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.
Global News – Activists Hold Protest in Toronto Over Treatment of Migrant Workers During Coronavirus Pandemic
Activists staged a demonstration in front of a government immigration office in Toronto on Sunday to protest what they say is unjust treatment of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was organized by the Migrant Workers Alliance of Canada, which for months has been advocating for migrant workers to receive the same status and benefits as Canadian citizens.
The Liberal government is appealing last month’s Federal Court decision that ruled the Safe Third Country Agreement — Canada’s asylum agreement with the United States — infringes upon the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a statement Friday the government filed an appeal today because they believe there are factual and legal errors in some of the court’s key findings.
CBC News – Cree Woman Feels ‘Stuck’ in Morocco, After Decades Fighting to Live with Husband in Canada
A woman from Chisasibi, Que., says she feels “stuck” in Morocco because she misses home, but doesn’t want to leave without her Moroccan husband who was rejected in an attempt to move to Canada. “We don’t want to be alone anymore. It has been 13 years,” said Jane Sam-Cromarty, who is with her husband in El-Ouatia, Morocco.
Chronicle Herald – Atlantic Canada Immigration Down Significantly
International border and travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19 may be keeping Atlantic Canadians safer, but the significant drop in immigration is having an impact on the economy and could affect the region’s post-pandemic recovery. “You could expect that (trend) may carry through as long as the pandemic lasts for the rest of the year,” said Fred Bergman, senior policy analyst with the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council in Halifax.
Global News – Immigration Slowdown Amid Coronavirus Could Derail Economic Growth
A slowdown of immigration to Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to derail a major source of economic and labour force growth, according to a report from the Royal Bank of Canada. The shortfall jeopardizes the ability of the country to find employees needed in sectors such as health and elder care as the baby boom generation moves into retirement over the next few years, the report says. It calls on the federal government to find new ways to encourage more immigrants to move to Canada.
Ottawa Matters – Refugee Shares a Taste of Homeland by Creating Business Selling Traditional Syrian Ice Cream ‘Bakdash’
The differences between Syria and Canada remain as vast as the ocean between them, but a young refugee has discovered a sweet way to remain connected to her home country while giving others a taste of the place she was forced to leave behind. Weam Aladas is taking advantage of the opportunities afforded to her by launching Old Damascus with her first cousin Ruba, a Syrian ice cream company producing bakdash — famous in the landmark Middle Eastern capital, but unheard of, until now, in Canada’s.
