Skill Based Immigration Policy In Canada: Problems New Immigrants Face

Skill Based Immigration Policy In Canada: Problems New Immigrants Face 1

Canada, lauded for its skill based immigration policy, is considered as a heaven by skilled workers on its point base system. However, the skills obtained in their native countries is useless to Canadian employers.

In cities like Toronto and Vancouver, highly skilled immigrants are driving taxis or folding laundries. On inquiry, some of them said that although they are engineers or doctors, their degrees are void here. They have to obtain a similar Canadian degree to find employment.

What are the Problems for a Skill-Based Immigration Policy?

The primary hurdle in finding and appropriate job for these educated immigrants is the lack of professional contacts in Canada. In addition to that, employers seem to rely more on native educational qualifications than degrees obtained anywhere else.

Moreover, cultural differences complicate matters for most immigrants. Statistics show that employees of fairer complexion have higher success in obtaining employment. Employees with the ability to communicate using local language in an intelligible accent are also high on the preference list. Due to this misfit, the less fortunate immigrants hesitate to integrate into the native society. And so the locals form preoccupied opinions about the immigrants and become reluctant to accept them.

As a consequence, we find pockets of immigrant colonies in the form of ghettos like little India, little Pakistan, Chinatown, etc. It shows the cultural indifference between the hosts and immigrants.

The developed countries proclaim that their immigration system is geared towards letting in highly skilled immigrants through their point base system. All in the name of enhancing their ‘economic’ and ‘cultural’ growth. But the under utilization of this imported talent defeats the very purpose.

Canada isn’t Alone in Depending on Immigrants

Immigrants make 13.5 per cent of the US population accounting to 43.3 million out of 321.4 million American population (2015). 27 percent of immigration groups in the United States are Mexicans, making it the largest ethnic group in 2010s. In 1960s, Italians were the largest ethnic group immigrating to the United States. It was after Europe suffered greatly post World War II.

Immigration definitely has both positive and negative effects on the destination country. For example, India has suffered because of Rohingya Muslims illegally entering the country. India is the second most populated country in the world. Illegal immigrants hurt the country?s economy. If talking in terms of Canada, immigration will foster the country?s economy. Currently, Canada has a median age of 41 years old. Inviting young immigrants will make the country more productive.

Immigrants often choose unskilled jobs and are ready to do it at lower costs than the country?s citizens will do. Companies save a lot by hiring immigrants. Immigrants bring diversity to any country they go to. It helps every identify and respect rights and humanity better. Since more people are at work, industries can grow multi-fold as all processes are done faster.

A Burden on the Government

At the same time, due to immigrants, locals lose their jobs. Most immigrants have a hard time in a new country. The new society doesn’t accept them for their communication skills, language, and way of living. Locals feel immigrants are uncultured and poor.

The government has to handle the health and social welfare of more people than the policy is designed to handle, reducing the country?s wealth. Immigrants easily spread diseases as well. There is always a risk of the outbreak of contagious diseases.

However, if these immigrants are people fleeing war-torn or corrupt home countries, they should be welcomed. Every person deserves a chance for a