Canada Immigration: Laws, Policies and Issues - PDF

Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 CHAPTER 5 How well do Canada’s immigration laws and policies respond to imm...

Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 CHAPTER 5 How well do Canada’s immigration laws and policies respond to immigration issues? immigration: the process Take an informal survey of how many of your friends have of people establishing ancestors from other countries. The families of many Canadians homes, and often originated in other parts of the world and immigrated to citizenship, in a country that is not their native Canada. How does Canada benefit from new immigration? country How does the government respond to emerging issues related to immigration today? This chapter explores Canada’s immigration laws and policies. Canada’s government used These say who can come to Canada from other countries to work posters such as these in the late 1800s to recruit immigrants. It and live. wanted to recruit immigrants Immigration is an important part of Canada’s legislative to fulfill the objectives of the framework because it affects the quality of life of Canadians and of National Policy: to promote people who seek to build a home in Canada. People want to come Canadian industry, finish the to Canada for many reasons. Quality of life in Canada pulls many national railway and settle the west. The National Policy was people. Canada also offers shelter to refugees, who are pushed out formulated by John A. of their home countries by war and other circumstances. Macdonald’s Conservative Immigration poses opportunities and challenges for citizenship: government in 1873. To recruit for building a society in which all Canadians — existing and immigrants, the government new — belong. targeted the U.S., Britain and As you read, you will assess how effectively Canada’s many parts of Europe, but not countries with French-speaking immigration laws and policies meet the needs of all Canadians. populations, such as France, Think about how the government responds to emerging issues Belgium or Switzerland. that arise from immigration. FOCUS QUESTIONS What criteria does Canada use when accepting immigrants and refugees? How do the individual and collective rights of Canadians influence immigration laws and policies? How do provinces influence immigration laws and policies? Examine the posters. What factors affected immigration in the past? 162  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? Based on the photographs below, what challenges and opportunities does immigration create for Canada today? This sign is an opportunity for someone. Canada accepts more immigrants when it faces labour shortages, including immigrants with specific skills to fill demand for workers in particular jobs. This is Michaëlle Jean, a Francophone originally from Haiti, appointed governor general of Canada in 2005. Immigration can affect the identity of people who come to Canada and of people who already live here, including groups in Canada with collective rights. Immigration creates a mix of cultures, where people need to learn each other’s beliefs, values and worldviews. This photo shows a refugee camp in north Darfur, Sudan. Conflict in Sudan made the people in this camp flee their homes. Canada has obligations to shelter people who need to escape war and other dangers. Immigration policy needs to take into account the security, health and quality of life of people who already live in Canada. 163 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 Create a storyboard about issues concerning immigration in Canada. Yo u r R o l e Canada’s leading educational multimedia company is creating a series of documentaries related to citizenship and immigration in Canada. The producers of the series want to highlight current issues that affect immigration policy. They are asking for young producers to submit a proposal, in the form of a storyboard, for a documentary. Your proposed documentary needs to answer this question: Ahcene Zouaoui What factors should shape Canada’s immigration policies immigrated to Canada from Algeria, a country most: economic, political, health or security? with many French-speaking You will research one issue and create a storyboard that outlines people. He and his family your research and conclusions. chose to live in Montréal, where the majority of people speak French. In Yo u r P r e s e n t a t i o n this 2002 photo, he is Your research should reflect: stocking shelves in his father’s grocery store in An evaluation of the factors and issues that influence Montréal. Think critically: immigration policies. What opportunities and An understanding of how government responds to issues challenges does related to immigration. immigration create for citizenship in Canada? Facts, ideas and other evidence supporting your ideas. Whose perspectives Immigration has an impact on citizenship, identity and quality should you include in of life. Share your ideas on issues that arise from immigration your documentary? in Canada! 164  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? L e t ’s g e t s t a r t e d ! As you read and take notes, evaluate the factors related to Canada’s immigration policies. After, rate each one on a scale of 1 to 5 to identify which factor, in your opinion, should be most important. Economic Factors Political Factors Health Factors Security Factors Why was the policy developed? What individuals and groups in society are affected? What are the issues or problems involved? In what ways is quality of life affected? What views and perspectives exist about the policy? How does the government respond to the issues? Overall Rating 12345 12345 12345 12345 In my opinion, ____________ should influence Canada’s immigration policies and most because... 165 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 What criteria does Canada use when accepting immigrants and refugees? WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION In this section, you will read about the criteria the government uses to accept immigrants into Canada. You will find: Types of immigration legislation related to immigrants and When you become a citizen of refugees. Canada, you swear to be faithful to Canada’s monarch, A comic illustrating Canada’s point system. to observe the laws of Canada, Factors influencing immigration policies. and to fulfill your duties as a citizen. You gain the right to vote. This photo demonstrates What are you looking for? two kinds of decisions: the decision of these people to As you read the section, look for: become citizens of Canada, The criteria Canada has used and still uses when accepting and the decision of Canada to immigrants and refugees into the country. accept them as immigrants. Think critically: What factors Advantages and disadvantages of Canada’s point system. may have influenced these Issues related to immigration legislation. decisions? 