Policy switch not beneficial
By Robert Barron, The Daily News October 27, 2012

After living in many parts of Canada over the years, one aspect of the country that I’ve always enjoyed is the fact that I can meet people from all corners of the world who have decided to make our beautiful country their own.

When I was living in Toronto many years ago, one of my favourite pastimes was visiting the many cultural festivals in which recent, as well as well-established, immigrants to the country showed off their cultures through dancing, singing and, of course, the many culinary delights that are unique to the various parts of the world from where they came from.

These festivals were very popular and drew thousands of people with backgrounds from all over the globe together to get a sense and understanding of each others customs and heritage and also have a lot of fun.

They were also integral in helping the citizens of the diverse and cosmopolitan city establish tolerance and respect for one another and I don’t recall there ever being race riots like seen in the U.S. in the city in the many years that I lived there.

Canada is proof in a world that seems intent on tearing itself apart that multiculturalism can work and people with different colours, cultures and religions can live and work peaceably together to make a great nation.

It’s something that I’ve always been proud of and I never hesitate to tell people exactly where I come from when travelling abroad, unlike many of our neighbours to the south, because we’re seen internationally as a beacon of tolerance and acceptance in a world where such an achievement is rare.

That’s why I’ve become deeply concerned with a new policy recently adopted by the federal government that threatens Canada’s longstanding tradition of multiculturalism.

This summer, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced changes to Canada’s immigration policy in that new applicants must possess enough knowledge of one of the nation’s two official languages sufficient to find employment when they get here.

Before the changes, immigrants were only required to have just a basic knowledge of one of our languages.

Kenney explained that the policy change allows Canada to better select skilled workers who can “hit the ground running” upon arrival.

Like many Canadians, I didn’t think much of it at the time and even figured it made a lot of sense.

But a conversation with Hilde Schlosar, executive director of Nanaimo’s Immigration Welcome Centre, earlier this week was a bit of wake-up call for me.

She told me that the new policy could drastically change the diverse and multicultural identity of the nation that I’ve come to enjoy within just two decades unless it is rescinded or changed.

Schlosar said the policy will severely limit who can come here to live like never before, with preference being given to immigrants from nations that have a French or English background.

She reminded me that Canada is a nation built by immigrants and many of our own forefathers didn’t speak a word of English or French when they first arrived.

Schlosar said it’s “artificial” to believe that the level of proficiency in English or French immigrants have is an indication of how successful they can be in Canada because a lot immigrants, including many of our parents and grandparents, have proven to be successful here despite not having much English or French when they first came to Canada.

This backtracking on a well-established and successful immigration policy is a sad loss to Canada and I fear for what it could mean for the future.

” Contact reporter Robert Barron at RBarron@nanaimodailynews.com or 250-729-4234.
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