newsletter ICCRC is the national regulatory body designated by

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to

regulate the immigration and citizenship consulting as

well as the international student advising professions.

2016 – Edition 14

Regulating Immigration Professionals. Protecting the Public.

ICCRC’S DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS HONOURED ABROAD FOR TRAILBLAZING WORK PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS

BURLINGTON, ON — August 4, 2016 —Daniel Roukema, Director of Communications at the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), is being recognized by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation's (CLEAR) as a champion for protecting consumers of Canadian immigration services. The US-based organization awarded Roukema the 2016 Consumer Protection Award, which recognizes one individual annually who has innovatively contributed to enhancing a broader public understanding of regulatory issues with respect to consumer and public protection, outreach and citizen advocacy.

Roukema, the son of two immigrants himself, is credited with launching the ICCRC’s confidential whistleblowing tool to inform law enforcement of unauthorized representatives providing immigration services. Canadian law requires that persons who provide immigration or citizenship advice for a fee or other consideration must be members in good standing of ICCRC, the Chambre des notaires du Québec, or a Canadian law society. The tool led to thousands of tips and a dramatic increase in potentially fraudulent cases reported by the regulatory body to law enforcement.

“This recognition is extraordinary and well-deserved,” said Christopher Barry, interim President & CEO of ICCRC. “Daniel Roukema understands the challenges faced by immigrants, and he has worked tirelessly to assist with their safe passage to Canada. I am proud that this acknowledgement certifies ICCRC’s dedication to playing a key role in this nation’s immigration process, while also contributing to Canada’s global reputation as a welcoming and caring nation.”

“Some of the world's most vulnerable people seek new lives in Canada, and I’m proud to work for an organization that is so committed to ensuring people achieve that opportunity legally, efficiently and safely,” said Roukema. “While my name appears on this award, I accept it on behalf of my committed colleagues, and the thousands of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants whose professionalism and experience helps new Canadians achieve new beginnings each and every day.”

Roukema will be honoured by CLEAR at the organization’s Annual Educational Conference on Friday, September 16 in Portland, Oregon.

HEADLINE

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Annual General Meeting Reminder

Call for Board of Directors Nominations

Meet ICCRC’s Registration Squad

Peel Regional Police warn of continued CRA and immigration scams

Canadian authorities are powerless

Bulgaria meets Canada’s conditions for visa waiver – PM Borisov

Exhibit depicting journey of Ukrainian community in Canada at Pier21

Inspiring new Canadian easing transition for refugees Time for Atlantic Canadians to shed ‘come from away’ label for outsiders

Disciplinary Notices

IMPORTANT DATES

August 7 Full Skills Exam (FSE) August 15 Board Nominations due September 5 Labour Day – All ICCRC offices closed

YES! WE’RE THERE! FOLLOW US!

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INFO ICCRC

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CALL FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, in accordance with the By-law of Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), nominations for individuals wishing to serve on the Council’s Board of Directors will be open from July 15, 2016 until August 15, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) at the Council’s headquarters:

5500 North Service Road Suite 1002 Burlington, Ontario Canada L7L 6W6

Applications are being accepted for the following elected board vacancies:

2 directors Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, MB) 2 directors Ontario 1 director Québec 1 director Atlantic Canada and Territories (NB, PE, NS, NL, YT, NT, NU) and International

In addition to twelve (12) elected members, three (3) Public Interest Directors also form a fifteen (15) member board of directors. Two (2) Public Interest Directors will be appointed by the Board of Directors for a one (1) year term. The third Public Interest Director was elected last year to serve a two year term.

Of the current sitting elected directors, the following members have indicated their willingness to continue to serve for a further term:

Ron McKay (Western Canada) Joan Page (Western Canada) Peter Bernier (Ontario) Tarek Allam (Quebec) Richard Dennis (Atlantic Canada, Territories and International) Javier Vinsome (Appointed Public Interest Director)

Immediately following the close of nominations on August 15, 2016, submitted nomination packages for elected directors will be reviewed to ensure accuracy and that all required forms, supporting nominations, documents, declarations and consents have been received and are correct. Any deficiencies will be communicated to each candidate who will then have fourteen (14) days to resolve any issues.

On or after September 6, 2016 a list of qualified candidates will be posted on the Council’s website.

Elections will be conducted by electronic or paper ballot in November 2016 with all received ballots being counted on November 7, 2016. Results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting of Members being held on Saturday, November 12, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario.

