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 – Bused Out of Quebec, Francophone Asylum Seekers Struggle to Get Medical Services
Over the phone, the woman’s voice is regretful but hurried — she says she’s sorry, but if the French-speaking migrant on the other end of the line cannot find someone to translate English, the doctor won’t see him for the medical exam he needs in order to claim asylum in Canada. CBC News obtained a recording of the phone conversation the man says took place Wednesday in Niagara Falls, Ont.
CBC News – An Afghan Military Interpreter Made It to Canada — But His Siblings Were Forced Back to Afghanistan
For a year, Asad Ali Afghan waited for the federal government to push through the paperwork giving him a new lease on life in Canada, the country he served as an Afghan military interpreter. After he and five members of his family fled Afghanistan for Pakistan in November 2021, they waited nine months in a cramped hotel room in Islamabad while Ottawa approved travel. They all made it to Winnipeg last August and settled in Delta, B.C. a month later. But while he’s now safe from the Taliban, three of his loved ones still have targets on their backs.
Le Devoir – Niagara Falls veut libérer ses hôtels des demandeurs d’asile avant l’arrivée des touristes
Les demandeurs d’asile arrivés du Québec occupent 951 chambres d’hôtel à Niagara Falls, et leur nombre pourrait doubler au cours des prochaines semaines. Le maire de la municipalité, Jim Diodati, affirme que sa ville aura besoin de ces chambres pour la haute saison touristique, qui commence à la fin mai, mais Ottawa n’a pas encore d’échéancier pour les libérer. Niagara Falls est la ville ontarienne qui a reçu le plus de demandeurs d’asile envoyés depuis le Québec depuis le mois de juillet. Des 5557 migrants transférés en Ontario, 2841 y ont été relogés.
Radio-Canada – Pas d’anglais, pas de médecin pour des demandeurs d’asile envoyés en Ontario
Il n’est « pas possible » de réaliser un examen médical obligatoire pour Immigration Canada dans un centre ontarien sans parler l’anglais. Face à l’achalandage record au chemin Roxham et aux ressources débordées au Québec, le gouvernement fédéral a réservé près de 2400 chambres en Ontario, dans une douzaine d’hôtels de Windsor, Cornwall, Ottawa et Niagara Falls. Depuis plus d’un an, le chemin Roxham bat tous les records d’achalandage. En 2022, près de 40 000 personnes ont franchi cette voie pour demander l’asile au Canada.
London Free Press – Homes: A Refugee Story Set for World Premiere at Grand Theatre
A boy’s experiences as a refugee to Canada from war-torn Syria is the focus of a new play on at the Grand Theatre’s Auburn Stage. The world premiere of Homes: A Refugee Story is written by Winnie Yeung and Haysam Kadri, who directs Lebanese-Canadian actor Nabil Traboulsi in this one-man show. It opens Friday and continues until March 5.
CBC News – Trudeau Says He Will Raise Safe Third Country Agreement During President Biden’s Visit
Responding to recent political pressure, Trudeau has said his government is working to renegotiate the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S. On Thursday, he promised to raise the issue with Biden himself during his visit. “I can assure you that in my conversations directly with President Biden, I have told him it is a priority for us,” Trudeau said in French.
