US immigration bill

[sanch]

I always felt that labour should move freely between Canada, the US and Mexico and this is a step in that direction. Harper if he indeed is a US stooge should respond by offering a bill that gives immediate citizenship to all refugee claimants and illegals in Canada. He could sweeten the pot by offering 2 million new spots to Latinos. This move would put Canada back on the international stage.

WASHINGTON, March 27 — With Republicans deeply divided, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Monday to legalize the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants and ultimately to grant them citizenship, provided that they hold jobs, pass criminal background checks, learn English and pay fines and back taxes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/28/politics/28immig.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

 

[annabattler]

I'm afraid offering two million "new" spots to Latinos is not going to solve much.
There must be a balance to our immigration policies. The way things sit now,most immigrants "migrate' to large cities...and those cities are then responsible for "settling" them, whether in terms of housing,jobs,education or health care. The funding for the "settling" comes from the provinces,even though it's the federal government who lets them in(and accepts nearly one thousand dollars per head for the privilege).
There's too huge a gap between Canada and its' embassies...who don't seem capable of telling foreign trained doctors,lawyers,and other professionals that their education likely won't count in Canada....not that I agree with that stance and think it's a big waste of resources for Canada.
So many things must be taken into consideration....there are a large number of immigrant children who have never attended school in their native countries...to say nothing of the language barrier.
People of significantly different cultures have a dreadful time settling...not their fault,but there not enough resources to support them.If we want good citizens,then we must help them in that quest.

 

[sanch]

It would be a humanitarian gesture. To me the concentration of new immigrants in the major cities is a product of political patronage. That’s where the liberals wanted them as then they could simply cut deals with the ethnic leadership who would then deliver the vote. This patronage systems needs to be dismantled and real opportunities be provided to the immigrant populations. Then you will see them pursuing different opportunities and settling in more remote areas. Of course this would bring about the demise of the liberal party but that would not be any great loss.

So many things must be taken into consideration....there are a large number of immigrant children who have never attended school in their native countries...to say nothing of the language barrier.
People of significantly different cultures have a dreadful time settling...not their fault,but not enough resources to support them.If we want good citizens,then we must help them in that quest.

Setting up programs to facilitate settlement and adjustment would be essential. But the assistance should be aimed at the development of the individual and not aimed at the preservation of the ethnic group. The latter strategy just reinforces the potential for patronage which I think was the motive. Once individuals are settled and prospering then they can fund their own cultural activities if they want.

 

[sanch]

If the Republican vote in committee is representative where 4 out of 10 (40%) voted pro then this bill will likely pass. All that is needed is 11 more votes out of 51 or about 20% of republicans. This would bestow legal rights on almost 11 million illegal immigrants and their children. All of a sudden a world of opportunity would open up to them. With legal status they would be entitled to better wages among o0ther benefits.


It will be interesting to see how Canada reacts.

 

[cortez]

i get the impression that the canadian conservatives- want closer economic ties with the US-- more trade etc-- but are wary of any migrations of latinos and chineese into canada---- remember those boats dumping illegal chineese immigrants on the west coast and how barbarically this- the most spacious and richest country in the worlds delt with them...
they want
free movement of goods and services -- but not people--
could they be -- the R word

personally i would think it great
2 million spots for latinos
2 million for chineese
and maybe more
for others...

 

[I think not]

Excellent excellent excellent news! That's the way to do it, legalise immigrants. They cross the US border in hopes to better their lives, I am happy for them.

 

[Toro]

The bill sucks.

 

[cortez]

what part sucks
the part that gives some legal status
or the part that doesnt grant citizenship....

 

[sanch]

This article is by a Republican commentator. It’s a very good piece. Unfortunately you have to be a subscriber to the NYT to access it. I’ll post some quotes and the gist of the argument.

Immigrants to Be Proud Of
By DAVID BROOKS
Everybody says the Republicans are split on immigration. The law-and-order types want to close the border. The free-market types want plentiful labor. But today I want to talk to the social conservatives, because it's you folks who are really going to swing this debate.

I'd like to get you to believe what Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas believes: that a balanced immigration bill is consistent with conservative values. I'd like to try to persuade the evangelical leaders in the tall grass to stop hiding on this issue.

My first argument is that the exclusionists are wrong when they say the current wave of immigration is tearing our social fabric. The facts show that the recent rise in immigration hasn't been accompanied by social breakdown, but by social repair.

My second argument is that the immigrants themselves are like a booster shot of traditional morality injected into the body politic. Immigrants work hard. They build community groups. They have traditional ideas about family structure, and they work heroically to make them a reality.

My third argument is that good values lead to success, and that immigrants' long-term contributions more than compensate for the short-term strains they cause.

