Immigrants Face Racism And Lack Of Opportunity

That's just sad. Smart, young, educated people relegated to menial work. My great grandparents got kicked out of ever decent country in Europe and East Asia - these people are squeaky clean and just want to contribute!<p> What is wrong with us? Can Canadians not see this only hurts us in the long run? Not to mention dashing the hopes and dreams of what seems like a nice couple, and all the other professionals relegated to menial warehouse work.<p><p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />
"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

Hi Doc. I agree.....and it's not just immigrants, or visible minorities. I know of many anglo-saxons with PhDs in Toronto that were jobless for 5+ years and either moved to the U.S. to find work or got a job cooking at a restaurant, and what have you. From what I've seen, there is a HUGE shortage of skilled jobs in this country....we still have politicians who are quite happy to keep us as a resource economy.

Hey man! Long time no hunt-and-peck!<p> I agree. I've never had a problem getting a job, but I've never got one around here doing what I actually went to school for.<p> I knew a guy in University, he was my Russian professor. He had a friend who was head of research for the University of Kiev in semiconductor design. He wanted to emigrate to Canada, move to Edmonton and bring his wealth of knowledge to the Alberta Research council, or the University of Alberta. Think anyone would even accept his resume to look at it?<p> What a waste of talent. It just wobbles the mind.<p> <p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />
"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

There is no shortage of skilled employees in Canada, just a shortage of employers willing to pay what they're worth.

As far as the immigrants in this country without work goes ... why were they allowed in without a job in the first place?

Rule #1: Employ all Canadians first.
Rule #2: Admit only qualified immigrants with jobs in hand.

As far as the Pakistani lawyer goes, I feel sorry for him and his family, but he never should have come here without a job.

When I immigrated to Canada, I had a job. I would never had come without one. The problem for me was trying to get into the country. I was told point blank that I was the wrong colour. "We don't need white Europeans" the black Jamaican immigration lady said.

Fortunately my employer knew how to cut threw the racism at Immigration Canada.

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Democracy is the surest way of ensuring that the will of the people is not done.

The article is heartbreaking, but also with the above comments rather wierd; they couldn't get a job after they got into Canada, because they are from Pakistan, the comment above, think it was Fia, wasn't wanted because he was white,European? So if we are racist, apparently we are not selective...do we want immigrants or not?

Also I agree you should know you have a job to come to, but obviously immigration Canada did not think that was important in this case; isn't there a job bank for skilled people in this country? Also I wonder who isn't hiring skilled people, as we all were immigrants originally and many immigrants have made a success of their dreams in Canada, so what gives?

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

"Also I agree you should know you have a job to come to, but obviously immigration Canada did not think that was important in this case; isn't there a job bank for skilled people in this country?"

Let me make it clear for you.

Nobody without a job should be allowed across the border.

Let me also burst a bubble for you.

Canada does not need unemployable migrants. The world, however, needs a dumping ground for them. You do the math.

If this Pakistani lawyer was the best, wouldn't he have a job in Pakistan?

If this man was employed and could have helped Canadian firms gain contracts and employment for Canadians, he would have, and should have, been offered a job here in Canada.

As it was for me. My immigration to Canada also guaranteed twenty jobs in my native Austria.




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Canada doesn't need immigrants. It needs Canadians.

Actually from what I read in the article, the man had a good job in Pakistan and so did his wife, they came to Canada for something better, and since they are going back to Pakistan they obviously weren't using Canada as a stepping stone. We do promote 'rights and freedoms' for all in this country, so what went wrong? Why were they told to upgrade, if there weren't jobs for them? There are more questions than answers here and I sense that immigration may not have provided them with all info needed to make the decision that they did.

