By: Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press. 03/28/2011 5:54 PM

OTTAWA – The Harper government has quietly proposed that people coming to Canada to join their partner must stay in the relationship for two years or more before being formally granted permanent residence. The planned regulatory move — which follows a series of town halls and online consultations — represents a federal bid to stamp out fraudulent marriages that are used to dodge immigration laws. Under the proposal, a spouse or partner from abroad who has been in a relationship with the Canadian sponsor for two years or less would be granted only “conditional permanent residence.”

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Nicholas Keung, Toronto Star, Mar. 24 2011

On the eve of a likely spring election, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced an unusual partnership with Canada’s queer community Thursday: a pilot project to help refugees persecuted for their sexual orientation. Through the project, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will work with the Rainbow Refugee Committee to share the cost of sponsoring gay, lesbian, transgender, transsexual and bisexual refugees overseas to Canada.

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The Link, Mar. 19 2011

VANCOUVER – The refugee rights and migrant justice organization No One Is Illegal arrived to challenge and confront Immigration Minister Jason Kenney at a citizenship ceremony Monday, where he was making an announcement regarding the new citizenship guide. According to Nassim Elbardouh of No One Is Illegal, “Approximately 25 of us, including many recent immigrants, came to protest and challenge this repressive Minister of Censorship and Deportation. It is clear that he only wanted a photo-op as part of his so-called ethnic media strategy. He hid out the whole time while we waited and surrounded the door in anticipation of his arrival. Instead, he had over ten police officers violently remove us and two people were repeatedly threatened with arrest.

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Monday March 14, 2011, Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories– The refugee rights and migrant justice organization No One Is Illegal arrived to challenge and confront Immigration Minister Jason Kenney at a citizenship ceremony today, where he made an announcement regarding the new citizenship guide. According to Nassim Elbardouh of No One Is Illegal, “Approximately 25 of us, including many recent immigrants, came to protest and challenge this repressive Minister of Censorship and Deportation. It is clear that he only wanted a photo-op as part of his so-called ethnic media strategy. He hid out the whole time while we waited and surrounded the door in anticipation of his arrival. Instead, he had over ten police officers violently remove us and two people were repeatedly threatened with arrest. Apparently we have the right to protest outside but not to actually challenge and question him to his face. The delay and disruption of the ceremony was clearly caused by him denying access to the public. Several media outlets were also denied entry. It is shameful that Kenney has to hide behind a slick PR machine and well-guarded events rather than be accountable to and face the public.”

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By Murray Bush, Vancouver Media Co-op, Mar. 14 2011

VANCOUVER – No One Is Illegal members were on hand to ‘welcome’ federal immigration minister Jason Kenney to Vancouver this morning. Kenney was slated to speak at a new immigrant swearing in ceremony. Despite being a public event, opponents of Kenney’s rascist policies were barred from entering. A squad of Vancouver Police were brought in to help the RCMP keep the anti-rascists from confronting Kenney.

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