FAKE SCHOOLS AND BOGUS STUDENTS

A few years ago, there was an investigation into some Toronto-area schools catering to foreign students, and the authorities discovered that the students ne'er went to class, and they were happy not to. Why? Because they were bogus, all they wanted was a Study Permit to be able to work and stay in Canada for as long as possible...and the school was more than happy to oblige. it seems that the problem never went away...now B.C. "schools" catering to foreign students are under the microscope, It is not a matter of whether they are fake, because they are. It is simply a matter of why CBSA and CIC do little about it. They complain that they do not have the resources for what they call "low priority" cases because they must concentrate on criminals and national security cases. This seems misguided. If a potential criminal or national security threat knows that he or she can get tin easily as a bogus student, wouldn't that be a "security matter"? Also, as far as resources....if CBSA would start detailing fake school owners and deporting bogus students in large numbers, I would bet you that the word would get out pretty quickly around the world that the jig is up. See story:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=8ee6f9f2-62e7-4766-a296-ea33982d9cc3&k=60899

AMERICANS CHOOSE CANADA

Here is an interesting new phenomenon: after years of a Canadian exodus to the US in search of better pay and lower tax rates, it seems that the brain drain has been stalled...for now. While it is inevitable that bright Canadian professionals and entrepreneurs will seek greener pastures where their enterprising ways will not be taxed to death, and where research grants are generous, and standard of living higher, it seems that, for now, there are more incentives to keep Canadians at home. I suspect that the tough US stance on immigration and the lack of H-1B visas may have something to do with this...See story :

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=2101397c-fe7c-4adf-a2d1-8665cb29ac66&k=0

WILL HE MAKE A REFUGEE CLAIM?

Here is another international scoundrel who chose Canada as a place to hide: a former Minster convicted of corruption in Slovenia was just arrested in Canada. He will now fight deportation, and I would not be surprised if he makes a refugee claim to stall as long as possible. Why should people who are arrested for international criminal convictions be able to use the refugee system? Answer: because Canada is naive....and it would be "un-Canadian" to deny access to the refugee system, even if it is an afterthought! Just watch and see what happens...mark my words...here is a refugee claim in the making....

http://www.chroniclejournal.com/CP_stories.php?id=56358

IMMIGRATION IN THE HOT SEAT OVER "SINGH" AND "KAUR" CONTROVERSY

More fallout from the reported practice by the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi requiring Sikhs whose names are "Singh" and "Kaur" to change it, because they can not be readily identified if everyone has the same name. The conundrum is that, on one hand, people should not be asked to change their name to migrate, but on the other, it is necessary to avoid confusion and protect the public from the potential criminals who Can slip unnoticed using common names. See more in:

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=210171b2-3e4c-4ff3-9006-49109545e891

ONTARIO MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP OUT THE DOOR....

Minister quits over grants
July 26, 2007
Canadian Press
Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle has resigned after a report from the auditor general slammed the doling out of $32 million in year-end grants to ethnic groups, the Canadian Press has learned.
Auditor General Jim McCarter said he found there was no evidence that Premier Dalton McGuinty's government doled out year-end grants to Liberal friendly ethnic groups.
But he says but the province rushed money out the door without adequate accountability or transparency.
McCarter says the process for awarding the grants was not "open, transparent or accountable."
He says the decisions were made in Colle's office without much consultation with ministry staff.
McCarter says decisions were based on "conversations, not applications."
Although McCarter said he doesn't think the organizations received the money because they donated to the Liberal party, he said the lack of a formal application process left the government open to accusations of "favouritism."
"More could have been done and quite frankly, more should have been done," he said.
Some organizations got cash when they didn't really need the money, McCarter added. The Ontario Cricket Association requested $150,000 but got $1 million, he said.
"You need a better process in place," he said.
McGuinty reluctantly called upon the auditor general to review the year-end grants doled out to multicultural groups by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration in the wake of mounting criticism.
Opposition critics argued many of the groups had ties to the Liberal party and that no formal application process existed for handing out the grants – the latter of which the Liberals did admit to.
The Liberals initially voted down an opposition motion to have the province's auditor examine how the grants were doled out, adding fuel to the scandal that dominated legislative business for about two weeks.
Instead, the Liberals passed a motion urging the grant beneficiaries to account for their spending and to report back within six months – a deadline that would have been after the Oct. 10 election.
While the Liberals succumbed to the pressure and called for the review, many suggest the timing of the report's release was strategic so as not to dominate debate just prior to the election.