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

What went wrong? The assault on social and economic justice. One of the above comments stated that our government is only committed to keeping Canada a resource export economy. This is true! We have a doctor shortage in Ontario, but mysteriously, foreign doctors that come here aren`t getting hired. Our government has NO VISION to make Canada a prosperous country for us all. Only the already wealthy are now allowed to enjoy the benefits that Canada can offer. And part of the immigration strategy is to bring people from third world countries who even though they are only making maybe $8 an hour at best, it is often a slight step up from where they were, albeit not what they expected. Most people born in Canada were used to higher wages that came with the post war boom. So the attitude by government and the corporations seems to be if Canadians lost their good paying factory job and refuse to go to work for minimum wage, then let`s get immigrants who are used to poverty to work for this! In places like the tomato fields and greenhouses in Leamington, Ontario, or the Niagara fruit belt, migrant workers are often paid LESS than minimum wage, sometimes as low as $3 an hour by a farmer who takes advantage of the worker`s vulnerabilities. After all, if a worker complains, the farmer can easily send him back home. That`s the NEW knowledge based economy folks- rich pigs exploiting everyone else and getting richer!!!

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Dave Ruston

When immigration was primarily from Europe the rate of return approached 30% at various points in time depending on the economy. Many European immigrants had to take jobs far up North or in other fields because there just wasn't anything for them in the cities. Some toughed it out, some went home. If every tough break for 'people of colour' becomes a racist conspiracy, then racism becomes meaningless, that's dangerous and could lead to injustice without recourse.

<i>"Nobody without a job should be allowed across the border."</i><p> Why not? What's to stop them from creating for themselves their own employment? A lawyer could hang up his own shingle. A Doctor could start his own private practice.<p> That being said, it's damn difficult to start your own business nowadays. I've tried to get start up capital; banks won't touch you, the BDC is a joke and regional Business Development Centres couldn't care less - even though the Government (we, the taxpayers) give them money for just this purpose.<p> I believe Canada is and should be just as equal an opportunity for everyone - free to sink or swim equally.<p><p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />
"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

I agree. I don`t think our immigration policies are racist. I simply believe that there are less oppurtunities for all people, be they immigrants or not. That is not to say that racism doesn`t exist in Canada, because of course it does.

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Dave Ruston

Sooo, what was wrong with Austria that you decided to come to Canada? The pay here is bad, white people 'don't get no respect', and there isn't a real dictator in sight, only poseurs and leftists (I assume Jorg Heider didn't sneak over in your luggage).

I got news - white ain't a cultural delineation - it's a coin toss. My skin is white, but I don't go bragging about it - that's for stupid people. I know lots of people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds (many colours! lots of Indians!), and the one thing we share is a steady, trusting gaze when our eyes meet knowing full well the most precious thing we have in common is mutual tolerance and respect for each other's differences. Hell, I even tolerate my German relatives!

Canada, in the end really is only another abstract idea, one that could be more than it is today, except for the cheap whisky out West, Kraft mayonnaise, QR77 & The Fraser Institute, weird factional Christianity (substitute any fundamentalist view you wish), supply side economics, fear of flying, stumpage fees, the phrase "similar socio-economic background" and everyhting it implies, the traffic on Anderson Road, fiberglass insulation, Rotweilers, lousy raspberry jam, I obviously could go on (and on).

In the end, what we need here is what is needed everywhere: for KINDNESS to come back into fashion, and I don't mean the kindness you get used to at chamber luncheons.

I an a Canadian expat living in China. Tens of thousands apply each year to go to Canada. Of the ones I know, they all want to be rich. Some have told me that their greatest fear is that they will never be a "VIP" like they are in China.

I tell then they will probably never be rich. My parents, as immigrants, never were.

I tell them they will never be a "VIP", and that we don't well tolerate people with that kind of attitude.

I tell them that they will have to start at the bottom like my parents did. I tell them that they are going there for a better life for their kids, not for themselves. Some believe me. Most don't. They all go. They are all desperate to leave.

It is a common goal, to have a better life in a different country. The reality is never as good as the pamphlets say, of course. Canada is hardy a paradise, even for those born here. It makes me wonder what sort of advertising is being done overseas to make people think Canada is that great...

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Jesse