14 minute read
SETTLEMENT
The election and Canadian immigration
What does the Liberals’ election win mean for immigration?
On September 20, 2021, Canada had its 44th parliamentary election. The results leave the composition of Canada’s House of Commons essentially unchanged from before. As of September 21, 2021, the Liberal Party of Canada, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has again won a minority government with 32 per cent of the vote and 158 seats, 12 short of the required 170 needed for a majority. This means that the Liberals do not have enough seats in the House of Commons to unilaterally pass legislation and must collaborate with the other parties. The Conservative Party of Canada won 34 per cent of the votes and 119 seats. The Bloc Québécois won 8 per cent of the vote and 34 seats. The New Democratic Party won 18 per cent of the vote and 25 seats. The Green Party of Canada won 2 per cent of the vote and 2 seats.
The Liberals can pass immigration legislation as long as they have the support of either the Conservatives, the Bloc or the NDP. They do not have to commit to one party and can pick and choose which party they get support from depending on the specific change they are proposing. It is accordingly worth understanding these parties’ immigration campaigns.
The Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberals said that if re-elected they would abolish citizenship application processing fees, which are currently $630 per adult and $100 per child. They also committed to reducing processing times that have been impacted by COVID-19 and creating a visitor visa program for the spouses of Canadians who wish to visit their partners while their spousal sponsorship applications are in process.
The Liberals also plan on establishing a trusted employer system to streamline foreign worker applications, expand the Global Talent Stream and maintain its two-week processing standard. They will support Francophone immigration outside of Quebec and create pathways to permanent residence for foreign workers and international students through Express Entry. They also committed to resettling 40,000 Afghan refugees.
Finally, related to immigration, the Liberals said that they would ban foreign money from purchasing a non-recreational, residential property in Canada for two years, unless the purchase is confirmed to be for future employment or immigration.
While the Liberal immigration platform was not particularly ambitious, the actual policies that they implemented during the last Parliament were. The Liberals created a special immigration pathway program for up to 90,000 essential workers and recent graduates and introduced electronic application processes for most immigration streams. In Budget 2021, they dedicated almost $430 million to implementing an enterprise-wide digital platform that would gradually replace Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s current Global Case Management System.
It is probably reasonable to expect more of the same, which recently has actually been quite a lot, and not that predictable.
The Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservatives promised to end IRCC’s current practice of returning applications for being incomplete, and instead require that the department provide applicants with an opportunity to provide missing documentation. They wanted to allow applicants to pay a fee to have their files expedited and require that all interactions between officers and applicants be recorded. They hoped to use remote interview technology to match applicants with visa officers who understand an applicant’s cultural context and background. They would have created a weighted lottery in the Parent and Grandparent Program to give preference to those who would either be providing childcare or have English/French language ability and expanded the super-visa from two years to five. They wanted to provide a pathway to permanent residence for all foreign workers and created a trusted employer regime for foreign workers.
Regarding refugees, the Conservatives wanted to increase capacity at the Immigration and Refugee Board to reduce hearing wait times and essentially replace the Government Assisted Refugee program with private and joint refugee sponsorship programs. The Conservatives promised to “close the loophole” in the Safe Third Country Agreement so that those who cross irregularly from the United States into Canada can be returned there.
Finally, the Conservatives wanted to ban foreign investors not living in or moving to Canada from buying homes in Canada for a two-year period.
As is apparent, some of the Liberal and Conservative commitments were almost identical, and presumably should be implemented without issue. There are some other Conservative ideas that the Liberals may, and should, adopt, and it will be interesting to see if they do.
The NDP
The NDP immigration commitments were almost word for word identical to 2019. They wanted to “make sure immigration policies and levels meet Canada’s labour force needs and recognizes people’s experiences, contributions, and ties to Canada,” abolish the cap on parent and grandparent applications, ensure a pathway to permanent residency for all foreign workers and take on unscrupulous immigration consultants. The NDP also promised to provide caregivers the ability to reunite with their family members and have the government regulate immigration consultants.
The general expectation is that the Liberals will rely primarily on the NDP to pass legislation. Considering the Liberals basically introduced and/or implemented much of the NDP platform before the election, it certainly seems plausible that these two parties will be able to work together. Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois platform on immigration was concise. They called on whichever party was in government (which couldn’t be them, since they only run in Quebec) to reduce the processing time of Quebec-destined applicants, give Quebec control over foreign worker programs, welcome French-speaking refugees and require that permanent residents in Quebec pass a French language test in order to become citizens.
