The Problem With Asylum Seekers
The short answer is that there isn't one.
Ontario Premier has proclaimed that Ontario will no longer cooperate with the federal government when it comes to accommodating asylum seekers. Ford blames the surge in refuges over the last two years as the reason for Toronto housing crisis.
That is just ludicrous. First of all, the Toronto housing crisis is not new. It has been decades in the making and has lasted over the last decade. The reason is that there is no affordable housing in Toronto. A starter home in the greater Toronto area is pricing at $1,000,000 and up. That is simply out of the sights of most young families even with two good paying jobs. The same starter home might cost $250,000 on the Prairies. Real estate is over valued in the GTA and this is not news. People have been waiting years for the bubble to burst but it doesn't seem to.
Since the cost of living is so high in the GTA, people simply can't exist on minimum wage so employers are find it more difficult to fill these positions. That is why we need refuges. Most refuges are willing to start at a entry level position in order to start working.
Yes, we support refuges financially for a period of time. But, that actually benefits all of us as they spend this money on food, clothing, and shelter and that money goes back into our economy. Refuges and other immigrants benefit all of us financially. We know that our birth rate is declining and we also know that our aging population is healthier and people are living longer. We simply can't make it financially unless we have immigration to help us balance our balance sheet. The same people who are not welcoming immigrants are the same people who likely will be collecting CPP, GIS, and OAS one day. Those programs would be in trouble if it wasn't for immigration.
Welcoming refuges and those seeking asylum is the most consistent thing to do if we are living our Canadian values. I can't imagine the horrific conditions one must be in to leave everything behind for a chance, just a chance, that some country will accept you. These people feel they have no choice. They have to leave in order to live. How could we live with ourselves if we don't do what is in our power to help. We have to be a moral and ethical role model for the rest of the world.
There is one problem that is real. There are 800 refuges living in college dormitories that do have to get out before school starts in September. Again, this problem only speaks to the lack of affordable housing in the GTA. I lived in Residence for two years and it was wonderful, but it is hardly a home and not capable of accommodating children easily. One of the best ways families show their love for one another is the preparation and sharing of food. The people in the dormitories are unable to cook for their families. This would not be a choice they are making voluntarily. The 800 are there only as a stop-gap measure until they are moved to other communities. We have so many small towns across the country which are practically ghost towns and would welcome some economic stimulation by new residents. There is a solution to the perceived housing "crisis" but it does require people to work together.
I have been honoured to witness a citizenship ceremony and the pride and the joy in the room has ensured that there is not a dry eye in the audience. It is overwhelmingly a proud Canadian moment. It is sad that our newest citizens seem to have more pride in our Canadian values than many of us have who are here by birth. Maybe the citizenship test should be mandatory for anyone seeking a passport. Many then Canadians would know how much we have to be proud of. Unfortunately, there is no pride that we can take from Ontario's decision to stop cooperating with the federal government on asylum seekers.
Great article Shelley. I teach English to Francophone refugees and Asylum seekers and I love it. They are so motivated and desperate to get jobs to be independant and not be a burden to their new country, and to help their families in war torn countries and refugee camps. They are also very grateful for all the help they are getting (which isn't that much) to learn English and learn new trades to become contributing members of Canadian society. Canadians have no reason to feel threatened by them. My first group of nine participants to whom I taught whatever English I could in 6 weeks are now off on their work placement of 12 weeks, Hopefully they will be hired permanently at the end of their internship. What Ford is doing is criminal. We need those immigrants if we want to keep our CPP, OAS, etc. going for our children and grandchildren.
ReplyDelete