Dear Editor: The article bv Pana Mereer entitled “Immigration tree- for-all devaluing Canada” might be challenued on a nuniber of conclusions, but certainly on some of the statis: ues used to bolster these con- clusions, which paint a rather different picture trom that described in the most recent figures available trom) both Citizenship and Trimigration and the Ministry: Responsible for Multiculturalism and Inumiggation. In terms of the proportion of independents or skilled per sons in the immigrant stream, which Ms. Mercer cites as one-sixth of the total for the 1990s, the percentage of immigrants landed in’ B.C. trony the cconomic category, north shore news MAIL BOx Statistics counter column’s claims skilled workers and die busi- ness cliss, decually went from 28% in 1986 to OF" in 1996, Yo look ata slighty differ ear stacistic on English/Freneh language ability, the 1996 census, look- ing only at B.C. figures, notes that 69% of the forcign born population indicated a meth er tongue other than English or French, while 91% of the same group reported chat they abe spoke English or French which would certainty seem to indicate that immi- grants make it a priarity: to acquire the Janguage of their new homeland. According to human resources, 98.5% Of spanson follow through on their oblig: ations. As of Jan. 1, 1999, about 2,000 B.C. benefits District taxpayers are all tapped oui Dear Editor: On July 5 North Vancouver District house owners will be writing a cheque for another 6% above fast. year's property tas bill, untess the council recovers its common sense and demands 4 reduced budget. While we all understand local governments are being squeezed benween senior gov- ernment off-loading — and unabated special interest demands for services, council members should remember they are spending other peo- ple’s moncy, and the other people have been rapped out. My income — has not increased 6% — actually it's gone down since retiring last year —- and FE honestly don’t have a spare $250 Wving around that 1 would wish to give to them. In fact, I already gave it to Revenue Canada last month, Most people | know are in the same boat. Living within your means is not rocket science, It just takes an appreciation that “no” means “no,” and in this case, that district taxpayers have reached their limit’ and cannot afford nore taxes. T can’t in this short letter advise council how to cope with a reduced budget and services —~ didn’t they run for office because they felt: they could make the cough deci- sions for all taxpayers? Or, did they just like the idea of spending other peo- ple’s money for their own pri- orities? It’s just no longer accept- able to tell taxpayers that gov- ernment needs more money. Steve Pond North Vancouver ponds@direct.ca Brain drain keeps on running south Dear Editor: There has recently been a roliferation of articles on the rain drain to the U.S. One side emphasizes the impact to the economy; the other side denies the whole thing. Both sides quote statistics. Over the last three or four years quite a few of my col- leagues in the software indus- try have moved south. Many of them are young profession- als that were educated at a Canadian university. They worked here for a few years to gain the necessary experience, and then moved on to jobs in the States. In contrast, I don’t know anybody that came up from the States during the same time. To me, this is a classic brain drain. And it is not just the money that lures them south. To quote a colleague now in Texas: “Down here we can afford to live on one income. This leaves us more time for the children.” ” Social benetits, particularly medical insurance, are said to offset the fower taxes. as : I ee ee SET TT TT TT TT Tf bm meee ene eae densee However, in the software industry the job market is quite competitive and many U.S. companies ofter similar benefits. Or the higher dis- posable income easily buys equivalent insurance. Roger W. Fischer North Vancouver cwfischer@hotmail.com cases involve a sponsorship default. The vast amounts reported in the National Pot are in part due to ane major fet, thar during the boom days in Ontario farge numbers of iMMigrants, including refugees who had become permanent residents, were doing very well cconomically and were ably to sponsor their families. When the bettom fell out ofthe economy, many of these were forced on te UP and social assistance, and their families had no choice but to seck similar support. These were not widespread cases of intentional defiule, but casualties of our econom: ic system. Tt should abso be pointed out that at present only fiancedes}, children, spouses, parents and their dependent children) and grandparents can be spon: sored, not extended family ee, oe Great Gift ideas members, and the sponsors most meet 4 fairly high stan dard of income before they ean sponsor AY but spouses and dependent children, Finally, the stauistic quoted for the acceptance of refugee chimants by the Immigration and Refugee Board, 80% of applications, is completely inaccurate, In 1998 the rate was 44%, If one averages the rate over 1994-98, the — percentage accepted was 48%, One could) dispute Tana Mereer’s conclusion that the current immigration system can be termed a “free-for-all” or that “in some respects, immigration is becoming a drain on the country’s resources” but it might be best to let the statistics speak for thempelves. 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