capacity at temporary shelter spaces as it works to relocate unhoused asylum seekers, including those caught in the middle of a funding battle between the city and the federal government over shelter resources. As of Tuesday, the city says it has referred more than two hundred asylum seekers to indoor shelter spaces, and will continue work to “review space options to reach council’s decision to make 250 shelter spaces temporarily available.”
CBC News – Agencies Working with Refugee Claimants in Waterloo Region Say More Supports Needed, Call for Government Help
Local agencies working with refugee claimants in Waterloo region say their clients are in urgent need of more assistance and call for all levels of government work together to co-ordinate and provide better supports. Last week, the federal government announced $212 million in funding to help Toronto, Ottawa and the Province of Quebec to help them fund an interim housing assistance program to help with an influx of asylum seekers. But it’s not just a big city problem, local groups say.
Globe and Mail – Search Resumes for Ukrainian Man Missing After Swimming in Quebec River
Quebec provincial police continue to search the banks of a river southeast of Quebec City for a Ukrainian refugee missing since Wednesday. Sgt. Jean Raphaël Drolet says officers are searching the shoreline of the Etchemin River near St-Anselme, Que., assisted by a police helicopter. Drolet says officers will continue searching on the ground but not inside the water because divers determined the current was too strong – as has been the case since Thursday.
Global News – Injured Earthquake Survivors from Turkiye Arrive in Calgary: ‘We Lost Everything’
More than 50,000 people were killed while development experts from the United Nations estimate that about 1.5 million people were left homeless by the quake. Mohammad Ajmal Nikzad left his home in Calgary to immediately to help his mom and three siblings who were living in Turkiye. “We lost everything. They lost every single thing in their life that they had — even their legs and wishes,” Nikzad said from his northwest Calgary home.
CBC News – Canadian Immigration Policy Luring Tech Workers Should Be a Warning to U.S., Lawyers Say
Earlier this week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada opened up an application portal for immigrants in the United States who hold H1-B visas that allow them to work in the tech industry there. The portal was designed to draw these visa holders to Canada on three-year open work permits. It worked — the program reached its 10,000-applicant cap within two days.
