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| Subject: U.S. couple bitter with Canada |
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U.S. couple bitter with Canada
Men came to Island with high hopes for tolerance, jobs
Martha Tropea
Daily News
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Feeling foolish and unwelcome, two Americans are packing up to return south of the border, disillusioned with Canada´s reputation as a progressive and plentiful nation.
Michael Collins and his partner David Cappiello only heard good things about Canada when living in New England two years ago. In the U.S. media, Canadians were touted as tolerant and perhaps most important to the couple, friendly towards gay people.
That reputation inspired the two to sell their home, quit their well-paying jobs and head north.
After 18 months of fruitless job searches, they now feel like they´re part of a cruel joke and are forced to make a move home with their heads down and finances tapped out.
"I figured this would be a good change for us," said Cappiello from his home in Ladysmith.
Being on the receiving end of harassment simply for being gay would make anyone look to greener pastures, he said.
"We were willing to spend money on the idea of living in a more open-minded community."
While Nanaimo residents were more welcoming than some of the New England´s resident hate groups that Cappiello had troubles with in the past, the gay jabs continued in the Harbour City.
He was made to feel like an outcast while taking courses at Malaspina University-College and on top of that, students made their anti-American sentiments well-known to him.
"I encountered homophobia among staff and students," Cappiello said. "We were trying to get away from that."
When he complained, one of the staff said he should consider talking to the human rights board but added there wasn´t much she could do about the anti-American statements because "it was a national pastime," Cappiello quoted the woman as saying.
Collins did not cite any specific cases where he encountered homophobia in Canada, saying it made him uneasy.
However, it was Collins´ inability to find work that ultimately forced the couple to give up their hopes of fulfilling the "Canadian dream."
He estimated that since moving to the Island on a work permit 18 months ago, he responded to 70 job openings on top of the dozens of resumes he sent blindly to companies in his field.
Now $75,000 poorer, with no job and a mounting moving bill, Collins and Cappiello hope their luck will change once they head back to New England.
"It´s a real shame because we had such high hopes for Canada."
[23-07-2006,12:17]
[**.66.6.44]
David |
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(in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
they went to small town BC population 7,100. Then they tried to live a eastern US life in a city of 75,000. Small town mentality does not stop at the Canadian, US border- what were they thinking?
a 10 minute float plane ride would have them sitting in the Pride capital of BC. Vancouver.
people should do their homework.
[23-07-2006,15:45]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
Being pervert is one and constantly pushing it in your face is entirely different. I hope they learned to keep they freaky lifestyle out of sight. If they are good at that, they can reclaim their loss back in the US and treat their Canadian venture as a gayfest vacation.
[23-07-2006,18:48]
[***.202.54.107]
righteous man |
(in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
No actually the story is about us -- and most of the jobs applied for were in the greater Vancouver area....something missed in the article. Actually at least 70 were.
There is an attitude amongst many white collar employers in Canada that you don´t "hire a non-Canadian".
There have been plenty of stories recently that show that newcomers to Canada are having a very difficult time of finding employment.
A study just came out [reported in several papers] that shows this.
If Canadian employers don´t want to hire -- then all I can say is don´t let people in.
As far as the prejudiced man that wrote, I guess he needed to show his prejudices, rather than talk about the subject of this forum, which is immigration.
One wonders why he has a desire to hate so much. That doesn´t make him "righteous" it makes him a hater.
[23-07-2006,20:07]
[**.64.223.204]
DC |
(in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
bigotry is wrong unamerican and uncanadian
its hard to make it in canada
[23-07-2006,20:19]
[**.66.6.44]
- |
(in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
I am involved in a mixed race relationship. I have lived in this country all my life. I know very well that my life choices will be more acceptable in some parts of my country rather than others. I need to take responsibility for where I live and how I feel as a human being.
your blanket statement about white collar attitude is crap. I know native Canadians that have applied at 70 jobs too but they can´t whine and get their story in the paper.
I agree - RM needs to rethink his behaviour.
[23-07-2006,20:23]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/ilmi/index.html
[23-07-2006,21:47]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada (in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
Sharon:
As I told you in the other thread, English is our language, we have looked into the other issues you mentioned, which don´t apply in his case.
But to use the word Cr__ to dismiss our experience as well as a major study on immigration and major articles in major Canadian newspapers, is bizarre.
