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!