This story is being somewhat buried by Canadian media, but is being picked up by outside sources, which was probably the point. The G20 is being held in China next, and this feels like a classic 'suck up' move to make the hosts like us.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/john...ages-1.3718831
Quote:
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If Immigration Minister John McCallum gets his way, Canada will significantly increase immigration beyond its current record level as a way to fill the country's labour needs.
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Good for the CBC for allowing comments on a story on which the feedback is almost entirely negative. This is a difficult topic, as the kneejerk reaction is to start shouting 'racism' at any criticism.
http://www.asianpacificpost.com/arti...on-levels.html
Quote:
Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, John McCallum is touting Canada as the go to place for Asians, especially Filipinos and Chinese nationals, saying the country needs them.
Pointing to an aging population and looming labour shortages, McCallum made the pitch in Manila during a speech to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, the CBC and Manila media reported.
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The aging population argument has always bugged me. There is a lower birthrate in Canada, as there is in many first world countries, but the people arriving in Canada don't have that cultural issue, and the existence of babies being born into the country is never used to offset the aging of Babyboomers.
Could we use our own 9% unemployment rate (and higher jobless rate) to fill some of the looming labour shortage?
I'm not going to be around a computer for much of the day, but would be interested in reading any discussion, if there is interest. Is there anyone on the 'pro increased immigration' side who would like to jump in to give perspective?