Setting out the mandate for

Setting out the Mandate for

Canadian Cultural and Civic Life

Issues that Matter Most

MQM Canada

May 24, 2004

Table of Contents

Concern of Pakistani Canadians 3

Mandate for Canadian cultural and civic life 5

Primary & Secondary Education 9

Graduate & Post Graduate Education 9

Health 10

Immigration & Citizenship 11

Recreation & Sports 16

Trade with Pakistan 17

Concern of Pakistani Canadians

The federal election has been announced and the political parties have started flexing their muscles. The outcome of the race is yet to be seen and pundits are busy guessing. Like the other communities in this multi-cultural country, the Pakistani community also has much to deliver in the coming election. However, their concerns are not addressed fully while promises are being made.

In order to get our hard working volunteers involved fully and effectively, MQM Canada has developed a comprehensive paper which speaks to some of the problems faced by Pakistani Canadians. We are looking forward to hearing from your views on the issues that matters the most. These concerns have increased manifold after 9/11 – a most unfortunate and historically sad event that we strongly condemn.

We, the Pakistani community in Canada are facing basic problems, the solution to which would not involve a significant dollar amount when compared with the size of the country’s fiscal revenues and budget. On the other hand, we deplore the waste of millions of dollars in bribes, scandalous grants and contracts.

The problems of the Pakistani community in Canada are mainly related to access to primary and secondary education, non-recognition of Pakistani educational qualifications, access to employment in both public and private sector, hardships faced in immigration, basic health care issues, refugee problems and so on….

MQM Canada through its various chapters across Canada is working towards integrating new Canadians into the mainstream so that their maximum potential is effectively utilized. Nevertheless, in absence of any clear policy from the government this becomes difficult. There is a growing sense of frustration that can be seen on the face of any educated and experienced Pakistani/Canadian working on odd jobs to provide food for his family.

We Pakistani Canadians look forward to working with your Party and hope the basic issues outlined in this document will be raised at the Federal level.

Good luck in the forthcoming elections!

Sincerely,

Aamir Waheed

Central Organizer

MQM Canada

Mandate for Canadian cultural and civic life:

For all of us, to be Canadian means to be open to our differences and to appreciate the cultural richness that comes with our diversity.

The census of 2001 speaks to the fact that over 575,000 (Five Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand) Muslims live across Canada, that is, 35% more than the Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh communities each with their rich culture. On the other hand, there are over 900,000 (Nine Hundred Thousand) South Asians living in Canada, out of which over 550,000 live in the Province of Ontario whereas, the Chinese population is 480,000.

Most Pakistani immigrants believe that the other TWO Political Parties have taken the immigrants for granted and they are marginalized. Hence there is a growing concern of being neglected and therefore, feel uncomfortable and sometime frustrated.

We believe that Canada being a multicultural and diverse society has a lot to offer to those who chose to come here on their freewill. Canada has always had to deliberate about forging the ties that binds Canadians together. With relatively small population, thinly spread out, along the border of a giant to its south, Canada can never take its sense of country for granted.

Canada’s effort to build a sense of attachment among the Canadians is taking on a new importance in the face of significant Societal Changes, which include globalization, increasing pluralism and advance technologies. We have to articulate the values that are reflected in our most important social institutions-values of mutual responsibility and accommodation becomes even more important in an increasingly multicultural and competitive world.

We would like to see the Your PARTY to set out the mandate that the Party plays in Canadian cultural and civic life and to consider incorporating the following in their policy:

· Removal of all barriers for Pakistani educated professionals to participate in the Canadian work force.

· Right of Landing Fee (Head Tax) charged at the time of immigration to be reconsidered to be waived or the funds generated from this be used directly in developing the skills required to work efficiently in the main-stream work force.

· Representation from the Pakistani community in the Immigration and Refugee Board and the advisory panel.

· An opportunity is provided to Pakistani Canadians to work at all level of Governments.

