Canadá ofrece muchas oportunidades para nuevos inmigrantes – Parte 2

Wed, August 24, 2005

There are encouraging signs that Ottawa is making substantial efforts to break down the barriers that prevent immigrants from finding jobs that match their skills.

But in the meantime we need to be brutally frank with prospective newcomers by warning them that unless they’re lucky, economic prosperity will elude them FOR AT LEAST A GENERATION.

Their kids will thrive – but at the expense of the dashed hopes of their elders.

Immigration officials emphasize that there is no guarantee that newcomers will find jobs in their fields. But would-be immigrants HEAR SOMETHING ELSE- that Canada NEEDS skilled workers.

Encouraged by the selection system, which awards points based on factors like education and work experience, they IMAGINE that a brighter future awaits them here.

When they arrive, however, the reality can be crushing as they discover how difficult it is to get accredited to work in their professions.

Last year, more than 130,000 economic immigrants moved to Canada. In a few years, will most of them feel cheated? //OYE CHAVITA, CREES QUE ESTO VIENE DE HACE POCO?//

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According to a survey of 2,000 employees conducted by the Public Policy Forum last year, employers either OVERLOOK IMMIGRANTS in their human resources planning or face challenges integrating them into the workplace.

«A growing number of immigrants who have higher educational attainment than the average Canadian … are unable to see their diplomas, skills and work experience recognized,» the group noted in its report.

«Many immigrants are unemployed, underemployed or living in poverty,» it added.

Ironically, employers interviewed in focus groups said that immigrants’ technical and other skills were equal to or better than those of Canadian-born workers. //HIPOCRESIA//

It was suggested that, where possible, immigrants should be able to get their credential recognition BEFORE arriving in Canada. Such a system already exists in Australia, the Public Policy Forum pointed out.

Canada can’t afford to lose skilled immigrant workers to other countries. So we had better fix what’s wrong before our reputation is tarnished beyond repair. //TOO LATE, BUDDY//

In yesterday’s column on an Edmonton immigrant couple, I made an error quoting from a court ruling. The sentence should have read: «(The government) owes a duty of care to the public as a whole and not to the individual plaintiffs.»

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Columnists/Jacobs_Mindelle/2005/08/24/1185387.html