On Immigration

Canada welcomed the highest number of new immigrants in more than a century last year, opening its doors to 341,180 people from 175 different countries.

That annual total, which exceeded Ottawa’s target of 330,000, was topped only twice before — in 1913, when 401,000 new immigrants arrived in the country, and 1912, when 376,000 settled here. The vast majority back then came from Europe as a result of this country’s campaign for newcomers to settle in Western Canada. (Source: Canada welcomed the most new immigrants in a century last year | The Star)

Immigration has traditionally been a matter of consensus within Canada with everyone agreeing the country needs immigrants and has a responsibility to refugees. Political differences have been minor and over implementation rather than broad policy.

Change has come with strategists in the current Conservative Party thinking that the road to power is emulating Trump and cultivating a hard core right wing base. Unfortunately for the Conservatives this path will never lead the party back to the glory days of the former Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.

Canada's immigration policy has never been aimed at benefiting immigrants but at what Canada needs. The major immigration program, the skilled worker program, uses a point system to attract immigrants with the skills and qualities Canada needs to advance it's economy and build it's society.

Another program, the family reunification program, is not aimed at benefiting new immigrants but at people already living in Canada who want to be reunited with family members, often aging parents.

Perhaps the most controversial program, has been the entrepreneurship program, aimed at people who want to invest in Canada and potentially create jobs here. It has been criticized as a program that allows people to buy their way into Canada, offending some people's concept of fairness.

I do have concerns about one aspect of Canada's immigration policy, the temporary foreign workers program. This is not really an immigration program as it provides no path to permanent residency. If we need to bring people here to do jobs that there are not Canadians available, or willing to do, we should admit them as regular immigrants with a path to permanent residency and citizenship.

Obviously there are some circumstances where the employment truly is temporary such as performing artists on a Canadian tour or workers for foreign corporations on temporary assignments or contracts.

Refugees are a different situation where the policy is aimed at benefiting refugees while fulfilling our international obligations.

The right wing likes to use foreign horror stories, mostly exaggerated or simply made up, to criticize our immigration policy.

The fact is Canada is not Europe, or the United States, where “hordes” of refugees are streaming across the border fleeing war, persecution and turmoil. Refugees admitted to Canada come from foreign refugee camps where they are extensively vetted, including undergoing security checks, before being admitted to Canada.

And while the main purpose of the refugee program is not aimed at benefiting Canada, refugees have a long history of making extensive and important contributions to Canadian society.

There is a small group of refugees who do seek admission from within Canada – asylum seekers. In the past these have most famously been “defectors” from Communist countries, often athletes or performers, who defected while competing or performing in Canada.

More recently these have been refugees from the United States who are fearful of how they will be treated in America under the Trump regime. However these refugees are not sneaking across the border and fleeing into hiding in Canada as “illegal” immigrants but rather are presenting themselves to Canadian officials as soon as they enter Canada. They are seeking asylum in Canada rather than the United States because they believe they will be treated more fairly and humanely in Canada than the United States. They are only allowed to stay in Canada if they meet the strict requirements for asylum seekers.

So no matter how much fear mongering the right wing wishes to spout our immigration and refugee policy is firmly following a proud Canadian tradition.

For a more detailed look at Canada's immigration and refugee policies and programs see:

Immigrate to Canada - Canada.ca