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.
New York Times – U.S. and Canada Reach an Agreement on Diverting Asylum Seekers
The United States and Canada have reached an agreement that will allow both countries to divert asylum seekers from their borders at a time when migration has surged across the hemisphere, a U.S. official familiar with the agreement said Thursday. The deal will allow Canada to turn back immigrants at Roxham Road, a popular unofficial crossing point from New York for migrants seeking asylum in Canada.
CBC News – Niagara Falls, Ont., to Ask Ottawa About Its Possible Cap on Number of Hotel Rooms for Asylum Seekers
The mayor of Niagara Falls, Ont., says he’s asking the federal government if it will be capping the number of hotel rooms available for asylum seekers, citing the need for rooms as tourism season approaches. Niagara Falls is currently using between 1,500 and 2,000 hotel rooms to house asylum-seeking families, according to the mayor. Diodati said he was told the number of hotel rooms in use would drop on its own, but said that hasn’t happened yet.
CBC News – Couple Facing Deportation to Colombia Have 3 Daughters in Hamilton, Including 1 with Disabilities
Andrea Pardo Rodriguez, her husband Nelson Martinez Mora and their daughters emerged from their bedrooms Sunday morning, still in their pyjamas, and opened the door. The couple and Valentina, 22, Camila, 26, and Jesica Martinez Pardo, 27, were shocked to see six people, dressed in plain clothes, in the hallway of their Hamilton apartment, Valentina later told CBC Hamilton in Spanish. Pardo Rodriguez, 45, and Martinez Mora, 48, have been in Canada since 2021 as refugee claimants.
BBC News – Immigration Fuels Canada’s Largest Population Growth of Over 1 Million
Canada’s population grew by over a million people for the first time ever last year, the government has said. The country’s population increased from 38,516,138 to 39,566,248 people, Statistics Canada said. It also marked Canada’s highest annual population growth rate – 2.7% – since 1957. The increase was in part fuelled by government efforts to recruit migrants to the country to ease labour shortages, Statistics Canada said. The country also depends on migration to support an ageing population.
La Presse – Ottawa prolonge le programme de visa d’urgence
Les Ukrainiens qui veulent trouver refuge au Canada auront encore quelques mois pour demander l’asile temporaire, a annoncé mercredi le ministre fédéral de l’Immigration, Sean Fraser. La date limite pour demander un visa d’urgence de trois ans avait d’abord été fixée au 31 mars prochain, mais les Ukrainiens et les membres de leur famille pourront désormais postuler jusqu’au 15 juillet. Après cette date, les Ukrainiens pourront toujours demander des permis « ordinaires » de travail, d’études et de visiteur pour venir au Canada après l’expiration de la période de demande, mais ils devront payer les frais habituels associés à ces demandes.
CBC News – Quebec Hopes to Woo Immigrants to Regions with French Classes, Other Supports
Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard says he wants to help solve the labour shortage by encouraging immigration to the province’s regions. As part of Tuesday’s 2023-2024 budget announcement, the CAQ government committed a total of $615.2 million over six years to address the scarcity of workers. Over 80 per cent of that money, just under $510 million, will support immigrants as they integrate into the regions over the next five years.
