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 – How AI Is Helping Canada Keep Some People Out of the Country. And Why There Are Those Who Say It’s a Problem
“Project Quantum,” as it’s been dubbed, is a largely unknown AI-assisted pilot project that’s been undertaken by the Canada Border Services Agency. It essentially screens air travellers before they take off for Canada. But just who the government is stopping at international airports — and the criteria used to select them — isn’t clear. That has led critics to question how we know the AI-assisted program is targeting the right people, and that discrimination isn’t somehow baked into its process.
Toronto Star – Yoga Giant Lululemon Wins Exemption to Immigration Rules that Limit Hiring Foreign Workers
The federal government has agreed to exempt Vancouver-based yoga apparel giant Lululemon from immigration rules that limit access to foreign workers, allowing the company to rapidly expand its headquarters in the city. The athletic apparel company best known for its yoga pants can now hire foreign workers for “high-skilled occupations” — which includes senior managers, construction managers and manufacturing engineers — without applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approval.
CBC News – Barriers Persist for Asylum Seekers Living In — And Trying to Leave — Windsor Hotels
While the number of refugee claimants living in local hotels is going down, many face new challenges as they start their lives in Canada. “Housing is certainly a challenge … the housing stock availability is very, very low,” Mike Morency, the executive director of Matthew House, said. “If you add on top of that people who don’t have money for first and last (months’ rent), people who have very little language skill, it really is a struggle for them to find housing.”
Financial Post – #WelcomingEconomy for Refugees Sends Message That Refugees Mean Business
Refugees offer an untapped wealth of talent for Canadian employers: this is the message of #WelcomingEconomy for Refugees, a Canada-wide bilingual campaign launched today to help employers connect with refugees eager to employ their talents in Canada’s workforce. The month-long campaign is sponsored by the Refugee Jobs Agenda Roundtable, which provides a platform for employers, employment, and immigrant-serving agencies and government representatives to work together on increasing refugees’ access to meaningful employment opportunities.
Le Courrier – Les élèves immigrants des écoles francophones en Nouvelle-Écosse dans le viseur de Malanga-Georges Liboy
Les élèves immigrants des écoles francophones font l’objet de beaucoup de difficultés au Canada, particulièrement en Nouvelle-Écosse. Plusieurs chercheurs en éducation s’intéressent à leur situation, dont Malanga-Georges Liboy, qui est actuellement professeur agrégé à l’Université Sainte-Anne. Le Courrier l’a rencontré pour une entrevue exclusive sur les résultats de ses recherches dans le système éducatif en Nouvelle-Écosse. Selon le chercheur, l’un des problèmes majeurs de ces élèves immigrants, c’est leur barrière linguistique. Certes, le Canada reçoit une kyrielle d’élèves immigrants, mais il n’y a aucune préparation académique pour les accueillir.
Le Devoir – La ministre Fréchette défend la nouvelle plateforme Francisation Québec
Prêt ? Pas prêt ? Francisation Québec, qui a mis en opération son guichet unique en ligne jeudi, est sur les rails. La ministre de l’Immigration, tout en comprenant les doutes que cela suscite, appelle à ce qu’on donne « la chance au coureur ». « On veut uniformiser l’approche et c’est sûr que ça vient changer les méthodes de travail. Je peux comprendre que ça crée des inquiétudes, mais laissons la chance au coureur, ça fait quelques heures que c’est en ligne », a dit Christine Fréchette en entrevue au Devoir.
