Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY THREE KINGS! As we are now in 2019, new year, new beginnings, new challenges and new opportunities. Everyone is entitled to make their new year’s resolution for as long as they keep it in mind and make sure that they do it to the best of their ability. When I was young [...]
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2010 Mayoral Candidates Take on Issues that Face Immigrants in Calgary

By the time you read this article, you may only have a couple of days left to vote for a new mayor and alderman for our city -Calgary. I hope this article will help you to think about who really deserves your vote.
I had the opportunity to be invited on behalf of Pinoy Times Newspaper, to attend the Forum on “Mayoral Candidate Town Hall for the immigrant community that will focus on issues that face immigrants in Calgary” held on Monday September 27, 2010 at the Chinese Cultural Centre. This event attracted approximately 130 people from a wide variety of backgrounds such as members of the press, immigrants, other socio-cultural council and volunteers. The forum was hosted by the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary (ISCC) and the Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary (ECCC). This event intended to both educate immigrant communities about the mayoral candidates and municipal elections as well as raise the candidates’ awareness about immigrant and integration issues in Calgary.
Ten of the 15 mayoral candidates attended the forum, which ran from 6 to 9 p.m. Among those present were Barb Higgins, Bob Hawkesworth, Craig Burrows, Gary Johnston, Joe Connely, Jon Lord, Naheed Nenshi, Ric McIver, Oscar Fech and John Stewart.
The “Question and Answer” forum was joined by several members from the Calgary immigrant communities, members of the press, audience members and volunteers. The questions were put together by the organizers and all had to do with issues surrounding immigrants. Each Mayoral candidate was given 5 speaking stones that they could use to for a response for a maximum of one minute on a particular topic.
While the forum was well run and went fairly quickly, there were no “earth shattering” answers coming from the candidates. Most of the candidates stuck to their positions and the central theme of their agenda. The overall jist of the discussions were focused on making public transit cheaper, making housing more affordable and better integration of new Calgarians into society.

However, what I believe immigrants are most interested in hearing about were answers that address immigrants such as:

1. “Education as a fundamental in the success of the evolution of immigrants and their growth into the country” therefore to make sure that English language training is being offered to these new immigrants, then they would be better equipped and engage in the opportunities for which they came to Canada.

2. The other major issue that they want rather touched by the candidates was the difficulty of immigrants to find jobs that match up with their skill set. The difficulty that immigrants facing were, everywhere they go, employers are asking “Canadian Experience”. None among the candidates offered to bridge the gap by offering solutions like “ short internship to ensure that they can do their job well in a new setting” So the difficulty of finding a good job for new immigrants is still in an alarming rise.

As an immigrant, I have to think more than twice who really deserves my vote. Since every vote counts, we all need to make an informed decision on Municipal Election Day, October 18th. Therefore I urge everyone to listen to our future by meeting your mayoral candidates before hand.

2010 Mayoral Candidates Take on Issues that Face Immigrants in Calgary

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