The shit has hit the fan in the USA

Does Canada need any truckers?

They won't take Americans unless someone sponsors them for five years.

There's gotta be something. I gotta get outta here.

Damn! What an impassioned rant! I'm not even a fan. Oh, wait - yes, I am. (oops)

The doodoo is flying at me very fast.

:)

Check out the job markets online, and apply

Your employer will back you through the immigration process.

My company has a subsidiary in Canada. Plus, my wife is an RN. Bye, Star Spangled Banner. Hello Oh, Canada. See ya soon.

to live in, if you could live anywhere in Canada?

We are looking at buying property and want to know where to buy....

And yes, we've been thoroughly researching the immigration process, jobs etc....

The rest are LAME ;-)

About 3 hours south of Toronto...Very mild winters...lots of room to grow a business...housing is very cheap...people are friendly, low crime, land along the lakes to be bought.

Nearby cities are Windsor and London.

Right in the 'V' of the Great Lakes.

I've lived in most provinces, and like most of them...but this is my preferred spot.

Ontario is expected to grow enormously over the next few years, so the land, house, business etc will go up in value.

What with the mad cows gone somewhere they must be moving more animals.

And the following item seems to indicate a busy time.

BC Softwood Lumber
I'd like to make note that there are some players in the BC softwood lumber industry that are doing just fine, thank you. Namely the Truck Loggers. You remember these guys, don't you? The ones who gave Gordon Campbell a standing ovation right after he returned from his starring role on Maui? Hey, we're all just good ol' boys, aren't we, who hasn't done a little drunk driving now and then, eh? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Cue the standing ovation.

http://www.thetyee.ca/Comics/2005/04/29/BCSoftwoodLumber/

wink, wink-nudge, nudge.:toast:

we need guys like you HERE. Don't leave! :)

For your own sakes, neighbours. Save the wear and tear, and get the real dirt first.

Misinformation and misconceptions on this topic abound, among both Canadians and non-Canadians, and lots of people are happy to share them (sometimes even for reasons having to do with political agendas, unfortunately).

There is no such thing as a five-year sponsorship for non-family members, and even then the relationship must be very close family.

And the doors simply are not flung wide for anyone with a job offer and an employer to "back" him/her through the immigration process.

We have immigration selection criteria, just like the US does. When we take in about a quarter million immigrants a year, you can imagine how many qualified people in the US or anywhere else (we do take immigrants from around the world, remember) are *not* going to get in, no matter how qualified they are.

(Just for comparison purposes -- keeping in mind that the comparisons are not "all other things being equal", since there are all kinds of differences between the US and Canada, and so no value judgment is implied whatsoever -- Canada took in about 235,000 (legal) immigrants in 2004, into a population of about 32 million; the US takes in about 800,000 (legal) immigrants a year, into a population about about 285 million.)

For basic information, don't ask strangers on web sites! (Not even strangers like me, who practised immigration law for well over a decade.)

First, get real, official-type information:

Immigration and Citizenship Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html
(one does not "take out Canadian citizenship", just btw -- one qualifies for Canadian citizenship only after several years' residence in Canada as a legal permanent resident, i.e. someone who has been accepted through the immigration selection process)

Skilled worker category
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/index.html
(people who do not have close family in Canada and do not have the funds to qualify as investors or funds and experience to qualify as business immigrants, i.e. most people)

Qualifying as a skilled worker
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/qual-1.html
(includes the "self-assessment tool", to see how you score on the selection criteria)

Then, if you're really serious, consider consulting an immigration lawyer in Canada.

There are numerous threads in this forum containing information and discussion about the possibilities for immigrating to Canada; feel free to browse.

and yes, it's much easier than you're making out.

The government is actively looking for people...we need them, and many skills. Even Alberta has recently asked the govt to bring in hundreds of people, and they will pay for the process.

You against immigrants or what??

"You against immigrants or what??"

the answer to that? Why, "what", of course. Where "what" = I am against people misleading other people in the service of a political agenda.

