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 – Afghan Refugee Stuck in Ukraine with No Exit in Sight
“Everything is finished,” said Jawed Haqmal, who worked as a translator for the Canadian military in Afghanistan and has been living in a Kyiv hotel with his family since the end of August. Mr. Haqmal and his extended family have been forced to remain in Ukraine while they wait for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to approve their application for resettlement. They are not the only Afghans trapped in another war because of Canadian bureaucratic delay.
Windsor Star – Trudeau Says Canada Will Prioritize Ukrainian Immigration, Launches Phone Line for Urgent Questions
At a news conference on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said immigration applications for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada would be prioritized, and that there would be a phone line dedicated to urgent questions. The telephone line — +1 613-996-8885 — is for anyone “at home or abroad with urgent Ukraine-related immigration questions,” he said. It was set up to “ensure we can serve people as quickly as possible.”
CBC News – Ottawa Speeds Up Immigration Process as Ukrainians Try to Escape Conflict
Ottawa is expediting immigration applications from Ukrainians attempting to escape the conflict in their country, said Canada’s minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship on Thursday. Sean Fraser’s comments came hours after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine, with reports of explosions in the capital of Kyiv and roads gridlocked with residents trying to flee. Fraser said his department has already approved more than 1,800 Ukrainian immigration applications on a priority basis.
CBC News – Calgary Police Chief Questioned by Commission Over Fatal Shooting of Sudanese Immigrant
Coun. Courtney Walcott, who sits on the commission, opened the session by asking about de-escalation efforts used by police in cases like Tuel’s, and what training the Calgary Police Service (CPS) has received to ensure their practices are culturally sensitive. Tuel was a former child soldier who had immigrated to Calgary from South Sudan, and was said to have been struggling from mental health issues including PTSD at the time of his death.
Le Devoir – Les établissements francophones ontariens eux aussi plus touchés par les rejets de permis d’études
Les établissements postsecondaires francophones et bilingues de l’Ontario peinent à recruter des étudiants étrangers. Leur taux de refus de permis d’études auprès d’Immigration Canada est de loin supérieur à ceux observés dans les collèges et universités anglophones. Des directions francophones disent devoir travailler beaucoup plus fort que leurs collègues anglophones pour pouvoir atteindre leur cible de recrutement. Les deux seuls collèges de langue française de l’Ontario ont vu respectivement 67 % et 73 % des demandes de permis d’études de leurs futurs étudiants être refusées en 2021.
Toronto Star – Rural Immigration Key to Tackling Population Decline, Experts Say
With population decline affecting many small Alberta municipalities, local governments and policymakers are putting their heads together to come up with a plan to make rural living more attractive for immigrants and Canadians from other areas. Pincher Creek is no exception. The recently released community economic development strategy lists population and workforce retention as a primary issue the town will face over the next decade, and discussion on how to navigate this challenge is already underway.