In the other thread you said you are an employer and you hire immigrants, if so, that´s good. But there are many whom intentionally reject people for "lack of Canadian work experience". They don´t care how qualified someone is.
And as for "whine and get their story in the paper" We told our story to alert others to this problem, supporting major immigration studies and major articles already written.
The writer did overempazize the homophobia aspect and the anti-American attitude aspect a little more than I wished, but this is the perception of the author of the article. The reporter herself. She´s trying to tell the story the best she understands it. We obviously didn´t write the article ourselves.
Now as for living in a mixed race relationship -- you should be able to live wherever the heck you want. If you go somewhere and have a problem, people shouldn´t blame you -- they should blame the bigots.
Anyway, I´m really interested to know what field you are in, how many RECENT immigrants you´ve hired, etc.
The article in the Globe and Mail, points out that the system is geared towards a high level of education, but Canada really needs more blue collar workers.
But we can´t deny these major articles in large Canadian newspapers, can we?
[23-07-2006,22:39]
[**.66.6.44]
D |
P.S. (in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
P.S. In our case, the immigration lawyer got my partner an "open work permit" and that was good for two years.
He´s not been interviewed once. And by the way, it was 70+ positions in Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island that he was specifically HIGHLY qualified for. He´s applied to hundreds of openings for employment recruiters in BC AND Ontario AND he´s also sent his resume to pretty much every organization in his field of expertise.
He´s even talked to the Directors of several Chambers of Commerce -- and they´ve all said that it´s very hard to get a job in British Columbia, despite the rumours to the contrary and that as a "newcomer" he´s "not going to connect directly with employers" and should volunteer for several years and then maybe get a contract/temporary position. These are people that run Chambers of Commerce. They should know what they are talking about. One Director also said that BC really needs people who can "swing a hammer" and they shouldn´t let in white collar workers in many fields.
In another article, a Nanaimo immigration lawyer stated an old cliche about people coming here with college degrees that wind up driving taxis, because it is that hard to get a job as a newcomer, and employers generally are reluctant to even grant an interview.
Funny thing is that in your other post, you said it was my "attitude" that was the problem and that BC was screaming for employees, but in this thread, you say that Canadian born people send out 70 resumes and don´t get anywhere.
Which is it?
In a labor market that´s supposedly in dire need of people, it shouldn´t take anyone, Canadian born or not, more than 70 resumes and no jobs.
In the late 1990s, on the east coast of the USA, I personally had employment recruiters calling me up, telling me that they would consider me for computer related positions which they would train me -- and start around 35,000 - 40,000 US/year. Several people came and went where I worked and got into positions like this easily. THAT is a labor market that is screaming for bodies. Here in BC, except maybe for a few isolated fields, this great economy is a myth in our experience.
[23-07-2006,22:48]
[**.66.6.44]
D |
(in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
I have enough media training to know that your story got printed because of the homophobia and anti-american issues - not your job hunting problems. If she/he had not overstated the situation, it would have ended up on the editorial floor. I also know enough about media to know what you read is not alway accurate.
Show me anywhere on this planet where the world is tolerant enough that people can do as they please - where they please and everyone be happy. A deserted island perhaps.
My last admin assistant was a scotish immigrant who had been in the country less than 5 years. Before that I had an India fellow that was educated in english.
I work with a board of directors - 3/12 have been in the country less than 5 years - all with prominent jobs. 2 more have been in the country more than 5 but were not born here. 3 are visible minorities and all are technically my boss.
[23-07-2006,22:53]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: U.S. couple bitter with Canada)
interesting you mention the Chamber. I work for their counterpart. I understand the economic development side of BC very well. I work closely with the Vancouver Board of Trade as well.
Did you investigate the job market for your partner´s field of expertise before you came or did you come for social tolerance and legal recognition and that was the priority of your immigration decision. Sometimes you can´t have it all at once. I would suggest your partner take a job - any job (as I did when I wanted to change careers) and go from there.
If the there is a glut of skills trying for the same 10 jobs then you need to take that in to consideration.
You have not mentioned your job hunting successes! was you personal situation the same or did you have an easier time. And the question that goes with it is ´how come´
I am not out to dismiss your frustration or disappointment. If anything, I want to shake a few folks who think they are going to walk into the country and pick up where they left off. It is not realistic.
And really... have someone critique your partners resume to see why he is being passed over. US credentials and experience are not generally an issue.
[23-07-2006,23:40]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
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