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Thursday, December 4, 2014

04.12.2014

20:12 03.12.2014

Ontário vai criar 2,5 milhões de empregos em dez anos e precisa de imigrantes

O ministro da Cidadania, Imigração e Comércio Internacional do Ontário disse, em entrevista à Lusa, que em dez anos a província canadiana vai criar 2,5 milhões de novos empregos e precisa de imigrantes.

"Temos a oportunidade de trabalho. Estatisticamente, em dez anos o Ontário, devido a dois fatores - o envelhecimento da população e a expansão da economia - vai abrir 2,5 milhões de novos trabalhos e precisamos de muita gente para trabalhar, pois a taxa de natalidade é baixa", afirmou Michael Chan.

Em entrevista à agência Lusa, acompanhado pela sua assessora parlamentar, a deputada provincial luso-canadiana Cristina Martins (eleita por Davenport), reconheceu a importância da chegada "de novos imigrantes", até porque há o perigo de a rede da força de trabalho "ser negativa".

O governante também teceu elogios à "forte comunidade" portuguesa, e exemplificou o facto de o ministro das Finanças do Ontário Charles Sousa ser lusodescendente, numa "terra maravilhosa", onde todos devem dar-se "harmoniosamente bem uns com os outros".

Em 2013, o Ontário acolheu de 100 mil imigrantes, devendo o número aumentar em 2015.

Michael Chan também se manifestou preocupado com a operacionalidade do novo sistema de imigração "Entrada Expresso", que vai entrar em vigor a 01 de janeiro de 2015.

"Estamos muito preocupados com alguns atrasos que existem atualmente, e não sabemos quando vão ficar resolvidos. Um problema coincide na linha do empregador com o potencial candidato e o outro problema tem a vem diretamente com o portal e com as ferramentas que dão as informações. Existem estes problemas, mas eles (Governo federal) vão lançar o portal em janeiro (2015)", explicou o liberal.

No entanto, apesar destes problemas verificados, o sistema, que tem sido utilizado com um sucesso na Austrália, "é bom, mas em cada país é diferente", disse o ministro, afirmando que está otimista, mas que é preciso esperar para ver.

Cristina Martins salientou, no entanto, que a entrada em funcionamento do programa "não vai resolver" todas as necessidades que o Ontário e outras províncias têm em termos de mão-de-obra.

"Estamos a falar de um sistema que pretende alcançar imigrantes bastante qualificados, não é se calhar a força laboral da comunidade que conhecemos, não é necessariamente o tipo de sistema que vai auxiliar aqueles trabalhadores que vêm para o Ontário", afirmou a deputada lusodescendente.

O assessora parlamentar de Michael Chan também recordou que este sistema "Entrada Expresso" é uma "boa solução" para uma mão- de-obra "mais qualificada", mas existem outros programas que os imigrantes "podem utilizar", que podem ser úteis aos trabalhadores da construção civil provenientes de Portugal.

O Ontário continua a ser o principal destino dos imigrantes no Canadá, o que representa cerca de 30 por centro do crescimento da força de trabalho.

O Governo Federal coordena todos os processos de imigração e tem vindo a reduzir a percentagem de imigrantes económicos no Ontario para 46 por cento, enquanto as outras províncias, em média, recebem 65 por cento (2013).

Michael Chan nasceu na China, aos sete anos de idade mudou-se para o antigo território português de Macau, onde residiu durante quatro anos. Após passagens por Hong Kong, partiu para o Canadá em 1969. Foi eleito deputado provincial em 2007 pelo círculo eleitoral de Markham-Unionville, tendo sido reeleito em 2011 e 2014.

Chan teve diversas pastas ministeriais nos sucessivos governos liberais do Ontário; Receita (2007), Turismo e Cultura (2010/2011), Cidadania e Imigração (2007/2010 e 2012/2013), ministro com a pasta dos Jogos PanAmericanos de Toronto 2015 (2012/2014), Turismo, Cultura e Desporto (2011/2014), e desde 24 de junho do corrente ano é o ministro da Cidadania, Imigração e Comércio Internacional.

Antes de ingressar na política, Michael Chan era mediador de seguros numa empresa de que era proprietário.

