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.
Globe and Mail – Immigration Is Changing the Composition of Religion in Canada, Survey Finds
The Angus Reid Institute and Cardus survey released Monday is described as the first of its kind to take a comprehensive look at Canadians’ faith across a full religious spectrum. Shachi Kurl, the president of the Angus Reid Institute, said the survey’s inclusion of people from minority faiths, such as Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, is a remarkable step toward understanding religion in Canada. At least half of those who identify in these three groups were born outside the country; these communities, in addition to Jews, represent about 8 per cent of the population, or three million Canadians.
Globe and Mail – Canadian Veterans Group Gives Up Afghan Rescue Efforts, Citing Burnout and Ottawa’s Bureaucratic Roadblocks
The Veterans Transition Network, which says it raised $3.6-million and helped rescue 2,061 Afghans since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August, 2021, is refocusing on its main priority of helping Canadian veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental-health problems. Oliver Thorne, VTN executive director, said onerous government paperwork, lack of federal funding and the difficulty of finding safe routes out of Afghanistan forced the charitable organization to give up its evacuation work.
CBC News – African Students Face Higher Financial Burden Lower Acceptance Rates to Study in Canada
In October and March, Christian — representing the African Scholars Initiative (ASI), an organization that mentors African scholars who intend to pursue graduate education in Canada — spoke to the House of Commons standing committee on citizenship and immigration about African students’ struggles applying for Canadian study permits. “The processing of immigration applications from Africa, especially the study permits, seems to be designed in such a way that people are actually denied of that opportunity I had,” he said.
Ottawa Citizen – The matchmaker: Peggy Blair Finds Canadian Hosts for Ukrainian Asylum Seekers
Peggy Blair’s stint as a “matchmaker” for Ukrainian asylum seekers and host families started small and has spread its tendrils far and wide. A few weeks ago, she mused on Twitter that she had space for some asylum seekers in her home west of Ottawa, but no idea how to find candidates. Then she added her email address. Soon Blair was building a database of volunteer hosts and matching them with Ukrainians looking for a place to stay.
Radio-Canada – De l’Ukraine à Montréal pour fuir une guerre « vraiment horrible »
Fuyant la guerre et les bombardements, quatre jeunes Ukrainiennes viennent de rejoindre l’Université de Montréal. Elles racontent leur périple. Pour faire venir ces étudiantes, l’Université de Montréal a mis en place un fonds humanitaire. Les jeunes femmes n’ont rien eu à débourser. Une demi-douzaine d’autres Ukrainiennes, provenant de la même université, devraient les retrouver prochainement, une fois les formalités administratives remplies.
CBC News – Ukraine Crisis Could Overshadow Plight Of Refugees Elsewhere, Warns UN Refugee Chief
The crisis in Ukraine could overshadow the plight of refugees elsewhere, particularly if defence spending diverts resources from international development aid, says United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “I understand the necessity of [military spending]. It has proven necessary to respond to this crisis, unfortunately,” Grandi told The Current’s Matt Galloway.
