Canada is largely viewed as a country that is open to newcomers. But the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires asylum seekers to apply for refuge in the first country they arrive in, has casted some doubt on this narrative. Over the years, the law has led Canadian authorities to deny entrance to thousands of claimants seeking asylum. In all likelihood, it has deterred many more from attempting to reach the border in the first place.
The agreement was criticized by rights groups when it was signed into law in 2004, but it has come under renewed scrutiny given President Trump’s rhetoric and his promises to clamp down on, among other things, refugee resettlement in the US. Already, there are growing reports of asylum seekers
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship minister John McCallum reiterated as much to Maclean’s magazine this past October when he said frankly that “Canadians will accept immigration, but largely for economic reasons. A certain number of refugees, but going forward, the emphasis will be on immigrants who can quickly contribute to the Canadian economy.” Due to economic concerns, support for immigration and multiculturalism has long been a cross-party affair. While Conservatives tend to take a harder line on integration, they, too, almost universally[?] back multiculturalism and the need to maintain high immigration levels. (In 2015, Canada, under Stephen Harper, lifted its immigration target from 265,000 to 285,000. In 2017, the Liberals raised it again to 300,000.) But support for robust immigration has not usually translated into welcoming comparatively large numbers of refugees. With a few historical exceptions, not many[?] tend to get let in. A 2016 report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked Canada 15th among high-income countries when it comes to resettling refugees. (Even then, 86 percent of the world’s total refuges actually reside in developing countries. Pakistan alone hosts more than twice the number of refugees than Canada, the US, the UK, France, and Germany
Historically, Canada has held a world renowned reputation as nation with a magnanimous ideological approach to providing asylum to those individuals subjected to marginalization and persecution in their homeland – regardless of their nation of origin (Ismaili, 2011, p.89 & 92). Indeed, providing sanctuary to refugees who would otherwise experience significant hardships ranging from blatant discrimination and racism to torture and genocide, has very much become an institutionalized aspect of Canadian society. However, recent changes to Canada’s immigration policy delineated in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Bill C-31 may have perhaps put this ideology in peril (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, 2001).
There are many pros to having Syrian refugees in Canada, they create a more diverse community, their children get a better education, they can get jobs and most of all they don’t have to live in fear anymore. The cons that some Canadians are worried about is their strain on the economy as they have to have an adequate understanding of the english language to get a job, their culture and religion is also a big problem for some Canadians as Sunni Muslims make up about 70% of the population (Kannike, 2016) and in this group there can be some
In conclusion, Canada has come a long way in promoting the integration of immigrants socially. The country is making progress integrating immigrants economically, and much needs to be done before the same can be said politically. What is certain, is that the immigrant’s path of integration may be a slow process, and the Canadian government has been slow to propel it… but the future looks bright, and Canada is on the right track.
While most of the developed world had been fearing refugees and closing their borders, Trudeau not only welcomed refugees but went to the airport to welcome Canada’s first Syrian refugees as they arrived in the country. Trudeau led through a lens of positivity, which created a system under which a diverse group could assemble and thrive. Trudeau’s cabinet is also a reflection what the modern day government should look like: culture and gender
Stoffman, Daniel. Who gets in: What's wrong with Canada's immigration program, and how to fix it. Toronto: Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 2002.
There are more than 1000 people trying to immigrate to Canada. What if Canada contributed more to help the newcomers to Canada? Most of these newcomers are Muslim, and they are mostly coming from Syria, Iraq, and other countries that are at war. They are forced to leave their homes and can barely survive. These people are very vulnerable to almost anything. If Canada inherits these newcomers, it will gain a greater security and become more diverse. This will also become an advantage in the future. The government should help newcomers to Canada because they are vulnerable. It also gives Canada a chance to improve its diversity and safety, and it will benefit Canada in the later years.
Canada has a big issue with the population prism. Most of Canada's population is over the age of 45, and retired. There are not enough working Canadians to pay taxes and take care of the elderly people in Canada. By bringing more immigrants that are younger into Canada, we will be able to help and fix the population prism. Canada’s job market is constantly growing and needing employees to do these jobs.
Government of Canada.( 2005, January 3). Evaluation of the immigrant settlement and adaptation program (ISAP). Retrieved from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/evaluation/isap/cap-service.asp
“Perhaps it is time we also took on the role as the land of the free, and opened our doors wider still. Numerous studies have shown Canada could easily absorb far more immigrants than we do now. In fact, if we want to protect our economy from the effects of an aging population and declining birth rate, we need to attract more,” he
Canada is one of the few developed countries that have a state immigration policy. As an immigration country receives about 200,000 new immigrants each year, Canada has been and remains one of the most desired countries to potential immigrants from various countries of the world. In the future we plan to accept 300,000 immigrants per year. Canada (unlike the US) is more open to free or so-called independent immigration (Adida, p. 1370). A citizen of any country in the performance of certain requirements can not apply for permanent residence in Canada and receive such, with no relatives in Canada, nor guaranteed job offer from a Canadian company, no significant material resources.
Immigration poses an ongoing debate in which people are becoming increasingly unsure as to whether immigrants are benefiting their society. This paper will examine three of the main benefits of immigration: the increase in diversity it provides, the rise in skills and labor and the benefits to the economy. Immigration leads to cross-cultural integration, therefore increasing ethnic variety. This increase in diversity is beneficial as it leads to improvements in society, as well as educational development. Increased immigration also means there are more skills and experts available to the hosting countries, as well as extra workers to take up jobs that need filling. Immigration also leads to improvements in the economy as taxes are paid and employment and wages increase.
This is five times the number the US has taken in the past four years. However, governors of 31 states in are opposed to President Obama’s plan. They claim that bringing refugees can affect our national security. Recently there have been terrorist attacks in Europe, and some of the terrorists were war refugees. As Florida Sen. Marco Rubio told ABC's George Stephanopoulos: “It’s not that we don't want to -- it's that we can’t, because there's no way to background check someone that's coming from Syria.”
One of the biggest issues that are constantly being debated today in society is the issue surrounding immigrant and refugees. Especially the issue surrounding illegal immigrants and refugees entering the country. This issue has been debated over and over again and no one has been able to come to a conclusion about whether or not illegal immigrants or refugees are a bad thing. Or if they are a truly an issue in today's society I truly believe that immigration and refugees are not necessary as much as an issue as people tend to make it out to be. Sure a large flow of immigrants and refugees coming into a country can make it harder for natural born citizens to find jobs.
Just saying the word Canada conjures images of the mighty Rockies, snow clad terrain, miles of cedar, fir and pine forests and the great Niagara Falls. Canada is any adventure sports lover’s holiday delight, but there is more to the country of mountains and snow, than meets the eye. A holiday in Canada throws up many exciting opportunities to both the seasoned and the occasional tourist.