Immigration

A family of asylum seekers from Colombia is met by RCMP officers after crossing the border at Roxham Road into Canada from Champlain, New York, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Immigration advocates say they are disappointed that Canada and the U.S. have agreed to restrict the flow of asylum seekers across their shared border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Canada-U.S. deal on migration will limit safe options for asylum seekers: advocates

Deal follows global trend: widening legal pathways while cutting off the irregular ones

 

Razak Iyal, one of two asylum seekers who walked across the Canada/US border in December and lost his fingers because of severe frostbite, is photographed as he enters his refugee hearing in Winnipeg, Tuesday, June 13, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Two men who lost fingers crossing into Canada become Canadian citizens

Pair among wave of refugee-claimants who snuck into Canada from the United States in 2016

 

Lenya Wilks poses for a photo in Surrey, B.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Wilks says she felt like the “only Black person in Surrey” when she first moved to the city east of Vancouver last year. But the Black population in the region is growing fast and residents who who once might have left in search of community are increasingly staying to forge their own, says Wilks, senior manager of the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel

‘You’re not the only one’: Vancouver’s Black population rising fast, census shows

Metro Vancouver has historically had one of the smallest Black populations in the country

 

Children walk between tents, in Aslanli, southeastern Turkey, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Tens of thousands of people who lost their homes in a catastrophic earthquake huddled around campfires in the bitter cold and clamored for food and water Thursday, three days after the temblor hit Turkey and Syria. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Canada may fast-track immigration applications from people in earthquake zone

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser signalled this week that Canada may fast-track applications…

Children walk between tents, in Aslanli, southeastern Turkey, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Tens of thousands of people who lost their homes in a catastrophic earthquake huddled around campfires in the bitter cold and clamored for food and water Thursday, three days after the temblor hit Turkey and Syria. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Grace Mukadzambo is a Courtenay resident who was to be deported to her native Zimbabwe, but the deportation order has been cancelled. Paul Bozenich photo

B.C. resident facing deportation gets 11th-hour reprieve while packing her bags

Community members, elected officials rally behind plight of Grace Mukadzambo

Grace Mukadzambo is a Courtenay resident who was to be deported to her native Zimbabwe, but the deportation order has been cancelled. Paul Bozenich photo
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arrive at the Hamilton Convention Centre, in Hamilton, Ont., ahead of the Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Monday, January 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

Passport backlog update expected as federal cabinet retreat enters second day

Offices unable to deal with passport renewal applications as COVID-19 restrictions eased last year

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arrive at the Hamilton Convention Centre, in Hamilton, Ont., ahead of the Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Monday, January 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
A woman checks out a jobs advertisement sign in Toronto on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. The Conference Board of Canada says the country’s smaller cities have an opportunity to make a bigger economic impact in the coming years thanks to pandemic-driven trends and the federal government’s new immigration plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Smaller cities can benefit from immigration uptick and pandemic shift: Research

Conference Board of Canada says more evenly distributed migration would be helpful

A woman checks out a jobs advertisement sign in Toronto on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. The Conference Board of Canada says the country’s smaller cities have an opportunity to make a bigger economic impact in the coming years thanks to pandemic-driven trends and the federal government’s new immigration plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
U.S. Border Patrol agents Katy Siemer, left and David Marcus stand outside the Customs and Border Protection facility in Pembina, N.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. A year after a family of four from India froze to death while trying to walk to the United States from Manitoba, the agency tasked with patrolling the border says others have not been deterred from attempting the same treacherous journey. THE CANADIAN PRESS/James McCarten

One year after death of Indian migrants at border, U.S. still sees illegal crossings

Drastic uptick seen of people entering North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin illegally from Canada

U.S. Border Patrol agents Katy Siemer, left and David Marcus stand outside the Customs and Border Protection facility in Pembina, N.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. A year after a family of four from India froze to death while trying to walk to the United States from Manitoba, the agency tasked with patrolling the border says others have not been deterred from attempting the same treacherous journey. THE CANADIAN PRESS/James McCarten
Rana Faris holds the phone while talking to her sister Yasmin, her husband Bashar and their son Mohamed who are in a refugee camp in Jordan. On the left is Rana’s husband Ali Al-hamadi and to the right is Rhoda Taylor who helped sponsor the Faris family to come to Canada, and is now helping to bring Yasmin’s family to the Cowichan Valley. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Syrian refugees desperate to trade Jordan for Cowichan Valley