The nomination package – eligibility requirements, candidate application form, supporting nomination form and candidate statutory declaration – can be downloaded from the Council’s website at www.iccrc-crcic.ca.

General questions concerning the election process may be directed to the Registrar and Corporate Secretary at elections@iccrc-crcic.ca.

INFO ICCRC

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MEET ICCRC’S REG ISTRATION SQUAD

Carrie Sutherland and Amanda Ross are responsible for the complex task of managing ICCRC’s member registration operations.

Carrie joined ICCRC in 2012, and is the regulator’s Registration Manager, and Amanda, Registration Clerk, joined to assist last year. ICCRC’s communications team had a conversation with them to learn more about how they manage Member information:

With respect to exam and membership registration, describe your work.

CARRIE: Almost everything needs to be done in steps or batches. One of my key goals is to treat everyone equally. This means that documentation is processed alphabetically as it arrives, so that we’re not sending out more messages to applicants/members than necessary. That being said, every document submitted for the exam or registration is acknowledged, usually by email. This is done in the hopes of keeping those submitting the documents informed in as timely a fashion as possible. It also serves as a method for us to keep track on what stage an applicant or registrant may be. However with an average of 500 applicants per exam, processing every single document and or application that is submitted does take time. The work involves constant review of documentation, data entry to ensure every applicant’s/member’s file is accurate and up to date and then the filing of the physical paperwork. It takes a keen attention to detail to ensure the documentation submitted is valid and authentic. Many exam applicants apply to write, then defer multiple times, also some may have to rewrite, this means one applicant’s file can be reviewed multiple times.

AMANDA: I answer emails and phone calls regarding registration and the submission of documents for exams and membership. I export exam applicants after they have registered online. I assist with processing membership documents and I also issue ID cards and membership certificates.

How many exam takers are you expecting in the next round?

CARRIE: The number of exam writers can differ with each exam date. We currently average 500 applicants per exam, and after deferrals and for other reasons, we have about 150-250 writers on any given exam date.

What advice do you want to give future RCICs on improving their overall registration experience?

CARRIE: The best advice I can give to every applicant is to download and thoroughly read the Registration Guide. Make it your first priority as it is an excellent tool that will walk you step by step through applying, to writing the exam, to eventually registering with ICCRC. It explains in great detail what is required, how documentation should be submitted and what is expected of the applicant.

AMANDA: I definitely agree, read the Registration Guide!

INFO ICCRC

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What excites you most about your roles?

CARRIE: I love it when I can process a large batch of applicants. I love seeing the list of everyone who were successful at the Full Skills Exam. And I love sending off batches of registrations to the Registrar for final approval. My position has a lot to do with growth, with taking steps in the right direction and I find that extremely rewarding.

AMANDA: I enjoy assisting people whenever I can and knowing that we are helping people to get into a career that will make a difference in many people’s lives.

Carrie: How many members were there when you first started? Have exam taker numbers increased?

CARRIE: Technically aside from the founding members of ICCRC, there were no members when I started. So I have seen our Members in Good Standing grow from 0 to over 3600. Originally we offered the Full Skills Exam 6 times a year and then reduced it to 4, so that made the number of exam applicants per exam date grow, but we also averaged between 100 – 150 exam takers per exam and now we usually see between 150 – 250 exam takers.

INFO ICCRC

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PEEL REGIONAL POLICE WARN OF CONTINUED CRA AND IMMIGRATION SCAMS

INVESTIGATORS from Peel Regional Police are once again reminding the public of the ongoing calls citizens are receiving with regards to the Canada Revenue Agency and immigration scams. Police are urging citizens to be extra vigilant of suspicious phone calls.

Police continue to receive reports from residents who have received phone calls from persons posing as government officials from various federal agencies, including, but not limited to, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), Service Canada and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The callers will indicate that a tax audit has been conducted and outstanding taxes are owed or, in the case of immigration, that there are outstanding fees due to incorrect information provided on their application. In both cases the caller makes threats to the victim that a warrant for their arrest is outstanding and will be executed if payment is not made immediately.

The caller will go on to provide very specific payment instructions, which may involve making Western Union or Money Gram transfers, sending bank transfers, buying prepaid credit cards or iTunes cards in order to make a payment. In some incidents, taxis have been sent to the victim’s residence to facilitate taking them to Western Union or a financial institution. Victims have also been directed to wire funds overseas.

How to protect yourself:

Canadian Government Officials WILL NOT contact you directly and demand money in exchange for securing your Canadian Status.