IMMIGRATNTS NOT DOING WELL

More evidence that immigrants are not adapting to the new economic realities is surfacing almost daily. The Chief Economist at TD Canada Trust said that immigrants are becoming a liability for the Canadian economy rather than an asset. This is because Canada is admitting immigrants with the wrong skill set that the economy needs. I have been saying for years that we need radical changes: younger immigrants, not older; priority for those who are readily employable, not for those for whom we feel sorry; involve employers in the selection process and make them commit to hire those immigrants they select; and expect from immigrants that they will work in any available jobs and not become a burden to social services. We need more engineers and technicians and fewer PhDs in Philosophy. See story :

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/239389

NEW SIMPLIFIED PASSPORT RENEWAL PROGRAM STARTS AUGUST 15, 2007

The Simplified Passport Renewal Program will be available as of August 15, 2007, and is part of a broader effort to modernize Canadian passport services.
It will allow Canadian citizens who meet certain eligibility criteria to renew their passport using a shorter form and without submitting documentary evidence of citizenship, supplementary identification and a guarantor declaration. Under the renewal program, passport applicants will only be required to submit the shorter form along with two new photos, the application fee and their last passport.
Canadians who meet the following eligibility criteria will be able to benefit from this program:

They must be residing in Canada at the time they apply.
They must have resided in Canada at the time of their previous application.
They were 16 years old or over at the time of their previous application.
Their previous passport:
Must have been valid for five years,
Must have been issued after January 31, 2002,
Was never damaged or reported as lost or stolen, and
Must have been issued under their current name.

For mor einformation, please see Passport Canada website:

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/newsroom/news.aspx?lang=e&page=/newsroom/20070608c.aspx

CANADA IMMIGRATION PHYSICIAN IN INDIA INVESTIGATED

A Citizenship and Immigration Canada Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP) is being investigated in India, amid allegations that he helped two very ill applicants immigrate to Canada by providing false medical reports in exchange for bribes. The allegations, if proven, would call into question the integrity of the system of "outsourcing" medical examinations to local physicians. While most DMPs are professionals beyond reproach, the concerns are that , in some countries where corruption is the norm rather than the exception, the problem of fake medicals can be more widespread than originally thought. The investigation is ongoing. It may be more prudent that, in countries with high degree of corruption, medicals be conducted by a more closely scrutinized group of higher calibre physicians. See story:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=4fb8259a-d0ca-4cad-bed3-eaf12999be6b&k=72628

TORONTO AIRPORT FOCUS OF POLICE RAID...AGAIN

Toronto International Airport Lester B. Pearson has been the focus of a police raid, where a drug ring which included baggage handlers has been broken up. This is not the first time that airport workers are charged with serious crimes at the airport: a couple of years ago, a number of baggage handlers were charged with smuggling and stealing from passengers luggage. Query: who is screening these guys before they get a job? At a time of heightened security concerns, this is crazy. Sometimes you go though airport security and you feel that the screeners are totally incompetent , pay no attention to anything and are just out to lunch, not to mention that many cannot even make themselves understood. For the story, see:

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=10e7feec-aea9-415f-9e90-df9ad2ef1ad1&k=75621

WASHINGTON WORRIED ABOUT CANADA

Here is another example of strained relations between Canada and the United States: after 9/11, Canada and the US floated the idea of a "security perimeter", which would have created a common customs and security system for both countries, but Canadian politicians worried about public perception (particularly the Liberal Party politicians) backed out of the idea. Now it seems that DHS is not too crazy about Canada's involvement in joint operations, as Canada has its own agenda. A very good article appeared today in the Washington Post with an interesting perspective. Message to Canadian politicians: wake up and smell the coffee, the Americans will do it with or without you!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071901339.html

IMMIGRATION NOT A SOLUTION TO DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS

Much had been said about immigration as a possible solution to reverse the trend of an ageing population. Most of it is nonsense. Unless we begin accepting massive numbers of very young immigrants and reject anyone over 30 years of age, nothing will change. Immigrants age too, and we are now also accepting older immigrants ( why?). An alarm was sounded regarding the chronically "have-not" Provinces, which have seen an exodus of young people to greener pastures ( Alberta rules!). They are left with the highest proportion of elderly people, and they want to reverse the trend? Where are the jobs? In Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and of course ...Alberta! Even if they bring in the immigrants, how will they prep vent them from leaving? For an interesting take see:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/848643.html

CAREER CRIMINAL AT HOME IN CANADA

Here is something to make your blood boil: a foreign career criminal who has spent most of his adult life in and out of jail got yet another reprieve from a judge. The Toronto Star reports today that the man, who is also infected with HIV has to get another file review. How stupid can we be? While good potential immigrants wait years to get their applications processed, this goon gets a free ride. Amongst his dozens of convictions in Canada: 22 for theft ( yes, twenty-two!), assault causing bodily harm, resisting arrest, and even escaping custody. Oh, Canada....the land of the soft hearted and naive! Something has to give...this is a ridiculous system based on idiocy, not "compassion". Read this story and hi s long list of crimes :

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/237565

CONRAD BLACK CITIZENSHIP CONTROVERSY CONTINUES....

