Immigration critical to Canadian population growth: census

[Zzarchov]

I agree Kreskin.

Few people I know sit around questioning how the First Nations people would like us to behave, yet this was their nation. We're the original immigrants. And it certainly won't stop with us. We're shrinking, and we need immigrants to pay for our social programs. End of story. The best we can do is work to ensure that the human rights we've put in place, stay in place. Other than that, what the country will 'be like' is irrelevant. Change is inevitable, even good sometimes.

Except they won't.

Thats the issue, nobody cares if people are pale or dark, or what their eyes look like or their hair colour is. People bitched about the Irish coming in, but nobody cared in the long run.

And that is because we took in DESTITUTE Irish, people who loved Canada for the opportunities it gave them.

Now we take the best and the brightest and give them a temporary place to work before they go hom e and retire.

I have a friend from Kosovo and one from China, and the difference in how they view Canada and what they plan to do when they retire tells me we need to go back to the tried and true, take in the needy..not the best and the brightest.

 

[karrie]

We need to stop this brain drain policy and go back to an immigration policy that works, that worked on our country. Take in refugees.

Not the kind who show up on a plane, the type who flee in columns, wounded and sick with all their belongings in a backpack.

Those are people who will want to be part of Canada, who will have children that will think of themselves as Canadians first. Its what we have traditionally done.

Our other problem is the whole Urban/Rural issue, but thats another debate.

You know, the whole thing with the genocide (I use the term for convenience, not to strike a debate), in Darfur made me think about that. We have cities like Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Fort St John, where even McDonalds is willing to move people to town they are so hard up for workers. $13/h and up for flinging fries. The oilpatch was SCREAMING for workers, and some stores and restaurants are having to cut hours or close entirely due to a lack of workers. Yet we give aid to fund refugee camps so that these poor people can sit there in misery, rather than flat out rescuing them.

 

[karrie]

Karrie, that is feel-goodism run amok.

what feels good about it exactly?

 

[karrie]

I have a friend from Kosovo and one from China, and the difference in how they view Canada and what they plan to do when they retire tells me we need to go back to the tried and true, take in the needy..not the best and the brightest.

I'd never really looked at it from that angle. But it does make sense.

 

[tamarin]

Karrie...That standards don't matter. Old affinities. Old loyalties. Old assignments. I wish those who fought in the last century's great wars were told before they left that they were fighting for a future that wouldn't honour what they fought for. A country sure of itself, confident in its past and proud of its institutions. And hopeful for a unified future.

 

[hermanntrude]

The biggest problem with our immigration system is we aren't taking people who want to be Canadians.

We are taking Brain Drain. Canadians flock south of the border to take work and good high paying jobs all the time. I've been offered a few.

But when we retire, we go back to Canada..and contribute our pensions to the Canadian economy..screwing the USA over.


Now we do the same thing. I am friends with Immigrants from China, India, Singapore and Russia...all of them plan to return home after they save up enough money..part of which they send home every month. Bleeding our economy.


We need to stop this brain drain policy and go back to an immigration policy that works, that worked on our country. Take in refugees.

Not the kind who show up on a plane, the type who flee in columns, wounded and sick with all their belongings in a backpack.

Those are people who will want to be part of Canada, who will have children that will think of themselves as Canadians first. Its what we have traditionally done.

Our other problem is the whole Urban/Rural issue, but thats another debate.

I came here to stay. I brain-drained england. I plan to give my pension (har har) to newfoundland and labrador

 

[Tonington]

Why should any country think its traditions and heritage worth keeping? Is that what you're asking?

Exactly what traditions are the responsibility of our government to maintain? Our country is diverse, to rely on the Nation to keep our traditions alive is foolish. Kinda like expecting the education system to teach our kids morals. Traditions are kept alive by families, an immigrant affects my traditions how? Seems we're doing a fine job at keeping them[traditions] out of government buildings, that hasn't stopped my family from celebrating any of our traditions.

Our heritage is one of variety. I fail to see how strengthening that variety kills my heritage.

Which traditions and what heritage is it that you are concerned with?

 

[karrie]

Karrie...That standards don't matter. Old affinities. Old loyalties. Old assignments. I wish those who fought in the last century's great wars were told before they left that they were fighting for a future that wouldn't honour what they fought for. A country sure of itself, confident in its past and proud of its institutions. And hopeful for a unified future.

I still don't get what's 'feel good'.

I don't think immigration can erase a country's past. And I don't think it can totally derail its future either. At least, it never has in recent history. Mind you, people always fear it will. There's always a few 'contractions', for lack of a better description, when a country grows. But, it's not like Canada can simply be erased by the newest waves of immigrants.

 

[Zzarchov]

I still don't get what's 'feel good'.

