Immigration . . .

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES GET ALL UPSET over illegal immigration by Mexicans, but remain blissfully oblivious to other, less visible arrivals. According to io9's Charlie Jane Anders' article, "Southern United States Invaded by "Hairy, Crazy Ants" that Attack Electrical Systems", these new critters are a real delight.

They can't be stopped with conventional pesticide. They can disable a huge industrial plant, and they short out electrical equipment. They eat animals as well as plants. Kill 100,000, and a million more ants will follow.

They're the "hairy, crazy ants," and they're overrunning Texas, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana.

• • • •

An Associated Press story quotes exterminator Tom Rasberry as saying that a computer system for controlling pipeline valves in a chemical plant shorted out twice due to the ants, but now he uses "overkill" with pesticides to keep them under control. Says Rasberry:

I did a test site with a product early on and applied the product to a half-acre ... In 30 days I had two inches of dead ants covering the entire half-acre. It looked like the top of the dead ants was just total movement from all the live ants on top of the dead ants.

While I hate shoveling snow, there's a lot to be said for a nice hard killing frost.

Let's see Jason Kenney take this test

Yet another reason that Jason Kenney should not be allowed to touch anything important - he's an imbecile. Apparently he has yet to realize that all immigrants don't come from foreigneristan or sound like the terrorists that movie by the South Park guys. A large percentage of immigrants to Canada come from countries where English or French is a national language. And $280 bucks to take an English proficiency test that determines whether you can be a citizen? That is - how you say in English? - a complete rip off.
Nevertheless, I'd love to see how the average CPC backbencher or voter scores on a TOEIC or TOEFL.

Arizona one step closer to creating a "bag limit"

on "illegal aliens".

Now Arizona, seized of its egregious immigration law (requiring people to immediately produce "papers" on the demand of a police officer) has a new Republican bill under consideration. (Emphasis mine)

A new law under consideration in Arizona would deny birth certificates for children born in the US to illegal immigrants.

In a statement that would make an old Apartheid Afrikaner blush, one of the original sponsors of the current immigration law made the following noises:

State Representative John Kavanagh (R) argued that the law does not conflict with the Constitution, since the original drafters never intended the right of citizenship to be granted to children of illegal immigrants. "If you go back to the original intent of the drafters ... it was never intended to bestow citizenship upon (illegal) aliens," Kavanagh said. In addition to supporting the proposed law, Kavanagh also supported the controversial law that gave Arizona greater authority to find and deport illegal immigrants.

Hmmm. I guess one would have to read the pertinent part of the US Constitution to determine that. Let's see what a Canadian can make of it.

Let's see... read Preamble, Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4... something interesting there, we'll get back to that*, Article 5, Article 6, Article 7. Nope! OK, down through the amendments... Ah! 14th Amendment.

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Oh. That was ratified in 1868 and some people might call it "quaint". Prior to that, nothing was written nor even suggested as to who was legally a citizen. Perhaps this was because the drafters of the original US Constitution were actually, until 1784, British subjects, rebellious though they might have been at the time.

Kavanagh, somehow able to divine from the grave the "actual" intent of the drafters seems to be reading something which isn't and never has been there.

Give them time. Before long anyone who doesn't pass the Kavanagh "smell test" will be declared non-human and Arizona Republicans will be demanding to issue hunting licenses for them.

* Kavanagh, just so we're clear here, is sitting in Arizona yapping it up only by virtue of Article IV of the US Constitution. He is not a native of Arizona. He is a retired New York Port Authority cop from Queen's, New York.

Texas Two Step . . . .

To keep you up to speed, here's what's been going on:

I left Vancouver on Tuesday - yes, the day of the US election - for some time in our Florida residence. (Would anyone like to take it off our hands?!?!) The weather here has been glorious, as I expected it to be. Autumn in this part of the world is typically spectacular - barring any tropical storms.

So, I got to see the election results while actually being in the country involved. No big surprise, but at least the outcome was a positive one in light of the alternative. Now, let's hope Mr. Obama can deliver on his promise of "change." The proof will be in the results.

The following two video compilations have crossed my radar screen since arriving here, and I wanted to share them with you. They are indicative of some of the reasons "drf," The Four Footed Child, and myself felt compelled to leave this place for a better place. Coincidentally - or perhaps not - both take place in Texas, home of an infamous current - and soon to be former (we hope) - President.






And then this.