Looking forward
The general consensus in Canadian politics is that the Liberals will work with the NDP and the Bloc ahead of the Conservatives. In looking at the above policy commitments, however, there is considerable overlap between the Liberal and Conservative immigration plans such that Canada’s two major political parties should also be able to work together.
It is worth noting, however, that the ability of the Liberals and the Conservatives to possibly work collaboratively on immigration matters will depend on whether the Conservatives continue to shift left as they have under their current leader, Erin O’Toole. The People’s Party of Canada, a two-year old party generally regarded anti-immigrant, did not win any seats, but did win 5 per cent of the vote. There will likely be much hand-wringing in Conservative circles as to whether the PPC cost the Conservatives the election, and what the Conservatives have to do to woo these voters to them.
If the Conservatives maintain their current trend towards the middle, then Canada’s next Parliament could be one characterized by collaboration on most immigration matters. If they do not in an attempt to attract PPC voters, then Canada’s political scene could become one of increased division, in which immigration becomes a major political issue.
Either way, between policies started before the election, and new commitments that were announced, the next few years will be busy in Canadian immigration law.
Steven Meurrens is an immigration lawyer with Larlee Rosenberg in Vancouver. Contact him at 604-681-9887, by email at steven.meurrens@larlee.com, or visit his blog at smeurrens.com.
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HOW LIBRARIES CAN HELP NEWCOMERS ADJUST TO LIFE IN CANADA
More than just reading material, libraries across the country offer a wide range of services such as settlement resources, learning opportunities, meeting spaces, fun activities and more
By Lucy Slavianska
When Nigeria-born saxophonist, songwriter and arts manager Perpie Nwaefido came to Canada, she discovered one place where she could find all kinds of help she needed as a newcomer. This was at the Calgary Public Library.
“It was such a different experience from the one I had in my country,” she says as she recalls her surprise. “Back home the library is just a place you go every now and then, because you probably have most of the books in the school library or in your own home collection – libraries there are not regularly purchasing new titles and updating their catalogues, so not much to do when you visit them.”
She found she could access a wide range of resources. “I could come every day to Calgary Public Library and spend hours reading, researching, using the computers and receiving invaluable professional help in so many areas – from interview skills and resume writing to music production. The library even lent me musical instruments. I also enrolled my children in a chess club.” with free information and settlement services, job search assistance, learning opportunities including free English and French classes, courses in computers and new technologies, lectures on health, personal finance and legal issues, etc.
Visitors can find just about anything – programs and activities for children and adults, groups who share similar hobbies and interests and even free passes for galleries and museums.
At the branches, visitors have free access to computers and wireless internet. Scanners are also available in most places. There are locations where members can book study rooms and meeting rooms.
Newcomers who consider starting their own businesses in Canada can also join various libraries’ initiatives for entrepreneurs. And there are even preparation classes for the Canadian citizenship test.
To ensure the wide variety of services to newcomers, most public libraries collaborate with settlement agencies and organizations. Toronto Public Library, for example, provides settlement support at 14 of its branches through the Library Settlement Partnership – a project funded by
“Most of the settlement workers have been immigrants themselves,” says Elsa Ngan, senior services specialist, Multicultural Services at Toronto Public Library. “So they are up-to-date with all the different issues that the newcomers might have questions about – ranging from health care, skills development and education to a sense of belonging and community connections.” The Library Settlement Partnership continued its services even during the pandemic.
Promoting arts and culture
Libraries also actively promote the arts, host exhibitions and cultural events and show films. Being chosen to be the 2021 Newcomer Artist in Residence, Nwaefido gave a concert at Whelan Performance Hall at Central Library in Calgary in September this year.
Nwaefido was happy to find the performance space. “It’s remarkable – the setting, the plan, the design, the colors, it’s so beautiful! I was really honored and I was grateful to perform here. In my country it would cost a lot of money to have access to such a space.”
Those who love to share their reading experiences can join book clubs. There are also clubs that discuss books in languages other than English and French. The Chinese Book Club at Toronto Public Library, for example, holds online meetings every month and is popular among Mandarin speakers.
To enrich their collections, libraries regularly buy new books, digital books, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, CDs and DVDs. Members can also suggest materials for the library to purchase. So far, catering to Canada’s diverse population, the collections include materials in about 40 languages.
