as

JOHNSON C.H. Tal

 

A recent Mark Trend poll on a possible language
requirement for immigrants raises a few questions.
Commissioned by the federal Reform party, the
survey included 600 residents in Surrey, Richmond

and on the North Shore. Overall, 74% of the
surveyed population agreed with the proposition to

model in Canada. As the gateway to the largest
market in the world, BC is able to profit from its
privileged position with the help of many Canadian
immigrants serving as intermediaries.

Most people don't seem to realize there are many
categories of immigrants. They are independent,
family and investment.

The independent category includes scholars,

 

skilled workers, artists and entrepreneurs.

N ys LU re q uire m i n t Ss fo re range from neuro-scientists and

 

 

software analysts to technicians specializ-

 

 

i m m i g ra ti l O n a Ss | a p t Oo t h e ing in occupations largely ignored by

most Canadians, such as washing machine

 

 

repair person. These people can make

_fa C eI Oo rm m u j ti I C u | t u ri Ss m Canada the leading nation in advanced

 

require newcomers to have basic knowledge of
English or French. Most respondents cited the costs
of language education for immigrants as their
reason for supporting the language requirement.
The poll result begs the fundamental question:
What's the purpose of immigration? Should the
government use the immigration system to attract
skilled individuals with initiative, able to contribute

scientific studies while also taming the
overzealous washer overflowing with detergents.
Family category immigrants are accepted on the
grounds of family reunification. Often a young
adult comes to Canada alone as a skilled worker. If
the spirited pioneer successfully establishes a home
in Canada, then the rest of the family follows.
Applicants in this category may be a child or an
80-year-old grandparent. This section of the immi-
gration act upholds the values of family and com-
passion. In the name of saving money,

 

are-we supposed to renounce human:

lat
[ a f) U a i b a i @ e i compassion and deny the importance of
family? Should the government prohibit

an 80-year-old grandma from seeing

 

her grandchildren only because the old

 

lady can't construct grammatically-per-

= a : = :
fect sentences? Certainly not!
0 4 LT) iM} 4 q i a i 0) I) Investment immigrants are business

people already successful in their previ-

 

to the economic, artistic and academic endeavours
in Canada? Or, should the system simply act as a
series of grammar and pronunciation tests?

As a country, Canada thrives on international

. trade. Canada’s image as a reliable and fair nation

helps business. However, there is only sé much a
nice image can do. A more diversified population
provides the flexibility and intimate understanding
of other cultures crucially needed to prevent disas-
trous misunderstandings in intercultural interac-
tions. Immigration is the best way to achieve diver-
sity in a population. The West Coast is the best

a r

ous country of residence but who for *
various reasons, want to live in Canada. Individuals
in this category are wealthy and often hire inter-
preters in their businesses. In everyday lives, their
children can serve as draft translators since children
learn languages much faster than adults.
Consequently, this class of immigrants doesn't real-
ly need to know any English or French, except for
the most basic conversational ability. |

A major flaw in the survey question is the

ambiguous phrase, ‘ ‘basic knowledge of English or

- French.” In BC, English is the major language of

commerce and education. But, does a basic knowl-