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.
Reuters – Canada’s Largest Public Sector Strike Leaves Thousands in Immigration Limbo
As Canada’s largest strike by federal workers approaches its third week, thousands of people are in immigration limbo amid canceled hearings and stalled applications, which could make it harder for the country to compete for global talent as employers face a tight labour market. The strike has affected everyone from refugee claimants whose hearings are canceled to sponsored relatives stuck in limbo, from migrant workers to foreign students, lawyers told Reuters.
CBC News – Edmonton Woman Scheduled for Removal from Canada After Being Duped by Immigration Agent
An Edmonton woman is set to be removed from Canada next month because her student visa application contained a fraudulent admissions letter — even though Canadian authorities believe she didn’t know it was fake. Karamjeet Kaur and her lawyer hope an application for permanent residency based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds will be processed before her scheduled removal date of May 29th.
Radio-Canada – Des migrants du chemin Roxham accueillis à bras ouverts dans des classes qui débordent
Une nouvelle vie commence pour plus de 200 demandeurs d’asile venus au Nouveau-Brunswick dans les dernières semaines. Logés dans des hôtels, ces nouveaux arrivants doivent composer avec l’incertitude qui accompagne leur demande d’asile et les défis de logement. À travers tout cela, des enfants découvrent leur nouvelle école qui les accueille à bras ouverts, mais dont les murs débordent déjà.La directrice de l’École Saint-Henri à Moncton, Sophie LeBlanc, a accueilli six nouveaux élèves cette semaine.
Globe and Mail – Roxham Road Refugees in New Brunswick Struggling to Find Legal Help
Nearly 200 asylum seekers in New Brunswick who were bused to the province from the now-closed border crossing at Roxham Road are struggling to find help as they navigate the labyrinthine Canadian immigration system. With just a single refugee legal clinic in a province that dealt with only 30 asylum claimants in 2022, many of the 187 recently-arrived men, women and children are trying to fill out complicated forms without sound advice. It’s a task made even harder because most aren’t proficient in either of Canada’s two official languages.
Le Devoir – Des immigrants se disent injustement recalés en français par Québec
Québec accuse de nombreux immigrants d’avoir menti sur leurs compétences linguistiques et les recale lors d’une entrevue orale, en dépit d’une preuve attestant qu’ils ont déjà réussi le niveau requis en français, a appris Le Devoir. Plusieurs d’entre eux peuvent même être « bannis pour cinq ans » du processus de sélection du Québec, dénoncent des avocats. Ces derniers — et leurs clients — déplorent ce qu’ils qualifient d’acharnement de la part du ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).
CBC News – Sajjan Says He Didn’t Know Senator Was Handing Out Unauthorized Travel Docs to Afghans
International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan told his fellow MPs Wednesday he did not know a Canadian senator was handing out unauthorized travel documents to hundreds of Afghans during the Taliban’s rise in 2021 because he wasn’t checking his email at the time. Sen. Marilou McPhedran told the House immigration committee last week that Sajjan’s then-chief of staff, George Young, had given her a template for a “visa facilitation letter” that people could use to clear checkpoints on their way to the airport to escape the country.
