Nick Noorani Website

Ever since the ‘Tiger’ ship landed on Canadian shores, the media and politicians have jumped upon it like a geek club pounces on Steve Jobs’s latest gizmo!

Except nearly all use terms that the other fellow uses, so here’s my request PLEASE use the right terms. Most Canadians are confused enough already by immigration and you are adding to confusion and the surveys that emanate out of the confusion only exacerbate the situation.

Migrant - NOT the same as Immigrant!
The United Nations’ definition is broad, including any persons working outside of their home country.
The term can also be used to describe someone who migrates within a country, possibly their own, in order to pursue work such as seasonal work.

Refugee - a refugee is a person who (according to the formal definition in article 1A of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees), “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country”.

Immigrant - Immigration is the introduction of new people into a habitat or population. It is a biological concept and is important in population ecology, differentiated from emigration and migration. In Canada they are usually skilled workers and families of skilled workers limited to spouses, children and parents.

Getit? I have a $4 bill for those who correctly guessed where the Tamil boat fits in!

A lot of the xenophobia and bigotry that reverberated in the wake of the arrival this summer of a ship bearing 492 Tamils ostensibly focused on those few refugees.

But you didn’t have to read much between the lines of Internet and talk-show chatter to notice that much of the vitriol continues to target a broader swath of immigrants — in some cases those who don’t fit someone’s definition of being sufficiently like “us,” and, in some cases, the whole damn lot.

Which got me thinking about where Canada would be without its steady influx of newcomers, whether skilled or not.

In my own city of Vancouver, if you were to take away visible minorities and those who speak with unCanadian accents, all our hospitals would be left with frighteningly small staffs.

Ditto the food court where I buy lunch, the store where I buy electronics, the barber shop I need to visit soon.

Without newcomers, we’d never see the contributions of thousands and thousands of highly skilled technical workers, nor entrepreneurs ranging from the fruit-seller down the road, to business and philanthropic giants like the founders of Future Shop (Iranian Hassan Khosrowshahi) or Roots (Americans Michael Budman and Don Green).

I haven’t seen comparable Canadian data, but in the U.S. — with its proportionately much smaller immigrant population — 25 per cent of new startups are undertaken by foreign-born entrepreneurs.

As for the future, take away immigrants and their children — regardless of whether they came here rich or poor — and you’d be able to open a bowling alley in our halls of academe.

Of course, no one knows what, if any, success stories will unfold if or when any of these 492 Tamils clear the hoops to stay legally in Canada. As with any population — including native-born Canadians — odds are some will turn out to be bright and productive, and others not so much.

But, on balance, Canada needs people with many different skill levels to cope with looming demographic realities.

I don’t know any thoughtful analyst who thinks immigration can totally solve the problems of a rapidly aging population, a workforce shrinking in relation to the jobs that need doing, and an ever-larger requirement for public spending, especially on health care for old people, with an ever-smaller group of productive workers to pay for it. But absence of immigration will worsen these problems.

Which is why I think the system urgently needs fixing.

First, it takes too long, and our bureaucrats too often lose track of those who don’t qualify to get in. That’s a frequent complaint of those who argue against immigration, and it’s valid. But it seems to me it’s our problem, not the immigrants’, and it’s up to us to fix it.

Second, while it’s true that immigrants may get some help (those who need an assist from welfare to get started draw particular fury), it’s also true that, increasingly, there are impediments to how quickly they advance. Some of this stems from government inaction in dealing with protectionist professional groups, who often go to great lengths to make it difficult for newcomers to practise. But, whatever the reason, it takes a steadily lengthening period of time for new arrivals, on average, to start earning as much as native-born Canadians.

It’s worth noting, however, that, even though immigrants’ incomes trail by as much as 20 per cent, this neither increases their welfare usage nor lessens their savings. Recent arrivals are more likely than other Canadians to live in over-crowded homes, but the tables soon turn. Established immigrants are more likely than the rest of us to own a home with a manageable mortgage.

There’s also a question of how new immigrants distribute themselves across the land. With the tendency for newcomers to settle in — in order of preference — Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, the rate of growth can strain services such as schools and English-as-a-second-language training in some communities, while others could really use new blood.

So I don’t argue we should take all comers willy-nilly. But — for good reasons related to our self-interest — we have, and need to have, clear rules on who should be let in. This includes refugees who clear the bar we’ve set for them.

Don Cayo writes for the Vancouver Sun.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/should+immigration/3588691/story.html#ixzz10pwrOVs7

An article in the Globe and Mail last week caught my attention.

www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/how-to-cure-canadas-innovation-woes/article1717433

Particularly interesting is this:
“Integrate immigrants
Funding should go to help immigrants start businesses that are built on trade with their native countries. Canada must find ways to draw on the knowledge of recent business student grads who are immigrants.

