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:
