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| Subject: Canadian politics and immigration |
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For those of you without access to Canadian TV or newspapers -
as you know, Canada is in the midst of an election campaign - Jan 23. When the writ was dropped many of you got very nervous about what might happen with immigration policies and the impact of a possible change in leader.
I am not making any promises, but so far there has been absolutely no discussion about immigration issues. There have been 2 televised debates and if there had been an opportunity for one party to use the immigration issue to discredit or make people nervous about change... it would have happened.
There is still a few more weeks to go in the campaign but from my vantage point, we can expect CIC to continue operating under its current format and rules for quite some time. I think everyone can breath easy.
I will make sure I report again if there is any news.
happy holidays.
[17-12-2005,16:20]
[***.20.170.23]
Sharon |
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(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
Thanks for the update
[17-12-2005,16:51]
[**.113.248.8]
mmm_doughnuts |
(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
Thanks a lot Sharon for your interest in us. I listened to the debate last night at CBC radio´s website, and they didn´t say much about immigration and what they said wasn´t what people here is afraid of, actually I think the little they said what good for us.
People in this forum interested on last night´s debate can read the transcript at http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/voterstoolkit/debate_trans.html
I also think that if we are planning to move to Canada, we should be more interested in their politics, especially with this election campaign.
I hope I don´t offend anyone, but I don´t want Harper and his party to win!
Thanks a lot Sharon!
[17-12-2005,17:52]
[***.119.62.236]
Me |
(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
Me... I am interested to know what Mr Harper said that made you so uncomfortable.
I have voted Liberal all my life but I must confess, I am really ticked that the Liberals are throwing my money in my face in hopes that I will forget that they are corrupt. So I am very curious about your answer.
If the same sex marriage issue is a a concern- it is for me too... but I have been listening very carefully to what is on the table. The conservative party voted in its policy meetings that they support the traditional definition of marriage. That does not preclude gay and lesbian couples from forming legal unions, gaining spousal rights in terms of pensions etc.
Harper said last night he would not play with the constitution to gain a defeat of the same sex marriage legislation. My guess is the following. He has said they will conduct a free vote in the Commons. If the legislation stands - the issue is dead and he has filled his obligations to his party. There was a lot of controversy during the last vote because Liberal caucus members were ordered to vote with the government. So, I guess Harper is being forced to visit the issue one more time so they can say it is done.
Either way, same sex unions will be respected, defended under the charter and treated equally. That is not up for negotiation. Wording appears to be the sticky wicket. It might not be perfect, ( in terms of what same sex couples are looking for) but I think it may help the country make the correct step to granting equal rights to all Canadians.
I heard an interesting commentary last night following the debate about why there was a need to have a vote one more time. The commentator suggested the same question be asked of Quebec. How many times do they need to say no before the PQ stops having referendums.
[17-12-2005,18:20]
[***.20.170.23]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
ps... not wanting to start a political war here. Absolutely not my intention.
Admin... feel free to delete the post if it gets out of hand.
[17-12-2005,18:22]
[***.20.170.23]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
Well, you´re right. I don´t like Harper´s position on Same-Sex marriage. They may call it what they want but gays have the same right than anyone else to marry. And I´m so happy that Canada is ahead of lots of developed countries with that desicion. That´s why my partner and I decided to move to Canada, because we are a bi-national couple and we have been forced to live apart because of the lack of rights we are subjected to, we don´t have recognition of our relationship by either his country (United States) or mine (Colombia)
And I agree with what Layton said last night that people´s religion shouldn´t have anything to do with the rights of the minorities, and that´s what this is about. Some religion says that gays are evil, that we´re sick, or weird stuff like that. But gays aren´t gay just because is fashion or because you wanted to, it´s just the way we are! Like a black person is that way and it can´t be considered wrong or changed! That law already passed and they shouldn´t go against it when the parliament made a decision. Canadians elected the parliament so what the parliament decides should be considered what Canadians want.
On the other hand, I read that speech Harper gave in 1997 to american republicans, people I don´t like at all and not only because of their retrograde view on gay issues, and that time Harper was apologizing to those republicans for the way Canada was! That´s terrible! So if Harper was to be elected, it wouldn´t be a surprise that Harper would be kneeling down in front of the US like the rest of Latin america is right know! Especially my country!
American republicans have the worst ideology against people, like immigrants! and Harper was referring to them as "Inspirational" That tells me a lot about Harper´s true intentions!
Well, about the liberals, there might be other options, like the NDP, I kind of like what Layton says, but I don´t know much about Canadian politics, I´m trying to get to know all the facts.
That´s just my opinion I don´t want to offend anyone, everybody has its own personal reasons to support one party or the other, but due to my situation with my partner and being member of a hated minority, this is what I think so I hope I´m not offending anyone.
[17-12-2005,19:06]
[***.119.62.236]
Me |
(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
fair enough.
I think you can be sure that regardless of who is elected... you will never be subjected to the kind of maginalization that you currently experience.
I always tell people that the Coservatives are left of the Republicans, Liberals are more like the Democrats and the NDP is somewhere left of the Democrats.
NDP has some interesting policies. I quite like Jack Layton. wish he was a Liberal. He likes the government to tax you and then pay for everything. Conservatives like to leave the money with the tax payer and let them pay for things themselves. Different philosophy. The Liberals fall somewhere in the middle but have really put themselves in a pickle with some very serious breach of trust issues and scandal.
I wish Trudeau was around. I would vote for him in a heartbeat.
[17-12-2005,19:20]
[***.20.170.23]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
Well, Sharon, thanks for your opinion and your understanding! And for helping people in this forum with your commentaries!
Happy Holidays!
[17-12-2005,19:45]
[***.119.62.236]
Me |
(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
Sharon, actually there was mention of immigration in the second debate, perhaps you missed that. All four leaders discussed it, the question if recall right was from an East Indian immigrant doctor (?, not sure) who asked what the parties were doing about recognizing professionals´ qualifications when they moved to Canada. The answers were all pretty tame in that three of the leaders spoke of how they would do something about it, while Duceppe simply said it was a provincial issue, not a federal one.
For all those interested in how the four main parties stand on the issue of immigration, there is an article on the immigrationguides.com site that lays out the broad picture.
[17-12-2005,19:56]
[**.93.69.34]
typo |
(in reply to: Canadian politics and immigration)
Typo, I just read the site you provided. Pretty much what I figured.
Everyone acknowledges that Canada is not doing a good job of getting credentials recognized once PR´s are arriving.
I have become cynical in my old age. The Liberals have had 12 years to sort this out and for them to offer money at this late date to fix a very obvious and old problem seems a little too late for my liking. I am very curious what someone else might do to make sure our newest Canadians have every opportunity to be successful. It is to everyone´s advantage that we sort this out - so I want to know who is going to do the best job of making it happen.
I still don´t know who I am voting for. All I know is I am thankful that I live in a country where I can choose my leader and throw him out when I do not like what he does.
[17-12-2005,21:15]
[***.20.170.23]
Sharon |
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