· Development of community based programs and funding for Specific Needs of Pakistanis.

Employment:

Public Sector:

The Public sector is responsible for providing more than half of all the employment to Canadians. However, it is also a sector that is vastly ignoring the needs of various communities for their due share in the public sector employment. For instance, citizens & immigrants from Pakistan make up the third largest visible minority of Canada however, their numbers in the public sector employment is dismally low. It is therefore, a matter of concern and requires immediate attention.

Would you remove the barriers to accommodate immigrant/Canadians of Pakistani origin in the Public sector work force?

Would you design community based development programs to balance the population versus employment ratio in the public sector?

Private Sector:

It is an established fact in Canada that, most of the new immigrants from Pakistan are talented, educated and professionals. They have considerable experience in their respective fields. It is in fact because of that their educational backgrounds and professional qualifications that they are accepted into Canada. Once they are in Canada however, it becomes a near to impossible dream for them to find a job based on their past achievements in the Private Sector. It is more than a simple economic issue or lack of the skills set they offer to the job market.

Would you take measures to discourage the use of terminology “Canadian Experience” instead promote Relevant Experience by employers while trying to hire skilled & experienced immigrant Canadians?

Would you develop programs to offer incentives (e.g. Tax Benefits) to employers willing to hire

new immigrants in a bid to provide them with much needed “Canadian Experience”?

Would you reform the Degree Evaluation/Equivalency procedures for Pakistani Graduates, which is in direct conflict with the degree evaluation criteria set for granting immigration?

The procedure should be aligned with the immigration criteria so that potential immigrants would be aware of their reciprocal qualifications from Canadian perspective.

Would you create a strategy to effectively absorb the highly educated & qualified individuals arriving from Pakistan into this country as new immigrants? Especially doctors, pharmacists, engineers, IT professionals, accountants, mathematicians, scientists who are presently working on minimum-wage odd jobs just because of the barriers presently in place do not allow upward movement and integration into the Canadian job market.

Education

Primary & Secondary Education:

Education is one of the most powerful tools that one can use to change the world. Therefore, primary education is the building block of any society. It defines the standards on which rest of the education system is based. We feel that in recent years primary education system has gone from bad to worse. Canada’s most vulnerable, the little children are not prepared. How would you deal with the following issues?

Would you take measures in your capacity to decrease the Class Sizes in Primary & Secondary schools in the urban centers of Canada?

Would you create funding for community based teaching help positions, as there are thousands of resources available to be utilized within the system?

Would you create funding for Primary education focused on the explicit needs of visible minorities?

Graduate & Post Graduate Education:

Our Universities are affordable and rank among the top universities in the world. But on the other hand, the rate of bankruptcies among the young Canadians are getting higher. They carry huge debt load once they come out of School.

Under the rules set by Government of Canada at this time, the repayment of Student Loans starts six months after completion of studies.

We like to see the Government of Canada to extend the repayment period of student loan from six months to 12 months for all Students across Canada.

Can you make the commitment to raise your voice in the House of Commons for our younger generation?

Health

Canada is a welfare state by virtue of its constitution. Health services have seen a great downfall in the recent years as the population has moved upwards in the major cities of Canada. We are very interested to find out what will you do to address this issue of great concern for most of the Canadians in general and Immigrant Population in particular:

Would you create more Health Care facilities, hire doctors & nurses and provide much needed medical equipment?

Would you take measures to reduce wait time in the emergency rooms?

Would you plan a strategy to utilize thousands of immigrants skilled in health industry, especially doctors who are practically barred from offering their services due to barriers?

What measures will you take in providing qualitative and affordable health services in the backdrop of health services cutback in the recent Ontario Budget?

Immigration & Citizenship

Immigration is the backbone of Canada and had always been a major component of Canadian Policy. Immigrants have always worked hard to play a vital role in Canadian economy & social infrastructure. What would be your stand on the following key issues relating to Immigration & Citizenship?

