SUBJECT: IMMIGRATION
GRADE: FAIL
REPORT: After the last election, Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney promised to:
1) Crack down on fraudulent immigration consultants who prey on the most vulnerable
2) Stop the dramatic increase of the temporary foreign workers program,
3) Fix the live-in-caregiver program,
4) Decrease the wait time for bringing parents and spouses into Canada.
Jason had the chance, but he did not get the job done.
After two reports from Parliament’s Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration recommending legislation and enforcement to protect vulnerable potential immigrants from unscrupulous fake consultants, Jason did nothing. The same is true for temporary foreign workers and live-in-caregivers. They continue to be exploited. Instead of recognizing immigrants as nation builders, they are treated as mere economic units.
Jason’s “use them and get them out” policy is not what is best for Canada.
Canadians continue to wait years to be reunited with their spouses and parents.
SUBJECT: CITIZENSHIP
GRADE: FAIL
REPORT: Jason promised to fix the flawed citizenship law that made adopted children and naturalized Canadians second class citizens. If their grandchildren are born abroad, they will not be Canadians. By taking no action, there is now a new generation of lost Canadians and stateless children.
Jason needs to understand that there is only one kind of citizenship, not a two-tiered system where some people are less Canadian than others.
SUBJECT: REFUGEES
GRADE: FAIL
REPORT: Jason has continued the abhorrent Liberal tradition of partisan political appointments to the Immigration Refugee Board (IRB), including the appointment of a well-known anti-gay, social-Conservative judge and other Conservative cronies. Instead of taking responsibility for a huge backlog of refugee claims caused by past failures to reappoint experienced IRB members, Jason plans to make matters worse by introducing draconian rules.
SUBJECT: FREEDOM OF SPEECH
GRADE: FAIL
REPORT: By Banning British MP George Galloway from entering Canada, Jason made us the laughingstock of the world. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor Diane Finley who banned Bill Ayers and Winnie Mandela from Canada, Jason would not allow Galloway into the country even though Galloway has been allowed into every other country in the world, including United States.
SUBJECT: CONTEMPT OF PARLIAMENT
GRADE: FAIL
REPORT: The House of Commons has indicated twice that US Iraq War resisters are welcome to stay in Canada permanently. Jason ignores the will of the people and of Parliament by continuing to deport the war resisters and cruelly separating them from their Canadian born children.
The House of Commons also approved an NDP motion stating that Canadians’ spouses should not be deported while they are in the process of being sponsored by their Canadian husbands or wives. Jason continues to deport them even while criminals are allowed to stay in Canada.
Parliament also asked Jason to institute a refugee appeal division, which he failed to do.
SUBJECT: IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT AND ADAPTATION
GRADE: D
REPORT: Jason promised to streamline and expedite the process for integrating immigrants with international skills and training into the Canadian workforce. But while agreements with the provinces are being signed, there is very little evidence that new immigrants are having an easier time finding meaningful work in Canada.
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For more information please contact:
Kerry-Ann Taylor, Office of Olivia Chow, 416-533-2710
