Moncton Forum

1.  That Red Tape is what helps to weed out those that don't deserve to come here..

2. I sure as hell ain't warming up to this political BS.

Cut red tape, N.B. gov't told

Expert says province must clear deterrents if immigration is to be effective weapon in battle to boost N.B.'s dwindling population

By Jesse Robichaud
Times & Transcript Staff
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/36924
page A1

New Brunswick must effectively lobby the federal government to make it easier for immigrants to make this province their home, says the minister responsible for N.B.'s recently created Population Growth Secretariat.

Indeed, one of the goals behind secretariat's soon-to-wrap-up provincial tour is to ask those who have been through the immigration system what can be done to reduce irritants and unnecessary red tape that may be limiting the province's immigration numbers. The findings will help shape a population growth strategy, expected to be released this fall, and designed as a key weapon to battle N.B.'s dwindling population.

"It gives us more insight in terms of when we're having these dialogues and federal and provincial meetings," says Business N.B. Minister Greg Byrne, who also heads the population secretariat.

For example, as one of Canada's safest and smallest provinces, New Brunswick has marketed itself as a destination for families looking to come to Canada. But a financial deterrent has been making it difficult for immigrants to set up a new life here, says Byrne.

"One of the issues that was an irritant for New Brusnwick is that when immigrants first come to the province, the spouse is not allowed to work, and it's a real financial disincentive to families," he said.

"New Brunswick raised this as one of its primary concerns. This was an issue that was picked up by other provinces ... and it quickly became a subject of discussion."

Chedly Belkhodja, a Université de Moncton political science professor and director of the Atlantic Metropolis Centre -- a consortium of academics, government representatives, and non-governmental organizations dedicated to research on immigration -- says provinces, cities, and universities have become more influential over the past 30 years in the traditionally-federal role of attracting immigrants.

Led by provinces like Quebec, where linguistic needs prompted the province to demand more power over recruitment criteria, and Manitoba, a recent success story that has surpassed all expectations, Belkhodja says provinces now have more power than ever over immigration policies.

"We can negotiate a lot of agreements with the federal government, but it's a question of political will. There has to be a desire if we really want our society to become a destination for immigrants. It can't only be pick and choose."

New Brunswick was chosen by only 1,387 of the 254,359 immigrants that came to Canada in 2005-06 compared to 1,081 of 117,036 in 1971-72.

In the brief it submitted to the population growth secretariat's provincial tour, the Multicultural Association of Greater Moncton called on the Liberal government to take a page out of Manitoba's book, loosening its immigration criteria to accept more refugees.

The brief, penned by MAGMA president George Wybouw, calls for a return to the days when immigrants with a dream of creating a better life for their families flocked to Canada and set the basis for today's society.

The brief suggests that criteria pertaining to economic immigrants, aimed at individuals with certain sets of skills or amounts of money to invest, was developed for the country's larger centres, but is less functional in more rural provinces like New Brunswick.

The immigration nominee program is a partnership with the federal government designd to match a province's labour needs with qualified immigration candidates. Similar agreements exist in provinces across Canada.

In New Brunswick, the program only accepts candidates -- either skilled workers or business people -- who have lined up a new businesses or found employment in the province. Once applicants are approved, they receive a nomination certificate that fast tracks their application for permanent citizenship.

Last year, 321 nominees from a variety of countries were accepted by the New Brunswick 's program.

Belkhodja says Manitoba's strategy has shown vision and a willingness to think beyond immediate payoffs.

"Some studies show that certain refugees and communities can start from a low point, but they can build themselves up and, in the end, they might be more inclined to stay," he says.

Yet Manitoba has also been successful in attracting immigrants through the provincial nominee to attract skilled immigrants, as 60 per cent of all provincial nominees that come to Canada settle in Manitoba in both rural and urban areas.

While Manitoba has dedicated a minister to handle immigration issues, New Brunswick's population growth secretariat -- which is the responsibility of Business New Brunswick -- has the responsibility of addressing all issues related to population, birth rates, repatriation and immigration.