The Conrad Black citizenship saga, that great Canadian soap opera, continues unabated, and feelings about preferential treatment have started to surface in public opinion and media commentary. Most people do not want Citizenship and Immigration Canada to grant him temporary entry, since he turned his back on Canada to accept British peerage. As things stand now, he has been convicted abroad of a serious criminal offence which makes him inadmissible to Canada, and he will need to obtain a Temporary Resident Permit to overcome his inadmissibility. While this is not impossible, I think it would be foolish for the Federal government to show misplaced "compassion" in this this case,. What would the government gain, other than a chance to exasperate the US criminal justice system and send the message that Canada is "soft" on criminals? We already have that image problem, why add to it with such a high profile case? Meanwhile, yesterday I received a call from a corporate client investing millions of dollars in a project, whose senior manager was refused entry to Canada because he had a D.U.I conviction in 1986 as a teenager, for which he paid a fine and got a license suspension for a few months....minor stuff that happened 20 years ago!!!!!! And they would to admit convicted felon who defrauded the shareholders for millions of dollars who renounced Canadian citizenship? Seems foolish...It is time to rethink our priorities. See CTV story below:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070718/harper_on_black_070718/20070718?hub=CTVNewsAt11

CANADA FACES LABOUR CRUNCH: IS IMMIGRATION THE SOLUTION?

Statistics Canada just released a comprehensive study of Canada's ageing population. The bottom line: elderly population in Canada is on the increase, and the trend is here to stay. This will cause not only severe strain on heath care and social services, but also a reduction in the number of young workers available to join the labour force and support the retiring generation. Can immigration be the answer to this problem? Unlikely. Immigrants age too, and the average age of new immigrants is 30 years old, according to the statistics. Also, Canada admits a sizable number of older immigrants, particularly sponsored relatives ( parents, grandparents) who will never join the labour force, yet will demand the same level of health care and social services than other elderly Canadians. Should this policy be revisited in light of the startling statistics? Should Canada make a concerted effort to recruit younger immigrants to the exclusion of older ones? For an interesting article on the labour force crunch see:

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=65265858-824f-4d08-9c78-28322241c7ab

SERGIO R. KARAS ON BNN TODAY

I appeared today on Canada's Business News Network (BNN) at 8:15 Am EST to comment on the Conrad Black trial story and the immigration consequences the verdict will have for him. He renounced Canadian citizenship a few years ago, and now, as a person convicted of a serious criminal offence, would be unable to resume it. Resumption requires that a former citizen be admitted to Canada as a permanent resident, and then that he keeps that status for at least o year. Conrad Back now can not even be admissible to Canada by reason of criminality, and any attempt to resume citizenship is extremely remote. To see the full interview, follow the link below and see the first item in the program at 8:15 AM.

http://www.bnn.ca/shows/past_archive.tv?day=mon

SERGIO R. KARAS TO APPEAR ON BNN ON CONRAD BLACK TRIAL

I will be appearing as a guest next Monday, July 16, 2007 on Canada's BNN (Business News Network) at 8:15 AM EST, to comment on the immigration and citizenship aspects of Conrad Black's conviction yesterday. Conrad Black renounced his Canadian citizenship a few years ago, after a dispute with the government over his acquiring British peerage. However, last year he made statements to the effect that he was "in the process" of attempting to regain his Canadian citizenship. If he were successful, as a Canadian, he could apply at some point to serve his sentence in Canada, a more "benevolent" jurisdiction and more ready to grant parole early. How likely is he to succeed? Can he resume his citizenship after his conviction? Would the Canadian government handle such a "hot potato"? Why would it risk alienating the public over the perception that the wealthy are treated more deferentially? Why would it alienate the US and present an image that Canada is "soft" on convicted criminals? What is the gain? Stay tuned and watch BNN on Monday morning at 8:15 AM EST.

