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| Subject: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r... |
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It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it right on immigration
Vancouver Sun
September 29, 2005
The flaws in the design and execution of Canada´s immigration policy are readily apparent. So too are the compelling arguments as to why we must keep a steady stream of immigrants coming into the country to maintain our economic vitality.
We´ve known for several years that we are not getting enough of the kind of immigrants we need to augment our aging labour force. For the skilled immigrants we do attract, we set up often arbitrary barriers that leave them unable to use their training either for their own benefit or the benefit of their new communities.
TOO MANY BARRIERS
At the same time, Citizen and Immigration Canada has been plagued by backlogs that act both as barriers to people we´d like to see join us in Canada and as a screen to allow undesirable immigrants to slip into the country.
So we are both pleased to hear that the Liberal government will be considering plans to increase the number of immigrants coming into Canada and skeptical that it will be able to pull it off.
Immigration Minister Joe Volpe has confirmed that he is preparing proposals for cabinet to increase the pace of immigration to more than 300,000 a year, or about one per cent of the total population of Canada, from the current rate of about 230,000 a year.
Volpe´s plan will have to deal with the institutional snafus and lack of capacity that have plagued his department. That won´t be easy, given the reputation for mismanagement this government has gained from its handling of the gun registry.
The federal government has already taken some steps towards dealing with some of the department´s internal problems. It has also started slowly to address the problem of allowing immigrants to make use of their skills, so heart surgeons don´t have to drive taxis.
But the politicians will have to do much more to accommodate a 25-per-cent increase in immigration over five years.
Assuming they can get that piece right, they then have to address the more complicated issue of balancing the competing interests in immigration policy.
First among those is being hard-headed enough to ensure that the net effect of immigration is to strengthen the economy. That means looking for immigrants who are either skilled or wealthy enough to be immediately productive or young enough to make a net contribution over their lifetime in Canada.
At the same time, we can´t be hard- hearted in a world where Canada is already one of the wealthiest nations. Canadians have to be aware of our responsibility not to add to the problems of developing nations by, as a matter of design, creaming off their best and brightest.
That caveat does not mean, however, that we should not take advantage of skilled foreigners who want to emigrate and choose Canada.
HAVEN FOR REFUGEES
For example, many foreign students who come to study in Canada want to stay here. Our rules should encourage this practice, with changes such as Ottawa´s recent decision to allow them to work here for two years after graduation, rather than one, before seeking permanent resident status.
We also have to continue to act as a haven for legitimate refugees and maintain some capacity to allow for family reunification.
All this has to be done while ensuring that the security concerns of 9/11 are not forgotten.
? The Vancouver Sun 2005
[29-09-2005,15:57]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
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(in reply to: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r...)
Cic should really concern that since 200,000 immigrants found hard time to find a job, how can you make 300,000 easy to find a job related to their field?
well, we immigrants have to adjust our goal time and time too.
otherwise, be honesty, "top 8 reason" guy will keep coming out, there is reason here.
[29-09-2005,16:34]
[**.66.36.59]
departure bay |
(in reply to: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r...)
the best thing a new immigrant can do to stop the job finding problem is to start thinking outside Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. if 230,000 new job applicants arrive every year, there is far too much competition with the same level of skills. Other cities are screaming for workers.
Canada needs to change things to make it easier but new Canadians have to become more creative in their future thinking.
[29-09-2005,17:45]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r...)
that´s totally correct, at least for myself, I found job outside Toronto, monreal and Vancouver even before PR, base on my knowledge, our town needs a lot of trade job.
even just truck drivers.
[29-09-2005,18:45]
[**.66.36.59]
departure bay |
(in reply to: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r...)
I agree, in fact I read somewhere that Edmonton is desperate for skilled immigrants....
[29-09-2005,21:31]
[**.83.183.160]
Joe05 |
(in reply to: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r...)
I think its irrational to assume that immigrants will automatically choose to settle down in Saskatchewan or remote areas of Manitoba. There will always be that lingering hope of "I´m sure I´ll find a job in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver...some day soon." In my opinion the points system needs a dramatic change. Increase the points given to truck drivers and farmers or other skilled labour vital to the economic growth of this country. Increase the number of points given to people willing to settle down in parts of Canada other than the main cities. I know we have "Provincial Nomination" as one of our immigration options, however it is not beneficial to people outside Canada since you most often need an employer who is willing to nominate you. It´s not practical for people living outside the country to be able to find employment in Canada while living overseas.
As for Volpe´s grand scheme - provide us with a more accurate plan. You cant just say "we want to increase immigration by another 100,000." He needs to address - what kind of skills do these immigrants need to bring to the Canadian workforce? Ok, truck drivers are one, but what else? How are we going to deploy them to other parts of the country where they are needed the most? How do we intend to do this when we have this humongous backlog that is delaying the immigration of skilled PR applicants who are within the country waiting to dive into the Canadian workforce. What about Canadians themselves who are unemployed? Why not utilize them first before adding another 350,000 immigrants per yer?
100,000 more immigrants or not, I´m still waiting for my bloody IA.
[30-09-2005,00:25]
[**.156.36.158]
Candice |
(in reply to: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r...)
candice... I agree with you. our point system is not helping many with constructions skills etc that we so desperately need. There is no motivation for a new PR to live outside of our major centres. Not sure how they will do it... but certainly someone should be able to figure it out.
[30-09-2005,00:35]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r...)
you know what Canada needs? not with college degree and middle age, they need a lot of 20s young people like my age, haha!!!!!!!no matter what we gotta work for no reason.
doesn´t matter labour or pizza boy
[30-09-2005,04:00]
[**.66.36.59]
departure bay |
hello (in reply to: It´s doubtful that Ottawa can get it r...)
was sure that the line "we have met the enemy and he is us" is from Shakespeare, but I cannot find it anywhere! Can you help?
[26-06-2006,19:29]
[**.31.86.8]
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