Ethnic Media Insightstranslated summaries of coverage from a selection of ethnic media outlets across Canada to encourage cross cultural conversations |
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Ethnic Media Insights 2025 |
 In Canada's diverse media landscape, two distinct voices emerge when covering international student issues: the familiar mainstream media and the lesser-known ethnic media. While both play crucial roles in informing the public, their approaches and focuses often differ, offering complementary perspectives on this complex topic.
Mainstream media, with its broad reach and resources, tend to focus on official-language institutional, business and academic spokespersons. They often emphasize government announcements, economic and demographic implications, and institutional responses. On the other hand, ethnic media, published in various languages and catering to specific communities, delve deeper into the personal stories and challenges faced by international students themselves and into community concerns, perceptions and responses. Interviews with experts and advocates from the respective communities explain policies and trends in the language and cultural code the audience understands. This article explores how these two media streams work in tandem to paint a comprehensive picture of the international student experience in Canada. By understanding both perspectives, we can gain valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of this important issue. Mainstream Canadian Media On September 18, 2024, Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault announced new policies that capped international student numbers, sparking concern among universities, colleges, and businesses. The Canadian Press quickly reported pushback, particularly regarding the inclusion of graduate students in the cap, which raised fears about Canada’s reputation as an education destination. Universities expressed concerns that visa complications and restrictions on spousal work permits could lead prospective students to choose other countries. Toronto Star Columnist Armine Yalnizyan emphasized the importance of immigrants in addressing Canada’s aging population and workforce needs, advocating for permanent immigration, especially in rural areas. Meanwhile, CBC highlighted the struggles of international students, particularly students from India, who make up 41% of Canada’s international student population. Issues such as high living costs, predatory landlords, and questionable colleges were cited, with Toronto immigration lawyer Sergio R. Karas suggesting a moratorium on study permits due to the system’s overwhelming scale. Businesses also voiced concerns, with the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association criticizing the lack of consultation and pointing to labour shortages. Advocacy groups noted that many temporary foreign workers are experts in essential fields. Universities, particularly in rural areas, have been hit hard, facing program cuts, hiring freezes, and a significant drop in international applications. Immigration Minister Miller shifted responsibility to provincial governments, emphasizing that the privilege of hosting international students requires proper funding. Ethnic Media in Canada Ethnic media in Canada have been just as busy covering the international student story. Like their mainstream counterparts, many started by simply reporting the government’s announcement, featuring footage from the press conference by Miller and Boissonnault. From The Korea Daily in Vancouver to Farsi-language daily Salam Toronto, the news spread quickly. Some outlets, like Toronto-based Tamil daily radio East FM 102.7, the Toronto Chinese daily outlet 51.ca, and the national and multilingual OMNI TV, juxtaposed this announcement with stories about how Ontario nearly balanced its budget thanks to international student tuition. But what sets ethnic media apart? Community-Specific Perspectives Ethnic media bring in voices from their own communities and speak directly to their readers in their own languages. For example, OMNI News Filipino interviewed immigration consultant Debbie Piandong, who explained how difficult it is for college students to switch programs halfway through their studies if they want to remain eligible for a post-graduation work permit. Meanwhile, OMNI News Punjabi spoke with immigration expert Kanwar Sierah, who pointed out that the sudden policy change feels like a betrayal for students who came to Canada expecting a clear path to a work permit. Over at OMNI News Italian, Ilaraia Ferrati from Woori Education Group explained how the number of Italian students had already been declining, as young Italians are mostly opting for Working Holiday visas instead. The Toronto Spanish papers El Popular and Correo Canadiense, with an estimated combined circulation of 75,000, printed a column by immigration expert Vilma Filici reviewing