World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. The weekly roundup includes research, stories, and events of interest to the Canadian immigration and settlement community. This content has been created by WES and is reproduced here with their permission, in partnership.
Navigating New Horizons: The Contributions and Perspectives of Multicultural Canadians (Imagine Canada)
Immigrants continue to shape the socio-economic landscape of Canada through their skills and contributions, including charitable giving and advocacy. Findings from an Imagine Canada study explore the charitable practices of first and second-generation immigrants and opportunities to further support their integration and advancement. Roughly 75 percent of Canada’s population growth has been fueled by immigration, with many coming from racialized communities. Many multicultural Canadians view charities and nonprofits positively, with roughly 80 percent having donated to charitable causes in the past year, however, their support may be at risk. Nearly one in four multicultural Canadians who previously immigrated to Canada are considering leaving, citing concerns for economic welfare and discrimination. While 40 percent of survey respondents believe that it is more difficult to get ahead in Canada as opposed to their country of origin, many continue to demonstrate support for charitable causes close to their heart, despite economic constraints.
An Investigation into the City’s Decision to Stop Allowing Refugee Claimants into Base Shelter System Beds (Ombudsman Toronto)
A recent investigation led by the Ombudsman for the city of Toronto, reveals significant misconduct in the City’s handling of newcomer asylum claimants. A lack of coordination led to “unfair, poorly planned, and inconsistent” management of the municipality’s shelter system, going against its proposed commitment to housing as a protected human right, causing asylum seekers to find shelter on the streets of Toronto. While the report concludes that city staff had no direct intent to discriminate against claimants, policy malpractice resulted in disparate treatment towards migrants from African countries and anti-black racism. Upon their release, report findings and recommendations have sent shockwaves throughout the city’s housing portfolio, as housing city manager, Paul Johnson, reportedly rejected the 14 recommendations put forward by the office of the ombudsman and is refusing to take additional further action, “unless ordered by council”. According to the ombudsman, this is the first time that the city has rejected an ombudsman’s findings in their entirety. Contrastingly, local government officials including Mayor Olivia Chow have signaled their support of the report and expressed commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to implement the ombudsman’s recommendations.
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Newcomer retention should be Canada’s priority (Policy Options)
Economist Walid Hejazi and Sara Asalya, Executive Director at Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto, argue that Canada’s decision to reduce immigration by 21 percent over three years will not solve economic challenges including housing, productivity, and workforce shortages. The real issue lies in the failure to integrate skilled immigrants, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare and education. Retention is also a concern, with 30 percent of economic-class immigrants considering leaving due to housing costs, low-income jobs, and economic uncertainty. Immigrants face an unemployment rate of 11.7 percent, double the national average, while citizenship uptake has dropped 40 percent since 2001. Immigrants play vital roles in Canada’s economy, comprising 32 percent of business owners, 40 percent of engineers, and over half of food and beverage sector owners. Instead of cutting immigration, increased focus should be placed on improving retention and integration through better settlement services, foreign credential recognition, and targeted training.
After Assad’s ouster in Syria, what next for refugee claims in Canada? (Global News)
The article discusses the implications of the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria for Syrian refugee claims in Canada. While several European countries, such as Germany and Britain, have paused or suspended processing Syrian asylum claims, Canada has opted to continue evaluating them. Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasized that Canada does not face the same volume of claims as Europe, with only 1,600 pending Syrian claims as of September 2024, compared to tens of thousands in countries like Germany. Despite the regime's ouster, experts like Marwa Khobieh, Executive Director of the Syrian Canadian Foundation, stress that Syria remains unsafe for refugees to return due to a lack of basic infrastructure and lingering instability. Many Syrians, though hopeful about visiting, are not yet ready to leave Canada. Additionally, concerns persist about the humanitarian situation, particularly for political prisoners and vulnerable groups. Experts, including Gauri Sreenivasan of the Canadian Council for Refugees and Evren Altinkas of the University of Guelph, advise Canada to maintain a measured, steady response and prepare for a potential new wave of refugees. While Canada monitors the situation, advocates caution politicians against politicizing the issue and emphasize the importance of continuing to provide refuge for those fleeing violence and instability.
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