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 – Advocates Rally in Toronto to Call for Permanent Immigration Status for Migrant Workers
Dozens of people rallied in Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square on Sunday to demand permanent status for all migrant workers in Canada. The rally, organized by the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, comes days before the Sept. 23 throne speech, in which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to outline how the federal government will continue to help people and parts of the economy still affected by COVID-19.
La Presse – Une centaine de manifestants demandent un statut pour tous
« Mon amie Lourdes est décédée il y a quelques jours. Elle a dû retourner au Mexique et a passé 11 ans au Québec sans statut », a expliqué l’organisatrice communautaire au Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants. Le rassemblement d’aujourd’hui est un peu en son honneur. « Elle a été couturière, femme de ménage, et j’en passe », a poursuivi Viviana Medina, qui a elle-même passé trois ans sans statut au Québec, loin de sa famille.
CBC News – B.C. Migrant, Undocumented Workers Rally for Permanent Residency Program
Migrant workers and advocates called for a “just recovery” from the COVID-19 pandemic during a digital rally on Saturday based out of Vancouver. The pandemic has shown how heavily Canada relies on migrant and undocumented workers to perform essential jobs, said Chit Arma, who chairs the Migrant Workers Centre’s board of directors in Vancouver. The rally is part of the Amnesty for Undocumented Workers Campaign led by the Migrant Workers Centre.
Global News – Refugee Nurses Admitted to Canada Under Pilot Program Ready to Work as PSWs
Halfway through their 14-day quarantine period, Diala Charab and Yehya Al-Ayoubi are excited to start working as health-care aides after arriving Sunday from Lebanon. Despite COVID-19 travel restrictions that prevent most people from coming to Canada, the two nurses were exempted, resettled under a pilot project to bring skilled refugees to the country. “Diala got her visa during the (COVID-19) lockdown — I got the visa after the Beirut explosion.” Al-Ayoubi said.
CBC News – P.E.I. Selects 626 Newcomers as PNP Kicks Back Into Gear
An immigration program which has boosted P.E.I.’s economy and population — but has also been a near-constant source of political controversy — is picking up speed again. P.E.I.’s Office of Immigration held eight draws through its provincial nominee program from June 10 through Aug. 20, offering to sponsor 626 immigrants in their applications to become permanent residents of Canada. But the province says close to 90 per cent of those immigrants were already working and living on P.E.I. through various visa programs when their names were drawn.
Toronto Star – B.C. Wants This Veteran English Teacher to Prove She Knows the Language. She Feels Targeted Because of Her African Ancestry
When recruiters from British Columbia came to Toronto looking for teachers, Kamey Munsamy was pleased to find her skills in high demand. But once she decided to accept a job offer in Vancouver, Munsamy got an unpleasant surprise. The B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch, the provincial body that certifies teachers’ qualifications and allows them to work in the province, said she could only continue working in the province if she took an English language proficiency test in the midst of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