But then you knew that ... and yet you chose to make a false insinuation of racism / ethnocentricity / xenophobia / bigotry / right-wingery anyway. You trying to make yourself look rude and unpleasant and not too bright ... or what?

If I try to phrase it politely (wondering why I bother), it would go something like: I'm against people offering other people, who need genuine facts and competent advice about serious matters, stupid agenda-driven drivel like "c'mon in, the water's fine!"

We Canadians already all know that the Liberal Party is the immigrants' friend, and don't need to hear you tell the tale over and over; the problem is that people who don't actually live in Canada don't know what a pile of crap that is.

See whether you can figure out how many independent immigrants Canada accepted from the US in 2004:


http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/facts2004/permanent/10.html

A total of 7,494 immigrants from the US were accepted last year -- of whom 2,977 were economic migrants (not family class, not refugees) -- and that figure includes their family members. Immigrants from the US represented 3.2% of total immigration.

So if no one in the US other than DU members (and their family members) applies to immigrate to Canada, they might all get in. (Oh, perhaps I exaggerate, and there aren't actually 1,000 employable DUers who'd like to move to Canada.)

What don't you get here? If Canada accepts 1,000 applications from the US (I'm speaking roughly, assuming 3 people per application), how likely is it that any given person is going to be accepted?

How reasonable -- how decent and neighbourly -- is it really to say to anybody who expresses an interest "yes! we want you! put out that money for your application fees -- several thousand dollars of it -- and in a few short months, you'll be given the key to the magic kingdom!" --?

People sincerely looking for information and advice really just don't need empty Liberal Party boosterism, or any other nonsense springing from whatever other agenda you've chosen to shove.

Maybe you could find a website where you can hand out medical advice to sick people, or mislead some other unsuspecting clientele about something.

In 2004, this is how the accepted applicants 15 years of age and older who were intending to work, who were included in the skilled worker category, broke down:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/facts2004/permanent/27.html

Skill level 0 - managerial -- 5,798
Skill level A - professionals -- 35,941
Skill level B - skilled and technical -- 13,683
Skill level C - intermediate and clerical -- 5,752
Skill level D - elemental and labourers -- 649

It's an unfortunately hard fact, but the likelihood of a truck driver being accepted as a permanent resident in Canada via the skilled worker category is about as high as the likelihood of Paul Martin ever doing an honest day's work ... and paying taxes on what he earns.

Alberta may indeed be asking for immigrants to be approved -- and if you have some information to indicate that Alberta is looking for truck drivers, I'm sure that truck drivers everywhere (including in Alberta) would love to hear about it.


If you have some actual BASIS for ANY of the nonsense you constantly spew on this subject, maybe you'd tell us all what it is.

And if you have any basis for your revolting insinuation that I am "against immigrants", I'd suggest you offer it. Since you can't, I'll just snigger at the obvious desperation of anyone who insinuates such appallingly false things about someone else in lieu of engaging in civil discourse about a subject and substantiating any of his/her own patently nonsensical and misleading pronouncements.

with everyone from Brits Italians and Poles to Columbians and Koreans...there are thousands of jobs open in Canada for everyone from truckers to doctors.

Most Canadians are sane, and like immigrants

Just ignore the occasional oddball you hear from. Canada has protectionists as well. Professionals who like safety from any sort of competition.

However at the moment there is no competition...we need thousands of people, and are actively beating the bushes for them.

Ignore nonsense.

You please provide specifics regarding your slander!

I apologize for stating all Canadians are sane.

I am speaking to you.

The common saying is put up or shut up.

If one wants to be an immigration consultant the Government of Canada has the following site.
Immigration Representatives
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/consultants/

If you are accusing a person of not complying with the standards as set down by the regulating authority it is incumbent on you to report that to the appropriate authority.

Otherwise shut up if you don't know what you are talking about.

And I'm very aware of what's involved.

Now please go find something else to complain about.

And keep your abuse to yourself.

Like I said, MOST Canadians are sane.

To make the same slanderous type of innuendo in one of your newspapers.
If not then keep your misleading comments to yourself and out of this anonymous type of informative communication.

political agendas, or petty disputes on websites, or red herrings.

