LETTER

LETTRE

  Immigration, not a one way street

 

An important and complex issue such as immigration requires careful and in-depth coverage. Barrett's recent editorial opinion on extremism skirts the issue. 
    Canada has had immigration as a policy  for many decades. Immigration is important for topping up the birth rate, for economic activity as new people build and buy things needed to live, including housing, and for bringing new ideas to our cultural scene. In other words, immigration is positive and needed. 
    For Quebec, immigration is defined primarily in language terms as Quebec tries to defend -- in face of a massive demographic trend -- the use of French in Quebec. Countries in Europe have had their immigration situation complicated by the massive infusion of refugees who flee wars in Syria and other places. Canada's record on taking in refugees has been poor,  as thousands of would-be Canadians are stranded in Afghanistan right now.
    Quebec wants its immigrants to speak French and adopt the values of their new society. For the vigour immigrants bring to the country, for their hard work and initiative, for the hope they bring to build a better life,  we as hosts should show them respect and recognize and value their unique attributes and contributions. Immigration is not just a one way street.
Carl Hager
Gatineau / Aylmer