My fourth argument is that government should be at least as virtuous as the immigrants themselves. Right now , government pushes immigrants into a chaotic underground world.

Social conservatives, let me ask you to consider one final thing. Women who have recently arrived from Mexico have bigger, healthier babies than more affluent non-Hispanic white natives. That's because strong family and social networks support these pregnant women, reminding them what to eat and do. But the longer they stay, and the more assimilated they become, the more bad habits they acquire and the more problems their subsequent babies have.

Please ask yourself this: As we contemplate America's moral fiber, do the real threats come from immigrants, or are some people merely blaming them for sins that are already here?

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/

And Brooks is right as are the Republicans who embrace this same view. Immigration and diversity should be embraced and not perceived as a threat. There is absolutely no threat. Canada needs to adopt a similar approach to immigration. Hopefully this is what Harper will hear in Cancun today.

 

[Jay]

For the life of me I don't know why peope are hell bent on changing Canada into an image of the world.

 

[sanch]

Re: RE: US immigration bill

i get the impression that the canadian conservatives- want closer economic ties with the US-- more trade etc-- but are wary of any migrations of latinos and chineese into canada---- remember those boats dumping illegal chineese immigrants on the west coast and how barbarically this- the most spacious and richest country in the worlds delt with them...
they want
free movement of goods and services -- but not people--
could they be -- the R word

personally i would think it great
2 million spots for latinos
2 million for chineese
and maybe more
for others...

I think Canada with its natural resources and proximity to the US and Asian markets could easily support double the population with full social services. I only mentioned Latinos because that is the agenda today in Cancun. Of course there should be no restrictions based on geography or national origin. It would be hoped that Canada would return to an immigration policy where the really needy are offered opportunity rather than let’s see how many of the world’s trained specialists we can steal. In this sense Canada could benefit from more African immigrants.

Canadians tend to view all aspects of Americana in broadly monolithic terms and the conservatives are no exception. There is a lot of diversity in the conservative community but in Canada a lot of conservatives seem to take their cues and inspiration from Ann Coulter. Coulter is a TV personality. Given her lifestyle and sizeable yap she would probably be thrown out of most conservative households.

Harper if he has any cojones or huevos could announce today that a new immigration initiative for Canada will involve a provision to attract 25 million new immigrants to Canada over the next 5 years. Leaders need to be visionary. This kind of announcement would put Canada back on the global map.

 

[Jay]

Coulter is a lawyer, and if you read her stuff you would see how she wouldn't be thrown out of most conservative households, but Democrats would be.

 

[missile]

Low cost Mexican workers are here in Canada now, and have been working here for many years..mostly in the Ontario fruit growing regions. 8 months living here and working and the rest of the year back home spending the less than minimum wages they earn.

 

[darkbeaver]

Fornicate America, it's a slaving state there are between twenty and thirty million of them. Mostly owned by christian
facsists

 

[Jay]

Portuguese protesters blast Tory crackdown

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2006/03/30/1511919-sun.html

Do any of these people realize we have a 6.4% unemployment rate in Canada?

 

[darkbeaver]

Re: RE: US immigration bill

For the life of me I don't know why peope are hell bent on changing Canada into an image of the world.

It's called globalization moron, and I mean that in the nicest way. :lol:

 

[annabattler]

missile:

Yes,there are a number of immigrant workers about to land in Ontario...to work locally,in the Bradford-area marshes,and later,in the apple producing areas of the province.
I can only speak for the local concerns,but I know for a fact that (a) they receive more than minimum wage(b)they receive adequate housing(c)they receive english-as-a-second-language training(d)they are regularly visited by public health officials.
They are also all "vetted" by the feds for admission to Canada.
The ones I have met all proudly show off photos of their families and their homes and talk of their "higher" standard of living.

 

[Jay]

Re: RE: US immigration bill

For the life of me I don't know why peope are hell bent on changing Canada into an image of the world.

It's called globalization moron, and I mean that in the nicest way. :lol:

How about you don't bother?

 

[cortez]

Low cost Mexican workers are here in Canada now, and have been working here for many years..mostly in the Ontario fruit growing regions. 8 months living here and working and the rest of the year back home spending the less than minimum wages they earn.

are you sure about that missile...

i belive the workers your talking about-- are seasonal workers-- totally legal-- and the do get minimun wage at least -- as far as i know
its totally up front from what i know about it

 

[cortez]

Re: RE: US immigration bill

Harper if he has any cojones or huevos could announce today that a new immigration initiative for Canada will involve a provision to attract 25 million new immigrants to Canada over the next 5 years. Leaders need to be visionary. This kind of announcement would put Canada back on the global map.

i kinda agree with you
i think it would be economically and socially stimulating to double canadas population in say 10-20 years
i think 5 years would be too fast though