It's been an interesting couple of weeks in the world of political phraseology. Now, if by some miracle you didn’t slip directly into a coma after reading that first sentence, I'll explain what I mean.
Immigration
Don't believe the hype! RBC layoffs not about foreigners vs. Canadians
Once again the temporary foreign worker program has erupted in controversy where it is being used to pit workers against each other.
News reports point out that the Royal Bank of Canada has decided to move its information technology department abroad. To do so, it has brought in temporary workers from India that will learn the ropes from their Canadian counterparts. Following this training, the Canadian workers will be laid off, and the Indian workers will transition the IT department to India and return there.
Civil liberties watchdog files formal complaint against CBSA's use of Reality TV
Opposition to the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) partnership with a Reality TV series, 'Border Security: Canada's Front Line,' continues to grow in the wake of last week's raids targeting migrant workers at construction sites in the Lower Mainland.
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association issued the following statement at a press conference in Vancouver Thursday.
Should Canadian border authorities be participating in a reality TV program?
This week, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers in Vancouver carried out a number of raids targeting undocumented workers on construction work sites. On at least one of the raids CBSA officers were accompanied by a film crew for the reality TV show 'Border Security: Canada's Front Line'.
LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK: 40 YEARS OF RESISTANCE - Annual Conference of the Law Union of Ontario
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013 - 8:00am - 6:00pm
Location
Victoria College, University of Toronto
91 Charles Street
Toronto, ON
Canada
43° 40' 3.108" N, 79° 23' 31.8516" W
See map: Google Maps
Join us on Saturday, March 16, 2013, for the Law Union of Ontario’s Annual Conference! 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the Law Union, and this year’s conference will bring progressive legal and activist communities together to discuss an exciting and challenging series of issues. To register for a day of inspiring and provocative panels, workshops, and discussion click here: REGISTER www.lawunion.ca/conference
The conference will be held at Victoria College, on the University of Toronto campus. The address is 91 Charles Street, with the building just south of Charles. This facility is wheelchair accessible. Follow this link for a map of the exact location of the conference: http://map.utoronto.ca/building/501
More changes to refugee system from Jason Kenney: Mexico added to 'safe countries' list
The Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, announced on February 14, 2013 that the list of Designated Countries of Origin is being expanded to include an additional eight countries. The Designation came into force on February 15, 2013.
The Designated Country of Origin (DCO) is part of the new refugee system that came into effect in Canada on December 15, 2012. The Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act gives the authority for the Minister to designate countries of origin for fast tracking of refugee claims. The designation also restricts the rights refugees to obtain work permits who come from the DCO's that generally "offer state protection, have active human rights and civil society organizations, and do not normally produce refugees."
Canada's disturbing message to the Roma people of Hungary
The Canadian government has been paying for ads telling Roma people in Hungary that if they seek asylum in Canada they will likely be sent home in short order.