SECURITY AND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP GOOD FOR EVERYONE

The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SSP) between the United States, Canada and Mexico has come under attack from protectionists against free trade.They fear the creation of a "North American Security Perimeter" and the increasing integration of the signatory countries economies. That is a misguided attempt to fear-mongering: more cooperation and free trade has proven good for everyone under NAFTA, and the free movement of legitimate travel res, with the appropriate safeguards, is one of its most important achievements. Granted, Mexico has to catch up, and neither the US nor Canada can afford a flood of unskilled poor from Mexico seeking to draw on social benefits. But the secure economic integration and free movement of people is a must. For a good opinion on the matter, see Seattlepi.com :

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/323504_sanchez13.html

CREATIVE ILLEGAL SMUGGLING FROM CHINA

Here we go again....an interesting but not surprising story appeared today in The Globe and Mail, which reported that Chinese police has broken up a human trafficking ring where victims paid up to US$ 80,000 to be smuggled to Canada. They were to pose as members of a martial arts group....I am sure it is not the last story on people smuggling...What will they think of next?.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070712.wxchinamigrants12/BNStory/International/home

FERERAL GOVERNMENT AND PROVINCE OF ALBERTA NEGOTIATING FOREIGN WORKER ACCORD

Canada's Federal government and the Provinceof Alberta have announced that they are negotiating a new accord concerning foreign workers. There seems to be a new emphasis on compliance and protecting foreign worker rights, after many complaints, mainly from labour unions, that foreign workers are being brought in large numbers to decrease rising labour costs and shortages in the Oil Sands projects. The full press release can be found at:

http://www.marketwirecanada.com/2.0/release.do?id=749456

MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES RESEARCH CENTER IN CANADA: START OF A TREND?

US-based Microsoft Corporation announced last week that it will establish a research facility in Canada, employing between 300 to 400 people from around the world. The move is, undoubtedly, a reaction to the failure of US immigration reform plans, which would have increased the H-1B visa cap significantly. It may also be a move away from cost-cutting and outsourcing that has seen jobs exported to India and other low-labour cost destinations. However, given that Canadian labour costs are considerably higher than in developing nations, and productivity in Canada is sagging, it remains to be seen if this is the beginning of a trend to be followed by otter companies. Research and development has never been a strenght in the Canadian labour market, and save and except a few notable exceptions, it is not a hallmark of the Canadian economy. But having a research facility close to the US headquarters, in a country with similar work patterns, without language or cultural barriers, and even in the same timezone can be a definite advantage. My US colleague Greg Siskind and I were interviewed for IT Canada on this issue. See the article link below.
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=44222

CANADA: Credential Accreditation for Immigrants (Part-3)

Part 3

CANADA: Credential Accreditation for Immigrants (Part-2)

Part 2

CANADA: Credential Accreditation for Immigrants (Part-1)

Sergio Karas appeared on CTS Television to discuss the difficult problem of credential accreditation for immigrants.

ANOTHER CASE TO FUEL THE SANCTUARY DEBATE

The Globe and Mail newspaper reported today that yet another failed refugee claimant has sought sanctuary in a religious institution, after exhausting all levels of review. In this case, the failed asylum claimant appears to be suffering from a severe chronic illness, at a considerable cost to the taxpayers. It is obvious that he would have been ineligible to enter Canada in any way other than illegally or surreptitiously. This is the most recent in a long series of cases where failed refugee claimants, after exhausting all legal remedies, resort to sanctuary in a church or religious institution. It seems that there is no shortage of people to encourage this conduct. Is it right to do this? Should people who are dealt wiht fully, but do not like the result in the end, refuse to abide by the decisions made by the various tribunals and courts involved? Does this encourage respect for the rule of law? Or are they justified to do so because they do not think the system has treated them fairly? Should they be rewarded with a good result just for disobeying and resisting as long as they can? What if they go on a hunger strike? Should that be a factor? Should religious institutions encouraging this practice be prosecuted? You decide....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070709.BCEVADE09/TPStory/National

SERGIO KARAS ELECTED CHAIR OF THE OBA CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SECTION

Sergio Karas has been elected Chair of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Citizenship and Immigration Section for the upcoming 2007-2008 term. The OBA is the largest professional lawyer gathering in Canada, and its goals include to advance the interests of the profession and educate the public at large on legal issues. Sergio thanks his colleagues for the confidence they have shown in his leadership abilities and expertise in Canadian immigration law.

SERGIO KARAS APPOINTED TO ABA CANADA COMMITTEE

Sergio Karas has been appointed Vice-Chair of the prestigious Canada Committee of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of International Law. Together with his current duties as Chair of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Citizenship and Immigration Section, and co-Chair of the International Bar Association (IBA) Immigration and Nationality Committee, Sergio is the first person to hold all three positions simultaneously.