Immigration frustrations
Rather than imperil Ontario’s economy, the fall in immigration rates will benefit most residents (Immigrant Drop Imperils Ontario Economy – Feb. 7).
Some sectors of the economy, such as the real estate industry, not surprisingly support large-scale immigration since it means more customers. The big losers are Ontario taxpayers and workers: Research suggests recent immigrants annually receive $20-billion more in benefits than they pay in taxes. It is hard to fathom who benefits from bringing in thousands more people looking for work when many Canadians, as well as newcomers already here, are seeking employment.
What Canada needs is a fundamental review of our immigration policy that is based on the best use of our existing labour force through effective training programs and concentration on education, closely linked to economic requirements. Immigration should be used only to complement our existing human resources. Research indicates the immigration intake required to achieve this would be relatively small.
Martin Collacott, Centre for Immigration Policy Reform, Vancouver
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Immigrants have to jump through several hoops (Cut The Overlap In Immigration System, Report Warns – Feb. 7). The most challenging is being approved by Immigration Canada. For instance, the process can take up to 80 months for skilled immigrants from South Africa.
The application process is costly. One requirement is proving that you have enough funds to support your family for at least a year. Arriving, then finding out the skills that qualified you for immigration aren’t accepted here, is a big blow: Governing professional bodies jealously protect their members. It’s extremely frustrating when you graduated from exemplary universities in Europe, the U.S., yes, even South Africa, only to learn you must requalify here.
It’s no wonder many hard-working immigrants leave in disgust after years of trying to secure positions for which they are qualified. In the process, they not only missed out on a bright future that was promised to them, but suffered great financial losses.
C.F. Kotzé, Nanaimo, B.C.
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Morally reprehensible
We need to turn around a funding system that allows the education of First Nation students to be less valuable than the education of other students in Canada and that subjects teachers in First Nation communities to lower salaries, fewer supports and less security than teachers in the provincial education system (Reserve School Can’t Pay Teachers – Feb. 4). Every parent knows the key to student success is largely determined by the relationship they have with their teacher. Marginalized, at-risk students who have been ill-served for so long deserve the most dedicated, creative and qualified teachers.
The federal government must recognize that to neglect investment in First Nation education is not only morally reprehensible but flies in the face of what makes economic sense for Canada’s future.
Catherine Fife, president, Ontario Public School Boards’ Association
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Special picture
The photograph of Bryden Hutt and Governor-General David Johnston (front page, Feb. 7) gives us much to think about. We see a kind man, at the pinnacle of regard professionally, the representative of our Sovereign, on his knee to be face to face with a boy who has endured much and still made time to consider the needs and hopes of others. What a pair of Canadians!
James J. Boulton, Edmonton
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Have a good one
Last summer I gave our then eight-year-old a children’s version of Oliver Twist. He put it on the coffee table but the next day, having nothing better to do, he started to read. Three hours and 184 pages later, he put it down and said, “That was a really good story, mom.”