166  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? What is the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act? The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act dates from 2002. It is the most recent of many laws Canada has had about immigration since it became a country in 1867. It establishes categories of who can come to Canada from other countries to make permanent homes here. It lays out the objectives of those categories. Immigration Categories, 2006 Other (4%) Refugees (13%) People accepted as immigrants for humanitarian or compassionate reasons. People who are escaping persecution, torture, or cruel and unusual punishment. Family Class (28%) Economic Immigrants (55%) Spouses, partners, children, parents and grandparents of people living in Canada. Skilled workers and businesspeople. Some Obje ctives of t Protection he Immigr For the objectives of the Act, 2002 ation and Refugee act regarding refugees, Objectives fo see page 177. r immigration : Pursue soci al, cultural an Canadians. d economic b enefits for all Respect the bilingual and Support th multicultural What are the e developmen character of C t of minority anada. communities o ff ic underlying in Canada. ia l language Share the b values reflected enefits of imm in the objectives of the economy acro igration and su ss all regions pport a prosp of Canada. erous act? What do they Reunite fam ilies in Canad mean for citizenship a. Promote th and identity in Canada? e successful in Canadian soci tegration of im ety, recognizin migrants into mutual obligat g that integra ions for new tion involves society. immigrants an d Canadian 167 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 How does immigration aim to meet C a n a d a ’s w o r k f o rc e n e e d s ? demographic: to do with the The following statement comes from Citizenship and Immigration characteristics of populations Canada, which is the federal department responsible for putting labour force growth: the Canada’s immigration legislation into action. It comes from a growth of the “labour force,” document that describes the government’s plans for immigration or the number of people in the future. who can work What benefits of immigration does this source identify for Canada? What issues affecting immigration 2006–2007 Pla ns and Pri has largely def orities are illustrated in Immigration a sustaining fe ined what Can the plan? at ad built and tran ure of Canada’s history. W a is today and has been sformed the p aves of immig contributions op ra to the develo ulation while making sign tion have our culture. pment of our ificant economy, ou Immigration r society and will continue In what Canada of to mo to p la y a k ey ro ways does many other in rrow and in supporting o le in building the dustrialized co ur economic demographic u gro the plan changes. Acc ntries, Canada is facing si wth. Like between 2025 ording to Stat gnificant an istics Canada, attempt to meet will equal the d 2030, the number of b sometime n irth the needs of continue to gr umber of deaths. If Canad s to Canadian parents ow, immigrati a’ unless birth an on will be th s population is to Canadians? These demogr d death rates change. e source of th is growth, growth. Labo aphic factors are also slow u in Sometime bet r force growth is key to en g Canada’s labour force ween 2011 an suring econo the labour fo d mic growth. rce will equal 2016, the number of Can immigration, the number o adians enterin Canada’s labo f people retiri g ur force will ng. Without — Adap shrink. ted from 2006 –2007 Report Citizenship an on Plans and d Immigratio Priorities, n Canada, p. 5. CRITICAL THINKING WHAT’S A LAW VERSUS A POLICY? Governments create laws, and they also create policies. A law CHALLENGE describes principles or conditions that must be followed. A In 2007, Canada accepted policy describes objectives of the government, within the law. more than 250 000 Example: Immigration immigrants — one of the Immigration law says who is allowed into Canada. highest numbers in the last Immigration policy sets the procedures for evaluating immigrants and says how many people are allowed into 50 years. What might be Canada from year to year. the reason for this policy? For another example of law versus policy, see page 131. 168 H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? 169 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 Why do you think immigration criteria exist? Why might Canadians have different views and perspectives on these criteria? 170  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? 1. How does the comic “Adding Up the Points” demonstrate that economics is a factor that influences who Canada accepts as immigrants? Identify points in the story where this factor comes into play. What other factors — political factors, and health and security — can you identify in the comic? 2. How might decisions about immigration based on economics affect your quality of life? 3. Consider the information about the photo below, then answer this question: What issues arise from immigration based on economic factors? Alla Andrusiv, in the green sweater, celebrates Canada Day in 2007 with other recent immigrants. She is a doctor from Ukraine, who arrived in Canada in 2006. “My qualifications aren’t recognized here and I would have to start again… I’m like many professionals. We gave up good jobs and came here to work as cleaners or in restaurants. It’s extremely frustrating. But I hope to return to medicine, perhaps as a nurse.” 