I don't think immigration can erase a country's past. And I don't think it can totally derail its future either. At least, it never has in recent history. Mind you, people always fear it will. There's always a few 'contractions', for lack of a better description, when a country grows. But, it's not like Canada can simply be erased by the newest waves of immigrants.

Ask Manitoba about that, the completely French Speaking Metis Republic of Manitoba. How did that work out with Immigrants of a different language and culture again?

Its one thing to tell people you don't think a culture change has to be a bad thing, I agree.
Its another to lie about what occurs with immigration (or simply not understand)

 

[karrie]

Ask Manitoba about that, the completely French Speaking Metis Republic of Manitoba. How did that work out with Immigrants of a different language and culture again?

Its one thing to tell people you don't think a culture change has to be a bad thing, I agree.
Its another to lie about what occurs with immigration (or simply not understand)

To change the path its future will take, and erase its past aren't the same thing. Erasing its past would mean that you would not know there was a French Speaking Metis Republic. Perhaps it's a difference in our understanding of the wording.

 

[Kreskin]

Why should any country think its traditions and heritage worth keeping? Is that what you're asking?

Why should any one person or group think that Canadian heritage revolves around them?

 

[L Gilbert]

Except they won't. .........
I have a friend from Kosovo and one from China, and the difference in how they view Canada and what they plan to do when they retire tells me we need to go back to the tried and true, take in the needy..not the best and the brightest.

That sure works nice for people like the Spaniish guy that might make $50/month on his artwork. Free dental, free healthcare, etc. He's needy. The Swiss guy isn't needy and he and his business contribute taxes. I don't care how many people come here to work and then go home to retire; at least in the meantime they pay taxes, unlike the needy.

 

[L Gilbert]

I don't mind refugees, but I really don't think we can afford to lock out people like Bruno who want to come here and work, start businesses, etc. in favor of people like the Spanish guy who prefer to be a money drain on society. That's just stupid.
On the other hand, we could allow a limited amount of both into Canada. It'd still be better than the amount of idiocy that we have occurring now.

 

[tamarin]

Canada has a rich British background and a strong relationship to mainland Europe. That's our past. The majority of Canadians who served in the Great War had British backgrounds. They fought for a country as defined by what they knew and cared for. I get the idea that many here think heritage is like a sport. You play the one you want to. This country used to have a focus but now it's just a state under siege to meet the needs of various special interests who wish to engineer its future. My view: Canada does have a culture and it does have traditions. If you come here respect them. Integration shouldn't take a back seat to diversity.

 

[L Gilbert]

Yeah. Or else we'll burn crosses in your yard.

 

[Kreskin]

Canada has a rich British background and a strong relationship to mainland Europe. That's our past. The majority of Canadians who served in the Great War had British backgrounds. They fought for a country as defined by what they knew and cared for. I get the idea that many here think heritage is like a sport. You play the one you want to. This country used to have a focus but now it's just a state under siege to meet the needs of various special interests who wish to engineer its future. My view: Canada does have a culture and it does have traditions. If you come here respect them. Integration shouldn't take a back seat to diversity.

When my great grandfather moved here from Austria in 1906 he wasn't asked to do anything except make a productive life for himself, family, and community. There were no special interest culture police telling him what traditions he had to comply with. That wave of settlers created enormous change. His offspring don't own Canadian culture. Culture isn't static.

 

[tamarin]

Your grandfather was from mainland Europe and he shared in common with other Europeans a respect for western traditions as we know them. A respect for western style government, religion and institutions. He was a perfect match. Canada was built on the work and sacrifice of Europeans. Why is that so difficult for you to accept, Kreskin? Now that multiculturalism is eroding the old attachments, don't expect Canada, as a beacon of western values to stay the strong example it's been. Canada has a culture and a heritage. Newcomers should be expected to respect that.

 

[Kreskin]

Your grandfather was from mainland Europe and he shared in common with other Europeans a respect for western traditions as we know them. A respect for western style government, religion and institutions. He was a perfect match. Canada was built on the work and sacrifice of Europeans. Why is that so difficult for you to accept, Kreskin? Now that multiculturalism is eroding the old attachments, don't expect Canada, as a beacon of western values to stay the strong example it's been. Canada has a culture and a heritage. Newcomers should be expected to respect that.

Do you still go to the barndances every saturday night for square dancing?

Traditions change my friend, even within the same community.

 

[tamarin]

Kreskin, you're a Culture denier. Hey, maybe we can see a new newspaper and media blitz on the phenomenon!

 

[Kreskin]

Kreskin, you're a Culture denier. Hey, maybe we can see a new newspaper and media blitz on the phenomenon!

That is big Canadian heritage. I assume you square dance - "turn your partner to the right, spin the other by the kite, time will tell if you will see, spin again and smile with glee!" Thought I'd call one for you. :wave: