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October 1 - 2007
I hope you guys
can publish my story in your web page.
Cheers.
I used to work for a large Canadian company in Mexico City named Nortel,
and to tell you true I enjoyed so much working for this company the
environment was nice, pretty much all the people working there were very
skillful and I had the chance to interact with people from many
countries since it is a multinational company with offices, factories
and research centres around the globe, in the news a read that this
company actually was the pride of Canada. There I received training to
become a project manager professional (PMP) from the Project Management
Institute (PMI) located in Philadelphia and actually I became one of the
very fist PMP´s in the country. I can´t say that I was the best PMP,
however I tried very hard to always do my best. After 4 and a half years
working there I received and offer to work for another company: Lucent
Technologies which is an American company, there I received a lot more
training and a lot more experience, I received the most of my training
in the US, in locations like Piscataway New Jersey, Raleigh North
Carolina, Orlando Florida, Columbus Ohio and many others, at that time I
was in charge of the deployment of a nationwide cellular company. Then
with 4 years savings I bought an apartment in a nice neighborhood in
cash. I remembered very nicely the time I spent working for Nortel, and
then I decided that I was still very young, I didn’t have anybody
depending on me and I wanted to live the adventure of moving to Canada,
my plan was that even if I didn’t succeed I still could go back and
there was going to be my place waiting for me and most of all I was
willing to work at the beginning even in a restaurant doing anything as
long as after a period of time I could get a job related to my field of
expertise. I knew that I might not get rich but I hoped to eventually
get a decent job.
I decided to apply to become a permanent resident in Canada, after all
the process involved I finally I arrived to Vancouver BC. Once I get
there I spent all my time preparing resumes and sending them to as many
companies as possible even personally and in the mine time as a backup
plan I also took resumes very simplified to café shops and fortunately I
got a job as a cook (later I was promoted to chef). After two years very
hardly trying to get a better job, trying to establish contacts within
the industry I received ZERO offers. I never got not even the chance to
get feedback telling me that may be I needed more experience or that my
credential were not enough, There was a point in which I even forgot
that I actually had gone to the university (by the way I was first in
class) and that I had obtained 8 years of experience in the
telecommunications industry. There was a point in which I thought that
actually I was made to wash dishes, even in my church they saw me as a
dish washer (sometimes I helped to wash the dishes). At that time my
former girlfriend came to visit me and she was astonished when she knew
what I was doing there. Actually I didn’t care much about it, but she
helped me to realize that I was so wrong. In my job I had a problem with
the boss of my boss and he fired me (two weeks later he was fired for
laziness), I applied for the job insurance and I ran out of money (my
roommate told me that two weeks after I left they called me) and I had
to got back to my country so defeated. Only one week after I arrived I
received an offer to work for an American company (Siebel Systems) and
my salary was 4 times more than the one I had washing dishes. I worked
there during 2 years more leading projects until I decided to start my
own company with 50 000 USD saved during those two years. The first
year my company grew 400% the second year 200% the third year 200%, and
currently I am in the fourth year which hopefully will be approximately
the same. Now I can say that I make in one day what I managed to save
during 2 years working so hard washing dishes in Canada, I give jobs to
10 people (supporting 10 families). And I hope to dedicate all my effort
to make my country a better place instead of using my life to make
Canada a place free of dirty dishes.
Jose L. USA.
October 2- 2007
Hi,
I am a C.A./Cost and Works Accountant with a LOT of I.T. skills acquired
over the last 14 years. Owing to some foolishness i wanted to immigrate
to Canada. I have now got my permanent landing rights, I just have to
stamp my passport and arrive there. I have wasted around 2200 USD in
this process, but your website helped me take the decision to NOT, i
repeat NOT even stamp my passport. I think the place where i am staying
now U.A.E. is far more tolerant, far less racist and far more prosperous
than this country of yours. Keep up the good work. You saved me
thousands of dollars more in relocation costs which I would have lost if
I hadn't made up my mind.
Balaji. U.A.E.
October 3- 2007
I would like to discuss Multiculturalism and its intents and objectives
versus Canadian Experience.
We have on the one hand in the Multiculturalism Policy of Canada Act:
3.(1)(e) ensure that all individuals receive equal treatment and equal
protection under the law, while respecting and valuing their diversity;
And we have on the other hand employers who demand "Canadian Experience"
- whereby individuals with work experience from other countries are,
effectively and subtly, barred from employment;
How is it possible to reconcile the Two?
Mubeen. Brampton, Ontario.
