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IMMIGRANTS VITAL
Canada will depend almost solely on immigrants for growth in the workforce in the next decade, but that won't prevent looming labour shortages, Statistics Canada declared recently. And those immigrants, as well as their Canadian-born counterparts, will have to be highly skilled to keep the country competitive. Between 1991 and 2001, half of the 1.3 million new jobs created were in highly skilled occupations that require a university degree, while the number requiring a high school diploma or less fell by a quarter. By 2011, when the first wave of the boomers - about 20 per cent - is at least 61, the country will be relying entirely on immigrants for all its labour force growth, Statistics Canada said releasing the latest data from the 2001 census.
As the Canadian workforce ages, the nation's birth rate is falling. By 2001, there were only 2.7 workers aged 20 to 33 for every one aged 55 and over, down from 3.7 in 1981. That trend gets worse in certain professions, particularly in the health and education fields. The number of new doctors and nurses is falling just as the aging population is going to need more of them. "Medical specialists and general practitioners are already older on average than the overall workforce, which compounds concerns about potential shortages," StatsCan said. The average age of specialist physicians was 45.6 in 2001 and almost a quarter were older than 55, more than double the proportion of all older workers in the labour force.
General practitioners were only slightly younger, and the nursing profession is aging even faster because few new ones are entering the profession. The average age of university professors is rising quickly "just as the knowledge economy is demanding workers with higher levels of education," StatsCan said. And many of the skilled trades in the construction industry have large numbers of older workers while the number of young people entering the trades is falling. "The ratio of older to younger workers is changing rapidly. We're just crossing that threshold," Doug Norris of StatsCan said in an interview with Elaine Carey of the Toronto Star."The supply has changed from the past," he said. "On the other hand, you can see with the health-care occupations the demand will be even more than in the past," as an aging population requires more care.
Many women entering the workforce over the past decade kept the picture from looking even worse. Women accounted for fully two-thirds of the overall 1.3 million new jobs in the '90s and their share of the labour force rose to 46.7 per cent from 45 per cent in 1991. But women are reaching the saturation point in the labour force among younger age groups. "We're not going to see that growth again," said demographer David Baxter of the Vancouver-based Urban Futures Institute. Boomers who are now between 37 and 55 make up 47 per cent of the workforce and in 10 years half of them will be over 55, the census said.
With the plummeting birth rate, Canada has increasingly relied on new immigrants as a source of skills and knowledge, and they made up 70 per cent of the total growth in the workforce over the 10 years ending in 2001. Almost 3.2 million people or one in five in the workforce were born outside the country, the census found. In the Toronto census metropolitan area, immigrants now make up 46.7 per cent of the workforce and one in 10 arrived in the last decade.
While Canada grows increasingly dependent on immigrants, they are still not doing as well economically as Canadian-born citizens.Despite the strong economic recovery of the late '90s, only 65.8 per cent of recent immigrants were employed in 2001, compared to 81.8 per cent among Canadian-born. Recent immigrants as a group are far better educated than in the past. The census found a dramatic increase in the proportion of recent immigrants working in highly skilled occupations that require a university degree. Immigrants who arrived in the '90s made up a quarter of the workers in highly skilled occupations, compared to only 13 per cent of those who arrived between 1986 and 1990.
By 2001, before the high-tech industry began to fade, more than 34,400 immigrants, or 12 per cent, worked in information technology occupations, compared to only 3 per cent of native-born Canadians. Toronto is already in the position where all its labour force growth is immigrants, Baxter said. "The message is coming from everywhere: We need immigrants," he said. "The reality is we have brought in a larger number of immigrants (proportionally) than any other country and that has had a major, major impact on labour force growth," said Shirley Seward of the Canadian Labour and Business Centre. "People have only to look around them to see it, but the figures in the census are the most striking I've ever seen."
