Appeal to unite fellow immigrants
Jump to Page:
< Previous [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ]
Posted on: 05-10-05 09:18:43
Oct. 5, 2005. 01:00 AM
STAR COLUMNISTS
> Graham Fraser
> Richard Gwyn
> Stephen Handelman
> Chantal Hebert
> James Travers
> Ian Urquhart
> Thomas Walkom
Immigrants `heavy burden' on taxpayers
Canada should be pickier in choosing newcomers, Fraser Institute says
Only foreigners with job offers should be allowed to enter, report urges
BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA—Immigration Minister Joe Volpe is dismissing a report that says new immigrants are a burden on taxpayers and lower the standard of living in Canadian society.
Big cities like Toronto and Vancouver — which consistently rate high in quality of life rankings — owe their success to the influx of immigrants over the years, Volpe said.
"Canada is replete with successes on the immigration front," he said.
In a report released yesterday, the Fraser Institute, a right-wing think tank, urged a dramatic overhaul of the way Ottawa selects immigrants to better pick the cream of the crop who can give an economic boost to Canada.
With Canada poised to dramatically increase immigration rates, sudden increases in newcomers will hurt their chances of succeeding in their new country, says the report written by Herbert Grubel, a professor of economics at Simon Fraser University and a senior fellow at the institute.
The institute argues that only foreigners who had job offers in "specified occupations" should be allowed to enter the country for extended periods and then only on temporary work visas.
The work visas would be renewable and after four years could lead to permanent immigration status.
However, people who lost their jobs would be deported if they couldn't find another job within three months, says the 61-page report prepared by Grubel.
The recent "over-supply" of immigrants has produced the need "to select only immigrants who can be expected to make a positive economic contribution and who are not likely to impose burdens on Canadian taxpayers," Grubel writes.
The paper argues that the current selection system is badly flawed because a large number of immigrants bypass the criteria meant to allow only financially successful newcomers into Canada.
"Those bypassing the screens include large numbers of family members and refugees, many of whom have low earnings capacity," Grubel writes.
As a result, he says recent immigrants have imposed a "heavy burden on Canadian taxpayers" by not paying their fair share of income taxes while drawing on social services such as health care and education.
"The low taxes paid by a large number of immigrants and the cost of the social benefits they consume represent a fiscal burden on Canadian taxpayers and lowers their living standards," the study concludes.
"As a result, there exists a conflict between liberal immigration policies and the viability of the welfare state," Grubel says, adding that opening the doors to immigrants will make it difficult to eliminate poverty.
While Grubel will find himself at odds with immigration boosters, he does highlight the frustration of well-qualified immigrants unable to find work in their fields. And he emphasizes a critical point — the declining incomes of recent immigrants, compared to native-born Canadians.
Still, Volpe dismissed the Fraser Institute as a "Conservative think tank." "There doesn't seem to be an immigrant that they've seen that they wouldn't send back," Volpe said.
Link hai:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1128462612422&call_pageid=970599119419
-----------------------------------------------------------------
hinglish zindabad
Quote:
Orginally posted by transmogrifier
Immigrants `heavy burden' on taxpayers
Canada should be pickier in choosing newcomers, Fraser Institute says
Only foreigners with job offers should be allowed to enter, report urges
This is the problem.
The tories are saying what some of us at least like to hear and have some ideas already mentioned in this thread. But most of us maynot agree with their social agenda. Most in Ontairo/QC as of now definetly dont.
We know where Libs stand on it.
I went through the NDP site (NDP.ca) and could not find their position on immigration and related issues. But my guess is that they would agree with libs on the intake but maybe differ on what needs to be done once they are here.
Whats Parti Québécois take on immigration?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.
Quote:
Orginally posted by mercury6
Whats Parti Québécois take on immigration?
They'll give you a 500k job if you give them a country
.Actually, I dont have much info, its rarely talked about in the circles I move within. Most anglo/allophones cometo Quebec with a Job in hand.
Quebec has its own immigration system and people are mostly pulled in from the francophone community around the world(former french colonies). Quebecors are pretty open-minded about other cultures and ways of thinking(as long as you do it in french
...kidding). I would think they are to the left of the liberals on most issues.-----------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended Services- Servicedomino.com
http://www.servicedomino.com
These are all politically motivated reports. Whether it is the Liberals, Tories or NDP, as far as immigrants are concerned, they are all the same with a slight difference here and there. Everyone in power or opposition knows that the pathetic immigration situation is prevalent for a long period of time. Successive governments have come and gone but the immigrants still face the same difficulties like yesteryears. Like the judge in Edmonton said immigrant cases in Canada are political in nature and hence could not be decided by the judiciary here. It is true for every country's problems in the world which if become political in nature is never resolved.
So lets keep focus and work our way through.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Puru
Quote:
Orginally posted by mercury6
The tories are saying what some of us at least like to hear and have some ideas already mentioned in this thread.
When the Tories say ‘unproductive immigrants’, their first target will probably be parental immigration.
For the substantial number of South Asians that are actually positive contributors into the system in terms of taxes this is a disadvantage. An increasing amount of local budgets is being spent on healthcare (a study released today suggests that almost 55% of Ontario’s budgeted expenditure will be on healthcare by the end of the decade). If my parents are here, I can see value for my tax dollars, as my own use of medical facilities is negligible. If they aren’t allowed in, my tax dollars are probably going to be spent on a baby boomer replacing his knees, hips, elbows and maybe a***ole, to enhance his/her 'quality of life'. As selfish as it may seem, I see no value in that!