October 3- 2007
Attention to all who want to emigrate and those who are newcomers to
Canada: Refer to this table often to know the course of your careers in
this land full of crappy jobs. If you were to place some sort of
'equivalency' to your previous jobs in your home countries and the jobs
this crappy country can offer, refer to this table from time to time.
The information in this table was developed out of my interviews of
friends and relatives who live in this crappy country. Even though you
are qualified to pursue with your previous job specialties, however the
narrow-minded and crappy human resource specialists will always stick to
their belief that your job experiences are always equivalent to crappy
positions and titles in this so-called 'great' country.
CANADIAN JOB EQUIVALENCIES
Previous 'Third World' Canadian
Country Jobs Equivalents
Engineering
(8 to 12$/HR)
Chemical Engineer
Materials Handler
Civil Engineer
Industrial Cleaner
Instrumentation Engineer
Forklift Operator
Electronics and Communication Shippers/Recievers
Mechanical Engineer
General Warehouse
Electrical Engineer
General Labour
Flipping burgers
Technician
Light Packaging
Light Assembly
Medical
Physician and Specialist PSW's
Nurses
Caregivers
Dentists
Dental Assistant
Academic
School Teacher Doing burritos
University Professor Customer Service
Coin Laundry Rep
Office
Accountants Data Entry
Office Administrator Office Assistant
Insurance Agents Customer Service
Executive Assistant Clerical
Economist Operator
Tim Hortons, etc.
Note also the following:
Good Paying Jobs: (20$ and up)
Economic Analysts RESERVED ONLY
Physicians FOR
WHITE
Human Resource Specialists BRAINLESS
School Teachers CANADIANS
Accountants (Italians
included)
This is how worse the Canadian Labour market is. My advice to those who
are planning to go here - if you have self respect, dignity and sense of
pride - DON'T GO HERE! For those who are here doing these crappy jobs,
start your plan to GET OUT OF CANADA NOW!
If you can add something to the equivalencies please do. And also,
expose this crime Canada is committing - depriving people (immigrants in
particular) of their right to get good paying jobs! Its our right
remember that!
Michael B. Toronto.
October 4- 2007
I am a born and raised Canadain citizen. I work along side many
immigrants in the financial services sector. I think that part of the
problem lies where immigrants choose to live. Do the math people, if
250k people immigrate to Canada each year, and most of them go to
Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal,. then obviously you are not only
competing with the born Canadians but also the other immigrants. Canada
needs more than just skilled workers, Canada needs every type of worker
all across the country, not just proffesors or doctors in large cities.
Do some homework before you make a life changing decision to move
somwhere. I can't understand why anyone with a "degree" would go blindly
to a place that they obviously know nothing about. The fact is that the
skilled immigrants are needed in medium to smaller sized communities
that are excellent places to live. Too often immigrants will choose to
live in communities that are made up of many people like themselves, and
you call the rest of us racist? Try fitting in with the rest of society
and go out and meet people yourself. Don't expect born Canadians to go
out of their way to great you at your front door. Remember, immigrants
are not new to us, immigrating is new to you and you are the one that
needs to change, not everybody else.
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/bestplacestolive/list.jsp
http://www.citymayors.com/features/quality_survey.html http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/07/10/so_whats_the_best_country/
Paul S. New Brunswick.
October 5- 2007
Hi Everybody, This is indeed a great site for all potential immigrants
to read and to evaluate carefully before hastily landing to a foreign
land. Followings is some interesting statistics recently released which
tell it all.
Currently over 1.5 million Canadian Immigrants are working and living in
the US; over 350,000 in S.E.Asia, over 80,000 in Hong Kong, and tens of
thousands of Immigrants choose to return to S. Asia, Middle East,
Europe, and S. America where they are from originally.
Canada is a good place to emigrate to for as long as you come from
war-torn places like Darfur, Burma, Iraq and the like, or if you're
caucasian. On the other hand if you're non white even though you may be
rich or well educated, you'll still be taken as 2nd class citizens
particularly by those naive Canucks who still maintain the mentality of
a century ago, who are ignorant of the completely different picture of
the other side of the globe. Please refer to websites such as
canadafirst.net, canadianswatchimmigration.org, etc, one will easily
realize why protectionisms are still very strong in the country, a
specific race is striving hard to ensure that all key decision players,
government policy-makers, major businesses, industries and good
professional, senior jobs are dominated by their own race and
descendants. It took more than 2 centuries for the US to wipe off most
of the unequal treatments on its coloured people. Do we talented,
wealthy or well educated Immigrants have to follow the course of the
same footstep as the US, if so how many years will we or our children
have to wait?