the shifts in international student policy during the pandemic and now. Filici finds it unfair for international students to pay the price for the federal government’s over-correcting of student numbers during the pandemic. Filici also considers it “absurd” to require additional language testing for post-graduation work permits, since students already have to pass a language test for admission to a Canadian college or university. Ongoing Reporting on Community Concerns Ethnic media also take the time to check in on issues affecting their communities, even between major government announcements. For instance, Salam Toronto, OMNI TV Punjabi, and East FM 102.7 have all have been reporting on the disturbing issue of female international students facing sexual exploitation by landlords and offers of reduced rent for roommates with benefits. On the brighter side, the Toronto-based Japanese monthly Torja shared stories of mature international students who came to Canada to change careers or upgrade their skills. The piece highlighted the Canadian trend of people returning to school mid-career, which was inspiring for students from cultures where this is not as common. However, not all voices are optimistic. Some Chinese media outlets, like Vancouver dailies Van People and the Canada News Network, have reflected concerns about the influx of Indian students. For example, a Van People writer expressed discomfort with the growing number of Indian students working in fast food outlets, gas stations, and delivery jobs, feeling that Indian students have been dominating the job market since the pandemic. The writer also noted a sense of growing anti-Indian sentiment within some parts of the Chinese community. Ethnic media have also been covering ongoing protests by international students. Chinese websites like dailies Calgary Life WeChat, Calgary Official WeChat and Van People in Vancouver reported on Indian international students protesting in Prince Edward Island after the province refused to participate in a work permit program. Many comments on the Chinese websites sided with the government and derided the protesters, criticizing their sense of entitlement to work permits and permanent residency. Meanwhile, Indian media like the national TV OMNI News Punjabi and PTC Punjabi TV supported the protests, highlighting calls for work permit renewals and better pathways to permanent residency. Conclusion The contrast between mainstream and ethnic media coverage of international student issues highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in journalism. While mainstream outlets tend to provide a broad view of policy changes and their national and local impact, ethnic media offer a more nuanced, community-focused view by bringing in voices from within their own communities. They provide a platform for community-specific concerns, cultural context, and ongoing coverage of issues that may otherwise go unnoticed. Ethnic media offer a deeper connection to the lived experiences of the students and communities directly affected. By embracing both viewpoints, the reader can develop a more holistic and nuanced understanding that different newcomer communities have different perspectives on each other and on policy matters. This comprehensive approach not only benefits the international students but also enriches our national dialogue on education, immigration, and cultural diversity. Moving forward, there is an opportunity for mainstream media to incorporate more grassroots perspectives and personal stories into their coverage. Similarly, ethnic media could benefit from broader dissemination of their insights to reach a wider audience. By bridging these two worlds, we can foster a more inclusive and informed public discourse on international student issues in Canada. (The MIREMS Team, 2024-09-24)
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 Canadian politics just got a whole lot more interesting!
The political "bromance" between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party and Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party (NDP) has officially hit the rocks. After months of working together, Singh decided to call it quits, leaving the Liberals without the NDP's support. And everyone is talking about it – from Canadian ethnic media to political commentators halfway across the globe. The Breakup Heard 'Round the Country MIREMS – Multilingual International Research and Ethnic Media Services – tracked over 120 stories about this political split from Canadian ethnic media within a week. Many followed the mainstream storyline as per the grand leaders’ social media posts and press conferences: Singh pulled the plug, accusing Trudeau of putting corporate interests before everyday Canadians. The NDP leader said Trudeau wasn’t doing enough on big issues like housing, inflation, and keeping corporations in check. He accused Trudeau of prioritizing corporate interests over the