The Canadian Government DOES NOT accept payments via Western Union, Money Gram, Prepaid Credit Cards or iTunes cards and would never ask you to wire such payments to a foreign country.

DO NOT take immediate action. VERIFY that what you are being told is the truth.

Beware of Caller ID spoofing as fraudsters can manipulate call displays or provide real government agency contact numbers in order to appear legitimate.

If you wish to verify information do not contact back on any number provided by the caller. Use phone numbers provided on the Government of Canada’s official website only.

The Crime Prevention Bureau will provide valuable tips and suggestions via the Crime Prevention twitter account @PeelCrimePrev.

To learn more about this type of scam and other fraud scams currently affecting Canadians, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website at www.antifraudcentre.ca

Source: VoiceOnline.com

IN THE NEWS

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CANADIAN AUTHORITIES ARE POWERLESS

Canada may be the bait, but no fraud is being committed on Canadian soil and the victims are not Canadian citizens. As a result, there is only so much that the Canadian authorities can do, despite the fact that fraud is on the rise, said an African expert. Overview of the issue in three points. JEAN-THOMAS LÉVEILLÉ LA PRESSE

Internet scams involving immigration are “far too common”, laments a Canadian diplomatic source consulted by La Presse, who acknowledges that the Canadian authorities are powerless to do anything about the problem.

“Most victims don’t live in Canada, and the money does not go through Canada,” she said, adding that “even if a complaint is made and the website is blocked, it will be up and running again on another Web server half an hour later.”

Nevertheless, the Canadian authorities are taking the problem seriously and trying to get the message out that “there is only one website for applying for a visa, and it’s the Government of Canada’s,” explains Alexandre Lévêque, High Commissioner of Canada to Tanzania.

This message is disseminated on social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp, “which are more popular here than the websites,” he explains.

Canadian Ambassador to Senegal Philippe Beaulne said that he, too, is concerned, but points out that few victims complain and acknowledges that “it can be very difficult to find the people responsible for Internet fraud.”

“The only thing we can do is encourage people to file a complaint so that we can investigate.”

— Alexandre Lévêque, High Commissioner of Canada to Tanzania

NOTHING TO LOSE

In Africa, the problem “is on the rise, since the perpetrators have nothing to lose,” complains Bamba Thiam, Senegalese computer engineer and cybercrime expert.

Although he acknowledges that the Senegalese authorities are taking the problem seriously, he points out that “there are so many cases that it’s difficult to deal with them all.”

“The number of scams is growing exponentially.”

— Bamba Thiam, Computer Engineer and Cybercrime Expert

All the more reason for improving co-operation in this area between the countries in the region, he explains, since the websites are often hosted in a foreign country, and the scammers have teams in Senegal to collect the money.

“Generally, speaking, they work as a team. They meet on the Internet, and find that they share a passion for scamming.”

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Bamba Thiam reports that “a number of cases involve Beninese and Ivorians.”

Several of the people contacted by La Presse in this investigation indicated that some of the “representatives” of Alfabé in Dakar spoke French with an Ivorian or Beninese accent and did not speak Yolof, the main language spoken in Senegal.

POLICE ARE PREPARED

“We are well equipped” to fight Internet fraud, says Henry Ciss, adjutant and spokesperson for the Senegal national police, who, a few years ago, set up a cybercrime squad.

The Senegalese authorities were not aware of the Formation Emploi Canada [Training and Employment Canada] website before being contacted by La Presse.

The police official told us that it is difficult to do anything if the victims don’t file a complaint.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), an agency set up to fight this sort of scam, says that, in the past year, it has received approximately 70 reports from victims of scams using immigration as bait.

These reports, which are not rising in number, says CAFC, came mainly from the Middle East and Asia.

“Fraud is often compartmentalized: some parts of the operation are conducted in Canada, and others, in other parts of the world,” explains CAFC spokesperson Jeff Thomson, who adds that Canada is a “preferred destination.”

CAFC says that it has not received any reports concerning the Formation Emploi Canada website, but that it has received complaints about canadianvisa.org, canadianvisaexpert.com and ovcanada.com.

The latter, which charges €249 to €349 ($350 to $500) to consider an application, uses the same Web server and the same mailing address as the usagc.org website, which claims to be able to get Green Cards for immigrants, allowing them to live and work in the United States.

ILLEGAL

To offer immigration services for a fee, a consultant must be an attorney or a paralegal and a member of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, or a notary member of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, or be registered with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, explains Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). People who do not meet these criteria cannot provide services, because Immigration Canada will not deal with them unless they certify that they are offering their services free of charge. An application for a student visa for Canada costs $150, says CIC. The use of the Government of Canada’s logo without authorization is also illegal.