Lastly a friend sent me an immigrant consultant's tel in the prairies,
and told me that the consultant with varies branches all over the world,
is promoting heavily inside the Country by advertising that no English
needed for immigrating to the prairies. This is exactly the sort of
misrepresentation that thousands of immigrant consultants and lawyers
are practising daily all around the world in order to help Canada to
meet its annual immigrant quota of 250,000. It's already very difficult
for (non white) Immigrants with good English to survive, one can imagine
the harshness one faces if he/she has no English ability. When some
naive Canucks keep telling Immigrants to "go home", these people should
first understand why so many Immigrants are being lured to come to this
bare and empty land in the first place.
Joe F. Canada.
October 8- 2007
Mubeen. Brampton,
Multiculture propaganda is nothing but a part of attracting immigrants
of diverse ethnicity. When someone wants to immigrates in a different
culture, he/she wants to make sure that he can find his own culture
there. Canadian multiculture is nothing special or artificially
created, it is natural with the immigrant onslaught. It is not that
Govt. created multiculture and immigrants are attracted for it. Govt.
has no control over it as per the Canadian constituency. It has nothing
to do with job availability. Govt. also can't force any employer to
hire foreigners.
Canadian culture was very much influenced by the American since the
beginning, in fact, till 60's America/Canada shared something like North
American culture. However, recently with the advent of the so called
multiculture, it's on the verge of total destruction. Many Canadians
don't feel any identity for themselves. On January 31, 1995, Federal
Multiculturalism Minister Sheila Finestone said in a television
interview: "In my view, there isn't any one Canadian identity. Canada
has no national culture."
To me, Canada is a Dr. Jackil & Mr. Hide. Apparently in one side it is
one of the most peaceful country in the world, everyone has equal human
rights, religious freedom, not any racial violence. On the other side,
it has been practicing silent discrimination for a long time in some
fields; mostly in the job market. If you can sacrifice your career,
then you should be happy with this so called multiculture. Rosy
inflation of multiculture is needed to hide this Mr. Hide. Sometimes
you may see job ad with "visible minorities only need apply". It also
does the same purpose.
Shah. Florida.
October 10- 2007
Look at what the government of Canada has set up to resolve the issue of
unemployment of immigrants and to resolve their issue of
under-employment; he came out with some community centres to tackle
this! And look at the conditions to be considered for their services
(which I consider will lead to anywhere but just a waste of time).
I contacted skillsinternational.ca: they referred me to a local
community centre, the day after I got a call from that centre: they ask
me if I am working less than 20 hours / week, and if I have less than 3
years in Canada !!! I told her no, she told me so we are sorry, we can't
help….and she referred me to an other centre….I called that centre, they
refer me to an other agency…and when I called them , they refer me to
the first community centre!!! I understood that it was just a waste of
time as I have foreseen it. And I had to explain my situation on every
call…what's a hassle.
What do you understand from these conditions? That if an immigrant has
spent more than 3 years in this country he would have resolved all his
problems! Or they just got worse! And his life is just ruined…and if I
am under-employed (full time), I would not have the right to benefit
from these crappy community centres services…and if I stop working as an
underemployed or reduce my hours to 20 hours or less will the government
of Canada help me to support my family and myself?... etc.
Those conditions are just another obvious proof that this country has
nothing to give us, and one should flee this land asap, at the first
occasion one can get.
Youssef M. Canada.
October 12- 2007
Hi everyone, I don't know why I didn't find this site months ago, but
it's never late. I'm glad that we can warn people willing to leave
everything in order to come here. I'm a Mexican woman, with 2 kids (1
year-old and 3 year-old) and I live in Edmonton, Alberta.
In February my husband was hired as a warehouse manager. The company
went directly to our city to hire people, obviously with all the
promises they offer. They told us that my kids and I will be covered
with my husband's work permit, and I would be able to work too. My
husband came first while I was selling our belongings, business, etc.
When I arrived here, his work permit (as an engineer) was about to
expire, so they told us that we had to wait for its renewal so we could
be included because we came here as tourists. Since the job my husband
was doing wasn't as engineer, the new permit was as a warehouse worker.
Now this permit is for two years, but my kids and I can't be included,
so we don't even have health care. Thanks God, we haven't had any
serious illness. Only once, my kids got fever, and we tried to get an
appointment to see a doctor, but we had to wait for two days, so we
bought the medicine by ourselves. Fortunately it was just a cold.
It seemed that the company was going to help us, which we find hard to
see because as times goes by and we see nothing. Our hope was to
validate my husband's engineering degree, but after reading your
comments I think we don't have many possibilities.
