Newcomers need answers during election

Prime Minister Harper’s recent reference to the concern of “Old Stock” Canadians related to newcomers perhaps needs to be put into historical perspective.

Except for First Nations people, we are all immigrants and many came to Canada in circumstances similar to those wanting entry today. Case in point might well be those from Scotland, likely my ancestors, who during the 1840s and ‘50s were forced from their land during what were known as “the clearances” and left for Canada in the tens of thousands.

Other later waves came as the result of political and religious upheaval, wars, population pressure and economic disruption in their homeland. The only screening that took place was primarily for disease, mostly tuberculosis, otherwise entry was seldom denied.

However, the world is a different place today and security is a concern, but other factors need to be taken into consideration as well, in particular, our capacity to absorb large numbers of new residents.

For the numbers suggested from Syria and other trouble spots, this should not be a major concern as we already accept more than 250,000 people into the country each year. Many suggest this number is creating concern as to whether our larger cities where most immigrants settle, can maintain their social and physical infrastructure at these levels. As for other communities in Canada, such as those in Northern Ontario, which could use increased population, does the possibility for employment exist for the new arrivals in the current economic reality?

We hope that candidates from all parties provide some answers to these questions and contribute in a positive and responsible manner to the ongoing debate with respect to these issues important to both “Old” and future “New” stock Canadians.

John Lindsay
Sudbury