Conservative Immigration Changes

[penlessej]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080323.wimmigration24/BNStory/National/homeNow I understand that there is a backlog of some 900,000 people waiting to have their applications processed but what does giving the Minister the power to cap and hand pick have to do with a solution to the problem of a backlog

Comments

[siobhan63]

I have disliked our revolving door system that allows anybody in no matter their expertise.Our system does no such thing. The vast majority of immigrants to this country come here under one of 2 classes: family sponsorship or skilled worker. It is true that if one is sponsoring family members, then their actual skills are not taken into account, but it would be truly heartless to deny people the right to be with their spouse, for example, just because that person doesn't certain job skills

[penlessej]

In my opinion, we accept far too many unskilled workers as it is and even in this area we should put a cap even if it is for family members.

I have actually heard of far more cases of highly skilled people coming to Canada through both family sponsorship and skilled worker but because of complicated trade and academic qualification recognition they end up taking on low paying jobs (the PhD cab driver).

[felis_ultharus]

I can't help notice that this move comes quite soon after several high-profile cases of gay men seeking refugee status because their life is in danger in their home countries -- Nicaraugan Alvaro Orozco, Mexican Leonardo Zuniga, Malaysian Kulenthiran Amirthalingam, and Jamaican Gareth Henry.

Along with the film provisions buried deep in bill C-10, and the so-called "Unborn Victims of Crime Act," it seems that the Conservatives are trying to slip new tools in through the backdoor to enforce their social conservatism.

[penlessej]

That is actually a very interesting observation. C-10 is a very controversial piece of legislation that sadly is going unnoticed in the public.

[felis_ultharus]

Not in the area of GLBT activism. The flagship of queer media in this country -- Xtra.ca -- has mounted a letter-writing campaign against it.

There's very little that can be done, though, unless the senators amend it. If it gets bounced back to the Commons, then a real campaign will be possible.

[sourdick]

Those gays... always trying to slip new tools in through the backdoor.....

More power to the minister

[mr_marlboro]

That's exactly how it should be.

Too many bureaucrats and deputy ministers have seized goverment from our elected officals. Its not like these civil servants are cheerful and willing to help someone of a different party anyway.

Being a minister should be like being comander in chief for your ministry/department.

Here's a personal story...

People used to write letters back in the day... before email. I was born in canadia while my parents where here on vacation. So, I'm a native born citizen. My parents went back to their homeland when their stay was up and took me with them.

They wrote personal letters to the PM back then (Joe Clark) over and over again until they were allowed to immigrate to Canadian with my siblings and I (a native born citizen).

More power to a minster makes things more closer, personal rather than having a big bureacracy where civil servants make absurd decisions that only get changed when the media gets involved.

Re: More power to the minister

[penlessej]

More power to a Minister makes things political and partisan you fool!

You have no idea how things in Ottawa work if you are upset that the bureaucrats and deputy Ministers have power. The fact that a man who has been in the job for 30 years is running a department below a Minister who has been there fore three months is a comfort to most Canadians.

Re: More power to the minister

[sourdick]

People used to write letters back in the day... before email

lmao, what on Earth are you talking about. Are you against email? Nostalgic for paper and pens? My god man, everything you write makes me laugh and/or cry.

Re: More power to the minister

[mr_marlboro]

you can't email legal documents or offical things. i use the mail a lot. i collect postcards and trade them with people all over the world. i sent out valentines cards too. christmas cards and cards all times of year.

patents are still sent by mail (registered) that you send to yourself incase there's a dispute and the postmark and seal prove it decades later.

i send poison pen letters too.

[sourdick]

Yeah, no, thats not the problem at all.