In fact, we haven't spent our money because we have been waiting to see
how things go; it seems that my husband's wage is not too low -he
obviously works the night shift from 8 pm to 6 am- but after taxes and
benefits (in Mexico benefits are 100% paid by the employer) he earns
less than other co-workers since they work overtime, and my husband
don't get paid for it.
The cost of living is extremely high; wages aren't enough to pay for
rent, meals, transportation. I have found nothing accessible, and for 4
people it's not enough money. We have bought only basic things: a table,
bed, TV and some toys that a coworker gave to us. We brought our
computer from Mexico. We only have signed up for the Internet service.
I'm a HR specialist, but with two kids and my tourist visa (not the one
they promised to us) I can't get a job. Daycare services for each kid go
from 800 to 1000 dollars per month, so it's not convenient. Kinder
education starts at 5 years old, so my kids can't go to school. In
Mexico, three-year old kids go to kindergarden, and in private schools
they go since they are 2 years old, so my kids can't socialize neither
learn English. In a private school in Mexico they could have learned
more than living in here. Anyways, we have already considered to return,
and after all of I have read today, that would be it. I agree with all I
have read.
Definitivamente considera Canadá si no tienes alguna otra opción en tu
país, el gobierno debe aclarar desde el principio el trabajo al que vas
a tener acceso y no engañarte con los puntos ,sueldo y tu profesión, yo
también he escrito, ido y hablado a cuanta asociación de newcomers me
encuentro y nadie me ha ayudado en nada. Por otro lado si alguien
soltero(a) solo quiere venir por un tiempo, sin la esperanza de
encontrar un buen trabajo, obtener residencia, etc. y no le importa
trabajar en lo que sea, aquí si hay mucho trabajo en todos los
restaurantes, tiendas, gasolineras, constructoras, en fin suerte a todos!
Narda C. Edmonton, Alberta.
October 14- 2007
Please allow me to share with you the irony of my situation. I am a 25
year-old Canadian citizen of Chinese descent. I was educated in a
Canadian university.
While once I used to get calls back for job interviews, that
mysteriously stopped after all the propaganda hit the news about China's
economic take-over of the world. And Chinese factory owners leaving
toxic chemicals in children's toys for export. This is something which
was later acknowledged as being the responsibility of American companies
based there in China. Now it's like every blog I visit written by
someone of Asian ethnicity talks about some form of recent anti-Asian
backlash.
Currently I'm jobless despite having worked in this country since I was
fifteen years old.
How am I supporting myself? I'm renting a room + meals in the big house
of a Chinese immigrant family. They recently immigrated. I'm basically
their live-in interpreter so that they don't have to understand English
to survive in Toronto. I'm not in the basement either. I have a nice
room to myself. They treat me like a member of the family.
Now, the type of white Canadians reading this, and I mean the type that
regularly go, "omg! Why can't those people just assimilate?! They're
colonizing parts of Canada and making a country within a country! oh
noes!" - they're going to be asking why I don't just encourage the
family to learn English and become more integrated into Canadian life.
Well, if Canadians are so ignorant as to marginalize their own fellow
citizens due to the colour of their skin or their last names on a
resume, how am I supposed to advise this family in good conscience to
invest all the effort into becoming "assimilated" if this is going to be
the reward they get?
So more power to them. I take care of their language needs so that they
can focus on their business needs. Since I'm not needed all the time, I
can easily devote time to starting my own business as well.
My advice to people out there is to create mini economies inside your
segregated ethnic group. I see no shame in self-segregation if white
Canadians are going to segregate themselves at the management level of
large corporations. Ironically, this may be your best bet at adapting
to Canadian life. Think about it. Eventually you'll reach a critical
mass of non-English speakers and large corporations will need to
increasingly cater their practices to serve ethnic communities.
Yes, this is coming out of the mouth of a "home-grown Canadian."
Tiffany L. Toronto, Ontario.
October 15- 2007
Hi,
It was very interesting and shocking at the same time reading about all
your experiences.
Let me tell you about my immigration experience:
I had lived and worked in Edmonton a few years ago with a temporary work
visa and back then I loved it there and found Canadians extremely
friendly and open-minded. Nobody (or only very few) seemed to
discriminate me only because I was a young German. On the other hand I
have to say that I had already a job when I lived there and therefore
things were a little bit different.