Would you reconsider waiving the “Right of Landing Fee (Head Tax)” charged at the time of immigration?

Would you ensure that immigration policy is designed to fast track sponsorship cases & prospective immigrants in the family class?

Would you ensure that criminals are effectively filtered out during the immigration screening process for our safe society?

Refugees:

September 11 has changed the world and has left all of us in despair and turmoil. This has resulted in the mass movement of people from all over the world due to sudden change in the immigration laws of various countries. Canada has seen its share of Pakistani refugees arriving from USA & other countries of the world seeking refugee status for a better life in this great country. Montreal currently has thousands of such Pakistani refugees waiting to be accepted by Canada. Most of these immigrants are common people whose only objective was to leave their country to find a better life elsewhere. It was their fate that has brought them to Canada. Majority of these individual and families are skilled and educated. We would like you to address this humanitarian issue:

Would you accept upon proper screening majority of the refugees already in this country who are at present a burden on the taxpayers?

Security

Personal and community Security is one of the biggest concerns for Pakistani Canadians. There has been an exponential increase in the criminal activities across the nation and therefore, needs a priority based solution.

Would you control the increased gang activity?

What would you do to control the use of Drugs & Arms in the cities?

Would you increase Community based Policing and devise policy to attract and induct more people from various communities into Police Service?

Would you stop the incidences in which certain communities are targeted by law enforcement agencies (like the incidence in which 19 Pakistanis were arrested and allegedly termed terrorists)?

Would you stop law enforcement agencies from Community/racial Profiling?

Would you take measures to protect the places of worship?

Would you create a policy for safe and secured borders?

Canadian Forces:

We are all proud of our Forces & Service Personals. They provide us a great service by safeguarding our interests and borders by risking their life. Citizens and Immigrants would be more than thrilled to be part of Canadian forces and help pay their share in safeguarding our homeland.

Would you develop programs to promote the idea of attracting new immigrants into Canadian Forces?

Family Values

Most of us are family oriented and have a great desire for nucleus and respectful family values. We have no problem with any lifestyle or value system as long as it stays within its defined boundaries.

What would you do to ensure that family values remain intact?

Would you focus on family values while defining your policies in various sectors of governance?

Recreation & Sports

Pakistani Canadians are fond of Sports. Younger people are involved in different leagues throughout Canada, including Baseball, Basketball, and Ice Hockey. Young Immigrants from Pakistan are also involved in Field Hockey and Cricket.

Can you promise to have representation from the Pakistani Canadian Community in Sport Canada to strengthen Sport Policies and Programs to reflect participation from all communities across Canada?

Sport Canada has many funding programs including the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP), National Sport Organization Support Program (NSO), The Sport Participation Development Program (SPDP) and Sport Hosting Program to name the few.

Will you promise to look into and help us create a National Sport Federation of CRICKET and to Promote the game of CRICKET throughout Canada for all communities by allocating financial resources?

Trade with Pakistan

International Trade is crucial to Canada’s economic prosperity. One out of every four jobs is related to export in Canada.

According to Statistics Canada, total Canadian exports to Pakistan were less than 85 Million each year (1999-2002).

Pakistan’s economy has been growing at a fast pace with the GDP growth rate of 5.1%; Pakistan surpassed its FY 2003 target rate of 4.5%, demonstrating a significant rise in growth from the previous years.

Karachi (the largest city of Pakistan) with an estimated population of 15 Million, An International Airport, two seaports, skilled and educated work force, is the hub for business activities in Pakistan. There are tremendous opportunities for investment in Financial Sector, Automotive Parts, Building Infrastructure, Training and Development all over Pakistan.

Canadian Investment in Pakistan is US $ 6.2 Million in 2001-02.

There are many opportunities for the export of Dried Milk, Canadian Beef, Pulses/Lentils, Canola Seeds, Medical Instruments, Pulp and Paper Products.

Would you Promise to take the initiative to expand bilateral trade and investment in Pakistan?