Jason Kenney to Saultites: Immigration will be streamlined
Friday, February 15, 2013 by: Darren Taylor
Canada’s immigration policy has to be streamlined, and will be.
That was the message Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney gave to an audience of local political leaders, business people, members of the postsecondary education, public service and cultural sectors, as well as international students and new Canadians in Sault Ste. Marie Friday.
Kenney’s speech was part of the Sault Ste. Marie Local Immigration Partnership 2013 Immigration Forum, held at Comfort Suites on Great Northern Road.
The Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) was formed in 2009 and is a group consisting of over 50 member organizations committed to welcoming and establishing immigrants in the community.
Kenney told the audience Canada now has the highest immigration rate in the developed world (capped at 260,000 immigrants a year), stating that the immigration system in Canada got “broken” over the years due to an excessively high number of immigrants, many of them professionals, waiting up to seven or eight years to get into the country, only to find themselves unemployed or under-employed, working in what he called low-paying “survival jobs.”
“It’s just not right. This happened to too many people for too long. We had to stop the madness,” Kenney said.
The government has now capped immigration at 260,000 immigrants annually, with a focus on reducing wait times to get into Canada down to one year, and, as Kenney said, “connecting immigrants directly to jobs, and jobs at their skill level when they arrive.”
Kenney said Ottawa is now focusing on filling a shortage in professionally-trained people, which he said “goes right across the spectrum…in fisheries, mining, computer animation, even lawyers.”
Sault College Vice President Academic Leo Tiberi, another speaker at Friday’s LIP event, said Sault College and Algoma University are aiming to have, between the two institutions combined, about 1,000 international students on their campuses in the next few years.
Kenney praised new ways in which more international students are allowed to stay in Canada after graduation with the help of internships and mentoring programs.
Speaking to SooToday.com, Kenney said “the whole point of our new system that will be implemented in 2014 is to do an assessment of the education of immigrants before we select them, to make sure that their training is at the Canadian standard. There’s frankly no point in inviting immigrant doctors who aren’t going to get their license to practice in Canada.”
“That’s a dramatic change,” Kenney told us.
“It’s a pre-evaluation of their credentials and their education to make sure it is at, or close to, the Canadian standard, and as much as possible to get them jobs lined up before they get to Canada, so they can come to work directly as physicians and not find themselves doing survival jobs.”
Kenney told us Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Ontario in general has a need for skilled immigrants.
“The plants in this region, many of them with future developments in mind, are going to be facing a shortage of skilled labour. A lot of journeymen in construction, boilermakers, pipe fitters and welders in Canada are now in their 50s and getting set to retire. We’re going to have a huge crunch, because not many Canadians have been going into skilled trades. That’s why we’ve created a new skilled trades program to bring in people like that as immigrants. We haven’t had something like this since the 1970s.”
There are bound to be many conversations in coffee shops across the city and across the country about the government’s drive to bring in thousands of skilled immigrants, when unemployment is still clearly a problem, with hard-working people in the retail sector, for example, losing their jobs as stores close or lay off employees.
“I totally understand,” Kenney told us.
“Our number one priority as a government is job creation. There are too many unemployed Canadians, but at the same time there are also a lot of unfilled skilled labour jobs. I know it’s a confusing paradox, but it’s true. As far as our population is concerned, we’re not going up in terms of our birth rate. We need, frankly, younger immigrants who are going to be paying taxes and filling the labour shortage to pay for our healthcare and pensions.”
“It’s about a balance. I’m against the idea of massive increases in immigration. The NDP wants me to double immigration levels. I think that would be irresponsible in an economy with seven percent unemployment. I understand that concern about people losing their jobs, which is why I’m holding the line on future increases in immigration. What we want is more bang for the buck for the immigration program we currently have.”
Kenney was scheduled, after today’s Forum, to visit Tenaris Algoma Tubes and be the keynote speaker at a Conservative Party gathering at Algoma’s Water Tower Inn Friday evening.
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mikethedike 2/15/2013 9:07:12 PM ReportI look around this city; this Country, and I see the result of immigration programs like the one in the article. Family gas stations, medical offices not speaking English, and Canadian Unemployment Rates skyrocketting.
"The plants in this region, many of them with future developments in mind, are going to be facing a shortage of skilled labour. A lot of journeymen in construction, boilermakers, pipe fitters and welders in Canada are now in their 50s and getting set to retire. We’re going to have a huge crunch, because not many Canadians have been going into skilled trades. That’s why we’ve created a new skilled trades program to bring in people like that as immigrants. We haven’t had something like this since the 1970s."