When my one-year-visa expired I returned to Germany and applied for
immigration. The costs shocked me but I still thought it was the thing I
wanted to do. This summer I quit my well-paid job as an office manager
in Germany, left my partner and went to Vancouver. What most of you
described happened to me as well - most of the companies I applied with
(for office positions I was actually overqualified for) never replied to
me just because of the name on my resume. My resume was more than
perfectly written since my partner who is an American had set it up for
me. There was not one tiny little reason to not at least invite me for
an interview. I was very qualified and had a kick-ass resume. Matter of
fact I got invited to a total of 3 interviews out of about 100
applications!
In the first interview I was told me English wasn't good enough to be an
executive assistant, I should start out lower, as an admin assistant
maybe.
The second interview lasted about 15 minutes and the person interviewing
me was pretty arrogant and seemed to feel superior to me.
The third interview I got very very lucky. I was interviewed and hired
as an office manager by a black American who obviously didn't have any
problem with my German accent. This job would have paid over 50.000 Can$
per year!
Anyway, believe it or not, I didn't sign the contract but left the
country to go back to Germany to live with my wonderful American
partner. I did feel the racism in Vancouver and I decided that I would
rather be with my American and move to the US in a few years. I know
that I will be confronted with racism in the US as well but I actually
hope and believe that it will be better than in Canada and that I will
also not be alone since my partner will be with me. It was - after all -
a black American who was willing to hire me in Canada. I think that was
a sign.
Birgit. Darmstadt, Germany.
October 17- 2007
Hi. My name is Bridget and I'm an American living in Canada. I
realize that I may not be a "visible minority" here but please make no
mistake in thinking that it makes it easier for me because there is no
truth to that. I am having one hell of a time trying to find ANY job
that would be willing to hire me.
I keep hearing about the shortage of workers here in Canada yet NO ONE
seems to be open to hiring a foreign worker stating reasons such as
expense, or inability to prove that they cannot find a Canadian worker
to fill the job. Interestingly enough, jobs are posted for weeks without
a single response because most Canadians are already working!!
I am so completely frustrated with the system. I feel a little bit
better for finding your website as I really needed someone that might
actually care to hear me! All I need to know is where I go from here and
I'm hoping that someone from your organization can help! Thank you for
your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Bridget K. Canada.
October 18- 2007
Hi There,
First of all I would like to thank the team that brought up this site.
I am very thankful to have been informed before hand of the reality
called Canada. I think that what the government of canada is doing is
plain cheating.
I have read here on this website someone saying that degrees in some
countries are dubious. If that is so then the embassies of those
countries should not award points to applicants of those countries. For
the sake of immigration, points are awarded to some some of the third
world nations and their applicants in the canadian embassy. That means
that the government of canada has recognised those degrees and
professional qualifications. Then how come that when the immigrants
arrive they are told that they do not qualify to practice. This is gross
injustice. You guys have to fight it.
I suggest that you call for a general strike. All the immigrants who are
non white and who feel this discriminatory practice should strike work
and start a civil disobedience campaign and court arrest. Make this
small movement into a political one. Advertise in grocery stores of
Asian markets and on the streets and invite Asian leaders to speak .Or
you speak yourselves.
What you need to fight for are equal employment oppurtunities,
Recognition of immigrant qualifications, law that makes people to be
adequately represented in white collar jobs etc. The only way is to
fight the injustice non violently but firmly by courting arrests and not
obeying the law..
Ravi K. Sacramento, California.
October 19- 2007
I have been working here in Korea for 1 year as a professional certified
teacher, teaching conversational English at a local elementary school in
Yongin, Korea (45 KM south of Seoul). I have read the latest comments
from several immigrants of colour, former immigrants to Canada, and even
one Canadian-born non-white who I beleive is living the life as an expat.
Before my new 2007 contract came into effect, I spent 2 weeks at home in
Mississauga with my family. Things were the same at home eventually and
that gives a sign that unless I have a lot of money I would not be
satisfied in Canada.
But here is my point, I have shared my experiences in Korea with my
family and they are happy to know that I had these positive experiences.
But it seems as though my family doesn't understand my reason for not
moving back to Canada this year. My mother ever over exaggerated the fact
that my father was unhappy for me renewing my contract to work in Korea
for another year because they figured out that if there are jobs for me
to work as a teacher in Ontario or Alberta, there is no reason for me to
go 10,000 km away to Korea to work as a teacher in a public school.
Now, my parents came to Canada as immigrants from Jamaica in 1969 and
1971. My father worked hard to provide my sister and me with a good life
and I even took advantage of it by going to University so I could be
whatever I want to be.
