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Immigrants do not qualify for any pension benefits until they have been in Canada for 10 years, and then they only qualify for OAS, not CPP (unless they worked during that decade, in which case they receive a small CPP payment).

And they do contribute, by allowing both parents to work - therefore earning more money and paying more taxes.

   

I don't think they get OAS... You get that from your home country.

   

Just for all your info... I miss 10 years of my OAS-plan, that I have been paying into since I was 15. First in the Netherlands (am not paying there anymore), and now here. You build up 2% each year till you are 65. I will miss 10x2%=20%.

   

I justify it by the fact that there are countries that have much smaller income inequalities and they function just fine. Say Sweden which is considered to have a more competitive economy than either Canada or the US. And I justify it by the fact that the US and Canada at one time also had much less income inequality, and they not only functioned just fine but better than they do now. At one time a janitor could raise a family on just his salary and maybe even buy a modest house.

   

Canada is an immigrant country, founded and built on immigration. In the 18th and 19th Centuries it was mainly white Europeans, most of whom were poor and dispossed, who settled here (look at the mass wave of Ukrainians who settled the west). During the 20th and 21st Centuries it is and will continue to be non-European, Asiatics who immigrate.

This I have no problem with. As a corporate trainer (in Canada, before I became an expat in South Korea and Russia) I trained and supervised many people, half of whom were non-white, new Canadians, and I can say from personal experience that the vast majority of these immigrants worked harder, dealt with me more professionally and were more dependable than the majority of the Canadians I dealt with.

The Canadians would come in late or not perform duties assigned to them and when questioned would take on a contemptuous attitude and play the victim of corporate exploitation and then bitch about it to their colleagues for days afterwards. I never once had to have a similar talk with a new Canadian, because they were always reliable (I even had to send a young Guyanese woman home because she was obviously too sick to be at work).

In particular I found working alongside people from African countries to be a real pleasure. Their cultural background creates, for the most part, honest and intelligent and hard-working people and Canada can only be strengthened by inviting more of these people to settle here.

As for Americans, they are much like Canadians and can greatly contibute to our culture. I'm not worried about the teabaggers. Most of them couldn't find Canada on a map and even Sarah Palin wonders what that big land mass she has to cross on her way from Alaska to DC is. Perhaps it's Hawaii?

   

Considering that we're all Communists according to their DIY anti-government philosophy (except, of course, for the Medicare, veteran's benefits, and farm subsidies that people like Michelle Bachmann get) I doubt that Canada's in much danger of a TeaBircher invasion any time soon. And I really can't express properly how good that makes me feel.

   

No, they have to jump through hoops and wait years in order so that most can be turned away. They should just pay 10's of thousands of dollars to rent a Chinese cargo ship crew, then get caught in Canadian waters and everyone will be given asylum.

Sadly thats the message we send.

   

   

If Sara Palin gets elected President there will be a lot more American emigrating to Canada and I will be at the head of the line. Canada may want to annex territory south to accommodate the inflow. President Palin would even notice as she would be concentrating on standing with America's North Korean allies(she actually said that)

How long does it take to learn French using Rosetta Stone? I already know O' Canada.

To Any American who wants to attempt to milk the Canadian health care system I would like to tell you as politely as possible to piss off. If you apply to immigrate to Canada and are accepted it is an honour in itself.

   

It's funny that people still think the President runs the country. Everybody is disappointed with Obama, saying that he is "just another GW". Wonder why? Maybe because the strings are still pulled by the same people, and Obama is just another puppet?
What makes you think Palin wouldn't be "just another puppet"?

   

The thought of Sara Palin having the authority over the US Military scares the hell out me.

   

I suspect if Sarah Palin were elected POTUS, we in Canada could accept the original 13 colonies into Canadian confederation. California would seperate into the "United Socialist Republic of Hollywood" and the rest would be called "The United States of Bible Land".

Well I welcome our New England brethren back into the Realm of the Crown!

   

I would suggest also Accepting Hawaii into Canada, not only is it a nice place for a holiday, but they had a royal heritage as well.

   

Yep, the only US State that still has the Union Flag on it's State Flag as you well know GT.

   

We need to overhaul our entire immigration system.

Citizenship should be a 7 year program with available 'traits' that can shorten it to a minimum of 3 years. These 'traits' are not based on race/culture/religion.

Traits:
Learning one of Canada's two official languages. Can be done before or after obtaining entry.

Opening and/or moving an existing business to Canada. This should also have a caveat that states that the head financial office of the business must reside in Canada to qualify.

Having and/or obtaining skillsets that are in high demand inside Canada. This can be done before ore after entry. Should be updated yearly, but still honour previous year skillstets.

Willing to reside in certain areas. This is linked to skillsets, but would have the advantage of allowing the government ot move people to areas that require more people, while not breaching any rights of free movement. Must stay at eligible area until citizenship is earned to qualify for a time frame deduction.


These traits should not only be applied to immigrants that are trying to obtain citizenship, but to those that are trying to immigrate. If you are willing to do some of the listed, you get access faster in lieu of timeframe adjustments on citizenship.

Example:
Mohammed (Teacher) from the US vs Freddie (Tradesman) from England vs Thomas (Doctor) from South Africa.

All three should qualify language. They can either deduct 1 year from citizenship timeframe or skip 1 year of pre-entry wait.

All three have the same option with different variables. Mohammed, if willing to live in Saskatchewan (pretend they have a teacher shortage), can shave a maximum of 2 years off citizenship or 2 years off entry time...or 1 year to both.

Thomas would like to, and has the capital to, open a practice in Toronto. His choice location is not on the list of eligible areas for his skillset. However, he will be eligible for a 1 year deduction due to opening a business.

Maximum deductions would enable skipping to the front of the line (if required wait times are that long) and/or a reduction of citizenship timeframe to 3 years.

Fair for everybody, from everywhere, and beneficial to Canada.

These are just examples, I'm sure there would be many more 'traits' that would be beneficial and would belong on such a list. This was just waht I could come up with on the fly.

PS: Let them all in, Canada could do well with a lot more people. the growing pains of integration would be nothing compared to the long term benefits.

   

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