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.
Toronto Star – ‘It’s about time’: Ottawa offers millions more in housing support to shelter refugees in Toronto
The federal government has come to the table with funding after dozens of refugee claimants and asylum seekers spent weeks sleeping on the streets in downtown Toronto — but advocates and the city say it’s not enough.
The announcement comes after the Black community stepped up to organize temporary shelter for almost 200 people in a church basement in North York.
After much bickering between Ottawa and city officials over who should foot the bill, the federal government on Tuesday announced an extra $97 million to help house the refugees, many of whomhad beencamping outside Toronto’s homeless service centre on Peter Street.
Reuters – Canada Gives Toronto C$97 Mln to Shelter Asylum Seekers
The Canadian government, under pressure over images showing asylum seekers sleeping on the streets of Toronto, on Tuesday said it would give the city an extra C$97 million ($73.6 million) to help meet the demand for housing. The money is part of a C$212 million ($160.9 million) one-time injection to help major cities deal with rising numbers of arrivals flowing from the United States and elsewhere, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in a statement.
CBC News – Language Tests Used to Determine Admissibility into Canada Are a ‘Money-Making Machine,’ Critic Says
Applicants can attempt either of the two tests recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Both cost more than $250 and the results are only valid for two years. There are also French tests that have the same validity period and cost about the same. The price of the exam, and potentially having to pay to take it multiple times, is just one issue advocates and prospective residents have with the test.
La Presse – Des avancées importantes, mais encore du chemin à faire
Malgré les efforts des dernières années pour améliorer la situation sur le marché du travail des Québécois issus des minorités visibles, il reste du travail à faire pour atteindre un seuil paritaire. C’est ce que révèle le plus récent rapport de l’Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), dévoilé mardi. L’étude montre une participation de plus en plus active des personnes noires sur le marché du travail, souligne Luc Cloutier-Villeneuve, analyste en statistique du travail à l’ISQ et auteur de l’étude.
Radio-Canada – Réfugiés dans la rue : Ottawa offre 97 millions de plus à Toronto
Le fédéral annonce l’octroi de 97 millions de dollars supplémentaires pour loger des demandeurs d’asile à Toronto qui campaient dans la rue depuis plusieurs semaines, faute de place dans les refuges. Le ministre fédéral de l’Immigration, Sean Fraser, en a fait l’annonce mardi matin. Les images de ces dizaines de réfugiés dormant sur le trottoir faisaient les manchettes depuis plusieurs jours. Dans un communiqué, la mairesse Olivia Chow qualifie l’investissement fédéral de « pas dans la bonne direction ».
Global News – Canada Needs More Immigrants to Counter Aging Population, Report Says
A Desjardins report released Monday analyzes how much population growth among working-age Canadians is necessary to maintain the old-age dependency ratio, which refers to the ratio between 15 to 64-year-olds and those aged 65 and older. It finds that the working-age population would have to grow by 2.2 per cent per year through 2040 to maintain the same ratio that existed in 2022.