welfare of Canadians. Ouch! Now people are wondering if this means Trudeau's government is on shaky ground. The Conservatives? They're already calling for early elections (no surprise there). Trudeau, on the other hand, is trying to keep cool, saying he’s going to stay focused on affordability and climate change, even though the pressure on him to step down is growing louder by the minute – and not just from the opposition. LGBTQ2+ allies are calling for him to step aside and make room for someone with a chance to stop the Conservatives, who they perceive as clear and present danger. The Liberal candidate in the Montreal by-election hides away the party leader’s face. The Punjabi Perspective In the Punjabi media, the news was, well, huge. On Edmonton’s Connect FM 101.7’s Shaam Wala Show, political analyst Naresh Bhardwaj explained that Singh had already achieved a lot of his party's goals through the deal with the Liberals – things like childcare, dental care, and pharmacare. But now, he’s ready to bail before the Liberals’ sinking ship takes him down with it. Smart move, right? Former Ontario Liberal MPP Harinder Takhar shared his thoughts on Red FM 88.9 Good Morning Toronto and CJMR 1320 Punjab Di Goonj, explaining that Singh was getting pressure from all sides – including Conservatives and unions – to end the deal. The unions were offended by the Trudeau government imposing binding arbitration in the rail workers’ strike, and the NDP membership is growing impatient with the lack of effective action on affordability. Takhar doesn’t think Singh is trying to force an election just yet, though. It’s more a matter of political positioning. Shameel Jasvir, the host of Good Morning Toronto on Red FM, considers the NDP “deceitful” for breaking their promise with the Liberals early. India’s Hot Take: Khalistan Controversy Meanwhile, the media in India was all over this story too, but with a twist. Many outlets, including the national Dainik Bhaskar, the Times of India in Mumbai, the Navbharat Times in Delhi, the Bharat Express in Noida (Greater Delhi), and the Dainik Jagran in Kanpur, as well as TV9 Bharatvarsh, focused on Singh’s alleged ties to pro-Khalistan groups (a hot-button issue in India). Dainik Bhaskar reminded readers that Singh was denied a visa to India in 2013 because of accusations that he was involved in anti-India activities. Shambhunath Shukla at TV9 Bharatvarsh commented that Singh left Justin Trudeau in the lurch, after Trudeau opposed India on Singh’s behest. He wondered whether Trudeau might stay quiet on the issue of Khalistan and the Nijjar murder now that Singh is no longer in his corner. The Times of India went a step further, claiming that Singh’s political strategy has involved cozying up to pro-Khalistan groups and accusing both him and Trudeau of pandering to voters who support Khalistan. They pointed out that both leaders attended a Khalsa Day rally in Toronto where pro-Khalistan chants were heard and banners displayed. Chinese Media: A Different Kind of Worry In Canada’s Chinese-language media, the conversation was a little different. Some outlets were more focused on the NDP being too left-wing for their taste. Discussions on the Chinese 51.ca website called on community members to vote Conservative because Canada needs to return to traditional values. One post claimed that Trudeau deceived Canadians while Singh deceived Trudeau. Other commenters on 51.ca called the Liberal-NDP alliance an “affront to democracy.” Comments on the Chinese Canada News Network website in Vancouver even suggested that if Singh ever became Prime Minister, it would “bring Canada to full destruction.” Over on WeChat, the conversation turned to concerns about the influence of the Sikh community in Canadian politics. Posts on the Calgary Life WeChat call for Chinese Canadians to exercise their influence and vote out Trudeau without letting the NDP in, unless they “want Canada to become another India.” Comments posted on the Edmonton WeChat noted that while the Indian and Chinese communities in Canada each make up around 4% of the population, the Indian community seems to have more visibility. Some even said that the Indian community’s cheerful and carefree attitude helps them dominate service industries. The Indian community is seen as more united, which gives them an advantage in elections. So, What’s Next? With the NDP stepping back, Trudeau’s government is in for a bumpy ride. The Conservatives are rubbing their hands together, hoping for early elections, while Trudeau is trying to reassure everyone he’s still got things under control. And of course, ethnic media across Canada – and even in India – is buzzing with speculation, criticism, and a healthy dose of drama. Grab your popcorn, folks. Canadian politics just got a whole lot more interesting, and it looks like this show is far from over! (The MIREMS Team, 2024-09-17) |
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