Apparently I as a Canadian-born black man will have to agree to what I
have read in some comments that come as no surprise to me. It is very
true that a black man who has post-secondary education is less likely to
have financial prosperity than a white man with no pos-secondary
education. I remember when I was home in Canada in August I was at
church, and a retired black pastor said up front from the pulpit,
"Young people of colour, make sure you get your education." I agree with
him 100%, but the irony over this is the fact that people like me are
less likely to get hired in the professional work field.
That is why I have decided to renew my contract to work in Korea,
because I refuse to have my life wasted. I even discourage young people
here in Korea from going to Canada unless they want to visit, or study.
(Just a reminder that university tuition in Canada is still cheaper than
in the US in spite of the high value of the Canadian dollar).
I have a prediction that in the next 20 years from now, looking at the
present state of out educated immigrants of colour, there will be an
increase of Canadian expats living here in the Asian continent. Most of
them will be Asian-Canadians going back to their parents or grandparents
home countries. Mostly China as well as Korea and even Taiwan, Vietnam,
and The Philippines. China is eventually filling most of the power
vacuum thanks to their annual economic growth at 10% a year (better than
Canada). But not only do I predict mostly Asian-Canadian expats coming
to live here in Korea, but also second generation Canadians of colour
like myself. So far I have met 2 Canadians who are expats living and
working here in Korea teaching English. One of them has been here in
Korea for 18 years making CAD$64,444 a year!
Now I dont' know what to expect of my future, the fact is I have options
in my life to pursue other avenues in my career. So far Canada wants
mostly skilled tradesmen more than professionals. They want educated
professionals of colour like me to wash white man's floors and work in
white man's factories, just like how it was for educated African
Americans in the 1950's, it is the same for educated immigrants of
colour in Canada. IF that is what they want of me, then perhaps I am
better off living here in Asia.
Sure my salary is not as high here, but locals would say I make a lot of
money anyway because I don't have to pay for rent, my utility bills are
so cheap, the cost of public transportation and even riding the train
across Korea is cheap, and even eating out at a Korean restaurant is
cheap. Housing and education costs are not cheap, but roadside motels
are cheap.
If this compels you as a disfranchised educated Canadian citizen to come
here to Korea and teach English, power to you. But may I also remind you
that there are even private English institutions here in Korea that do
not hire non-white English teachers, and definitely not Korean-Canadian
teachers either. That is why I chose to work in the public school
system, it is good for my professional teaching experience anyway.
Otherwise, yes it is true that Koreans can be just as bad as the white
man, racist and ignorant.
If I do return to Canada, the single biggest problem I will face is the
fact that they will not even hire their own Canadian-born,
Canadian-educated teacher because they will criticize me saying that I
don't have the Canadian teaching experience. That will eventually result
in me not spending the rest of my life in Canada because of this
existing bureaucracy of work experience or qualifications. But who
cares? At least I have more prep time here in a Korean school than I
would teaching in Canada.
I was listening to a song by Micheal W. Smith and the words in this song
goes, "Looking for a reason, longing for myself to find a place in this
world." I find myself in that situation, so do several of you reading
though this website. And I know it is not easy. Even if you leave
Canada, you will still find a lot of hurdles.
In conclusion, all I want to say is that it is true that Canada is
robbing and has robbed us of our youth after all the hard work we went
through just to earn a post-secondary degree and they tell us that we
are not worthy of prosperity. Stephen Harper, your days are numbered.
Sheldon. Yongin, Korea.
October 23- 2007
I'd suggest against using civil disobedience, although I know that
sometimes people have no choice (the First Nations protests in Northern
Ontario). As a woman of Asian descent living within an epidemic of
Asiaphilia, I probably wouldn't want to put myself in a situation where
I'm in jail and gang-raped by some white guards in gross abuses of
authority and then have my case downplayed by the court system.
I've found that there can be steady progress made by collectively and
deliberately living your life in opposition to the unfair socioeconomic
forces placed against visible minorities.
If remotely possible, refuse to do the menial jobs "reserved" for us. I
know it's hard, but look at what members of Generation Y are doing.
Some slackers are moving back in with their parents so they don't have
to pay rent and work in retail. There is a retail shortage everywhere.
Cut corners. Cut down on your expenses. I'm foregoing "extras" by
living a very frugal, non-materialistic lifestyle, but at the same time
I feel empowered because I am putting my time and effort toward
volunteering for causes I believe in.
Network with anti-racist groups and simply start discussions with
people. It's also a good way for members of different ethnic
communities to work together and find common ground. Resist
divide-and-conquer strategies by resisting the myths that one minority
group is in some way better than another. Defend other minority groups
from ethnic bashing, not just your own. One less credit card bill means
more time to engage in this progressive political activity. Meanwhile
the work won't get done. The floors won't be mopped. And your money
won't be going to corporations that discriminate against you. The
employers that chucked your resume in the trash may end up facing
lay-offs of their own.
