🚀 go-pugleaf

Two points I would like to add:

Sergio Marchi just increased the number of refugees we will be letting 
in (by the same number as the decrease he made in the number of 
immigrants,) and

The favorite places for refugees to settle in in Canada are in order of 
numbers:
Toronto
Vancouver
Ottawa (they seem to want the government jobs they can get under Employment
        Equity programs)
Montreal (because Quebec severely limits the numbers allowed)

Karen Gordon (ar231@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) wrote:
: The following news report is the result of a 'leaked' document to the
: Vancouver Sun from employees who work within the immigration department.
: Because they see, first hand, the problems associated with our refugee
: and immigration systems, their recommendations are particularly valid...
: 			___________________

: 	Rest of world 'snickers at us' over handling of refugees...

: (Vancouver Sun - Moira Farrow)
: Disillusion was widespread among immigration department employees in 
: B.C. last year because they believed many aspects of the system had 
: failed, according to an internal report.

: The report, sent anonymously to The Vancouver Sun Thursday, is a summary
: of consultations with more than 100 employees of the B.C./Yukon region of
: the citizenship and immigration department.

: Summarizing the feelings of some of the staff members, the report states: 
: "We go about congratulating ourselves for our over-exuberant acceptance of 
: mostly BOGUS refugees, while the rest of the world snickers at us for the
: suckers we are."

: The immigration staff recommended in the discussions that refugees be 
: selected OUTSIDE and not inside Canada, that the official policy of multi-
: culturalism be dropped, and that 'family class' be restricted to the 
: SPOUSE and DEPENDENT CHILDREN.  

: The discussions took place early last year, along with public consultations.
: They led to changes in the immigration system announced in November by 
: Immigration Minister Sergio Marchi.

: But the changes addressed only some of the employees' complaints - leaving
: the refugee system, for example, unchanged.

: The report sent to The Sun was issued in about May 1994, according to 
: department public-affairs officer Lois Reimer.

: The B.C. department employees were asked to hold small group discussion on
: 10 issues considered to be of major public concern.
: The report gives a detailed account of these discussions and highlights 
: points that went "largely uncontested" during the discussions.

: The first issue discussed was the "vision of Canada" the immigration
: program should seek.
: 			________________

: Key responses were: elimination of official multiculturalism, wider
: dispersal of immigrant settlement because 3 cities (obviously Vancouver,
: Toronto and Montreal) are already under great strain, and determination
: that immigrants contribute to Canada's economy.

: (On multiculturalism):
: Enlarging on multiculturalism, many employees recommended it be replaced
: by a policy promoting INTEGRATION.

: "We should start defining ourselves and our country in terms of excellence,"
: said the report, quoting staff opinion.

: (On selection):
: On the issue of immigrant selection, staff said the process must be driven 
: less by 'targets' because this lead to compromises on quality."

: They said official language ability, education and 'personal suitability'
: must be made more important; 'family class' limited to spouse and dependent
: children, and the 'entrepreneur and business' categories must undergo major
: changes to make them more economically beneficial.

: (On refugees):
: On the issue of refugees, the groups concluded there should be NO MORE
: in-Canada refugee determination.  Instead, 'genuine refugees' should be
: identified abroad and then landed in Canada.  One group said this is the 
: only way to restore integrity to the refugee system.

: (On lawyers):
: "The lawyers are making a circus out of in-Canada refugee claims.  It is
: costly and the country cannot afford it," another group said.

: (On family class 'sponsorhip'):
: Discussing family class sponsorship, a group said there is so much break-
: down of financial sponsorships, that sponsored family class memebers 
: should NOT BE ALLOWED TO COLLECT WELFARE.

: All groups agreed "immigrants should not be allowed to benefit from Canada's
: social programs so soon after their arrival."  They also recommended Canada
: NOT TRADE with refugee-producing countries.

: The group from the Douglas border immigration office reported the refugee 
: program is completely inadequate for distinguishing between genuine
: refugees and those taking advantage of Canada's 'open door' policy.

: "Evidence of abuse is easy to find.  MANY REFUGEE CLAIMANTS HAVE BEEN 
: FOUND TO RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ALLEGED PERSECUTION shortly after being
: granted permanent residence in Canada."

: It said some claimants have been found carrying instructions from relatives
: in Canada telling them to say "your uncle or brother was killed by the army."

: "It would seem that Canada has become an economic haven, rather than a safe
: haven for those in genuine need of protection."

: (On integration):
: On the issue of integration into Canadian society, the staff recommened
: FEES BE CHARGED for language instruction so that immigrants assume more
: responsibility for themselves.

: Employees also suggested the 'host' program - which links new arrivals with
: local families - be expanded.

: (Other recommendations):
: Other major points stressed by the staff included:
: - less political interference
: - more access to criminal information, and
: - faster deportation of criminals.

: 		_______________________________________________
: --

: 7