Canada - how immigration policy changes under successive governments

Recent changes to Canadian citizenship laws show what a hot potato immigration issues have become. The European refugee crises seems to have shifted voters in western countries to polarisingly opposite positions - almost mirroring the socialist versus capitalist narrative that so often defines and dominates political debates.

While many citizens likely fall somewhere in between the opposing camps, those at the polar ends either see immigration as a self seeking policy tool - to encourage skills and cheap labour but protect the existing workforce - or as a tool of social justice - to be a haven and a beacon of hope for the disenfranchised and destitute.

immigration is seen either as a self seeking policy tool or as a tool of social justice

The sweeping and speedy reforms in Canadian policy are on the back of the current party making good on specific election campaign promises and show how the issue played a major role in the pysche of voters and therefore the political landscape.

It is as if citizens want the immigration and citizenship policy to reflect the heart and soul of the nation - much like a home with either a welcome mat in front of the door or a beware of the dog sign at the gate. As if the invitation you extend will define who you are as a people and how you react to international crises will mould you as a society into what values you want your children to stand for and fight for and pass on to their children.

It is as if citizens want the immigration and citizenship policy to reflect the heart and soul of the nation - much like a home with either a welcome mat in front of the door or a beware of the dog sign at the gate

Let's be honest, we all know anecdotal stories of border control staff that say so much about a country and before we even set foot within the place we often have a pre-conceived notion of what the residents will be like. Why? Because the border control staff are employed by the government to represent to outsiders what their policy represents. You are welcome here or beware of the dog. 

As I've said before, immigration policy is primarily designed for the benefit of the host nation and any benefit a new migrant receives is incidental to that primary purpose. The current Canadian government is shifting that somewhat and creating an image of an administration that is thinking outside of itself and beyond purely selfish gains to one where it selflessly wants to share some of its highly held val

ues with those who may not have more to give right now.

Some will view this as altruistic nobleness and others as a soft touch with likely damaging effects - either way the effects will be felt into the next generation for citizens and migrants alike. 

Immigration Issues in NZ Elections 2014

An interesting NZ Herald story of Chinese candidates telling Chinese migrants told to vote if they consider NZ home . It notes that many of the 200,000 Chinese migrants from Communist China do not necessarily understand the democratic process and therefore may not prioritise voting or recognise it's relevance and importance.

As a migrant myself I found it quirky that along with Citizens, Residents can also vote, as per this INZ website advising who can vote . Given that Immigration Policy is such an emotive and often explosive topic, it still seems strange to me that Residents can have a say in a governement whose policy may be directed to affect them before they become citizens as in NZ First Winston Peter's stance on Immigration. It seems somewhat counter-intuitive to me but perhaps it is common in other countries.

As with any Immigration political policy debate, New Zealand has some rather specific topical areas of national interest around very current and recent issues. There have been recent enquiries into the extent of politician involvement in the immigration process of certain influental migrants Kim Dotcom MegaUpload Immigration and there are issues of housing prices skyrocketing, particularly in Auckland as noted in this article Immigrant effect on land prices and then there is the ongoing debate on foreign ownership of strategic or farming landsand whether NZ is too lenient with foreign ownership?

All this to say that Immigration policy is designed with Citizens in mind and migrants, while made to feel as welcome as possible, really are a part of the process only to the extent that it serves the interests of the host country. Of course, most immigrants to New Zealand have every intention of a long term settlement vision so in a strange way the "national" interest they may feel somewhat removed from now really is the one that will hopefully protect their status as future citizens for them and their families.