If you read what the Tories are talking about, they are suggesting that work permits be issued for a period of 4 years, and a person who stays employed for 4 years gets permanent residence (note: this isn’t citizenship but permanent residence). A work permit holder who is unemployed for more than 3 months would be deported. In a fast changing work environment, this would be akin to a sword of damocles hanging over the potential immigrant’s head. It would also open potential immigrants up to exploitation (ie cheap labour for a work permit sponsor for 4 years – if you complain, you’re out). Many quality immigrants actually avoid the US because of this uncertainty. Without the benefit of the present immigration points system, most of these people would rather bide their time in the US waiting for their green cards.
I am quite surprised that an Indian immigrant should be talking about permitting immigration only against work permits!
Quote:
Orginally posted by mercury6
But most of us maynot agree with their social agenda. Most in Ontairo/QC as of now definetly dont.
The governing Quebec Liberal Party in Quebec is actually Tory! The Tories are unlikely to get much support in Ontario.
Personally, I like the Tories when they talk about lower taxes and smaller government. Chances are that the present dispensation will spend more time pandering to their homophobia rather than any other issues, if elected.
Quote:
Orginally posted by mercury6
I went through the NDP site (NDP.ca) and could not find their position on immigration and related issues. But my guess is that they would agree with libs on the intake but maybe differ on what needs to be done once they are here.
This might sound harsh but these guys are a bunch of jokers. Do they have any agenda apart from doling out more money on welfare? Oh sorry, last I heard they were also concerned about the amount of foreign aid that Canada gives out - felt that Canada should be 'doing more'. Yeah sure, dole out your OWN friggin' money........
Quote:
Orginally posted by mercury6
Whats Parti Québécois take on immigration?
Do they have an agenda outside of Quebec?
Note the following from the article reproduced below which quotes Canadian immigration minister Joe Volpe:
"Canada will be bringing in more than 300,000 immigrants a year within five years, including more tradespeople such as pipefitters and truck drivers."
Then later in the article :
"In some cases, it's just things that Canadians have lost the custom of doing," he said. "The one that comes up all the time is truck drivers."
------------------------------------
Truck drivers, I hear make a lot of money. I guess I will have to start learning truck driving. Ha, ha !
Thanks & regards.
Rajan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada immigration minister wants major changes
27 September 2005
Canada's Immigration Minister is pushing for major changes to the country's immigration system, according to government sources. If the changes are accepted, Canada will be bringing in more than 300,000 immigrants a year within five years, including more tradespeople such as pipefitters and truck drivers.
The plan would eventually mean an increase of about 35 percent from current levels of more than 220,000 permanent residents a year. It also includes recruiting more people to work outside the largest cities and giving permanent status to more foreign nationals already here, such as university graduates who came on student visas.
Immigration Minister Joe Volpe confirmed that he is preparing a proposal for the cabinet to decide on in October that includes those elements and "many more people," although he declined to give details.
Other government sources indicated that Mr. Volpe has already made one presentation to cabinet on expanding the system, and is preparing a more specific proposal that includes multiyear targets for immigration that will within five years increase the numbers to at least 1 per cent of the population — more than 300,000.
Prime Minister Paul Martin called for more immigration in a speech on 27 Sept., and Mr. Volpe said the government is discussing the details to be included in his department's annual plan, which must be submitted by Nov. 1.
"[Mr. Martin] outlined an important vision statement that includes, as part, the work of my department," Mr. Volpe said in an interview.
Provincial representatives, businesses, unions and others want changes in immigration, he said: "Give us more, and give us more of it around the country and make it fit the needs."
Sources say Mr. Volpe intends to change the current practice of issuing a one-year target for the number of immigrants to multiyear targets to meet or exceed 1 per cent within five years.
Although it will not scrap the current immigration system, which emphasizes university degrees, French and English-language skills, and ties to Canada, the new proposal would make more openings for tradespeople, in part through an expanded local and provincial role in selecting immigrants.
He said that among other things, Canada's immigration system must fill a need for workers in local markets.
"In some cases, it's just things that Canadians have lost the custom of doing," he said. "The one that comes up all the time is truck drivers."
He said his department has focused on five themes:
Increasing the overall numbers.
Providing better service both in bringing in immigrants and issuing visas.
Matching immigrants with jobs needed to fill gaps in local markets. That also means allowing potential immigrants to get matching credentials in Canada before they apply, or before they are accepted.
Regionalizing so that areas outside major centres can recruit people they need. Mr. Volpe said that many communities envy the numbers that head to Toronto, because they see it as a "wealth-creation dynamic."
Keeping people who are already in Canada, for example by making it easier for people with student visas to stay after they graduate.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Let's make India a better place !
Quote:
Orginally posted by rajand
Note the following from the article reproduced below which quotes Canadian immigration minister Joe Volpe:
"Canada will be bringing in more than 300,000 immigrants a year within five years, including more tradespeople such as pipefitters and truck drivers."
Then later in the article :
"In some cases, it's just things that Canadians have lost the custom of doing," he said. "The one that comes up all the time is truck drivers."
The bitter truth seems to be finally coming out from their mouths in bits and parts. I am sure more will follow. So keep watching them!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Puru
Advertise Contact Us Privacy Policy and Terms of Usage FAQ Canadian Desi © 2001 Marg eSolutions Site designed, developed and maintained by Marg eSolutions Inc. |