And you're the one preventing communication.

Americans are most welcome, as are thousands of immigrants.

Deal with it.

When did you stop beating up on your mate? Now come on.

because I'm not interested in red herrings.

If it is too hot in the kitchen, then get out!

I am indifferent.

Pedal it elsewhere.

Admit that you have been beating up on those mates. And then to top it off you are indifferent about it!
Who would have guessed?

A spoofer. Shoulda figured.

:rofl:

Fits.

Relax. Dr. Phil will be able to help you out.

Relax. The truth is hard to accept. We understand.

Robespierre btw?

And the Toronto Troll...and is cr still drunk? ;-)

Just about time for your three hour break, is it?"
Hard to remove that spot?

"out out damn spot...out!"

Keep yer stick on the ice Chimo. :rofl:

A hard time.

Well that is understandable.

Keep on rambling.

But don't take it out on your mate again.

so I don't have 'mates'

Self explanatory why you don't have mates.

So waiting to see your LTTE.

Neither you nor I have any idea what you're talking about.

But I hope you had fun.

A Brit, of course, would say Billy No-Mates in the circumstances.

I suspect most anyone, Brit, Aussie or otherwise, would have recognized the inclusive version of "stopped beating your wife yet?" -- and known exactly why the question was asked. Anyone who was familiar with the concept of "dialogue", and the basic premises of civil discourse, anyhow.

(I solved that problem, btw: "stopped beating your dog yet?" But maybe I shouldn't exclude cats, and should say "pet" ...)

In-sin-u-a-a-tion is making me puke ...

Kindly do not bother in future to lecture me by PM about your personal experiences or virtues -- and kindly refrain in future from saying things like

"Most Canadians are sane, and like immigrants"

in posts at DU written TO ME. If you don't start complying with civil requests of this nature by behaving civilly, the nature and addressee of the requests will change.

"Canada has protectionists as well. Professionals who like safety from any sort of competition."

Just so's you know, and so's you won't have any excuse for posting any more of this filth in posts addressed TO ME, there are about a dozen people in Canada who are capable of doing the work that *I* do, it's conceivable that there are some in the US who are capable of doing it (but I'd probably have to train them, just as I have done several of those who do it in Canada) -- and as a matter of fact my occupation is covered by free-trade provisions, so anyone who wants to come to Canada to engage in it can do so right now without having to apply for any immigration status, just as I can go the US and engage in it if I happen to feel like it.

So oh look -- one nasty little insinuation, biting the dust.

"we need thousands of people, and are actively beating the bushes for them."

You haven't actually heard me say otherwise. But ... unless you are suggesting that we massively increase the number of people we accept (and beat the bushes for?) FROM THE UNITED STATES ... which of course would mean massively decreasing the number of people we accept from possibly slightly less white/European countries, the ones that account for an overwhelming majority of the earth's population, many of whom have close family in Canada (family class = 27% of immigrants admitted) and many of whom are actually in need of protection (refugees = 14% of immigrants admitted) ... well, I just don't know what you might be suggesting.

Annual immigration quotas are annual immigration quotas -- and no matter how much you -- or Alberta's capitalists, or prospective immigrants from the US, or I -- might not like them, THEY ARE REALITY.

"Ignore nonsense."

You might want to take your own advice, although I suppose that could be difficult.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/monitor/issue09/02-immigrants.html

A total of 235,808 people immigrated to Canada in 2004, a seven percent increase over the previous year. This number was within the planning target range of 220,000 to 245,000 new immigrants. Fifty-seven percent of immigrants were in the economic class, 27% in the family class, and 14% were refugees. Some of the largest category increases occurred among refugees landed in Canada, whose numbers increased by 41%; provincial nominees, who rose by 41%; and live-in caregivers, by 30%. See appendix 1 for the complete figures.

The top three countries of origin (country of last permanent residence) were China (36,410), India (25,568) and the Philippines (13,299). The largest change among the leading countries of origin was the declining importance of South Korea, which ranked ninth overall compared to fifth in 2003. This represented a 25% decrease in the number of South Korean immigrants in 2004. Two top 10 countries recorded large increases: the United States (25%) and France (22%). See appendix 2 for the complete figures.