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CANADIAN PASSPORTS
The federal government has created a computer database to hold the digitized facial images of the 10 million Canadians who have passports. The photo bank is part of a yet-to-be announced pilot project to use biometric facial recognition for passport verification, the Hamilton Spectator reported. The searchable database - with the electronic photo of every man, woman and child whose face appears in a passport file - will help Ottawa stop fraud. For the first time, federal officials will be able to scan photos quickly to check whether an image is attached to more than one name.
Biometric industry officials say the database will also allow faces photographed for passports to be checked against terrorism watch lists, police wanted files and other databases. But a federal spokesperson said the photo bank is intended primarily to fight fraud.
"We only want to eliminate imposters," said Marina Moraitis of the Passport Office in Ottawa. "By that, we mean people who apply for more than one passport under different names." Moraitis acknowledged that "there is potential for sharing databases," but said the current pilot project focuses on passport verification only.
The Passport Office is currently scanning existing hard-copy photos into the database as digital files. Starting next spring, it will require new applicants to submit digital photographs. Biometric industry representatives say the project is part of Ottawa's scramble to add biometrics to Canadian identity documents to satisfy the United States. A new American security law requires all friendly nations, including Canada, to add some form of biometric - a facial image, a fingerprint, or the pattern of the iris in the eye - by the fall of 2003.
IMMIGRASIEBELEID
Ten spyte van onsekerheid wat tans nog heers oor Kanada se nuwe immigrasiebeleid, bly die basiese vereistes vir immigrante dieselfde. Nuwelinge moet byvoorbeeld steeds die mediese ondersoek slaag, vry wees van 'n kriminele rekord, en 'n deeglike sekuriteitsondersoek slaag.
Die drie hoofklasse waaronder aansoek gedoen kan word is: Onafhanklike klas - 'n Persoon moet oor die kwalifikasies, kennis en werksondervinding beskik om suksesvol in die Kanadese ekonomie te funksioneer. Besigheidsklas - Dit sluit onder meer beleggers en entrepreneurs in. Familieklas - 'n Persoon moet 'n naby-familielid in Kanada hê. Sowat 29% van alle immigrante kwalifiseer om na Kanada te kom volgens hierdie kategorie se vereistes. *Klik op die Kanadese vlag vir inligting oor die nuutste wetgewing.
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CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship should only be granted to people who truly belong to this society and share its values, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Denis Coderre recently said after unveiling the first overhaul of the Citizenship Act in 25 years.The proposed law would make it much tougher for applicants who don't live full-time in Canada to get citizenship. A new judicial procedure for revoking citizenship would give the courts - not the federal cabinet - the power to revoke the Canadian nationality of war criminals, terrorists and members of organized crime and swiftly order them deported, the Toronto Star reports. The bill also includes a new citizenship oath that adds a pledge of loyalty and allegiance to Canada, as well as the Queen, but drops a reference to the Queen's heirs and successors. "Citizenship is not only a passport, it is a commitment between a country and the people who live there," he said. "People who want to live permanently in our society as full participants must share the values of a free and democratic society. "Citizenship is an active commitment to participate in the life of our society," Coderre said. One key change that will affect every application is the residency requirements for applicants. "We want to give a definition of the term "residence" that will make it impossible for people to say that they are Canadian residents, (but) live outside Canada and still be entitled to citizenship," Coderre said. The old law requires applicants for citizenship to show they have "resided" in Canada for three years out of the four years prior to applying. But different citizenship judges and the courts have given a broad interpretation to residence. That has often allowed people to spend most of their time living and working in another country, but still claim "residence," and win citizenship because they have a home here, pay taxes or have left their families here while they worked abroad. "Citizenship is an active commitment to participate in the life of our society."
VAKANSIES
In 'n onlange ondersoek deur Ipsos-Reid en MSN.CA wat gehandel het oor waar Kanadese hul somer vakansies deurbring, het die volgende aan die lig gekom: 54% het die afgelope somer vakansie geneem. 38% het binne Kanada rondgereis; 1% het op 'n bootvakansie gegaan; 14% het kampeer; 14% was weg op daguitstappies; 12% was na 'n kothuisie; 6% was na Amerika; 6% het buite Noord Amerika se grense gereis en 'n ongelukkige 13%, het in tuisbly se karretjie gery.