171 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 What is the point system for accepting immigrants? The comic you read in the previous section explores Canada’s point system. The point system is part of the criteria Canada uses to decide who to accept as immigrants. The point system dates from 1967. It applies only to economic immigrants (skilled workers and professionals). Refugees and family-class immigrants do not have to qualify under the point system. If a person is not a refugee or a family-class immigrant, they must qualify under Canada’s point system to enter Canada as an immigrant. Economic immigrants make up the biggest group of immigrants to Canada (see page 167). How does health factor into qualifying as CRITICAL THINKING an immigrant? CHALLENGE Every potential economic immigrant to Canada must provide How might assessing proof that they are in good health. A person may be refused entry the health, background to Canada if: Their health could put the health of Canadians at risk — for and experience of example, they have tuberculosis. immigrants connect to They have a condition that could endanger public safety — Canadians’ right to for example, a mental disorder. “security of the person” Their health could put an “excessive demand” on Canada’s under the Charter of health services — for example, HIV/AIDS. Rights and Freedoms? None of these health requirements apply to people entering Canada as refugees or as family-class immigrants. 1. What are some advantages and disadvantages of Canada’s point system? Create a chart organizing your ideas. Compare ideas with a partner. 2. Working with a group of two or three, develop criteria for accepting new immigrants into the country. Think about what’s important — for example, what Canadians need, what is fair to applicants. Share your criteria with the class. Be prepared to explain the reasons for your criteria. 3. Over the next few weeks, scan your local newspaper for articles about immigration. What current issues are being debated? Create a media collage of the articles you find. Work with a partner to share your information and your opinions. 172  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? H o w a r e C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s t o d a y different than in the past? No one today is excluded from Canada because of their race or country of origin. The point system, for example, evaluates people based on their skills and education. In the past, Canada favoured immigrants of British ancestry and restricted immigration from Asian countries, such as China and India. This photo from 1914 shows people from India protesting Canada’s immigration policies. They arrived in Vancouver on a Japanese ship called the Komagata Maru. At the time, Canada’s government allowed people from India to enter Canada only if they sailed directly from India without stopping anywhere. Since no shipping line offered this service, Canada’s policy excluded immigrants from India. Canadian officials did not let the passengers of the Komagata Maru off the ship. Supporters of the protest challenged this decision in court, but lost the case. After two months, the ship was forced to return to Asia. CRITICAL THINKING CHALLENGE Why do you think Canada’s immigration policies have changed over time? How do you think they might change in the future? Debbie Yam of Toronto displays the head-tax certificate of her Chinese grandfather. Between 1885 and 1923, Canada discouraged immigration from China by requiring every Chinese immigrant to pay a fixed fee, known as a head tax. This was one of several laws that restricted immigration from Asia. Today, and for more than a decade, people from Asia have made up the largest group of immigrants to Canada. In 2006, Canada’s government formally apologized to Canada’s Chinese citizens for the head tax. 173 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 Volunteering a Welcome Fahd Mirza volunteers with the Calgary Bridge Foundation, an organization that offers services to help immigrants and refugees adjust to life in Canada. He is 19 years old and an immigrant himself. We came to Canada because my parents wanted a better quality of life than in Pakistan. There’s so much stress in terms of survival in Karachi — the city I’m from. Crime is one of the major problems. You don’t know if you’re going to get home safe or not. Canadian society has helped me in every single way. The most important part is welcoming me and integrating me without any concerns. It has provided me with opportunities for education and work. The government of Canada makes sure that our rights and freedoms are protected. I found out about the Calgary Bridge Foundation last year at school. Fahd Mirza came to Our teacher invited the Foundation to talk about the Homework Canada fourteen months Club, where immigrant kids from Grades 1 through 12 get mentors, ago with his parents. He like me, to assist them with schoolwork. I help kids in Grades 5, 6 feels a responsibility to give and 9 — especially with math and science because I’m really good back to Canada, because of at math and science. the opportunities Canada has given him. Think Being a volunteer gives me so much personal satisfaction. It helps critically: How do his me so much, just a few hours in the whole week. I’ve learned a lot actions reflect active about different cultures and traditions. The kids I work with come citizenship? from Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. We learn from each other. The most important lesson is how to live together. The big reason I volunteer is that I want to pay back Canadian society for all the things that it has done for me. For welcoming me. Not every country does that. The Calgary Bridge Foundation is one of several organizations in Alberta that offers assistance to immigrants and refugees. Check the yellow pages of your phone book under “associations.” Or check online. What organizations are in your community? How could you or your class volunteer? 174  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? Steps to Researching an Issue In this chapter, you have been learning about factors that affect Canada’s immigration laws. In your opinion, which factors should influence Canada’s immigration policies most: economic, political, health or security? To find out more, do some in-depth research on one of the four factors. Research can help you develop an informed position on issues. It relates to the steps for Spot and Respond to the Issue on pages 12 and 13. See the next page for details. ! WHAT’S INVOLVED IN RESEARCHING AN ISSUE? Research starts with questions and ends with conclusions. It sounds like a straight line, but it’s really more like a circle. Sometimes you have to change your questions as you learn more about a topic. You have to loop back and adjust your starting point. It’s important to keep an open mind. I like to make a diagram that shows how I think information might be connected. Then I see how well the information and the diagram match up. I change the diagram to fit what the information tells me, and I then use it to record information. Sometimes I find out I need more information on something. 