Myth # 14 "Immigration is our only hope
for the economy"
The "Common Sense Revolution"
in Ontario and similar clones elsewhere have degraded and downsized every
surviving shred of the tattered social safety net Canadians paid into and
supported. Everything from hospitals to libraries have been hit. More and
more resources have fallen into the hands of private enterprise to 'manage'
on our behalf, as we're colonized by private industry. We all deplore government
excess and welcome welfare downsizing as a sign of positive action - at
last. However, be advised: any hint that the immigrant and refugee system
or services should be revised is denounced as "hatred".
Somehow, it is native-born Canadians who seem to be making a 'home'
on the streets. New guidelines have made it preposterously difficult to
qualify for UIC - and only for truncated benefit periods. Ever wonder why?
If you're one of the few Canadians looking to hire someone, you will notice
that all government assistance/work reentry programs target UI recipients,
not the long-term unemployed collecting welfare.
Ever wonder why? Why are we importing 'workers'? Official unemployment
figures are savagely manipulated to appear deceptively low. The official
'story' is 9.5% (that's still 1.4 million Canadians). Of course, that figure
does not reflect those surviving on welfare, surviving on their savings,
surviving on their wits, or surviving on the streets. Canada's own economists
predict no real improvement for the foreseeable future.
In fact, the anticipated $12.8-billion surplus in 1997 UI funds is
viewed as a hedge against the next (apparently) inevitable downturn. Why
do we continue to import 'workers'? There's no knowing what the legitimate
unemployment figures might actually be in Canada, but why are provincial
governments imposing workfare when we so obviously have a huge pool of
the chronically unemployed? Why are we importing 'workers' who are taking
jobs from Canadians? And if the argument is that Canadians can't or won't
DO these jobs, a responsible government would emphasize retraining and
self-sufficiency -- OUR immigrant tradition.
When the Immigration Minister announced Canada's (increased) intake
level for 1998, she admitted the government would like to further increase
levels but the goal is one "that cannot be achieved while so many
people already in Canada cannot find jobs. She also said increased pressure
by immigrants on social services in urban centres is a concern." (Globe
& Mail, October 24, 1997) "The National Academy's study and Harvard's
pre-eminent immigration economist, Prof. Borjas' work argue that countries
must choose. They can either offer generous welfare benefits or open their
borders to immigrants. But if they attempt to do both, in a world in which
most people are poor and most countries are an easy plane ride away, they
will bankrupt themselves." (David Frum, Toronto Sun, August 30, 1997)