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 – Nova Scotia Ramps Up Efforts to Attract Newcomers
Sasha Raz and his husband, Sergei Sarnavsky, knew they wanted to move to Canada when they decided to leave Israel. Choosing where to live was the harder decision. The couple moved to Nova Scotia’s South Shore in June 2020 in large part because of the connection they made with Tina Hennigar. She had just been hired by the province as one of six navigators to try to attract people who had some interest in moving to Nova Scotia.
Toronto Star – Canada Squanders Economic, Social Benefits by Keeping Out New Canadian’s Relatives
Canada is losing manifold economic and social benefits and going against its own values when it denies visitor visas and study permits to family members of new Canadians. Denials are rooted in belief that visitors with family ties in Canada are more likely to overstay their visas, but while no data exists to back up this claim, why should that even be a concern?
Toronto Star – One Province Is Taking a First Step Toward Ending Canada’s Immigrant-Detention System
British Columbia is set to review its contract with the federal government to house immigration detainees in provincial jails, a move that advocates hope will ultimately end migrant incarceration alongside dangerous criminals. The initiative by the B.C. government is a first victory of a national campaign to lobby provinces to end immigration-detention arrangements with Ottawa. The campaign’s organizers hope this will replicate across Canada, especially in Ontario, which has the highest number of migrants in custody.
CTV News – Immigration Processing Times to Return to Standard in 2022: Minister
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says the government will get back on track by the end of the year after COVID-19 caused a major backlog in the processing of immigration applications and long waits for people seeking status in Canada. The government last year announced it would spend $85 million to plow through the backlogged applications, which Fraser says will be used mainly to hire more staff.
Globe and Mail – Donated Digital Devices Removes a Major Hurdle for Afghan Newcomers
Not having a computer or a cellphone can be a major barrier for Afghan newcomers to Canada, especially during the pandemic when so much of life, from attending school to accessing social programs, can only be done online. To help those dealing with that barrier, the tech firm First Class Conferencing Facilitation partnered with the Afghan Women’s Organization to collect devices donated from across Ontario.
CBC News – Detainee Dies After Being Held at Immigration Detention Centre in Laval
A detainee who was being held at the immigration detention centre in Laval has died after an ambulance had to be called for them on Friday, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) says. First responders were called after the detainee was found in medical distress, the agency said in a statement Sunday. Employees who were on site provided CPR until paramedics arrived. The person later died in hospital a few hours later.