Source: La Presse +

IN THE NEWS

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BULGARIA MEETS CANADA’S CONDITIONS FOR V ISA WAIVER – PM BORISOV

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Boyko Borisov (3-L) and Larissa Galadza, Director General for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (3-R).

Bulgaria’s government expects Canada to draw a schedule for lifting visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens as quickly as possible, Prime Minister Boyko Boyko Borisov has said.

"Bulgaria is ready to render the necessary assistance to the team of experts from Canada in gathering the necessary technical information," Borisov said at meeting with a Canadian government delegation in Sofia on Friday, according to a news release.

Bulgaria meets the Canadian requirements for the abolition of visa restrictions on travel of Bulgarian citizens, particularly in the areas of border management and security of travel documents, Borisov told the delegation led by Larissa Galadza, Director General for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

"Achieving visa reciprocity with Canada is important to us, so we hope this will happen as soon as possible," Borisov added.

Canada is expected to announce a schedule for the lifting of visas for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens in the autumn, it has emerged earlier this month.

Source: Novinite.com

IN THE NEWS

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EXHIBIT DEPICTING JOURNEY OF UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY IN CANADA AT PIER 21

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is all set to present Journey to Canada: Ukrainian Immigration 1891-1900- a temporary exhibit to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of Ukrainians in Canada.

The exhibit explores the events that led Ukrainians to leave their homes in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and their first experiences in western Canada. Many Ukrainians who immigrated to Canada came through Halifax.

The exhibit produced by the Kule Folklore Centre at the University of Alberta has been brought to Halifax with assistance from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

“We are honoured to present Journey to Canada at the University of Alberta. This exhibit provides an important window into early immigration years to Canada and allows us share the heritage and stories of Ukrainians, ” says Marie Chapman, CEO, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.

Journey to Canada will be shown at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in the Hall of Tribute from July 21 to October 30, 2016. Entrance to Journey to Canada will be included in regular Museum admission prices.

Source: CanadianImmigrant.ca

IN THE NEWS

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INSPIRING NEW CANADIAN EASING TRANSITION FOR REFUGEES

Abeer Al-Salihi celebrates her birthday with her husband Mohammed and the crowd during the fourth annual One

Night In gala event hosted by The New Canadians Centre (NCC) and Peterborough Immigration Partnership on

Saturday, March 5, 2016 at The Venue in Peterborough, Ont. Clifford Skarstedt/Peterborough Examiner/Postmedia

Network

As part of reminding herself what she is grateful for in her life, Abeer Al Salihi looks in the mirror every morning and smiles.

Not a tiny grin, or a grudging smirk. Rather, the kind of wide, ear-to-ear beaming smile some may only achieve by pushing up their cheeks with their index fingers.

"When I do that, it's on my face for the whole day," says the settlement workers in school (SWIS) youth worker for the New Canadians Centre, who writes down what she is thankful for daily. "Don't wait for anybody to make you happy. Make yourself happy."

The Cobourg resident has turned heads in the city with her tireless energy and radiant persona in becoming an invaluable community resource when it comes to supporting immigrants, particularly refugees from her native Syria.

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Al Salihi moved from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Pickering in August 2014 with her husband Mohammed and their two children, now ages 11 and eight.

That October, the Al Salihis packed up for Cobourg - essentially accepting a challenge in the process, after being told there wasn't much of an Arabic community there. The move, turns out, spoke volumes about the kind of people they are.

"I like a challenge," Abeer says, demonstrating that broad smile as she explained how she wanted to learn more about her new home.

She felt a smaller town was just the place to do it and Abeer confidently set a goal of breaking down social walls. The Al Salihi's knew in their heart they could fit into any community. "I believe in myself and my husband."

The move from Dubai to Cobourg brought a sea change in culture. Those her first welcomed her gave Abeer hugs - something completely unfamiliar to her.

The Al Salihis actually moved in on Halloween, a celebration which was, like hugging women, not observed in their homelands. Mohammed is from Iraq.

However, they bought costumes and enjoyed the evening's festivities. One might understand why they didn't have time to put up decorations.

"But believe me, it was a nightmare for everyone," Abeer says, laughing as she recalled the puzzled looks on trick-or-treaters who were met with a barren house.

