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 – ‘Please Help’: Female Soccer Players Hiding in Afghanistan Sue Canada to Honour Its Promise
Two female Afghan national soccer team players still in hiding in Afghanistan are part of a group of six Afghan nationals suing the Canadian government to force it to honour what they say was a promise of refuge in Canada, according to new revelations in court documents. A legal challenge filed by lawyers Maureen Silcoff and Sujit Choudhry paints a dire picture of their plight and argues Canada should issue a visa for them to enter, saying “facilitation letters” they received via FIFA and a Canadian senator’s office amounted to a promise of just that.
CTV News – Afghan Refugee Who Fled Taliban Wins $100,000 Canadian Scholarship
An Afghan girl who fled the Taliban in 2021 won a scholarship worth $100,000, which will help her to study at a Canadian university. Umulbanin Arjmand was awarded a Loran scholarship, given out based on “character, service and leadership potential,” according to the University of Saskatchewan’s website.
Global News – Canada Developing New Immigration Policy to Attract French-Speaking People, Workers
The Liberal government is seeking to increase francophone immigration in what it says is a way to grow the French language in Canada and protect the country’s cultural identity. The new policy was laid out in a five-year action plan for official languages the government released Wednesday. The plan comes as the Liberals’ update to the Official Languages Act is debated in the House of Commons.
CBC News – These Refugees Are Coming to Canada as Health-Care Workers. Trouble Is, They’ve Been Waiting for Years
Patricia Kamssor is among 121 refugees who have been offered jobs as continuing care assistants in Nova Scotia under a new federal program called the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP). But it’s already been two years since she was accepted into the program, and she still hasn’t made it to Canada, partially because of the pandemic and because governments are still working out the kinks.
Global News – Surrey Refugee Support Charity Reeling After Support Building Torched
A Surrey-based charity that supports refugees integrating in Canada is reeling from a fire that destroyed multiple cars and a communal space used by families. Global News has obtained exclusive security video that appears to show a suspect lighting the fire. The group operates a 13-unit apartment building housing 10 refugee families from Syria, Afghanistan, Columbia, Mexico, Sudan and Ethiopia.
Economic Times – Canadian Visa Processing at Standstill as Federal Workers’ Strike Enters Day 7
With most IRCC employees still on strike, immigration and visa application processing has been halted. This has come as a blow to a country already struggling with a stubborn visa backlog. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had made some progress over the past year in reducing the backlog created during pandemic. Then the strike hit.