Here are the facts:
Immigrants are 30 per cent more likely to start a business or become self-employed than Canadian born people.
1 of every 6 Immigrants is self-employed

As a newcomer, getting any kind of small business loan is very challenging – same old ‘no credit history’ challenge accompanied by the fact that most immigrants do not have knowledge of how to start a business in Canada. Whilst HRSDC funds self employment programs, they are available only to individuals on EI. Lastly, for most immigrants, doing trade with their home country is a no brainer, but we need the government to step in. With large numbers of immigrants and students in Canada, we are sitting on a potential opportunity that must be encouraged.

Since 26th June, when Minister Jason Kenney announced that immigrants to Canada will have to pass an IELTS exam for language proficiency, there has been a big hue and cry about these changes. Interestingly, not from the major source countries immigrants come from but from English speaking countries like US and UK. Some newspapers interviewed potential immigrants who are literally apoplectic that Canada would have the temerity to ask for an English speaking person to take a test!

Previously the test was a self declared admission which didn’t work. So it’s changed and I wholeheartedly agree with this change. It will help improve immigrants success outcomes as language is the biggest barrier.

To the Brits and Yanks, chill. These are the rules of our country!

Or so the famous song goes. By the time you read this, I will have left my daily duties as publisher of the magazine to pursue other interests. Written on my last official day, this is therefore my last “Publisher’s Note.”

And it was a tough one to write (seven drafts written and deleted!). As difficult as walking away from a baby you created, breathed life into and nurtured. But this baby is all grown up and has fulfilled everything that any proud parent could want.

From the very first issue, the magazine got heartfelt thanks from so many immigrants. Immigrants whose lives changed. Immigrants who responded when I scolded them for giving up. Immigrants who reached out and sent me hundreds of thousands of emails over the years. You don’t know it, but every single one of your emails touched me and made me more determined to overcome obstacles. My sincere apologies for not being able to answer all of your emails, but you can rest assure that I read them all.

So, as I sit here wistfully looking out the window, I ask myself “Any regrets?” And the answer is a resounding “No!” The magazine has allowed me to speak to all of you every month. Allowed me to create content and events like the first national awards recognizing immigrant excellence — the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant awards. Allowed me to meet corporations and talk to them about the value of hiring immigrants. Allowed me to speak with the highest level of politicians to try to make life just a bit easier for every single one of you. On the way, I received recognition, awards and accolades, all because of you.

But there is perhaps one thing that weighs on my mind as I leave the magazine that I designed and glued together — and that is there are still many immigrants out there who are not succeeding. Immigrants who are working in jobs below their expertise. Immigrants who have given up and that hurts me. Immigrants who have stopped believing in themselves. And that is why my work is not done yet.

So let me rewind to the birth of the magazine. Some of you may have heard it before, but here it is for the last time from me on this page.

It all started with a 3 a.m. dream on March 25, 2003. I dreamed about a magazine for immigrants. I then sat at my computer and wrote out what my dream for this magazine would be. I was excited and couldn’t go back to sleep. That day, at work I spoke to some colleagues and they, too, found it a great idea. From then on, every free moment was spent on scouring the internet on everything to do with Canadian immigration.

The magazine was officially launched in Vancouver on April 28, 2004, with a gathering of friends and well wishers. With a small circulation of 7,000 copies, we received scores of letters from immigrants, educators and stakeholders alike. I also received our first offer to be bought out!

The magazine grew by leaps and bounds adding advertisers and circulation in its first three years. We also added a scholarship to help immigrants called the Lilian To Scholarship. As a new magazine owned by a relatively new immigrant, it was difficult to manage the growing need for additional finance and, in December 2006, it was acquired by the Toronto Star.

Shortly after, we launched a Toronto edition. The magazine has evolved physically as well. From a tabloid newsprint in the first year to the glossy one you now hold, it has been a great journey.

The magazine could not have happened without a great team and others whom I wish to thank. First of all my wife, Sabrina, who believed in me when many thought the magazine would never fly. My editor, Margaret Jetelina, who has been the editor from the first issue and with whom I have spent many hours arguing content! My business adviser at the YMCA, Debbie Catherwood, who has been a mentor, friend and guide all rolled into one. Praveen Varshney, my mentor, who always had time to give me his advice even though he was busy himself. Steve Mayall, for giving me a boost up when I needed it most.

After today, I will spend more time with my speaking career and other consultancy work. Hopefully, I will also complete my second book.

As I leave I know I pass on the baton to an extremely capable team and have confidence that the legacy I have created will continue to grow in the years to come. Those of you who wish to follow me may do so from my website nicknoorani.com, my Facebook account and Twitter.

I may have left the magazine, but you can be sure I won’t leave my life passion of helping immigrants.

Goodbye for now.