So. As I stated in a "queerie" posed by our friend MSEH in her upcoming ex-pat analysis:

As for actually moving back because of Obama's election, the answer is an emphatic "No." Granted, given the alternative, his election is an improvement and a BIG improvement over the past eight years. However, the US corporate power structure has taken decades to become entrenched, and a 4-year or 8-year Obama administration will not and can not substantially change that situation. That said, what would be the benefit to returning to the States? Nothing will be fundamentally different than it has been during my lifetime. There will still be a focus on military might, a lack of caring for it's citizen's welfare, gross inequities in income levels and a tendency to inject religion into politics and government.

We didn't make the decision to apply for Permanent Resident status and eventual Canadian citizenship on a whim. The two-plus year process gave us plenty of time to reconsider should we have had doubts.

Canada is by no means perfect, but in comparison to the US it's no contest for me.

I'm staying right here, thank you very much.

Is it any wonder we left?

I think not . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moved to Vancouver)

"It's Canada for Me ! ! ! !"

Credit due to Ricky over at Queer Thoughts for finding this one. I wanted to make sure our loyal readers got to enjoy it, too. WARNING: Tune may remain in your head for hours!

This video is so reminiscent of "drf" and my feelings after george bush was re-appointed in 2004.

Note the city they choose at the end of the production. We totally concur.






UPDDATE: Thanks to cls in comments for giving us this tip for another clever video on the topic.

Tancredo knows what the real problem is

"We need to ensure that the ‘American Dream’ remains within reach of American families – and that means enacting some long overdue safeguards that prevent illegal aliens and their unscrupulous allies in the financial industry from undermining its integrity."

Seriously, someone should take Tom Tancredo and Lou Dobbs, load them in the back of a pick-up truck, give them a liter of Evian and some beef jerky, drive them out to the middle of the Sonoran desert and leave them there.

Molasses = Immigration Process . . . .

Sure glad "drf" and I got our Permanent Resident application processed before harperco got too entrenched in power.

This from today's Toronto Star:

New immigration reforms put applications on hold

Ottawa officials are awaiting instructions from ministry about which candidates will be processed

June 21, 2008 - Nicholas Keung


Newly passed immigration reforms, which the federal government said were aimed at reducing a staggering backlog of applications by would-be immigrants, are creating a new logjam.

The backlog, which stood at 925,000 before the legislation was brought in, could grow by an additional 90,000 because officials have stopped processing new applications.

Prospective immigrants who submitted applications after Feb. 26, when the legislation was introduced, have been told by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that their applications are being put on hold until further notice.

It is expected that Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration will, within the next several months, be providing instructions to visa offices as to which applications are to be accepted for processing and which are to be returned unprocessed," Canadian visa officers explained in letters to applicants.

_______________


The move to stop processing new applications has baffled immigration lawyers and consultants, with some worried their clients' applications will be discarded altogether and they will be asked to reapply. Immigration officials declined to comment yesterday. The immigration reforms, passed by the Senate this week, give Immigration Minister Diane Finley the power to reject applications even if applicants meet all the criteria, and to instruct officials to cherry-pick immigrants based on labour market needs.

_______________


With the minister's instructions not expected until the fall, the number of people waiting in this latest queue could reach almost 90,000.

Also, while an applicant will get a refund of the processing fee if an application is returned, fees for professional help from lawyers and consultants are not refundable.

_______________


According to immigration's notification to applicants, once the instructions are issued, officials will start processing those applications received on Feb. 27, the day after the legislation was introduced, and proceed in chronological order.

Our process took over 2 years from the time the application was received by the Buffalo, NY consulate.

I can't imagine how long it will now take. Of course, the ReformaTory's new-and-improved system is supposedly going to speed up the processing time.

Somehow , I don't think "speed up" is the operable phrase here.

Molasses. Think molasses . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moved to Vancouver)

Immigration Policy, Dion & Confidence . . . .

As a "newbie" Canadian I am finding it more and more difficult to understand the Opposition's role in federal government.

From todays Globe and Mail:

Dion blasts Tories' immigration proposals

GLORIA GALLOWAY - April 1, 2008

OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion blasted the Conservative government yesterday over proposed immigration changes that he says will tell many hopeful immigrants they simply “need not apply.”

But Prime Minister Stephen Harper taunted the Liberals for panning legislation they will ultimately have to support if they want to stave off an election. And he said his government is merely trying to deal with a massive backlog of potential immigrants who wait years to fill necessary jobs.

“It is unfair to immigrants, unfair to Canada,” Mr. Harper said. “That is why it is a confidence measure. That is why it is a part of the budget and we appreciate the support of the Liberals to that goal.”

Mr. Dion does not dispute the fact that he and his party may, once again, find themselves backing away from a fight rather than taking on Mr. Harper in an election campaign.

Instead, he said, the Liberals could allow the measures to pass and then try to undo them if they eventually regain office.

