i An incisive tale of immigrat IF you haven’t had your blood hit full boil for the day, West Vancouver’s Charles M. Campbell can help it get there ina hurry. rues former vice- -chairman of the Immigration Appeal Board has a new book out. if you're interested in what used to be a great country and how it has been sold out for politi- ca] gain, you should read it. It’s called Berraval & it: The Politics of Canadian Immigration. That pretty much sums up the federal government's approach to the country’s immigration policies since the fate *60s when the Liberals under Pierre Trudeau began to run it off the rails. It’s not a comforting read. Betrayal maps out the roots of rot that have undermined Canadian i immigration and have made it a model of ridicule the world over. That fot began with the abandon- ment of immigration values of . excellence and the wholesale importation of unskilled, illit- erate immigrants via F. Class admissions; it Fay : with the disastrous decision in the late °60s to give visitors the right to apply for landed “immigrant status while visiting Canada and to remain in the - ‘Campbell also debunks what he sees as the pea i * immigration myths foiste upon Canadians by successive “governments and cultivated by immigration industry sponges: &@ Canada’s annual immigra- .- tion rate has been 1% of the ethnic ressure population; $3 Our low birth rate demands high immigration; @ Canad needs a larger popu- lation; @ Immigrants earn more and return more to the Canadian economy than Canadian-born citizens; & Immigrants create more jobs than they take. All untrue, according to Mr. Campbell. left largely unchal- _ lenged in the media and politi- cal arena. Lack of open and honest debate of Canada’s immigra- tion policy is a recurrent Betrayal theme. Responsibility for the above resides with every Canadian. But, of course, any open discussion of immigration issues has been rendered off- limits to all who fear being tarred with the racist brush by the immigration industry and Ups. ed with Mr. Campbell a cong te of years ago in his West Vancouver home about what was the larest immi tion flim-flam being peddle ed to Canadians by then-immi- tion minister Lucienne billard. It involved a series of immigration hearings aimed theoretically at gathering input from average Canadians into * Post mark cheques) If paid by: 2A $179.00 woe — ail the: aspects. of the game of hockey proposed changes to Canada’s immigration policies. It proved to be yet another empty exercise in political pas- turing. Local hearings were packed sith immigration industry stakeholders and ethnic minor- ity pressure groups. Average Canadians were absent. As were those armed with Campbell's insights, knowl- edge and tough questions. The result was predictable. Nothing of significance was done to change Canada’s immigration and refugee sys- tem. This even though the federal government's own Not Just Numbers immigration report recommended such basic common sense changes as requiring that immigrants be proficient in at least one of the country’s two official lan- guages. Campbell pointed out at the time that a staggering 50% of immigrants to Canada had proficiency in neither lan- guage. But in the scheme of things, that ultimately ignored recommendation seems almust © minor. Campbeil’s book is a chronicle of the failure of every immigration minister since 1982 to act on the issues raised in government reports about the serious immigration issues facing Canada. And it’s the country’s elect- ed representatives that bear the lion’s share of the vlame for our immigration debacle. As Campbell points out, immigration department bureaucrats know what’s going on, Their frustration over the, inaction and arrogance of their political leaders finds voice in Camps will be held at Canlan Ice Sports . North Shore cinding skills, rules, training concepts and the 2411 Me. Seymour SPORTS philosophy to making yeu a beter playet.. ys $0 _Pkwy- NORTH SHORE lication & cheque to: ~ paren Hockey Schools ‘Box 58182 1562 Lonsdate Ave BY ma 212 August 21-25 Co August 28 - Sepl 1 Medical # ~ Younha adult MO LO MO moO reports leaked to the press to draw attention to the critical state of immigration affairs. But, says Campbell, they work in an atmosphere of political innigue that prevents them from doing the night thing. That's a national disgrace — as is Canadian acceptance of government mismanage- ment and manipulation of the country’s immigration system. Campbell detaifs wholesale frauds perpetrated on the country by tens of thousands of bogus refugees flocking to Canada to take advantage of its leadership’s reckless pursuit of the ethnic vote. He documents the billions of Canadian tax dollars that have gone to prop up spon- sored immigrants whose spon- sors have failed to meet their commiunents. And Campbell beats the drum again about the need for real debate over immigration in Canada. Betrayal is an exasperating tale of bungling, buffoonery and boondoggle spanning four decades. Alas, it has no happy end- ing, because despite the dam- age inflicted on the country Sunday, May 28, 2000 - North Shore News ~ 7 since the “60s nothing has been done to reform the country’s inmigration system. If anything it has gotten worse. For example, current Inumugration Minister Elinor Caplan’s Bill C-31 further erode standards for Family Class inrmigration and reduce sponsers’ support responsibili- tes, thereby promoting = increased immigration of those least likely to succeed in this ceuntry and most Bkely te fur. ther fray Canada’s social safeiy net. Campbeli’s book, like Campbell himself, is informed, on betraya intelligent, provocative and passionate. But it’s no ant- immigration rant. Berraval ree- ‘ognizes Canada’s obligations ter take in its share of genuine refugees and includes solutions - to the current immigration mess, it should be required read- ing for anyone interested in Canada and its future. Betrayal & Deceit is pub- lished by Iasmine Books (P.O. Sox 91724, West Vancouver, B&., V7V 481). Te costs 19.95 and is available in all Chapters bookstores. | —trenhaw@nsnews.com _ Cb eerees, approved OR, Lube & Fitter 21 pt. 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