President's
Messa~e
Lawyers must be working part of multi-cultural society NEWSLETTER OF TH E CANADIAN BAR ASSOCIATION , B.C. BRAN CH
OCTOBER 1994
VOLUME 6 NUMBER 6
Who can't see the changing face of our population? How this change will affect us in the practising Bar will depend tremendously on our own attitudes. Last year's total immigration to Canada was recorded at 254,670 of which about 45,000 came to British Columbia. About 70% ofthose immigrants were of Asian origin. Today more than half of the kids in the lower Mainland come from homes where English is the second language. It is predicted that by 2001, forty-five per cent of people in the Lower Mainland will be visible minorities, SO% if you include our aboriginal people.
President's Message .......... 1 Registry Q&A ...................... 2
The pressure to maintain current immigration levels with a high majority from non-white countries won't likely diminish in the foreseeable future. We live in one of those continual stages of history where, forced by circumstances, masses of people are on the move. Current estimates put the numbers at around 80 million worldwide. And this is in the context of a world population that is increasing every year now by 90 million. We see almost none of it: 95% of it is in developing countries. We have come from a world population of 2.5 billion 50 years ago to 5.5 billion now, of which one-quarter live in the industrialized world. By 2025, the total will be 8.5 billion, and by 2050, 10 billion, with more than 80% living in developing countries. For the younger poor world, there will be more and greater struggles for survival. With increasing awareness through TV
Award presented ................ 4 SectionTalk ......................... 5 Practice notes: salary ........ 7 Seaton scholarship ............ 8 Legislative Update ......... 9/12 25th Anniverary ................ 13 Golf Tourney recap ..... 14/15 ....
Eric Rice, Q.C. CBA (B.C. Branch) Pr路esident 1994/95
they will view us, the old rich neighbours, with envy, and the pressure for us to share more and to allow more immigration will intensify. To react to these prospects out of fear is understandable. We already see signs of racial tension in our communities that didn't seem to be there before. Please turn to page 3