In The News - Page 18 of 21

Will the Senate pass the cannabis bill tonight? No one knows for sure

John Paul Tasker CBC June 7, 2018 Bill C-45, cannabis, immigrants, legalization, permanent residents, refugees

Independent Ontario Sen. Ratna Omidvar secured enough support for an amendment that would protect immigrants or refugees convicted of relatively minor cannabis-related offences from being barred from getting their citizenships, or from deportation. The government will consider that amendment if the bill passes tomorrow, sources said.

Ideas on diversity and action for 2018

Zeahaa Rehman, Natalie Ng & Mesha Ghayur The Medium March 19, 2018 Diversity, inclusion

Last Wednesday, March 14th, the UTM political science department hosted a lecture titled “Diversity 2018 and Beyond: Five Big Ideas on Diversity and Inclusion” as part of its third annual public affairs lecture. This lecture invited senator Ratna Omidvar to share her personal story and how it influenced her work on diversity and inclusion as a lawmaker in Canada.

OPINION: What Oscar-winner Frances McDormand can teach corporate Canada

Jennifer Wells Toronto Star March 6, 2018 Bill C-25, corporate governance, Diversity, Opinions

The point to glean is this: in hauling the Act into the modern era a group of senators supported the view that publicly traded corporations be compelled to set internal targets to boost diversity, the very ethos of the governing Liberals. The Senate voted against the amendment, 37 to 30, in third reading last Wednesday.

Senators push for stronger legislation for boosting diversity on boards

Joanna Smith The Canadian Press January 31, 2018 Bill C-25, Diversity

Omidvar said she was glad to see the Liberal government agree to earlier changes that would involve including a clear definition of diversity -- using the Employment Equity Act as a guide -- in the regulations that will follow the legislation. That said, Bill C-25 could still be stronger, she said.

‘Good people of the world unite.’ How can we win the fight for tolerance?

Laura Oliver World Economic Forum January 23, 2018 Diversity, immigration, refugees, World Economic Forum

Leading thinkers, activists and politicians shared their thoughts on the fight for more inclusive growth and greater social inclusion, during several Davos sessions focused on tolerance, racism and LGBT reforms.

Citizenship rules have officially been changed

Margaret Jetelina Canadian Immigrant January 23, 2018 Bill C-6, Citizenship, immigration, refugees

Bill C-6, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act, has received Royal Assent. These changes to the Citizenship Act streamline the citizenship process, enhance program integrity and repeal certain provisions of the Act that treated dual citizens differently than other Canadians.

How the federal government is slowly becoming as diverse as Canada

Aaron Wherry CBC News December 29, 2017 Andrew Griffith, Diversity, government appointments

"It is crucial that the government tracks, measures and reports on diversity in all areas," says Sen. Ratna Omidvar, the founding director of Ryerson's Global Diversity Exchange. "By doing so, we are able to see where we are making progress and where we need to improve."

This Canadian Senator Wants DACA Deportees to Come to Canada

Lauren Strapagiel Buzzfeed September 6, 2017 Canada-US relations, DACA, Dreamers

Ratna Omidvar, an independent senator appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016, says DREAMers, as DACA recipients are known, are the "ripe, low-hanging fruit" of immigrants—young people who, in many cases, speak English, are high-school graduates, and have work experience. They have also undergone criminal background checks as a prerequisite to getting DACA status.

Canada should welcome up to 30,000 DACA young people facing deportation in U.S., senator says

Ratna Omidvar CBC September 5, 2017 Canada-US relations, DACA, Dreamers

"So, here are people who could apply for international student programs. Universities and colleges could come up with some special initiative or special outreach — college-to-college, university-to-university — maybe even a special scholarship program. But over time, they would be top of the line for economic integration," Omidvar added.

The digital economy gets the buzz, but immigrants are needed elsewhere, too

Guy DIxon Globe and Mail September 1, 2017 digital economy, employment, immigration, Technology

Somehow we’ve leaned toward only bringing in immigrants with high skills, so that they will stay and put down roots. We forget about the people who are going to wash the dishes and work on the farms. I would like our government to have a lens on the economy which is focusing both on the high skills and talent, but also on the service talent that we need.