Canada accepted 7,493 immigrants from the US in 2004, and that number is not suddenly going to rise to 15,000 or 30,000 or even 10,000 next year, whether you or anyone else likes that or not. I mean ... not as long as those middle-of-the-road <sic> Canadians, many of whom just aren't all that happy about all those not quite so white/European immigrants at all, keep electing Liberal governments, who really just can't quite get away with pandering to their racism, by cutting non white/European immigration and boosting white/European immigration, anymore.

I have NEVER said that Canada is not actively seeking / in need of immigrants.

I have NEVER even expressed an opinion about the numbers of immigrants that we should be admitting.

I HAVE repeatedly said that I worked for many years as a representative and advocate for immigrants and refugees, both potential and actual. (I'm still waiting for that street to be named after me in Tehran; perhaps it will be a posthumous honour.) The fun part was that I rarely charged enough, for actual professional services (as distinct from community development and activism work) to cover my phone bill, if I charged anything. Competition? Someone else where I was who was competent and compassionate enough to do the work?? I could only wish, and might not have burned out quite so fast had there been, or had I had the self-protective instincts to demand more money or refuse more requests for assistance. The same is actually true of the work I do now -- and oh yes, I did work closely with two USAmerican draft resisters a couple of decades doing the same kind of work, although not as specialized as mine. Heck, I even had regular sex with one of them (that being just a sample of my rather unusually multicultural sex life in my younger days ...).

I don't happen to know of any USAmericans beating down the door to do that work these days, however, although, as I say, there is generally work available, and new entrants into the labour market in my field would have no effect on me whatsoever.

You have NEVER had a shred of evidence to support the filthy insinuations you persist in making here about me, or (if you wish to pretend that this is not what you were doing) about anyone else who might be offering realistic advice and opinion, and actual facts to counteract your nonsense.

If you actually think that saying "welcome to Canada, eh!" to someone who is depressed and anxious about the situation in his/her home country and doesn't have a snowball's chance in Dallas of being accepted as an immigrant to Canada is wise, there ain't a damned thing I can do about it. I have no intention of leaving it stand as if it were gospel. If you wish to take disagreement with nonsense personally, you feel free to do so; you are not, however, free to respond with insulting personal commentary.

and you'll no doubt regard that as 'insulting' too, but I don't intend to waste any more time and bandwidth on this nonsense.

You surely do waste an awful lot of time and bandwidth telling us all how you won't be wasting time and bandwidth. I must say.

C'mon, have the last word now. I got work to do. No Labour Day for the undisciplined self-employed, y'know.

Is this one of those "the gloves are off" moments? I guess at this point saying "keep it on topic, lads" would be rather redundant...

Why is it that, as of late, these immigration threads always seem to degenerate into flame wars? The last time I attempted to honestly answer an immigration query here in Kanada Korner, I was flamed by some American psycho/freak/lurker who, incidentally, has since been banned. (And it was a very lame flame at that; more like useless, impotent rage against Canada and Canadians - complete with poor grammar - from an American "patriot". Dead giveaway for him getting banned...but don't get me wrong: I love those "they hate us for our freedom" moments...) But I digress...

So therefore, I have a new personal rule/guideline. I no longer answer immigration queries here at DU unless they're: a) very specific, and, b) that we carry our discussion into PM mode. I've actually helped about a dozen or so Americans with immigration queries via PM; I even met a couple from San Francisco this summer at The Cambie in Vancouver. (I know. Summer/vacation/road trip season makes this practical. But at least they were serious). After establishing - via PM - that we were in the same age group, had similar careers/artistic pursuits, and similar lifestyles, everything went smashingly well. Friends for life, so to speak. Note to Americans: nothing like a few nights in a hot, trendy dive bar to answer all your immigration needs.