175 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 Tr y t h i s ! Use these steps to help you research, gather and summarize ideas for your storyboard and complete your project. The numbers down the side of this chart show how this process fits with the steps of Spot and Respond to the Issue on pages 12 and 13. Steps Notes 2 Choose an Issue What issue do you want to inquire into? To what extent do security issues affect immigration? 4 Planning I may need A plan helps you get started. Begin by writing some questions you would like to investigate on the issue. Then, find out where you will get the information. Questions Information Sources as I make changes What security concerns do Canadian to make officials have? here changes How many people are turned away from here Canada because of security concerns? What groups in Canada have a perspective on the issue? Gathering Locate information from a variety of sources such as the Internet, books, and newspapers. Decide what sources contain the most useful information. need My checklist for useful information: I may tion a as I learn related to my questions inform more here not biased more from informed people and organizations Analyzing Record key information that helps you know more about your issue, find patterns and draw conclusions. Look for connections among these ideas: tio new ns nn ed passport co y ne requirements border security ec a Im who security affects perspectives of groups Organizing Organize the information persuasively. Use your skills of persuasive communication. When did we do those steps on persuasive communication? Note: look that up again. 5 Creating Sharing Create a product that effectively communicates your ideas. For my storyboard, I think I’ll explain my ideas in a voice-over instead of in writing. Share your research with others. My storyboard needs to showcase my research and ideas. Note: be prepared to explain storyboard in class. 176  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? W h a t i s C a n a d a ’s p o l i c y t o w a r d s r e f u g e e s ? Refugees are one of the categories of immigrants established under refugee: a person who seeks the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Here is some refuge in another country because of danger or background on how Canada’s position on refugees evolved: persecution in their home Canada signed the U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of country Refugees in 1951. During the 1950s and 1960s, Canada offered to shelter refugees in response to specific world crises. In 1976, Canada made refugees one of its immigration categories. The change meant that Canada accepted refugees steadily, instead of crisis by crisis. What does the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act say about refugees? SO ME OB JEC TIV ES OF TH E IM MI GR AT IO N AN D RE FU GE E PR OT EC TIO N AC T, 20 02 Objectives for Canada’s refugee program: Save lives and offer protection to people who are displaced and persecute d. Fulfill and affirm Canada’s inte rnational commitments to protect refugee s. Grant fair consideration to peo ple who claim to be persecuted, as an exp ression of Canada’s humanitarian ideals. Offer refuge to people facing persecution because of race, religion, politica l opinion or membership in a social group, and to people who face torture, or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. This photo shows Hungarian refugees boarding a flight to Vancouver in 1956. Canada accepted 37 000 refugees from Hungary who opposed CRITICAL THINKING the government of their home country — a C H A L L E N G E What issues government that did not tolerate opposition. might arise from accepting refugees into Canada? 177 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 A Refugee’s Experience Mary came to Canada in 2005 as a refugee from Sudan. Civil war in Sudan had broken apart her family and put her life in danger. How did qualifying Sudan was like World War II. People were fighting everywhere, and as a nobody knew where they were supposed to go. My family got refugee to separated — we couldn’t find each other — so that’s how I became Canada affect a refugee. Mary’s quality Later, I learned that my mom was alive and in Canada. So in 2005 of life? I came here with my two brothers. I was 12 years old, and my brothers were 8 and 9. When we landed in Calgary, my mom came and picked us up at the airport. I hadn’t seen her for eight years. I didn’t remember her — she seemed like another lady. But because she was my mom, I thought, “Okay, I guess I’ll hug her.” When I came to Canada, I didn’t know what it would be like. I didn’t know it was a nice country, a safe country. I thought that there would be war and fighting, like in Sudan. I worry about my dad, and my stepmom, and my stepbrothers. I worry about them when I hear on the news that people are still fighting in Sudan. I hope that they’re safe. Canadians are lucky to live where there is no war. And they are lucky to have good schools. They should thank God, because they are lucky. Mary, a refugee from Sudan, now lives in Alberta. 1. What evidence can you find on pages 177 and 178 that Canada’s immigration legislation responds to world issues? 2. What evidence can you find that political factors influence Canada’s policies on refugees? 