Calcula-se que existem no Canadá cerca de 550 mil portugueses e lusodescendentes, estando a grande maioria localizada na província do Ontário.

Lusa

Link "http://sicnoticias.sapo.pt/economia/2014-12-03-Ontario-vai-criar-25-milhoes-de-empregos-em-dez-anos-e-precisa-de-imigrantes"

Comment:

1-"My free translation of the relevant parts of the attached article:

December 3, 2014

LUSO NEWS AGENCY INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL CHAN AND CRISTINA MARTINS

“ONTARIO WILL CREATE 2.5 MILLION JOBS OVER TEN YEARS AND NEEDS IMMIGRANTS “

“We have the opportunity of work. Statistically, in ten years Ontario due two factors – aging of the population and the expansion of the economy – will create 2.5 million new jobs and we need lots people to work, because the birth-rate is low” said Michael Chan

Speaking to Lusa News Agency, accompanied by his parliament assistant, Portuguese-Canadian Cristina Martins (Davenport), the Minister recognized the importance of new immigrants arriving, as there is a danger that otherwise the impact on the work force will be “be negative”.

The Minister also praised the “strong Portuguese community exemplified by the Minister of Finance of Ontario Charles de Sousa being of Portuguese descendent, in a marvelous land where everyone is in harmony with others”.

In 2013, Ontario received 100 thousand immigrants, a number that should increase in 2015.

Michal Chan also expressed concern with the operations of the new “Express Entry” immigration system, which will come into force on January 1, 2015.

“We are very worried with some delays that currently exist, and we don’t know when this will be resolved. One problem is joining the employer and the potential candidate and other problem is directly with the portal and the tools that give the information. These problems are real but the Federal government will launch the portal in January 2015.” explained the Liberal.

However, despite these problems, the system, which has been used with success in Australia, “is good, but each country is different”, said the Minister, saying he is optimistic, but that is necessary to wait to see.

Cristina Martins emphasized, however, that the entry into the program “will not solve” all the necessities that Ontario and other provinces have in terms of labor.

“ The new system aims to reach highly qualified immigrants , but perhaps not the Portuguese labor force that wants to come to Ontario ” said the Portuguese descendent legislator .

The parliamentary assistant for Michael Chan, also reminded that the “Express Entry” system is a “good solution” for a “more qualified” labor force , but there are other programs that immigrants “can use”, that can be useful to construction workers from Portugal."

2-"The Good news and the Bad news

Attached is an interesting article from a leading Portuguese news organization.

The Good News

I commend the Provincial Minister of Immigration for recognizing that the new Express Entry program will not met Ontario’s skilled worker needs.

I also commend Cristina Martins for recognizing that Ottawa’s new economic immigrant program will leave Ontario short on the trades side.

In summary, Ontario is concerned that the new Express entry program will not meet the needs of Ontario or the Portuguese community

The problem here is not with the Minister or Ms. Martins. They have been honest.

The Bad News

The problem is that the readers in Portugal do not understand what the Minister and Ms. Martins said.

Many readers simply read the headline about 2.5 million jobs

These readers will be shocked when, on January 1 2015, they apply under the Express Entry program.

They will be shocked because they will see that they have to pass the IELTS language Exam, that they need guaranteed job in Canada, that they need some post secondary education etc, etc, etc.

99.9 % of the Portuguese applicants will fail.

Out of frustration, many of the readers will simply get on an airplane and head for Toronto.

They will be even more severely shocked when they are stopped and , probably arrested, at the Toronto airport when they tell the airport officials that they have come to start working in one of the promised 2.5 million jobs.

The Conclusion

Rule #1 in Canada:

Unless you are from Ireland, England, France or the Commonwealth, never, never, never trust anything, like Express Entry, that comes out of Ottawa.

I repeat: Never"

Richard Boraks, Dec 3, 2014

Friday, April 4, 2014

Interview Richard Boraks for Newspaper ABC ( Portuguese/English)

Comment:

"1. Over the years, immigration lobbies were focused on getting government to accept the community’s interest with a specific issue. For example, the 1975 “Returnado” campaign was about 3,000 white Africans. The 1980 Azorean campaign was about the humanitarian consequences of 3,000 families from an earthquake zone. The 1990 campaign was about 7,000 Toronto construction workers. The 2006 campaign was about bringing back the deported families.

