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Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Ford and other premiers want provincial work permits for refugee claimants. It may not solve anything
With refugee claimants now getting work permits fairly quickly and housing being less of a pain point, why do Canada's premiers want to seize power from Ottawa to issue work permits? This week, the provincial leaders emerged from the premiers' meeting united in seeking the powers under the Constitution to issue work authorization to asylum seekers, which is currently under the federal government's jurisdiction. The reason behind the move, Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday, is that a lot of asylum seekers living in hotels would like to work and be self-sufficient, but can't because it's taking too long for Ottawa to process their work permits. While any initiative that would help claimants to get on their feet and start working as quickly as possible is positive, Toronto refugee lawyer Adam Sadinsky isn't sure if that push is based on 'outdated information.' (The Immigration Department's website shows work permit application processing for non-refugees currently takes 181 days.) 'It was an issue a couple of years ago,' said Sadinsky, whose clients in Canada generally now receive their work permits in about six weeks. 'In my practice, I haven't seen that it is really a significant issue anymore.' Section 95 of the Constitution Act outlines the concurrent jurisdiction of the Canadian Parliament and provincial legislatures including immigration, education and health care. It states that both levels of government can make laws in these areas, but in a conflict, federal laws prevail. In fact, the two levels of governments have already shared jurisdiction in some areas of immigration. The provincial nominee immigration programs, for example, allow provinces to select prospective permanent residents for Ottawa's stamp of approval. Currently, the only provincial-based work permits are those related to the provincial nominee program, where the province can approve the work authorization of a selected candidate, who will ultimately get the permit from the federal government. 'The provinces and the feds have worked together,' said Toronto immigration lawyer Rick Lamanna on behalf of the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association. But could it be just a bluff from the premiers? 'We'll know more if or when you start to see things coming out, whether it's from Ontario or Alberta or other provinces, putting more meat on those bones,' Lamanna said. 'When you start to see logistical plans, if they start opening up stakeholder consultations, if they make announcements like expansion of Service Ontario to facilitate the issuance of these permits, I think that's when we'll know.' In a statement to the Star, the Immigration Department said claimants must submit a completed application, including a medical exam, and are determined to be eligible to seek protection before they are issued a work permit. On average, it now takes 45 days to process. 'The Government of Canada will continue to work collaboratively with provinces and territories to achieve our shared economic immigration objectives,' it said, adding that the department cannot speculate about future immigration agreements with provinces. While it's too early to say if granting work permits to asylum seekers would open the door for provinces to bypass Ottawa in bringing in foreign workers and giving international students work authorization, Lamanna said there are competing visions and interests between the two levels of governments. Faced with public outcry over Canada's capacity to accommodate soaring population growth, Ottawa has reduced admissions of both permanent and temporary residents , axing the annual permanent resident quota under the provincial nominee immigration program by half. With their post-secondary education institutions struggling with significantly reduced international student enrolment and tuition revenues, provinces are also concerned about securing a strong labour pool to ease pressure on wages and fill skill shortages to make employers happy. Immigration lawyer Barbara Jo Caruso said she's not surprised provinces are trying to wield more control over immigration with so much at stake, but raising the argument about asylum seekers is questionable. 'It's interesting and a little bit sad that (Ford) made the refugee claimants the focus here,' said Caruso, a cofounder of the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association, who calls the manoeuvring 'a power play.' 'I don't think that's Mr. Ford's end game here. It was deliberate because he can generate public support for what he's trying to accomplish, because people are not going to be happy to hear about folks in hotel rooms and being fed and a roof over their head and not out working.' Offloading work permits to provinces could save Ottawa some administrative costs but also create potential processing chaos and jeopardize the integrity of the process. 'Any time you deal with a decentralized structure, things can get lost between one level and another,' said Lamanna. 'That's why co-ordination is very key.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Montreal Gazette
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Opinion: In Quebec, language is not a problem to be solved
