Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

You are obviously not here yet then. If you think that most immigrants to Canada "integrate", you might as well stay put. There is more segregation by culture here than I have seen anywhere else, except perhaps Germany these days. Vancouver, for example, is openly is split into ethnic communities - Chinese being the largest; road signs in Richmond are in English and Cantonese, not English and French. Then you have the Vietnamese, Central American, Iranian and a mix of other arabic cultures. Then come the white Europeans, small in numbers and largely ignored. Let's not forget the Natives either, but then they don't tend to live next door do they? :rolleyes: Up where I am, Abbotsford is where all the [East] Indians live. Again, public signing is in Punjabi, Urdu and English. What people don't seem to get is that most of these immigrants have no interest in what your average redneck / assimilated Canadian says or does. They don't miss out on a thing, it's an incredible assumption to think that they do. Immigrant groups support each other, hire each other and further each other in business and in social networks that extend across communities. Integrate - why? It would mean a reduction in living standards for most and competition for markets and jobs they can control now. Sound business sense if you ask me. It tickles me pink to read the posts bemoaning the loss of the "Heartbeat" type Brit identity. It was never there, the beauty of being British is that most of us have a long and fascinating history of mixed cultures, we just happen to have been raised in the UK somewhere. We miss the innocence of most childhoods, that's all. The myth most people these days seem to buy into is that you come to Canada to leave behind the yobs, the squalor, the crime and the overcrowding. You think that you will live like Little House on the Prairie, 2006 version. It's not like that. It's just the same here, about twenty years behind the times in most areas outside major urban centres, but just the same. You are the foreigners now, and the same racial tensions exist, this time against you, as being white and European gets you no favours.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

Because they want skilled workers. Skilled workers can only contribute if they can speak English or French.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

So when did the Government introduce this criteria, I assume it was not a long time ago in historical terms otherwise the things people are saying about non integration and not learning languages would not be applicable as many would have been refused entry anyway.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

I'm feeling that right now. We've been in Canada over 8 years, and now we're contemplating a move back to the UK. I'm worried about how we'll fit in and adjust to the lifestyle. I guess we did it once before, when we came here - we should be able to do it again going back... it's a strange feeling though!

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

I'm sure most of the recent immigrants can speak English. Do they choose to spek their native language?

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

That's unfair and I call you on it.

The case may apply when using the services of, or trying to do business with say Abduls drapery store, Hassans diner or Wangs dry cleaners, but in business and commerce generally, the ability to espress oneself, manage responsibilities, communicate, counsel, educate and train, all count as huge positives. Concerning US<>Canada business relations, the US end would <IMHO based on experiences> far rather deal with a literate numerative white anglo who can communicate effectively with them and not waste their precious time, than someone with a thin grasp of English and sketchy business skills. And of course, there's a lot of that at the US-end involved in Canadian business, generally and of course lots of inter-provincial trade activity. Within that remit someone with ESL needs would struggle. They may get by, and some do of course, but again that's all a constituent part of Canada's inefficiency/worker productivity/competitiveness issue.

If white anglos weren't to be successful migrants, then there wouldn't be so many (in relative terms) moving from the UK. Just cos the recently landed John Bull from Middle England* didn't get hired by Hassan and Partners doesn't mean abject failure or a complete job search wipeout for the white man abroad.

* An awfully nice chap for sure but a bit slow on the uptake, doesn't drink coffee, misses his warm beer and cricket, doesn't get the money thing, well I wouldn't hire the dozy twat either. Nothing to do with race colour creed or nationality, it's pragmatism and a need to get work done at a 'rate out the gate'. John Bull needs to convince myself and Razim Hassan and his interview panel that he has massive adaptability skills or the absolute undoubted potential to adapt. Complaining that he misses his PG Tips is a big downer and will have him out of my office quicker than a stuttering graduate with a misspelt resume. Fact, he won't even get a foot in the door.

Rich.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

Yes of course they can otherwise they would surely not reach the points target !

But that's not the case for Britain of course as there is no immigration criteria as such; what I mean is that the app process is different to the likes of USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and looks like the Government are going to change that very quickly because of strains on the economy.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

I think, in relative terms, I must have missed this wave of potentially successful migrants from the UK. Stats Canada obviously did too.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/fac...manent/16.html

The reality:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/fac...manent/14.html
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/fac...manent/13.html
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/fac...manent/15.html

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

Now then you cheeky monkey I never said it was a 'wave' but if white anglo's weren't to be successful why would UK represent the larget European bunch of the lot. So the number's a flatline, so what, there's evidence complete of a steady flow of people moving here, mostly successful, mostly settling happlily and remaining here.

Admit it, although it deposits a bucket full of ice cold cat piss in your morning cuppa, the largest % coming from Europe are from the UK. And they wouldn't be coming if (generally) there was no welcome, no opportunity, barriers to the white anglo over here. And of course, this wouldn't be yet another rambling chance to diss Canada/BC/PR/anything to do with relocating to here, would it, born of disappoinment and bitterness ?

Rich.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

You have the BE monopoly on incoherent rambling Rich. ;) You forget, I am still here. Not bitter against Canada, not remotely disappointed, employed, occasionally bored (will admit that one), culture deprived but otherwise still here. I'm happy to help the many migrants to BC who toddle up the valley to meet for the cat-piss free cuppa I am always happy to share. Happy Thanksgiving :p

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

I dealt with a Richmond, BC based tech firm for over two years. There were Belgians, Catonese, white-Canadians, Anglos, Australians, Koreans, Indians, Albertans. I never felt that anyone was discriminated against due to their colour, creed or nationality. As the customer, I was shown the people who were doignthe job, with varied degrees of proficiency in language.

Frankly, a really positive example of a multi-cultural team working together for a common goal.

I can agree that some companies should prefer to put whites in customer facing positions when dealing with NA, but when dealing with Asia, I'd rather the correct Asian who better understands the culture.

Then of course, no one is denying that there are networks amongst immigrants. It's always been this way, and networking in the Asian culture is premordial.

I think all of this is positive for Canada; after all we go there to live a multicultural society, don't we?

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

I agree, we do/should and it should be foremost on the mind of prospective immigrants, if you're headed here to get away from dusky faces, strange tongues, and smelly food, then think again.

Re multiculturalism, are we talking -
Trudeau's original concept ?
Stephen Harpers 2006 concept ?
Bubba from Redneckville AB's concept ?

Depends where you be from and where you be headin'.

Rich.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

I don't know about the first too. I'd imagine most people on this forum come from quite multicultural towns and cities. Hey, I already live in one of Europe's most mixed cities (thank god).

I'm sure that there are some Bubbas on the forum too. I suppose they could choose to live in Redneckville, but there are a few of those in the UK too. It'll be cheaper to go there.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

I don't miss that but the redneck / assimilated / cradle Canadians are pretty much irrelevant to me.

Re: Just how bad is the UK?
 

We just had the Thanksgiving 'Fete' down the road and there was a lot of 'Native American' stuff going on which was very interesting. I got talking to one of them and it turns out he was a 'kind of' Town Crier, in fact he had just been to the World Town Crier contest somewhere in England, he didn't have a bell but a 'Talking Stick'. He's the busiest official town crier in the world and has met just about every world leader in the erm, world.

I had a look at his wigwam- very nice, it was a lot taller than I imagined but still not a lot of room if you're standing up.