NEW LAW
The new law requires applicants for citizenship to show they have been "physically present" in Canada for a period of three years, out of the six years prior to the application. Immigration minister Coderre said the new provisions require citizens to have "real tangible ties to this country," but still allow flexibility for those required to work or do business outside of Canada. The law would also now grant citizenship automatically to a foreign child adopted abroad by a Canadian citizen, the Toronto Star reports. Many elements of the old law remain the same: everyone born in Canada is entitled to citizenship; dual citizenship will still be allowed; children born in other countries to Canadians will have the right to citizenship. But the rules will change on how citizenship is passed down for non-residents. While children born abroad to Canadians will still get citizenship in the first and second generations, second generation children would lose their citizenship at age 28 if they haven't spent at least three years in Canada. And there are new rules for removing citizenship. Without going to the courts, the minister can annul any grant of citizenship - within five years - if officials learn the applicant didn't qualify in the first place because of a criminal record or false identity. A second process, revocation of citizenship, would be created to strip nationality from those involved in war crimes, terrorism and organized crime. He said the revocation decision has been taken away from cabinet to open things up and allow for due process and appeals. Citizenship judges will also no longer have decision-making power in citizenship cases. Instead, they will be re-named citizenship commissioners.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
BC's main city, Vancouver, was ranked as one of the two best places in the world to live, along with Zurich, in a 2001 survey which assessed quality-of-life factors in cities across the globe. Situated on Canada's western coastline, British Columbia serves as the country's gateway to Asia and the Pacific. Official figures suggest that, on average, British Columbians earn more and work less than workers throughout the rest of Canada. *More details - www.ei.gov.be.ca/immigration
MANITOBA
Manitoba's fast growing economy has healthy commercial and financial sectors. Its capital, Winnipeg, has been ranked as Canada's most economically diverse centre. Low living costs and personal taxes give Manitobans a high standard of living in relation to other parts of Canada. *More details - www.gov.mb.ca/itt/trade
NEW BRUNSWICK
New Brunswick is the largest of Canada's three Maritime Provinces. From its traditional resource-based economy New Brunswick has broadened its industrial base. There is a strong emphasis on manufacturing, IT and tourism. *More details -www.gov.nb.ca
NEWFOUNDLAND
The cost of living in Newfoundland and Labrador is low, as is the crime rate. Unemployment though is about 20% and has been relatively high for several years. KPMG Canada named St. John's, the provincial capital, one of the lowest-cost locations to do business in North America and Europe. *More details -www.success.nfld.net
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
There is a growing diamond industry in the NWT. There are only around 42,000 people in the whole of NWT, despite covering more than one million square kilometers. *Look at: www.gov.nt.ca
NOVA SCOTIA
The economy of this province on Canada's eastern coastline is primarily service based with 78% of the workforce employed in that area. Provincial capital Halifax serves as financial, business and research hub for the other Atlantic Provinces.
*See: www.novascotiabusiness.com
NUNAVUT
Nunavut was only established in 1993. As a result economic data is scarce for a sparsely populated state of which 85% of the inhabitants are native Inuit peoples.
ONTARIO
Ontario's 11.6 million people make is Canada's most populous and dynamic province. Ontario welcomes more immigrants than any other Canadian province. Computers, software and medical technologies are among the fastest growing industries in the province. *Details on: www.2ontario.com
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Agriculture, tourism and fishing are the leading industries in the smallest province in Canada, but is well-known of its high unemployment. *Look at: www.gov.pe.ca
QUEBEC
Canada's second biggest provincial economy runs its own migration program. *Tel: 0033-153-984-545
SASKATCHEWAN
No health care premiums, along with a strong economy and affordable housing means that "Sas" offers one of the lowest costs of living in Canada. Saskatchewan is the sunniest Canadian province and has affordable housing with a low cost of living. *See: www.gov.sk.ca/econdev
YUKON
High unemployment and slow growth characterize a province looking to exploit its tourism potential. *See: www.touryukom.com
BEVOLKINGSGROEI
Die Kanadese regering het bekend gemaak dat die bevolkingsgroei oor dertig jaar slegs te danke sal wees aan immigrante. Sedert 1945 het Kanada ongeveer agt miljoen immigrante aanvaar met 'n gemiddeld van 150 000 per jaar. Weens al hierdie nuwelinge vanuit die buiteland is 17% van Kanada se burgers buite die land gebore. Statistieke toon dat die gemiddelde persoon wat hom/haar hier kom vestig goed gekwalifiseerd is. In 1999 het 42% van die werkende Kanadese bevolging minstens 'n graad agter hul name gehad terwyl 57% van die immigrante net so goed gekwalifiseerd was.
