In order for Canada to sustain economic growth, newcomers are essential given Canada's negative birth rate. One must also bear in mind that Canada consists mainly of immigrants - many of whom have been in Canada for many generations. Following are some myths and facts about immigration which may help to clear up some preconceived generalisations about immigrants:

There is no evidence that immigration leads to increased unemployment. Increased automation in the work place is actually the main culprit. A larger work force results in more goods and services being provided and consumed. Additions to the work force should in actual fact result in economic growth. Many newcomers are highly skilled and educated, and immigrants are twice as likely to have university degrees than their Canadian counterparts. However, newcomers earn less in many cases, have higher rates of unemployment, and their qualifications and experience are often not recognised or are under-utilised.

People immigrate to improve their quality of life, not just to survive. They want to improve their economic prospects or enjoy the political and religious freedoms that Canada offers.

The needs and concerns of newcomers need to be addressed, and economic, cultural, social and employment opportunities need to be created for them. This will ultimately benefit society as a whole. It will also ensure that, should conflict and racial tensions arise, there will be methods in place to deal with problems in a timely and effective manner. To this end, race relation's policies and programs need to be put in place. Therefore, 'Managing Diversity' is essential.

Myth: Immigrants are a burden on the economy, and a net tax loss for the government.

Fact: Report after report shows that immigrants continue to contribute positively to economic growth. A parliamentary committee studying the issue concluded: "the evidence presented to the Committee confirms that Canada's immigration program continues to exert a positive influence on our economy". Immigration actually increases government revenue, and creates a net tax benefit. Immigrants and the Canadian-born have about the same rates of employment. Immigrants are more likely to be self-employed than Canadian-born.

Myth: Recent immigrants are not integrating and threaten Canadian values. Their level of education is low, and many cannot speak English or French.

Fact: The vast majority of immigrants either speak English or French before arriving or learn one or both languages soon after arrival. Immigrants are on average better educated than the Canadian-born and many of the children leading the class in Canadian schools are immigrant and refugee children. Over 80% of Immigrants become Canadian citizens. " Research has shown that immigrants participate in Canadian politics as much as the Canadian-born." Fears about immigrant integration are not new. Generation after generation, people have worried about whether the most recent immigrants will integrate as well as previous immigrants. Immigrants contribute to Canadian values of diversity and openness.

MYTH: Increased immigration leads to an increase in crime.

Fact: There is no established connection between immigration and crime. Immigrants are actually less likely to commit major crimes than the Canadian-born, and are under-represented in the prison population. According to the most recent available figures, 20.5% of the Canadian population older than 15 had been born outside the country, while only 11.9% of the total prison population were foreign born. Immigrants are just people like anyone else -- a few end up in jail, most are law-abiding.

MYTH: Canada receives more than its share of refugees.

Fact: Many other Western countries receive more refugee claimants than Canada, both in absolute numbers and per capita. Year after year, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States have each received more refugee claims than Canada. Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland are 3 countries with more refugee claims per capita than Canada in 1998.

The majority of the world's refugees come from-and remain in-countries of the South. The following countries have each been hosting over a quarter of a million uprooted people: Congo/Zaire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Sudan, Tanzania, Azerbaijan, Germany, Russian Federation, Yugoslavia, United States, China, Gaza Strip, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, India, Pakistan. The equivalent figure for Canada was 48,800."

The number of refugees Canada accepts each year is less than a tenth of 1% of our population.

MYTH: Almost everyone who makes a refugee claim in Canada is accepted and those who are refused have innumerable appeals.

Fact: Less than half of refugee claimants are granted refugee status. In 1998 44% of refugee claims were accepted. "The average acceptance rate over the last 5 years (1994-1998) was 48%." Despite the fact that refugee determination deals with matters of life and liberty, there is in fact no appeal on the merits for refused claimants. Review by the Federal Court is limited in scope and few claimants are even given permission to be heard by the court. There is a risk review, but it is very narrow and rejects over 95% of applicants.

MYTH: Refugee claimants can prolong their stay in Canada indefinitely because of government red tape.

Fact: There is very little a refused refugee claimant can do to delay removal. Even an application for humanitarian consideration does not postpone removal.

Over 5,000 refused refugee claimants were removed from Canada in 1998. Many other claimants left voluntarily.

MYTH: Refugees who come to Canada using false documents are bogus refugees.

Fact: For many refugees fleeing persecution or death, a false travel document is the only means of escape. Often governments refuse to issue passports to known political dissidents-or imprison them if they apply. The fact that a claimant uses a false travel document tells us nothing about whether the person is a refugee or not.

Because refugees often cannot obtain all the necessary papers, international law prohibits governments from penalizing refugees who use false documents.

Most governments, including the Canadian, require travellers to have a visa, creating an enormous obstacle for refugees trying to escape persecution. The more governments put up measures to stop people travelling to their territory, the more refugees are forced to use false documents and turn to smugglers to help them escape.

MYTH: Refugee claimants in Canada are less deserving than refugees abroad and Canada should therefore close its borders and only select refugees overseas.

Fact: All refugees are people who have been forced to flee their homes by human rights abuses and all deserve the chance to start a new life. To say that some are less deserving than others is to say that some human beings are of less value than others.

Canada has specific obligations towards any refugees on Canadian territory. Sending refugees back to persecution would violate international human rights standards.

Canada could resettle more refugees from abroad, while still respecting the rights of refugees who make a claim here.