In everything there is a cause and effect. Take control over the
"effect." What will we do when Canada discriminates against us? It's
expected that we'll be subservient and start picking up trash. To hell
with that. Let the economy feel the pain in this increasingly
competitive century of globalisation. The only remedy they tend to
throw at this is to simply increase immigration to put workers in the
spots we vacated! Let the racists howl with anger. But they started
the chain reaction.
It'll be like voting with your use of labour and time. Don't just vote
in an election. Vote every day of your life.
Tiffany L. Toronto.
October 24- 2007
I really like the way you have broken down the cost of living for
these 6 major cities. Is there any documentation you can provide for a
similar analysis of cost of living for Saskatchewan, either Saskatoon or
Regina. Thank you in advance.
Kevin L. Saskatchewan.
October 24- 2007
Hello,
I work in an area that deals with Foreign Credential Recognition, our
group recently created a new website. I came across your web-site while
searching for information about cost of living in Canada. I found the
information on your site useful. I was wondering if you have the stats
for other major cities in Canada. I didn't see Ottawa in the list.
Thank you,
Ahlam. Gatineau, Quebec.
October 25- 2007
This is in support of Tiffany's L. from Toronto.
Tiffany, I could not agree more with you on what you are doing and
saying in retaliation to the racism issue.
I am doing exactly what you are doing. As you have said, in most of the
places where I have worked and felt that the discrimination was so
obvious, I made sure to at least, set the boundaries straight and fought
for fairness and equal rights for my immigrant co-workers and my rights
as well without violence, and for the most cases, it has worked.
I have adapted the same idea as yours for a long time now. Since I saw
that there has not been equal opportunities for immigrants, I don't
think we should play not even a bit of part in making the big
corporations get bigger because those are the same ones that sees us
like some sort of aliens coming from the space, the same ones that can
not hide their disdainful feelings towards us for being immigrants?? Let
us not be the cause of their success because they are the same ones that
either shut their doors on us when we apply for employment with them, or
they treat us like in the 1800 centuries if we work for them.
Just to give you an idea to all of you on how I am retaliating back to
them, I consider having the internet a luxury, and that's how far it
goes, and the rest of my life, is just enhancing my self with education
and healthy eating habits. But as far as any other spending goes, I have
a 14 inch 20 years old TV, don't contribute to the cable companies,
don't rent movies, I borrow them from the library if ever I feel like
watching a movie, don't contribute to luxury clothing shopping, as a
matter of fact, for the most part, I make sure to go to the thrift store
shops to do most of my shopping, don't have a car because that is a big
contribution to many different corporations. I try my level best not
spend a penny so that I won't keep the big companies getting bigger
because they are the same ones that see me as like some sort of dirt for
being an immigrant.
I guarantee to all and I mean all the immigrants in Canada that if all
of us adapted the same idea, we would be able to see all those big
greedy racist companies crash down to their knees.
What would they do without the profits that hundreds of thousands of
immigrants provide to them???
Let's let them have a taste of their own medicine. We will not win this
battle by just complaining and taking the abuse, but by doing something
about it, and acting on it.
So, cheers to all of you and let's keep this non violence retaliation
up.
Cristina O. Edmonton, Alberta.
Thanks too all of the canadaimmigrants.com brothers and sisters. Cheers
to your excellent meaningful contribution to the immigrants.
October 26- 2007
It is simply my pleasure to get some momentum going, Cristina O.
Here is one idea that has occurred to me.
Notice the lucrative ESL industries around us. You'd need to pay an
outstretched hand to get certified. Then you help the ESL companies
profit off immigrants. Some immigrants will continue to speak with a
thick accent no matter how much they try anyway. And even if they did
speak perfect English, they wouldn't escape discrimination anyway.
Notice the vicious cycle.
Turn that damned beast around.
Start interpreter companies. Let's get some foreign-owned businesses in
here. Have them set the bilingual children of immigrants up with
unilingual recent immigrant families. Keep the languages of your
cultures alive. In return, some immigrant families will be highly
appreciative with what the youth are doing. They're more than willing
to lower rents for you if you choose to move away from your own family.
Since I'm hopping cities, I have to. I'm sure there are others in my
situation. Why hand your cash over to just any landlord and slave away
at some minimum wage job?
Do you have links to people in your ancestral nation? Pitch the idea to
businessmen the next time you're over there.