IMMIGRANT VS NATIVE-BORN
The belief that immigrants are more crime-prone than native-born Canadians persists in the face of consistent evidence to the contrary. The slip from "illegal immigrant" to "criminal" is quick and dirty in public discourse. Yet those who are smuggled into Canada are probably more likely to become victims of exploitation and abuse than perpetrators. Sex-trade workers and indentured workers are two examples. Our law is committed to treating any crime committed by a non-citizen as an immigration problem in need of an immigration solution. Even if a person has lived in Canada since he was a toddler, he may still be deported if convicted of a crime and sentenced to more than two years imprisonment. Canada has deported scores of people in this situation, people who came to Canada legally at an early age and may never have realized that they were not citizens until it was too late, people who don't speak the language of the country they were born in, have no connections or support network there, and quite often don't even have a memory of the country of their legal citizenship. No distinction is made between the immigrant who arrived a month ago and the immigrant who arrived 30 years ago. The act of deporting long-time residents of Canada to their country of birth seems justifiable only if they and their criminality are really "foreign imports." Yet it seems hard to avoid the conclusion that these individuals are "made-in-Canada" criminals, and it's not obvious that it is even fair to the country of birth to dump them there like an unwanted package tagged "return to sender." Consider the situation of Canadians who now face the prospect of fingerprinting, interrogation and indefinite detention in the United States. Why? In some cases, it's because of where they were born, independent of how long they have lived in Canada or when they acquired Canadian citizenship. In other cases, such as that of Michel Jalbert from Quebeck, it's because they crossed the border to buy gasoline with a rifle in the car and a decade-old break and enter conviction. The U.S. has refused to explain why they deported Syrian-born Canadian Maher Arar to Syria, where torture and massive violations of human rights are commonplace. In fact, their actions appear to be directly contrary to U.S. immigration law. They have also refused to explain why it was necessary to detain Michel Jalbert for five weeks. We should not assume that the justification for the U.S. actions in Mr. Arar's case is any more compelling than whatever rationale is used in Mr. Jalbert's case. That is, unless you share the idea that being Muslim, or born in the Middle East, or simply having dark skin - like author Rohinton Mistry - is justification enough. I heard someone complain recently that the U.S. was treating Canadians like criminals. But remember, as far as the U.S. is concerned, Mr. Arar and Mr. Jalbert are both just foreigners: One of them is an Arab, and the other doesn't even speak English. And we all know about foreigners and crime ...
*Written by Audrey Macklin - professor of law at the University of Toronto.
MIGRATIONS
Census 2001 figures from Statistics Canada show that since 1996, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have lost more than they gained from internal migrations of population. The trend is strongest in the Toronto census area, stretching from Oakville to Whitby. Some 258,000 people who were living here in 1996 moved out, and only 214,000 other people already established in Canada moved in during the five-year period. That's a net loss of 44,000 in internal migration - shades of Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, where exporting young people is a primary industry, John Deverell from the Toronto Star reports. Some smaller cities, notably Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Halifax, continued to grow on the basis of internal migration. But the big three now rely entirely on immigration for growth. The Toronto census area added 374,000 people from abroad between 1996 and 2001 and absorbed about 38 per cent of all immigration to Canada.
