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.
Ipsos – Canadians Agree (72%) People Should be Able to Seek Refuge from War and Persecution, but Few (10%) Like the Idea of Letting in More Refugees Post-Pandemic
A new global Ipsos study, carried out to mark World Refugee Day 2021, paints a mixed picture of attitudes towards refugees. Although Canadians agree (72%) with the idea that persons should be able to seek refuge from war and persecution, when it comes to putting principle into practice very few (10%) are willing to open up their borders to more refugees. Coupled with widespread skepticism (52%) over whether those seeking refuge are genuine, Ipsos data paints a picture that shows Canadians may not be as welcoming as our global reputation suggests.
CBC News – For Many Young Hong Kong Graduates, Canada’s New Routes to Immigration Have Turned into a Dead End
When the Canadian government invited Hong Kongers to apply for a work permit that Ottawa designed solely for people from the territory, plumbing engineer Kay Pang applied as soon as he could. The open work permit allows Pang to travel anywhere in Canada to look for a job, but he recently learned that the document — contrary to what the government had promised in February — won’t expedite permanent residency for everybody from Hong Kong. In truth, people who graduated in 2016 or earlier are not eligible.
Global News – Canadian Migrants Push for Full Immigration Status, Family Reunification on Father’s Day
Migrants in Canada are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to unite families and dole out full immigration status this Father’s Day, which coincides with World Refugee Day. The Migrants Rights Network slammed the federal government’s initiatives aimed at supporting the flow of more refugees into the country in a release on Sunday, saying they fell “incredibly short.”
Radio-Canada – Journée mondiale des réfugiés : rendre visibles les invisibles
À l’occasion de la Journée mondiale des réfugiés, sous l’égide de l’ONU, des associations d’accompagnement de migrants mettent en lumière leurs initiatives pour sensibiliser la population à la cause des personnes déracinées par les conflits et la pauvreté. À l’instar de SINGA Québec, dont l’objectif est de créer des ponts d’échange et de rencontre entre les personnes nouvellement arrivées, entre autres réfugiées, et la société d’accueil, fait valoir l’organisme.
CBC News – N.L. Community Groups Call for Action Against Islamophobia During Vigil for London, Ont. Family
Close to 70 people were in attendance at a rally put off by local community groups in front of the Masjid-al-Noor Mosque in St. John’s on Friday to remember the victims of an Islamophobic attack in London, Ont. earlier this month. Speakers shared emotional accounts during the event, with many calling for action to address hate. On June 6, a truck drove into a family out for a walk in the community, killing four family members. The only survivor, the family’s nine-year-old son, was seriously injured in the attack.
Toronto Star – They Qualified for Canada’s Special Immigration Program — Only to Learn They Won’t Be Able to Work as They’re Processed
Canada’s new immigration pathway was supposed to be a recognition of migrant workers who had worked through the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, under regular, skilled immigration programs, applicants whose work permits expire while their applications are being processed can get a bridging permit, to allow them to keep working while the paperwork is done. The bridging open work permit — or BOWP — ensures their employment is not disrupted. But it turns out that’s not the case with the new pathway, a special program launched in May to grant permanent residence to 90,000 migrant workers and international graduates.
