Smeg stuff looks nice. When it isn't falling to pieces i.e. in about 6 months. But it all looked so shiny in the showroom!

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against SE Asians, in fact I have a number of good friends in Calgary from that part of the world. It's just a bit frustrating at times when you consider the hoops that you have to jump through to come here as a skilled worker who should in theory make immediate beneficial impact on the economy, whereas .....

I'm also grumpy about things government related because I've just found out how much tax I have to pay the government this month :scared:. I take back all my previous comments about Canadian tax being genrally on a par with UK tax.

So please don't take offense anyone

Hi there,

I am always wary when a person starts a conversation with "I don't want to come across as racist which I am not, but..". It usually means that the person is in fact racist; however they don't want to admit it (either to their friends or to themselves). I am not certain whether or not this reflects you, but expect people to judge you when you start with the above phrase.

I am not certain what the purpose of your posting was but you should keep in mind that not everyone has to go through the point system. Many people enter Canada through the family class. Furthermore, many of the SE Asians coming into Canada have incredible qualifications and wealth.

As to you having to wait in the line a little bit longer, try to be a little more patient.
I have lived in two countries and visited many more in which I did not speak the language. I was continually grateful to those individuals that were patient and understanding with me.

Must admit I have seen the same on these boards with people barely able to type a sentence together. Hey ho !

I think a mistake is being made in assuming that people living in Canada who do not speak English are immigrants; it's not necessarily the case. It's not uncommon for people to grow up here, in Toronto, without learning more than rudimentary English.

The answer to "how did they get here ?" may very well be "they were born here".

Yes but in this case Posi said they were in the office getting a SIN number, it would be unusual for someone born in Canada to have got to middle age (or did he call them young professional?) without one of those, or?

OK, perhaps I shouldn't have started with this phrase but just to set the record straight my wife is not English/British. You decide whether or not that makes me a racist. She came to the UK with hardly a word of English to be with her father, so I don't have anything against families being reunited, but the difference is that she had the courtessy to always take an English speaker along with her to the various UK government offices. This couple did not. Damn inconsiderate if you ask me. Surely if they were family class they would have had relatives with some English/French language ability to come along and help out. So I assumed that they were skilled workers although they could be Investors, buying their way in with a bucket of money.

Can't remember what set me off on this thread. Just remember that some of us who have been on those board longer than you get very stressed at some parts of the immigration process and need to vent steam occasionally . I have the misfortune to work for a company that is mucking me around big time with regrad to a promised PNP application. I've just given up on them and am now doing an ordinary PR application. Months and months wasted by false promises

Hi there Posidrive,

I am sorry that you may have infered from my comment that you are racist. That was not my intent.

I am also sorry to hear that you have been having difficulties with the immigration process. It is a very frustrating process, especially if you are going via the skilled worker route. I think this forum is an excellent place to vent steam. However, I do think you are taking your frustration out on the wrong people - i.e. people that cannot speak English to the same level as yourself.

I encourage you to be respectful of people that lack English language skills. As I said before, I have lived in two countries where I could not speak the language and I know how difficult getting documents can be. Also it is not always possible to bring a translator.

OK, Rant over

Good point. They would have been immigrants.

I found the answer to that one -German Persil! Available through Miele dealers only as they have the monopoly on importing it to Canada.

It seems exhorbitantly expensive at $50 per box, though I really think it's cheaper in the long run as you only use a tiny amount by comparison. I bought a box of each for white and coloureds, and they have lasted six months so far - not done yet! I used to buy a $22 box of ultra tide every month. I haven't had clothes this clean since I left Europe

Karma coming your way...I am in Persil heaven.

Thanks very much!

Did you find any yet? Just think - I've had to use the regular 'rubbish' for 12 years!!!

I big to duffer

You should be in the NZ forum. You've got the accent down pat.