With just a few weeks to go until the May 12 provincial election, Premier Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals put on their brightest smiles and their best kurta at Surrey’s Vasakhi parade, the celebration of Sikh New Year. The BC NDP and the federal Conservatives were also out in full force. It marked an [...]
Most Canadians consider this country a welcoming haven for refugees, with good reason. Last year, more than 20,000 refugees became permanent residents of Canada – 9 per cent of all immigrants. Just under half are sponsored refugees, approved by the government before arriving. The remainder are accepted only after they or a family member came [...]
The for-sale sign in front of the house was the symbol Andy Chang had been waiting for. He and his family could now pack for their one-way trip back to Taiwan. He always knew this day would come. “The first day I set foot on the Canadian soil twelve years ago, I knew one day [...]
Mexico has long been known for its sun-soaked beaches, but increasing drug violence is changing that image. No one knows that better than the Mexicans who are fleeing to Canada. They come seeking the refugee status that would allow them to stay. Canadian officials say refugee claims from Mexicans rose to more than 8,000 in [...]
Canada urgently needs more doctors. To alleviate the problem, the healthcare system relies on doctors from other countries. And it does this in no small numbers. Nearly a quarter of Canadian doctors were trained abroad, many from developing countries. This has led to the criticism that Canada is ‘poaching’ doctors from poor countries. Monica Tanaka [...]
Canada is heading for another stain on its human rights record. Nearly three years ago Prime Minister Stephen Harper had to apologize for placing a head tax on Chinese immigrants, calling the government’s actions a “grave injustice.” The country is going down the same path with its program for foreign nannies which brought over 59,000 [...]
Students at Canadian universities are reaching out internationally, using pocket change to make a difference. Every year, many students pay a few dollars to their university’s Student Refugee Program. Since 1978, these programs have allowed for 1000 refugees to come to Canada and earn their degrees. While other universities may only sponsor one or two students, the University [...]
The federal government offers many services to help immigrants and refugees adapt to life in Canada. But those services are only available during their first year here. When the clock runs out, many newcomers struggle to get by. They turn to their family members for help. Sometimes that means parents are taking care of their [...]
“Thank you Canada. I finally, after a very long journey, have a place to call home,” says Dang Son Vinh in Vietnamese with a tentative smile, as if it may all be but a dream. A dream come true: Dang has been in Canada for 28 days. It took him 20 years to get here. [...]
Korean immigrants in Vancouver have been hit harder by the economic downturn because there is a higher unemployment rate and the value of the Korean won is decreasing relative to the Canadian dollar. They represent a fast growing segment of the population. The Korean population in the Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) jumped by 69% [...]
Recent Comments