balaq8

Please read this and give your comments:

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=48771&headline=MIGRANT~TALES: ~Enough!~They~took~flight~to~India#compstory

Enough! They took flight to India
Harish Dugh
Posted online: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 0938 hours IST[/COLOR]Updated: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 1208 hours IST

cov-canuck

What a one-sided, inflammatory article, about one whinging individual who has decided to generalise the entire country and everyone in it. I've chosen to ignore everything that it states, and go by more fair articles, such as those posted on here and other immigration websites.

proo

The problem is that some people don't do enough research especially the ones on those relocating programmes! You can't move to another country and expect everything to be a breeze or the same as home because it's not!

Souvenir

I had a conversation on this subject with an Indian in Calgary some years ago. He was getting ready to go back. He had been encouraged to emigrate by people from back home who had come here and were now living much better lives. What he failed to think about was that they were labourers (things were bound to be better). He was a professional.....

The conversation took place in a taxi.

Tangram

Really dont think they expected it to be a breeze, but a breeze and living on bread and water are poles apart.

Obviously these are only two cases and either way you can't paint everyone with the same brush.

But people shouldn't immediately diss anothers opinion just because it differs from theirs or their experience. Everyone is different.

Souvenir

It's true to say, though, that some people simply don't do their research.

I recall a case last year where two Anglo-Indians, trained as accountants in the UK but now living in Ottawa, were suing the federal government for misrepresentation. I think their claim was based on the fact that they had been required to show all sorts of evidence of qualifications etc only to find that their credentials didn't count for much over here.

While I can appreciate the argument that the application process can lure people into thinking that their occupations are "hot" and that they will stroll into a job straight after customs, two supposedly intelligent individuals should have had the sense to actually check on the acceptability of their foreign qualifications.

On the other hand, I know of several people who arrived in Canada with next to no money, no plans (this was some years ago, admittedly) and have since become millionaires. They are/were all self-employed.

iaink

I see sentationalized journalism is not restricted to the UK and North America then.

Immigration doesnt work for everyone, its no secret. To say "your life will certainly be ruined" is a bit of a give away that its not the most balanced review of the situation. There are plenty of peoply whos lives have not been ruined...even some Indians I'm sure!

I enjoyed the reference to the "Cold Country" too. Hasnt seemed terrribly cold for the last week or so, but I guess its all relative.

Wow, you have to pay for dental care.....Duh!

No call for textile engineers in canada...a country known the world over for its prairies full of rolling fields of cott....oh sorry, thinking of something else

The general view that the canadian government goes out looking for skilled workers to come to canada, but when they get here there are too many hurdles to them practicing that particular skill is probably fair though. To say its some government conspiracy is patently nonsense though, its simply that the government doesnt have enough influence over the various licensing bodies. The truth is that Canada does need skilled workers to counter the loss of tallent to the US, and the government is doing its job in getting them here, but it needs to get a grip over the licensing bodies or improve crossover training programs to fully utilise those that choose to come here. Hopefully that will come soon as its a criminal waste of talent.

deeana

[i][QUOTE=balaq8 [/i]
The most highly qualified professionals, with degrees worth dying for, can be found in Canada picking up garbage, driving taxicabs and delivering pizza! [Unquote

This is true. But I think it might be true in the UK too, and not only for immigrants. My son, for example, who has degrees in English and Philosophy plus a teaching degree was working for a while on the checkouts in Sainsbury's.... and he is English.

The difference might be that people who apply to live in Canada are given points for their occupation and experience, (I assume the system is still the same) and would therefore expect those things to count for something once they get there. Trouble is, they don't. As I have posted on an different thread, the problem of getting a reasonable job is partly compounded by the effect of the very strong Canadian version of the "old boy network" - which reserves the best jobs for people who know other people... it's the same the whole world over. Plus, you will inevitably find the need to upgrade to Canadian qualifications initially, which will keep you busy while you make your own connections and friends.

And it is true about the high cost of things. All our savings went in the first two years, then we got into debt. Eventually our income exactly balanced our outgoings and we felt as if there was a "big hand in the sky" that was making sure we never had a spare penny to put aside. Not very nice.

Then my husband got a much better job and was soon promoted - abroad. Now we don't live in Canada any more and are financially better off - but he is in one country and I in another - so it seems these days you just can't win. Unless you already have.

Sigh.
Deeana

(Please, this is not a whinge. It is simply my take on our truth, as far as this particular issue goes. There are lots of people who have different stories. But this is part of ours.)

Bleech

God I hate these posts

deeana

Then don't read them. Simple really. But some people want to know the truth before they go, so they can avoid falling into the same traps.

See?