If you start today, you will have some headlines to laugh at in a few
years' time.
Tiffany L. Toronto.
October 26- 2007
I'm a German skilled worker and I came five month ago.
My family (wife and two sons 17+18) are here since two month. My boys
have ONLY a study permit and they can't work for one hour. Everybody
needs stuff and my boys are not allowed to work for a little bit pocket
money??!! Why?! They want to invite her girlfriends and other things
like that and we have to pay for all ?! That couldn't be right?!
Andy. Coldstream, British Columbia.
October 27- 2007
To our readers:
Immigrants demand their money back -Even 'poster boy' for nominee program
calls it a waste of money
http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=73975&sc=89
Brokers pressured immigrants into mentorships:
Lawyer
http://www.novascotiabusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?sid=73510&sc=107
Have a great weekend!
Canadaimmigrants Team
October 28- 2007
Furthermore,
Do you notice how every so often, some corporation encounters a public
relations nightmare for something like a racial stereotype in an ad or
product, and there's an organized backlash?
It would be a mistake to limit ourselves to just instances like that.
Remember, the most damage is done by silent discrimination and the
denial of racism, not the odd slip that happens because someone
notices. Steady pressure is effective not "protest cycles."
In identifying companies to boycott, study not just their ads but their
names of the employees working there in prominent places. Does their
website feature an all-white cast with perhaps a token minority in a
stereotypical role to "prove" biological determinism?
Study the big picture. Research who their clients are. Look up the
clients' websites. Boycott them all. Throw your purchasing power at
companies that embrace diversity in meaningful ways when you're actually
going to buy something. And by embracing diversity, I mean putting
people in non-stereotypical roles. I'm suspicious of companies using
only women in secretarial roles, Asian programmers, black rap artists...
while it's great they're being employed at all, the company may be
pigeonholing people and curtailing careers. Scrutinize the companies
the way they scrutinize us. If you have even a shred of an ability to
save and keep a penny in your bank account, do it.
Tiffany L. Toronto.
October 30- 2007
October 26- 2007, regarding the ESL big scam going on: You touched the
right nerve with this topic brother/sister.
I need to warn all the people who are thinking about improving their
education.
Back in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1997, as soon as I finished my high school
studies, I went to the so infamous and I say infamous because it is a
big scam collage which is ALGONQUIN COLLEGE. I wanted to get in a
technology program. By purpose, I did not mention to the scams person of
the registration programs, (which are called the admissions
co-coordinators) that I did have a fresh new Ontario's High school
Diploma.
So, just because I had an accent, and did not have university
transcripts, they came back a few minutes after the cheap testing that
they run in order for you to be admitted in the program, and told me
that I had to study some High School courses which would take a few
years to complete.
I asked them like how long approximately, and they told me that I had to
take a least two more years of English and a few more programs in order
for me to get in the program that I wanted to study which I already had
taken them in High School. Oh yeah, but that I did not have to worry
about expenses because it was free since they have an agreement with the
Government and recognized by the Government as an education institution
providers.
At that moment, I think boiling acid was running through my body instead
of blood. I took out of my back pack my High School Diploma, and my
close to hundreds test results.
Then, I show them on their face and asked them, are you telling me that
those results from a well known government institution are not good for
your college??
She was all embarrassed that I had got her trying to commit to what I
would call fraud to the government and fraud to me as well.
She then called her supervisor, and they all pretended that it was a
system mistake, and told me that I was admitted for my technology
program, which I rejected and told them that I could not provide
business to such a racist and corrupted institution.
So, my point here is that you must watch it and don't let those hungry
sharks take advantage of you and your time. Even worse, waste your time
and money in them.
They do as they please with their admission rules because they are in
the position to make lots of money from us because of the fact that they
have been approved as ESL providers by the Government and since basic
education should be free in Ontario, the Government will pay them
whatever they want to charge the Government in our behalf as far as it
is ESL or some other High School programs.
The bottom line here is that when you end up spending a few years in any
of those colleges, you still come out of it with a big debt, a few lees
years of your time, and no employment. The false promises that they
promised you about finding you employment and the employment placement
program are nil. So, all you have to do is kiss your time and money and
good bye. Of course, it is just because of the fact that no amount of
education will ever erase your mother tongue accent, and no amount of
education is going to change your looks either. As far as you don't look
blondish and white, chances are that doors will continue to shut on your
face when it comes to better employment opportunities.
So, don't fool your self with all those false promises of the so
prosperous opportunities that those institutions promise you when they
want to grab your money, and your time.
Have great day all.
Cristina O. Edmonton, Alberta.
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