178  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? CASE STUDY How has immigration policy changed in response to security concerns? Canada’s position on refugees evolved in response to world issues. Use the information on this page to investigate another way world issues have shaped Canada’s immigration legislation. Compare the excerpts below. They come from Canada’s most recent immigration law and the law in effect before it. What similarities and Based on differences do you see in these immigration acts? How do you the account for them? information on this page and in the chapter so Immigration 19. No perso Act 1976 far, why do you n shal of any of the l be granted admission wh believe issues fo o is a member persons wh llowing classes: related to security o have engage subversion ag d in… acts of affect immigration ai espio or processes, nst democratic governmen nage or persons wh as they are un t, institutions policies? o there are re derstood in Canada… will, while in asonable grou C nds to believe subversion b anada, engage in or instig y force of an y governmen ate the t… YOU DID KNOW? Many events and issues in ct, 2002 other parts of the world can d R ef u g ee Protection A an ational is result in more people applying Immigration or a foreign n ent resident 34. A perman ounds for: as immigrants to Canada. For on security gr ionage or an act of inadmissible p example: in an act of es rnment, (a) engaging against a democratic gove stood in Natural disasters, such as subversio n under o n o r p ro ce ss as they are floods and earthquakes. instituti Canada; rsion by o r in st ig at ing the subve Population pressures. in (b) engaging government; War. force of any in terrorism; ada; (c) engaging ger to the security of Can or might Poverty. g a d an w o u ld (d) bein ac ts of violence that ga gi n g in f p er so n s in (e) en th e li ve s o r safety o endanger Canada; or there o f an o rg anization that emb er ges, has (f) being a m le grounds to believe enga to in are reasonab ts referred ill engage in ac engaged or w (b) or (c). paragraph (a), 179 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 How do the individual and collective rights of Canadians influence immigration laws and policies? WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION This section presents: Information and views about a Supreme Court decision involving individual rights and refugees. Perspectives of First Nations on immigration policy. Interviews about issues for Francophones in Alberta arising from immigration. What are you looking for? As you work through this section, look for: Ways that rights connect to political, economic, health and security factors — the factors at the centre of your chapter task. Opportunities and challenges that immigration creates for groups that hold collective rights in Canada. Note that language WHAT LANGUAGES DO IMMIGRANTS qualifications only apply to economic immigrants. TO CANADA SPEAK? Check back to the comic “Adding Up the Points” on Immigrants’ knowledge of Top five first pages 169 and 170 to see French and English, 2006 languages of how. Language 5% French 33% Neither immigrants, 2006 qualifications do not apply to family-class immigrants Mandarin or refugees. English Arabic Punjabi Spanish 53% English 9% Both French and English Why might the information in this graph connect to issues raised by immigration for Canada’s official language groups? 180  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? What is the Singh decision? In Canada, April 4 is known as Refugee Rights Day, following a 1985 Supreme Court decision known as the Singh decision. The Facts Satnam Singh came to Canada from India seeking refugee status. Canada’s government rejected his case under the Immigration Act, 1976. The Immigration Act, 1976, did not allow Mr. Singh to state his case in person or to appeal the government’s decision on his case. The Supreme Court said this violated section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which says: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person, and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. The Supreme Court said everyone in the Charter means everyone — every person physically present in Canada. The Result Every person who seeks refugee status in Canada, like People claiming refugee status in Canada have the right to a hearing, Imam Said Jaziri pictured which they attend in person. here, has a face-to-face hearing with the Immigration Canada established the Immigration and Refugee Board to provide and Refugee Board. This is quick and fair hearings. their right because of the Singh decision and Canada’s Canada’s government provides people seeking refugee status with the Charter of Rights and necessities of life while they wait for a hearing. Freedoms. YOU DID KNOW? The individual rights in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protect every person in Canada, whether they are citizens or not. The only rights that do not apply to non-citizens are democratic rights, such as the right to vote. 181 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 What are some examples of views and perspectives on the Singh decision? Canadians have different opinions about the Singh decision and still debate its effects today. Here are examples of some opinions that Canadians might express. The only people who should be It’s unfair that Canadian taxpayers considered as immigrants or have to pay for legal aid, medical refugees are those who apply care, food, housing and security through the proper procedures and measures for people who arrive in are vetted abroad. There should not the country illegally and then claim be an automatic right for refugees to be refugees. These rules or immigrants to come to Canada. encourage abuse — people arrive without papers or identification because they can get away with it. How can you apply to come to Without proof, how do we know Canada from your own country if who they really are? you’re being persecuted there? We need to give people in that situation a full hearing. We need to protect people who are at risk from human rights violations. Our previous policies The Singh decision was made by violated the Charter of Rights and unelected officials — Supreme Court Freedoms and had to be changed. judges. Should the Supreme Court be The Singh decision is consistent allowed to make such important with our own human rights decisions by itself, without consulting legislation and with international the people of Canada? treaties Canada has signed. 1. Consider what you have learned about refugee rights on pages 181 and 182. What individual rights do refugees seeking entry into Canada have that Canadian citizens also have? Describe an impact this right has had on immigration law in Canada. Explain why people have different perspectives on this right. What is the connection between refugee rights and citizenship? What do refugee rights have to do with who “belongs” in Canada? 