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.
CBC News – Roxham Road Is Just a Small Piece of a Global Migration Crisis
“Irregular migration is one of the major problems confronted by the Western hemisphere and Roxham Road is just a symptom of that problem,” U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen told the CBC’s Power & Politics. “I’m sort of intentionally not referencing the Safe Third Country Agreement because that’s not the issue,” Cohen said. “Whatever you do to the Safe Third Country Agreement is not going to do anything — or is going to do very little — about irregular migration.”
Montreal Gazette – ‘There Is No Plan’: St-Laurent Community Groups Struggle to Aid Asylum Seekers
The Centre de pédiatrie sociale de St-Laurent was used to serving asylum seekers in need, but had never seen anything like the wave that started last summer. Previous influxes, like the masses who came in 2017 when Donald Trump threatened deportation for tens of thousands, were mainly refugee claimants who had lived in the U.S. for years. Now, most of their new clients are among the 39,171 asylum seekers who entered Quebec at the unofficial border crossing at Roxham Rd. last year.
CTV News – Non-Profit Group Sees ‘Massive Uptick’ in Ukrainian Refugees Arriving on Vancouver Island
Max Shkurupii is one of 951 Ukrainians who have fled their homeland and are now living on Vancouver Island. Landing on the island in November, his family counts themselves lucky that they were able to find housing quickly. His family might be the exception as a flood of new Ukrainians arrive on the island and face a housing crisis and strained resources.
Global News – Ukrainian Refugee Students Displaced by War Receive Warm Welcome at Toronto Catholic School
In the hallways of St. Demetrius Catholic School in Etobicoke, there is a flurry of activity as Ms. Farrugia’s first-grade class has just been let out for the day. The six- and seven-year-olds are putting on their snowsuits and getting ready to head home. Parents are waiting eagerly outside, mostly mothers. The children’s fathers are back home in Ukraine. The students of the Toronto school are all of Ukrainian descent. Nearly half of them arrived in the last year.
Global News – Reflections of a Ukraine Refugee in Saskatoon: ‘You’ll Get Out, But the War Never Leaves You’
As the war in Ukraine hits the one-year mark, a refugee from the battle-torn country reflected on the moments the invasion of Russian forces first began, and the scars they’ve left behind. Yuliya Pelivan spoke about her life before the war – she lived in her dream home in Irpin just outside of Kyiv and had a great job, her husband Sergei, and a good standard of living. That incredible life was violently torn away from her on Feb. 24, 2022.
Toronto Star – Canada Will Fast-Track Immigration Applications from Quake-Hit Areas of Turkey, Syria
The federal government announced that it will fast-track visa applications of those in the earthquake-hit areas of Turkey and Syria. “IRCC is giving priority to affected individuals for temporary, PR (permanent residency) & refugee applications. We’re monitoring the situation and will adjust our approach accordingly,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser tweeted on Friday.