A nation consists of a people sharing a historic connection to a territory. The people living in that territory may speak one or more languages. Essential to the idea of nationhood is the will of a people to share a future. The 1867 British North America Act created the geopolitical entity that, today, we call the Quebec nation. In 1867, Quebec was populated by a French-speaking majority and an English-speaking minority. French and English had been spoken in what became the province of Quebec for over a century. This reality explains the BNA Act's constitutional guarantee of the equality of the French and English languages pertaining to the most important institutions of our democracy: the Canadian Parliament, the Quebec legislature and our courts. This institutional bilingualism remains the linguistic baseline of Quebec. We have the right to speak either language in our federal Parliament and our Quebec National Assembly. Laws must be passed in English and French and are equally authoritative. Civil litigants, criminally accused persons and witnesses can testify in English or French in our courts. The BNA Act provided the French- and English-speaking people of Quebec with the legal framework to chart a future — together. This blank page awaited a future fraught with social, economic and linguistic challenges, generated in no small manner by the economic model that Quebec and Canada chose to continue after Confederation: capitalism. Capitalism creates wealth, but also inequities. Quebec's free market economy had an impact on language as well as on our environment and the health and welfare of workers, and produced income disparities. These failings prompted the progressive reforms of the 1960s and '70s. For the first time in its history, Quebec was required to legislate on language — a daunting task for that era. Canadian federalism did not prevent Quebec from redressing linguistic imbalances requiring action. The 1977 Charter of the French Language was transformational legislation that confirmed and enhanced French as the official — but not exclusive — language of Quebec. As the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was only adopted on April 17, 1982, the separatist Parti Québécois government possessed unfettered jurisdictional power in 1977 to abolish English education. That it did not do this speaks to the political legitimacy of the English language in the Quebec of 1977 and the pertinence of the English language in the new version of Quebec about to unfold. The inconvenient truth that could not be ignored in 1977, or today, is that Quebec is a de facto bilingual society. French- and English-speaking people have lived here for centuries, building Quebec — a shared history of collaboration and accomplishment that certain politicians prefer to ignore rather than celebrate. A bilingual society is not one in which everyone must speak both languages or in which two unilingual peoples live separate, compartmentalized lives. In a bilingual society, people and their languages intermingle. Relationships are formed, including ones in which bilingual children are raised. People may become bilingual, or not. Many make that choice. Many will continue to do so. New France comprised 70,000 French subjects as of the 1759 conquest. Quebec's population today includes approximately eight million francophones and one million anglophones, most of whom speak French. Human rights lawyer Julius Grey rightly opined in Le français en déclin? (Corbeil, Marcoux, Piché, 2023) that French will never disappear from Quebec as long as French-language education remains mandatory and free. No linguistic exigency justifies the egregiousness of Bill 96 and the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause exempting it from judicial scrutiny. In Quebec, language is not a problem to be solved. Language will remain a dynamic reality requiring the modulation of policies over time. The crafting of linguistic equilibriums that respect both French and English is a hallmark of Quebec history. A heritage repudiated by the Coalition Avenir Québec government. Only political activism can forge a path back to linguistic equilibriums as the way forward for the Quebec nation. So, let's get active — now!
New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Khalistani extremists using Canada as base to promote violence in India: Canadian intelligence agency
NEW DELHI: In what could be seen as a sobering assessment in New Delhi, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has officially acknowledged that a 'small group' of Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) continue to pose an active threat not just to Canada, but to global stability, particularly in India. In its 2024 annual report submitted to the Canadian Parliament, CSIS identified these individuals as part of a broader category known as politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE). According to the agency, PMVE encompasses actions aimed at creating new political systems or radically altering existing ones through violence. 'Only a small group of individuals are considered Khalistani extremists because they continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India,' it said. This is a rare but candid admission by Canada's top intelligence body, reflecting mounting concerns that Canadian soil is being exploited to support foreign extremist agendas, especially to target India.
