Troubling Tories

Who does Stephen Harper think he is? Canada's answer to George Bush, seems to be the answer. Harper is showing a Bush-like penchant for controlling the media that was unheard of in the days of Liberal rule.

First we heard about no longer notifying the press about Minister's meetings. This was obviously done to control comments coming out of scrums when the meetings were over and avoid embarrasing answers to tough questions on policies from the minority govenment.

Next we heard that Harper didn't want his Ministers to talk to the press at all.

Now we hear that he doesn't want the press covering the repatriation of Canadian war dead (Tories rebuked over rules for war dead - Toronto Star).

I've warned Canadians time and again not to learn any lessons from the current US government. They are an evil bunch, sucking away civil rights in the name of security and slowly stripping the Bill of Rights from the Constitution.

Canadians need to fight back now, and frankly, step up to any opportunity for a confidence vote and put Harper to bed before he guts your own Charter.

There is NOTHING good about a secretive government. Harper is afraid of the light. He's trouble, and he's changing the way Canada is viewed in the world - not for the better.

Government accountability? It's hard to count in the dark, Stephen.

The immigration head-tax lives on

Federal ministers consult head-tax victims

Good article here about the attempt to make right with Chinese-Canadian immigrants who faced generations of debt and years of separation due to a Federal head-tax policy in the last century. These immigrants from the late 19th to mid 20th century faced fees from $50 to $500 (adjusted to 2005 dollars, that's $1000 to almost $10,000) in order to immigrate and were excluded from immigration completely between the 1923 and 1947.

Funny how little things have changed.

If new immigrants can get through the system, they still face a tax at the border of about $1,000. They either must put these funds away well in advance, never knowing when the capricious CIC will rule on their case, or must come up with it in six-months after being granted landing. Don't come up with it; don't enter within six-months of being approved and you've lost your place. Start again.

Keep in mind just how much $1000 is to an individual coming to Canada from an improverished nation.

The head tax lives.

Losing a little touch

I have to admit, as I am trying to come to a conclusion in my heart about immigrating to Canada, I am also distancing myself a bit. Maybe it's to soften dissapointment? I used to be up on the day to day of what's happening in T-dot and Ottawa (which makes comedy Friday on CBC that much more fun), but recently I've fallen off and sometimes I'm not getting the references anymore.

Like Rick Mercer's Rant last week...funny...but I wasn't as dialed in. But is anyone dialed into the Liberal Leadership race?

Okay - now I don't feel so bad!

Listening to God

You should be grateful you aren't in my head these days. If you were, you'd be adrift in a bit of a sea of confusion. As I noted in the last post, I'm feeling indecisive. But more practically, I'm also still very, very short on having the kind of money I need to apply under the Skilled Worker class. Living in Seattle is expensive and this last year has not been one of the most profitable. In my worst moments, I feel like if God wants me to come to Canada, he'll make those funds available to me. It's a terrible, self-centered thought. Imagine making this some sort of test for God? Yes - I do that occasionally.

What I really need to do is seek His will for me in all of this. When I listen to the good part of my heart - the one where I know his spirit is - the answer is still "yes." But I also hear, "be patient." I've said before that this is something that if done, is done with a spirit of commitment. Coming to Canada isn't some experiment. And it's something that would change the rest of my life. When I remember that, I'm less impatient for God to put things in the order He wants them to be for me.

I'm going to use this time to research more and to be sure this truely is the desire of my heart, even if I'm alone. I have a feeling it is.

More days of indecision

Awhile back, I asked myself some questions about my inent in coming to Canada. Specifically, I asked if it wasn't just about love. Again I am asking myself, could I go it alone? If I make it, can I make it alone? With other options available to me, is it the best or right thing for me? Am I trying to prove some point? Do I think that if I make it alone, something will change and love will come back? These are hard questions for an optimist. They are questions I don't want to ask, or maybe more accurately, don't want answers to. Is it still the same without her love? If it isn't, is it where I really want to be? Is my Canada really, above all, empty without her? Tough questions.

Tories reveal job policy for immigrants - deportation

TheStar.com - Tories begin deporting illegal workers

So it begins. The start of Stephen Harper's promises to Canadian immigrants. I guess if you can't do anything about leveling the playing field, the best thing to do is to create job openings. The Conservative solution? Deport.

Having delt with Canadian immigration for a few years now, I feel I can say with some reliability that things are very, very messed up in the Great White North. Let's recap some of the high points - and remember, these issues are not new - they are chronic:

• 700,000 people in the line, growing each day, with no plan to address wait times
• An expensive and complicated application process
• Families separated by breaucrats with little check on their powers, and who operate outside of such accepted norms as "rules of evidence" in favor or fear and speculation
• Evaluations and rulings that change lives made in 30-seconds or less
• An appeal process that, if won, simply puts the applicant back in line again

It is no wonder that people enter Canada illegally to try and establish themselves. If the government does provide amnesty to illegal workers, will more come? Absolutely.