Belkhodja sees potential confusion between how the secretariat will divide its resources between attracting more immigrants and repatriating New Brunswickers. He wants a better explanation of how both elements fit into the province's population growth strategy.

"If we really want the numbers, we have to take risks, and we have to be open-minded, positive. We have to dream," Belkhodja said.

But dreaming does not mean merely relying on a marketing mix focused on sizzle rather than steak, he says.

In that sense, Belkhodja believes New Brunswick should be careful not to confuse immigration and tourism strategies.

"I find it curious when you see immigration brochures with people playing golf on the cover, or visiting Hopewell Rocks... this isn't tourism after all," he says.

"And even if we say we are welcoming here, well welcoming visitors is one thing. Visitors leave, immigrants stay."

MAGMA's brief applauds the creation of the secretariat but warns against government resources being pulled away from multicultural and immigration settlement organizations to pay the salaries of a handful of public servants.

It calls on government to increase investment in groups that have proven their expertise and experience.

MAGMA also suggest creative strategies such as recruiting farmers from countries with similar climates to grow organic products on the province's abandoned farms.

That may be just the kind of ambitious project Belkhodja believes can raise New Brunswick's profile as a destination for immigrants.

He says the province has lots to work with, and the situation is improving all the time. For example, international university students now have the right to work off campus, a situation that didn't seem likely only a few years ago.

And while New Brunswick may lag behind the national average, Canada remains one of the world's leading countries in terms of immigration.

"I was in Switzerland recently and people were amazed that Canada is still a country that welcomes immigrants," he said noting the difficulties European countries haves had with underground immigration and resulting tensions.

"When I spoke about rural immigration, people look at me strange."

==

N.B. warming to population growth through immigration
Economy 'Notwithstanding the quality of life jobs will be foundation:' growth secretariat

Rob Linke
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/actualities/article/36833
page A3

OTTAWA - After a month of public consultations around the province, the deputy minister in charge of New Brunswick's effort to boost the population says people understand the need for thousands of immigrants - and are beginning to believe, like he does, "that it can be done."

Humphrey Sheehan, the civil servant who heads the Population Growth Secretariat, says people recognize birth rates have decreased, and immigration has to play a major role in growing the population.

The secretariat is also looking at improving repatriation of New Brunswickers, relying especially on the major energy projects proposed for the province, and on better retention of young residents tempted by greener pastures.

"We're trying to look at all the different aspects together, and that's how we'll achieve success," he said.

The province has already increased the number of immigrants it receives over the last few years.

Last year, New Brunswick took in 1,700 immigrants, up substantially from the 700 to 800 a year three and four years ago.

Precisely 308 newcomers arrived from Korea, the leading country of origin, followed by China, India and Iran - each of which also is generating at least 200 immigrants a year now.

Sheehan recalled being at an event celebrating the Korean community in Fredericton about six weeks ago. The room held more than 250 people, and another 200 or so had to be turned away, he said.

"That shows the community is supportive of it," he said.

Most of the new arrivals have come through the provincial nominee program, which fast-tracks applicants who can fill identified shortages in skills or specific jobs employers have been unable to fill with Canadian applicants.

The key to attracting such immigrants is the economic growth that will employ them, he said.

"Notwithstanding the quality of life in New Brunswick, which is second to none, jobs will be the foundation for building the population.

"We know that."

Sheehan has been citing examples such as Ireland, and Manitoba, both of which have made population growth part and parcel of their economic plans.

New Brunswick's goal of 5,000 newcomers a year by 2015 after several years of a stagnant or declining population is ambitious but achievable, said Sheehan.

Manitoba, albeit a larger province than New Brunswick, is now attracting 10,000 immigrants a year after making it a priority for the last several years.

"It's certainly doable," said Sheehan. "The government is certainly behind the self-sufficiency effort and all departments are involved.

"I think people are very encouraged by the effort the government is putting into it.

"People realize the importance of it - that if we're going to continue to have vibrant communities, we need to continue to bring newcomers to the province, to retain our young people and repatriate and attract New Brunswickers and other Canadians."