2. Conduct your own informal debate on on an issue related to the Singh decision: To what extent should Canada provide refugee status to all people who request it? Use what you learned about how to plan and prepare for a debate in Chapter 3 skills on page 116. Refer to page 372 in the Skills Centre for more tips on debates. centre 182  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? How does immigration involve the collective rights of Aboriginal peoples? Aboriginal peoples are partners in Canada. They have collective rights under the constitution and a reasonable expectation to be consulted when the government of Canada makes decisions that fundamentally shape the future of the country. Treaties and agreements between First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples and the government of Canada create a commitment for Canada and Aboriginal peoples to work together and share prosperity. Some Aboriginal peoples, however, continue to CRITICAL face health, education and employment challenges linked to THINKING poverty and the impact of past policies and laws. CHALLENGE These challenges can create obstacles to full participation in What impact do the Canada’s economy for individuals from First Nations, Inuit or rights of First Nations, Métis communities. For example, some people can face Métis and Inuit peoples difficulty gaining access to educational, training and have on the way Canada employment opportunities. Where such conditions exist, sets immigration, and they can create issues, especially during times when Canada other laws and policies? needs more skilled workers and professionals, and seeks to fill these roles partly through immigration. Kathryn Lainchbury is a Métis welding apprentice from Alberta. First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples are the fastest-growing groups in Canada, and they are under-represented in Canada’s workforce. How would more effectively engaging Aboriginal peoples in Canada’s economy affect their quality of life, citizenship and identity? Government seeks to create a balanced way to support growth in Canada while meeting the needs and respecting the rights of all peoples. How the government does this can create issues for Canadians. 183 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 This page presents a Assembly of First Nations, resolution from the Resolution n Subject: Imm o. 49 Assembly of First Nations. igration Ente Third World rin Conditions in g Canada vs. Addressing The resolution reflects the AFN’s First Nations Communities concern that the federal 31 October 20 05 government is not adequately WHEREAS C fulfilling its obligations to First anada is k richest countr nown as one of the worl ie d’s Nations peoples, including its of First Natio s, yet fails to address the n communitie needs obligation to consult with First Kashech s, such as WHEREAS C ewan Reserve… Nations, and to allocate resources anada fail of First Natio s to consult with the Ass n embly with the rights and interests of immigration s (AFN) leadership on THEREFOR p o li ci es and legislat First Nations in mind. How does E BE IT R ion. on the federal ESOLVED that the AFN it reflect a First Nations immigration government… call perspective on immigration? coming into C to freeze all federal govern anada until th m e delivers resou ent addresses, commits, an rces to First N d the housing co at nditions, edu ions to improve employment ca in First Natio tion, health and ns communit ies… Phil Fontaine was first elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 1997. The Assembly of First Nations represents many, but not all, First Nations in Canada. The AFN seeks recognition of First Nations as partners in Canada, with a right to share fully in Canada’s prosperity. CRITICAL THINKING C H A L L E N G E What SPOT AND RESPOND could be a government TO THE ISSUE perspective and an immigrant Compare the statement of Citizenship and perspective on the AFN resolution? Immigration Canada on page 168 with the How could a balance among these resolution of the Assembly of First Nations on this perspectives be achieved, so that page. What issues arise from this comparison? decisions about immigration Refer to Spot and Respond to the Issue on benefit all people in Canada? pages 12 and 13 to formulate your answer. 184  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? What challenges and opportunities does immigration pose for Franco-Albertan communities? In 2006, Canada established a five-year plan to help Francophone communities in minority settings attract French-speaking immigrants. Frank McMahon is a former To what extent does this plan meet the needs of Francophones in dean of Campus Saint-Jean, Alberta, who are in a minority setting? What can you learn from University of Alberta. the comments on this page? He helped to organize a Francophone symposium on integrating French- We’ve been able to establish, in Calgary and in Edmonton, centres to speaking immigrants to welcome and help Francophone immigrants to get settled. We work Alberta in 2008. with the immigrants to show them how they can become part of the Francophone community, and that they don’t have to lose their association with the French language and culture, even if they live in a minority setting, like Alberta. Ten years ago, if you went into a Francophone school in Alberta, you wouldn’t see African children, or very, very few of them. Now, in Edmonton and Calgary, you see them in very large numbers. Their percentage is increasing every year. This requires a major adjustment for Francophone institutions, to deal with people who come from non-European cultures. We want Francophone organizations to recognize that there’s a challenge here: that we need to welcome and integrate people from non-European cultures, particularly from French Africa. Francophones need a vision for French-speaking immigration to this province. Too many French-speaking immigrants, when they get here, become only numbers — statistics no different than all the other immigrants. Students gravitate to the English schools. The parents are not involved in the schools. We need to talk about these issues related to immigration Paulin Mulatris is a professor CRITICAL THINKING CHALLENGE of sociology at Campus Saint-Jean, A symposium is an event where people share ideas. University of Alberta. Like Frank How does organizing and attending a symposium McMahon, he contributed to the Francophone symposium on demonstrate active citizenship? integration. Dr. Mulatris immigrated to Canada from the Democratic Republic of Congo. 