[wasi siddiqui]

Newly Immigrants: Will they be able to find jobs and voting right?
By Wasi Siddiqui
(Member of the Canadian Authors Association)

Whenever a new immigrant lands in Canada, he comes with a great hope, dreams and emotions since, he chooses Canada to be his new home. A home which will give him above all the facilities , the job in their respectable field and right to vote in the elections, and to be a part of Canadian heritage, Like- wise many Canadian citizens who has right to vote.

According to Canadian Elections procedure, a new immigrant has no right to vote unless he or she is a Canadian citizen, an issue which has largely being criticized by all landed immigrants, as an opportunity being denied to them. A newly landed immigrant first frustration starts , when he is unable to find a job in his field of professional and ended up working in factories , restaurants and security guards and even as taxi driver.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, who is working very hard in solving the immigrants issue, made a good move by increasing the minimum wages by $10 an hour by the year 2012, a step which is highly appreciated by all works of life of people, In fact it is Dalton McGuinty, whose government has continuously raising the wages since he came to power from $6.85 to $7.25 and last year raise it to $8.00 an hour. According to premier if the government raises the wages right a way, it will put a great impact on the businesses, which will lead to serious problems for the economy as well.

Canada is being called as an land of opportunity, it is rightly said so, if people able to find the job in their field and has right to vote in the elections, since it will give Canadian politicians a chance to mingle with the new people, listen to their problems, help them creating jobs opportunity and raising their voice of concern in the parliament.

According to many immigrants, they want to know, even after choosing Canada as their new home, why they are not allowed to vote, what is the reason for denying them voting right, even when they paid landing fees and qualify to come to Canada on points system. It is like new immigrant fulfilling the demand of the Canadian Government, but in return the immigrant’s demands are not fulfilled.

If the voting procedure changes and jobs are created, they will feel as being in home rather being feeling as in No-mans land. It is to be noted that immigrant who come from different parts of the world, give Canada the edge of being the most diversified country in the world. Let’s hope that the Government will make new initiatives in helping the new immigrants getting them respectable jobs in their field and giving them the right to vote in the elections.

Here are few suggestions for the improvement of the status of new immigrants:

1- Government should allow new immigrant to work on the volunteer basis for up to 8 months, to gain experience in the professional fields.
2- The new immigrants’ credentials should be recognized after the completion of the 8 months period on the job.
3- The Government should give the landed immigrants right to vote, from the day they landed in Canada, as a right included for choosing Canada as their homeland.
4- The Government should encourage the new immigrants, to take part in debate or discussion to discuss their problems with native Canadians and share their experience as way to find the solutions relating to jobs and more ways which can help new immigrants.
5- The Government should sent them the Canadian elections detail packages along with the landing documents once they get the visa in their homeland , which would make it easy for new immigrants to understand the new country election and voting procedure.


Here is my poem for Canada, which I wrote in view of fast approaching “Canada day”.

Canada Our Land

Canada is the land of opportunity
A Land of rich culture and diversity
A country where all the people live with unity
A country which has strong roots of democracy
A nation which is fast developing economically
Where people living standard progressing rapidly
Canada has rivers, lands, mountains and great places
A country which is full of natural beauty
A country where rights and freedom can be feel
With national flag of red & white and maple leaf
Canada is a country of so much to give
Canada is land of opportunity, a great place to live

Wasi Siddiqui (2007) copy right

[muslim]