Public Eye: Canada Election Part 2
Thu, January 05 2006
British Columbia's ethnically diverse communities will play key roles in deciding who forms the next Canadian government. Politicians are off and running, pounding the wintry pavements of B.C.'s 36 ridings to court Asian-Canadian voters. But just what are the defining issues for the Asian-Canadian voter?
Do the politicians wanting your vote understand the needs of the new Canadian or are they just full of empty promises? Do you feel that your community is being baited by candidates with the same roots or are new immigrants savvy enough to search for representatives who will reflect Canada's social, ethnic, and geographic diversity?
The Asian Pacific Post took these questions to new Canadians. Here is what they had to say.
"Are politicians working for the long-term public interest of new Canadians or short-term partisan interests?"
Engineer, Richmond
Every political party claims they're trying to do something like the recognition of international credentials of immigrants. But they do this only during the election when they'd pay more attention. However, after the elections, they forget. That's what politicians do. It's a universal trait.
IT professional, Vancouver
I can't completely say that politicians don't understand our concerns. But I can say that what they're doing is not complete. They should encourage companies to recognize that we can contribute to the economy. We have acquired and honed skills from our countries and abroad so Canadian businesses shouldn't just look into our lack of Canadian experience. Diversity is not just about culture and language but also diversity in education and experience.
Office staff, Richmond
It's clear that they encourage immigrants to come. But there's no solid infrastructure to support them. They assume that since immigrants bring in a certain amount of money, they'll tide over themselves and find a job within six months. Politicians should put policies that would make it easier for immigrants to enter into the mainstream. People take on jobs not matched to their education and experience. They stunt the growth of people.
Student, Vancouver
New Canadians should be given a chance to show their abilities. Based on their education and previous experience, these people have a high degree of competence which they can bring to the workplace. Most of them have already reached the level of being strategically pro-active. But what's happening is that because of certain policies in place, they are put in a disadvantaged position because they don't have a Canadian education.
Angelo Olaguer
Cashier, Coquitlam
It depends on who the politician is. If a politician is white, chances are he or she doesn't know the needs and concerns of Asian-Canadians. If a politician comes from an Asian background, that person would probably know what these are. That is why there should be more candidates coming from Indo-Canadian, Chinese, Filipino and other communities. This doesn't mean that white politicians don't get to empathize with Canadians of ethnic backgrounds. A lot of them do. But the point is they didn't undergo the same experience as immigrants who came to Canada. They didn't live through this and so they're less aware of what it takes to move into a new country. It takes one to really know one.
Cashier, Coquitlam
It depends on who the politician is. If a politician is white, chances are he or she doesn't know the needs and concerns of Asian-Canadians. If a politician comes from an Asian background, that person would probably know what these are. That is why there should be more candidates coming from Indo-Canadian, Chinese, Filipino and other communities. This doesn't mean that white politicians don't get to empathize with Canadians of ethnic backgrounds. A lot of them do. But the point is they didn't undergo the same experience as immigrants who came to Canada. They didn't live through this and so they're less aware of what it takes to move into a new country. It takes one to really know one.
Grace Balbutin
Counsellor,Vancouver
Counsellor,Vancouver
I don't think politicians have an idea on who we Asian-Canadians really are but we contribute a lot to this country. They don't know our culture, the diversity in the different ethnic communities. They're not aware of what Asians do as a people. They just know stereotypes, like the Chinese are this or that and some other ethnic group is into gangs and crime or that Filipinos are that way. They expect us to just assimilate in the Canadian society. That's what is happening to third or fourth generation immigrants who no longer have a connection to their roots.
