Report: Immigration policy ‘narrow’ N.S. urged to move beyond economy-centred approaches to attracting newcomers /MARY ELLEN MacINTYRE STAFF REPORTER [email protected] This province will have to do more than merely ask immigrants to come, create jobs and save our economy. “It is precisely the inattention to the hard cold realities faced by immigrants to this province, both economic and cultural, that helps to explain why many do not stay, says a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Expanding the Vision: Why Nova Scotia Should Look Beyond Econocentric Immigration Policy is essentially a plea to the Nova Scotia government to do things differently. Written by Alexandra Dobrowolsky, professor of political science at Saint Mary’s University, and Howard Ramos, associate professor at Dalhousie University, the report suggests it would be wrong to believe the solution to an aging population and weak economy is an immigration policy concentrating only on economics. “This approach is narrow, instrumental and epitomizes short ¬term thinking . It aims to maximize the economic contributions of immigrants to the province and minimizes the costs associated with attracting them; immigrants are expected to do all the giving, while the province does all the taking . The authors say economic considerations are important, but urge the provincial government to start thinking creatively about immigration. During a news conference Tuesday to release the report Dobrowolsky said Nova Scotia doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, follow the federal government’s lead on attracting immigrants to this province. “Nova Scotia can take the driver’s seat, said Dobrowolsky. “We can take our own road. “Economy-driven immigration policies are bad for Nova Scotia in the long run, she said. Dobrowolsky said the whole country is competing for those immigrants with money and looking at international students as cash cows. Instead of looking at immigrants “with dollar signs in our eyes, this province must create a welcoming, open environment for those who want to make their lives in Nova Scotia. The authors say Nova Scotia must look to countries other than the usual European or East Asian countries. Moreover, this province must not just look for engineers, doctors or business people with deep pockets, but poets as well. “Those with a more liberal arts education, these are the people in many places who head up major corporations, said Ramos. “We are promoted as a multicultural society but the reality on the ground is this is not an ethnically diverse society, not on the same scale as in Vancouver, he added. A broader stream of immigrants will guarantee a more diverse society, and ensuring families are allowed to immigrate will help to anchor immigrants in this province, the report says. There are a number of recommendations contained in the report, emphasizing the need for the provincial government to think creatively about immigration policies. “Creative policies recognize the sacrifices immigrants are making to come here and help facilitate more permanent residency, or make it easier for their families to join them, and ensure that immigrants are able to use their skills and experience to contribute in the labour market and beyond in meaningful ways, said Ramos. The report urges solid research on immigration and what is needed to ensure immigrants stay in this province, increasing staff with the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration, and working to correct the gender imbalance of those immigrants. “Thinking creatively about immigration and incorporating other dimensions of life does not mean doing away with economic considerations altogether. Each of the alternatives we propose also brings economic rewards, the report suggests. “Let’s invest in people and not just businesses, it concludes.
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 14:32:17 +0000
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