By Sean Kavanagh, CBC News |
A new fee, and the tone of the government concerning recent arrivals under the provincial nominee program, has drawn fire.
By Sean Kavanagh, CBC News |
A new fee, and the tone of the government concerning recent arrivals under the provincial nominee program, has drawn fire.
The Progressive Conservative government plans to charge a $500 fee to people who have been approved to come to Manitoba under the program. The Tories say the cash would be used to reduce a 42-month backlog of immigration hopefuls in the queue as well as to help settle refugees.
The fee is simply a cash grab, said Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux.
“Four, five or six years ago it took 90 days and there was no $500 fee. There is a precedent. It’s been done before. The $500 fee is a money grab and they are taking advantage of immigrants here in Manitoba,” she said.
Lamoureaux laid the blame for the backlog at the feet of the former NDP government. And she said as the opposition now, New Democrats have dropped the ball on criticizing the program’s problems — until this week.
Helal Mohiuddim was at question period at the Legislature today with several others who are recent arrivals to Manitoba under the program. He was equally critical of the new fee.
“It’s a kind of head tax, in new form, that we had before. We got rid of that problem. It’s a dehumanising thing,” Mohiuddim said.
Mohiuddim came to Canada from Bangladesh in 2004. He says applicants already have numerous costly qualifications to meet for the program and a new fee adds to that burden.
He is also angered at a suggestion made by Premier Brian Pallister earlier this week in the Legislature that not all immigrants were able to get jobs after they arrive.
Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart says revenue from the fee will only be used to reduce the backlog. (CBC News )
“My community, other multi-cultural communities, we don’t know, we just heard about something derogatory and [some] disrespectful language about immigrants. That [we] are drains and burdens on society. And it hurt us,” Mohiuddim said.
NDP interim leader Flor Marcelino says arrivals under the nominee program almost always have work shortly after they get to Manitoba.
“Even if they are overqualified, they take on whatever job for a start. So very, very few of them are unemployed,” Marcelino said