“Each time that we vote against something without triggering an election, it's a marker,” he said. “That means that when we will be the government with the help of Canadians, we'll change these bad policies by much better policies.” (Emphasis mine - Ed.)

Personally, a "marker" doesn't seem to change the status quo. Isn't it about time the Liberals actually performed like an opposition party and joined with the Bloc and NDP to bring down the Tory government? What am I missing here?

(While we're on the topic of Canadian politics: What's with the parties arbitrarily appointing someone to run for office in a riding even if they don't reside there? I can't quite grasp that practise, either. But I digress . . . . )

Statistics available on Immigration Canada's own website show that 50 per cent of all applications from skilled workers are processed within 36 months. In the Americas, 80 per cent of all applications from hopeful immigrants are processed in a little over two years.

Other government statistics show that the queues are concentrated in a small number of places. Someone who currently applies to immigrate to Canada from New Delhi will wait 12.8 years. In Manila, the wait is 11.9 years, and in Bogota the wait is 16.5 years.

But those processing times are far above average.

Someone applying to permanently enter Canada from Warsaw or Buffalo, for instance, will have to wait just 1.8 years.

As someone who recently gained Permanent Resident status I find it intriguing that Dion and Company may use this topic to lay down a "marker".

Should be quite interesting to follow this one to the end result.

Let's see if concrete actions match the political rhetoric . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)

Sexual Orientation Refugee . . . .

The struggle for equality continues.

From CBC News today:

Jamaican gay activist seeks refugee status in Canada
February 14, 2008 - CBC News

Gareth Henry, a leading Jamaican gay activist, has come to Canada claiming refugee status.

Henry says 13 of his friends have been killed in Jamaica since 2004.

One 22-year-old friend who was suspected of being gay was chased by a mob, Henry told CBC News. The only place he could run to was the harbour. He couldn't swim.

"Everyone," said Henry, "stood and watched him drown."

Henry, who was vocal activist with the country's pioneering gay-rights organization J-FLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, has had his own troubling experiences.

On Valentine's Day last year, he was caught in a pharmacy and surrounded by an angry mob, he said. There was no protection from the police or state.

"When you find police officers who are leading mob attacks, turning up at people's home like myself, pointing guns at my window, with civilians with them, and saying that I need to leave or they're going to kill me, it reinforces homophobia."

Henry said he wants to stay in Canada and is claiming refugee status.

He says Canada understands and protects human rights and that Jamaica is not a place he can return to.

This situation sounds like a no-brainer for CIC.

I hope my new homeland allows him to stay . . . .

Vancouver's Immigrants . . . .

In today's Vancouver Sun there was a full-page article on the most recent immigrants to Metro Vancouver during the 2001 - 2006 period according to Statistics Canada.*

I found it interesting that the 6th and 7th place countries of origin had an exact tie of 6,385 immigrants from each. The countries: The United States and Iran.

There's a story there somewhere . . . .


*(And the next time this is done, "drf" and yours truly will be included!)

Moving to Vancouver is... Moving to Vancouver

You all know West End Bound. Of course you do. He posts here regularly with commentary on Condescending Rice, Pope Bennie, The Moron Who Would Be King and other great items.

Well, just short of two years after applying to become a permanent resident of Canada, he, his partner and the four-legged family member have been issued all the appropriate documents to move in and stay... forever.

Congratulations, W.E.B. and drf! Welcome to Lotus Land.

I do have a question though. What are you going to name your blog once you've got a permanent parking spot in the West End?

Beating the Rush, or Beating the bush ? ? ? ?

H/T to our friend and fellow US-to-Canada immigrant David Drucker over at Loud Murmurs for this one:

Brain drain a thing of the past as Americans flood in

By Norma Greenaway - CanWest News Service
Sunday, July 29, 2007
OTTAWA - The number of Americans admitted to Canada last year hit a 30-year high, fueling a pattern that suggests the drain of Canadian brains south of the border may be a shrinking phenomenon.

The number of Americans accepted in Canada reached 10,942 in 2006, almost double the number admitted in 2000. By contrast, the number of Canadians admitted to the United States in 2006 dropped sharply from the previous year, falling to 23,913 from 29,930.

"Friends (back home) are asking a lot of questions," said American Pamela Chaloult. "I keep encouraging people to come."

The couple now is ready to buy a house in their adopted city of Vancouver, and they are thinking about taking out Canadian citizenship.

Chaloult says she doesn't miss the political and economic stresses that have accompanied the presidency of George W. Bush.

"We really appreciate the community we're in here," she said. "It doesn't hurt to be in a more sane environment."

Our thoughts, exactly. So, are we beating the rush or beating a trail from bush?

Probably both . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)