A total of $60,000 must be raised; 2 fundraisers planned

Rana Faris holds the phone while talking to her sister Yasmin, her husband Bashar and their son Mohamed who are in a refugee camp in Jordan. On the left is Rana’s husband Ali Al-hamadi and to the right is Rhoda Taylor who helped sponsor the Faris family to come to Canada, and is now helping to bring Yasmin’s family to the Cowichan Valley. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. As Canada plans to significantly ramp up its immigration levels in the coming years, some policy experts are worried about potential effects on health care, housing and the labour market. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Liberal minister says Canada needs more immigration as targets get mixed reviews

As Canada plans to significantly ramp up its immigration levels in the…

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. As Canada plans to significantly ramp up its immigration levels in the coming years, some policy experts are worried about potential effects on health care, housing and the labour market. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
People walk past the University of Toronto campus in Toronto on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Educated immigrants face underemployment as Canada leads G7 in educated workforce

Number people in Canada with a bachelor’s degree or higher rose to 6.4 million in 2021

People walk past the University of Toronto campus in Toronto on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is joined by Minister of International Trade Mary Ng after a news conference following his participation in the APEC summit in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Federal officials are set to make an announcement about Canada’s long-promised Indo-Pacific strategy in Vancouver today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Indo-Pacific strategy launch boosts military spending and visa processing in region

Feds committing $2.3 billion

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is joined by Minister of International Trade Mary Ng after a news conference following his participation in the APEC summit in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Federal officials are set to make an announcement about Canada’s long-promised Indo-Pacific strategy in Vancouver today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Inna Fomina, who came to Canada to take refuge from the war in Ukraine, stands with her son Adrian Derevianko, 10-month-old, outside their home in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Ukrainian refugees embrace peace and quiet in Canada as war rages on

Inna Fomina’s story one of horror and displacement, but also one of hope and resilience

Inna Fomina, who came to Canada to take refuge from the war in Ukraine, stands with her son Adrian Derevianko, 10-month-old, outside their home in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Canadian border crossing is seen during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lacolle, Que. on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. A new poll suggests the vast majority of Canadians are worried about how the federal Liberal government’s plan to dramatically increase immigration levels over the next few years will affect housing and government services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Canadians divided on Ottawa’s plan to admit more immigrants: poll

75 per cent of respondents concerned plan would result in excessive demand for housing and services

The Canadian border crossing is seen during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lacolle, Que. on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. A new poll suggests the vast majority of Canadians are worried about how the federal Liberal government’s plan to dramatically increase immigration levels over the next few years will affect housing and government services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser makes an announcement in Ottawa on Friday, October 7, 2022. The federal government is planning a massive increase in the number of immigrants entering Canada per year, with a target of 500,000 by 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Ottawa reveals plan to welcome 500,000 immigrants per year by 2025

Move aimed to ensure Canada’s economic prosperity as the country struggles with a labour shortage

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser makes an announcement in Ottawa on Friday, October 7, 2022. The federal government is planning a massive increase in the number of immigrants entering Canada per year, with a target of 500,000 by 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Pedestrians walk down St. Catherine street Monday April 6, 2020 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Record share of Canadians are immigrants or permanent residents, census shows

Statistics Canada says immigration is the main driver of population growth

Pedestrians walk down St. Catherine street Monday April 6, 2020 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino arrives at a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal immigration committee to discuss allegations department misled a judge

Former immigration minister Marco Mendicino has denied claims

Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino arrives at a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Bank towers are shown from Bay Street in Toronto’s financial district on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Canada is banking on newcomers to help keep the economy humming along, while banks themselves are eying the hundreds of thousands of people coming to the country every year as a key source of client growth. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrien Veczan

Canadian banks look to newcomers as key source of client growth

Some banks forming partnerships with international ones to make transitioning to Canada easier

Bank towers are shown from Bay Street in Toronto’s financial district on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Canada is banking on newcomers to help keep the economy humming along, while banks themselves are eying the hundreds of thousands of people coming to the country every year as a key source of client growth. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrien Veczan
Sean Fraser speaks at an event in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The immigration minister says the government is looking at ways to prioritize visa applications for international students set to start school this coming semester as many are left wondering whether they’ll make it to Canada in time for school.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Visa delays leaving international students in limbo for fall semester

34 per cent of pending applications were taking longer to process than government standards

Sean Fraser speaks at an event in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The immigration minister says the government is looking at ways to prioritize visa applications for international students set to start school this coming semester as many are left wondering whether they’ll make it to Canada in time for school.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Sean Fraser speaks at an event in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The immigration minister says his department is going on a hiring blitz to bring 1,250 new employees on board to tackle massive backlogs in processing applications.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

More than 1.3 million immigration applications still in backlog

Backlog represents about 54 per cent of all the pending applications in the system

Sean Fraser speaks at an event in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The immigration minister says his department is going on a hiring blitz to bring 1,250 new employees on board to tackle massive backlogs in processing applications.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
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