Bulls**t
There are many skilled workers, certified individuals, and many other hopefuls withering at home or on the street because companies are laying off employees, cutting jobs, and hiring people from abroad.
Take care of the immediate problem first. Take care of your own. If all Governments did this, we wouldn't have this problem.
In a well structured governement, it is shameful to have people who are in poverty; in poorly structured government, it is shameful to have people living in riches.
thesharr 2/15/2013 10:07:02 PM ReportBe very careful,with foriegn countries buying up Canada's resources,now will be able to bring their own people to run these ventures while we sit at home unemployed.This Immigration streamlining is playing rite into thier hands,what's the government thinking or not thinking.
mallet 2/15/2013 10:15:10 PM ReportMike....
I agree with everything you say except the last paragraph, governments do NOT hire workers, producing companies do. The fact that we prefer to buy cheaper goods is what kills the higher paying jobs at home, but that is a different subject. What we need are the Doctors and Engineers who want to come here but cannot get into the occupations they had in their own countries here because of the "old boys clubs" and the "you have to meet our standards" attitudes of the professional bodies. This city has lost doctors because the local "academy" does not like them for whatever reason, because a person is not fluent in both official languages is another reason they cannot practice at their given vocation. What we really do not need are loads of "political refugees" who have no skills at all except knowing two words of english "social assistance".
bigG47 2/16/2013 12:26:18 AM ReportIf you let them in; check them out first!! This country is already full of 3rd world criminals, who immigrated here under false pretences, and who know nothing but crime, drugs, violence etc. If it is taking years to get into this country, shouldn't these criminals be detected and disqualified from entry? If they can't prove their needs/qualifications, don't let them in!!
The_claw 2/16/2013 1:21:29 AM Report Please read and hopefully follow thro'
Dear Ms. Consul:
I am pleased to respond to your electronic message, which was forwarded to me by the Office of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, regarding private member's Bill C-428.
As you know, Bill C-428 proposes to amend the Old Age Security Act to reduce the residence requirement for entitlement to a monthly pension from ten years to three years. This private member's bill was introduced in the House of Commons by M..P. Ruby Dhalla, a Liberal Opposition Member.
As the Minister responsible, I have been very clear that when this Bill comes forward we will strongly oppose it.
The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is paid to seniors in recognition of the contribution that they have made to Canadian society, the economy, and their community. The OAS program is non-contributory and is based solely on age and residence in Canada after the age of 18. The ten-year residence rule is consistent with many other countries that have residence or contribution requirements associated with their national pensions to ensure that benefits are given in proportion to years of residence or affiliation with their pension programs. With this in mind, it is felt that the current ten-year residence requirement represents a balance between a reasonable contribution to Canadian society and the right to receive a lifelong pension.
It is estimated that reducing the ten-year eligibility requirement to three years would cost over $700 million annually in additional OAS and Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits. Given that the OAS program is funded entirely from general tax revenues, this would be costly and place an additional burden on the Canadian taxpayer..
Yours sincerely,
The Hon. Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Bill #C-428 [THANKS TO RUBY DHALLA AND BOB RAE]
Only if you disagree with this Bill ... pass this message along.
This bill should not have seen the light of day ... and yet it will receive second reading at the next sitting of parliament.
Please read the bill and make your own decision. If you disagree with the bill send this to everyone over the age of 50 in your address book ... or those who may be turning 50 a few years.
Hopefully, by letting your member of parliament know your feelings on the bill, it will be defeated..
If you agree with the bill you don't need to do anything..
URGENT ATTENTION About Our OAS pensions Bill C-428 An Act to Amend the Old Age Security Act (residency requirements)
Bill C-428 will allow recent immigrants to apply for OAS in 3 years instead of the existing 10.
This bill had first reading in the house on June 18, 2009. It was seconded by Bob Rae! MP Ms. Ruby Dhalla who introduced the bill represents the riding of Brampton whose population is mainly East Indian. Right now you have to have lived in Canada for 10 years in order to qualify for Old Age Security. She wants the time reduced to 3 years. Thousands could come to Canada when they are 62 years old, never having worked or contributed to this country's tax system, etc. and qualify for full Old Age Security benefits. 10 years minimum is reasonable - 3 is not!
Look this up, Google C-428 and you will see this bill has only one purpose, and that is to 'featherbed' a select group of people for votes.