In Madawaska, for example, there is an inventory of roughly 2,400 graduates of post-secondary education who have expressed an interest in returning to the province should the right job or other conditions fall into place.

Follow-ups indicate that some hirings are occurring from that effort.

"People aren't throwing up their hands and saying, 'it can't be done,'" he said. "They're rolling up their sleeves and saying, 'let's get at it.'"

Sheehan, whose town hall meetings began in Saint John July 4, visited eight other communities and wrapped up in Caraquet Tuesday night, said he was encouraged that mayors, councils and business leaders have been expressing support for the population growth effort.

"That's important," he said, "because frankly we can't get it done without them."

==

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Vancouver Sikhs were outraged yesterday to learn that a federal policy asks immigrants to Canada with the surnames Singh or Kaur -- two of the most common in India -- to change them to avoid applicant mix-ups.

"We are totally against this order. It's degrading to the Sikhs," bristled Sewa Singh Gidda, standing outside Indo-Canadian shops at 49th and Fraser.

"The government is demeaning the Sikhs. It is very bad."

Others in the neighbourhood were also incensed.

"Our name is very essential to us," said Nardeep Singh Grewal. "The government is putting down the Sikhs. It's a very bad idea."

"People should not change their names," said Abtar Singh Gugay.

"It is a bad idea by the government because my parents gave me that name. Why should I change my name?"

The names Singh and Kaur -- for males and females, respectively -- have been in use among Sikhs worldwide for over 300 years.

They were given to all initiated Sikhs to represent the abolition of class and caste inequalities in Indian society.

"It is not fair to ask people to change their names," said Jasbeer Singh of the World Sikh Organization.

"My name is a part of me, my personality, my identity. To say that it is too common and ask me to change it is an assault on my rights, my religion.

"Today, they have singled out Singh and Kaur. Tomorrow, they may dislike Mohammed, and how soon before names such as Lee or Smith are targeted?" he said.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada spokeswoman Karen Shadd-Evelyn said the practice benefits permanent resident applicants "by ensuring fewer misfiled or mis-mailed pieces of correspondence as well as fewer incidents of mistaken identity."

She noted a high volume of applications at its New Delhi visa office from persons named Singh or Kaur.

"Doing so also allows us to ensure the safety and security of Canadians," but it is "not a mandatory requirement" for immigration to Canada, she added.

The furor erupted after would-be immigrants in New Delhi complained to authorities that the administrative policy was unfair.

According to reports, hundreds of thousands of people named Singh or Kaur are currently looking to immigrate to Canada.

World Sikh Organization of Canada president Gurpreet Singh Bal said the immigration policy "flies in the face of everything the Canadian Charter stands for, and we as Canadians value."

He said Canada must scrap the policy "so that Sikhs with the surname Singh and Kaur are treated fairly and with dignity, like all others in our society."

Satbir Singh Cheema of the Surrey-based Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society also blasted the policy.

"The government is just putting some unnecessary barriers for somebody coming to Canada," said Cheema, director of the society's employment program.

"You're asking them to change their name. And I don't see any reason why somebody should be asked or forced to change their name to be legal to come to Canada."

The names Singh and Kaur are not the world's most common surnames.

In China, the vast majority of people share a mere 100 surnames. There are 93 million Wangs, 88 million Zhangs, 92 million people named Li, 20 million called Chen and 20 million named Zhou.

E-mail reporter Jack Keating at jkeating@png.canwest.com

-- with files from Agence France-Presse

HISTORY OF THE SURNAMES KAUR AND SINGH

In 1699, Sikh women were given the surname Kaur and men Singh by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs.

The surnames were intended to symbolize the abolition of class and caste inequalities.

Based on the premises of gender equality, Kaur was also given to Sikh women to establish an identity independent of their father or husband.

The majority of Sikh first names are gender-neutral.

For example, Harpreet could be a male's or female's first name. What identifies Harpreet Kaur as a female is the word Kaur following the first name.

The literal meaning of the name Kaur is prince (not princess). It is a derivative of the Sanskrit word Kanwar, meaning prince, whereas the name Singh is derived from the Sanskrit word Simha, meaning lion.

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