Abeer's involvement with the New Canadians Centre at 221 Romaine St. began when, after asking around town, meeting interim outreach coordinator Caitlin Barratt, who answered all of her questions and immediately made her feel comfortable.

She soon started helping out with activities, and found herself being contacted by an ever-increasing number of refugee sponsors and groups wanting to learn more about Syrian culture as Canada welcomed fleeing refugees.

"They were people with many questions," she recalls.

Some 85 people attended Abeer's first presentation, where she addressed some of the most basic points of Syrian culture, including food, how to interact with women and why Muslims wear a hijab - a veil that covers the head and chest.

Abeer says she saw "fear" in the eyes of members of the audience, which soon melted away and eventually turned into smiles. That's what it's all about, she says. "When I saw that fear disappear, that was my goal."

Earlier this year, Abeer began assisting sponsors, teaching about Syrian culture and answering any questions they have. She's been working hard to get out and meet people and share what can only be viewed as motivational pieces of advice.

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"You have to believe everyone is special and has something to teach you," Abeer says. "I'm so glad I can help the community ... You feel happy, to feel like you helped someone in some way."

Teaching others about the culture provides a good feeling. It's also taught her that the mainstream media isn't the best source of information. "If you want to know something, go and talk to people ... to learn the real story."

Her work four days a week at the centre, Monday through Thursday, has really helped Abeer develop her English, which she studied in earnest in Dubai after only gaining a basic understanding as part of her Syrian education.

In her homeland, she was trained as a civil engineer and worked for a short time as an assistant civil engineer before finding it wasn't an ideal calling for a mother-to-be.

When she moved to Dubai to live with her husband, she followed her passion for teaching and ended up in the profession for for nine years. Abeer taught for a year in a nursery before teaching junior kindergartens and grades 1, 2 and 3.

That background has aided Abeer in her new role, where she leads by example. She recognizes why she has been so successful and encourages other new Canadians not to get upset, to understand that they are not alone as they find their way.

"If you were a hard worker in your country, you will do good here in Canada," she said, encouraging them, just like she does with clients, to be positive, "get out" and show others what skills they have to offer. "If you stay at home waiting for a job, you won't get a job."

The hardest part is overcoming the language barrier, Abeer said, encouraging new Canadians to study just like students, every day, level by level. To support each other by talking to each other in English, rather than their native tongue.

Those starting over in Canada "did something good in a previous life" and "are lucky to start again," Abeer feels. "I'm just feeling happy for them."

While she does worry for those who've paid the personal cost by having to leave loved ones behind, she, as always, remains positive. "I'm sure one day they will make it. It will just take some more time than the others."

To say Abeer loves Canada is an understatement. She points out that she chose to come here, and that she wasn't fleeing war, like so many are. For her family, Canada is their "final destination," she says. "I love it here. Everyone is so welcoming."

The best thing so far can be described in a word, Abeer says. Respect.

Even if people don't like you here, she says, they won't harass you, much less commit a crime. "That's enough. I'm safe."

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Citizens have rights here, people are fair and the government helps you. "That's more than enough."

In fact, the Al Salihis love the area so much, Mohammed has started his own business - Safe Step Service - so that the family can stay in Canada "without moving to Toronto." The business provides treatments for wet floors to prevent skidding.

Carol Lawless, who sits across from Al Salihi at the centre, says the youth worker brings an "incredible energy" and positive attitude to the office.

"She has this way about her where she cuts through the nonsense and gets to the heart of something," the resource development co-ordinator says. "She is able to communicate with people in a way that makes them feel warm and secure."

An "invaluable resource," Al Salihi has great empathy for new Canadians and helps them feel assured the new chapter of their lives will be positive, Lawless says.

Working with her has helped her learn how to get the best out of people, she added, recalling how one of the first things she told her was how she wants a "Canadian accent."

"She really means it," Lawless says. "She's here to learn and bring her rich cultural experience and heritage to Peterborough."

In talking about expectations, Abeer notes that she believes her children will be educated, bilingual and perhaps even trilingual, and jokes about planning to be a "happy senior."

But she too, she points out, plans to never stop improving her own self. "I will never stop learning in this country."

Source: ThePeterboroughExaminer.com

IN THE NEWS

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TIME FOR ATLANTIC CANADIANS TO SHED ‘COME FROM AWAY’ LABEL FOR OUTSIDERS, SCOTT BRISON SAYS

Nova Scotia’s senior federal cabinet minister Scott Brison is now looking at banning the unfriendly term ‘come from away’ used for newcomers.

