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On Recognizing Foreign Credentials

March 21, 2007

News out today that the Conservative led minority government in Ottawa won't be establishing a federal agency to review and recognize the work and educational credentials of newly-arriving immigrants, after all. Notwithstanding their pre-election promise to help newcomers become accredited in Canada, the party now in power has instead decided to refer immigrants to provincial bodies for the assessment of their credentials. Talk about passing the buck.

To be fair, the Conservative party has done no worse on this particular issue than any other political party that has formed a government, going back as far as I can remember. Come election time, politicians trip over themselves in their haste to make promises... but you've heard all this before.

In truth, the problem all along here has been the provinces and the professional orders that regulate many skilled occupations. With regard to the latter, it would be naïve to think that professional bodies care about anything other than the well-being of their existing members. As for the provinces, they are much better at erecting barriers than at removing them. Take, for example, the case of Ms. Tia Quance, a registered nurse in Ontario, who wanted to transfer her qualifications to Quebec. According to her letter to the editor in today's Montreal Gazette, she faced nothing but "bureaucratic traps and obstacles" in her attempt to register with the Quebec Order of Nurses. She faces a two-year application process - and she is Canadian.

The average Canadian probably doesn't give much thought to the difficulty faced by foreign-trained professionals in their efforts to have their credentials recognized in Canada. But we should. As Canadians, we all pay more for skilled and professional services and we all wait longer for medical and social services than we ought to. Once we're fed up enough, we'll insist that politicians deliver on their promises.

 

 

2 Comments:

 

 

At March 21, 2007, Anonymous said...

dear david,
after reading the experience that you have with your grandfather sadness, i was so touched due to his case was almost the same as how we felt. one of our family member till now cant come to canada to unite with the whole family. our request were in deaf ears too.
we hope you can undertand us through the experience of your granpa, you can help us out.thank you so much.
i did email you regrading this matter.

 
At April 15, 2007, Alonso said...

As you may have notice, the immigration debate has elevated couple of notches... In the last two paragraphs page 52 of my manuscript "ONE KING, ONE RACE, ONE WORLD" I commence to write about this hot topic, immigration... Immigration not only affects the western hemisphere, but all other regions of our only blue planet...


My approach to the immigration issue is very simple, we as human beings have the right to live anywhere on this planet, and it's our right to do so… To help other regions in dire economic needs will only bring balance, long term prosperity, wealth, and security... What does this mean to the Industrialized Nations? Simple, once NATIONS around the world have a thriving economy, less people will migrate to your Nation… Then you will beg them to enter, instead of kicking us out.


By not allowing human beings enter a region, it has only created an underground economy, ignorance, wasted negative time and energy on how we take your jobs or business opportunities. How about putting people's lives at risk because they are afraid to report crime and or partake in civic duties, since they are considered illegal.


True Nations have the right to protect there borders from individuals, groups or other Nations, just as the head of the family has the right to defend his/her place of residence from intruders…


Remember bad apples are found in every region of the world and those need to be dealt swiftly, but most immigrants want to have a normal life, unfortunately their current regions cannot meet such goals… If you like to put blame, put blame where it belongs! Who do we blame? For starters Governments around the world that only steal from their people and watch them starve, and or die with unfulfilled goals/dreams. How about, the wealthy elite families around the world who only think of themselves and not of their NEIGHBORS, by paying low wages, terrible awful work condition…


To all Citizens who belong to the privileged wealthy Nations (Industrialized Regions)… Put yourself in the shoes of these poor 3rd world citizens! What would you do? You have the answer and we know what it is, finding a better place to live for you and your families…


To all citizens of this great planet of ours: the media, religion, commerce, and world governments thrive on disinformation and for you TO stay ignorant, because it will accomplish their goals, to separate the human race…


Be part of the Intellectual Revolution!

"Think For Yourself"


Thanks,

myspace.com/jahgmsgg

 

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What's Wrong with This Picture?

March 08, 2007

Consider these facts:

- For the fourth consecutive year, the Canadian economy is strong and vibrant.

- In many regions of Canada there are more jobs that pay well than there are people to work at them.