The 2014 campaign is more difficult. It is not about the problems of specific group of immigrants. It is about the terrible behavior of two governments.

The federal government is now like an old colonial master engaging in ethnic cleansing. It wants to remove tens of thousands of Portuguese, Italian, Polish and other European workers in order to make room for Irish and English Commonwealth citizens.

The Ontario government is like Pontius Pilot. It wants to wash its hands of Ottawa punishing tens of thousands of Ontario businesses relying on Portuguese, Italian , Polish and other non English workers .No other province would tolerate such a direct attack on its economy and citizens.

As a lawyer, I am very concerned that government has abandoned the rule of law in favour of an ethnic priority list.

There is nothing in the law which allows Stephen Harper to establish an “ethnic priority” list.

Kathleen Wynne and Charles Sousa refuse to use their legal authority to challenge Harper’s “ethnic priority” list.

I became involved in this campaign simply because I do not want my community and my family to be subjected to government tolerating the “ethnic’ prejudices that I experienced as a boy in Toronto.

As a lawyer, I would rather spend my time advising clients about the rules.

From time to time, clients require that their collective positions be put before government. Lawyers are trained to accept that clients may require an advocate.

I was fortunate to go to Osgoode Hall Law School. Our professors encouraged us to advocate with respect of the law and authority. To this day I am a loyal subject of my both my Queen and my God. We were also instructed that loyalty means that we must submit to the law, not to the personal biases of leadership.

Questioning abuse of power is a challenge to be met, not a risk to be avoided.

Fortunately, Canada is a unique country. We can peacefully challenge authority without fear of consequence.

The purpose of the March 23, 2014 meeting was to educate and lobby. There was also an effort to clearly lay out the options for workers and bosses.

The options faced by all legal workers and visitors are:

Hide and work illegally
Get into the system and apply for extensions, LMO’s work permits and landed immigrant status
Sit back and wait and see what happens

The options faced by companies are:

Lose control of your job site if workers are kicked off for immigration reasons
Stay in the system and lobby

The education concentrated on the following:

· The new , December 2013 rules on LMO’s

· The new difficulties in getting LMOs

· The new language difficulties in getting work permits and landed status

· The need to reapply if necessary... never give up

The lobbying concentrated on telling the Portuguese community:

· That the community was not alone in this lobby. Joe Volpe was at the meeting and confirmed Italian support. The Polish Truckers association was there also confirming its support

· That the community has grown in size, wealth and power. In the past, the community relied on the Church, unions and community groups to do its lobbying.

· In 2014, the community must rely on its politicians to get the message out

· If Charles Sousa, Ana Bailao , Joe Estaquio and Cristina Martins do not push then why should anyone listen to the community ?

· Workers and bosses should email and phone Charles Sousa, Ana Bailao , Joe Estaquio and Cristina Martins

· The message to the politicians is simple:

WHY DO IRISH AND ENGLISH AND ALBERTA GET PRIORITY

WHY DO PORTUGESE, ITALIANS AND OTHER EUROPEANS HAVE TO BE DEPORTED FROM ONTARIO IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM FOR IRISH , ENGLISH AND ALBERTA

The lobbying will continue as long as required. There will be another general meeting when there is something to report to the community.

We will keep the community advised on our blog, workercanadaimmigrtaio.blogspot.ca

In the meantime, we would appreciate members of the community expressing their concerns to their representatives.

Three things more difficult with immigration:

a) Government is fanatical about not approving approve job contracts (LMOs) for work permits in Ontario … even for workers who are already working legally

· Government is now charging money for advertising jobs and charging $275 for LMOP applications

· Government is doing everything to stop companies in Toronto from getting LMO’s for the trades

b) The Federal Government will not follow the new Trades law for new immigrants and even consider looking at any construction , food service or mechanical landed immigrant application unless the worker passes the language exam

c) The government is starting to demand more English language skills for work permits, not just landed immigrant applications. It is possible that there will soon be a language exam required for work permits."

Richard Boraks, March 31,2014