CBC
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Throne speech was an 'emotional moment' for the King, Buckingham Palace says
Social Sharing Some observant royal watchers thought King Charles looked emotional at times throughout his trip to Canada last week — and a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirms to CBC News that the normally stoic monarch found delivering the throne speech to be a particularly poignant moment. "His Majesty was deeply moved and touched by the enthusiastic response to his visit," the palace spokesperson said. "On the speech, the standing ovation in particular was an unexpected and emotional moment for His Majesty. You can hear his voice go a bit crackly in the final lines." Footage shows Charles looking pleased by the warm reception he received as the assembled dignitaries rose to applaud him and his speech. Charles's line about Canada "indeed" being the Truth North "strong and free" was particularly well received in the Senate chamber. There was no act of protest like when an Australian Indigenous senator shouted at the King in Parliament during his visit to that realm last year. WATCH | King Charles gets a standing ovation in Parliament: 'The True North is, indeed, strong and free,' says King Charles in throne speech 7 days ago Duration 1:32 His voice then wavered and his eyes appeared to well up as he said the final line to the gathered parliamentarians: "May you honour the profound trust bestowed upon you by Canadians, and may God bless and guide you in all your duties." Charles also seemed to tear up outside the Senate building as thousands of people watched him arrive in the royal landau and inspect the military honour guard while the Royal Canadian Air Force band played O Canada. After the speech, he cheerfully greeted many of the onlookers and there were no obvious signs of protest. "It was the warmest of welcomes and the fondest of returns to a nation and a people we love," Charles and Queen Camilla themselves said in a joint statement released after they left Ottawa. WATCH | The royal parade to Parliament: King Charles and Queen Camilla parade to Parliament 7 days ago Duration 2:35 The U.K. press took note of Charles's unusual display of emotion on this trip — his 20th official visit to Canada and his first as monarch. "Royals don't normally 'do' emotion, at least they do their very best to hide whatever feeling they have. But for some reason, King Charles seemed unable to do that on this occasion at the end of a short, but highly significant, visit," ITV's royal correspondent Chris Ship wrote in his coverage of the speech. In an interview with CBC News, Justin Vovk, a royal historian at McMaster University, said there was "more emotion than we've come to expect from members of the royal family." "I think Charles was taken aback somewhat. The King had been itching to get here and eager to make his presence felt in Canada but no one really knew what kind of reaction he would receive," Vovk said. "Journalists, academics, royalists, we were all watching and wondering: would there be a tepid turnout? Would there be protests? And I think once Charles saw the level of reaction from the people, it floored him; it seems he wasn't expecting it." The emotion may also have been driven by just how high-stakes the visit was for him and the country, Vovk said. In the face of American taunts and insults, Prime Minister Mark Carney pressed Charles into service, asking the head of state to assert Canada's sovereignty in the first throne speech delivered by a monarch in nearly 50 years. It was a diplomatic balancing act because Charles, as the sovereign of 15 realms, had to fulfil his duties as King of Canada without torpedoing Anglo-American relations given there's a sometimes mercurial president in the Oval Office and the U.K. is also facing trade threats. "Opening Parliament, reading the speech from the throne, these are the most significant constitutional roles that the sovereign plays in our political system," Vovk said. "He understood the weight of it politically, personally and dynastically," he said. Plus, Vovk said, for Charles, "Canada has deep meaning for him and deep meaning for his family." The King's favoured relative, his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and his own mother, Queen Elizabeth, made dozens of trips to Canada and wrote and spoke fondly about their experiences. Those sentiments have seemingly rubbed off on him, Vovk said. The Queen Mother, writing to Princess Margaret in 1958, said: "I have a feeling that Canada gives one a boost. They are so nice and so loving and the Mounties are so beautiful and so romantic." Looking back at her historic 1939 tour with King George VI on the eve of the Second World War — the first time a reigning monarch had been in North America — the Queen Mother said: "Canada made us." Queen Elizabeth, who personally witnessed seminal moments in the nation's history including the repatriation of the Constitution, described Canada as "home." "Charles is acutely aware that he and his family have had a presence in Canada at crucial moments. This is one of those moments," Vovk said. "He delivered, very deliberately, slogan-worthy, quotable lines — the True North, strong and free, Canada seeping into his bloodstream and straight to the heart. Those will be phrases associated with the monarchy in Canada for a very long time," he said. As for whether Charles's ongoing cancer battle may have played into his emotional reaction, Vovk said it's hard to say. "It's impossible to speculate on what goes on behind the curtain with the sovereign," he said.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A Senior Royal Aide Just Shared a Surprising Update on King Charles's Health
In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. The Palace never disclosed what type of cancer the King has, nor what his prognosis is, but in a new interview with the Telegraph, a senior royal aide is sharing updates on the King's health. He is dealing 'incredibly well' with cancer, the aide said, adding, 'The thing you learn about this illness is that you just manage it and that's what he does. Medical science has made incredible advances and I genuinely see no difference in him. As long as you just do what the doctors say, just live your life as normal as possible... that's exactly what he is doing.' Later in the interview, the aide, who remained anonymous, said King Charles 'has dealt with his illness in a very human way, and the way he's engaging with the public at a very human level. I think we now have a clear idea of what the Carolean age looks like and what it stands for - now and hopefully for many years to come.' The interview comes in the aftermath of Charles's quick trip to Canada, where he delivered the Throne Speech to open Canadian Parliament. Earlier this month, the King's wellbeing was in the news as Prince Harry made comments to the BBC that he doesn't know how much longer his father has to live. 'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile,' the Duke of Sussex revealed. The King himself has rarely spoken on the matter, but at a Garden Party hosted at Buckingham Palace, he spoke with a guest about radiation treatment, and offered advice about what can help. You Might Also Like 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game
