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 – ‘Fleeing The Same War’ In Ukraine But Treated Differently: Black Doctor Bemoans Swiss Limbo
Dr. Mustapha Abdul Mumin never really believed in racism. People can get used to being around members of their own race, sometimes they get uncomfortable around others, and to some degree that discomfort is normal and part of life, he said. All of that is shattered for him now. What the 27-year-old saw and felt trying to board trains out of Ukraine — his home of eight years, where he can practice general medicine and was months away from obtaining a specialization in orthopedic surgery — have made him understand for the first time that he is different.
Reuters – After Pandemic Drop, Canada’s Detention of Immigrants Rises Again
Canada is locking up more people in immigration detention without charge after the numbers fell during the pandemic, government data obtained by Reuters shows. Canada held 206 people in immigration detention as of March 1, 2022 – a 28% increase compared with March 1 of the previous year. Immigration detainees have not been charged with crimes in Canada and 68% of detainees as of March 1 were locked up because Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) fears they are “unlikely to appear” at an immigration hearing, according to the data.
CTV News – Number of Asylum-Seekers Entering Canada Outside Formal Land Border Crossings on the Rise
Snowy northern winters tend to see a drop in asylum-seekers crossing from the United States into Canada at Roxham Road, Quebec. Not this past winter. In December, the number of asylum-seekers entering Canada outside formal land border crossings reached its highest point since August 2017, government statistics show. The growing caseload is lengthening wait times for eligibility hearings, leaving claimants waiting months on social assistance before getting work permits, one attorney said.
Global News – ‘We Need to Resolve This’: Municipal Affairs Minister on Cost of Medical Exams for Ukrainians
The B.C. government says it’s working with Ottawa to ensure the cost of required medical exams are covered for Ukrainian newcomers in the province. Since their arrival roughly three weeks ago, some Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion have spent hundreds of dollars to get the health test, a condition of their federally-issued visas or work permits.
CBC News – Online System Helps Connect Skilled Ukrainians Fleeing War with Manitoba Employers
Before the war, Economic Development Winnipeg and its sub-organization, Yes Winnipeg, had a job portal that connected Manitoba businesses with skilled employees. Now, they’ve tailored it so Ukrainians fleeing the war can easily upload their profiles, and Manitoba businesses can post temporary and permanent jobs specifically for them.
Toronto Star – Canadian Refugee Judge Had ‘Predisposition Against Roma Claimants,’ Tribunal Finds as It Grants Couple’s Bid for Asylum
In a damning decision by a federal tribunal, a refugee judge has been criticized for having “a predisposition” against Roma claimants from Romania. In an April ruling, the refugee appeal tribunal, a division of the Immigration and Refugee Board, quashed a decision by David Mungovan to reject a Roma couple who had sought asylum in Canada. Arnold Sincu and Diana Ancuta Gramnea claimed they were persecuted and discriminated in Romania due to their ethnicity.
