Stop treating immigrants like second-class citizens – NDP

Stop treating immigrants like second-class citizens – NDP

OTTAWA–During Feb 19’s question period in the House of Commons, NDP Leader Jack Layton demanded answers from the Conservative government regarding the $18 million earmarked for offices and agencies to recognize immigrants’ foreign credentials.

“By not recognizing its own credentials of new Canadians, frankly the government is treating new immigrants like second-class citizens. It is failing the new Canadians in this country because it does not allow them to use the skills, the talents, the experience and the credentials that they have brought with them,” said Layton. He added “…why does the Prime Minister want to let that prosperity gap continue to grow leaving more and more new Canadians, hard-working immigrants, behind? Why will he not take action as he promised to do?”

In 2006, the federal government promised to allocate $18 million to create an agency to deal with foreign credentials yet no action has been taken. Layton stressed that more can be done by the federal government and better coordination needs to happen between the visa offices and the current points system that assesses immigrant applications.

“The Conference Board of Canada has shown that there are half a million Canadians in this category and that they could be earning $5 billion more revenue, lifting all kinds of families out of poverty,” said Layton. “The government needs to stop lying to immigrants.”

The NDP introduced a proposal with seven recommendations, including targeting professions that face labour shortages and a uniform assessment process across the country.

It is clear that new Canadians are tired of waiting for more empty promises from the Conservatives and are eager to stop the growing prosperity gap they are forced into. A recent Statistics Canada report concluded that more new immigrants are highly educated with degrees and skills yet are unable to find jobs in their field. Sadly, they must find work in minimum-wage jobs because their foreign credentials and overseas work experience is not recognized in Canada.

(PRESS RELEASE)