Online resources
Given that, in recent years, more and more people are going digital, libraries are offering a range of online resources – eBooks, digital newspapers and magazines, digital audiobooks, streaming video and music. Students and researchers can also benefit from the libraries’ subscriptions to academic publications. From the Academic Search Ultimate section on the Vancouver Public Library’s website, for example, readers can choose content from over ten thousand magazines – from popular to peerreviewed.
Online borrowing became even more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns; however, most libraries around the country managed to continue lending printed materials, CDs and DVDs. Readers could go to the websites of their library, place holds on the items they wished to borrow and then pick them up at their local branches. Even though most of the events and in-person activities were suspended, a variety of courses and settlement services continued to be offered online or by telephone.
Currently, in line with provincial guidelines, most libraries in the country have opened their branches for indoor use, and staff and library visitors are required to keep social distancing and wear masks. Some libraries, like Toronto Public Library, have adopted a mandatory vaccination policy for their staff.
Shared community space
Public library membership is free in Canada – to get a library card you just need to show a valid ID and a proof of address.
Nevertheless, there are newcomers who feel uncomfortable approaching the libraries.
“Many times, newcomers come from places where the idea of a public library the way we enjoy it here is completely foreign,” explains Amanda French, manager of social development at the Toronto Public Library. “I’ve seen so many newcomers who are afraid of being late with something (returning materials, for example), because they think they could be in trouble, like with the police. They think of the library as an institution that is more governmental, more rigid.
“I find that, sometimes, newcomers are unsure whether they belong in a public library – because where they come from, they might not have such a thing, or the libraries there are private, or you have to be a part of a
club, of a school or of something else in order to have access. So to these newcomers it might feel strange when we tell them, ‘You can come in, you are absolutely welcome to stay here, browse the books, use the computers, whatever you need to do. And we, the librarians, are not judging you; it doesn’t matter if you need us or not. This is part of your community space. It is an extension of your home,’”says French.
“Make good use of the incredible resources the libraries provide,” Nwaefido advises those who have chosen Canada for their new country. “Seek out information, seek out opportunities, search the websites, ask the staff and make the most of the library.”
above Runnymede Library, Toronto. Photo credit Lucy Slavianska above Perpie Nwaefido - Photo by Deladee Edison
PARENTING Help your kids stay safe at school
A back-to-school safety checklist for parents
As children settle into another school year during the pandemic it is crucial to take time to address school safety to ensure students can get the most out of their experience.
School rules and procedures
Find out your child’s school pick-up and drop-off times and procedures, such as limited access to school due to COVID-19 protocols, designated drop-off and pick-up zones, parking restrictions and school zone time and speed limits.
Health and safety
Familiarize yourself with your child’s school COVID-19 communicable disease guidelines. Make sure your child has the necessary vaccinations and inform the school of any medical conditions and medications. Educate children about the importance of practicing physical distancing, handwashing and wearing a mask while in school. Do a daily health check, stay home when sick and get tested if showing signs of COVID-19 symptoms.
Emergency plans
Familiarize yourself and your child with the school’s security and emergency plans. Know that some common safety drills such as earthquake, lockdown and fire drills are set in place to ensure students know what to do in times of emergencies. Expect some modification to the safety drills due to COVID-19 protocols.
School commute
Plan several routes, for when there are roadblocks due to construction or emergencies. Remind children to avoid taking shortcuts to avoid getting lost during an emergency. If taking school buses or public transit, remind your children to wear their mask and follow the physical distancing protocol. Safety gear
Provide children with necessary safety gear for when going to and from school, such as personal safety alarm, whistle, cellphone, helmet and pads for when biking, and safety reflectors. Do not forget hand sanitizer, tissues and masks for use in school.
Home alone after school
For children who are mature, responsible and of age to stay at home unaccompanied after school, set rules and teach them about safety matters when home alone. Ensure children know about home safety and what to do during different types of emergencies. Also plan for when your child might require to be in isolation due to COVID-19 exposure. Feeling safe
Identify key school staff such as counsellors, settlement/ multicultural workers or teachers that students can turn to for support. Do utilize other resources such as Kids Help Phone and other services for additional support. Keep open communication with school administrators and children in case of school bullying, hate crimes and other mental health issues that might arise due to the pandemic.
In closing, the challenges of the pandemic can negatively impact students’ school experience. Addressing children’s safety is paramount for children to thrive and get the best learning experience in school.
Cheryl Song, an immigrant from Malaysia, has more than 20 years’ experience of working in early learning and family programs. Contact her at cheryl@learnwithsong.com or visit her website at learnwithsong.com.
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