[A] common complaint is that Canada’s shifting immigration policies now favour those with money to invest over the skilled workers they used to emphasize (although changes to the Federal Skilled Worker Program proposed by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney seek to address that). Once seen as a great place to live and work, Canada is increasingly considered by many Chinese more as a great place to retire.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/why-some-chinese-immigrants-feel-they-cant-make-money-in-canada/article2430476/

Government-assisted refugees receive resettlement funding – comparable to what they would receive on welfare – from the federal government the first year they’re in Canada and social assistance from the province after that if necessary. Of the 185 immigrants interviewed by Vancouver researchers, half of government-sponsored refugees spent between 51 and 75 per cent of their income on housing, as did 41.9 per cent of refugee claimants. This compares with 28.4 per cent of economic immigrants and 28.1 per cent of non-immigrants who spent that much on housing.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Refugees+struggle+find+affordable+housing/6611552/story.html

Hamilton doctors are raising the alarm about refugee claimants losing drug, vision and dental coverage at the end of June. […] The doctors will take their fight to City Hall Monday with the support of Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie. He intends to bring forward a motion indicating to the federal government the expected impact on Hamilton.

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/723350–doctors-fight-for-refugee-health-care

Dr. Brindamour is co-chair of the immigration and refugee health committee at the University of Saskatchewan’s college of medicine. She collaborated with four other pediatric residents in writing this viewpoint. […] Literature around the world has shown that detention of refugee children increases the risk of poor physical health, and serious, long lasting mental disorders. Interestingly, the United Kingdom announced in 2010 its intention to abolish detention of minors in a context of immigration, partly based on the recommendations of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health.

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Child+refugees+require+more+care+from/6603518/story.html

Rob Norris is minister of Employment and Immigration. A recent Star Phoenix editorial suggested the province give up the family class of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program. Respectfully, you are mistaken. Rather than abandon this family stream of newcomers, we should improve it. And we are. The category is being refocused to align with Saskatchewan’s economic priorities, to be fairer to all families, to identify bad apples who abuse our system, and to make the system more transparent and accountable to taxpayers.

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Family+class+rule+changes+essential/6603519/story.html

As countries jockey to lure the most creative and skilled employees – the ones who will drive the knowledge economy and energize its aging society – Canada can’t simply wait for them to appear. It must step up the effort to sell the Canadian brand around the world – to get those with the most talent to see it not just as a land of tolerance for diversity, but as a nucleus of economic opportunity.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/is-canadas-brand-strong-enough-to-attract-the-immigrants-it-wants/article2430470/

Changes to the provincial immigration program’s family category are hurting international newcomers to Regina, says the Pakistan Canada Cultural Association (PCCA). […]Saskatchewan has capped the number of family nominations that can be made at any one time and, says PCCA general secretary Syed Mozzam, introduced unrealistic conditions. Mozzam says that means those who deliberately moved to the province to help bring family members here under the program are now left hanging.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Newcomers+coalition+address+Sask+immigration+changes/6602626/story.html

The Government of Canada is expanding its internship program for newcomers to include private sector companies, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. CGI Group Inc., a leading provider of information technology and business process services, and CIBC, a leading Canadian-based financial institution, will partner with CIC to hire newcomers through the Federal Internship for Newcomers Program.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-05-10.asp

Government officials say the provincial immigration program is emerging from its checkered past, but some observers counter that more work needs to be done. The provincial nominee program made headlines for all the wrong reasons after its business mentorship immigration stream was cancelled in 2006. […]The program’s new focus is intended to meet labour market needs that can’t be filled within the province, said Elizabeth Mills, executive director of the provincial Office of Immigration. […] Diana Whalen, the provincial Liberal immigration critic, said she would like to see the province press the federal government on easing restrictions surrounding private refugee sponsorship and increasing the cap on immigrants beyond 500.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/94782-immigration-program-on-way-to-recovery-officials-say

This week, The Chronicle Herald, in partnership with the University of King’s College, is profiling the now-defunct program in Prince Edward Island that enabled thousands of applicants to fast-track their arrival in Canada by paying for a position in a provincial nominee program. Like a similar program in Nova Scotia, the intent of the program was to match foreign workers with established businesses while helping to develop stronger immigrant populations. Most of the fees paid by immigrants, who received permanent residency status, were transferred to businesses, with immigration agents taking a cut along the way.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/94865-stephenson-new-immigration-rules-require-deft-touch