Newcomers to Canada still in poverty

     Immigration is a huge movement that keeps Canada a diverse country. Currently, Manitoba alone attracts 11 000 immigrants a year with this number expecting to rise to 20 000 in 2016 (Rollason, 2009). Immigrants and refugees are often excited about the new life they are about to encounter in our so called peaceful and free country. However, they are not aware of the dreadful costs they will be having to pay for at least the next decade of their life in Canada. When people immigrate to Canada, they tend to bring their immediate family members along as well to stay together.  This is wonderful because it seems kids get to start a new childhood and adults start in new atmospheres in perhaps better circumstances than in their home countries. But do they really? 

     Even though immigrants may be incredibly well educated once they reside in Canada, the language barrier brings new difficulties which restricts immigrants' education to truly be valid here. To most Canadian employers, experience out of Canada may mean absolutely nothing (Gunn, 2009).  From my aunt's experience, I can support this statement because all her medical education from Mexico was not accepted in Canada. Even though my aunt was a certified doctor in Mexico, Canada would not accept her training or credentials because she was an immigrant that was not quite fluent in English yet. This upsets me because when people go out of their way to attend university or college to excel in education, this should be rewarded and not beaten down in other countries. Our government should provide free English classes to the people that are perfect for the job and language is the only barrier. It is not fair that someone who put so much time, effort, and money into their education cannot use it elsewhere. This is part of the reason that immigrants poverty has risen 60% in the last 20 years (Gunn, 2009).  With immigrants not being able to use prior training or education, they find themselves working at lower paying jobs that often prohibit any further opportunity. Even when starting a new job, language skills need to develop first which varies with each individual. Personally, I think this issue has somewhat improved as Canada continues to become more desperate for doctors so we tend to bring and accept them from other countries.

     It has been said that among recent immigrants being a full time student, not in school or working insufficient hours, being self-employed, lone parent families or unattached individuals are at higher risk of poverty (Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, 2007). With the unemployment rate of recent immigrant families rising to 8.8% (Rollason, 2009), immigrants' futures are not looking too hopeful. The effects of this are not only show through physical stress and poverty, but also take toll on the children's future education. An article in the Winnipeg Free Press highlights the life a young immigrant man who had to leave school in Canada to go work just so his family could still eat. How is this any different than what these immigrants were fleeing from? Sure, some immigrants and refugees escape the safety concerns but remain in poverty  (in some cases worse than their recent experiences) for years. The problem for refugees starts with the cost of transportation from their home country to Canada. The amount that refugees have to pay back could add up to thousands and thousands of dollars, averaging out to $10,000 per family (Rollason, 2009). Canada is the only country in the world that charges interest on transportation loans which makes it more expensive and difficult for refugees to repay (Rollason, 2009). Not only does the Canadian government charge refugees for transportation, but also for prior medical tests in order to enter the country (Gunn, 2009).  Considering our medical system we have, I find it hard to believe that the government would ask refugees to repay for necessary medical tests. These tests should be free because they are required to enter the country and are taken for safety precautions.

      I believe that it is ridiculous that Canada expects refugees to repay their transportation fees plus the interest that got built on top of it when most immigrants already spend 60-70% of their incomes on housing costs and necessities of life (Rollason, 2009). Through the words of Jon Gerrard, "It's a frustration for new immigrants. What I've seen is the work ethic of new immigrants is incredible, but we need to help them more with the transition" (Rollason, 2009). This liberal statement seems to sympathize with the fact that newly immigrated people have difficulty getting accustomed to Canadian life. They recognize that there is a struggle and that we must help immigrants to make the move a smooth transition, however it is still up to the immigrants to thrive here, seeing as they have incredible work ethic. This view is very liberal because the government sees themselves as putting out help for immigrants but it is up to them to take advantage of it.

 

     In my opinion, in order to help refugees start a new beginning in Canada the government should not expect a full repayment of transportation plus interest. If anything, the most Canadian government should expect to be paid back is half of the fees but even this is a little unjust. Refugees are in a completely different situation as immigrants because refugees are fleeing a country for their own safety; they really have no choice. Immigrants choose to come to Canada in search of a better life. Therefore, I believe Canada should cut the cost of transportation in half for refugees and completely waiver the costs for medical examinations. Immigrants on the other hand, should still receive aid for the first few months until they have secure income. 

-Dora

References:

Gunn, J. (2009, November 13). Does arrival in Canada doom newcomers to poverty? The Catalyst, 32(3). Retrieved from http://www.cpj.ca/en/content/does-arrival-canada-doom-newcomers-poverty

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. (2007). A Study of Poverty and Working Poverty among Recent Immigrants to Canada. Retrieved from http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/publications_resources/research/categories/inclusion/2007/sp_680_05_07_e/page04.shtml 

Rollason, K. (2009, October 22). Refugees, immigrants in poverty: report. The Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved from http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/refugees-immigrants-in-poverty-report-65457597.html