Statistics Canada attributes part of the shift out of the GTA to retirement, noting a net out-migration of 12,500 people in the 65-plus age group. But that leaves more to explain. Social analysts are particularly surprised at such change in the 905 zone in a time of prosperity and rising employment."Any hint of negative growth is of great concern," says Julie Mathien, a policy officer with city community services. "If Toronto is wobbling, there will be serious consequences." Toronto's disappearing Canucks appear to have gone down the highway to Hamilton and Oshawa, cities that between them netted 30,000 residents from the Toronto area.
People may be getting more bang for the buck in distant housing markets, Mathien speculated, but their migration weakens Toronto's tax base. There's no evidence jobs are migrating, though, said Bruce Graham, Toronto's director of business development.
Barb Leonhardt, director of policy and research for the city planning department, said the numbers just reflect the maturation of areas like Mississauga.
Realtor Neil Riach has detected a shift in attitudes that might explain some of the flight.
"People realize they can work from Collingwood or the equivalent, pay lower taxes and still have reasonable access to Pearson airport," he said. "They are able to choose the gentler life."
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HOE ONS TOE NIE EMIGREER HET NIE...
Hier teen die middel negentigs begin ek en W se koppe Kanada se kant toe staan. Gedeeltelik oor al die misdaad en korrupsie in Suid-Afrika, maar miskien grootliks bloot jeugdige avontuurlustigheid. Ons gaan kyk op die Kanadese konsulaat in Suid-Afrika se webwerf rond, en vul die elektroniese toets in om te kyk hoeveel punte ons verdien. Ons het 'n goeie kans: ons is albei gegradueer, en W werk boonop as rekenaarprogrammeerder, 'n heel gesogte vaardigheid in Kanada.
In daardie stadium het ons nog nie juis vaste planne vir emigrasie nie, maar ons begin so geleidelik die nodige geld spaar en die berge dokumentasie bymekaar skraap. Ons wag-en-sien houding sou dalk veel langer geduur het, maar in 1998 word ek een aand in Pretoria deur twee jeugdige rowers met messe toegetakel en vol gate gesteek. Dit neem die polisie amper 'n uur om hulle verskyning te maak, en hulle bydrae bestaan daaruit om my in te lig dat hulle nie eens gaan bodder om 'n dossier oop te maak nie, siende daar tog geen kans is dat die twee skuldiges ooit vasgetrek gaan word nie. Ons emigrasieplanne word toe ietwat meer dringend.
Aanvanklik oorweeg ons dit om deur een van die baie emigrasiemaatskappye te werk, maar dit word gou duidelik dat hulle nie regtig oor meer inligting as ons beskik nie, en in baie gevalle in der waarheid minder as ons weet van die hele proses. Vroeg in die jaar 2000 het ons al die dokumentasie gereed, en het ons die nodige hoeveelheid geld gespaar. Nog net die goed by die Kanadese konsulaat gaan inhandig, en dan bloot wag en hoop vir die beste. Dit blyk toe ook nie so maklik te wees nie. Die Kanadese burokrate is vriendelik, maar nie eintlik hulpvaardig nie. Op min of meer alle vrae het hulle net een antwoord: "I'm sorry sir, we don't have that information." Hulle aanvaar nie ons administratiewe fooi in kontant nie. Ook nie in die vorm van 'n tjek nie. Ons besoek die konsulaat seker tien keer, en elke keer is daar weer iets anders fout. As mens so lank moet sukkel net om die dokumentasie ingehandig te kry, hoe lank gaan dit die burokrate neem om die aansoek te oorweeg?, begin ons wonder.
En toe raak dinge nog meer ingewikkeld. W het sy CV oral oor die internet gaan pos, en in Maart kry hy skielik antwoord van 'n personeelagentskap in Johannesburg. Daar is 'n pos vir 'n programmeerder in Nederland, en hy sal moontlik daarvoor kwalifiseer. Om 'n lang storie kort te maak: in Mei 2000 word ons ingelig dat ons binne 'n week in Nederland moet wees. Die grootste geskarrel van ons lewens vind plaas soos ons rondhardloop om binne 'n rekordtyd ons bestaan in Suid-Afrika op te skort en na Europa te verplaas. Gelukkig het ons, in afwagting van emigrasie, nie veel huisraad opgegaar nie, want ons moes omtrent alles verniet weggee.