They say that "a rising tide carries all the ships" but that doesn't seem to be the case here. The reality is that Canada has well-paying jobs that go begging and eager economic immigrants, whose skills are being underutilized. Statistics show that it's taking longer for new economic immigrants to share in Canada's prosperity than it did for economic immigrants, who came to Canada 30 or 40 years ago.

Why should that be?

Conventional Canadian wisdom has it that the problem lies in a flawed immigration policy, which is a polite way of saying that the people to whom we have recently issued visas just aren't up to snuff. Talk about blaming the victim. The truth is that recent Canadian economic immigrants have the same or better qualifications than their earlier counterparts - so there's nothing inherently wrong with the immigration selection system.

Thirty years ago, economic immigrants were able to match the salaries of Canadian born workers faster than recent economic immigrants have been able to. What's changed?

In my opinion, what's changed is that recent economic immigrants are coming from different parts of the world than they did 30 years ago - areas where the population is not as fair-skinned. Immigrants who arrived here 40 years ago had a stronger resemblance to the people who did the hiring and consequently, had less trouble landing rewarding jobs. The issue here is a disconnect between the predominantly white Canadian employers and the non-white job-seekers.

Comparing the economic performance of immigrants to the performance of the Canadian population as a whole doesn't tell the full story. Thirty years ago, statisticians were comparing predominantly white immigrants to mostly white Canadian-borns. More recently, they are comparing predominantly non-white immigrants to mostly white Canadian-borns.

In order to properly assess the economic success of new Canadian immigrants, we should measure the economic performance of recent immigrants to that of non-white Canadian-borns. One such study, done a few years ago (Canadian Council on Social Development - Urban Poverty in Canada: A Statistical Profile, April 2000), demonstrated that the economic performance of all non-whites (whether born in Canada or abroad) are similar, and lower than the economic performance of white Canadian-borns.

So, for what its worth, I'm of the view that it's not Canada's immigration policy that requires an overhaul so much as the attitudes of white Canadians towards non-whites.

I do not mean this as a diatribe against the majority of Canadians. Discrimination is a relative concept and no place on earth is completely free of prejudice. Compared to most people, I really do believe that Canadians are open and accommodating. The reality is that most immigrants are successful in Canada - it just takes longer than it ought to. Canadians can do better.

 

 

2 Comments:

 

 

At March 17, 2007, My Felt tip said...

Indeed there is a great truth in the above posting of David. That is of "fair-skin-ness" in prejudicial mind of the population(may be amongst the employers, if not in general) of one of the great nations in the world.

It is true that we born with varied qualities in the varied lands by the choice of nature, yet it is our choice to exclude the less-fit to make sure we resonate with nature by allowing the 'survival of the fittest'.

We have complexions(color or creed) that identify our region of origin(sort of) that separates us from ourselves in order to keep each identity as unique as each of us!

Again it is the merit that brings us together to honor and respect one who is from a far away distant land or that of the near - thus discriminating 'honorably' - allowing us to flourish together and nourish each other by exchanging whatever we can offer.

We do however love to reap the fruit of success in both ways - by the grace of legal systems that is laid out in each land - for the givers and the takers.

It is therefore for the benefit of the both that we share and enrich each other. And again, it is important that we be more patient and tolerant towards all involved in the game of life. That's where the 'immigration policy' possibly comes into play.

It is an irony that it is the human nature to reach for a better life and try to keep it as discreet as possible, even though sharing it helps other survive better in life. We always think of loosing an opportunity but never think of natures gift of life that is available in the other part of the land. That's why we should seek and avail decently the offerings that are extended by one people(group of) to the other.

That's how it is only my idea that we may get a better picture of systems laid out by the man - for the man.

 
At June 24, 2007, Anonymous said...

Thank you for hitting the nail right on the head! I am an African international student and even with a work permit and an B+ gpa after 2 years studying business at a prestigious Ontario university I am finding it quite difficult to find a summer job in a related field. I have been through countless interviews and so far not a call back. Did i forget to mention all this job hunting has been in Calgary? I've settled for a night job which pays 6 dollars an hour less than my peers are getting on average from their jobs with similar qualifications.

 

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