Case in point: liberaltrucker, the person who started this thread, didn't really give you folks here much to go on by way of specifics/details. He may not even really be that serious, just some lite "Alec Baldwin syndrome" harmless action. (Nothing personal liberaltrucker, it's just that: if people are serious, they'd be getting more specific, or as I suggested, starting a PM relationship with some of the more knowledgeable "experts" here willing to help.)

The funny thing is: now several Canadians here are arguing amongst themselves about god-knows-what, while liberaltrucker apparently got in his rig and trucked on down the interstate. Too fucking hilarious. (Hang in there boys. Hockey season's just around the bend...)

One final note, esp. to Americans thinking of emigrating anywhere (not just Canada). There's many ways of emigrating. I've lived in several countries/cities over the years, including Los Angeles. In the case of L.A., for example, my union allowed for a certain amount of portability (moving between union locals in North America) due to my craft/specialty. I was fortunate, as this made moving to SoCal a breeze. Secondly, I met my wife at a rave/squat party in Paris back in the early nineties, and now have dual Canadian/EU citizenship. Did I plan on this? Not really. I always loved France; moving there I suppose could've been in the back of my mind, but my life certainly wouldn't have gone down the way it has unless I actually went to France in the first place. And in the case of my new friends from San Francisco, they were serious enough about moving to Canada to plan a very groovy road trip up the gorgeous, world-renowned US 101 to Vancouver as their summer '05 vacation; they spent two weeks here, made a ton of new friends, had all their job/immigration questions answered, and will probably be moving here within the year.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is: a good start would be to get serious and/or specific with your queries (either in these threads and/or by PM'ing Canucks, Brits, whomever), then perhaps think about visiting the country and making some new friends while you're at.

Otherwise, these threads - while rather funny - will just keep repeating themselves.

As I've just pointed out in a post (and as I and others have mentioned in other posts), for instance, NAFTA is another option for some people. (And down the road, having lived and worked in Canada is worth points on the selection criteria scale when seeking actual permanent residence.)

I was not myself giving liberaltrucker advice (or actually assuming that s/he was dead serious about the idea).

I *am* concerned that some people might see a Canadian on the internet saying "yes! yes! we need you! jobs are waiting for you! c'mon up!" to someone about whom the Canadian knew absolutely nothing and about whose chances of success s/he knew even less -- and that some people might believe this.

And that some people might then act on that belief -- just for starters, by shelling out money for immigration applications or simply by forming hopelessly unrealistic expectations, not to mention the money that they might shell out to unscrupulous immigration lawyers/consultants in the Canada or the US or wherever they are, in this deluded belief, which someone else has manipulated them into holding for political reasons, that help is on the way, and Canada is waiting for them with open arms.

I WAS AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER. I knew this stuff and did this stuff for a living; people paid me for it, international organizations and community groups and corporations referred people to me, even immigration employees did (as well as hiring me themselves for their own legal stuff). I really do have a clue what I am talking about. I am not currently in practice, and I am not up to date on requirements or processes, and so I DO NOT OFFER OPINIONS OR ADVICE that there is a chance someone might act on to his/her detriment. I do discourage people from thinking that immigration to Canada is a panacea for their problems, since even those who might qualify and succeed will have a long way to go, and a fair bit of work to do and money to spend, before actually getting here -- and then they may well find that everything is just not quite so fabulous as they have heard. We actually do have unemployment up here, and expensive housing in a lot of places where the jobs are, and social problems, and various kinds of barriers to labour market entry by immigrants, and so on.

I thought it was quite obvious that liberaltrucker was engaging in wishful thinking and expressing a bit of country-envy. That doesn't mean that this issue won't come up again, or that someone else might not be influenced by what s/he reads here.

And I just don't find it funny that anyone exploit someone else's misfortune, and raise false hopes and risk inducing someone else to risk wasting money, in service of a political agenda disguised as being friendly to the neighbours in their hour of anxiety.

will be less crotchety once hockey begins again...take out their aggressions that way instead. :D

I agree though, this is better done by PM, so we avoid the waste of bandwidth by various parties with axes to grind.

so we avoid the waste of bandwidth by various parties with axes to grind.

http://www.jabberwacky.com