Citizenship handed out too soon, immigrantion not managed well enough

[gsyh]

1. Citizenship: I really think that citizenship had been handed out and kept too easily. Instead of 3 years, it really should require 6-10 years, with 4 years set as an exception for immigrants under the age of 18 who have been raised in our schools. If people were to actually live aboard, the naturalized or the native-born, I think they should

Comments

[allhatnocattle]

I have an uncle in Australia who used to visit Canada once every 4yr.s (or sometimes more often) to renew/maintain his Canadian citizenship. I know he hasn't been back here for at least 8yr.s now. Of my four cousins, all born in Melbourne but with dual Aussie/Canuck citizenry, only one has ever even visited here. Granted, my Uncle used to work at the Canadian consulate back when Canada had a consulate in Melbourne, so that may add something of an explanation. But he's lived in Oz for about 40yr.s now.

It was strange to read in the news about Canadian citizens in Lebanon (that PM Harper was rescuing) who havn't been here for years. While I know there are many who would like to travel/work overseas for years at a stretch without loosing their citizenship. But it seems to me that if one can go indefinetely without at least a visit to renew their citizenship, well, it just seems to cheapen what being a citizen means.

As far as having some education in our laws and proficiency in our languages, personally I'm not sure. If a Canadian can get by speaking only English, or French, then if they speak strictly in Cilubà, then who am I to judge? It is a barrier to 9-1-1 and other emergancy services, so that can be a problem, but it's not the end of the world.

As for knowing our laws, many who were born here don't know all of our laws. I never took that in school. I think knowing about them in general can't be a bad thing, but it could end up being another black hole for our taxes to fall into.

Right now, here in Calgary, there are plumbers flying to Italy, Czech, Bulgaria, etc. looking for skilled workers they simply can't find here. There's unemployment in NFLD still, but if they move here they're usually shorter term, returning back to the rock in 2-4yrs. That makes training them kind of a wasted expense for employers.

Up in Fort McMurry, the latest trend is not to pay the $24/hr+ anymore to attract Canadian workers, but to hire Mexicans at $14/hr because of free trade making it possible.

I'm sick of hearing about healthcare professionals shortage across Canada, but knowing that even some British doctors have trouble getting their qualifications certified, not to mention Doctors from the rest of the world.

Ditto on the cheapening citizenship part

[gsyh]

I like to travel too, and will when I could, I may even live a while aboard, and some people get teaching positions elsewhere, either way, people aboard must still pay our taxes just like other citizens, you can't have it both ways. It cause money to move people out of jams, so pay the taxes!

It's not the end of the world to not understand English/French, so they should be allowed here even if they don't speak it, BUT once here, they should at least make a good effort at learning it. When in Canada.

As for knowing our laws, I did have this civics class back in high school that was mandatory, and I think it should be national too, at least a bare bones understanding of our criminal code. 'Ignorance of the law is no excuse', if so, we should surely include it in our educational system. I don't think it'll be a black hole, because our laws are important, you break it, chances are you'll end up in court, and THAT causes money.

Another thing that is pressing on my mind though, is stories of immigrants that are being abused by their spouses and don't know their rights, and then there is forced prostitution, if we have to end the later in our country we must watch our borders closely and make sure that the newly admitted know it's illegal (the force part).

...and Integration, in addition to helping them coop with Canadian life, will also keep them on the radar, a good measure against women and youths who have been tricked here from being pulled into the underworld, against immigrants being short shafted on wages and working conditions, or just plain 'disappearing'(having met foul play by those who counted on them not having family and friends here to miss them). I keep up with Chinese news like Ming Pao…and lately Canada’s been getting a bad rap as a death trap for immigrants in China…transfer students have been killed, killed themselves, kidnapped for ransom, etc.

I'm for granting work permit ASAP, it'll curb the paying less for hiring illegal trend. ...and again, if people already have qualifications from their home countries, they shouldn't be made to repeat everything, give them a short transitional course and then an exam, ASAP. For occupations that have much need to be fill such as doctors, I think it's not unreasonable for the government to supplement the immigrant's living fees (or pay all if necessary), until they could work.