A sad story

A member of the Star's ommunity editorial board laments the failings of the Canadian immigration system in today's paper. She mentions the suicide earlier this year of a Chinese immigrant, a PhD in nuclear engineering, to pin down the misleading appearances, failed hopes, lost talents and desperation that often describe the plight of immigrants in this country.

It was something I remember NDP leader Jack Layton had emphasized during the last federal election campaign. Canada asks for well-educated, highly qualified professionals from around the world, but it fails miserably in accommodating these skilled workers in their respective fields. Former doctors, bankers and engineers are left with no choice but to work as cab drivers, security guards or factory workers in order to make a living, their knowledge, talents and skills wasted.

Admittedly, many immigrants to Canada and in particular their children enjoy much higher living standards than their counterparts in other comparable Western societies. Even so, current and future governments and policy makers have to make Canadian immigration reform one of their highest priorities. If you seek skilled workers, you'd better see they get to use those skills when they're here.