I certainly hope this bill does not get passed. It is about time we called our elected MP's to ask them to NOT support this bill. Their response may be one factor in helping us determine who gets elected in the next election.
What Can You Do?
1. Spread the message to family, friends and e-mail buds.
2. Write letters, send e-mails to all your list and call Members of Parliament
It is time Canada looked after it's vets and long-term citizens before tossing OUR hard-earned money around on people who have no right to this money, never having paid taxes or contributed to our economy. If a family wishes to bring elderly relatives here and are willing to waive their own right to collect these funds in order that the elderly relatives can receive them ... fine. Otherwise, do not expect the Canadian taxpayers to do it.
There are too many people abusing the generosity of the Canadian people.. We need to stop this NOW. We, our children and our grand children currently owe the global investment community over $500 billion dollars ... the sum of our accumulated National Debt that is never publicized.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Now READ THIS..
Canada Pensions...
Only in Canada
* It is interesting to know that the federal Government of Canada allows :
A monthly pension of : $1,890.00 to a simple refugee
plus : 580.00 in social aid
==========
A grand total of : $2,470.00 monthly
X 12 months
==========
$28,920.00 annual income
· By comparison, the Old Age Pension of a senior citizen who has contributed to the development of Our Beautiful Big Country during 40 or 50 years, CANNOT receive more than :
Amount/month $1,012.00 in Old Age Pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement
X 12 months
============
$12,144.00 annual income
A difference of : $16,776.00 per year
* Perhaps our senior citizens should ask for the Status of Refugees instead of applying for Old Age Pension.
* Let us send this message to as many Canadians as possible, and maybe the allowance of refugee could then be reduced to $1,012.00, and that of our Canadian pensioners raised to $2,470.00 per month. (who actually deserve it) the money that they have been paying in income taxes for 40 or 50 years,
AN INCREDIBLE NONSENSE !!!
OUR CANADIAN SENIORS CITIZENS, DESERVE BETTER
Please circulate this text to see the reaction of your contacts !
joshua_r_b 2/16/2013 9:25:00 AM ReportI was born in canada. I'm on unemployment. Someone who has lived here for only a couple years s working in y field. Let more immigrants in so the rest of us real Canadians can sit t home and drain he system.
sounds a little nuts, doesn't it?
I say close the gates until we can provide work for the rest of us.
these are reasons we should all stand up to the government. Or should I say democratic dictatorship.
Democracy in our country is more of an illusion than a fact.
Mr Cloudy 2/16/2013 9:41:54 AM Reportwow, I wonder what the discussion was a few hundred when France decided to take all of the country's undesirables (thieves, murders,etc) to bring to this land to settle with the natives...Canada are accused of harbouring terrorists frequently ,,, so the ministry of Canada have been always a little loosy goosy about who we have in our country, the worst is when we let business here in Canada who have NO class what so ever...or integrity to speak of...thugs and real crooks...check out ice lands SOLUTION...this is good old colonialism at work and its never going to change until we decolonize, we have all settled the world - now what??? keep taking and no return??? that's where we have always been...here's how it went down in Iceland, they did it! peacefully...idle no more,,, take back OUR LAND, Take back our future...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIg1MBMItqg
Mr Cloudy 2/16/2013 10:00:03 AM Reporthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7HMt5MgsDg
here's where our jobs are,,,
theprotector 2/16/2013 3:51:15 PM Reportwhat a load of crap we dont even have an immgration office here in this city anymore it got shut down by the harper gov last year!
learningaswego 2/16/2013 4:28:51 PM ReportOne area that needs attention, is for government jobs - at any level - municipal, provincial or federal, no immigrant with less than 10 years of residency in the province, should be able to get a government job. There are hundreds of thousands of people, born and raised here (and their families contributed to the tax base) who should NOT be excluded from these jobs, by some goofy "diversity" program of some goofy government bureaucrats.
HeiseFactor 2/16/2013 11:57:11 PM ReportWhite is minority
Ricatoni 2/17/2013 10:08:50 PM ReportThis is the conservative way remember this when we have an election. you people voted in these clowns now you have to deal with the way they see things......LMAO!!!!!! if you live in Canada and your white and male forget about a life or career.......this is the conservative way.......They are building big jails to house those that are not a minority....you may as well take up a life of crime now because that is all the goverment of the day has left to offer you.....they would just as soon pay thousands of dollars to house you in an institution then allow you to have a good job and career........besides they are attacking unions and changing the rules so that employers only have to pay minimum wages with no benefits.this is the conservative way......
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