1. To what extent do Frank McMahon and Paulin Mulatris have the same or different perspectives on immigration? Back up your conclusions with evidence from this page. 2. Identify and explain one connection between the chart on page 180 and the perspectives of Frank McMahon and Paulin Mulatris on this page. 185 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 How do provinces influence immigration laws and policies? WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION In this section you will read about: A map describing where immigrants settle in Canada. Point-form notes about ways provinces influence immigration. Yolande James is Ministre de l'Immigration et des What are you looking for? Communautés culturelles (Minister of Immigration and As you read this section, look for: Cultural Communities) in Facts about the regional distribution of immigrants. Québec. Immigration is a How the distribution of immigrants affects the quality of responsibility of Canada’s federal government. Think life of Canadians. critically: Why do you think How federal immigration laws attempt to respond. Québec might have its own immigration minister? What other provinces have their own immigration ministers? 186  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? H o w d o e s i m m i g r a t i o n a f f e c t C a n a d a ’s cities and regions? Use the information on pages 188 to 191 to consider some of the impacts immigration has on Canada. HOW TO ASK GEOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS Geographic questions explore how people and their physical surroundings affect one another. They help you learn more about issues because they make you inquire in new ways. They help you connect issues to the physical world, and draw conclusions about your surroundings. When you examine the map and chart on the next page, start digging into geographic connections with these questions: How do the map and charts relate to each other? How do they relate to immigration? What immigration patterns or trends do you see that affect cities and regions? How does where immigrants settle create opportunities and challenges for cities and regions? How does this affect the quality of life of Canadians? What conclusions can you draw about the physical effects of immigration on cities? Think about environmental impacts. Think about the cost of roads and sewers. What other geographic problems does the information suggest? Alone or with a partner, focus on one geographic question that you identify on pages 188 to 191. Include geographic data presented in maps and charts to clarify the question. Check pages 345 to 348 of the Skills Centre for tips on creating and interpreting maps and charts. Create a short multimedia presentation that explores the issue from three different perspectives. 187 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 Where Immigrants Settle in Canada, 2007 Legend Arctic % total immigration N to Canada W Ocean Toronto 39% E Montréal 15% S Vancouver 14% Whitehorse Iqaluit Yellowknife St. John’s Pacific Edmonton Ocean Vancouver Victoria Charlottetown Regina Fredericton Winnipeg Québec Halifax Montréal Ottawa Atlantic 0 500 km Toronto Ocean This map shows the top three locations where immigrants settled in Canada in 2007. The rest of Canada, taken together, received 32% of total immigration. To find out more about immigration to Alberta, see page 190. Toronto: Population and Area One objective of the Immigration Census Year Population Area (km2) and Refugee Protection Act 2002 1981 2 998 947 3742.94 is to share the economic benefits 1986 3 427 165 5613.71 of immigration across all regions of 1991 3 893 046 5583.51 Canada. Based on the map and chart, how well has Canada achieved that goal? 1996 4 263 757 5867.73 2001 4 682 897 5902.74 2006 5 113 149 5903.63 CRITICAL THINKING C H A L L E N G E Why might immigrants to Canada not choose to settle in Toronto, Montréal or Vancouver? Why might they choose other cities in Canada? Why might 188 they choose to settle in rural areas?  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? In what ways can provinces influence and implement immigration policies? Provinces control some aspects of immigration, in an attempt to make sure immigration fits and meets their needs. Provincial Nomination Program Iris Evans was Alberta’s Under the Provincial Nomination Program, provinces can Minister of Employment, “nominate” a percentage of the immigrants Canada selects each Immigration and Industry year. This means, for example, that Alberta can specify that it in 2007. Employment and needs immigrants with particular skills. immigration are linked to industry because industry The program also allows some provinces to set up their own creates jobs that need immigration offices in foreign countries. workers. Governments in Canada can’t require immigrants to settle in particular places or work in particular jobs. The Provincial Nomination Program increases the likelihood that immigrants will settle in the provinces whose labour needs match their skills. Alberta currently receives about 20 000 immigrants annually and I expect the expanded Provincial Nomination Program will help increase and speed up the flow of immigrants and help address our labour shortage. Alberta needs the right workers, at the right time, with the right skills. — Alberta Government press release, “Expanded program will help increase immigration flow,” May 22, 2007. 1. Alberta wanted to “speed up the flow” of immigrants in 2007 for economic reasons, because of a boom in oil sands development. To what extent has the situation changed or remained the same to the present? 2. What issues related to immigration might economic changes create? 3. Including employment, immigration and industry in one ministry portfolio — the portfolio of Iris Evans in 2007 — is an example of a government policy. What does this policy reflect about the objectives of government concerning immigration? 