pardon my ignorance, but why is it that nearly every country within the Commonwealth has some sort of reciprical agreement with the UK to allow people to work in their country while actually on holiday, although on a limited platform, and Canada only has such an agreement with Australia.

Has Canada decided to cut all its colonial ties and punish the residents of these countries? I thought the government here looked to promote diversity through such programmes?

Last year nearly 10,000 UK citizens under the age of 30 went to Australia and New Zealand on working holiday permits. I may be mistaken, but while they were there, the money that they earnt would have been ploughed back into the economy through taxes, rent, food, beer and tourist attraction charges. Does the government here think that they can afford not to have this kind of income on its books, driving its economy forward and filling the so called "labour shortage"?

try BUNAC - there you can find a way of coming to CAnada on a one year work permit

(if memory serves it is www.bunac.org)

Firstly you need to be aware that the UK working holiday maker scheme is open to citizens of *all* Commonwealth countries, whether they give any reciprocal privileges to young Britons or not.

If you want to complain about the UK's policy then you could try writing to your MP - and I suspect the Shadow Home Secretary (David Davis MP) might be interested in a letter too.

The UK can't change the policy of other countries, but can (and should) withdraw access to the UK for those countries that don't give equal benefits to British citizens.

There are some schemes open to young British citizens:
http://www.canada.org.uk/visa-info/worker/e_stuwor.htm

Note as generous as the schemes applied to Australians and New Zealanders. Of course, Australia and NZ would withdraw access to their countries for Canadians tomorrow unless Canada reciprocated as it does.

Jeremy