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anonymous
Q: Feds defend immigration change, Chinese gripe
OTTAWA - The Conservative government is defending recent changes to federal immigration initiatives after a group of Chinese millionaires issued a public rebuke on Tuesday.
At a news conference in Beijing, Canada was urged not to ditch the immigration applications of thousands of Chinese nationals as the Tory government ends a backlogged investor program.
The federal budget last month announced the termination of the federal immigrant investor and entrepreneur programs, and eliminated a large and enduring backlog of applications.
The move affects more than 65,000 applicants, most of them Chinese. Some had applied to come to Canada as long as five years ago.
Program applicants were required to have a net worth of $1.6 million and to invest $400,000, or $800,000 if they applied after 2010. The money was to be returned after about five years, without interest.
The Tories say they're attempting to pave the way for new pilot programs that will better meet Canada's labour market and economic needs, insisting the terminated initiatives provided scant economic benefit to Canada. Indeed, the government says, immigrant investors pay fewer taxes and are less likely to stay in Canada over the long term.
In a statement, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander defended the government's overhaul.
"We will not waste taxpayers' dollars on programs that do not meet their objectives, are vulnerable to abuse, or do not promote Canadian interests," Alexander said.
"While we recognize that some investors have settled in Canada and have made valuable contributions, we believe that we can do better."
Remi Lariviere, a spokesman for Citizenship and Immigration, added that there are other pathways to permanent residence, including the federal skilled worker and federal skilled trades programs.
"We understand that IIP applicants affected by these measures will be disappointed," he said, adding that Ottawa will return the full amount of fees paid by the Chinese immigration hopefuls. "We feel this is the fair and just thing to do."
During the Beijing news conference, 10 investor applicants said they were losing their faith in Canada as a "trustworthy country" with an alluring legal, environment and welfare system.
They said they're discussing legal options with Canadian lawyers and determining whether they can claim compensation for the years they've spent waiting for the green light to come to Canada.
"Applying to Canada is the worst decision I have made in my life," Shanghai-based Duan Wuhong told the news conference. "Before I thought it was the best."
Prior to the rule changes, Wuhong said, Canada's "trusted" government was the major factor in her choice of Canada.
Another Chinese national, Yu Qingxin, said he's already bought a house in Vancouver for nearly $2 million in order to emigrate to Canada. The most impressive thing about Canada, Yu told the news conference, is its "sense of morality."
Immigration consultant Larry Wang said that Canadian government's policy was "unjustified" and the investor applicants want Canada to "correct its mistake."
"They are not refugees. They can have a very good life in China. They just want to have a better life in Canada," said Wang, a Beijing-born Canadian.
He said Canada should not disqualify the Chinese nationals who have already applied.
— With files from Associated Press
The Chinese view on immigration is as thus:
"Our people need to be accepted by other countries no matter what. If we don't get citizenship on demand, they are racist and hurting the feelings of the Chinese people... etc. Also, keep all non-Chinese out of our country. Leave China for the Chinese (meaning Han Chinese)."
It is not a question at all, it's a news item. A blog entry in the blog section would be much more appropriate, no ?
Nice article.
I understand the disappointment in the applicants mind. they have to stay in the dirty shithole they have created ...
Interesting news though.
Underlines the fact that the ultimate purpose of most Chinese in life is to get as far away as possible from their wonderful country.
This is a hint of what is the future of China: a big country sitting on super crazy piles and piles of worthless currencies, but where life is so hard to sustain anyway that any basic thing has become absurdly expensive, making immigration a better and more economic solution for those who can.
Hopefully more and more countries will start to tighten their policies regarding what is needed for long term residency, considering Chinese will not hesitate to distort whatever is the intended purpose of such policies just to get away (honestly, how many so-called investors intend to do any long term good to local economies as long as their papers are in order). Politics didn't see it coming, but I hope they'll react now they do.
I hear more and more people complaining about newcoming mainland neighborhoods. I just can feel, must be hard to get one's neat and peaceful living invaded.
Actually, I think the perfect thing to do would be to call the principle of reciprocity and copy/paste the rules that apply within China to foreigners: actual green cards made an exception with super restrictive conditions (let them try to marry locals heh), restriction on purchasing properties, investment limitations with obligation to partner up with nationals, and the need of an ID card they don't have for anything and everything just to limit their possibilities (this one just for fun).
Retaliation? What's there left to do in China in the long term anyway, be honest with yourselves.
DrMonkey:
This : reciprocity for residency rules... You've been working and paying tax in China for years, in an economically critical area ? You're married to a Chinese ? Nope, go get your Z visa every year, with ever changing legislation. And even if we say yes, give-up your original nationality. Versus : get residency (with odds above those of a lottery) after a few years of working in the country, or immediately after getting married. And win rights that your own country don't offer at home. But I'm sure it's justified, maybe something with Chinese characteristics ?
RiriRiri:
The part on marriage itself should help avoid most problems. Sometimes solutions are really that simple.
I don't see any issue with a policy of reciprocity of terms with foreign nationals on immigration, investment, and property ownership.
An American should not have any more or less restrictions placed on their investments abroad than a foreign national would to invest in America.
this is amazing, they do an investor program and see that it does not work, measure the results and cancel the program.
in america, we would set this program because of the good intentions, never measure the results and run the program for centuries without any financial scrutiny, maybe i should move to canada, at least they correct mistakes.
BHGAL:
took them way too long to fix it.... but yes, I guess it is finally a good decision.....guessing the next policy will be just as cumbersome and silly.
You should see the billions they (CANADA) spent on gun control, that did nothing good.
The Chinese view on immigration is as thus:
"Our people need to be accepted by other countries no matter what. If we don't get citizenship on demand, they are racist and hurting the feelings of the Chinese people... etc. Also, keep all non-Chinese out of our country. Leave China for the Chinese (meaning Han Chinese)."