189 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 What workers does Alberta need? Alberta’s Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry said in 2007 that Alberta was facing labour shortages. Examine the chart on this page. What parts of Alberta’s economy faced labour shortages? Businesses and services reporting worker shortages in Alberta, 2006 If you were Percent reporting Economic sector worker shortages responsible for setting immigration Construction (e.g., carpenters, roofers) 98 priorities for Alberta, how Transportation (e.g., truckers, bus drivers) 91 would the information in the Manufacturing (e.g., chemical engineers) 89 chart on the right influence Resource development 86 you? What skills would you (e.g., heavy equipment operators) ask the federal government Retail (e.g., sales staff) 85 to target in immigration? Hospitality (e.g., hotel staff) 78 Agriculture (e.g., farm labourers) 68 Education, Health, Social Services 58 (e.g., teachers, nurses, doctors, mental health workers, social workers) Overall in Alberta 84 — From a survey by the Canadian Federation of What Independent Businesses, 2006. challenges face Alberta W h a t p e rc e n t a g e o f i m m i g r a t i o n t o C a n a d a without enough immigrants? How does Alberta receive? can Aboriginal Immigration by province and territory, 2006 peoples be part of 3% Rest of Canada a solution to meet 18% Québec 17% B.C. labour shortages? How do these questions connect to your quality of life as someone 8% Alberta living in Alberta? 4% Manitoba 50% Ontario 190  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? Canada-Québec Accord The Canada-Québec Accord is a specific agreement with Québec. accord: a formal agreement Under the accord, Québec can nominate the percentage of immigrants to Canada that corresponds to its population within Canada. The accord also allows Québec to require immigrants who settle in Québec to send their children to French-language schools. Under the Canada-Québec Accord, Québec seeks immigrants whose first language is French. Every year, about 75 percent of French-speaking immigrants to Canada settle in Québec. Overall, more non-Francophone immigrants settle in Québec than Francophone immigrants. Based on the information on this page, how does the Canada-Québec Accord attempt to strengthen the French language in North America? Consider what you learned about the rights of official language groups under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Chapter 4. How does the accord reflect those rights? Under the Canada-Québec Accord, Québec has an immigration office in this city: Damascus, Syria. Many people in the Middle East, where Syria is located, have some knowledge of French, because France controlled parts of the Middle East during the twentieth century. Canada’s government endorses recruiting French-speaking immigrants from Syria and other countries of the world. Think critically: How might immigrants from the Middle East help affirm Francophone identity in Canada? 1. How does the Canada-Québec Accord offer ways for Québec to affirm the use of the French language? Identify two specific ways. 2. Based on the information you have learned, to what extent is the Canada- Québec Accord beneficial to Québec and beneficial to Canada? 191 Issues for Canadians Chapter 5 Wrap Up Your Task You need to create a storyboard for a documentary that answers the question: ! Move the pieces of your What factors should shape Canada’s immigration policies most: economic, political, health or security? S u m m a r i z e Yo u r I d e a s Review the chart you started on page 165 to help you evaluate issues storyboard around and try different that affect immigration in Canada. Identify the issue you feel is most sequences. I like to think important and explain your reasons. Examine the factors that affect about what scene will this issue and identify which factor — economic, political, health or get people’s attention security — you believe has the most impact. Explain why this factor and put that at should become the focus of laws and policies about immigration in the beginning. Canada. M a k e Yo u r S t o r y b o a r d Using a pencil or computer program, illustrate each main idea on a separate piece of paper. Think of these as scenes in your documentary. Draw in a background or use visuals you have found during your research. Add notes about each scene. Describe the information it will communicate. The scenes should showcase your research. Organize your storyboard into a sequence. Think about how you, as the maker of this documentary, want to tell the story of your investigation. What do you want others to understand? 1 Interview wit 2 h spokesperson a om Alberta’s for Treaty 6 Comments fr for a perspec minister tive on immigration economic fact nomic o regarding eco uence immigration rs and in fl — i.e., how factors that are some First p olicies — N immigra ti o n and the govern ations ortages. ment e.g., labour sh addressing is sues related to employmen t, training and educatio n? 3 Interview with an 4 immigrant for a perspective on the 192 factors that influenced their decision to come to Canada.  H o w w e l l d o C a n a d a ’s i m m i g r a t i o n l a w s a n d p o l i c i e s r e s p o n d t o i m m i g r a t i o n i s s u e s ? Chapter 5 Review WHAT DID CHAPTER 5 EXPLORE? What criteria does Canada use when accepting immigrants and refugees? How do the individual and collective rights of Canadians influence immigration laws and policies? How do provinces influence immigration laws and policies? Revisit the Chapter Issue Ta k e A c t i o n Use what you have learned in this chapter Choose a provincial or federal immigration to develop your own informed position on issue currently in the media or from the the chapter issue: chapter. Write a letter to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration stating your How well do Canada’s immigration position this issue. Express your laws and policies respond to recommendations for how you think the immigration issues? government should respond to the issue in Work through the directions for meeting the needs of Canadians. “Demonstrating Your Learning” on page 55 to present your position. R e f l e c t B e f o r e Yo u F o r g e t Reflect on what you learned in this S h a r e W h a t Yo u K n o w chapter about Canada’s immigration Apply your research skills by conducting laws and policies. an inquiry into how a factor affecting In this chapter I discovered… about the immigration policies today influenced research process. immigration policies in the past. Create an oral report describing the relations