Take care
Deeana

Elhombre

I know an emigre who is Indian and who is doing very well. I contacted him through the alumni association as I went to the same business school and I was looking for various perspectives before making my decision to move. He is now the head of marketing at one of the big US automobile manufacturer's Canadian operations. I found his response was very illuminating and I reproduce it here so people can make up their minds. I hope that he won't mind but I have removed a few words that will hopefully maintain his privacy. For all I know he may be one of you. In all I had responses from about fifteen alumni from different year groups and their responses were similar.

Hello ****,
> >
> >I emigrated to Canada two years, in ******* 2001. The going has been pretty
> >good for me, largely because of the fact that I landed here with a job. I
> >managed to convince my employer to transfer me to their Canadian
> >operations.
> >I can only share with you what I have heard and seen around me, as my
case
> >is not truly representative of an immigrant's experience of settling in
> >Canada and finding a job.
> >
> >To begin with, I would like to point out that Canada is a beautiful
country
> >and the people that I have come across are simply wonderful. Lets put it
> >this way, I have not felt like an outsider a single day, and have been
> >treated as an equal at work and in society in general. Its a great place
> >for
> >the family (weather notwithstanding), and the kids. As I see it, Canada
> >embraces the best of both worlds. It provides the quality of life of a
> >(say)
> >Western European country, and has a working socialist infrastructure
(like
> >health, pensions, education, etc.) You will often find people here say
that
> >we can improve those services, but I believe given where the rest of the
> >developed world is, Canada does a pretty good job of providing its people
> >with those services.
> >
> >Lets come to jobs and the economy. The economy has been the best
performing
> >within the G7 during the last year. With regards to jobs, unemployment is
> >higher relative to the U.S. ( I think 7%), and I have heard that the
going
> >is pretty tough for new immigrants. Canadian employers have shied away
from
> >giving new immigrants jobs that are in line with their full potential.
Most
> >people have had to accept a slightly lower position to start with. I did
> >that for a year too, even though I moved within the same company quite
> >rapidly after that. Once you are able to prove yourself, you can build
your
> >own opportunities. I do want to caution you that you will need to be
> >patient
> >initially as you look for the right job.
> >
> >Hope this helps, and do not hesitate to contact me if you have further
> >questions.
> >
> >Regards

flashman

Also it should be understood that although the Federal Government controls immigration it has limited influence when it comes to employment opportunities. Provincial and Local Governments have more influence regarding specific locations and occupations.

iaink

The more I read the original post, the more it annoys me. So much self pity. The world doesnt owe any of us a living, and to come to Canada with the aim of getting rich is just living in a parallel universe. Emmigrating anywhere is not going to do that for the vast majority, and there are so many better reasons to come here.

I think the key to sucess here is not to be the shrinking violet type, you really have to push and sell yourself to land a good job..but without pissing off those hiring..its a thin line to balance, and perhaps doesnt come at all naturaly to some.

The tooth thing..how stupid is it to get into a situation where you are paying $1800 when you dont have the money? Surely a supposedly intelegent person in that situation would get a quote for the work, much as you would if you were getting your car fixed!
So many things about the article are bogus, and then they make it seem like that is the experience for everyone who comes here

Canada doesnt owe you anything, You have to go out and get it, not wait for riches to come to your door.

brit_in_fizroy

can't agree more with iaink's last comments. With 7% unemployment, you have to push yourself and be prepared to move around to find work - don't forget, commuting in Canada doesn't have the same problems as UK, (sorry - England) I travel 45km each way for work, this enables me to live in the country but work in the city, the commute takes around 35 minutes each way and a civic equivalent mpg means this costs me around 30$ a week at current gas prices. When looking for work, and I have mentioned this before, be sure your resume matches the jobs being advertised, you can be rejected just as easily for being over qualified as under qualified. Many of the big IT companies use software to vet the resumes and if you don't check it out before you apply, your resume may never even get read!!! As for the minorities/immigrants in the workplace, I have not witnessed any of the listed practices in my 7 years here - this is Canada, even a whiff of bias, discrimination or preferential treatment could land an employer in court. The current immigration policies here are governed by the governments concern over the decline in the working population and they are excersizing their right to pick and choose who the want to come in. As a matter of interest, is this not a British Expats forum or what???

Alberta_Rose

Oh be very careful!!! .... I dared to make some similar comment one time and was nearly thrown off the forum!! MOI!!!!??????

About the original post tho, In 2004 over twenty five and a half thousand people moved from India to Canada as permanent residents. This was a thousand more than the previous year ...... I'd venture to guess that they are not all as doomed to exploitation and failure as the article would suggest!

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/monitor...mmigrants.html