Nick Noorani Website

Government measures will jeopardize entry of immigrants…
VANCOUVER, March 24 /CNW/ – The federal government’s tabled plan to
reduce the numbers of immigrants coming to Canada “is draconian and needs to
go back to the drawing board,” this according to the Publisher and Founder of
Canadian Immigrant magazine, Nick Noorani. Mr. Noorani, who is also the
President of the Vancouver Multicultural Society, says the government needs to
bring more discussion to the table before moving forward on its proposed plan
to give the Minister power to pick and choose which applications to process in
order to clear the 900,000 backlog of immigrant applications.

Immigrant advocacy groups believe the proposed measures could mean
temporary labour will also be further encouraged at the expense of permanent
residents. Since the Conservatives have come into power, more emphasis has
been placed on bringing in temporary workers than making use of the immigrants
we have here in Canada, according to Noorani. “The Conservatives brought in
125,000 temporary workers last year – which is almost the same number as those
brought in under the skilled category!” he says.
Here are some quick numbers according to Service Canada: 2,877 temporary
construction workers and labourers were brought in 2007, as opposed to 183 in
2005; food counter attendants and kitchen helpers jumped from 109 to 6,005.
“Temporary workers send their money outside of Canada to care for their
families back home. They also never embrace Canada the way new immigrants do -
it’s a lose-lose situation.” Noorani adds, “Immigrants are good for Canada,
especially at a time when we are facing a major labour shortage.”
To help with the backlog, Noorani recommends that resources spent on the
temporary program be moved to the immigration system and a new class of lower
skilled permanent residents be allowed the points to enter Canada and meet the
labour needs that the temps currently fill. “It’s time we take the future of
Canada and immigration away from political agendas and get stakeholders, such
as employers and smaller communities who need workers, around the table to
discuss what’s really right for Canada.”
Noorani who became a Canadian citizen last year has been a voice for
immigrants for several years. He moved with his family from India via Dubai in
1988 and has become a successful entrepreneur and spokesperson for immigrant
issues. For more information please visit: www.canadianimmigrant.ca.