 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
CCNC Marks 50th Anniversary of Douglas Jung Election: Thursday June 7, 2007
CCNC honours the legacy of (late) Douglas Jung who was elected on June 10, 1957 becoming the first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament. “Douglas Jung received numerous honours for his military and public service including the Order of Canada and the Order of B.C.,” Colleen Hua, CCNC President said today. “Douglas Jung was also instrumental in advocating for changes to the immigration system including the first regularization program: Chinese Adjustment Statement Program, which allowed an estimated 12,000 non-status persons to attain legal status in Douglas Jung served in the British-led Special Operations Executive unit during the Second World War at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act was in place and Canadian-born Chinese like Mr. Jung had no legal status in Yesterday’s vote on a motion introduced by MP Olivia Chow passed by a margin of 147 for to 115 against. The NDP and BLOC caucuses both supported the motion as did most Liberal MPs. The Conservative caucus however voted against the motion. “Where is the Douglas Jung in this Conservative caucus?” Victor Wong, Executive Director of CCNC said today. "We urge the Government to implement the moratorium and to take this opportunity to properly review the options for a fair and just regularization program," “We need to stop this wasteful exercise of hunting down hard-working families in their homes, workplaces or at their children’s schools and removing them from their communities and from jobs for which there is no one else to take their place.” CCNC is a community leader for Chinese Canadians in promoting a more just, respectful, and inclusive society. CCNC is a national non-profit organization with 27 chapters across –30– For more information, please contact: Victor Wong, CCNC Executive Director (416) 977-9871 End From First step toward fixing an ineffective system June 07, 2007 Working-class immigrants need not apply. Although these words do not actually show up on Canadian immigration application forms, they might as well. After all, carpenters, plumbers, cleaners, hotel workers and others eager to fill positions in industries that are desperate for new recruits don't have a prayer of qualifying for permanent residency under Yesterday, The motion, which was passed by a 147 to 115 vote, with most of those opposing it being Conservative MPs, presents a forthright recognition that Immigrant groups, employers, labour unions and faith communities will now be watching closely to ensure that Parliament puts its words into action. The urgency of the situation certainly calls for decisiveness. Although precise numbers are unavailable, it is estimated that thousands of undocumented migrants live, work and attend schools wherever employment gaps are glaring throughout Without their contributions, construction sites for condos, residential homes, new industrial developments, new factories and office buildings could well shut down by the end of the week. The food industry would likely grind to a halt. Maintenance of our homes, office towers and hotels as well as many other industries would be crippled. How did we get to this point? Who made up a points system that excludes the very people that are needed by our economy? And who decided that the only worthy economic migrants to Behind the scenes, policy-makers have effectively admitted that the current system can no longer be justified on logical grounds and are now floating options such as the expansion of temporary worker permits. While this approach may address some labour market pressures in the short term, the reality is that it will do little to resolve the ongoing shortcomings of the points-based immigration system. Why are policy-makers so reluctant to engage in a discussion about whether or not our current immigration strategy is working? After all, immigration is fundamental to who we are as a country. This has been our winning formula and should remain as one of the cornerstones for our success as a worldwide model of nation-building. A move to increase temporary workers permits is not only a break with our history and our values, it is also an unrealistic answer to our real labour force needs. We know that immigration will drive all labour force growth in the next decade. This statistic is as true for professional elites as it is for those in construction, services and other industries who continue to be locked out of the possibility of becoming permanent contributing members of our society. Yesterday's parliamentary motion offers an opening. It's time to offer a humanitarian resolution to the crisis of undocumented migrants living in daily fear of detention and deportation. It's time for our immigration system to be accountable and responsive to our country's economic needs and our core values as Canadians. Pedro Barata is Toronto Director of the Portuguese Canadian National Congress, Vilma Filici is President of the Canadian Hispanic Congress and Victor Wong is Executive Director of the Chinese Canadian National Congress. http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/222460 end from Hansard: Committees of the House
The House resumed from May 11 consideration of the motion. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Andrew Scheer): It being 5:30 p.m. pursuant to order to made on Thursday, May 31, 2007, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion to concur in the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in the name of the hon. member for Trinity—Spadina. [Translation] * * * [English] (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
 |
|
|