HALIFAX—Glynn Williams remembers the wariness and distrust he faced 11 years ago when he started buying properties in a small, economically depressed town in eastern Nova Scotia.

“There were some vocal people . . . who said, ‘Who’s this guy from Toronto, and who does he think he is buying up the town?’” said Williams, who spent 20 years running a Bay Street equity firm before bringing his entrepreneurial zeal to Guysborough, N.S.

They called him a CFA — a “come from away.”

It’s an enduring slight that — to some — speaks volumes about Atlantic Canada’s apprehensive attitude toward newcomers and its legendary cliquishness.

Now, Nova Scotia’s senior federal cabinet minister is on a mission to change that.

In recent weeks, Scott Brison has provoked debate by suggesting the phrase should be banned from the Atlantic Canadian vocabulary.

“It’s in our collective interest, economically and socially, to not use terms that reflect a negative view of people who choose to make Atlantic Canada their home,” the Treasury Board president said in an interview from his home in Cheverie, N.S.

For Williams, local attitudes softened over the years as he invested more than $20 million into the town under his Authentic Seacoast brand, establishing a high-end inn, cafe, pub, craft brewery, coffee business, golf course and distillery.

But he said his experience — “There were quite a few folks who were either suspicious, hostile or indifferent” — led him to conclude Atlantic Canadians must learn to embrace newcomers if they hope to offset the economic fallout caused by a rapidly aging population.

Brison said a change in attitude is required as part of a larger strategy that includes new immigration measures aimed at changing what he called “a terrifying demographic trend line.”

Nova Scotia’s population, for example, is expected to decline over the next 20 years as young people continue to leave the province to search for work. By 2036, the province expects to have 100,000 fewer working-age people than it did in 2010, says a report released in 2014.

Newfoundland and Labrador has the oldest age profile of any province, and Nova Scotia is a close second, says the report, written by a panel led by Acadia University president Ray Ivany.

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The report recommended that the number of immigrants admitted annually to Nova Scotia — about 2,300 — should be tripled.

“Nova Scotians appear to be very positive

about newcomers from other parts of Canada but somewhat less welcoming to immigrants,” the report said. “There is a segment of the population that believes that immigrants take away jobs from other Nova Scotians.”

Earlier this week, the Atlantic premiers announced details of a first-in-Canada pilot project designed to boost the region’s flagging economy by ensuring newcomers don’t join the steady stream of out-migration to other parts of the country.

When the plan was announced, Brison made a point of wagging his finger at those who still speak ill of CFAs.

“I have been told repeatedly by people who have moved to Atlantic Canada . . . that it takes a while to fit in. We’ve got to do more to welcome people here.”

Howard Ramos, a political sociologist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, said opinion polls suggest Maritimers are open to the idea of accepting more immigrants.

“But the one thing we haven’t managed to grapple with is . . . that, for newcomers, they haven’t always felt that warm welcome,” he said. “We have to realize that when we’re a multicultural society, it’s a give and take. It’s not just a matter of everyone fitting in the same box.”

The recent arrival of thousands of Syrian refugees in Atlantic Canada, which appeared to be handled with great efficiency, showed the region is eager to respond when outsiders need help, Ramos said.

As well, the professor said immigrants in the region typically land jobs at a higher rate than in other parts of the country.

According to Nova Scotia’s Ivany report, the unemployment rate for immigrants in Nova Scotia was 7.4 per cent, compared with 10.0 per cent across Canada.

Don Desserud, a political scientist at the University of Prince Edward Island, said Brison may be on to something, but he suggested the minister’s idea is misguided.

The insular notions that Atlantic Canadians have about outsiders — particularly those from other provinces — represent a symptom of a much larger problem: the region’s economic stagnation since Confederation, he said.

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“That insecurity gets triggered by people who (Atlantic Canadians) believe are looking down at them,” Desserud said, adding that the solution to the problem is spurring economic growth, not making residents feel bad for the way they express their resentments.”

Source: TheStar.com

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Below are decisions of the Discipline Committee. These, as well as prior decisions are posted on ICCRC’s

website on the Disciplinary Notices page.

In the matter between:

Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council and

Jun Cheng, R408951

Date of Hearing: July 20, 2016 Date of the Reasons for the Decision: July 25, 2016 Final Decision Order of the Discipline Committee Reprimand

In the matter between:

Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council and

unnamed member

Date of Hearing: July 20, 2016 Date of the Reasons for the Decision: July 25, 2016 Final Decision Order of the Discipline Committee Reprimand

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