Danksy die Nederlandse avontuur is die Kanada-planne toe voorlopig op ys. Ons oorweeg dit selfs om indien moontlik, permanent in Nederland te bly: die land is prentjiemooi, die mense is opgevoed en beskaaf, daar is feitlik geen misdaad nie en ons voel dat ons wel op die langer duur by die vreemde taal en kultuur sal kan aanpas. Na Pretoria se hitte geniet ons selfs die koel, vogtige klimaat.
Na 'n jaar en 'n half begin ons egter kriewelrig raak. Omdat net W 'n werkpermit het, kan ek nie 'n inkomste verdien nie en dit lyk ook nie of die Hollanders my enigsins binne die afsienbare toekoms gaan toelaat om wettiglik daar te werk nie. Boonop sukkel ons maar om aan te pas. Europa is gruwelik oorbevolk, en ons kan die ongelooflike mensemassa maar net nie gewoond raak nie. Die Nederlandse taal gee ook probleme. Dit is maklik genoeg om te lees, maar selfs na 'n jaar kan ons dit nog nie juis praat nie. Ons begin agterkom: die Afrikaanse kultuur het eintlik meer in gemeen met die Engelse kultuur... Boonop is gesproke Engels by verre makliker om te verstaan as die vreemde gutterale gebabbel waarmee ons elke dag in Europa gekonfronteer word! Ons besluit dus om maar weer na Kanada te kyk as 'n meer permanente bestemming.
Ons het al ons opgegaarde dokumentasie gelukkig saamgeneem na Nederland, so daar is nie soveel administrasie om mee te sukkel nie. Of so dink ons. Weens ons vorige gesukkel in Suid-Afrika, besluit ons om hierdie keer tog maar van immigrasie advokate gebruik te maak. Ons stuur e-pos aan min of meer elke firma in Kanada, en besluit op die ou end om die dienste van Abrams & Krochak in Toronto te gebruik. Hulle diens is heel goed, en hulle beskik oor allerlei inligting waarvan ons nooit bewus was nie. Maar dit blyk gou dat emigrasie 'n selfs groter burokratiese nagmerrie is as wat ons ooit van kon droom.
Toe ons oorspronklik in Suid-Afrika ons dokumentasie voorberei het, het ons al die dokumente wat in Afrikaans was, amptelik laat vertaal deur die Poskantoor se Taalburo, wat min of meer al die amptelike vertalings in Suid-Afrika doen. Helaas! Abrams & Krochak laat weet ons dat dit nie deur die Kanadese owerhede aanvaar word nie. Hoe nou gemaak? Ons vriendelike en hulpvaardige immigrasie-advokate laat weet ons dat hulle dit nagegaan het. Sover hulle kan agterkom, sal dit aanvaarbaar wees as ons self die Afrikaans na Engels vertaal, en dit dan laat nagaan deur 'n tolk wat gemagtig is om Nederlands na Engels te vertaal. Omdat Afrikaans en Nederlands baie soortgelyk is, behoort die Kanadese owerhede te aanvaar dat 'n Nederlandssprekende taalkundige gekwalifiseer is om die vertaling na te gaan. Maar dit moet so op die dokumente aangedui word. Vir 'n week of twee ry ek elke dag deur reën, wind en hael te fiets na ons tolk, om die vertalings te laat doen, en die bewoording reg te kry. Alles teen heel hoë koste, want in Nederland is niks gratis nie.
Uiteindelik is al ons dokumentasie gereed. Teen hierdie tyd (ongeveer Januarie 2002),is ons al op hete kole, want na die vorige jaar se terroriste-aanvalle op Amerika raak werk oral in die wêreld al skaarser, en buitelanders steeds minder en minder gewild. Dit lyk meer en meer asof die Nederlanders ons nie veel langer in hul land gaan toelaat nie, so ons wil die Kanadese emigrasie aansoek so gou moontlik afgehandel kry.
