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.
A lawyer for prospective refugee claimants says a federal judge was correct in finding an agreement between Ottawa and Washington results in people being imprisoned by U.S. authorities. Lawyer Michael Bossin argued in an appeal hearing Wednesday there was enough evidence for Federal Court Justice Ann Marie McDonald to conclude the Safe Third Country Agreement leads to the detention of people turned away by Canada.
CBC News – Advocacy Groups Call for COVID-19 Vaccine Plan for Migrants, Undocumented Workers
Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout needs to guarantee equal access for migrants and undocumented workers, advocates for migrant rights say. The Migrant Rights Network says it fears that countless migrant and undocumented workers won’t get vaccinated because of their immigration status — either because they lack access to health coverage or they worry about their personal information being shared with immigration enforcement authorities.
CBC News – Cape Breton Organization Launching Pilot Immigrant Loan Program
Coastal Business Opportunities in Sydney is offering grants to temporary residents who are in midst of the immigration process and trying to start a business. They include those who are in Canada on visitor visas, student visas or work visas. Trisha MacNeil, the executive director of Coastal Business, said one of the goals of the program is for the temporary residents to live in Cape Breton and keep their business on the island when they receive resident status.
ICI Radio-Canada – Des associations réclament l’accès au vaccin pour les travailleurs agricoles migrants
Des dizaines d’associations publient une lettre ouverte pour demander aux provinces et au gouvernement canadien d’adopter une stratégie afin de permettre aux migrants et aux personnes sans papiers d’avoir accès au vaccin contre la COVID-19. L’organisme Migrant Rights Network, qui défend les droits des migrants et combat le racisme, est au cœur de cette démarche. Il indique que les personnes migrantes et sans papiers sont en première ligne durant cette pandémie.
CTV News – Canada Defends Refugee Pact with United States in Appeal Hearing
Judges peppered a federal lawyer with questions Tuesday as the Canadian government argued a refugee pact between Ottawa and Washington is consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Canada’s lawyers contend the Federal Court misinterpreted the law when it declared in July that the Safe Third Country Agreement breaches constitutional guarantees of life, liberty and security.
CTV News – Migrant Detainee Goes on Hunger Strike in Laval Holding Centre, Claiming Poor Treatment Amid Outbreak
Community groups are calling for the release of migrants detained at the Immigration Holding Centre in Laval, which they say is in the midst of an outbreak of COVID-19. Conditions now at the centre have pushed one detainee to initiate an indefinite hunger strike, he said. “I believe that our lives are at risk because we do not have any way of protecting ourselves,” reads a letter from the striking detainee, writing under the fake name of Marlon.
