Immigration News: October, 2005 - Volume 12

Canada: Polls, Borders

According to an August 2005 opinion poll, two-thirds of Canadians want immigrants to integrate rather than maintain their ethnic identity and culture, suggesting that most would support a shift from a governmental policy of multiculturalism to one aimed at assimilation. The poll found that most Canadians are satisfied with Canadian immigration policy, but also found underlying fears that Canada is accepting too many immigrants and that immigrants from some countries contribute less than immigrants from other countries.

Among those polled, 46 percent said the number of immigrants was "about right." Among those who wanted change, three times as many respondents said there were "too many" rather than "too few," 32 compared to 10 percent across Canada, and 38 compared to seven percent in Ontario. Over 70 percent of those polled said that Canada should accept immigrants from all countries, while a quarter preferred country-of-origin preferences. Those polled were most favorably disposed toward Europeans and Asians, with majorities saying that they make positive contributions to Canada; West Indians were viewed least favorably.

(www.thestrategiccounsel.com/our_news/polls.asp)

Micha‰lle Jean, a Haitian immigrant and television journalist from Quebec, was appointed to be the next governor general, the representative of the queen and officially head of state.

Borders. The Coalition for Secure and Trade-Efficient Borders criticized bureaucracy at the Canada-US border in a July 2005 report, asserting that reporting requirements and border delays add about $800 to the price of a North American-made car. Since 2001, the coalition said that processing times for US-bound truck shipments increased from 45 seconds to two minutes and 15 seconds. About 200 million people cross the Canada-US border each year, and two-way trade is about $2 billion a day.

The Canada-US safe-country agreement, which requires foreigners seeking asylum to apply in the first country they reach, is reducing the number of foreigners applying at Canadian ports of entry with the US. The agreement is credited with reducing the number of asylum applications from an average 30,000 a year to an expected 17,300 in 2005.

The Canadian government has deported a member of the Falun Gong for the first time since China banned the group in 1999. The 54-year old woman's refugee claim was rejected because she was in Canada too long before applying for refugee status. Falun Gong is banned by China as a dangerous cult.

Labor. Employers in booming Alberta complained in summer 2005 of shortages of skilled workers. Canada has had a variety of programs to admit foreign guest workers, including the Software Pilot Project that gives "blanket validation" or "confirmation" to employers seeking IT workers who met the qualifications established for entry under the program. This program continues as the IT Workers Program.

CREWS - the Construction Recruitment External Workers Services Program-- recognizes a shortage of workers specifically in the construction trades in the greater Toronto area and expedites the admission of foreign construction workers. There are also provincial guest worker programs that admit nurses in B.C., sewing machine operators in Manitoba, and welders in Ontario.

Bill Curry and Marina Jimez, "Canadian attitudes harden on immigration," Globe and Mail, August 12, 2005. Campbell Clark, "Canadians want strict security, poll finds," The Globe and Mail, August 11, 2005. Jeff Sallot, "Ottawa deports Falun Gong member," Globe and Mail, August 10, 2005.