Ons het al reeds begin om koeriers te reël om ons dokumentasie in Kanada te kry, toe kry ons 'n brief van Abrams & Krochak. Die reëls vir immigrasie gaan gewysig word, en volgens die wysigings sal ons dan nie meer kwalifiseer nie. En verder: hoewel hierdie wysigings nog nie amptelik in werking gestel is nie, word hulle nietemin deur die Kanadese owerhede beskou as terugwerkend tot Desember 2001. Met ander woorde, al handig ons onmiddellik ons aansoeke in, is dit te laat. Die kanse dat ons nog sal kwalifiseer is min of meer nul. En die kersie op die koek: so 'n week later laat weet die Nederlandse owerhede W dat sy werkpermit nie hernu sal word nie.
Teen Maart 2002 is ons terug in Suid-Afrika. In vele opsigte eintlik verlig, want so mooi as wat Nederland is, sal ons nie permanent daar wil woon nie. Maar danksy die Kanadese owerhede se doelpaalverskuiwery, het daardie deurtjie ten minste voorlopig ook in ons gesigte toegeklap.
Is dit die einde van die wêreld? Nee. Elke land het maar sy eie voordele en nadele, of dit nou Nederland, Suid-Afrika of Kanada is. Mens moet die beste maak van waar jy ook al is; geen hoeveelheid verbittering het nog ooit enigiemand se lewe verbeter nie. Ek sien dieselfde ding in briewe van Suid-Afrikaners wat in Kanada woon. Die een ou sê Kanada is hemel op aarde. Die volgende ou sê Kanada is hel op aarde. Hoe is dit moontlik dat twee mense dieselfde land so volslae verskillend kan ervaar? Ek weet nie, maar ek vermoed lewenshouding het heelwat daarmee te doen. Ons het een ding geleer: daar is geen waarborge in die lewe nie. Maar 'n mens moet nie dat dit jou daarvan weerhou om te LEEF nie.
*Brian van der Spuy - brianvds@yahoo.com
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RULE CHANGE
A sudden rule change at the federal immigration department is going to make it more difficult for thousands of people married to Canadians to stay in this country on humanitarian grounds. Critics say the change buried in the text of an obscure new policy manual revokes an exemption that has been in place for more than 20 years. The old policy allowed many people who were in Canada without status - but were married to Canadians - to stay in the country while immigration files were processed. The change applies to refugee claimants, illegal workers or others without status, who apply to stay in this country on humanitarian grounds because they are married to a Canadian resident. Since June, people in Canada legally on work permits or visitor visas have been automatically allowed to remain in the country while their immigration application is processed, if they have a Canadian spouse or partner. But applicants who are in Canada without status now face more stringent rules when they apply to stay on humanitarian grounds. The old manual told immigration officers to consider that separating couples would cause undue hardship and could be grounds for allowing an applicant to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds. But the new manual rejects that notion and states that being married to a Canadian, in and of itself, is not enough to be allowed to stay in this country on humanitarian grounds. Applicants will have to demonstrate some other reason - not just separation from their spouse - to justify allowing them to remain in Canada while immigration files are processed. And couples are warned they are likely to face separation while one partner leaves the country to await processing. Couples may be apartfor months or years during process, critics say "Marriage or the existence of a common-law relationship is not automatically considered sufficient grounds for a positive humanitarian and compassionate decision," the new manual states. "It is reasonable to anticipate that there will be a separation for immigration processing. There is no legal entitlement for a spouse or a common-law partner without temporary resident status to remain in Canada." Critics say the rule change will result in many couples being torn apart for months or years at a time while applications work their way through the system. And that contradicts the policy of keeping families together, they say. "This is a major change, being done through a policy manual, not by legislation or regulations," said Toronto immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman. "It shows a real hardening of attitudes at the immigration department. This affects thousands of people and has not been properly debated," said lawyer Robin Seligman. "The bureaucrats are imposing what they want, not what MPs voted on in the legislation."
 
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