They'll come because it will be the only immigration policy that has a chance of working.

So far away

Fortune does twist and turn. Here I am, close to what I thought was the date I would reapply and do my best to come back home, when things have changed again. Since I am going at this alone, then I can only hope of sucessfully applying if I come in under the skilled worker class. The big hurdle I have is the $10,000 barrier - in order to apply, you have to show you have this amount of cash saved for your move to Canada in order to sustain yourself as you seek work initially (assuming you don't come in with a job offer, which in my case, I wont). I spent that kind of money on the Family Class application...it's not in the bank right now. On top of that, lawyer fees (another couple thousand dollars), application fees, doctor reports, and on and on...Right now the resources to continue this journey are very far away.

I've been feeling down about all of this lately. Feeling very alone in this for the first time. The easy path would be to stop and say the dream of this new life died with our love. Just cast off my little boat of memories and let it drift away. I don't know if I can do that. My resolve will be tested, as I am working to save and thinking of ways to raise the money I need. I'll keep you posted as to how that goes.

Tonight, it's a sad journey.

Selection process - flaws?

TheStar.com - Time to take a look at selection process flaws

My pal, Allan Thompson takes a look at some interesting data from Stats Canada in this article. Some of the high points include the following:

"The study revealed that about a third of male immigrants who were between the ages of 25 and 45 when they arrived in Canada ended up leaving within 20 years.

"And more than half of those who left Canada did so within the first year of getting here."

And he comes to some conclusions too:

"Notably, the recent StatsCan study shows that the immigrants most likely to stay in Canada are immigrants chosen for their family ties, or admitted as refugees.Does this data not suggest that family class immigrants — as a group, if not as individuals — might well be making more of an economic contribution to Canada than previously believed by virtue of the simple fact that they are here for the long haul?"

Allan suggests looking at the selection process to perhaps bring some balance back in, in relation to family class vs. skilled worker class applicants. He also suggests, "At the same time, we could revamp our approach to skilled-worker immigrants and have more flexible rules for the new kind of mobile migrant who regards Canada as a good place to work and live, but not necessarily the only good place to work and live."

I have to say, I have a bit of an issue with this. Making it easy to come and work in a country, I believe, is just the right thing to do for a strong and flexible world economy. But to grant the rights and privledges of residency, I believe an individual should have to make a choice and a commitment to Canada. I frankly don't even think about getting residency without then working to the next goal - citizenship.

Fear of forms

Forms are such simple things in theory. You fill them out accurately, and that's that, submit them to someone, something happens. If only it were so simple when it comes to immigration forms. Each time the time comes to approach these documents, to be sure you've read all their requirements carefully (some forms ask to be written in ALL CAPS, for instance - don't send it in that way and it may be returned), and then...look into the soul of someone who is going to give you only a few seconds of their time to evaluate you...Each time I feel a little trepidation that I'm missing something critical.

Actually, that's what I fear more than the forms - those in power who will make a snap judgement that may not be in my favor and end up costing me perhaps another year and perhaps thousands of dollars if I choose to fight their decision.

The only counter to fear is faith. I can't spend my effort worrying about things that I can't control. I have to put my best into these forms, hoping to convince and overwhelm with positive proof, those that hold this opportunity in their hands. I have to trust that God knows what's best for me, and that he'll allow them to smile on me if He chooses.

I'm going to approach the coming months and my new application this way. It's really the only way I can and retain my sanity.

Recognition issue recognized

TheStar.com - PM wants immigrants' skills recognized: McGuinty

Back before the election, I said given the choices, I would've voted Conservative. In the debates for Prime Minister, I noted that to my ears (now) Prime Minister Harper seemed to be the only candidate with ideas about immigration issues he was willing to promote.

This encouraging article from the Star gives me a bit of hope that Harper will perhaps be a man of his word on immigration issues, and it appears that the Provinces are getting in the pro-immigration line.

The reality of Canada's labor situation may finally be making itself known. Perhaps the Provinces finally understand that promoting economic growth by taking down barriers that all Canadians, old and new face in seeking employment where their skills are recognized is good for them.

Like me, there are many people in the world who want to come to Canada and make a life and contribute. Taking the steps that have been promised in recognizing foreign qualifications will go a long way toward helping new Canadians become established and insure that they are able to bring their best to their new home.